5 Cheap Gifts for Your Sweetheart on Valentine's

Photo By: epSos.de

Well, in the words of the great Bender of Futurama, "I'm back Baby". What would bring me back from my two month long hiatus, you say? Well, love, of course! Paul McCartney's performance at the Grammy's stirred up all those Beatles' love juices inside me, and I just had to come back, groveling at your feet, begging you to take me back and listen to my advice once again.

So here I am, and I hope you can forgive me for leaving. I thought about you everyday, and brought you a gift to make up for it. Well…..gift ideas at least. Five Valentine's gifts to give your sweetheart that won't break your tiny little student sized bank.

So here it goes, and P.S. - ILU.

5. Love Scavenger Hunt
Leave clues all around on little pieces of heart-shaped paper -- one leading to the other, pointing to a final destination found by your Valentine. Use clues that are about something personal, that only a few people would know, if not just you and your lover. The final destination can be a small gift, or just you.

4. Coupon Booklet
One Valentine's Day Eve long, long ago -- I was strapped for cash and wanted to get my girlfriend something. What I ended up doing was using Microsoft Word and little bit of creativity to print a custom coupon booklet of "love" for my sweetheart. Settle down, settle down -- it wasn't what you're thinking (dirty minded college kid).

The coupons were innocent and could be redeemed for anything from a back rub to cooking dinner one night. You can go the other way if you like, just remember to make it something you don't usually do that he/she enjoys, and it should work just fine.

Extra Advice: Make sure to punch holes in the coupon when it's used or you'll be stuck doing the laundry for a month until you realize you only made three of those freaking coupons in the first place.

How To Get Rid of a Hangover

Photo By: aerodesign

Ahh, the hangover -- dreaded reminder of a night devoted to forgetting. Though so-called "remedies" appear abundant at first glance, they always seem to do little in stopping its evil onset.

Well, I'm sorry to say that I won't be bringing you some ancient middle earth cure for the mistakes you made through others' encouragement last night, nor am I going to try and sell you some wonder pill that's supposed to soak up all those "Bad Booze Toxins" swimming around in your bloodstream. Instead, I will be sharing with you what has seemed to work for me -- so pay attention.......

Feeling Lonely? -- 5 Ways To Cure Those Freshman Blues

Photo By: Sara Björk

Moving away from your parents and friends for college can be kind of a shock, and unless you're some kind of "social butterfly" -- it might take a while for you to find interesting people you can connect with. So, here are a few ways to cure some of those in-between"home-town blues" while still meeting great new people.

Take a walk around campus (even if you don't have class)
I know this sounds a little obvious, but we've all had friends that, if they're not eating or going to class -- they're more than likely sitting in their dorm room alone. If I just described you, Get Out for God Sakes! Sitting around doing nothing is the leading cause of the dreaded Freshman Fifteen! Let me put it this way, I met the girl I've spent the last 5 years of my life with on a bus on the way back from "The Freshman Lot" (a place where Freshman have to park their cars if they live on campus). That moment was as random and coincidental as you can possibly get and it has shaped everything about my life ever since. You're never going to find what your looking for where you've already searched, so why not go out and have a look around somewhere else for once.

Leave your Hometown at Home
It's hard to leave people you care about and go on to something new, and I'm not saying you need to cut ties completely -- but if talking with your family and old friends consumes your life at college, you will never be able to form the new friendships and bonds your college years can create. It's alright to Skype a friend every once and a while, or even keep a long distance relationship working -- but you can't let it run your life. Make time for old friends as well as new ones. Being frank about it, if you loved home so much -- then why did you leave it to go to school in the first place? There is such a thing as online classes you know.

Join a club or organization
Joining a school club or organization is by far the easiest way to meet new people and make new friends (that is if you actually make time for it). You don't even need to sign up! When I was a Freshman living in the dorms, there was a Baptist Student Organization that always met at the bottom of College Hill and played Ultimate Frisbee every Wednesday afternoon. I never signed a paper or went to a single meeting with the group, but every Wednesday for a couple of months I would head down there and play a few games with them.

Google+ You = "Your Social Rebirth"

Have you ever logged onto Facebook and thought, "Who are you people and what have you done with my friends?" Me too! For some strange reason I have accumulated over 400 people that would consider themselves my "Friends", and all I ever see when I log on is them doing stuff without me. Because in truth -- we aren't really friends, we're "Facebook Friends".

Well, if you're tired of feeling this way, I think I may have found the solution....Google+! Google+ represents something of a Social Restart button. Instead of going through and slyly "de"-friending people (that honestly probably never was a friend in the first place), now you can just move onto to the fresh start and greener pastures that is Google+.

Not to mention Google+ has a simple and easy way to move people that aren't as close into a separate category called "Acquaintances". Because isn't that what 90% of Facebook friends are anyway......just Acquaintances.

So.....if your looking for a new Social Rebirth to go along with that degree your striving for,

Here's a invite link to get you started: https://plus.google.com/i/_IspoBj7YP4:nuJGxYj7G6k

P.S. - I know this kinda sounds like a commercial, but no one paid me or told me to say this. Facebook has just been making me mad lately.

9 Tips to Survive Dorm Life

Photo By: Peter Alfred Hess

Sarah Fudin currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California's online Masters in teaching program, which provides the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree and learn how to become a teacher. Outside of work Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

Going off to college presents many new challenges students may have never faced before, but one of the most daunting is living on your own, away from home and, for most freshmen, in a college dorm. Coming from a tight-knit east coast family I was both excited and anxious when I received my roommate information via mail – she was from Beverly Hills, CA and yes, her zip code was 90210! These tips will help make living in a dorm a positive experience.

1. Explore your dorm early
When you get to campus, take some time in the first few days to familiarize yourself with your dorm. Find out where the laundry machines are, where the lounges and study spaces are and what they offer, and of course, where the closest bathroom to your room is. Knowing what’s available near you will be important when you feel like you need to...

2. Get out!
Living in a small dorm room can make anyone feel claustrophobic pretty quickly. It pays to get out of your room and go study or hang out elsewhere. It’s more than just a change of scene, you will meet more people this way.

3. Organize your room early
It can be tempting to put off setting up your room at the beginning of the year when it seems like so much is going on, but it only gets busier. Take the time to set up your room, making it organized and clean so at least you know it can be. Consider bunking or lofting your beds to make create more space, and find ways to pack away winter clothes and other things you don’t need under your bed or in a closet.

4. Give your room some personality
Just because your one room double is only slightly larger than some closets doesn’t mean it has to be depressing. Get creative with decorations. Put up posters and pictures of friends, hang your track medals from high school or put up Christmas lights. The sooner you make your room your own with fun decorations, the more you will enjoy living there.

5 Move-in Mistakes That Rob You of Space

The Real College Guide: Campus Life

By Maria Moy for The Real College Guide



Losing sleep over the dimensions of your dorm room? Rest assured, you can survive -- and thrive -- in close living quarters. We tell you how.

Unless you were raised in a jail cell, your dorm room is going to seem way too small for storing all your stuff -- and yourself -- without frequent fits of claustrophobia. Upon moving in, you’ll inevitably find that your closet is too small and that you have to make hard decisions about what will actually fit in your room this semester (big-screen TV or roommate? Hmmm ...).

Here are the top five mistakes to avoid when stuffing your stuff into a small space:

1. Leaving furniture as is By far, the biggest mistake you can make on move-in day is to leave the furniture where it is. You are totally allowed -- with your roommate’s blessings, of course -- to move it! And don’t be shy about trying out a few different arrangements. Often, there is a better way to position your furniture to at least give the illusion of more space and even privacy. Typically, pushing your bed and desk against the walls leaves an open area in the center of the room. Pushing bureaus back to back can create private nooks for dressing or sleeping (so you never have to wake up to eye contact with your creepy roommate).

2. Not using vertical space The sky (OK, ceiling) is the limit when you are organizing your room. Even if your desk doesn’t come with shelves, you can pick up cost-effective shelving units at places like Kmart and Target. Be sure your shelves are durable enough to support the considerable weight of your textbooks or whatever else you plan to keep on them -- clothes, shoes or even people if the shelves are waist-high. If you have room, a full-out bookcase is great for storing groceries, cooking supplies and other dorm miscellanea. Or opt for wall shelves, which free up floor space but might not be as sturdy. Hint: Buildable cube shelving gives you sturdy flexibility and can be recycled for whatever space you find yourself living in next year. And you can shove a single cube at the bottom of your closet or on your desk for additional organization.

What the New Facebook Privacy Overhaul Means for College Students

If you haven't noticed already, Facebook is going through some changes. It appears that Facebook is finally answering the privacy calls of the masses and straightening up their act.

So what does all this have to do with you? You're just an average college student using facebook to keep up with friends.

Well.....

Hide Things From Your Roommate in Plain Site

Is your roommate eating up all your food? Are you tired of reaching for that bag of chips you bought, just to find that Fatty Mc. Fat Pants ate them while you were in class. If so -- then do I have some news for you.

With nothing but a few tools, some time when your roommates not around, and this free pdf book The Construction of Secret Hiding Places by Charles Robinson -- you can kiss those chip-less nights goodbye.

(Source Via Lifehacker)

What You Should (and Shouldn't) Pack for College

Getting ready to head back to college?.....Of course you are! Who's not thinking about schoolwork and exams in early August?

Just kidding, I know you're probably trying to put off that kind of thinking for as long as possible -- but you still need to start getting everything ready to go. So before you begin the fury that is packing for college, take a second and check out this great list of "7 Things You'll Regret Bringing to College"  (especially you incoming Freshmen).

Though I don't particularly agree with leaving your alarm clock home in favor of your cell phone (mainly because cell phones mysteriously forget to plug themselves in and die), there is plenty I do agree with. For example nearly the entire "Don't Leave Home Without It" section......besides the multivitamins -- nasty!!

How NOT to Go 6 Years for a 4 Year Degree

I know--it's been awhile since I have bestowed my mystic knowledge of college survival tips 'round these parts, and I do apologize.  Been a little busy over here on my end, but I'm back now and ready to shower down my wisdom from the mountaintop yet again. So here it is....enjoy

Stick With Your First Major
When I came out of high school, it was really hard for me to pick my major for college. It felt like I was choosing the job I would have for the rest of my life. I felt like Jerry Seinfeld in that "Bee" Movie.

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't sure exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life, but that I was "almost positive" it was going to involve some business aspect. So, I majored in Business and that was that. After all, you can't have a career for long if you can't make enough money to survive while doing it.

Grow out of the party scene quickly
Yes, I know you are finally on your own and the freedom from your parents is great and all--but if you screw around too much your first year, you might be back under their tyrannical rule sooner than you think.

Nude No More!: Threadless Select Product Review

In college, what you wear defines you. This may be why there seems to be no shortage of online T-Shirt stores geared towards the college community.

Of the many, Threadless(affiliate link), in my opinion,  has shined out as a leader of the pack. Their shirts are witty and cool without being overly provocative or corny. So naturally when asked if I would review their new Select Line of Clothing, I was super stoked.

The Product
In Threadless' own words..

The Select Line is designed by the community, but curated by Threadless. It includes original Threadless designs blown up, scaled back, with the original concepts intact. The products are printed with water-based inks on finer cotton, to be sofer and eco-friendlier.

In essence, Threadless is taking some of their original designs, changing them up a bit, and then putting them on super nice material. The shirts are made from 100% pima cotton and are "satin garment washed" in order to get that soft worn-out cotton feeling.

The shirt I decided to review was the "Peace" design and here is what I thought about it...

5 Cheap Things To Do Around Campus

After a great Thanksgiving week off from blogging, I'm back with guns blazing to finish out this semester with some great posts. So make sure to check in frequently and keep on surviving!

Sporting Events
If you're currently a student at most universities, tickets are free (and you can't beat FREE). Even if your athletic teams suck or you don't like sports, go out to show your support and have a little fun. To me, the student section always felt more like one big party rather than a cheering section, anyways. Most people are just there to have a good time.

Camping
I know this isn't technically on campus, but just give me a minute to explain before you question my reasoning in the comment section. When I was at college, you could rent a tent from the Rec Center for next to nothing. If your university does this, I strongly advise you to do so. It will save you on having to buy or look for one yourself and most camping places are dirt cheap. So pack up everything you need, get together with some friends and head off into the great outdoors. A little fresh air will do you good.

Another great article from our partners at The Real College Guide

17 Smart Ways to Live Cheaper on Campus

By David Replogle for The Real College Guide

Living on a shoestring budget? Whether your parents float you funds or you’re pulling a part-time paying gig, here’s how to stre-------tch every precious penny.


Broke -- it’s a common catch in student jargon. “OMG, I broke my phone at that rager last night” or “I just broke up with my girlfriend ’cause she was cheating on me with my best bud.” But when used as an adjective, the word describes the financial status of most college kids.

Unless Dad is handing over his preferred platinum card or you strike it rich selling those musty ol’ Pokemon cards, you’ll have to get by on meager means. Here are some painless ways to get major bang for your buck … even if it’s your last buck.

Put the "Eat" in Creativity

Whether you’re craving a change from the monotonous glop of the dining hall, celebrating a friend’s birthday at a nearby bistro or taking a study break to go for a late-night munch, your wallet will take a hit. Cutting back on these extravagances means getting clever.

1. Buy in bulk When stashing snacks in your room, think long term. Talk to your roommates about pitching in for some grub, then head to the nearest warehouse retail chain to stock up on industrial-sized cheaper-in-the-long-run crates of Ramen packets and other non-perishables. Many discount clubs offer collegiate membership rates, and some give free introductory one-time shopping passes for non-members to bypass the annual fee altogether.

2. Use the student discount Grocery stores, restaurants and even places on campus usually have discounts for students. Even if you don’t see it advertised, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Have your student ID at all times. It could save 15 percent on that panini or score you a free dessert!

3. Sniff out free food Complimentary chow is almost as popular on campus as the latest gossip on CollegeACB. “Club meetings and churches are always looking to give out food to potential new members,” says Robby Panos, a University of Virginia junior. Philanthropic bashes and school-sponsored speaker events are also prime time for gratis grubs. Grab a slice of pizza and take in a lecture.

4. Have a drink on me Students pour beaucoup bucks down the drain when indulging in conveniences like Starbucks and bottled water. Invest in a coffeemaker so you can brew your own, and get yourself a travel mug. Pick up a refillable water bottle too if your college’s tap is tolerable. Bonus: It’s better for the environment.

Entertainment On A College Budget

As a college student, staving off bordem with a small amount of cash is a constant battle. If watching movies is what you're into, here are a few ways to fill in all that free time without breaking into your party fund.

Netflix
Let's just say that I've had NetFlix for almost a year now, and I've never looked back. For $8.99 a month I get a new release DVD in the mail and access to their huge online streaming database of movies and TV shows. We're talking entire seasons of Rocko's Modern Life, The Deadliest Catch, Family Guy, American Dad, The Office and Futurama (pinch me I must be dreaming). I barely even watch regular TV anymore, to be honest.

Redbox
Blockbuster (in brick and mortar form) is done for and redbox is the reason. How can it compete with something that doesn't have to pay rent and dispenses movies automatically? Find the closest redbox nearest you and for only $0.99 you can rent a new movie for the night. I specifically remember paying $4.99 for a new movie at BlockBuster. Those were dark days; dark days indeed.

Campus Suicides: Reality Check

Here is a informative article written by Elizabeth Cunningham from our partners at The Real College Guide which outlines the harsh epidemic reality that is campus suicides.

The Real College Guide: Health & Fitness

Campus Suicides: Reality Check
By Elizabeth Cunningham for The Real College Guide


The tragic story of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi’s suicide has resonated throughout the academic community. The student’s death was the first of a string of recent suicides by other gay teens, including four high school students and Johnson and Wales University sophomore Raymond Chase.

In early 2010, Cornell University experienced three suicides in less than a month -- after three others during the fall semester of 2009. Other campuses that have lost students to suspected suicides this year include Yale University, University of Illinois and Washington University.

But this does not even begin to paint an accurate picture of the scope of the campus suicide problem. According to the American Association of Suicidology, it’s estimated that more than 1,000 suicides occur on college campuses every year. ...

Campus Suicides Reality Check No. 1: This is a BIG problem.
First, the good news: Several studies have concluded that the suicide rate among college students is about half the rate of non-students of the same age. Still, the statistics on campus suicides remain grim.

A study from the University of Texas at Austin, published last year in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, looked at a cross section of students enrolled in 70 U.S. colleges and universities. According to the study:

• Eighteen percent of undergraduates reported that they’d seriously considered attempting suicide.

The Importance of Internet Connectivity in College

The Internet has become way more than just a means to keep up with friends and find funny videos. When it comes to college, Internet connectivity has gone from “can do without” to “necessity” in just a few years. With many of the services that were once done in person are now online, Internet connectivity is a must have in order to get by.

With things such as:

• online registration
• online class support services like “BlackBoard”
• final grade postings
• emailing professors
• updates on school and class cancelation
• submitting assignments

...the need for the Internet as a student is undeniable and those without it are almost destined to be behind.

Supporting Your College Football Team As A Student

I say Football team, but many of these ideas can work with most any sport you like.

Dress Up
You can’t consider yourself a fanatic if you’re going to the game in just a team T-Shirt. Go ahead and paint yourself up or put on some crazy looking plastic jewelry! Have a good time with it! You may think you’re standing out and being weird, but I guarantee you’ll be seen as a hero.

Learn The Routine
Every team's fans have a way of going about cheering. There are certain cheers and chants you need to know in order to successfully support your team, including the "Fight Song" and the "Alma Mater". This fact goes out more towards the freshman reading this as well. If you’re heading to the game for the first time, ask whomever you’re going with if there are any chants and rituals you need to know before your first game. It might sound like a goofy question to ask, but it’s well worth doing to keep you from looking like a fool (a.k.a. a Freshman).

7 People You Should Socialize With At College

The Jock
Hanging around The Jock is as good for your health as eating salads and drinking water. Along with maybe a few free tickets and the heads up on all the big parties, The Jocks’ overall healthy living is something you’ll want to pick up. So get off your lazy butt and do a little exercising with them. Being around their constant vigor to succeed might rub off on you.

The Greek
All the parties The Jock doesn’t know about, The Greek does. If someone’s having a party for their Grandmas 80th birthday and they’re getting a keg, The Greek can sniff it out like a bloodhound would an escaped convict. Another useful trait of The Greek is that they usually know who the easiest professors are from passed down knowledge by their Elder Greekers. So if your looking for an easy "A", The Greek can typically point you in the right direction.

The Foreigner
To bring in a fresh perspective on your life, The Foreigner is definitely worth having around. That status quo American mindset of yours is due a culture shake-up right about this time in your life. It’s certainly worth experiencing now when your mind is still young and malleable, than when you’re old and less receptive to others’ ideas.

How To Avoid Those Freshman 15

Exercise
According to Dr. Edward R. Laskowski article on mayoclinic.com you need

“at least two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity (like a brisk walk or swimming) or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity (such as running) – preferably spread throughout the week.” 

Dr. Laskowski goes on to say that doing strength training exercises (like weight lifting) twice a week is also recommended to stay healthy.

Advice like this is great but shouldn’t need be told to a spry 18 to 20 something year old. A college kid shouldn’t be sitting on their butt all day during the best years of their life. There are plenty of campus activities such as intramural sports, club events or random groups of people doing some sort of physical activity that you could easily join. So, stop sitting around stalking people on Facebook all day and start living a little.


Cut Back On Them Beers
There are 110 Calories in a single 12 oz. can of Bud Light. Let’s say you pound down 12 of those in one night at a party. Congratulations, you just sucked down 1,320 calories of brew. That is nearly the same amount of calories as 2 and a half Big Macs from McDonalds that you just consumed in a single night (no wonder you feel so crappy the next day). Its easy to lose oneself when throwing a couple back with friends, but keep in mind the toll your putting on your body when doing so and try and mediate the line between having a good time and hurting your body in the process.

6 Tips For When You're Sick At College

It's getting that time of the year again. With the changing of the seasons and temperatures dropping, it's getting harder and harder to stay healthy. So, if you've already caught one of the many bugs going around, here are a few tips to live by when dealing with it.


Drink Lots of Water
I know it's hard to drink water when all that beer is staring you in the face, but your just going to have to suck it up. Drink water....LOTS of water!! And definitely no alcohol! Alcoholic beverages are a liquid diuretic (means it makes you pee, not a liquid laxative) and will drain your body of vital fluids you're going to need in order to fight what ever it is that's inside you.


Go to the Infirmary
You're paying for it in your tuition, so you might as well go. Yes, it's going to suck getting out of bed and getting down there, but you (and probably your mother) need to know what you have and if you'll need some medication to get rid of it. It would suck if you had some sort of infection and didn't go to the doctor till a couple days later; then have to miss even more school while you're waiting for the meds to kick in.