Posts Tagged ‘San Francisco’

The Trendiest Places to Visit in the US

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Guest post by Claudia Lonjedo

Planning a holiday to the United States? The following list points you in the direction of some of the trendiest places to visit in the US to see right now. Keep in mind it will be hard to see it all – most people who have spent years and years living the US still have cities and regions they want to explore. Try focusing on one city, or perhaps two near each other, to give yourself time to really get to know the local culture and trends.

New York City

New York City is a must because, well, it’s New York City! The collision of creative energy, cultures from around the world, and the constant desire most residents share of wanting to be on top of what’s next make it an exciting place to be. Explore the West Village for some of the trendiest eateries in the city, SoHo for shopping and Lower East Side for non-stop nightlife. If you’ve seen the Manhattan sites before, try venturing into Brooklyn for a little something different.

San Francisco

This bay city is one of the most desired places to live in the US these days, attracting the brains (and money) of nearby Silicon Valley, as well as trend-conscious young people. The city was the birthplace for the hippie movement and has a thriving arts scene, not to mention trendy eateries and shopping districts.

Los Angeles

A list a trendy US cities for visiting on a holiday would be noticeably incomplete without a mention of Los Angeles. It’s home to Hollywood, a slew of celebrities and some of the best shopping in the country. Also of note is the Los Angeles food scene, which is one of the trendiest and most inventive in the country.

Austin

Austin hosts one of the trendiest annual music events: South by Southwest, also abbreviated to SXSW, every March. Even when it’s not the week of South by Southwest though, good music of every genre can be found in the city. The city’s residents also have a notable entrepreneurial energy, which always keeps things interesting. Austin residents make no secret of their love for the city – “Keep Austin Weird” bumper stickers can be seen everywhere.

Miami

Miami residents pride themselves on living in a city with a culture totally different to that of any other US city. It’s a fast-moving city heavy on nightlife, shopping and the beach, and Spanish is almost as commonly spoken as English. For those looking for a vacation in Florida, Miami is a great option.

For hip holidays USA destinations provide some of the most happening options on the planet. All of the above cities are where to be if you’re looking to take a break. But of course, every city has something interesting and trendy, and seeking it out is the perfect opportunity to talk to locals.

Where Should I Go For Grad School?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Image via www.next100.com

Before I started my 9-7, family dinner was the only time during the day when we got to be a family. My mom would tell us how much she wanted to gag every time her smelly supervisor walked by. My dad would talk about how he labored over the cars that came into the shop. My sister and I would complain about the amount of school work we had and my little brother, whose half a head taller than me now, would whine about eating his fish and veggies.

Now, I come home to cold and left over dinners while everyone else is busy getting ready for bed. Family time isn’t every night anymore; it’s once or twice a week. I don’t know what goes on at home. I don’t know where anything is either. My mom would joke and say, “Did you just move in yesterday?” And honestly, sometimes it feels that way.

The last heart to heart conversation I had with my dad was right after I graduated from college. He asked me at the dinner table, “What’s your 5-year plan?” My sister said, “5 years? I don’t even know what I’m going to wear tomorrow.” But I knew. I’m a planner. I’ve always been that way. Whatever I have my heart set on, I plan to work for it every step of the way.

Most people would say I’m lucky I don’t have school loans to pay off. What I really want to say is, “You don’t know squat. It’s not luck. It’s hard work and sacrifice.” I busted my ass in high school so I could get a 4-year scholarship and I’m busting my ass now to save for grad school. It was always in my plan to work for two years before getting my MBA. I want to take out as little student loans as possible so I’m saving as much as I can now.

It’s almost a year since I graduated and now it’s crunch time. I’ll be taking my GMAT in April (hopefully) and I’ve already narrowed down a few schools, which will probably be updated after I receive my GMAT score.

  • UC Berkeley (San Francisco, CA)
  • UPenn (Wharton) (Philadelphia, PA)
  • George Washington University (DC)
  • Georgetown University (DC)
  • Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
  • Arizona State University (Phoenix, AZ)
  • University of Minnesota (Minnesota, Minneapolis)

UC Berkeley is my dream school but I’m having a hard time picking my #2 and #3. Granted, it all depends how well I score on my GMAT. I also plan on volunteering abroad before I start my MBA (more on that later).

What do you think are my chances of getting into the schools I’ve listed?

Here’s my resume which details my educational and professional experience. I’d really appreciate your insights.