Ouch, this sucks, bud. Sorry to hear it. :(

How long would your commute be, if it happens?

The commute itself wouldn't be bad. 20-40 minutes, depending on traffic and such.
It's the living with my parents, and away from my friends, that kills me. My senior year, too.

Yeah, I figured that was the case. Hopefully it won't happen, man.

Any chance of getting a place with friends near the school?

Yea, off-campus may be cheaper? Good luck.

Write freelance for your local paper, in addition to whatever other job you find. It'll both increase your clips file and bring in some money. If you can get freelance work from a daily, they'll pay better than a weekly will. But in the summer there are lots of news editors desperate for stories. Any stories. Seriously, they will call you and say, "There's a new business called the Steak Shack opening up. Will you go to the grand opening and write about it?" I know it's true, because it has happened to me.

And seriously consider getting a summer job at a newspaper instead of an unpaid internship this summer. You're cheap labor right now, but cheap to them can be a lot of money to you.

I know it's your senior year coming up, but if there are businesses that are giving out paid internships or reporting summer jobs, you might consider one of those instead.

Good luck. And hopefully you will be able to rake in the dough.

you can do it!!! get your internship and get a night waiting tables job. i worked my way through college the same way with three jobs. you can do it! horray youth!

aja! aja! fighting!

Maybe a work study or part-time job during the school year, in addition to the summer? You could try the financial aid office, for the work study and/or to increase financial aid, if need be, if you really don't want to live at home, which I can understand (I never could have survived my father while I was in college).

Well, you have a few months to plan. I agree that maybe living off campus with friends next year would be much cheaper than a dorm + food commons. Also, you could pay as you go a bit with a part-time job, rather than having to pay in a lump sum prior to the start of the semester. All you will need is your share of security and first month's rent to move in (plus a reasonable expectation of earning subsequent rent).

Starting to earn some cash now is a great idea - work-study, campus or OC job, freelancing now are all great ideas.

Internship? In this economy? I dunno. I bet brina's right that you can get paid for stringing right now, especially because newsroom staffs are shrinking and they still need coverage. So if you don't get the internship, you could consider that, but maybe augment it by waiting tables/bartending.

Other ideas...I worked my way through college, but in summer I worked at a summer camp, live-away. I always got paid a lump sum at the end of the summer and it ranged from $3000-6000 for nine weeks' work - and that was fifteen years ago. If you're willing, it is a great way to earn money, and save it, because by living on camp you don't spend it. However, if you're not into kids and this is a distraction from your goals, it may not be for you.

There's also a lifeguard shortage across the country right now. If you're willing to get certified you might be able to pick up lifeguarding gigs that fit an internship schedule.

Some times in life, you have to work really hard. This is probably just one of those times. Yes, it's possible. To get going in museums I used to do a 40-45 hour work week plus 18 hours in restaurants. My apartment was not homey and my social life was less well developed, but it was necessary to get where I wanted to go. You can make this work. I'm sorry about the bad news, but the good news is you are young and healthy and don't need as much sleep as you might later on, and you're hungry to get your career experience, and that degree is one little year of your life. I don't think you need to live with your parents; I think you can earn the money (in fact if you start waiting tables now you can probably earn most of it by May) and still have a great senior year. good luck with this project!

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I'm feeling better about it. Maybe you're right, and all hope is not lost just yet.

Also, there's this: final year, living off campus, away from the temptation of mid-week impromptu parties, all night gaming, etc. This will give you the opportunity to hole up for a while (and it's not forever, just a few months) study your li'l ass off and get the best degree you possibly can. Surprise your tutors! Impress future employers! Make your parents proud!

You can do it, CitrusFreak!! My dad went to college on the GI bill, and worked to support a wife and infant child (me) at the same time (mom babysat for other students' children in our apartment to help us make it - early version of daycare, which didn't exactly exist back then!)... different era, of course, and possibly easier. Or harder. I have no idea; but the main thing is adjusting your headspace for it, I think. He worked in fields related to his degree as much as possible... so see what might be available with your writing and photo skills. Being able to shoot the pic and write the story should make you a very likely candidate for a small newspaper - get out there and sell them on that fresh citrus taste!!! :)

And if you need any editing help, we have a lot of expertise here - I used to be an editor for newspapers and magazines, and we have a bunch of others here with that experience, too.

So, you might not get to live on campus your senior year. Guess what...you won't get to live there AFTER your senior year either! Never, ever again.

Get used to it. At least you will have a jump start on your classmates this way. And maybe get a better idea of who your friends really are.