APRIL 2007 WISEYOUTH IN FLUX UPPREMIERE ISSUE Which Way? Your post-college journey starts here St. Louis: Best of the Midwest? Joining the Rat Race at NASCAR Culture Crashers Give Golf a Shot Be a Bar-Tab Bandit Avoid Workplace Weight Gain display until 5/15 $2.99 US $3.99 CAN 4 9 0 7 8 6 5 4 0 Contents Features On the Rise: Changing Lanes Brad Klein moved into the fast 16 track immediately after college, finding a job with the quickest- rising sports organization in the United States: NASCAR. Read about Klein’s work at NASCAR New York headquarters as he picks up speed toward a career in communications. 18 City Limits: St. Louis St. Louis had a tumultuous year in 18 the public eye: a World Series title for the city’s beloved Cardinals and the title of “Most Dangerous City” in a national survey. As the city tries to clean up its image, its fate is tied to a new baseball 16 stadium and to the passionate fans who flock there. Departments Wallet Watch Water Cooler Credit Score 101 Silver Screen Summer 8 12 If you don’t know what a credit This summer’s movie offerings score is, don’t panic. We lay it all provide some great reasons out so it’s easier than that course to retreat from the heat into you took to get out of your math air-conditioned comfort. For requirement. everything from thrillers and comedies to cartoons, we outline Pulse the biggest and best for the upcoming movie season. Entry Level 18 10 It’s hard to stay fit when you sit at Different Strokes your desk all day, which is probably XX Your boss wants to play a round stocked with bags of chips of golf with you, and you’ve never and candy bars. We have some even picked up a club before. We suggestions for staying healthy show you how to look competent so you don’t gain any unwanted out on the links. pounds. 4 WISE UP April 2007 Photographs by Jason Levy and nytimes.com Contents Workin’ It Homebase The Brew Flu Wonder Walls XX XX So, you went out last night for “one When you decorate your new drink” and it turned into a few apartment, retire those old posters more. With our five ways to survive from college and pick out some a hangover at work, you’ll be able artwork. We guide you in finding to get through the day. a piece that will complement your Surf’s Up space and fit into your budget. XX It’s hard to concentrate when you haven’t checked your e-mail or Spinning Your Wheels XX looked into what crazy situation For city dwellers with cars, there’s Britney Spears has gotten herself more to worry about than just into in a few hours. These tips will traffic and parking tickets. From allow you to surf the web from security devices to mechanic the comfort of your desk without check-ups, we show you how to anyone being the wiser. keep your automobile safe in the stop-and-go city environment. After 5 Nostalgia Never 23 Tasted So Good Your mom always told you not to play with your food. You may not be a kid anymore, but these restaurants will let you eat like one. High Culture, Low Cost 24 See how the other half lives with these helpful tips on how to attend elite events on a student budget. This One’s On You XX XX Going out with friends from the office is tricky, especially when it comes to the bill. Here are five Threads ways to ditch the bar tab, without From Business Smart to looking like a cheapskate. XX On the Town Sometimes you don’t have to time tock Photos Low Down to go home after work to change S before you meet someone for Inside Merrill Lynch drinks at happy hour. We take one 26 Wise Up gets the scoop on landing outfit and show you how it can be a job and making an impression at changed multiple times to make one of the biggest financial firms in it appropriate for work and any unexpected events afterwards. the world. Photographs by Adobe 6 WISE UP April 2007 Declaration You know that “real world” you kept hearing about in college? You’re living in it now. Wise Up exists to help you adapt to it, live in it and make it your own. from the Wise Up editors: We want to shake you up and make you aware: the priorities here are different. Meetings are longer. Deadlines are firmer. If you want Dave Allen to stay out until 3 a.m., that 9 o’clock meeting Adriane Bradberry probably can’t be moved or postponed. The bills Linda Buchwald are in your name, and you don’t have a meal card to swipe for dinner. Jason Levy You’re young, ambitious, and energetic, and so is our staff: we’re in the same group of post- college 20-somethings. So we’re in it— the real world and the struggles to adapt to it— together. Our regular departments offer advice: taking care of your finances, making your apartment into a place you call home, and dressing for both the workplace and the nightlife. We feature young professionals who are making their mark in their fields and life in prominent cities across the country. All of this goes toward getting you started on writing the first chapter of your own success story. This is the declaration of your independence. April 2007 WISE UP 7 Wallet Watch Credit Score 101 Credit Score Cocktail You used to worry about your A credit score is determined GPA, but now your credit score by a formula based on certain is a far more important number. factors. Think of it like mixing a Long Island Iced Tea. This Unfortunately, it is easier to cocktail is one parts vodka, screw up than failing a class. The tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, more you understand how your and sour mix with a splash of cola. Likewise, a credit score credit score adds up and why consists of several parts of your it matters, the better off your credit report, which describes your financial history. A long financial future will be. So, here is history of credit provides more the CliffsNotes version. information for a more accurate representation. by Adriane Bradberry According to howstuffworks. com, a credit score’s parts involve payment history (35 percent), outstanding balances (30 percent), inquiries (10 percent), current accounts in use (10 percent) and the length First, let’s dispel a rumor. A credit of time since you established score is not the same thing as credit card credit (15 percent). debt. Credit card debt is the total amount charged on a card, which you need to pay back. A credit score is a three-digit number that lenders of credit, loans, or other services use to determine the risk of lending to you. Lenders include those who provide car, school, home, or small business loans. However, lenders are not the only people who can see your score. Landlords, merchants, utility providers, and insurance companies look at credit scores to determine rates and terms of the services they will provide you. Employers, with your permission, can view your score to help them judge how responsible you are. Even cell phone providers may look at your credit score to Credit Score Breakdown establish the conditions of your contract. A bad credit score means you are a risk A credit score typically ranges from 850 to 300, and it breaks down to lenders because you may have difficulty like this: paying off your loans or paying bills on time. Very Good = 700 or above Fair = 619 to 580 In turn, you often receive higher interest rates and other fees, or at the very worst, you Good = 680 to 699 Bad = 579 to 500 can be denied a new line of credit—a credit OK = 620 to 679 Very Bad = 499 to 350 tock Photos S card or loan—altogether. You have a legal right to get your credit You should not have problems getting new lines of credit if you fall in the range of 620 or higher. The problems begin to rear their ugly head at score. Once you know your score, you will 619 or below. The average score usually falls in the 700s. know where you stand. Photographs by Adobe 8 WISE UP April 2007 There are several companies that may calculate your score, and each of them produces a slightly different number. Fico is often viewed as the most popular source for lenders to obtain your score, but this Uppers company requires a small fee. In addition to Fico, most lenders average the scores from Make payments on time! these three credit bureaus: Equifax, Trans Union, Experian. These bureaus often Do not open up new credit card advertise a free credit score, but read the accounts that you do not need. fine print. They usually require temporary enrollment in some other service to get Do not close all of the old accounts you are not using. This it. These additional services may require only closes the gap between the payment up front or a monthly fee after one amount owed and the amount of month. For example, freecreditreport.com available credit. The smaller that is associated with Experian and requires a gap, the more risky you look.