The hot sites this summer

www.I-NEED-A-JOB.com?

Sorry, we hate to break it to you, but your title as "High School Class Historian" isn't going to cut it anymore when it comes to filling out your resume. The good news is that this summer there are plenty of ways to impress future employers and maybe make a little money in the process.

As most Yalies learn rather quickly, internships are a must for students seeking a competitive edge for employment opportunities after college. According to Yale's own Undergraduate Career Services website, "Whether you plan to explore a career or wish to obtain greater knowledge about your chosen field, an internship can offer valuable experience. You will have the opportunity to learn more about yourself and to apply your college education in a temporary work setting."

Experience isn't the only reward for toiling away during the summer months. Not only do most intern opportunities offer stipends as incentives, but successful interns may be offered salaried positions by their employers at the end of their internships.

Unfortunately for the average lazy college student, summer jobs and internships don't just fall into your lap. However, the Internet does make it significantly easier to find that dream job without having to leave the comfort of your filthy dorm.

Begin your search at UCS's website, which boasts a listing of over 36,000 internships in the US and abroad, sorted by educational level, fields and dates of interest, salary options, and geographic location. The database, which is actually located at http://new.interncenter.com/new/ and is linked from the Yale Career Services website, is extremely user-friendly and simple to use.

Along with the extensive listing of internship opportunities, the UCS internship site also offers help finding summer housing in metropolitan areas around the country. Of course, if you're staying in New Haven you can always try using the Herald's Sublet Search to find a place to crash over the summer.

Another excellent resource for the internship-seekers out there is InternshipPrograms.com, a website that made its online debut on September 1, 1998. Students can obtain a free log-in name and password, which enable access to a searchable database of internships. The site even has a sizable collection of "Internship Experiences," with internship program reviews by people who participated in them.

So hop on the web, do a little research, and before you know it you'll be on your way to cyber-employment opportunities and a new thing to brag about on your resume.

—Justin Chen

FAFSA on the web

Okay, so you haven't even taken your finals yet and you're not even beginning to think about your classes for next year, but the fact remains that someone has to pay your tuition next year, and that someone is not me! If you are among the 40% of Yale students who receive financial aid, you already know that the government's FAFSA (Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs) is a must to defray the costs of your ivy-bedecked education.

Fortunately, as with so many other processes that used to waste so much time and paper, the Internet has once again come to the rescue with an online alternative to the print application. Point your browser to FAFSA on the Web, the self-proclaimed "coolest way to fill out a FAFSA!" and watch the dollars flow—or in some cases, trickle—in.

Even if you've filled out the FAFSA before, the application must be renewed annually. Don't worry, though; the deadline for submitting FAFSA is 7 p.m. (Eastern Time) on July 02, 2001.

If you've applied to FAFSA previously, a new system has been implemented that allows you to "electronically sign" your application for this year using a special Personal Identification (PIN) number that was assigned to you by the FAFSA program. Other than that, the online application process remains relatively straightforward and unchanged.

Although students must have a fairly recent web browser to take advantage of FAFSA on the web's javascript applications and security features, the process of applying itself is simple and untechnical. A series of 104 questions must be answered, including everything from social security number to parents' earned income tax credit (EIC) for the previous fiscal year. Thus, although not much web expertise is required, it's a good idea to have a copy of your family's 1040 form in front of you as you're filling it out.

Some would argue that filling out the FAFSA electronically is much less convenient and more prone to interruption; however, FAFSA on the Web has a save option that allows you to stop working anytime, and resume whenever is convenient.

The main benefit to filling out the FAFSA online, though, is the fact that if any particular question or term is unclear to you, a simple click will open up a new window with a detailed description of exactly what is being asked. This feature is definitely beneficial when the questions begin to address very specific financial matters. Also helpful is the "income estimator" that helps determine a good approximation for income for some of the questions.

The entire process takes only about 30 minutes depending on your familiarity with the form and your family's financial situation, but come next semester's bill, you'll probably find that it was time well spent.

—Justin Chen

PlayStation 2

Sony won't be launching their new PlayStation console in the U.S. till fall 2000, but there is no reason why anyone should have to wait until then to get in the game.

Even though there is almost nothing about PlayStation 2 (PS2) on the official Sony site, there are many other sites bursting to tell you all about it. Planet PS2, part of the GameSpy network, is full of news and reviews of PS2 games (and, for anyone who can't wait, it has tips on getting hold of a PS2 right now!). Entertainment site IGN.com's PS2 section has a comprehensive frequently-asked questions page on the PS2.

While some U.S. game companies have already begun announcing their support for the PS2, there can be no definite news till the PS2 is released. But many of the games currently on sale in Japan could also be coming over in the fall.

A list of the current titles available in Japan includes Tekken Tag Tournament (which is a new and improved port of the arcade game with much better graphics), Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, and Summoner. Grand Turismo 2000, Evergrace, and Dead or Alive 2 (billed as "the PS2's 'other' premier fighting game") are also expected to come to the U.S.

In any case, the PS2 is backwards-compatible, so all the original PlayStation game titles should still work just fine.

The PlayStation 2 plays CD-ROM and DVD-ROM games, as well as DVD movies. Best of all, it includes all of the functions that can be found on high-end stand-alone DVD players.

Other extra-gaming capabilities are ports (either USB, Sony's I-link aka FireWire, or a PCMCIA Type 3 card port) that can be used to access data from the Internet, or to download games to a hard drive. (The PS2 does not come with a modem.) Sony has tentative plans to release a hard drive and ethernet card for PS2 in early 2001.

The latest unofficial rumors about the new 128-bit PlayStation say that it will arrive in the U.S. in early September, and will cost about $300.

—By Lola Ogunkoya

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