Although most people see summer as a time to take a mental break, it’s usually not the time when you give your body a break. After three whole months of hot days in the sun, living off of ice cream and frappuccinos and popsicles, your body is probably in need of a little TLC.

Lucky for you, getting back to your best self can be achieved with a little moisturizing and swapping in healthy snacks. Plus, everyone will be riding the recovery train together as students head back to school, so you won’t be alone in your fresh start. Curious as to how to head into fall more prepared than ever? Below we’ve called out the best products for a reset, and you can expect to see these across dorm floors everywhere when you get back to campus!

1. Almay Goddess Gloss ™

Add a prismatic shine to lips with NEW Almay Goddess Gloss™, a total treat for fall! It’s formulated with pomegranate, raspberry, and grape oils to leave your lips feeling moisturized and smooth all day. It comes in eight iridescent shades to give your smile that summer glow all throughout fall – just pop one in your backpack and you’re ready to shine!

2. Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter

Fall’s chic suede skirt and booties wardrobe calls for moisturized legs to match. Prepare to become obsessed with the cult-favorite Lemon + Sage Body Butter from Bliss, as it’s the ultimate restorative formula post-summer. Even the most parched skin will be left smooth, supple and supremely soft. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel sticky after application, so that greasy-sunscreen feeling won’t follow you into the fall. Plus, it smells delicious, which is always a win in our book!

3. Garden of Life Chocolate Sea Salt and Maple Sea Salt GōL Bars

Garden of Life’s GōL Bars are the healthy snack that you need in your life because they have the same yummy taste as a chocolate bar, just without any of the bad ingredients you let yourself cheat with over summer! Snack on bars between classes, and stay fueled from the simple, whole food ingredients like blueberries and dates. The bars are also gluten free and there’s no added sugar. We’ll take a whole box!

4. High Sierra - The Elly Backpack

Is it truly a new school year if you don’t have a new backpack to tote your books in? For fall 2018, get ready to hear everyone talking about the Elly Backpack, a campus-ready design by High Sierra that comes in six colors and patterns, with a dedicated tablet sleeve and multiple pockets (for storing ALL your snacks, obv). We’re obsessed with the iced lilac shade and are already dreaming up outfits to match, plus it comes with a matching zippered accessory pouch perfect for everything from pencils to lip gloss to hand lotion!

Now that you’ve got your trending fall essentials, all you need is a pumpkin spice latte, crunchy leaves, a warm sweater, and you’re good to go!

The influencer life looks so glamorous from the outside: They spend their days drinking iced coffee, enjoying tons of free products, and editing photos for Instagram. Sure, most of us would give anything to have that, but to be fair, behind the scenes actual work goes into those beautiful feeds and perfectly coordinated outfits before we see the final shot.

But what if you could get a taste of the influencer life? We mean the glam part – enjoying free products and snacks – without all the hard work that comes with catering to thousands of followers. Lucky for you, we’ve partnered with some of our most-loved brands to give one winner a box of Insta-worthy goodies to take her social media content and back-to-school routine to an influencer level!

The box of essentials includes:

•             NEW Almay Goddess Gloss™
•             Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter
•             Garden of Life Chocolate Sea Salt GōL Bar and Maple Sea Salt GōL Bar
•             High Sierra The Elly Backpack
•             HCXO Sleep Mask

What are you waiting for? The aesthetic life of an influencer doesn’t slow down for anyone! Enter now to win and just wait for the likes to start pouring in.

Be An Influencer for a Day With This Box of Goodies

By Anna Blake Keeley

The summer before my senior year of college, I’d fallen into a Deep Dark Pit of Despair. None of the dozens of editorial internships I’d applied for had panned out, and the prospect of another summer in my childhood bedroom, spent lifeguarding and trying not to kill/be killed by my mother did not sound inviting. What did sound inviting was escaping into the wilderness, galivanting like Maria von Trapp among the very much alive hills, traipsing over mountains getting hot and fit. Plus, in my imaginings, there was not an assignment or drowning kid in sight.

So, with absolutely zero backpacking experience, I stuffed my cousin’s pack full of crap (most of which I soon discovered was not worth lugging around) and set out Frodo-style on a three month hike of the Appalachian Trail with my dog. Turns out, solo backpacking is hard AF. But the experience was life-changing as only difficult things can be.

Here’s what I learned:

It’s okay to be alone: As a friendship-needy extrovert, one of my biggest fears about the trip was being alone. To me, alone meant getting murdered by a vagabond hiding in a shelter, or being mauled by a bear and slowly decaying just out of earshot. Or, more likely, walking mile after mile with no human interaction and going slowly crazy, stuck in my own head with no distractions. Well, sometimes it’s okay to go a little crazy in your own head. Normally, being “alone” meant texting five people at once. It meant zoning out to Netflix or listening to music or reading or watching YouTube videos about how to get rid of blackheads (if you know, pls tell me). It certainly didn’t mean watching my feet pass over endless miles of dirt trail, being forced to visit parts of my brain I usually left unexplored, parts I usually blocked out with Grey’s Anatomy and company. Without those distractions, I confronted some pretty gnarly inner-demons, and also thought a lot about food. Actually it was mostly the food thing, but there was some soul searching in there too. And with only myself to rely on, I realized some of my gnarly inner-demons were actually no match for me. Appalachian Trail me was strong. She could scale mountains, poop in holes in the ground, sleep during raging thunderstorms, and convince bearded strangers she was a pro. She believed in herself enough to do the damn thing, even when the voice in her head whispered quit. I think it’s okay to hear that voice sometimes. Good, even. And you have to be alone to really choose not to listen.

It’s okay to need people: All that said, friends rule, being alone to be murdered drools. I quickly abandoned all my fears of death, but without my trail fam, I would have died of loneliness. If you don’t have friends to sing Pocahontas with as you climb a mountain, then what even is the point? Sometimes, an experience is made true by sharing it with someone. Realizing you can turn strangers into friends is one of the most empowering things on the planet. And you can! Anywhere! Turns out, everyone likes to be liked, to have companionship, to laugh with a buddy.

You’re stronger than you think: Like, crazy strong. Maybe you have absolutely no desire to backpack, and the thought of not showering for days makes you want to die. Whatever you want to do, there’s nothing but to do it. You can prepare, practice, research (or in my case, none of the above), but all it really takes are some balls and the nerve to take the leap.

You don’t need as much crap as you think you do: This week, I moved out of my apartment, and I couldn’t believe how much stuff I’d accumulated over the past year. Piles and boxes and bags of crap I’d never used, or had only used once, or bought and lost. But carry your stuff on your back, and you realize how much you don’t really need to take with you. Stuff is fun, but it really is just stuff. I’m not here to tell you to stop spending money on yourself (I would NEVER). I am here to say, it’s nice to be able to pack up your life and move. To make room for people and experiences. To care a little less about what your wearing, because it’s going to get dirty anyways.

Get stinky: And by this I mean, I realized personal hygiene is overrated. No, just kidding, please shower. What I mean is, it’s okay to feel like a dirty betch. To let your life get a little messy. To have dirt under your nails and hairy-ass legs (literally or metaphorically). It’s okay to not know where you’re going, and just focus on the next step. Things only matter as much as you choose to let them matter. Off the AT, I would have died to think I’d have let my covered-in-cow-shit dog sleep with me in my sleeping bag. Or that I’d just give up on underwear entirely. Or that I’d be living off Advil. But, lower your standards and it’s amazing what you’ll accept as normal! Just kidding again. High standards are good; sometimes, though, you have to get a little grimy—a little cold, a little lost, a little hungry—to grow.

Do things that scare you: And that leads to my biggest AT takeaway—if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not going to learn. If you aren’t afraid, or nervous, or out of your element, if you don’t push yourself, you can’t really know how much you’re capable of. And when you’ve conquered that fear, you’ll feel SO strong. In my case, conquering the fear meant blisters, bug bites, aching feet, and also new, life-long friends, a killer butt, confidence, and bragging rights forever.

A CNN correspondent was barred from attending an open press event at the White House on Wednesday due to questions she asked the president earlier in the day.

The reporter, Kaitlan Collins, and CNN said that she was not allowed to attend the Rose Garden event with the European Commission president because officials found her questions to be “inappropriate.”

Collins, who was serving as a representative of the television networks during an earlier pool spray in the Oval Office, had, along with other reporters, asked a handful of questions regarding Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen, ABC News reports.

According to NPR, Collins was whisked aside by White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders who both told her she was not allowed to attend the open press event “because they thought the questions [she] had posed to the president were inappropriate and inappropriate for that venue,” according to Collins in a CNN interview about the encounter.

“I told them that is often our only chance to ask the president questions,” Collins told CNN host Wolf Blitzer. “Those questions were questions any reporter would have asked and I was there to represent all of the networks and therefore asked about the questions of the day.”

The White House had confirmed that Collins was disinvited from the event, but said the decision was due to her loudness and unwillingness to leave the president’s office, NPR reports.

In a statement issued Wednesday evening, Sanders wrote that “at the conclusion of a press event in the Oval Office, a reporter shouted questions and refused to leave despite repeatedly being asked to do so.”

“Subsequently, our staff informed her she was not welcome to participate in the next event, but made clear that any other journalist from her network could attend. She said it didn't matter to her because she hadn't planned to be there anyway. To be clear, we support a free press and ask that everyone be respectful of the presidency and guests at the White House,” Sanders wrote.

Sanders said the White House made it clear that other reporters from CNN were invited to the event, just not Collins.

Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway said this incident showed the need for more “civility” between reporters and the White House.

In a statement, CNN objected the White House’s decision, calling it “retaliatory in nature” and “not indicative of an open and free press.”

“Just because the White House is uncomfortable with a question regarding the news of the day doesn't mean the question isn't relevant and shouldn't be asked,” CNN said.

The White House Correspondents' Association also condemned “the White House's misguided and inappropriate decision today to bar one of our members from an open press event after she asked questions they did not like.”

“This type of retaliation is wholly inappropriate, wrong-headed, and weak. It cannot stand,” Olivier Knox, White House Correspondents’ Association President, said.

On Thursday, Shine disputed that the reporter was “banned.”

“Could you ask her if we ever used the word ban?” Shine said to reporters on Thursday, while standing outside the West Wing and addressing reporters.

Shine refuted that Collin’s denied access to the event amounted to a ban.

“When you ask her if we ever used the word ban, then I will answer that question,” Shine said when asked what word he would use to describe Collins inability to attend events. “You ask her, focus now, you ask her if we ever used the word ban.”

With the premiere of season three of This Is Us only a few months away, we’ve been obsessing over what will happen next with the Pearson clan. While many don’t know when the Pearson family’s story will come to an end, it appears that some people do know how the story will end. And, according toHello Giggles, it turns out that one of those people is Pearson family matriarch, Mandy Moore.

When asked if the leading actress knows how This Is Us will end on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, the actress nodded. “I do, yes.”

Moore even confirmed the cast had filmed some scenes for the eventual series finale, Today reports.

“There's no predetermined end date, but ... I think [creator Dan Fogelman] has an idea in his mind of when he sort of sees the story ending and he knows how it ends, which makes me feel good as an actor and as a viewer,” Moore said. “He knows where the story is heading.”

“He knows where the story is heading,” she continued. “I think just the nature of our show and the trajectory is that, you know, people are certain ages now, and perhaps they’re just gonna keep getting older. So you’re capturing content in the can now.”

She added that she’s not certain if all the cast members were aware that they were shooting scenes for the series finale, so even if they were featured in some of the scenes to come, they might not know exactly what is to come.

When asked if the series’ ending would be satisfying for viewers that have become so emotionally invested in the Pearson family’s story, Moore said, “I think the ending will be very satisfying for people.”

“I think it's very true to what the show evokes from all of us,” Moore said. “People will feel their feelings.”

I guess it’s time to start stocking up on tissues. This Is Us season 3 premieres on NBC September 25th.

There's a reason The Bold Type is one of the most popular shows on television right now and for many of us, one of those reasons is probably how we're able to relate to each of these characters. Whether its Jane's Type A personality, Kat's journey to finding herself or Sutton's work struggles, there's a little bit of everything for all of us. (Plus, Jane, Kat and Sutton's strong bond is one that can't be denied and it's the kind of friendship many of us have with our own besties.) And this is, of course, also thanks to the talented women behind these strong, bold characters—like Katie Stevens, who we lovingly know as Tiny Jane.

Her Campus caught up with Katie while she was on a break from filming to discuss the latest emotionally-charged episode, "Plan B," those uncomfortable (but confidence building) sex scenes, how she went from selling cupcakes at The Grove to landing on The Bold Type, and more.

Her Campus: In"Plan B," the show dives into Jane's personal life even further as she struggles with whether or not she wants to have children and everything that comes with that. Being a young woman yourself who's engaged and probably thinking about these types of things yourself, how did the storyline affect you personally? What message do you hope fellow women get from the episode?

Katie Stevens: It was really vulnerable for me to film because I just came back from being engaged and my fiancé’s mother had breast cancer. So I had a lot to draw from, which was so crazy because the writers had no idea that Paul’s mom had breast cancer when they wrote it and I got the script for episode 6 last year when we learned that his mom had cancer. So in the scene when Jane’s saying all those things like, ‘I only remember my mom when she was sick,’ all those things were just crazy because those are the things that Paul had been saying. Being engaged and thinking about our wedding already is kind of hard because we really wish she could be there, but we know she’ll be there in spirit. Then, having to do an episode where we're talking about like having to live without that presence of your mother... You know, I haven’t heard Paul say that that’s something that he’s fearful of but I know that it's probably very true for so many people who have lost parents to cancer. I feel like for me, when I think about having kids, I look to my mom and I think about how my mom raised me and the experiences that I had and the memories that I have that I want to pass down to other generations. My daughters might have daughters and I can't imagine not having those memories and them having to question, like, ‘I don't remember what my mom was like, what am I going to do? How am I gonna handle it if I get sick and I wind up passing and leaving my kids behind?’ And I think that is like the most heartbreaking, difficult thing for anybody to have to deal with. So the fact that we get to talk about that...it was very, very vulnerable for me for obvious reasons.

HC: Those difficult but necessary conversations are really what The Bold Type is known for, and last week was another difficult one in particular when you guys dove into the topic of gun control. What was it like for you going into this episode, being on the side that's anti-gun and having to tap into these heartbreaking mass shootings?

KS: I was honestly dealing with a little anxiety because of the topic of gun control and the pressing state of the world. I think we're all nervous about how to do this episode and not sound preachy, and how to show the gray area in the right way. I was really excited and nervous about how [the scene] woule be perceived and I was so surprised after seeing all the comments on Twitter and everything. We had so many people say that it was nice to see the other side of it, because they had never thought about it that way. I think that's what I probably love about our show so much, is that we start these conversations and we chose the gray area to show both sides and people can understand the view that’s different from their own because of watching the show. That's really nice to start that conversation and to kind of help change people's perceptions and ways of thinking so that maybe even though people disagree, a conversation can still happen and they can try to understand the different side.

HC: You guys did such an amazing job. I know that you and Meghan are really good friends in real life as well, so was it difficult to shoot these intense conversation scenes with her?

KS: Yeah, even when we did the scene where we were in the coffee shop talking about white privilege. You know, it just feels yucky. I don’t really like the scenes where we’re fighting. I prefer to do the scenes where we're like drunk and eating ice cream on the couch.

It's nice because we're both coming from such a place of vulnerability and thinking about not only what we're actually talking about on the show but thinking about, “Okay, well how's my character going to be perceived? Are people going to hate me?” Because you just never know. So we do the scenes, we do the part and we just hug each other and reassure each other.

HC: What type of advice would you give to someone going through this with their best friend?

KS: I think, don’t stray away from your passions. At the same time, you don’t need to believe each other. Don’t just follow your friends. And just be you because there’s truthfulness and vulnerability from anybody coming forward and talking about what they believe in. Even if you might not agree, you still need to be open-minded and just listen to them. Even if you’re just listening to somebody for what they’re saying, also try to really understand where they’re coming from.

HC: This season was the first time Jane found herself in a place where she felt sort of lost after leaving Scarlet and then losing her job at Insight. Do you feel this has helped her grow as a character? What advice would you give to a young woman going through this right now?

KS: Yeah, I think for sure. I think it's important to show characters and people on TV failing and show it as a failure, which I think is not easy for the girls. But I think that’s what we’ve done with Jane. You know, somebody who’s such a perfectionist and type-A and they fail. That was very difficult but very interesting just to see them try to pick up the pieces. I think everybody expected that when she went to try to get her job back, Jacqueline was just gonna say yes and that was going to be the end of it. But I was happy that we got to see her struggle. ‘Like oh wow, Scarlet’s no longer an option for me. What am I going to do?’ And even though it was hard and she struggled, she got to a place where she was doing fine. She didn’t get the job back at Scarlet and she was like, ‘I need to look forward. I need to move onto a different path.’ And that path led her back to Scarlet, but it was only because she was so okay with where she was at.

HC: Right, and I love that you guys did that. I feel like with many other shows and movies it’s kind of this fantasy version of reality where it would be like, ‘Yeah, come right back!’ But it’s not like that. You might never get that job again.

KS: Yeah, I always mess up once or twice a day, at least. So I don’t like shows that just show characters that are never messing up. Like, I just get sad watching those shows because I’m like, ‘Wow, I suck.’ So I’m excited to see more people who are failing to help me figure out that mess in my own life.

HC: What has really been the best part about playing Jane? Have you learned anything about yourself along the way?

KS: It’s so funny because I’m so similar to Jane in many ways, and one of the things that I’ve always found so charming is that I'm the one who’s getting all these sex scenes, because I don’t consider myself to be an overtly sexual person—like that’s something for my private life. Then I’d have to find this comfort in like, ‘Am I sexy?’ Like ‘sexy’? That’s not a word I’d use when someone asks me to describe myself. Like I would not be like, ‘I’m sexy.’ So I think it's so funny. I honestly started to look at myself as confident and sexy because I have to do those scenes all the time. I have to sit in that vulnerability being on set and in front of a million people, just with a new song and scene. Even though I'm not actually doing any sort of sexual act, there are still vulnerabilities about being with another person and to trust the people around you and trust in your body, you know. And I think, for me, it's really kind of helped me in terms of my confidence and in terms of self-love because when I prep for those scenes I'm hyper-aware of taking care of myself and listening to my body to just do the best I can. I'm also hyper-aware of the vulnerability of it, which is easy to play because I feel vulnerable. But I feel like having to do those scenes has helped with my real life, to start owning my sexuality and owning the fact that I am a beautiful and sexy woman. I have my fiancé, and I’m really open with him and tell him when I have to do these scenes and he’s open about it and doesn’t care, but I was talking to him and I was like, ‘It’s  really nice to go on set and just be present in the vulnerability.’ And that’s a relief for me, and now I feel so comfortable in my skin even though I'm around all these people on set.

HC: Before landing this incredible role, and even before your days on MTV's Faking It, we read that you were selling cupcakes in LA—talk about a huge turnaround. What words of wisdom do you have for young women in college or those just getting out of college trying to figure out where to go in life, or who feel like they're never going to become successful?

KS: I think you’re super wrong if you think that you’re never going to become successful. I think the people that don't become successful are the people who get into difficulty and don’t pursue past it because anything you want in life is hard. You know I did American Idol and after American IdolI didn't become successful, and that was really hard because I got a sense that what success could be like. I was going on tour. I was going to movie premieres, and I was doing all these things. And then to come to the realization that I didn’t really have anything going on and my money was dwindling away... I’m just thankful that I don’t have parents who were like, ‘That’s okay, we’ll give you money to survive.’ They we like, ‘You have no money? Go get a job.’ So I had to find a job. At the time, one of my best friends worked at Sprinkles and she was like, ‘It will probably be more flexible for you to still be able to audition and do things like that.’ So I worked there and it was really hard for me because I felt like I had failed, and I felt like it was just an enormous setback. Not only that, but Sprinkles was in this place called The Grove, and sometimes it would get too busy so we'd have to park our cars in the CBS lot and I’d have to park in front of their ‘I got into American Idol’ sign. For me, that was like a stab in the heart. I was just like, ‘Wow, this is where I thought I was going to be. This is what I thought I was going to continue and now I'm here selling cupcakes.’ And there were people who would be like, ‘You look really familiar.’ And I’d just be like, ‘No, I don't.’ I felt ashamed at the fact that I went and got a job, and I knew other former Idols who were still doing things under the Idol umbrella. They were like, ‘You know you could book more shows and you can make money using the fact that you were on American Idol.’ But I was so thankful that I did American Idol, and I’m still thankful to this day because I wouldn't be on The Bold Type if I wasn’t on American Idol. But I think it was really important for me to establish myself as an artist first and foremost and kind of have American Idol be an afterthought. Because I never just wanted to be from American Idol.  I wanted to be an actor, a performer, and then, ‘Oh, by the way, she was on American Idol.’

So that’s why I was like, ‘No, I’m going to get a job and work and figure out how I’m going to get to that point.’ I was going into auditions and I was getting good feedback but not being given any of the opportunities because I always had American Idol on my resume. Then finally, after three and a half years of feeling like a failure, I heard about this audition and I was like, ‘I’m never going to get this because that’s just how everything’s been. But I’m going to do my best.’ But they looked down at my resume and just saw me as this character and I’m just so tremendously grateful.

So if you have a dream, whether that’s to be a lawyer or a doctor or an actor, you can’t just say you’re going to be this and not expect it to come with hard work. Just keep your determinations up to get past hard times. The days that you go and you do like three auditions in the morning, you go and you work the job that you hate but you go and put a smile on and take that as an acting exercise. You just can’t give up, as cliche as that sounds. Once you give up, then that’s it. But if you're able to put all of the work that needs to be put in and just keep your eye on where you want to go, then you’ll get there.

We know that it’s typically against royal protocol to show PDA in public, but honestly, we all swoon when we see our favorite royals share a kiss. And our new favorite royal couple, AKA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, showed some rare PDA after Harry placed in a charity polo match on Thursday.

People.comreported that Harry was playing with the Sentebale St. Regis team in Berkshire, England, and Meghan was there to cheer her husband on. Sentebale is the charity that Prince Harry founded in 2006 to help children infected with HIV and AIDS in Botswana and Lesotho, and several notable polo players participated in the polo match.

After Harry’s Sentebale St. Regis team won 5-4, Meghan presented team captain Nacho Figueras with the trophy, and turned to Harry to give him a congratulatory kiss.

Here’s the moment that everyone is swooning over.

And here’s the live-action video of the royal kiss.

As the teams departed, Meghan affectionately rubbed Harry’s back and the royal couple joined hands and walked away.

Harry has been following in his mother’s footsteps, carrying on Princess Diana’s legacy of breaking the stigma around HIV/AIDS.

Kensington Palace just released photos earlier this week from the royal couple’s solo trip to Africa last month, where Prince Harry opened a school and a house on behalf of Sentebale.

We’re so happy to see Harry and Meghan so happy and in love, and living a happily ever after to their royal fairytale.

It’s always fun to change up your hairstyle. Whether you’re doing it to “reinvent” yourself or you simply want to try something new, there seems to be no limit when it comes to fun options for your hair.

But we’re sure many of you can agree that going from super straight hair to any look with curls can be difficult (and frustrating). Sure, it might look curly for five minutes, but it always seems to fall flat. Luckily, we’ve found a few tips to help you naturally straight-haired ladies find a way to add some waves to your look!

Related: I Tried TRESemmé's Conditioner Technique & The Results Were Amazing

1. Beachy Waves

Who can’t relate to daydreaming of beach days and the amazing hair that comes with them? Alyssa Ashley Ames, hairstylist and salon owner of Hair Care N Design, shares a unique tip to help you get this look: “Instead of using a towel to dry your hair, use a T-shirt! The T-shirt helps keep the hair cuticles smooth and eliminates frizz rather than a towel which can be more rough.” She explains, “First, squeeze most of the water out of your hair, then use a sea salt spray, and finish by wrapping your hair up in a tee shirt to help soak up the rest of the water for a little while. This will help you get that wavy, beachy look!”

Innovative and simple, this is something all collegiettes are sure to appreciate with their busy lives!

2. Natural-Looking Waves

Sometimes your curls will be difficult, refusing to hold their shape and falling out before the day is over. This calls for the help from some styling tools! Ames explains an easy way to give a more natural look to your curls. “Another option would be to use heat with a wand (if your hair is really hard to get curls to stay, use a thin one),” she says. “Be sure to change the direction you curl your hair in every time you take a new piece. That will give you a more natural, wavy and messy look. Also, leaving the ends straighter keeps the style from looking too curly!”

This look is great for a night out with your girls! It looks effortless but will definitely turn heads. If you find your curls are looking too tight, don’t be afraid to curl them a few hours before you plan to head out. This will allow them to loosen slightly while your hairspray keeps them in place.

3. Quick Waves

It’s impossible not to appreciate the effort some girls put into their beauty routine every morning. You know, the girls who go to their 8 a.m. class with flawless hair and makeup—props to you if you’re one of them! However, we know this isn’t the case for everyone, especially during a busy week.

Some days you need a quicker go-to look for killer wavy hair. Riccardo Maggiore, of Riccardo Maggiore Salons NYC, shares his insight on different ways to get wavy hair, starting with quick waves before class! Maggiore broke it down step by step so you can master this technique.

1.  Distribute a heat protectant and apply mousse or styling lotion evenly throughout the hair.
2. Braid the hair.
3. Spray hairspray or texturizer on the braid.
4. Run your flat iron over the braid as if you were straightening your hair.
5. Set with hairspray or texturizer.
6. Undo the braid and shape the waves with your fingers and set with a texturizing hair spray.

Remember, it’s always super important to use a heat protectant spray before you use any tool with heat on your hair! This will help to prevent damage and keep your hair looking healthy.

4. Overnight Waves

If you could go to sleep and wake up with fabulous hair, wouldn’t you? We thought so. Prepare to have your dreams come true because Maggiore explained the simple process of how to get waves while you catch up on your beauty sleep.

1.  Distribute a heat protectant and apply mousse or styling lotion evenly throughout the hair.
2.  Sleep in braids.
3.  In the morning, undo braids and shape curls with your fingers and set with a texturizing hairspray.

It’s that easy! Sleeping on damp hair isn’t always that enjoyable, but the beautiful waves the morning after will make this your go-to look for wavy hair. And don’t forget to use hairspray to help your hair look fabulous all day. Riccardo recommends Riccardo Maggiore Fortezza Extra Hold Hair Spray.

Don’t be afraid to give these tips a try if you want to flaunt a new, wavy look as opposed to your naturally straight locks!

Good morning, Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

House Speaker Paul Ryan Says He Opposes Effort to Impeach Rod Rosenstein

House Speaker Paul Ryan spoke out on Thursday to say he opposes a small, conservative group of House members’ effort to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Ryan said the document requests by House Republicans to Rosenstein, who is currently overseeing the Justice Department’s Russia investigation, did not meet the “high crimes and misdemeanors” criteria that would warrant an impeachment, ABC News reports.

“I don't think we should be cavalier with this process or with this term,” Ryan said.

Ryan’s comments come a day after a group of 11 House GOP members filed articles of impeachment against Rosenstein, accusing the Justice Department of “intentionally withholding embarrassing documents and information.”

While the group of 11 members have criticized the Justice Department for not being responsive enough as House committees have demanded documents related to the Russia investigation and the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, Ryan seemed a little more encouraged by progress on the Justice Department’s document production.

“We do not have full compliance, and we have to get full compliance, but we have been making tremendous progress to that point,” Ryan said of multiple document requests.

Senate Democrats Probe of NRA Donors’ Contact With Russia

Senate Democrats are pushing for information regarding a 2015 meeting between top NRA donors and Russian nationals in Moscow.

According to ABC News, a group of former NRA presidents, board members and top donors traveled to Moscow for a trip sponsored by the gun-rights group “Right to Bear Arms,” which was founded by Maria Butina, who has since been arrested and charged for acting as a foreign agent on behalf of Russia.

via Mark Peterson/Corbis via Getty Images

The delegation list includes: included NRA board member Pete Brownell, Trump campaign surrogate Sheriff David Clarke, major NRA benefactors Dr. Arnold and Hilary Goldschlager, NRA fundraiser Joe Gregory, former NRA president David Keene and Outdoor Channel CEO Jim Liberatore. The group reportedly met with Butina, Alexander Torshin, the Deputy Governor of the Russian Central Bank, and Dmitry Rogozin, who was the Russian Deputy Prime Minister at the time, ABC News reports.

In a letter released on Thursday, Senators Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse and Richard Blumenthal requested “information and documentation you may have in relation to a National Rifle Association delegation’s December 2015 trip to Moscow” from the individuals who traveled to Moscow, including interactions with Butina, Torshin and Rogozin, the trip’s itinerary and how it was paid for.

Clarke disclosed to the Milwaukee County Ethics Board that the “Right to Bear Arms” paid $6,000 to cover the cost of his meals, hotel and transportation. In a video on Youtube, the group is shown touring a firearms factory along with Butina.

Senate Democrats have been trying to determine if the NRA had received any money from individuals associated with Russia, and if so, if that money was used to assist President Donald Trump with his campaign.

Facebook Stock Plunges

Facebook stock plunged by 19 percent on Thursday, heading for the largest one-day blowout in U.S. stock market history, with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s fortune taking a nearly $16 billion hit.

The plunge comes a day after executives forecast years of lower profit margins, according to The Huffington Post.

Facebook shares closed at a record high of $217.50 on Wednesday, but began to dive in after-hours trading after the company reported earnings. The stock continued to fall when the market opened Thursday.

via Charles Platiau / Reuters

The earnings report revealed that user growth in the U.S. and Canada, Facebook’s most valuable region, had plateaued.

The social media company has been plagued with privacy scandals, but it hadn’t seen a significant impact on share price until now.

Facebook’s relationship with Cambridge Analytica, the political data analytics firm that ran data operations for President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign uncovered violations of data collection policies, with as many as 87 million users having their information taken. Just earlier this month, a software bug lead to 800,000 previously blocked users to become unblocked, and another bug caused posts that users requested be kept private become public.

The company has buckled down and worked to improve security measures, but Zuckerberg acknowledged on Wednesday’s earnings call that “security is not a problem that you ever fully solve.”

As to why the stock dropped so dramatically, analyst Gene Munster told ABC News that the stock drop “makes sense given what they revealed [Wednesday]. The future is going to be different.”

“The days of hyper-growth are over. Even if engagement is negatively impacted, it still has incredible, unprecedented reach,” Munster added. “It’s still going to be a key player in tech, but not growing as fast as it used to.”

What to look out for...

Scientists have confirmed Albert Einstein’s Supermassive Black Hole Theory. 

I Did A Thing is our weekly advice column where the Her Campus editorial team helps you out when you ruin your own life (hey, we've been there). Email advice@hercampus.com for any and everything you need help with. We’ll answer you (anonymously!) on hercampus.com so we can all learn, together. We’ve got your back.

bffwbeef: What do I do when me and a friend are in a bad fight?

helpmehc: While I'd probably need some more info to give specific advice, fights (especially ones with someone you love) are all born most of the time out of a combo of misunderstanding, miscommunication and a dash of hurt feelings. Conflicts at their core come from a place of two people whose narratives re: a situation don't align — oftentimes that means that we're not really fighting with our friends so much as the version of our friend in our head who is doing all the dick-moves. Or, worse, trying to "win" against them in the argument by saying the meanest most shut-down-the-convo thing, instead of looking to talk out and actually resolve the conflict. 

I think, ultimately, when it comes to deciding what the hell to do when you're at a standstill with a close friend is to think really hard about what the conflict might be, imagine their points and POV as empathetically as you can while still looking out for your own feelings, time, attention and decide if this fight is one of the Big Ones that is worth trashing a friendship. Those do happen and they hurt — but you have to trust your inner voice there as to whether this fight, these hurt feelings and this particular conflict warrants that extreme a reaction. 

If the answer is a "no" to ditching the friendship — and nine times out of ten it will be — I think there's never any harm in sending the first olive branch text. You can say "Hey, I miss you and I want us to talk about the other day — but you're super important to me and I love you and that's not going to change." From there, you two can get in person and decide together that you want to try and work out the conflict knowing you have the shared goal of being friends, but you're coming from the common ground of loving the shit out of each other and wanting things to be okay. 

Truthfully, as you get older, your friendships take on new, more intense flavors sometimes, not unlike family — you can still love your friends fiercely but also think they're a dumbass, or yell at them, or they can hurt your feelings or really piss you off, but you recognize that they're still your person and someone you want to stand by. Learning that you can get mad at each other, disagree and fight (and sometimes never reach a true understanding over whatever the hell you were fighting about) and that you can still hold on to the people who matter is a good step in developing strong as hell relationships. 

When in doubt, always try to be the understanding friend you would need in the situation. Good luck!

Check out more advice from @helpmehc. We've got your back.

Whether you’re feeling isolated in a male-dominated major or doubting whether your lifelong dream is still your dream, switching your major can seem like a fix to all your problems. Maybe the first one you picked was a mistake, or someone pressured you into it. Maybe you’ve been at it for two years and you’re starting to have a few doubts, but you don’t want to waste your hard work. How can you know you’re making the right decision this time around? Here are nine things to keep in mind while you’re deciding what to do—whether that means changing your major or not.

1. Is a specific major crucial to the job you want?

Not all jobs require a particular degree, and hiring managers often look more at the actual experience on your resume rather than the department on your diploma. Your clubs, extracurricular activities, internships and part-time jobs might already be helping you toward your career goals. On the other hand, if you want that competitive web developer job at Facebook or Google right out of undergrad, a computer science degree might be necessary. (Though, fun fact: a classics major might be good for med school, as long as you can fit in your science pre-requisites.)

This is also a great excuse to reach out for informational interviews with people in industries or companies you’re interested in. They’ve already been through what you’re dealing with—after all, hindsight is 20/20. They’ll be able to give you a real-world perspective and tell you how important those classes are in an actual workplace. Talking to seniors in your major and other majors can be really helpful, too. They may have switched majors themselves and know firsthand what it’s like to try to jumpstart a career.

2. Is your major a good fit for your personality?

This could be a classic case of “it seems perfect on paper,” but the day-to-day reality doesn’t mesh well with your natural talents and abilities. Maybe you’ve discovered that your major doesn’t unleash your creativity—or conversely, you need more logical structure. If you’re an introvert, business school’s ubiquitous group projects might sound like a nightmare—if you’re a people person, long nights coding alone in the computer science lab might drive you crazy. Think about what you loved to do as a kid, ask friends how they would describe you, and try online career aptitude quizzes (disclaimer: choose a site more scientifically sound than BuzzFeed).

"In time, you'll learn more about how you're naturally wired and you learn more about what really puts fuel in your soul,” says Steve Olsher, author of the New York Times bestselling book What Is Your WHAT? Discovering the ONE Amazing Thing You Were Born To Do. “Stop doing things that no longer bring you fulfillment. At the end of the day, I really think it just boils down to what your 'what' is, your what is really what is in your DNA.”

3. Are you just burnt out or bored?

There’s a big difference between lack of motivation and lack of passion. Make sure that changing your major is something you NEED, not just something you think might make you feel better in the moment. When you’re slogging through huge lecture intro classes, pulling long hours at your part-time campus job and trying to maintain a social life, it’s easy to become exhausted. Everyone gets tired of the grind sometimes—just don’t let it cloud your judgment. However, if you’re struggling in all your classes or going to bed miserable every night, it might be time to do something about it.

“I dreaded going to my classes,” says Hannah Yohnk, a junior at the University of Wisconsin. “Before the semester started, I was excited to take the classes that finally applied to my major. Once they started, I lost interest. I studied for hours, pulled all-nighters to try to understand the material and nothing made sense. This helped me realize that I wasn't studying the right thing.” 

Jenna Bouquot, a junior at Kenyon College, agrees. “I was absolutely miserable,” she says, even though she’d planned for years on being a chemistry major. “I loved my professors and the students in my classes, but I could not get myself to engage in the material, no matter how hard I tried. At first, I thought it was just a bad semester, but by the spring of my sophomore year, I knew that I just wasn't passionate about the material I'm learning.”

If you fall into a pattern of failing classes, or nothing about the subject “clicks,” your current major may not be right for you. Hard work is important, but if that hard work never pays off, that’s a huge red flag.

Related: How to Fall Back In Love with Your Major

4. Do you have time?

Four years can feel like a lifetime when you first step foot on campus, but your time at college is precious and limited. If graduating with your friends and classmates is important to you, understand that changing your major could require you to take extra-heavy course loads or summer school to finish “on time.” But if changing your major will keep you in classrooms long after you were originally planning to graduate, never fear—there are other options.

Many schools have minors or certificate programs available from their departments, so you can gain the knowledge and experience you want without derailing your timeline. If your school doesn't offer these, look into outside accreditation, too. For example, if you're passionate about graphic design but don’t want to change your anthropology major, take the Adobe certification exams or try an online course from Coursera or Lynda. While these certifications may come with a fee, they’re still a lot cheaper than an extra year of tuition.

5. Have you talked to an adviser?

An adviser might be able to assure you that those required intro classes are just a necessary evil, not a preview of your entire degree. If you chose a business major to pursue marketing but hate your mandatory Stock Market 101 lecture, keep in mind that many majors have a wide range of required classes. Your adviser has seen many other students go through the same process and will be able to help clarify whether you hate the major or just the classes you’re taking right now. Don’t forget to talk to advisers in the majors you’re considering as well! They can help you transition into your new path.

“My advisor was particularly helpful because she was realistic,” says Honie Moon, a junior at the University of Washington. “She gave me hard facts about what it took to be accepted into the major I wanted to pursue, how realistic my chances were and how my statistics compared to past admittances.”

6. Is it affecting your mental health?

Struggling in a major can wreak havoc on your psyche. If your stress is out of control or you’re experiencing panic attacks, you need to reevaluate how your schoolwork is affecting your health. Remember your self-worth isn’t defined by that competitive major or your projected career earnings.

“Sit back and ask yourself if you’re happy,” says Lexi Hill, a senior at the University of South Carolina. “I wasn’t doing well in my business-related courses, and was spending hours with a tutor trying to keep up. At the end of the day, I was miserable and decided to switch my major and focus on subjects that have always interested me.”

In the end, you’ll be so much happier, more productive and successful in a major you truly love, instead of going through the motions and suffering in a field of study that isn’t right for you. If your major or schoolwork is negatively affecting you, reach out to trusted friends or a counselor at your school’s health center. Your mental health is of the utmost importance.

7. Have you done your research?

Look before you leap. How many of your credits will count toward this new major? If you switch to this new major, will you need to get a master’s degree to pursue the career you want? What does the job market look like? Do you know what the day-to-day life of studying and working in a particular field is like?  

“Go out into the ‘real world’ and get a job or internship or apprenticeship and do some work in the field of study you think you want to pursue,” Olsher suggests. “That doesn't cost you anything. College is expensive, and if you keep changing your major, you'll spend money doing it. In an internship or job, you're getting paid to learn.”

Make sure you fully understand the consequences, good and bad, before you commit to switching your path.

Related: What To Do With Your 'Impractical' Major 

8. Are you committed to making it work?

A new academic path can come with a whole new set of challenges. You’ll need to find your bearings to reorganize and refocus on your new goal. When you make the switch, you should be ready to give your new path 100 percent effort.

On the other hand, finally pursuing something you’re passionate about can do wonders for your motivation and drive. “Switching my major lit a fire under my booty so to speak,” says Lexi. “I was nervous and unsure about the decision and what effects it could have on my future, so I threw myself into anything that came my way, despite apprehensions or nerves!” Making the switch might give you just the inspiration you’ve been needing.

9. Are you letting fear control your decision?

Cold feet can happen for lots of reasons. Some of them are legitimate—others, not worth putting your hopes and dreams on hold for. For one thing, it can be nerve-wracking to realize your life isn’t going to play out the way you thought it would. “I was nervous because my previous major was what I claimed was ‘my dream’ since I was in middle school and I was scared to admit that it wasn't what I imagined it would be,” Hannah says. You’ve grown up, and your goals might have, too. That’s not a bad thing!

Fear of the future can also involve what your salary might be or how your job prospects might change. “The biggest thought in the back of my head was financial security in the future,” Lexi says. “I had always been told that business majors had a better chance of securing a job—and a high-paying one—after college. I don’t regret switching my major at all; in fact, if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be the president of the Her Campus chapter at USC,” she adds. Keep in mind that a new major brings new opportunities.

Changing your major is a serious and potentially life-changing decision, so make sure you’ve really thought it through before making such a big choice. Lexi adds, “Keep your parents in the loop about your major-switch, too.” They’ve known you for longer than just about anyone, and if they’re helping to pay for your college education, this information is especially relevant to them.

Ultimately, your major doesn’t define you but finding the one that’s right for you can make life—and achieving your goals—so much easier. As Hannah says, “It [was] one of the best decisions of my life.” It might end up being one of yours, too.

When we feel insecure about our own bodies, a simple visit to the mall can feel like judgment day. Shopping for clothes is hard when your mind’s flooded with worries like “I wish I had more chest for to fit into this blouse” or “I was a medium a week ago, but now I’m a large”. 

Everyone, no matter their size, faces insecurities when they shop for clothes. Most of the worries stem from toxic ideas of the “perfect body,”  but we shouldn’t let those unrealistic standards control the way we feel about our own bodies. So here are the six things you should do when you shop to help you overcome your body insecurities and make shopping a much more enjoyable experience! 

1. Shop with someone who makes you feel good

Trying on clothes while shopping can seem scary when you don’t feel good about yourself to begin with. If you walk into a store already thinking you won’t look good in the clothes there, it’s going to be hard to convince yourself otherwise. Sometimes some moral support is what you need to make shopping more fun and less daunting. Try to take a close friend or family member who will not only hype you up when you look gorgeous but honestly let you know when something doesn’t look that nice on you too.  

Jana Brzovski, a sophomore at Marist College, tries to take her most loved ones along when she goes shopping. “I’m super close with my mom, so whenever I go shopping I always go with her. She makes me feel better about my body and gives me confidence that I look good in whatever I’m buying. Or I go with my sister, my aunt, or my friends. I’d say the best way to shop if it makes you feel insecure is to go with other people that you trust and know will be honest with you and boost up your esteem if you find things that make you look amazing,” Jana says.

2. Don’t be afraid to try new pieces

If it isn’t the size, sometimes certain styles of clothes make you feel a little self-conscious. We’re always worried about how a certain jacket or style of pant will look on us, but those thoughts could keep us away from our best piece of clothing!

You’ll never know what looks good on you until you try it on. When shopping, don’t assume something will definitely look bad on you. Try on new things and see how certain styles fit. Carlee Nilphai, a student at Millersville University, always tries on new things to see what looks best. “I try on everything I think looks even remotely cute (you never know what is going to make you feel beautiful or sexy if you don't try new things!),” Carlee says.

A common problem there is when shopping for clothes is “categorizing” certain pieces as unwearable for a certain body type. Don’t place rules on yourself and be open-minded! Just because you’re petite that doesn’t mean you can’t rock a jumpsuit, and just because you’re curvier doesn’t mean you can’t rock wide flare pants. Try pieces on that you like and make your judgments after you see them on you. Maybe you steered clear of a certain article of clothing, but the second you try a particular one from a particular store, it’ll become your new favorite! Your body, no matter its size, is the perfect model for new trends you can discover as you shop! 

3. Don’t focus so much on the “size” you’re trying on

The size of clothes can have a huge impact on how we feel about our bodies. However, size doesn’t matter as much you think. Every store you shop in has different brands, and each brand has their own set of measurements for each “size”. One brand may run their smalls with one set of measurements, and another brand may run pieces in those same measurements and call it a “medium”. Carlee doesn’t even go to one size when she tries on clothes. “I always try something in multiple sizes, because sometimes things don't look great in one size (even if that is what you think your size is) but they look amazing in another size,” Carlee says.

When you feel insecure, just remember that all these sizes are basically constructed by clothing brands. If you feel insecure for always being a certain size, remember that clothes are made for you and not the other way around. Clothing companies are still behind in making more sizes for different body types; if anything, they're the ones falling short, not you.

Victoria Hammond, a junior at Regent University, tries not to concern herself too much with size. “Don’t get caught up on what size you are and what size the clothes are. Don’t even worry about if it’s from the kids' section, men’s section, or plus size section. I’ll often just look at my favorite pair of jeans, figuring out how big they look and then that’s what I look for in other pants, regardless of what size they say they are,” Victoria says. After trying out clothes from different brands, you can get a better idea of what sizes and fits look best on you.

4. Don’t over-browse or go to too many stores

Shopping is stressful in itself and visiting too many stores at once can make it even more draining. When you stop at a few stores and run into trouble fitting into the clothes at every single store, it can feel pretty discouraging. Try to not to overdo your mall trips and stress yourself out if you’re not fitting or looking good in the clothes you try. Shopping is a selective practice after all, maybe the pieces you chose this time aren’t meant for your body type or they don’t speak to your fashion sense. [Again, it’s not you, it’s the clothes.] 

Makena Gera, a sophomore at Marist College, keeps her mall trips brief so she doesn’t overstress herself. “One tip I have is to keep your trips short, and not to overwhelm yourself with trying to go to too many stores in one day. If you spend a long time shopping, you're bound to find a lot more things that don't work/don't look good on you, making you feel a lot worse about your body. But if you keep the trip short (maybe one or two stores) the number of things that don't work (because there are bound to be some) is going to comparatively be a lot less,” Makena says. Of course, the more you try on, the more clothes there will be that aren’t to your liking. Try on new things, but keep it balanced so you’re not overwhelmed.

5. Know what looks good on you

Once you try on a variety of clothes, you can figure out what looks good on you. When you have an idea of what typically looks best, then you can look out for those pieces on your next shopping trip. Sometimes referring to social media like Instagram or YouTube videos with styling tips can provide you with some insight on what kinds of pieces look good for your body type and skin tone.

Marisa Pieper, a junior at Arizona State University, always tries to research fashion looks before shopping. “You should definitely try to figure out what your body type is and then check out what type of looks are going to be the most flattering on your body. Doing some background research before you shop can be super helpful for you and your wallet,” Marisa says.

We all dread trying something on and it looks hideous on us, but if you have an idea beforehand, you’ll avoid picking out things that make you feel a little less pretty. Sierra Clair, a graduate from Loyola Marymount University, tries to find brands that work well for her body type and then proceeds to look at their items. “I deal with this a lot! First thing is to go to your favorite brands that you know fit your body well. That always makes me feel better. Second thing is to remember that if something doesn’t fit right it’s not you, it’s the clothes! Some brands are just more geared towards different body types,” Sierra says.

6. Remind yourself of how well you care for your body

Don’t be so hard on yourself for how you look. Every body is beautiful, even if mass media tries to convince you otherwise. Sometimes you feel worse about your body not just because of how you look, but because of how you’ve been taking care of it. You feel worse about not fitting into a nice pair of jeans when you remember how badly you ate the weekend before. Remember that your body can always change for the better and focus on that. In the meantime, find clothes that flatter the body you have right now. Take care of your body first as slowly as you need to and by the end, you’ll feel good in whatever you try on.

Feeling insecure when trying on clothes is more common than we may realize. Everyone has some “quirks” about their bodies that they have to confront when shopping for clothes. Overall, though, it’s so important not to place too much importance on the clothes and instead focus on what clothes are made for you specifically. You should never feel like you need to change yourself drastically just to fit a certain size or style.

As brands begin to realize how narrow their sizes and styling recommendations are, stores will include more options for all body types. But, there’s nothing wrong with feeling insecure while shopping, and sometimes it’s just a necessary feeling to put our own body image into perspective. However, we hope you take away these tips as ways to not “cope” with your body, but dress your body up in all its natural beauty.

It’s officially back-to-school season, and we all know what they say: “New year, new me.” For some, that means a bold new haircut, or some new notebooks, or maybe you’ll finally throw away that ratty old comforter and replace it with a new one. But personally, I wanted a change that started from within: AKA, with what I was putting into my body, and how I was consuming it.

Why I made a change

I drank water every day last semester, but as a girl on-the-go between classes and clubs, I forgot to think as deeply about the environmental ramifications of grabbing yet another plastic water bottle to take with me. I was unaware of how bad of a habit this was until I had that moment we all have, when I realized how many surfaces in my room were just covered with a small army of empty plastic water bottles.

2,000 plastic water bottles are used every second (yep, you read that right), and those things take 450 years to decompose – so you can imagine the guilt I felt as I collected all those empty bottles from around my room. I really didn’t want to contribute to that awful statistic any more than I already had, so I decided to ditch the plastic bottle for good and purchase the product I’d been hearing about everywhere: a Brita Stream.

How I made a change

The Brita Stream was literally created to fight against the habit of bottled water, making it perfect for my change of heart. It fits right in my fridge (more room for extra snacks!) and has a 10-cup capacity, so busy me doesn’t have to think about refilling it that often, and I’m saving so much plastic by using it that it doesn’t bother me. Plus, it filters out nasty things like chlorine taste and odor, zinc, copper, cadmium and mercury. I didn’t even know those were in my water in the first place, but there’s no way I’m going back now that I do.

One of the coolest things about the Brita Stream is the “filter-as-you-pour” technology. When I fill the pitcher up, I don’t have to wait for the water to be safe to drink. I can just pour immediately into my glass or reusable water bottle (another environmentally conscious decision of mine) and know that it’s been filtered. Oh, and did I mention filtered water tastes way better? No lie. I used to be one of those “water doesn’t taste like anything” nonbelievers, but after this, I am a ~changed woman~.

Back-to-school is the perfect time to make a change for the better. But if you’re like me and you’re not feeling a new haircut or an entire wardrobe transformation, you can start small and still have a big impact. I totally suggest being more thoughtful with your water consumption and trying out a Brita Stream. Your body will thank you for not ingesting those harmful contaminants, and the planet will thank you for reducing your plastic use. All that goodness for just $34? Now that’s what I call a steal. Let’s make this school year the best one yet.

Have you ever wondered what student life at a specific college is really like? All too often, orientation groups and college brochures brush over less-than-optimal aspects of student life on campus, only focusing on the positive to draw you in. Maybe the AC always breaks in the dorms, or specific organizations on campus are super elitist and judgmental. Whether it’s good or bad, you definitely want to know the inside details before you decide to apply—read on to hear advice from collegiettes on how to sneakily uncover what college life is really like.

1. Facebook groups

Most colleges have Facebook groups for each class. You’ll only have to type in the college name into the Facebook search bar and add “Class of 20XX” to find a group. From there, you can look through posts and pictures that might give you a little more insight into what student life is really like. If the group is private, don’t worry. Most of the time, if you send a request to join and explain that you’re an interested student, a group admin will let you in.

Shirley Toy, a senior at the University of Illinois, Chicago, says, “I actually didn’t find out about Facebook groups affiliated with my university until I went to freshman orientation. I dug deep, and I came across the Facebook group for my graduation year at my university. I learned that the AC is cranked up high, the showers are bearable with flip-flops, and don’t wash your hair because hand dryers are all they have in the dorms. I am so glad to say that to this day, the people I met on the Facebook group became my classmates at one point, and we are still close friends.”

Make sure to check out a Facebook group before you apply, or like Shirley, before you start living on campus. It’ll keep you prepared for what’s ahead. And if it’s really off-putting to you, maybe it’ll encourage you to apply elsewhere. If you go to an older class page, you can even connect with upperclassmen who’ve been living there for a while—or even students who’ve graduated and are still in the Facebook group to give advice.

2. Meme pages

It might seem silly, but a meme page can tell you more about a college than you’d think.

Hannah McConnaughey, a junior at the University of Washington, says she used a meme page to learn about a potential college. “This might sound bizarre, but I feel like you can actually learn a lot about a college from their meme page on Facebook, if they have one,” she says. “Usually it’s run and created by students, so the inside jokes or common complaints can give you a sneak peek into what the everyday, average experience there is like. Definitely a little unconventional, but a good way to get a behind-the-scenes look at a university—and to find out about some of the not-so-great things they won’t mention on the campus tour.”

Inside jokes between students can be about anything—fights with rival schools, the gross dining hall food and super strict professors. If you can learn about the things students usually make fun of or complain about on campus, you’ll have a much better idea of what student life is like. Just don’t take everything at face value—it’s a meme page, after all.

3. Instagram

Instagram is a great way to find out about student lifestyle at a university. You can look through public pictures and comments posted by students there, and even reach out to someone if you’re interested. Most likely, they’d be willing to speak with you. Just make sure it’s not the school’s official Instagram—it probably won’t be any more insightful than a brochure.

“One of the things I find fun to browse for college is Instagram,” says Zaynah Javed, a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. “You can search up a college’s name in the locations tab and look at photos that students and other people post there. It gives you a good idea of what their unique campus life is like, what kinds of kids go to the school, and what people do in that area.” This is an awesome idea if you’re not sure what students do in their free time in the city around your college.

Laura*, a freshman at Lehigh University, notes that she used to check Instagram before she went to college as well. “A weird way I tried to find out about student life before actually going to college was Instagram,” she says. “I would look up tags for my school like #lehigh or look under the location tag. If someone had posted a picture with the location “Lehigh University” and was not on private, I could see it! It was kind of creepy, but it helped me get a better understanding of what type of students go to my school.”

Don’t feel weird about checking posts by students at your college on Instagram! If they’re public, that’s totally okay for you to look at. And don’t limit yourself to Instagram, either. Pinterest boards and Twitter posts by students are fair game, as well. You can even find Snap Stories of the university you’re interested in by searching them on Snapchat.

Related: 5 Things That Don’t Matter on Your College Applications

4. Student newspapers

Especially if you’re interested in journalism or literature, college newspapers can hold a treasure trove of information for you. From opinion pieces to campus news, you’ll find all the details on student ideologies and the latest changes on campus. It’ll take a bit of reading, but you’ll definitely come out with a better idea of what the university you’re interested in is like.

Rachna Shah, a freshman at Dartmouth College, says that reading student newspapers was her first step when looking into a college. “One of the best ways to learn more about student life at a college is by looking at their newspapers and op-ed pieces,” she says. “Most colleges have at least one student newspaper, if not multiple publications. I believe that editorials truly give a glimpse into what’s unique (not always good) about a school.”

Maybe you’ll find out that students have been advocating for social issues on campus and you’re really interested in getting involved. It’s a great way to find out things you like and dislike on campus, before ever actually setting foot there.

5. Rate My Professors

Believe it or not, reading student responses on a site like Rate My Professors can tell you a lot about student life. Whether they’re angry or happy with their professors, you’ll be able to see if students are petty about their grades or have actual, intelligible responses.

Not to mention, if you do end up going to the school, Shirley tells us the site can be insanely helpful for building your schedule. “While I was registering for classes, my orientation roommate suggested that I use the website Rate My Professors to find out more about the professors—their teaching style, feedback from students in the past and the overall rating,” she says. “Not going to lie, it was really helpful; my first class schedule, I picked all of my professors using Rate My Professors—I still use it to this day to plan my senior year schedule.”

Through the site, you get to know more about both professors and students on campus. Sounds like a win-win.

6. College Confidential

Let’s face it—forums on College Confidential are addicting to look at when you’re applying to college. It’s easy to check there for students’ thoughts on everything from your SAT scores to your dorm packing list. In addition to all of that, it can also give you connections to students at the specific college you’re applying to.

Christian Pierce, a junior at Florida Atlantic University, says, “I was really interested in going to FAU, but I wanted to make sure that I’d enjoy the campus life. When you go to the College Confidential site, you can specifically look for forums related to a certain university. I was eventually able to talk to current students – hearing their positive opinions sealed the deal for me.”

Make sure you check your school’s College Confidential forum for anything you want to find out about student life—from academics to intramural sports. It’s a great resource that you should check out at least once.

Whether you decide to post on College Confidential, lurk through old Instagram posts or look on Rate My Professors, you’re learning about student life at the university you’re interested in. It’s absolutely awesome that you’re proactive about your future, so pat yourself on the back, pre-collegiette! Keep your head on your shoulders and pick a college that’s right for you.

* Names have been changed.

Beth Dover has played a myriad of on-screen characters, from Shari in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (as well as Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later) to Blanche on Another Period. However, you might know Beth from another one of her currently-running character portrayals—as Linda Ferguson on Orange Is the New Black. And we get it: you’ve already stayed up until midnight on Friday just to watch the entirety of Season 6 the moment Netflix updated its streaming queue. (We did the same, and there’s no shame in admitting it.)

Aside from portraying the cunningly confident Linda in OITNB, Beth is also an avid proponent for voting and exercising your right to vote. When she isn’t on set, she uses her free time and her social media platform to share noteworthy causes and issues, and she has some equally notable advice for fellow activists who want to use their voices to amplify the causes that impassion them. Beyond her spoil-free OITNB-related conversation, Beth Dover told us about the importance of voting, activism and the vital role that different forms of activism can take.

Her Campus: You portray Linda Ferguson in OITNB and in season 5, Linda got caught up in the Litchfield riots. At the end of the season, the prison guards still think she’s a prisoner and cart her off to max. Do you feel Linda has grown as a character from her time in the riot?

Beth Dover: I mean, she's certainly seen what the prison system is like up close and personal, and she’s had her eyes opened to the injustices and all of what's been happening. The new season takes place about a week after they all get on the busses, so we'll see what happens then, whether she takes that in a positive direction or negative direction. We'll see how that goes. She's certainly affected by it. But whether that makes her a good person or a bad person, we’ll see.

HC: Definitely. It'll be interesting to see where she takes her persona from here.

BD: Definitely. I think you guys won’t be disappointed with the new season. I just saw the first episode. We just had a screening of it a couple days ago in New York, and the first episode is so good. It's going to be a really strong season, I think.

HC: Is there anything that you're most excited for viewers to see this season?

BD: I think what's exciting is that we're going to be dealing with issues of maximum security prisons this season. So you're going to see a lot of, obviously, this regular cast, but you're going to see a whole new group of characters, a whole new set of circumstances, and there are going to be power struggles and all of that. It's going to be exciting. Kind of season 1 vibes in the sense that it’s a whole new prison—you’re kind of learning the ropes with everyone.

HC: The trailer shows your character in Litchfield Max getting her head shaved by a guard. Do you think spending time in max as a misidentified prisoner could influence Linda’s opinion of the MCC in the future of the series?

BD: I believe it probably could. I believe Linda is mad and is very mad, I’ll just say that.

HC: I would be, too. Do you think that Linda might continue to work with the MCC and use her competency at her job to ultimately help reform Litchfield to benefit the prisoners from the inside?

BD: She may. I know that Linda can't stay in that prison forever. She will be at some point get out. So, you'll see, you'll see how she deals with MCC in this season for sure.

HC:  That'll be exciting, kind of her reclaiming her power in a different sense, too.

BD: I believe, so. She will be reclaiming her power. She’ll be reclaiming her time.

HC: If you could give Linda any piece of advice through her journey, what would it be?

BD: Any piece of advice? Oh, man, that's a hard question. As an actor, it's hard for me to be like, ‘Okay, Linda’s a villain.’ So I have to have to have empathy for Linda. I try to justify her actions. You know, she's a survivor. You know, she really cares about her ambitions. I think my advice for Linda is to relax a little bit, to be a little bit more open to life coming at you slowly, and to be gentle with yourself. But she's not going to take my advice. She's, you know, she's Linda.

HC: Yes. Definitely. She’s stubborn, so advice might not be the best approach to her.

BD: No, no, no, no, no, Linda, she's not gonna take any of our advice.

HC: Have you learned anything about yourself from your time portraying Linda or any of the characters throughout your career?

BD: Well, Linda and I are very different people. But, I have learned I am a little uptight. I'm able to access her incredibly uptight nature because I think I also can be a little uptight, so I’ve realized that about myself. I try to chill out a little bit. You know, I don't make as many lists. I'm very much a Virgo, so I make a lot of lists. So I can get a little uptight, so I gotta chill out.

HC: But learning that about yourself can help you focus on those aspects of your life, as well as your astrology.

BD: Sure, absolutely. But, you know, on the other hand, I do get a lot of parts that kind of require me to be able to access that. So, I don't want to get rid of it entirely. You know what I mean? Actually owning it—it's just apart of my personality.

HC: When you aren’t on set, you're known for lending your support to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. Do you have any advice for college-age women who might want to get involved in advocating but might not know where to start or might be afraid of the time commitment?

BD: I feel like whatever you can do: vote. No matter what, vote. And vote for your progressive candidates and vote in your smaller elections. There's an organization that I'm a part of called The Hometown Project, where we go down to the smaller towns and kind of get out the vote in those elections. And, if you can get $5 a month to whatever organization that speaks to you, then do that. Social media for college-age people is a big thing. Let your friends know that that they should get out to vote, and there's a vote happening. I think I was scared, too, to be ultra political because I thought, ‘Oh, do I know enough?’ And it’s like, ‘You know what: yes, you do.’ Just get out there and let your voice be heard.

HC: And I think, kind of abolishing that sort of self-made gate-keeping where you think, you know, ‘I might not know enough to vote or I might not know enough to vote in the smaller elections in my town,’ can kind of help breed more activism in younger people.

BD: Absolutely. And it's important, especially right now, not to be apathetic to what's happening because we're living in some pretty dark times at the moment. I think there is hope, and I think it's you guys. It’s the young people voting, and it's incredibly important that you guys are political. I mean, young people are the future, to quote Whitney Houston. I didn't mean to do that, but it's true. 

HC: Definitely. Definitely. Because voting can enact change in whatever way that is.

BD: That's what we got to do. Absolutely, get out to vote for sure.

HC: You also use your social media platform to amplify and retweet important issues from Hurricane Harvey to gun laws. How do you think women can use their social media to bolster issues that they're passionate about?

BD: Well, my friend started this organization called Drain the NRA with about five other women from a mommy group—I have a two-year-old—that I'm also a part of. It has become such a big thing—like we protest outside of companies that give money to the NRA, that give member benefits to the NRA. We go out there and we protest outside and we post it, even if it's a protest of 30 of us, we post it on our social media. That gets the word out to other people. You know, these companies, like True Car, have stopped giving member benefits to the NRA and that's because five women from a mommy group on Facebook got together and said, ‘This is crazy. I don't want my children to live in a world where there's such an easy access to guns.’

You can make a difference [by] coming, and telling people can make a difference. Also, don't get overwhelmed by the causes. You should choose the causes that are the most important to you and really focus on that. Maybe you feel overwhelmed by all the different things, so choose the things that are important to you, and really try to make a change in that way.

HC: Absolutely, it’s better to focus your energy on something you're really passionate about, rather than something you're more apathetic about.

BD: And different people have different levels of activism that they're comfortable with. Some people don't like crowds, so they don't want to march, but maybe they can call their representatives on the phone, maybe they can sign petitions. We can give money once a month to Planned Parenthood. Whatever you can do is great.

HC: Absolutely. That kind of shows that activism is this multifaceted definition and there's no one way to be an activist.

BD: For sure. You don't have to win the activist award, just do the best you can. Try to change the course of history if you can, but in whatever little way you can.

Orange Is the New Black Season 6 is currently streaming on Netflix. 

It's a dark day for the die-hard Jonas Brothers fan that lives inside us all. According to a number of outlets, Nick Jonas proposed to Priyanka Chopra last week! 

The couple — who have been dating for two months — were in London celebrating Priyanka's 36th birthday, when Nick reportedly popped the question. A source close to him told PEOPLE Nick's "very, very, happy."

"His friends and family have never seen him like this, and they're all really excited for him," the source said. "He's definitely very serious about her." 

Though Nick proposed across the pond, he's said to have bought Priyanka's ring in New York after shutting down an entire Tiffany store, Sweet Home Alabama style.

Rumors about the duo's plans to wed began surfacing Thursday night after Priyanka's director for the Indian film Bharat, Ali Abbas Zafar, announced that she'd be leaving the project. Zafar didn't use any wedding adjacent terms, but he did specifically cite Nick as part of the reason.

Despite walking the red carpet at last year's Met Gala together, the two didn't begin dating until this May. Since then, they've been spotted together a number of times — including with Nick's family. Not only did Priyanka accompany Nick to his cousin's wedding, but they've reportedly traveled to India where they met her mother. They even go on double dates with Nick's brother, Joe, and his fiancee, Sophie Turner. 

Reactions to the engagement have been interesting, to say the least. Many have associated the news with other similar announcements from celebrity couples who haven't been dating that long, like Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson and Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin. 

Basically, we're all jealous. Congrats to the happy couple!

Ronan Farrow — the journalist whose reporting on the Harvey Weinstein scandal helped spark the #MeToo and Time's Up movements — published a bombshell article on Friday that detailed allegations of sexual harassment against CBS CEO Les Moonves and other men at the company. 

Over the course of an eight month investigation, Farrow interviewed 30 current and former CBS employees about Moonves' alleged misconduct over three decades. Six women described harassment, including forcible groping and kissing. Whenever Moonves' alleged advances were met with resistance, he's said to have physically intimidated the women or threatened retaliation against their careers. 

"What happened to me was a sexual assault, and then I was fired for not participating," actress and writer Illeana Douglas told Farrow. 

Some of the people who Moonves did promote were also accused of inappropriate behavior, according to the report. 

Moonves admitted to The New Yorker that he's "made some women uncomfortable," which he regrets. His full statement to the magazine reads: "Throughout my time at CBS, we have promoted a culture of respect and opportunity for all employees, and have consistently found success elevating women to top executive positions across our company. I recognize that there were times decades ago when I may have made some women uncomfortable by making advances. Those were mistakes, and I regret them immensely. But I always understood and respected — and abided by the principle — that ‘no’ means ‘no,’ and I have never misused my position to harm or hinder anyone’s career. This is a time when we all are appropriately focused on how we help improve our society, and we at CBS are committed to being part of the solution."

In the article, Farrow attributed a statement to CBS that there have been no official misconduct claims or settlements against Moonves during his 24 years at the network. 

Jeff Fager, the current executive producer of 60 Minutes and former chairman of CBS News, was also named in the report. He allegedly inappropriately touched women, made lewd comments, and both tolerated and protected others who acted similarly. 

Fager denied the accusations in a statement to The New Yorker.

"It is wrong that our culture can be falsely defined by a few people with an axe to grind who are using an important movement as a weapon to get even, and not by the hundreds of women and men that have thrived, both personally and professionally, at 60 Minutes," Fager said, adding, "A majority of our senior staff are women. All of them worked their way up the ranks and are now managers of our broadcast. Half of our producers and a majority of our associate producers are women. It is a challenging place to do well and promotions are earned on merit and are not based on gender."

CBS issued a statement of its own, although it doesn't name Moonves or Fager directly. "CBS is very mindful of all workplace issues and takes each report of misconduct very seriously. We do not believe, however, that the picture of our company created in The New Yorker represents a larger organization that does its best to treat its tens of thousands of employees with dignity and respect," the statement reads. "We are seeing vigorous discourse in our country about equality, inclusion, and safety in the workplace, and CBS is committed to being part of the solution to those important issues."

CBS and Moonves are currently in the middle of a legal battle with shareholder Shari Redstone, who's trying to merge the company with Viacom. In Farrow's report, he noted that his investigation began before any lawsuits were filed between Redstone and CBS. Redstone herself denied any involvement with the accusations. 

Moonves is married to Julie Chen, who serves as the host of CBS' Big Brother and The Talk. She took to Twitter on Friday night to defend her husband. "Leslie is a good man and a loving father, devoted husband and inspiring corporate leader," she said. "He has always been a kind, decent and moral human being. I fully support my husband."

Demi Lovato's fans want her to know they're not going anywhere. As the singer continues to recover from her apparent drug overdose, a group of fans gathered at Atlantic City Beach on Friday for an impromptu concert where Demi had been scheduled to perform. 

Following Demi's hospitalization on Tuesday, the concert was obviously canceled — but fans wanted to use the site to show their support for the star. Videos on social media show them holding encouraging signs, singing Demi's song "Sober," and shouting things like "We still love you!"

At one point, a crowd even gathered to watch the show of support. 

The event was one of the many ways Demi's fans have been expressing their love for her while she recovers. In addition to posting well wishes and prayers, many have taken to Twitter with the hashtag #HowDemiHasHelpedMe to show the impact Demi has had on their lives.

According to E! News, Demi is "getting better" with support from both her family and ex-boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama. He's reportedly visited her more than once at the hospital. 

"Wilmer is completely devastated and he still loves Demi and it was just a matter of scheduling and time that they needed to make a romantic relationship work," a source told Us Weekly. 

Though Demi's "been honest with him about her relapse," the source said Wilmer didn't know the severity of her struggle. The two have been close friends ever since they ended their six-year relationship. 

PEOPLE reported that upon Demi's release from the hospital, her family wants her to enter rehab. They've "looked into several options," a source told the magazine. Demi's battle with substance abuse, mental illness and eating disorders has prompted her to enter treatment and a sober living facility before.

In March of this year, she revealed that she was celebrating six years of sobriety. But on June 21, Demi released a song titled, "Sober," in which she admitted that she had relapsed. 

Last Tuesday, Demi was rushed to the hospital from her Hollywood Hills home after being found unconscious and revived with Narcan, an emergency medication that reverses the effects of a narcotic overdose. That night, a spokesperson for the singer confirmed she was awake and stable. The rep also thanked everyone for their support, and requested privacy for Demi as she recovers. 

Deciding whether or not to attend grad school can be a tough decision. There’s so much to consider, like should you pursue a different area of study or should you specialize further? Are you financially prepared to go back to school and will the benefits pay off professionally in the future? Assuming you’ve already gotten past these questions and have decided you’re up for the challenge, you might be thinking of heading to law school. A good way to tell if this is really something you want to pursue is to take the LSAT, which is typically required for admission and is similar to business school’s GMAT requirement. If you enjoy studying for the LSAT, you will most likely enjoy law school. But just in case you need a little more to go on, here are a few signs that law school might be right for you.

1. You’re not intimidated by hundreds of pages worth of reading

Sure, Elle Woods made it look easy but the reality is that law school demands long hours in the library scouring enormous legal textbooks and limitless case files. Being a quick reader will be a strong asset no doubt, but being a smart reader will get you even further. This means you know how to take apart a reading: identify the key points, draw relevant conclusions and highlight the parts you know you’ll need to revisit later on. If nothing makes you happier than stacks of books filled with color-coded reading notes, this is the degree program for you!

2. You are incredibly organized; attention to detail is one of your strengths

Speaking of color-coding your notes, you’ll need to be a master organizer to get through this without too many Elle Woods-inspired, mascara-smudging meltdowns. Legal expert Victoria Shtainer says, “Law school forces you to think on your toes and, most of the time, out loud. It’s going to require you to handle multiple storylines and facts.” To keep track of everything you encounter on a daily basis—facts, dates, figures, definitions of legal jargon, case studies and their verdicts—you’ll need to have a study system that works for you. Organization, discipline and razor-sharp focus are just a few traits that every law school hopeful should possess.

3. You have excellent time management skills

On average, attending law school full-time can take about three years; that’s three years of demanding course loads, often well into your prime, young adult years. While your friends are hanging out at the newest brunch spot, backpacking across Central America or even getting married and starting families, you’ll probably be glued to your work. Shtainer warns, “It's a grueling lifestyle and you're going to be spending most of your time studying, writing and interning,” so you’ll need to plan your days and nights accordingly.

Lawyer Setara Qassim says that she was completely unprepared for the time commitment that law school exams demanded. “Having been a procrastinator throughout undergrad at UCLA, literally waiting the night before any exam to actually begin studying or pulling last minute all-nighters to write term papers, while managing a social life going to every hot Hollywood club and having a boyfriend, my first year of law school was a complete shock.” Qassim graduated from UCLA with a 3.9 GPA, but she quickly learned that law school would be a bit more challenging. She recalls, “I was promptly given my first D,” after studying only the night before an exam. Fortunately, it gets easier. Once you get past your first year, Qassim says things are much more manageable because you get to narrow your interests. She chose to focus on criminal law.

4. You’re not afraid to stand up for what you believe in

This is a big one. A successful law student—and a successful attorney—is passionate about their beliefs. You got into this because you wanted to fight on behalf of those who can’t fight for themselves. Maybe you want to save the environment or maybe family law is your one true calling. Whatever it is, you’ll need to be ready to defend your position and convince others that they should too.  A good way to know if this is something you enjoy is to try out extracurricular or volunteer activities with an emphasis on advocacy. Legal career consultant and former practicing lawyer Cheryl Heisler notes that this is important for more than one reason. “Having a [specific] passion for some area of the law or subject matter will motivate you when the going gets tough,” she explains. Pursuing a career as a legal expert is no easy task; you’re going to need to keep some end goal in sight at every step of your journey.

5. You jump at any chance to analyze a problem from all viewpoints

Even though you’re a stickler for what you believe in, you’re still able to step back and offer an outsider’s perspective when needed. Your ability to dissect complicated situations and determine the best outcome for everyone involved will come in handy during and after law school. Associate attorney Lauren Bushman says, “[Even before attending law school] I usually saw both sides of a problem, especially when friends were having conflicts, and the ability to see the shades of gray instead of black and white really helped my analysis in law school.” In fact, she suggests this is useful even if you decide later on not to pursue a career in law. “Law school was so much more for me than learning how to be a lawyer. I would encourage anyone who wants to further develop their ability to analyze a situation from all sides to attend law school. Whether or not you become a lawyer, a law degree not only teaches you about the law, but also really teaches you how to think.”

6. You have excellent critical writing skills… but you don’t want to go into journalism

You love to write but you’re more interested in building a logical argument than in telling a human-interest story, or maybe you have major concerns about the future of digital journalism and want to veer on the more stable side of things. That’s what attorney editor Jennifer Kain Kilgore was thinking when she graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. “This was right around when everything was going from print to digital. Reporters were expected not only to be writers, but also editors, photographers and designers. I decided that I didn't want to be a juggler,” she says. Kilgore credits her legal writing skills to her law professors, who helped her think more critically and present a more persuasive, written argument. Now, she says, “I use my writing and editing skills as an attorney editor, so I make sure that the information provided in the articles is legally sound. It is the perfect niche, and I am very happy.”

7. You are not only confident but also highly competitive

Confidence is a must in any line of work. You should always strive to be proud of who you are and what you represent. In law school, this is especially important when you need to stand your ground in an argument and when you feel like your enthusiasm for your program might be waning. You’ll need to cast any self-doubt away and remind yourself that you can do it! We all get down sometimes, but if you’re going to make it out of law school in one piece, you’ll need an extra dose of staying power. Being confident in your skills will also help you develop a tough skin when it comes to losses, which you are bound to face at some point in your career. According to Heisler, both “the will to win and the ability not to take it personally when you lose” are essential to your success. If you’re not one to shy away from conflict out of fear or insecurity, then law school will only help you become a stronger negotiator.

8. You interned at a law firm and loved it!

This is probably the best way to know if law school is right for you. You wouldn’t buy a car without test-driving it, so why commit to a three-year degree program that comes with its fair share of financial and mental demands without testing it out first? Attorney Alexis Moore says her biggest piece of advice for law-school hopefuls is to get real life experience before diving headfirst. “Work with attorneys, with lawyers and in the legal profession. See what the career holds before you get saddled down with the heavy financial burden of law school. Learn what life is like after law school … passing the bar is only part of it.” Moore says that her experiences working as a layperson in a law office, victims’ advocate and risk management consultant helped her prepare for a career in law. Because of this, she adds, “I knew [going in] that most attorneys are not millionaires so watching shows like Suits is fun but they’re not the reality.”

Related: What to Do If You Change Your Mind About Grad School

It’s important to remember that, although these are generally required traits for a profession in the legal field, there are many different types of lawyers. Personal injury lawyer Tina Willis says, “From those who draft wills in non-adversarial settings, to corporate merger negotiators, to the toughest trial lawyers, so many different personality types could be well-suited for practicing law.”

Still, law school is a major life commitment—financially, emotionally and even physically (if you have to move for your program)—but like any other degree program, it represents an opportunity to strengthen your professional portfolio and to grow as a more accomplished, more determined individual. It may not be the best decision for everyone, but if any of the above categories describes you perfectly, it might be something worth considering.

College life is stockpiled with unforgettable experiences, lifelong friends and an indispensable education—but it comes at a pretty hefty price. On top of tuition, cash for books, meals and extracurricular adventures seems to flow out of your bank account as soon as it enters. Looking to earn some extra dough without sacrificing all your freedom? A part-time job may be the move. Take a look at these signs to see if you can handle a side hustle while you’re still studying.

1. You’re bored AF

Maybe you’re lightening your course load, or you’ve just mastered the art of working efficiently. Either way, you’ve got a ton of free time, and are looking for a productive activity to help you make money—not spend it—during all of your free afternoons.

Angela Laurito, a sophomore at Pace University, knows the feeling well. “I felt under-productive, so I knew I needed a job,” she says. “I'm naturally an over-achiever who functions best on a tight schedule.”

Type-A collegiettes, if you’re feeling antsy, part-time work might be the solution to your problems!

2. You want to sharpen up your skills

You conquer in the classroom, but your resume could use some serious work—work experience, that is. If you’re looking for a concrete way to show future employers that you’re beyond worthy of a hire, a part-time job is a great place to start.

Laura Craig, Associate Director of Career Development at Temple University, agrees that part-time jobs are excellent opportunities to advance your professional capabilities. She highlights that these occupations can “build skills employers are looking for: professionalism, problem solving, leadership and teamwork.  These skills cross a wide range of part-time jobs, and they are there if you’re willing to put forward the initiative to develop them.”

Practice makes perfect—so perfect your office practices with a light year-round job.

Related: The Perfect On-Campus Job for Your Personality

3. You need the cash without the full-time stress

For these collegiettes, the problem isn’t if you should snag that extracurricular employment, but how much time you’re going to put in. If you’ve taken on a full-time job, but found that those extra 20 hours a week would be better spent in the library or catching up on your beauty sleep, dialing back to part-time is an excellent option.

Kayleen Parra-Padron, a senior at Florida International University, worked full-time her first two years of school. "I'd work 40 plus hours and I'd never be free on the weekends or major holidays. It was the worst. I was failing and dropping classes,” she says. “I currently work part-time as a secretary and I have so much time for homework and assignments. I've made dean’s list two semesters in a row!”

Being a full-time student with a 40-hour/week career puts a lot on your plate. Dropping down those hours will let you focus more on school while still keeping your wallet full!

4. You want to spend more time on your interests

Do you love doing yoga but can’t justify the price of your local studio? Or maybe you are a total bookworm, yet you don’t find enough ways to explore new reading options? Part-time work can be a great method of monetizing your passion.

Craig mentions that work that aligns with one’s interests, “such as someone who loves working out at the recreation center on campus,” makes part-time jobs for students more enjoyable. Think about hobbies you wish you could spend more time on at school, and use part-time work as a way to get paid to pursue them!

Related: 15 Things Only Girls Who Would Rather Have Money Than a Boyfriend Understand

There are plenty of reasons that collegiettes should hunt for part-time work to supplement their studies; however, every student must keep in mind that she is primarily at school to learn! As long as your studies aren’t on hold, snag that job on the side and cushion the blow of those weekly expenses!