How To Enjoy Halloween From the Comfort Of Your Dorm
Not feeling the party vibe on the spookiest night of the year? Is a Halloween Monster-Movie Marathon not cutting it for you? Rest assured that there are still some fun ways you can enjoy Halloween right out of the comfort of your own dorm room! All you’ll need is some friends, a cozy residence hall, and a little Halloween spirit!
1. Bake Halloween-themed treats with friends.
All you bakers out there will definitely enjoy a chance to get elbow-deep in sweet treats for Halloween. Even if you aren’t good at baking, grab some friends and let your creativity run wild. It’ll be fun because you’re with company and you get to devour whatever you make - after taking pics for Instagram!
2. Host a Halloween bake-off in your building.
You don’t need to be an RA to plan exciting events for your fellow residents. Hang up flyers around your building a week or two in advanced to advertise your bake-off. Teams are always welcome! You can meet new people this way and it’ll be a fun night filled with spooktacular goodies!
3. Give out candy to “trick-or-treaters”.
Have you ever wondered if people in college still go knocking on the doors of their residence halls as trick-or-treaters? Now’s your chance to find out! Tape a sign to your door to let people know that you are willing to give candy and just have a bag ready. This is also a fun way to meet the people who live in your building!
4. Throw a face-paint party in your room.
Grab some friends or advertise in your building. You’ll have fun trying out monster and special effects makeup and you’ll feel like quite the makeup artist! Looking to make a little extra cash? Offer to paint people’s faces for money, especially since a lot of people would like some special effects makeup for parties and such.
5. Tell creepy campfire stories.
Your room is the dark forest for the night! Get your friends together, grab some blankets and snacks, and turn off the lights save for a flashlight in the center of your circle. I know, I know, that sounds beyond corny but you’d be surprised at how long you could keep up telling freaky urban legends and scaring yourselves crap-less!
6. Carve pumpkins to decorate your residence hall.
This will be especially exciting if you’re a newbie to the art of carving shapes into big, orange fruit (yes, pumpkins are, in fact, fruits). You can buy a pumpkin carving stencil kit ahead of time as a guide and make creepy pumpkins. Place the pumpkins around your building or outside the building. Of course, you won’t be able to put candles inside them for an ominous glow but it’s the thought that counts!
19 Misconceptions About College Students
Don’t you just hate being guilty by association? Because you’re a college student everyone just assumes that you do all this stereotypical “college student stuff” when in reality you don’t even do half of what society thinks you do. Time to crack down on some of those stereotypes society paints on college students. Some of this is true to some extent however it doesn’t apply to every single college student in America.
1. If you’re in a Bio class you’re definitely pre-med.
Yes, bio is a requirement for pre-med students, however, it doesn’t mean that everyone there plans on going to med school. In the first place, there’s also dental school, vet school, and nursing school. Second, there are other majors that require natural science courses for completion. Kudos to you if you plan on going to med school but it’s annoying to be asked why you’re in chemistry if you aren’t pre-health…
2. If you’re on your laptop during class you must be on Facebook.
Okay, not every college student has a Facebook, thank you very much. I have a professor who always assumes that if a student is typing on his or her computer during class then they have to be “Facebooking”. Maybe it’s true but maybe it’s not. They could be, oh I don’t know, typing notes from lecture.
3. You drink coffee to stay awake.
Not everyone drinks coffee, some of us prefer tea. Sure, a lot of students drink coffee - especially if there’s a Starbucks on campus that accepts meal points - but you’d be surprised by how many students actually say they don’t have coffee. Just because we’re staying up till 3a.m. doesn’t mean we chugged 3 Venti coffees.
4. To de-stress you smoke.
Umm, there’s also something called “music” and “exercise”. It can be so annoying when people assume that when you just want to take a load off it means that you’re going to grab some buddies and smoke for a while. Many of us have never even touched a cigarette or a vaporizer and furthermore, with all the resources available on college campuses there are many other methods of relaxation.
5. You have definitely been to a party.
My freshman year when I hung out with my best friend (who went to a different college) and her younger sister, I was accused of being a “liar” because I said I haven’t gone to a college party. Excuse me but I didn’t realize there was a rule that said all college kids had to go to parties! It’s your choice if you want to go to college parties but for those of us who choose not to why should we be harassed about our supposed lack of truthfulness?
6. You’ve hooked up with at least one person.
Sadly, I have heard people say that one thing they hope to get out of college is a hook up. College isn’t about that kind of thing and shouldn’t be. Yes, you’re expected to network but not that kind of networking! Stop being surprised when people tell you that they have never hooked up before.
7. Everyone lives on campus.
Many people have this idea that the ultimate college experience is dorming on campus and everyone does that. Even at a college where the majority of students are residents, there is still a good chunk of students who commute. Sometimes commuter students who attend a school that is majority residential students can feel left out. Instead of asking someone you just met “what quad do you live on?” ask them if they commute or dorm first.
8. You sleep in and miss your first class of the day.
This is a big misconception that paints college students as uncaring and irresponsible. Sleep is valuable but many students still get up in the morning to get themselves to class on time. Not every student with an 8a.m. class is doomed to miss it.
9. You don’t know how to do laundry.
While it may be true that some people do their own laundry for the first time while in college, more people than you think already knew how to wash clothes without shrinking anything or running colors so jokes about turning white shirts pink don’t really apply to them.
10. Everyone has a boyfriend or girlfriend.
You see couples strolling through campus while holding hands. In fact, you might see it so often that you’re inclined to think that everyone on campus is dating someone. A huge percentage of the college population dates, however not everyone is currently dating. There are some students who are single and ready to mingle!
11. You hate the college you attend.
Well if your hatred for your college is so much of a distraction then feel free to transfer out. College is one of the most spirited institutions you will ever spend your life at - many students are proud to be where they are even if they don’t always say it.
#Seawolves4Life
12. You only go home for the holidays.
A misconception is that the typical college student is home only for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break (unless they’re in Cancun), and Summer. Despite this, there are many students who go home as frequently as every week. Of course, for many students who are from other states or countries this is not a possibility for them but bear in mind that there are actually some students who make frequent trips home.
13. Everyone does well.
Not at all. There will be those occasional students with a 4.0 but not everyone does well in college. Maybe they don’t realize that the major they chose isn’t doing them any justice or maybe they lack motivation to set themselves up for success. Maybe they don’t know how to set themselves up for success. It’s not surprising to have students who have performed badly according to the university’s standards.
14. Economics and Business majors take the “easy way out”.
I had a conversation over the phone with my best friend about majors at her school versus the ones at mine. She said it annoyed her that so many people were pre-med but after a year decided to be Business majors or Economics majors instead to take the “easy way out”. You can imagine how much that annoyed me because I’m an Economics major. Don’t assume that everyone looks for the easy way out. Sure, it’s nice for life to be easy as pie but some people have a genuine interest in the field and it’s unfair to label them as slackers.
15. Science majors are obviously super smart.
First of all, everyone of every major is smart. Second, our brains work in different ways. Some people can comprehend science quicker and easier than others while some struggle with it but are good at other things. Just because Biology is your declared major doesn’t mean you’re great at it - you can still struggle with it.
16. Everyone gains 15 pounds their freshman year.
While Freshman 15 is a popular college myth that can catch a handful of victims every year, there are some people who don’t gain weight their first year of college. Some people jokingly credit that to their small meal plan which keeps them in check and dissuades them from buying that pint of ice cream for dessert every night.
17. Everyone studies at the library.
It’s a well-liked place to study, however, there are avid studiers in every crevice of campus if you really pay attention. At my school, some people like the toned down vibe of the lounge near our on-campus Starbucks - I can definitely vouch for that! Others have found more interesting places to study and call their own.
18. You don’t know enough about what’s going on in “the real world”.
It’s the assumption that college kids are more concerned with how they look in their new profile picture than the current state of the economy. There are many students who follow current events very closely and can tell you in detail about the "hottest topics" circulating the world in politics, business, and such. 
19. You don’t need help.
This is a big point in your life when you could use all the help you can get. Whether it be navigating resources on campus, help for a particular class, or deciding on a career path your university is there to help you through it. College has many tough decisions and it’s only the beginning of them!
MY STUDY SESSION PLAYLIST
You just can't help but get and shake it up when Taylor Swift's Shake It Up starts blaring from your headphones but it's just a little counterproductive when you get up from your textbook every five minutes to move your hips like there's no one around to watch.
I enjoy playing music while I study or do homework. In fact, if there is a lot of background noise while I'm trying to study, I'll put in headphones and play music to drown out that background noise. Sometimes, I can't even fully concentrate in dead silence either - it's the way my brain works.
So what songs do I listen to to keep me from starting a conga line while I'm studying? Taylor Swift? Fallout Boy? 5 Seconds of Summer? Or is it Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea? Ariana Grande? Would you believe it if I told you that I like listening to classical music and composed pieces while I study? I know, I know, Katy Perry is not a classic even though she's super awesome! (I love you Katy!)
I've been in the school band since the 7th grade - a proud clarinetist. We played a lot of classical pieces and a lot of medleys from Broadway. I also discovered some interesting composers by performing in the band so I like to listen to some of the songs that we performed and also look for others from my favorite composers.
I love listening this kind of music while studying because:
- there are no lyrics so there are no words that could confuse you while you're studying
- many songs have five different atmospheres in one piece
- this kind of music makes me overall more alert
- the instruments sound so natural and not fake and it promotes calm in my opinion
Have I sold you yet on the idea of listening to classical music while studying? I sure hope so! We know Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi - true classics - but here are a few other songs that I like to have ready for a study session:
1. The Witch and the Saint by Steven Reineke
This is probably my all-time favorite piece ever! Steven Reineke's pieces are usually drawn from mythology (which I love to begin with!) and they paint clear and heated stories - like you could almost hear the saintly sister calling out to you through the flute. This eerie piece matches the mystery of college homework!
2. Fate of the Gods by Steven Reineke
Another Steven Reineke favorite. This one depicts the primordial world and features Loki - the Norse trickster God in an intense battle against good. I love playing this one when I'm writing a paper because there are a few hurried ballads that promote a sense of urgency. My fingers literally type faster when these parts come on!
3. Goddess of Fire by Steven Reineke
You're probably wondering when I'm going to shut up about Steven Reineke but what can I say - I'm a huge fan of his music! Goddess of Fire is a great warm up song - a song that can really get me in the mood for some intense Study Guide - typing! With many changes in tempo, like many of his other pieces, I seem to speed up and slow back down naturally.
4. Grand March from Aida by Verdi
This song is truly grand! In high school we performed this piece as a band during our graduation ceremony. It's elegant and majestic and though I can't help but sway my head to the bright tune of the trumpet solo it's a great piece to accompany a reading assignment.
5. The Tenth Planet by Gustav Holst
This is great for angrily writing study guides. Sometimes when you're pen gets moving it just can't stop and with this song you won't want to take a break! Better for you since you'll get your work done quicker!
6. Hoedown from Rodeo by Aaron Copland
The Tenth Planet is great for angry writing while Hoedown is great for hyperactive writing though they both have the same effect. It's a great supplement because you feel uplifted while studying even though there aren't words in the song to confuse you!
7. The Tempest by Robert W. Smith
I love this piece because the rhythms are simple and create a sense of urgency to get those hands typing faster. I love that I seem to focus with the pace of the song while staying tuned into my work!
These are my top 7 songs to study to! They keep me focused while drowning out background noise. If you're having trouble focusing on work then I suggest adding in a healthy dose of the classics to your musical lifestyle. You don't have to start listening to them while studying right away but feel around for your favorite composers and pick and choose works from their collections. Can you guess who my favorite composer is? ;)
31 TIPS FOR HEALTHY COLLEGE LIVING
College opens the doors to many opportunities for internships, networking, education, and even bad lifestyle choices! Follow these 31 tips to improve the choices you’ve been making:
1. Replace breaded chicken with grilled chicken.
This is a simple dining hall substitution you can make when ordering a sandwich or eating any meal given the choice between the two. Breaded chicken contains more salt, more calories, and more fat than grilled chicken since the skin is removed from grilled chicken.
2. Go for frozen yogurt instead of ice cream.
Replace that pint of ice cream from the grab and go section with a small cup of original frozen yogurt with fresh fruit on top. Frozen yogurt has less sugar than ice cream and the cups are usually smaller which allows for better portion control.
3. Choose oil based salad dressings over creamy dressings.
I’ll admit, I’m a Ranch-girl…and Caesar-girl, and other deliciously creamy dressings-girl, however, these kinds of salad dressings may not have your best interests at heart. Oil based dressings are a healthier addition to your salad. They’re light and carry more nutritious calories. I’ve tried raspberry dressing over my salad and it’s absolutely delicious!
4. Substitute spinach for lettuce in your salads.
It’s become common knowledge that leafy green vegetables are packed with nutritious elements - more so than other vegetables. I spoke to our previous on-campus dietician and she told me that Romaine lettuce is also a better substitution for Iceberg lettuce, which doesn’t pack as much of a nutritional punch.
5. Enjoy a sweet treat once in a while.
Okay, those with a sweet tooth (like myself) can’t stay away from sweets for too long! I know exactly how you guys feel but I also know that you know that sugary foods in excess will do more harm than good for our bodies. At the same time I’m not going to tell you that as a snack you’re allowed to eat an apple, some nuts, and carrot sticks because I’d hate to hear that myself. A cookie as dessert after dinner isn’t so bad - in my opinion, it’s actually just about right. Know what moderation means for you so you can avoid making not-so-sweet mistakes!
6. Train yourself to enjoy tea without sugar.
How many of you so-called “tea-lovers” actually drink tea without added sugar? It’s cool that you’re getting into herbal tea but it defeats the purpose if you’re going to add, like, three sugar packets every time you make it. Sometimes, sugarless tea can be an acquired taste and you’ll probably have to grow into it but in the end, it’s way better than your daily milkshake.
7. Beware of bottled juice.
In recent years it’s become more and more evident that not all fruit juices are good for you. Many of them contain added sugar, which, like the tea situation, defeats the purpose of drinking something that should be good for you. Be a little pickier when choosing your juices - you can definitely end up skipping out on the unnecessary sugar.
8. Need a boost of energy? Skip the coffee.
How many coffee-lovers are reading this right now? Don’t hate me for saying this but coffee isn’t always the best way for you to pick up the pace or get off your butt. If you’re feeling drowsy and at a loss of willpower to actually do stuff then try exercising in your room to get the blood pumping. It doesn’t cost money for you to do 20 jumping jacks and you’ll instantly become more alert.
9. Join a fitness class at the rec center.
If you can’t trust yourself to workout alone then joining a fitness class will give you motivation to actually show up and workout since you made a commitment to it. You’d be in a room with an instructor and a bunch of other people who want to get the most out of the class and you’ll look kind of stupid just standing there while everyone else is moving around. This is a great way to get in some exercise, which will contribute to your well being in the long run.
10. Always allow injuries to heal completely.
I get that you’re so excited to hit the soccer field again but running around on a half-healed ankle isn’t going to do you much good. If you’ve ever tried to to get back into the game with an injury that hasn’t healed properly you probably know that you’re making things worse for your injury. Please try to contain your enthusiasm at least for another few weeks. It’s great that you love being active but it’s in your best interest that you get back in the swing of things when you’ve definitely healed up properly.
11. If it hurts, you’re probably doing something wrong.
It’s very important to know when to stop a workout because continuation could lead to injury. There’s a possibility that you’re in pain because you don’t have the correct form or you’re pushing yourself to a level that your body isn’t ready for yet. In any case, this is a red flag for you to stop what you’re doing!
12. Drink plenty of water.
Whether you’re working out or not, you need to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Water does a lot for your body, including benefiting your skin and kidney function. Not taking in adequate water could lead to dehydration and passing out during a chem test most definitely is not fun!
13. Start with small workout goals.
Take your workout one step at a time so you don’t push yourself to exhaustion or injury. Like anything else, progress is a matter of time. Start off small and work your way up towards bigger goals.
14. During allergy season, always have allergy medicine on you.
Allergies can be the most annoying thing ever when you didn’t take your medicine so you’re sneezing up a storm in Multi-variable Calculus! If you don’t have time to take your medicine before you leave for class make sure you can grab it to go so you can take it before it gets worse. You’ll be able to focus better in class since you won’t have to look at lecture slides through itchy, watery eyes.
15. Beware of sick roommates.
Don’t treat them like they’re flu-infested zombies but at the same time, be more aware of the fact that the two (or three) of you share a space so it’s easier for someone to catch a cold from someone else. In college, any time can be the worst time to get sick - mountains of homework, exams to study for, internship work - it sucks being sick when you have a lot on your plate! You and your roommate can take precautions to ensure that no one has more than a few sniffles in the morning.
16. Drink plenty of water when sick.
I said water, not Starbucks, even if the hot pumpkin spice latte tickles your tummy with warmness! Drinking water when sick can help calm or even prevent a fever. That hot latte probably isn’t looking so awesome now, is it?
17. Have a steady supply of cough drops.
Sore throat? Annoying cough? Rationing cough drops until your throat feels better? Yeah, we’ve all been there at some point. It’s the little things that add up to make us feel better inside. You may not think that cough drops are super essential but with a super stuffy nose, burning fever, and aching body, a calm throat is one less problem to worry about.
18. Don’t party when you’re sick.
You already feel like crap and if you party too hard, you’ll feel even worse than crap the next day. I know, I know, you need a little pick-me-up despite the stuffy nose but if you involve alcohol and super loud music with your plans then I doubt you’ll give yourself a pat on the back in the morning.
19. Know where health resources are on campus.
This way, when you really need something you know exactly where to get it. The Health Center is definitely one of the places on campus you should be familiar with since it has a ton of resources for all your health related needs.
20. Don’t hesitate to go to the Health Center when needed.
Especially if it’s an emergency! This is also where knowing the exact location of the health center will come in handy. Your health is important and if you really need medical attention then you shouldn’t waste time getting it!
21. Dress appropriately for the weather.
Don’t sacrifice comfort and your well being for fashion and looking hot. Short shorts and a tank top in the chilly autumn weather doesn’t sound found at all you’ll probably walk around shivering all day. Failing to dress appropriately for the weather can also result in catching a cold, which is completely avoidable.
22. Sometimes, rest is the best medicine.
You’ve got three exams to study for, four papers to write, and five different homework assignments due in two days but you’re feeling cruddy - like way under the weather. You’re probably wondering where you should start first but how about starting by taking some time to rest to regain your strength and focus is the best idea? This is the best way to go in this situation because you won’t be able to perform at half your best if you’re feeling this bad.
23. Time out for a little bit.
It’s okay to feel like you need to zone out for a few hours to gather yourself again. This is 110% fine because your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you’re really feeling like you need a vacation from school work, your part-time job, your roommate, and your friends then take a mental vacation for a little bit.
24. Talk to friends about your worries.
It’s not good to bottle up your feelings inside for a really long time. Everyone needs some way to vent their feelings otherwise it’s like three angry raccoons clawing away at your brain. Your friends are your friends for a reason - because you trust them so you should be able to confide in them whatever is on your mind.
25. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
It’s great that you want to get so involved with your campus but also know when to tone it down and and just manage what’s already on your plate. 12-hour days 5 days a week can get kind of extreme and super annoying super quickly so make sure you give yourself ample time to not worry about club meetings, classes, and such.
26. Enjoy the preciousness of alone time once in a while.
You’ve probably already realized or are starting to realize that when you can have some alone time it’s one of the best feelings ever. Don’t misunderstand - having some alone time is not the same as being lonely. Yes, you might love your roommate(s) but it’s healthy to require alone time once in a while and don’t be surprised if your roommate expects the same as well. It’ll give you time to collect your thoughts and compose yourself and just breathe on your own.
27. Have one or two really good friends.
You don’t need to be that kid on campus who’s friends with everyone and knows everyone. Having one or two really good friends is all you really need - a few people to rant to and have fun with who you can be completely honest with is probably better than having a colossal group of friends where someone has a problem with someone else and there’s drama.
28. Develop a stress-coping method.
Stress happens. Maybe not as frequently for some people as others but everyone feels the pressure once in a while. It’s important to have a strategy for dealing with stress when it comes up because you’ll already know how to deal with it so that you get right back on track. Many people listen to music, some like having a nice workout at the gym. Find what works for you in stressful situations so you’ll always bounce back quickly!
29. Develop a ritual for relaxation.
You don’t have to be stressed out to need a little rest and relaxation from time to time. It’s completely healthy (and a great idea) to create a schedule for how you’ll relax when needed. Maybe you like giving yourself a facial while painting a sweet mani on your nails and kicking back to some Orange Is The New Black on Netflix. Believe me, Netflix and nail polish works wonders when you need some down time.
30. Master the art of napping.
We aren’t all going to have the ideal sleep schedule so napping during the day is a great way to re-charge before taking on another task. Nap smart by paying attention to how napping corresponds with brain activity. For example, taking a 60 minute nap will help you be able to recall facts that you studied better. Make your naps work for you even when you aren’t actually doing work!
31. Interact with your college.
Get out and participate in an on-campus event. These events are a great way to bring the campus community together and allow students to take a bit of time off and hang out with their friends. If there’s always something going on at your college then take advantage and get out a little bit. You don’t have to go to every event that pops up but take a look around once in a while.
19 SIGNS IT'S TIME TO CHANGE YOUR MAJOR
1. You Chose your major because everyone else chose it.
This can be very common - you pick a major because everyone around you seems to have this major and you feel inclined to have it as well. At my school, it’s extremely common for students to be either Bio majors or Health Science majors so it might be easy for some people to conform to what their friends choose. Break loose and take the road less travelled, or at least be adventurous enough to look into something other than the “norm” for your school.
2. You get bored with your major.
If the classes you’re taking for your current major aren’t keeping you interested enough then maybe it’s time for you to consider making a change! I was a Health Science major during my freshman year but realized that the classes I was taking for the major weren’t interesting in my opinion. They might have been the coolest classes in someone else’s opinion but for me, we just didn’t click. This is a sure fire sign that you should look into other options.
3. You aren’t doing well in your classes for that major.
Sure, GPA isn’t everything but getting A’s shows that you have a more than adequate level of mastery in a subject. Plus, your GPA can affect your attendance at many program that you might want to be part of in college. If you’re failing miserably then maybe you should think about going on another track. They say quitters never win but at the same time, everyone should know when it’s appropriate to quit.
4. You research other majors.
The fact that you’re actually taking time out of your ever so busy schedule to sit down and research other majors shows that you might be, even in the very back of your mind, considering pursuing a different path and probably with good reason since only you know your interests better than anyone else.
5. You have a new career path in mind.
This is yet another sure fire sign that it’s time make the switch because chances are, your current major has barely anything to do with your new career objective! I was planning on using my Health Science major for a career in the Dental field but then I decided I wanted to be a strategy analyst so I switched to a major in Economics. These two are very different from each other so clearly it wouldn’t have made any amount of sense for me to stick with a Health Science major!
6. You just chose the major because you’ll make a lot of money from it.
I have always been told, “you shouldn’t pick a major for a career because of the money that comes with it - do what you want to do and what you love doing.” On the other hand I’ve also been told that money makes the world go ‘round. Making lots of money in the future is fantastic and all but how worth it is it if you despise the career you have? If you’re a Bio major because you plan on going to med school to make a lot of money but you know you’ll hate being any kind of doctor then why force yourself to stay on that track? When you allow yourself to become who you want to be you’ll be surprised at how much easier you’ll be able to breathe!
7. You put little to no thought into the major.
I never cease to be surprised at how many people have no idea why they chose the major that they did - the numbers are shocking! Simply knowing just a few things you can do with your major is just scratching the surface. You clearly didn’t delve any deeper (or at all!) when you picked this major. No, no one expects you to know every single use for your major, every single class you need to take, every single acceptable elective, and all the ins and outs of the major by heart (yet) but if you can relate to the shoulder-shrugging when people ask you why you chose your major then this is very likely a reason why you should put more thought into a different major!
8. You can’t list three things that interest you about the field.
No, your signature shoulder-shrug does not count as a reason why you're interested in your field! Anything can be “interesting” but with your major you need some substance to back up that so-called “appeal” of the field. If you can’t sit down and come up with a couple of reasons why your major interests you then you either love being bored or you should find a major that you can click with better!
9. You find it very difficult to connect your major to your passions outside of class.
I’m sure every college student is tired of hearing “do what you’re passionate about” but truth be told, that’s probably one of the best pieces of advice you’ll ever get. Everyone is different so everyone has different things their passionate about, otherwise we’d all be engineers or chemists or journalists. If you know that you can make a career out of your passion and if you, at any point, realize that your current major isn’t allowing you to practice your passion then maybe - just maybe - you should switch to a major that accommodates that passion.
10. Your academic advisor suggests other options.
If someone else is trying to tell you what they think you should do then chances are…they think they’re know-it-alls so you should just ignore them, however, your academic advisor isn’t just “someone else” and, other than your family members, they give you advice to help you. Academic Advisors will frequently try to help you overcome any struggles you might have with your major, however, if it gets to a point where they actually suggest that you change majors, be ready to make the change - they’re telling you this for a reason.
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11. your current major doesn’t highlight your strengths. |
Who’s horrible at math? What about English? Foreign languages are also a field of difficulty for many people. The great thing about we humans is that what we lack on one side, we make up for with another. I have friends who aren’t good in English but great at Chemistry and Biology so they chose majors along those lines. If you absolutely suck at math then picking an Applied Math major is probably one of the worst decisions of your life! On the other hand maybe you’re a talented writer and should consider a major in Journalism. Part of this game is learning how to play to your strengths!
12. Your major highlights your weaknesses.
What’s the one thing worse than a major that doesn’t highlight your strengths? One that emphasizes your weaknesses! If you think you don’t have any strengths, number one, you’re probably wrong, and number two, if there’s one thing you do, you must avoid majors that emphasize your weaknesses! You won’t do well in your classes and you’ll be miserable, then it might take failing a few core classes to realize that this isn’t the major for you. This is your chance to stop it before it gets that far!
13. Every time someone asks what you want to do with your life you never give them one clear, straight answer.
This is a common expression of doubt in your current field, although not knowing exactly what your dream job is isn’t always a bad thing. I’ve noticed that when you ask people what they plan to do with their majors, those who said they weren’t sure were way more likely to change their majors than those who had some kind of idea of what they wanted to do. It’s fine to have a few possibilities in mind (in fact, backup plans are great) but if you’re a shoulder-shrugging culprit every time someone pops that question then you will likely change your major at some point.
14. You find more opportunities that you’d really enjoy in another field.
Let’s face it - there are some fields that are difficult to find job placement for, which can be very discouraging sometimes. If you’re really (like really, really) drawn to other opportunities in other fields then don’t mind the major-swap. You might genuinely feel like it’s worth it and as long as you’re happy with it then that’s all that matters!
15. The work is very difficult.
Yes, we will all have at least one class that is extremely challenging within our majors and no, you shouldn’t quit because of one hard class - power through it and you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel! However, if you’re really struggling with almost all of the coursework then all this is doing is discouraging you, lowering your GPA, and making you miserable. If the work is so bad for you then don’t hesitate to get in touch with an advisor to make the necessary changes!
16. The credit hours is too much to handle.
Yes, we should all strive to go the extra mile but at one point are we running one mile too many? It’s important for us all to know our limits in terms of course work and credit hours because if we’re a bit too ambitious at any given time we’ll just end up with an overly rough semester and suffer because of it. If your major basically guarantees four years of the roughest, most struggle-filled semesters known to humankind then maybe you should try to regroup yourself and pick a slightly lighter load.
17. You feel like the time you spend on each class isn’t worth it.
We all have a different idea of what’s “worth it” so this really comes down to personal preference. If you feel like you’re expending a ridiculous amount of time on the classes for your major yet you aren’t really getting anything satisfying out of it then you’re probably in need of a change.
18. You want to go with your gut.
Our gut feeling has been there for us during the best of times and the worst of times and it will undoubtedly be there for us when faced with the decision to change majors. Despite a few of my earlier points your gut feeling is still there to support you no matter what - like another parent just without an audible voice. If your gut is leaning you towards a certain field then chances are it’s at least worth looking into.
19. You realized that you have new interests.
Kudos to you for making that discovery! Finding new interests can be very refreshing, especially because no one wants to work in monotony for the rest of their lives. Being able to find something exciting that keeps you excited is a fantastic source of motivation for you to keep doing what you’re doing! Don’t be afraid to change majors because your interests have changed - this is one of the best reasons to change majors!
What An "Easy A" SHOULD Mean
I'm a blogger, artist, baker, crocheter, Orange Is the New Black binge-watcher, and much more but first and foremost, I'm a student. That means that I know what it's like to hunch over twenty-page papers all afternoon, complete one hundred-question homework assignments, get lectured about time management, study every night for two weeks in preparation for ONE exam, sleep, and then repeat. Here's a little more background so you get a slightly better idea of what I'm like as a student:
Never have I ever procrastinated for an assignment, project, or studying and I never will. Never have I ever not gone the extra mile to make my work better than expected. Never will I ever settle for "satisfactory." Are you starting to get the picture? You've probably heard the saying, "Quality, not quantity." I do what I do to ensure that my results are of quality that is up to my (high) standards. Doing this lets me rest assured that I truly did everything I could to help"" my grade in a class - I'd hate to have any regrets.
But when you have a rigorous 19-credit college schedule, intense training to go through for an on-campus organization, and exams, labs, and homework assignments due left and right, the best thing you could ask for is just a small break. Of course, the next best thing would be a few "Easy A" classes in your schedule - those classes that are like a breath of fresh air because doing well in them is such a breeze!
You cannot tell me that no one on the face of the earth would be ecstatic to have one of those classes. Yes, I am one of those people who love a challenge, like many others, but sometimes it's just nice to have something that just isn't a major challenge.
Over the summer my fall schedule underwent some plastic surgery - I was completely changing my course of study in college so I needed to add the right classes to my schedule and drop the ones I no longer needed. For one class in particular that I already added, I found out that a friend of mine had coincidentally registered for the same class because he heard it was "...an easy A." I was surprised to hear this but just as equally relieved to have an "easy" class among extremely difficult ones.
Now that I am a few weeks into the semester and got a good taste of my classes, including the supposedly "easy A" class, I can honestly say that I am annoyed with the perceived standards of an "Easy A" class.
I feel that the term "Easy A" is relative to our own work ethics. That friend of mine is one of those who live by the motto, "C's get degrees," without trying to lift a finger more than they feel necessary to earn better than the standard passing. I'm not bashing him or anyone with a similar work ethic - we are all our own people. To him, an "Easy A" means inactively listening to lectures, b.s.-ing homework assignments, and little to no preparation for exams - do this and you're guaranteed an A in the class.
First of all, are there even college classes like that that exist today? If you can find one college class at any University that allows students to slack off at the maximum level, do let me know...It would probably be better to say that this might get you a C in the class if you're lucky, considering that many colleges have rigorous courses where even introductory courses require a lot of effort. So this is probably what an "Easy pass" looks like...
It seems to me that whether some students are hard workers or slackers, they seem to share a similar view of what an "Easy A" class means to them - the view is very similar to what I described as my friend's perspective! Maybe in a perfect world that is the definition of an "Easy A" class - however, we don't live in a perfect world.
In my opinion, a class should be deemed as an "Easy A" if students can follow the expectations outlined by the syllabus and get the A. There have been times when I did a bit more than what the Syllabus expected of me yet still got below an A in the class. It's discouraging and I'll be the first to admit that. I've also seen people do what I'd call close to nothing and still end up in the A-range. Maybe that's what molds peoples' idea of the quality of work required for an "Easy A" class.
I think that students should adopt a new perspective on what constitutes an "Easy A" class: complete the homework assignments with the quality suggested by the syllabus; attend lectures; get the grades on exams as suggested by the syllabus; and so on and so forth. A class that is an "Easy A" should mean that you do what is expected rather than do nothing and luck out with a decent grade. This should challenge students with a habit of slacking off big time to put in more effort and show development in quality in order to bring out a better work ethic. It should also cushion students with a tendency to overwork to ensure that their effort is graded justly.
THE KINDS OF CLUBS AT YOUR COLLEGE'S INVOLVEMENT FAIR
Back to school time usually means back to clubs and extracurriculars, or in other words, activities to make your week less boring and a little more full of purpose! Sometimes it can be hard to navigate the plethora of tables managed by different on campus clubs and organizations. Some people like to categorize the clubs so they visit what they're interested in. I went to my college's involvement fair last week and I made sure I got a peak at just about everything there! I noticed a few recurring themes between many of them and thus, this post was born! Here are the types of clubs that you'll see at your college involvement fair:
1. Greek Life
Greek life is popular among many, many, many college campuses. At my outdoor involvement fair, Greek Life tables were situated in a good chunk of outdoor plaza. The involvement fair is a fantastic way for them, like other organizations, to advertise and gain recruits. Just look for non-English alphabet and you've found your frats and sororities. In all seriousness, Greek Life helps you build a sense of community with the people around you. You build character and learn to trust your peers as if they were your brothers or sisters! Fraternities and Sororities also provide cool accommodations and events for their members. Confession time: I absolutely cannot tell you what each of the letters mean (I took Latin in high school) and which frat is a brother to which sorority!
2. Community Service Clubs
This kind of club was probably number one on my list of clubs to sign up for this semester. Community service clubs provide students with a great way to get involved on and off campus and they help students become aware of and get in touch with people from other organizations. A great example of a community service club would be your college Key Club or Kiwanis Club. They provide members with cool opportunities to get out into the neighborhood for good causes! These also look great on graduate school applications and on resumes!
3. Sports Clubs
These are kind of different from intramural sports since these clubs are actually declared clubs at your college. Intramural sports have multiple teams within the same school competing against each other whereas established sports clubs compete with those of other colleges. There would surely be a sports club for everyone interested - soccer, volleyball, tennis, basketball, badminton, QUIDDITCH! Yes, Quidditch is a sport! My college has a pretty popular Quidditch team! This year, I signed up for the Field Hockey club. I have never played field hockey before but the great thing about Sports clubs is that you don't need experience to be part of a cool team!
4. Pre-Professional Societies
I'm talking about Pre-Med, Pre-Dental, Pre-Vet, Pre-Law, Pre-anything! These societies are fantastic to join if you are on a certain pre-professional track. They give you insight into the field you want to go into, the professional school application process, some test prep, and other great resources that you might not be able to find completely on your own! I used to be part of the pre-Vet society at my school and during one meeting, an alumni from the society brought in a dog and taught us how to examine him for things like cancer! It was a great hands-on experience that pre-vet students wouldn't want to miss out on! These societies overall just help you get more acquainted with your field before you actually go to Med School or Dental School or whatever school!
5. Honor Societies
These are groups that honor students with top averages. Think of them as an exclusive reward for keeping your GPA above a 3.5! You get access to exclusive scholarships, professional conferences, exclusive study abroad opportunities, bragging rights, and, of course, an awesome Honor Society t-shirt! Did that seal the deal for you?
6. Hobby/Recreational Clubs
These are a big part of the involvement fair because they probably comprise the majority of the extracurricular body at your college. These kinds of clubs are great for you to take a load off one night a week and just have some fun and interact with people! Some "hobby" clubs my school offers include archery, fencing, snowboarding, anime, forensics, culinary club, and lots more! Maybe you're a pre-law student but you want some time to get your cook on - join the culinary club! Or maybe you're a Biochem and Engineering double major who enjoys making scarves and beanies in his or her free time - the fiber arts club at your college is just right for you! No matter what your major or what track you're on, you can never, ever go wrong with hobby-type extracurriculars!
7. Cultural Clubs
Are you looking to stay intact with your culture or immerse yourself in a different one? Culture clubs are probably what you're looking for! There is a variety of culture-oriented clubs at colleges that anyone can join! Indian, Caribbean, East Asian, Hispanic, and many of these other clubs are designed to let students travel to another country with ever leaving campus! Immerse yourself in food, art, dance, and wardrobe from other cultures with these clubs!
8. Dance Clubs
My college, like many others, has a lot of different kinds of dance clubs. Of course, there's the main team that performs at the football games but there are others such as ballroom dance, ballet, Bhangra, step, and other campus dance troupes. I definitely don't think that I'm a good enough dancer to even be considered for the main dance team at my college (or at any college!) but the campus dance troupe and ballroom dance clubs have peaked my interest a little more since I have ballroom dance experience. These kinds of clubs will educate on different styles of dance while giving you a great workout and toned legs!
9. Emergency Response Organizations
This kind of organization seems to be growing in popularity and availability on college campuses. My college has two - the volunteer ambulance corps and the community emergency response team (CERT for short). They are student run however they have overseers from the district. I am part of the community emergency response team, which has trained and educated me in disaster preparedness. These organizations are a great way for students to gain experience in a highly professional and fast paced environment - perfect application builder for students on the pre-med track! They require a lot of intense training but if you can persevere through it all, you'll be glad you applied!
10. Social Issues Clubs
There are growing numbers of on campus clubs that highlight aspects of society such as the LGBT community, feminism, discrimination, the environment, and many more. Okay, the environment isn't too much of a "social" issue but I decided to throw that one in there because it is a global issue. These clubs educate students on these aspects within society and you don't necessarily have to be gay to join the LGBT club or you don't have to be a full-fledged feminist to join the feminism club. Likewise, you don't need to be a super tree-hugger to join the environmental club - the point is to gain a new perspective and consider insight that you might not have previously considered.
There you have it - the types of clubs at your college involvement fair. No matter what the type, all clubs share a common goal - to get students connected with the university and with each other. So get out there and join something! Join something you didn't think you'd ever join; join a club to be educated; join a club for experience in your field; join something that lets you help others. Most importantly, have fun while doing it!
APP SAVVY: 5 Apps for phones and computers that can help you conquer the hustle and bustle of college life!
No, I’m not talking about Tinder or Snapchat! College students are aware just as well as anyone else, if not better, of the “vital” stance of technology in today’s society. With technology playing a key role in the efficiency of day to day activities, it’s about time we start using our phones for something other than Facebook on the go!
1. The Calendar App
The calendar app is useful for organizing your entire day, thus allowing for a significantly reduced level of confusion! With the help of a calendar app, suddenly there is hardly anything hectic about a 10a.m. appointment with a professor, tutoring sessions, homework time, lunch with a friend, and club and organization meetings. In the morning just use your phone or computer to open up a calendar app and create a schedule for the day. Google Calendar is a great tool for this. The calendar app that comes pre- installed on iPhones is golden. It alerts you about your event 10-30 minutes in advanced so you’ll always remember what’s going on.
1. The Calendar App
The calendar app is useful for organizing your entire day, thus allowing for a significantly reduced level of confusion! With the help of a calendar app, suddenly there is hardly anything hectic about a 10a.m. appointment with a professor, tutoring sessions, homework time, lunch with a friend, and club and organization meetings. In the morning just use your phone or computer to open up a calendar app and create a schedule for the day. Google Calendar is a great tool for this. The calendar app that comes pre- installed on iPhones is golden. It alerts you about your event 10-30 minutes in advanced so you’ll always remember what’s going on.
No more forgetting to take a trip to the Bio lab to drop off some papers! This app is especially useful for students who usually have a lot on their plates for the day and want to have a way to manage their time better.
4. Google Drive
Google Drive is a great way to keep all of your documents and presentations in one convenient place. You can carry Google Drive with you anywhere because you can access it on any computer, and thus, have access to essays, presentations, and such as long as you have uploaded it to Google Drive already. Google Drive uses a simple interface so you have your documents in your account in just seconds! Google Drive also makes class projects a snap - everyone in your group can view and edit a presentation and there’s also a chat feature so your group can talk about the project even if you can’t physically be with them!
5. BlackBoard
Keep track of updates from all of your classes by using a BlackBoard app. Maybe you don’t have your laptop on you and can’t get to a computer on campus in a hurry but you really need to check BlackBoard for class updates. Downloading the app can save you time and grief. Have access to updates and messages from professors, grades and such with just a tap of the screen. Students can’t afford to miss a beat in college! BlackBoard will keep you right on track!
Technology is what you make of it - use it efficiently and your time will be spent efficiently. The above mentioned apps will ensure that college students supplement their learning by providing tools that help students stay organized and work smarter, not harder!
2. EasyBib
We all know that writing a works cited page for research papers in writing class can be extremely tedious. Even though MLA format is probably something that many of us have been introduced to since middle school and been practicing since high school, the correct format sometimes doesn’t stick to us. EasyBib makes it just that - easy! In less than two minutes you can have a perfectly structured citation for a source. Way better than following a model to handwrite all the citations for all of your sources! With EasyBib, you will always receive full credit for your works cited page in any class! EasyBib saves you a good chunk of time, especially considering that after writing an in-depth paper, students don’t want to concern themselves too much with a “perfect” works cited page - even a “decent” one might be setting the bar a little high. If you plan on taking some classes that require research papers throughout the semester then this app with be a lifesaver!
3. iBooks
This is an app that comes pre-installed on MacBooks and iPhones. This app is great for downloading and saving online versions of books. Imagine that you have a class that requires several classical novels, available for purchase at your campus bookstore. Who wants to pay for books that they likely won’t even touch during the semester? I’m being real here - I know that there are a handful of diligent students who will actually read the material expected of them, however, the vast majority will just let the books collect dust in their dorm rooms. Many students opt to just use the pdf version of these books for absolutely free, which sounds like a great idea. iBooks lets you keep all those downloads in one place. Yep, you don’t even need to bookmark any webpages - download the pdf version and move it to the iBooks collection. Now you have access to all the reading books for class with just one click!
We all know that writing a works cited page for research papers in writing class can be extremely tedious. Even though MLA format is probably something that many of us have been introduced to since middle school and been practicing since high school, the correct format sometimes doesn’t stick to us. EasyBib makes it just that - easy! In less than two minutes you can have a perfectly structured citation for a source. Way better than following a model to handwrite all the citations for all of your sources! With EasyBib, you will always receive full credit for your works cited page in any class! EasyBib saves you a good chunk of time, especially considering that after writing an in-depth paper, students don’t want to concern themselves too much with a “perfect” works cited page - even a “decent” one might be setting the bar a little high. If you plan on taking some classes that require research papers throughout the semester then this app with be a lifesaver!
3. iBooks
This is an app that comes pre-installed on MacBooks and iPhones. This app is great for downloading and saving online versions of books. Imagine that you have a class that requires several classical novels, available for purchase at your campus bookstore. Who wants to pay for books that they likely won’t even touch during the semester? I’m being real here - I know that there are a handful of diligent students who will actually read the material expected of them, however, the vast majority will just let the books collect dust in their dorm rooms. Many students opt to just use the pdf version of these books for absolutely free, which sounds like a great idea. iBooks lets you keep all those downloads in one place. Yep, you don’t even need to bookmark any webpages - download the pdf version and move it to the iBooks collection. Now you have access to all the reading books for class with just one click!
4. Google Drive
Google Drive is a great way to keep all of your documents and presentations in one convenient place. You can carry Google Drive with you anywhere because you can access it on any computer, and thus, have access to essays, presentations, and such as long as you have uploaded it to Google Drive already. Google Drive uses a simple interface so you have your documents in your account in just seconds! Google Drive also makes class projects a snap - everyone in your group can view and edit a presentation and there’s also a chat feature so your group can talk about the project even if you can’t physically be with them!
5. BlackBoard
Keep track of updates from all of your classes by using a BlackBoard app. Maybe you don’t have your laptop on you and can’t get to a computer on campus in a hurry but you really need to check BlackBoard for class updates. Downloading the app can save you time and grief. Have access to updates and messages from professors, grades and such with just a tap of the screen. Students can’t afford to miss a beat in college! BlackBoard will keep you right on track!
Technology is what you make of it - use it efficiently and your time will be spent efficiently. The above mentioned apps will ensure that college students supplement their learning by providing tools that help students stay organized and work smarter, not harder!
WAYS TO GIVE YOUR DORM A LITTLE EXTRA SOMETHING!!
- PICK A COLOR SCHEME FOR YOUR ROOM. My color scheme is black, white, and light blue so my zebra print bedding with a light blue accent color is perfect for my room! When you pick a color scheme you can dress your room up by having some accessories in those colors. As you can see in the top left, my magazine organizer (which actually doesn't hold magazines) suits my scheme with black and white horizontal stripes. I got it from Target for about $10. Next to it, I have a light blue cup and I put fake white pearls inside the cup so that my pens and pencils stand up right in there. Once again, these fit my theme perfectly! It's super simple but makes that corner of my desk super cute!
- PRINT AWESOME QUOTES FOR YOUR WALL. I didn't do this last year so my walls were really bare =( This year, however, I found a few cool things that I liked from Google Images, printed them out and taped them to my wall. I bought glitter tape from Scotch and created a glittery border around the print outs, just like the one above! It adds a little something yet it's so simple! One of mine reads: "SOME PEOPLE JUST NEED A HIGH-FIVE. IN THE FACE. WITH A CHAIR." So funny! I'm still in the process of adding a few more to my wall but this is a cool way to personalize your room.
- GET COOL ACCESSORIES. This is kind of what I was saying about the color scheme. Getting fun accessories like magazine holders, and pencil holders can be a fun way to dress up your room and make it a little more personal. You can use colors from your color scheme to do this and it'll look neat, organized, but fun!
- PICK A TRENDY STORAGE TOTE. These storage totes are a great way for you to organize small things in your room and they come in cool designs! I picked up a tote with a blue and white chevron design. In it, I store some food and snacks such as my favorite cereal, fruit cups, my mug, some forks and spoons, granola bars, and microwaveable macaroni cups. These storage totes add some color to your room and add some kind of decoration without going overboard!
- BUY POSTERS. Get some posters to cover up bare walls, too. I have an awesome ninja poster that my friend got me. My suite mate has a few big posters on her walls, which really adds a personal touch to your room, like the storage tote, without going overboard with everything. Most posters are relatively inexpensive and can be reused if you take care of them so this is a good idea.
- PUT YOUR CALENDAR TO USE. My favorite organizational item to have would probably be a dry erase calendar. I love being able to have my entire month planned out right in front of me, especially during a busy semester! I bought colorful dry erase markers to make all my writing super fun and aesthetically pleasing. This is actually a cool way to add a few pops of color to white walls in your dorm! Just pick up some mounting tape if you already have a calendar so you can safely hang it on your wall!
6 USEFUL THINGS THAT YOU WILL VERY LIKELY FORGET TO BRING TO COLLEGE WITH YOU!!
I know I definitely forgot a thing or two!
Packing for college can be crazy hectic - there's so much you need to bring with you! Clothes, shoes, school supplies, and shampoo just scratch the surface! I've created a list of a few very useful things that some people end up forgetting at home, miles away, when they first move into college. Be warned - I will not tell you about flip-flops, and high heels because in my opinion, those just aren't super necessary and for the record, I took like three pairs of ankle booties with 3-inch heels to college with me during my freshman year and wore ONE pair ONE time!
- AN UMBRELLA: This is an essential that, believe it or not, some people forget to bring with them when they initially move in! Rainy weather will really be your worst enemy if you don't have an umbrella! You'd probably have to make a mad dash to class or pray that the rain clears up whenever you have to leave a building! The area my college is located in is known for heavy downpours so I was extremely glad I remembered an umbrella, though I can't say the same for one of my old roommates!
- COMMAND HOOKS OR OTHER COMMAND PRODUCTS: These are super useful tools that I would never want to forget at home! In college you aren't allowed to damage the walls by hammering in nails so using command products that you just stick to the wall is a great alternative! During my freshman year, I put two command hooks on the back of my dorm door so that my roommates and I could have a place to hang up our towels. You can also use command tape or other brands of mounting tape to mount things that you don't want to clutter your desk, such as a calendar!
- DISH SOAP: Maybe you're a baker and will constantly use your building's kitchen to bake cookies and cupcakes - I sure did! Dish soap will help you get out all that food gunk from your bowls and spoons and things. Even if you don't bake, lots of people bring silverware from home if they want to enjoy cereal for breakfast straight out of their room, so dish soap is something to have so that you can properly clean your dishes!
- INTERVIEW CLOTHES: I am definitely guilty of forgetting this one and almost instantly regretted it! When you go for interviews for jobs and positions on campus, you need to present yourself in a respectable and professional manner - jeans and a leather jacket most definitely will not cut it! Some people will definitely overlook this one and scramble to find a last minute interview outfit (like I did!) Plan to bring a blazer, a button down, plain black leggings (if you're not a fan of dress pants or skirts) and a comfortable pair of flats. If you like skirts and dresses then make sure you pack a simple and professional piece!
- A SURGE PROTECTOR: A surge protector seriously saved me during my first semester. I was tripled and there weren't enough outlets in that room for three people! We each had a minimum of two devices we needed to plug in to charge, not to mention blow dryers, straighteners, and such! A surge protector easily let us double the number of outlets in the room! It was extremely useful, too, because I was the only one of my roommates who actually remembered to bring one!
- ENOUGH PAIRS OF UNDIES: Once again, I am super guilty of forgetting this! Like, I brought tons of pairs of undies but apparently I didn't bring enough! There were a handful of times when I was getting towards the end of the week and my supply of underwear was dwindling and I knew I had a lot but it seemed like some mysteriously disappeared! Please pack more than enough underwear. Whatever amount you think you need, add like five to it or maybe even ten!
Before I started packing for college I watched numerous YouTube videos on dorm thoughts and experiences and was warned multiple times to not pack your entire closet. I tried to follow the YouTubers' advice and I picked out pieces of clothes that I knew I'd wear (or thought I'd wear). Turns out two semesters later that I overpacked! Here's a short guide to make sure that in the event that you overpack (like I did!) you bring with you pieces of clothing that you will definitely need!
- Comfy sweatpants: This is a definite cuz there will be times when you just feel like wearing sweatpants and a shirt to class so having a few pairs handy will definitely be...handy! When I have to take an exam for a class I like to dress as comfortably as possible so a pair of sweatpants is something that I grab. I like sweatpants from Hollister and Pink which come in fun colors and are super comfortable!
- A Blazer and button down: You will probably have to interview for an on-campus job OR at least have an event on campus where you need to dress professionally so packing a blazer and a nice shirt is essential! I did NOT do this my first semester and regretted it because I had to claw through what I brought with me looking for something that might be appropriate for my interview. Thankfully, I managed to find a teal button down that I paired with solid black cotton leggings and a nice looking pair of ankle booties. That was close! Just be sure to pack even JUST ONE thing you'd wear in a professional setting.
- A very light jacket: Something like a nice utility jacket is great. I went to college in my state, New York, and there were some days that looked nice and sunny but were actually pretty chilly. Bringing a light jacket allows you to combat the chilly weather while still not bundling yourself up like a snowman for 65 degree weather.
- Pajamas: Don't forget your pajamas! You'd be surprised what people accidentally leave at home when packing for college; I've seen people forget their bedsheets and pillows at home, bath towels, and bathrobes - don't let pajamas be one of them! I don't know about you but I do not find sleeping in jeans very comfortable!
- Basic leggings: I think basic leggings are becoming a closet staple, especially since nowadays some people like to wear leggings as full blown pants (I am one of those people!) Leggings are a versatile piece that you should pack with you. In #2 I told you that I paired basic leggings with a button down for an interview - this is a good use of leggings! They are plain and very simple, pair them with heels, a blazer, and a nice top and you have a sophisticated look! Also, they are great for wearing to the gym if you decide to do a workout. Some schools have policies where you aren't allowed to use the exercise equipment without proper attire on - leggings are completely permissible! Leggings are also easy to throw on comfortable!
REASONS WHY YOU GAINED WEIGHT YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE
We've all heard of the infamous "Freshman 15" - you gain about 15 pounds your freshman year of college because you're dorming and have to eat campus food. In high school I was pretty athletic and pretty slim and usually wary of how healthy the foods I was consuming were and I knew I'd definitely be going to workout at the gym on campus regularly. Also I had quit drinking soda and juice since the start of junior year and only drank water and herbal tea (no coffee!) so, tbh, I never thought that I'd fall victim to Freshman 15. Haha, silly me! I go to a really big college (like 25,000 students) and we have lots of places to get food on campus so there was so much variety and I tried a bunch of new things and added a bunch of things to my new list of favorite foods. Needless to say I packed on the pounds...majorly! Most people think that you go to college and eat a lot and don't hit the gym and that's the only way you gain weight (umm, excuse me but I was at the gym several times a week doing very high impact exercises throughout my entire freshman year and I joined a fitness class there sooooooo). Here, I'll show you the underlying reasons why we actually end up with Freshman 15:
- You've been up super late doing homework and studying: College was the first time EVER that I've gone to bed after 11:30p.m. (I am NOT even kidding!!!!) but once the semester started I was up late, some nights until 2a.m., which is probably still nothing compared to people who stay up until 4a.m. When I stayed up so late doing homework and studying I was always tempted to snack on something to keep me "activated" and these snacks usually consisted of Doritos, granola bars and cookies from my stash, and pint cups of ice cream from the dining hall -DEF NOT GOOD STUFF!!!! We seem to have evolved to think of food as a motivator MORE SO than a necessity to sustain life. Plus being up late at some point you'll get the munchies and find it quite distracting while you're trying to study.
- You were introduced to Starbucks: First of all, I just want to say that I am NOT bashing Starbucks, I am just offering up a potential reason for weight gain because Starbucks definitely played a role in my Freshman 15 and I'm just sharing that with you so all you Starbucks-lovers don't go bashing me because you thought I was bashing your shop. =) Anyways, I was introduced to our on-campus Starbucks (two of them on one campus!!) and instantly fell for the Green Tea Frappuccino (because I love everything Green Tea flavored!!). I'll spare you the details and just say that sometimes it got to the point where I was at Starbucks two and three times a day, which was clearly bad for me. The Frnappuccinos that I loved to get were packed with sugar, even if I didn't ask for whipped cream! All that sugar in my system contributed to my weight gain and it was kinda like I realized the drinks were sugary but I didn't realize the impact they were having on me until I actually experienced it. This also tends to happen with soda and juices - not just Starbucks and this will happen to a lot of college students!!! Just saying, those yummy, sweet, cool drinks from Starbucks that you love definitely don't love you and your body!
- You want a quick fix: We college students are always on the go - from class to the library to class again to a review session to a group study session and sometimes it feels like all we have time for is a grab and go "meal" which lots of colleges offer. These food items come as pre-packaged sandwiches, wraps, cookies, crackers, and things that you literally pick up, pay for, and toss in your bag to eat when you find yourself having a five minute break. Plus you don't have to wait in line for it to be made for you! These options are not as nutrient-dense as the options from build-your-own salad or sandwich stations, where you can choose several veggies and lean protein rather than just chicken with lettuce in a wrap. DON'T get me started on those cookies! Often times we just feel like those are the options we have until we end obligations for the day and can retire with an actual meal. Try your best not to succumb to grab and go options, though, if you have it once a week or so it's completely fine! I'm no registered dietician but there's definitely a problem if you're having a grab and go scone and chocolate milk for every meal!
- You're working out at the gym but not eating well: Like I said, I did go to the gym regularly my freshman year but at the same time I was sucking down Starbucks regularly and picking up anything that looked delicious to me. Your diet plays a VERY important role in maintaining your weight and losing weight, more so than exercise (exercise contributes roughly 20% while diet is 80%). So cardio means nothing if you're stuffing your face with sugar and junk food. I have a friend who works out 6 days a week but I'd see him have breakfast during our first class of the day which was almost always two packages of Little Bites muffins and milk. This is also exactly what I was talking about with the quick fixes that we sometimes look for. A little junk food is completely fine once a week or so but don't do what I did because remember, running 3 miles on the treadmill and strength training mean nothing if you regularly stuff yourself with junk!
- You're eating food because it's there: I did this a lot throughout my first year and bought food because it was just there in the dining hall and not because I was actually hungry (plus, I had the highest meal plan offered at my school so I didn't mind spending some extra for the day!) I remember doing this a lot with the gelato station and sushi places. I'd buy 2 packages of freshly made sushi (they make it right there in front of you) so that's usually like 16 pieces of sushi in one sitting!!! 0.0 yikes! Try your best to avoid doing this! I know that we are only human and once in a while that mindless eating kicks in but if you can fight it, please do!
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