In light of our fall issue’s pioneer theme, we hope that you’re feeling inspired to blaze your own career trail. Whether your true love is in business, music, film or giving back to the community, pioneering your own path doesn’t have to feel daunting. We’ve broken down the steps so you can get started on anything from passing a neighborhood law to starting your own company.

I didn’t get into my first-choice college, after not even trying to get into any of my parents’ choices. I was upset and ashamed for days, so stressed out that I went to the gym two or three times a day for a week. But I opened an acceptance letter from another college later, and it didn’t take long to find that the school I’d only applied to on a whim was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Whether you’re interviewing for a job in high school or attending a company mixer in college, you’ll inevitably come across situations where professionalism and putting your best face forward are key. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s the smallest mistakes that can cost you a great opportunity—I once missed an entire job interview because of a careless time mix-up (BIG oops!). To prevent moments like these, here are some tips to help you shine.
General Tips
Be organized. This is a simple rule, but it’s your ultimate weapon to showing up and being prepared in …

We’ve heard it all before: college is the time to make new friends, discover yourself and enjoy the kind of freedom you didn’t have in high school. But in the midst of all the adventure, classes are just as important. If you’re feeling stressed about keeping up, don’t worry—Mochi staffers (who have been through it all) have gathered our top tips on acing college classes and leaving those pesky final exams in the dust.

Face it—guys can be confusing. To find out what they really look for in girls, we went straight to the source and asked college guys across the nation for their thoughts. Here’s what they said:

The college dating scene is often associated with quick hook ups at parties, temporary flings or even the scandalous “friends with benefits” arrangement. Add in the chaos of classes, extracurricular activities and interning—and finding the time to maintain a long-term relationship may seem a bit like an impossible feat.

Picking a major that could potentially influence the rest of your life can be daunting, so we’ve compiled a guide to the 10 most common majors to get you thinking about which could be the best fit. While there are many other majors out there that we highly encourage you to explore, this guide is meant to get you on the right track.

How do you explain that feeling when you get into a new place and immediately feel at home? If you’ve seen the “Sex and the City” movie, picture the moment when Carrie first opens her fabulous new walk-in closet at her Fifth Avenue penthouse, that is what it’s like. For those of us heading to college, it’s important to look for a similar connection when picking your new home for the next four years. This may be overwhelming, but here are some tips on what to look out for to find which campus is the best fit for you.

It’s summertime—and for many of us, the perfect time to for an internship. However, for those of you who are too young to intern, or for one reason or another couldn’t land the internship of your dreams, don’t stress. With these alternatives, a productive summer is within your reach.
Take a Part-time Job
Unlike unpaid internships, which experts now estimate make up a fourth to a half of existing internships, part-time jobs guarantee you money in the bank. This is a major plus for those of you who are feeling the pinch …

Spending four or five months exploring a foreign country is a rare opportunity, so it should be no surprise that many college students consider studying abroad before graduating and entering the workforce. Interestingly, only about one-tenth of college students choose to study abroad in Asia despite the professional benefits gained from getting to know Asian languages and culture. After all, China, Japan and other Asian countries are increasingly playing significant roles in international politics and the global economy.

Hong Kong, like many other Asian cities, has two sides: the bustling, ultra-modern city and the quieter backstreets with its temples and street vendors. The two official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English—a unique feature among Chinese provinces.
“Hong Kong has a lot of Western influence in every aspect—food, fashion and architecture,” said Natalie Ngai, a senior at Washington University in St. Louis. “There are English signs everywhere, and practically everyone can understand simple English. Compared to most other Asian cities, Hong Kong has prettier buildings and a much …

As the largest city in China and a center of Chinese commerce, Shanghai is understandably one of the most popular study abroad destinations in Asia. The city’s culture is dynamic and fast-paced. “Shanghai is where everything is happening—it’s especially great for finance, media and art students,” said Tina Qu, who grew up in Shanghai and returned to study abroad as a junior.
“Shanghai is a unique city in that it’s a collision of the new and the old,” said Valerie Guan, a finance and international business major at New York University. …

Tokyo is an eclectic mixture of Japanese culture, international business, technology and popular entertainment, all packaged in an energetic, forward-moving environment that never seems to slow down.
Melissa Pae Redwood, a political science major at Smith College and former Mochi writer, studied abroad in Tokyo during the spring semester of her junior year. She was first attracted to Japan because of her interest in the relationship between Japan and the U.S. after World War II. In addition, as a student at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, she wanted to …

Nagoya, the third largest city in Japan, contains 2.2 million inhabitants and is notable for its high air quality. The city is also well-known as the home of Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Shrine and many art museums. It is located near Toyota’s headquarters, which account for much of the region’s prosperity.

When it comes to college dating, chances are, your significant other is someone who grew up in another state or even another country. You may see each other during the semesters, but not at all during the long months of summer vacation. Perhaps you’re dating someone older who just graduated and moved away for work, while you’re still finishing up school. Or maybe you’re coming into college already in a relationship with your high school sweetheart, who’s attending college on the opposite coast. In each of these situations, it’s hard …