How To Survive Finals Week

It's getting that time of year again. I can almost hear the sound of panicked college students scrambling to cram knowledge in their brains while sucking down coffee just to keep going. Others are freaking out over fifteen page papers worth 30% of their grade, that they've had 3 weeks to do, but have yet to start. Ahhh...the good ole days.

If you are one of these mentioned above, I've come up with a few tips to help you get through this troubling time. So take a break from all your trepidation and listen up.

Chill Out
I know, it's easier said than done. But you really do need to take a deep breath every once in a while. Worrying about something doesn't change anything, just your stress levels. If you've waited too late to get something done, do the best that you can with the little amount of time you have left. That's all you can do.

Go See Your Professor
If you think there's no way you're going to pass a class, then there is only one thing to do in this kind of situation. Beg! Go to your professors office and beg till it hurts. Even try squeezing out a few tears here and there. If you're a guy this might not bring you as much success as it will for ladies, but it's always worth a try.

Get Some Sleep
Staying up till 4 o'clock studying for a test won't do you much good if you can't stay awake the next day to take it. The loss of sleep means the loss of focus, and if you're like me, then you probably don't have much to spare. Study as hard as you can, but try and hit-the-hay around 12 or so. Your brain will be nice and rested the next day so you can give that exam all you've got.

We're In The Paper!!

Check us out in The East Carolinian! 
Special thanks to Ms. Rebecca Blanchette for writing such a great article!

Student Discounts Till You Die

We've all secretly wished we could stay in college forever at some time or another. The parties, the games, the freedom, and most of all....the Discounts!

As a fresh college grad, I can say that I've pulled out my student ID more than once to get a student discount. Why not? The picture still looks like me....sort-of.

So, if you're like me and want to save a buck or two, definitely check out this lifehacker article that gives some great advice on how to make those student discounts last forever even well after you've graduated!

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.

You Say You Want A Revolution? Down With Tuition!

This post is going to be a little more serious then usual so if you were looking for something witty or funny, sorry; not today.

[Steps onto soapbox] In my opinion, college students have grown soft (like this country in many ways). I recently read an article that for the first time ever, the amount of student loan debt has now passed the amount of credit card debt in this country. Every year colleges hike up the price of tuition and every year I hear students gripe and complain about it. But do they band together to fight the new tuition hike?

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.

Beer Pong Gets Decked!: Pong Deck Product Review

In the college party scene, beer pong's popularity as a social drinking game is on the decline. Because of games like Corn Hole, Flip Cup, King’s Cup and Bucket Ball, beer pong has taken a back seat in the college party drinkscape. So naturally, I became very excited when a couple of great guys from Chicago contacted me about a new product they created which is supposed to give beer pong a well needed kick in the ping pongs. In their own words, "Beer Pong Will Never Be The Same!”

When first hearing this statement, I thought it was a little lofty at best. Changing an already established game that everyone knows never really works out well (case and point: The XFL). Upon looking a little deeper, however, my opinion quickly changed.

The Game
Pong Deck is a new way of playing beer pong which incorporates a deck of 50 cards which are dealt out under each cup full of beer. When a ball is made in the cup, the card must be flipped over to reveal either an action (lose a turn, downtown shot, hook shot, no look shot, etc.) or drinking scenario (chug 2 seconds, chug 4 seconds, social, waterfall, etc.) that then must be done. To put this game to the test, this Halloween I pulled out my brand new Pong Deck for the very first time with a group of friends. We played at least 6 or 7 games with the deck, and here is what I found:

What You Should Consider Before Going To College

Oh the things I wish I had considered before going to college. Technical school, opening my own business, figuring out exactly what I wanted major in; the list goes on and on. To be quite honest though, the biggest thing I wish I’d considered in my pre-college decision making was if college was even right for me in the first place.

Most of you out there are probably like I was and have been so inundated with the idea of having to go to college to be successful, that it almost doesn’t seem like a decision at all -- more like a necessity.

Half-way through my college career, however, I began to feel like I might could have done without. But by that time I was so far in that stopping and moving on would not only feel like a failure to me, but to my family as well. It would turn into a wasted investment of both time and money -- and I didn’t want that to happen, so I stayed.

Am I glad now that I continued on and got my degree? Yes! But I feel as though, especially considering the direction I am