by Editor

Want to 'make a difference?' Got nothing to do this summer except some lousy job/internship [hi, CO-ED!]? Why not use your time off to travel, do something positive for the world and come home with something interesting to talk about? There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities available for bright young college kids, and some of them are, well, downright cool.

There are other advantages to proffering your services. First and foremost, your resume will now seriously kick butt. Then there's the girl factor: starting a conversation with a phrase like, 'this summer, while I was building huts in Costa Rica '' is sure to grab any woman's attention. Not mine, but other girls.

Globe Aware

If helping the world is more of a hobby than a lifestyle, you might want to check out the one- to two-week programs offered up by Globe Aware. This cultural awareness organization offers mini-excursions to countries such as Cuba, Nepal, Thailand and Peru. One of the most popular programs for college students, 'The Road Less Traveled Village Experience' in Costa Rica, places volunteers amid a lush rainforest where they help make areas more accessible to tourists. And it's not roughing it: the program offers comfortable living conditions with beds, showers and furnished 'cabinas.' Hey, it beats your fraternity house.