A girl can never have too many pairs of fall boots—but most of the time, these cold weather accessories run way above our budget. But never say never—we totally understand the struggle, so we're here to help! Don't give up on your fall shopping yet—we've found you nine pairs of affordable boots. Can't decide which pair you like best? No worries... every pair is under $50, so you just might have room in that budget for more than just one pair.

1. Biker Boots - H&M ($49.95)

Perfect for day-to-night wear, biker boots turn any plain ol' outfit into a fall ensemble. This black faux leather pair from H&M come with all of the bells and whistles that your top-of-the-line pair would come with. Put these boots on the top of your wishlist and get them ASAP because you'll be wearing these classics for years. 

2. Karri Tall Boots - Target ($39.99)

The classic riding boot is the quintessential fall shoe no matter where in the country you live. Everyone has their one pair of brown or black riding boots that they pair with any literally any outfit. This black pair is topped with brown—a slightly trendier take on the usual riding boot. This inexpensive pair is the best way to test out the two-tone waters!

3. Lace-up Boots - H&M ($34.95)

The edgy/punk/grunge look is one of those trends that just seems to come back year after year. These boots are a total steal, and the cool marbled pattern totally elevate the classic silhouette.

4. Over the Knee Flat Boots - Lulu*s ($49.00)

Over the knee boots are usually difficult to come by at this price point. We love these because they easily take an outfit from drab to fab. You'll like just like a fashion blogger or celebrity stylist every time you sport this black faux leather pair!

5. Khalea Combat Boots - Target ($34.99)

We love a good combat boot with skinny jeans or even paired with a floral dress. They add an edgy look to any outfit whether you're going for tomboy or girly girl. This black pair from Target come fully loaded with an über convenient side sipper and wooden soles to make the boots feel much more expensive than the really are. 

6. Chelsea Boots - H&M ($34.95)

Chelsea boots look great with everything from boyfriend jeans to leggings to dresses. How is this possible? The elastic sides make the top of the boot form fit to your ankle, slimming your entire leg and allowing you to wear them with literally anything you could ever dream of. This pair from H&M come in this solid black along with a distressed brown faux leather.

7. Faux Suede Heeled Booties - Forever 21 ($32.80)

When the weather gets colder, swap out your strappy sandals for a sleek pair of suede booties. An essential for any party or bar you may be going to this fall, booties are this season's going out shoe. This black faux suede pair from Forever 21 have a small platform in the front for added comfort along with a reasonably-sized high heel. 

8. Colorado Wedge Bootie - Francesca's ($48.00)

Wedge booties are a great way to dress up an ordinary outfit you might wear to class or to grab lunch on any given day. The heel adds a polished look to your outfit, while the wedge is comfy enough to wear walking around all day. A brown faux leather pair like these will go with any of your fall outfits, no matter how dressy or how casual. 

9. Sophisticated Slingback Booties - Forever 21 ($32.80)

An edgier take on the classic bootie, the open-toed bootie shows off your bohemian side (and your pedicure!) while still keeping your foot covered and fall-appropriate. This pair from Forever 21 is a great reddish-brown faux leather that will be sure to look great with your fall maxi skirts and a cropped denim jacket.

You can find any style of boot out there for under $50—we promise! Which one will you be rocking this season?

If the day that you walk into your go-to coffee shop and see that the pumpkin-flavored drinks have finally returned is your favorite day of the year, you’re not alone—we live for pumpkin-flavored anything (and everything).

Unfortunately, many pumpkin goodies that are oh-so-popular during this time of year are super high in calories, fat and sugar, which means your obsession can quickly turn into an unhealthy one. Plain pumpkins, however, are actually low-calorie, nutritional powerhouses loaded with fiber and key vitamins, so there are plenty of good-for-you ways to get your pumpkin fix! These seven healthy recipes are a good place to start. From sweet breakfast dishes to savory dinner meals, you can take care of your pumpkin cravings while also taking care of yourself!

1. Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie

There’s nothing better than warm oatmeal on a crisp fall morning—especially when that oatmeal is paired with pumpkin. Oatmeal and pumpkin are a match made in health heaven because both are packed with fiber, so you’ll stay satisfied well until lunchtime rolls around. This low-fat recipe can be made vegan and is only 180 calories. Top it with your favorite nut butter for a punch of protein! 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/8 tsp nutmeg, or just use pumpkin pie spice
• Sweetener, such as 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp maple syrup or 1 to 2 packs stevia
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup milk of choice, or nondairy creamer, or water (scale back by a tbsp if using liquid sweetener)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Optional: raisins, walnuts, brown sugar to sprinkle on top

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 380 degrees.
2. Combine raw oats, spices, pumpkin and milk in bowl.
3. Pour into a greased 1-cup ramekin (or two 1/2-cup ramekins) or a mini-loaf pan.
4. Cook for 20 minutes or more, until it gets firm. Finally, set your oven to “high broil” for three more minutes, or until it reaches desired crispiness (or simply just bake longer, but broiling gives it a nice crust).

2. Pumpkin Pancakes

Recipe from Health

If you’re more of a pancake person in the morning, this is the recipe for you. While homemade pancakes may sound like a production, they’re actually a lot easier and quicker to make than you may think. And these ones have half the calories of those made with buttermilk. If you want more of a pumpkin pie taste, feel free to add pumpkin pie spice to the batter. The recipe makes about eight pancakes, so share them with your housemates!

Ingredients

• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk
• ¼ cup cake flour (or use ½ tbsp less if using all-purpose flour)
• 4 large egg whites
• ¼ tsp salt
• Cooking spray
• Maple syrup or honey for serving

Directions

1. Whisk together pumpkin, yogurt, baking soda, egg yolk and flour.
2. Whisk egg whites with salt; fold into pumpkin mixture.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat.
4. Spoon in 1/3 cup batter for each pancake. Flip when tops are covered with bubbles and edges are slightly brown (about three minutes per side).
5. Drizzle with syrup or honey.

3. Pumpkin Muffins

Recipe fromKitchen Stewardship

Need an on-the-go snack in between classes or a little something to satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner? These moist muffins can be made using only one mixing bowl, so you won’t make a mess of your kitchen. You could also pour the batter into a loaf pan if you’d prefer pumpkin bread to muffins.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups whole-wheat flour
• ½ cup melted butter coconut oil
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 cup pumpkin (about half a 15-oz can)
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cloves
• 1 tbsp molasses (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Put in greased loaf pan or muffin tin. Bake at 325 degrees (Bread [one loaf] = 65-80 minutes; 12 muffins = 35-40 minutes; 24 mini muffins = 25 minutes).

4. Skinny Pumpkin Latte

Recipe fromDashing Dish

Those pumpkin-flavored drinks that we look forward to making a comeback every fall are not the healthiest options on the menu, sadly. To get that sweet pumpkin pie flavor, the drinks are often loaded with sugar and fat, bringing the container to a total of 300 to 470 calories, depending on the size. But before you swear off pumpkin drinks for the rest of the season (as if that were even possible), we found a recipe that has only 2 grams of sugar and 71 calories per serving.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp instant espresso power (or 2 packets Starbucks Instant Via Coffee)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup sugar-free maple syrup, honey or agave nectar
• 2 cups vanilla almond milk or skim milk
• 3-5 packets stevia (or sweetener to taste)
• Optional: 2 tbsp half and half (to make it even more rich and creamy) and/or fat free whipped topping for garnish

Directions

1. Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan, stir to combine everything and heat over medium heat for about one to three minutes, or until very hot (but be careful not to bring to a boil).  
2. Remove from heat and add to a blender to get the milk nice and frothy.  Blend on high until the milk begins to form small bubbles, about one to two minutes. 
3. Divide the mixture between two mugs (or save half for later in the fridge). Add a splash of half and half if desired, and/or a squirt of whipped cream, a drizzle of sugar-free caramel and a dash of cinnamon on top.

5. Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Dip

Recipe fromChocolate Covered Katie

The average slice of pumpkin pie is aloaded with calories and fats. By digging your spoon into this dip instead, you’ll eliminate the added sugar and cut down on the amount of fat (pie crusts are loaded with saturated fat). Get double the pumpkin deliciousness by spreading this dip on your pumpkin pancakes!

Ingredients

• 1 can pumpkin (15 oz)
• 1 container cream cheese-style spread, like Tofutti (if vegan), or low-fat cream cheese
• 2 tsp cinnamon (more if desired)
• 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Sweetener of choice to taste (Amount will depend on whether you’re making this as a dip or a spread. Use up to 1/3 cup for a dip, but you might not even need a tablespoon of sugar or a packet of stevia for a spread. Note that liquid sweeteners will yield a much thinner dip, so either powdered sugar or stevia are recommended.)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and mix very well (A food processor is best, but this can be done by hand with a lot of stirring).
2. Serve as a dip, with graham crackers or gingersnaps or fresh fruit. Or use as a festive cream cheese spread on bagels, toast or pancakes. 

6. Sweet & Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Recipe from POPSUGAR

According to World’s Healthiest Foods, pumpkin seeds are loaded with vitamins and are a rich source of the minerals zinc, magnesium and iron, making them a nutritious snack to munch on throughout the day. Added bonus: this recipe will satisfy your sweet and your salty tooth at the same time.

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds, washed and patted dry (or whatever yields from a pumpkin you carve)
• 1 tbsp organic coconut oil
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp sea salt

Directions

1. Remove seeds from pumpkin, wash in colander, remove bits of pulp and pat dry.
2. In a small bowl, toss seeds, coconut oil (you may have to heat it on the stovetop to get it to liquefy), cinnamon and salt
3. Spread evenly on baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through.

7. Roasted Pumpkin Quinoa Salad

Recipe from Feed Your Awesome Machine

Pumpkin treats don’t have to be sweet—this savory dinner dish will get you your pumpkin fix just as deliciously. This warm grain salad blends the health benefits of pumpkin with protein- and fiber-packed quinoa. The recipe takes a little longer than the rest to make, so try it on a weekend night when you have more time. We promise it’s worth it!

Ingredients

• ½ medium pumpkin
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 very generous handful of chopped broccoli
• 2 cubic inches of feta cheese or crumbled goat cheese
• Salt and pepper

For sauce:

• 2 tbsp of smooth tahini (you can find a jar of this at your local supermarket or health foods store) 
• 1 small clove garlic
• 2 tbsp water
• ½ a lemon

Directions

For the salad:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Prepare quinoa according to package instructions.
3. Wash and chop the broccoli into rough florets and put a pot on the stove over medium-high heat.
4. Add 1-2 cm of water (about the width of a finger) to the bottom and bring to the boil.
5. Throw the broccoli in, stick the lid on and leave to cook for about three minutes, or until it’s bright green and cooked through but still retains a little bite. 
6. Scrub pumpkin under running water and cut it open with large knife. Using a metal spoon, scoop out seeds of the pumpkin.
7. Dice the flesh (leave the skin on) into small cubes and throw them onto a flat baking tray that’s large enough to fit all your pumpkin cubes without any overlap. Drizzle with a little olive oil and top with salt and pepper. Toss well, put into oven and set timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pull the pumpkin from the oven and, using a spatula, gently turn all the cubes over. They should be beginning to turn golden brown on the undersides. Pop them back in the oven and set your timer for another 15 minutes.
8. Once the timer goes off, take tray out of the oven, take a piece and cut it open. It should be slightly caramelized on the outside and soft and succulent in the center. If it’s not quite there, pop it back in the oven for another five minutes while you finish off everything else.
9. Toss everything together and top with sauce.

For the sauce:

1. Crush the garlic and place into a smallish bowl.
2. Squeeze in the lemon juice, add the other sauce ingredients and stir. It should be slightly thicker than whipping cream. If you need to, add a little more water or lemon juice to thin it out, or a little more tahini to thicken things up.
3. Season with a little salt and taste it. Add more salt if it needs it, and if you want a little more kick, add a little extra lemon juice.

Twice a year during fashion week, we watch hundreds of beautiful models walk down runways sporting some pretty bold beauty looks. But trust us, some of these looks are totally manageable and chic. Here are a few winter beauty trends any collegiette can pull off!

1. Sleek, low ponytails

Unexpected rainy day? We know the feeling. A sleek ponytail can turn your accidental bad hair moment into a fashion statement. Of course, you could also just decide to pull your hair back in the morning if you feel like shortening your morning routine. Whatever you decide, take a few notes from the models walking runways such as Lela Rose and Jason Wu.

Instructions:

• Start with slightly damp hair.
• Use a bristle brush to brush all of your hair and gather it at the nape of your neck.
• Secure hair in a very low ponytail.

2. Cat eyes

As seen at Hervé Léger, Cushnie Et Ochs (above) and rag & bone, the cat eye is a classic look. Try an elongated wing or a graphic stripe if you’re feeling bold!

Instructions:

• Dip a flat/eyeliner brush in gel eyeliner (like Inglot Cosmetics AMC Eyeliner Gel, $12).
• Drag the brush along your upper lash line and out past the outer corner of your eye at an angle.
• Create a wing by placing your brush at the outer corner of your eye and dragging the line back toward the center of your eyelid. The effect should look like your eyeliner is thickening toward the outer corner of your eye.
• Connect the liner to the inner corner of your eye and fill in any missing spaces.

3. Dark lipstick

We love cherry-red lipstick, but a few of the looks at the Naeem Khan show (see above) showed us that dark lipstick is where it’s at this season. According to makeup artist Lucia Pieroni, the key to making this look work is keeping the rest of your makeup minimal. To get this look, try using Sephora’s Color Lip Last in Burgundy Spirit ($13).

4. Braids

Braids are a timeless hairstyle. One of the best things about braids is that there are so many ways to wear them. You can add a few twists, like braiding a crown around your head for a more glamorous look (as seen at Creatures of the Wind), or you can just keep things simple by wearing a classic side braid. The possibilities are endless!

Crown braid instructions:

• Divide your hair into two sections. Braid one section all the way down to the end.
• Wrap the braid across the top of your head and secure it with a bobby pin.
• Braid the second section all the way down to the end and then wrap it across the top of your head, covering the first braid. Secure it with a bobby pin.
• Tuck in/pin back any loose pieces of hair with bobby pins.

5. Messy/grungy waves

As seen at Opening Ceremony, this is more of an “I-woke-up-like-this” type of look. This style would be perfect for those mornings when you’d rather sacrifice your appearance for a few extra minutes in bed.

Instructions:

• Dampen hair with water.
• Braid hair in two or three French braids.
• Give the braids some time to dry. Then, apply a small amount of heat with a flat iron to the hair to lock in the waves.
• Unravel the braids and style however you’d like.

When modified the right way, pretty much any beauty look you see on a runway can be worn on campus. What’s your favorite look for this season, collegiettes? Do you love a cat eye or a dark lip? Tell us in the comments!
 

Twice a year during fashion week, we watch hundreds of beautiful models walk down runways sporting some pretty bold beauty looks. But trust us, some of these looks are totally manageable and chic. Here are a few winter beauty trends any collegiette can pull off!

1. Sleek, low ponytails

Unexpected rainy day? We know the feeling. A sleek ponytail can turn your accidental bad hair moment into a fashion statement. Of course, you could also just decide to pull your hair back in the morning if you feel like shortening your morning routine. Whatever you decide, take a few notes from the models walking runways such as Lela Rose and Jason Wu.

Instructions:

• Start with slightly damp hair.
• Use a bristle brush to brush all of your hair and gather it at the nape of your neck.
• Secure hair in a very low ponytail.

2. Cat eyes

As seen at Hervé Léger, Cushnie Et Ochs (above) and rag & bone, the cat eye is a classic look. Try an elongated wing or a graphic stripe if you’re feeling bold!

Instructions:

• Dip a flat/eyeliner brush in gel eyeliner (like Inglot Cosmetics AMC Eyeliner Gel, $12).
• Drag the brush along your upper lash line and out past the outer corner of your eye at an angle.
• Create a wing by placing your brush at the outer corner of your eye and dragging the line back toward the center of your eyelid. The effect should look like your eyeliner is thickening toward the outer corner of your eye.
• Connect the liner to the inner corner of your eye and fill in any missing spaces.

3. Dark lipstick

We love cherry-red lipstick, but a few of the looks at the Naeem Khan show (see above) showed us that dark lipstick is where it’s at this season. According to makeup artist Lucia Pieroni, the key to making this look work is keeping the rest of your makeup minimal. To get this look, try using Sephora’s Color Lip Last in Burgundy Spirit ($13).

4. Braids

Braids are a timeless hairstyle. One of the best things about braids is that there are so many ways to wear them. You can add a few twists, like braiding a crown around your head for a more glamorous look (as seen at Creatures of the Wind), or you can just keep things simple by wearing a classic side braid. The possibilities are endless!

Crown braid instructions:

• Divide your hair into two sections. Braid one section all the way down to the end.
• Wrap the braid across the top of your head and secure it with a bobby pin.
• Braid the second section all the way down to the end and then wrap it across the top of your head, covering the first braid. Secure it with a bobby pin.
• Tuck in/pin back any loose pieces of hair with bobby pins.

5. Messy/grungy waves

As seen at Opening Ceremony, this is more of an “I-woke-up-like-this” type of look. This style would be perfect for those mornings when you’d rather sacrifice your appearance for a few extra minutes in bed.

Instructions:

• Dampen hair with water.
• Braid hair in two or three French braids.
• Give the braids some time to dry. Then, apply a small amount of heat with a flat iron to the hair to lock in the waves.
• Unravel the braids and style however you’d like.

When modified the right way, pretty much any beauty look you see on a runway can be worn on campus. What’s your favorite look for this season, collegiettes? Do you love a cat eye or a dark lip? Tell us in the comments!
 

Guy confession: Why I cheated. [A New Mode]

Lessons Taylor Swift can teach us about loving fearlessly. [PopSugar]

11 reasons to love your big boobs. [YourTango]

5 etiquette tips for public transportation. [The Politesse]

How to buy food at the grocery store. [bon appetit]

UPenn announces ‘Wasting Time on the Internet’ course. [USA Today College]

What’s coming to Netflix this month? [Gawker]

The most loved statues on college campuses. [The Huffington Post]

A cheater’s guide to applying eyeliner. [Into the Gloss]

Why do we turn back our clocks? [Bustle]

College got you and your skin feeling down? Stress breakouts and forever looking like a zombie due to irritated skin and dark circles under our eyes are some things we can definitely sympathize with. Luckily for us, Shiseido's newest products, the IBUKI line, seems to have all the solutions for us collegiettes (and real world grads)!

So what exactly is IBUKI? It is a Japanese term for inner strength. These gentle, yet effective, products were created with the 20- to 30-year-old girl in mind, and the collection works by hydrating dryness, perfecting skin texture and shielding against everyday environmental damage. It's never too early to implement an anti-aging skincare regimen into your daily routine!

This fall, Shiseido is enouraging women and girls of all ages to post pictures on their Instagram or Twitter with a short statement on how IBUKI makes their lifestyle better and easier—they'll select one grand prize winner, who'll receive an entire year's worth of Shiseido IBUKI and makeup products; ten runners-up will get the entire IBUKI collection. Make sure to include the #IBUKIGirl hashtag and to tag @Shiseido. Click here to submit an online entry, and check out what's in the whole collection below: 

• Refining Moisturizer ($45): This formula minimizes your pores and reduces the appearance of blemish marks.
• Purifying Cleanser ($30): A gentle cleanser that exfoliates and cleans without removing your natural moisture. This also won the 2014 Teen Vogue Beauty Award!
• Refining Moisturizer Enriched ($45): Corrects uneven tone to give you a uniform texture.
• Eye Correcting Cream ($40): A cool cream that makes your eyes look more vibrant by reducing the appearance of circles, puffiness, and lines.
• Protective Moisturizer SPF 18 ($45): Just like the Refining Moisturizer but with added SPF! Stay safe in the sun!
• Gentle Cleanser ($30): It's just like the Purifying, but even more gentle so that you can get the silky touch for your face.
• Softening Concentrate ($24): Adds a whole bunch of moisture to make your face feel super soft and smooth.
• Reader, Set IBUKI Starter Set ($25): A 2 week suply of Gentle Cleanser, Softening Concentrate, and Refining Moisturizer so you can test drive the collection before you invest in it!

So... what are you waiting for? Join the seach for the next #IBUKIGirl—will it be you?

Do you remember Carrie’s personalized necklace in Sex and the City? Yeah, we do, too. It was so chic and perfect that we all wanted one for ourselves. These days, monograms have upped their game. You can still probably find the classic “Carrie” necklace somewhere, but the monograms of today are way cooler than those of the ‘00s. These are some of our favorite personalized necklaces, and where to find ‘em for yourself!

1. Morse Code

Imagine if you had to use Morse code to text… sounds terrible, right? Fortunately, the only dots and dashes you’ll ever have to use are in this adorable bar necklace. Spell out your first name or initials and choose a pretty color to set them in!

Necklace, $36, BaubleBar

2. Geographical Coordinates

Instead of a bracelet engraved with your name, how about the geographical coordinates of your hometown or a different meaningful location? We’re obsessed this gold bangle—you can personalize it however you want! Choose the metal, coordinates you want, engraving, and even if you want to add gemstones! It’s like the Veuve Clicquot of bangles.

Bracelet, $204, Coordinates Collection

3.  Zodiac Sign

Whether you believe in your astrological sign or not, these bar necklaces featuring astrological symbols are totally sleek. The simple design is understated and clean—perfect for lying under the stars or reading horoscopes.

Necklace, $20, Etsy

4. State Pendant

If you identify by the state from which you hail, and want the rest of the world to know it, then why not flaunt it? These adorable pendants come in a variety of colors—including gold and silver glitter!—and you can even include a heart-shaped cutout over a specific city. Talk about hometown pride!

Necklace, $52, BaubleBar

5. Block Letters  

For the gals out there who like traditional name necklaces like Carrie’s, try this modern update with cute block letters. It’s whimsical, fun, and really pretty. If you don’t want to spell out your whole first name, initials are fair game, too!

Necklace, $48, Adorn512

6. Initial Ring

Dainty rings are having a moment; from stackables to arrows, pile ‘em on for a trendy look. Initial rings are especially adorable—this heart-shaped one is perfect for daily wear.

Ring, $24, Etsy

Do you love these personalized pieces? Let us know which one is your favorite!

We’ve all been there: it’s nearing the end of the month and your next paycheck or allowance doesn’t come for another week, but somehow you’re already broke. Staying on top of your finances is hard, especially while you’re in college - between school, internships and your social life, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of everything you’re paying for. But there are things you might not realize you’re spending money on that are completely draining your bank account, and we have some tips to help you deal with them.

1. You’re a caffeine addict

It can be hard trying to make it through the day without a cup of joe. But making that daily stop at Starbucks or your campus coffee shop really adds up. As much as we love our pumpkin spice lattes on a cold day, spending even $3 a day on coffee is making you burn through your money faster than you would think. Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, chances are you’re still hooked on some form of caffeine. When Kirsten Ballard, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, gave up Diet Coke for Lent, she realized that she had been spending around $80 a month on it.

So how do you solve the problem? Don’t worry, we’re not about to tell you to quit drinking caffeine - talk about unrealistic! Instead, see if your roommates want to split the cost of a coffee maker. It may be a bigger expense now, but making your own coffee at home will save you money in the long run. 

Temple University senior Lindsey Murray found that when she started making her own iced coffee, she was only spending $15 a week instead of $35. If you don’t have time to sit down and drink a leisurely cup of coffee in the morning before class, invest in a Klean Kanteen so you can carry your coffee on the go - it will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours and won’t make a mess when you toss it in your bag.

2. You’re a disorganized shopper

One of the worst things you can do for your bank account is go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. As soon as you walk into the store, you’ll be tossing things into your cart left and right just because everything sounds good.

To avoid spending money on things that you really don’t need, always make a list before you hit the store. Plan out your meals before you do your shopping, or jot down the things you need on your phone or in a notebook between classes. Knowing what you need before you go to the store will help you stick to a budget and avoid blowing all your money on those cookies that just look oh-so-good.

3. You wine...

You may love that campus bar (after all, it’s the MacLaren’s of your college years), but after a drink or two you might find that you’ve had a slight lapse in judgment and are spending way more than you intended. Even if you planned on just having one drink, you end up running up a tab weekend after weekend before you know it, and it’s really adding up.

To avoid wild spending on those fun nights out, take a minute to plan out your night while you’re getting ready. Decide how much you’re willing to spend and bring only that much in cash (but make sure you leave a little extra for getting home at the end of the night). Leave your debit and credit cards behind to make sure you stick to your budget. 

4. ...and you dine

Whether it’s a “family dinner” with your sorority sisters or a night of suite bonding with your roomies, it can be hard to say no to dinner at your favorite restaurant. But eating out, while always fun, can become a huge expense. Sometimes when your friends want to go out for a bite, you just have to stick to your budget.

College savings expert Brandon Farestad-Rittel of money-saving company Kinoli Inc. says, “There's no reason you have to skip socializing to reduce your expenses. Instead of meeting up at a restaurant, have friends over to your place for a weekly dinner. Taco Tuesday, anyone?” Sounds like a plan to us! Limit the number of times you go out for meals and suggest a night of cooking instead. You and your friends will have a blast making a mess in the kitchen, and you’ll save a ton by splitting the cost of groceries instead of dining out.

Even if you’re not spending a lot on big meals out, you might be losing a lot of money to snacking in between classes. If you’ve made a habit of picking up a granola bar at the campus cafe in the afternoon, try buying them in bulk instead. Order your favorite Luna Bars online to save some time and money. Toss one in your bag in the morning and you’ll end up spending closer to one dollar per bar rather than three.

5. You’ve got subscription overload

According to Beverly Harzog, credit card expert and author of Confessions of a Credit Junkie: Everything You Need to Know to Avoid the Mistakes I Made, people often waste money on recurring charges. “For example, putting a monthly gym membership on a credit card. If you leave the gym and forget to cancel the automatic payment, you'll continue to pay the bill,” she says. “So it's important to keep track of any automatic payments you've set up so you can promptly cancel them.”

She also says to keep an eye out for “gray charges” - things that you signed up for with a free trial, which are charging you now that the trial period is over. Harzog says these expenses “can be small, but they add up over time.” So take a look at all the subscription services you’ve signed up for - Netflix, a gym membership, Spotify Premium - and make sure you’re really using them. If not, cancel them now! Even if it’s just a few dollars a month, there’s no point in spending that money on something you aren’t really using.

6. You’re a little too generous

We all have that one friend who never carries cash and constantly needs you to spot her a few dollars. Or maybe you’re always the one to order the takeout and your friends all say they’ll pay you back. You may want to wave it off and tell them not to worry about it - after all, they are your friends - but don’t make that a habit! 

Even if it’s only a few dollars, frequently lending to your friends can be a huge drain on your funds. It’s time to stand up for yourself a little - don’t be afraid to follow up with them on the money they owe you. To make things a little easier, try an app like Venmo: your friends can pay you immediately within the app and you can have the money transferred to your account. It’s simple and easy, and it avoids the issue of always needing have exact change. 

If you follow these tips and stick to your budget, you may find you have a little more wiggle room when it comes to your finances. Even just trying out one of these tricks will help you save a little money. What’s your best advice for sticking to a student budget? Tell us in the comments!

Whether you were born under the sunshine of Southern California or you were drawn to its laid-back lifestyle, going to school in SoCal is definitely a unique experience. You’ll definitely relate to this if you go to school in the southern half of the Golden State.

1. You've worn Rainbow sandals and UGG boots in the same day. Actually, you do this most days.

You can’t help it if the weather is always changing.

2. You've gone to the beach in January, and you definitely got a tan.

Basically.

3. No outfit is complete without lululemon leggings and oversized sunglasses.

Just to be clear, leggings ARE pants. Besides, you look darn good in them.

4. Preppy clothing is a mystery to you.

Lilly who?

5. Frat boys at your school are bro tank aficionados and spend most of their free time in the weight room at the gym.

Do you even lift, bro?

6. You've met at least one celebrity around campus.

Just kidding, you were totally cool about it. Kind of.

7. You can’t remember the last time you said a sentence without “dude.”

It helps you make a point.

8. If you're not a native, you took "that's so sick" completely the wrong way the first time you heard it.

But now you say it all the time.

9. You consider yourself a world-class burrito expert.

10. And In-N-Out is your go-to after midnight.

Nobody messes with your late-night animal-style cheeseburger.

11. But the next day, you feel terrible about yourself, so you stock up on kale and goji berries.

But your new lifestyle has you like,

12. You turn to yogalates instead.

It’s fun to say. Oh, and it’s, like, good for you and stuff.

13. The use of “hella” is a valid reason to deny someone your friendship.

No, it’s not superficial.

14. Rain will be featured on local news, as will temperatures below 50 degrees.

This weather is not what you signed up for.

15. Your road rage gets a little bit ridiculous.

The freeway is your worst nightmare.

16. You go to Palm Springs for the weekend, Santa Barbara for Halloween and Cabo for spring break.

Where else would you go?

17. The lyrics to “California Gurls” ring so true to you.

After all, SoCal girls are tan, fit, fun and chill—the total package.

Most days you can’t even believe how lucky you are to go to school in such a perfect place. Do you really have to graduate?

After graduating from high school, I was so excited to go to college. Neither of my parents attended college, so I was going to be the first person in my family to go to this mysterious place I’d seen represented only on television. I imagined college to be this world where everything was going to be amazing. I pictured myself with a roommate who was going to be my best friend. I pictured being in a sorority, and I pictured pulling all-nighters with friends writing essays and studying for exams. Most importantly, I pictured myself loving college. But that’s the thing about imagination—it doesn’t always represent reality.

In the real-life version of college at Sonoma State University, I had way more than one roommate, I didn’t have any college friends and my high school friends abandoned me when I needed them most. Sorority rush didn’t work out for me, and the only time I was awake all night was when my roommates were keeping me up with their bullying and harassment. What I thought was going to be a brand new start for me turned out to be a nightmare from hell.

In total, I had 15 roommates in three different housing situations. My first dorm experience was the worst. The eight girls I was living with didn’t care about me at all. Their only goal was to get drunk and high—all the time—and make my life miserable because I would not participate in their lifestyle.

It all took a hard, fast downhill turn during the weekend of my 18^th birthday, and these two events are how I’ll always remember that birthday. On the night before my 18th, they stole a $70 bottle of Jack Daniels from a girl’s 21st birthday party—shortly after returning to the dorms, they got a phone call from the people whose alcohol it was. When they stopped by to pick up the alcohol, my roommates forced me to answer the door to return the nearly-empty bottle, plus the small amount of change they had been able to pool together to “pay” for the alcohol they’d already consumed. As if it wasn’t bad enough to send me out to deal with their problem, they kept me up the rest of the night being loud and banging on my window because they kept locking themselves out of the dorm over and over again.

The following night, on my actual birthday, they invited a bunch of older guys over who worked at the 7-11 across the street—to them, it was a way of getting free alcohol, cigarettes and weed. Because the guys were strangers, before they came over, my roommates hid kitchen knives throughout the dorm—so I knew this was a situation horrifying enough for me not to want to get involved in. Unfortunately, they had other plans for me—they stole my keys and locked me out of my room because they wanted someone in our dorm to stay sober in case something got out of hand, or someone from resident life came by. It was one of the most terrible nights of my life—my worst, I had thought—but little did I know, the worst was yet to come.

That weekend was the first time I realized that I was truly alone, and my roommates couldn’t care less about me. On top of that, my best friend from high school was supposed to have come visit for the weekend—but not only did she forget to wish me a happy birthday, she was a no-show.

Meanwhile, my family thought I was loving Sonoma. It had been my first choice school, and one I had been ecstatic to get into, because I wasn’t accepted until a week before high school graduation (by then, most people had already known for months what college they were going to). At the time, I thought it was finally happening: I was going to go to my dream school, graduate in four years and live the ultimate college life that I’d always heard of. I didn’t want my family to think I was having a different experience; that I had been too naïve to realize that my vision of college was one you’d only find on a scripted television show. It made me realize that the perfect college life I had always wanted wasn’t going to happen, and this destroyed me.

After the experience on my birthday, I wanted to move out—but even the thought of it scared me. Earlier in the semester, we’d had another girl who was living with us move out. She never said anything about it, and nobody saw her pack up and move out—one day, she was just gone. It wasn’t until after she had left that my roommates found out she had called residential life on them one night when they were partying loudly, which had gotten my roommates on probation.

Once they learned this, my roommates decided they wanted to punish her until her breaking point. They went out of their way to stalk her in the cafeteria, on the way to class, and anywhere they saw her on campus. They often followed her back to her new dorm, throwing insults and threats her way, and then they’d come back to our place and laugh about it. Seeing it happen to somebody else was terrifying, but thinking about it happening to me was worse—and I was afraid that if I left, they’d do the same thing to me.

When I was preparing for college, I did all the usual things, like learn how to do the laundry—but I never thought to prepare for a situation like this. I had never lived by myself before, let alone know how to get out of a situation. I felt like I didn’t have anybody to talk to—I didn’t want to ask my parents, because I didn’t want to admit to them that I was hating school, and I didn’t know where else to turn. I felt stuck, and didn’t know how to get out of this mess; I even convinced myself that this was the norm for living with roommates. Everybody has bad roommates at least once in their lives, right? I told myself it was my fault I was in this situation, and that I should have put in effort to blend in and join my roommates in the things they liked to do.

But as things got worse, I started to approach my breaking point.

When I came back for my second semester of college, I arrived a week before my roommates did—and what I walked in on still scares me to this day. The kitchen in our dorm had a giant walk-in pantry, and everything was white—the floors, the counters, the sink, the fridge. But when I walked into that kitchen, there wasn’t any white to be seen. All I saw was black.

There was food everywhere throughout the kitchen and the pantry. We had been gone for a month—during which time the ants had taken over. The worst part was the fridge—the university turns off the fridges throughout campus to save electricity, turning them on when students return from break. So when I opened the doors, there were piles of dead, frozen ants, mixed in with the live ants that had gotten in recently.

Since I was on campus early, there wasn’t really anybody on campus who could help me deal with the problem. I was at a loss as to what to do, and ended up finding a vacuum to clean the ants up myself. When my roommates finally showed up, I told them what had happened and showed them pictures. All they did was laugh and say they were glad they weren’t the ones to have to deal with it.

Soon after they returned, my roommates got into a fight with me about the food in our apartment. I had stashed all my food away in my own room, because they had been trying to use it. When I was making lunch in the kitchen one day, one of my roommates accused me of using her milk. Later that day, when they were all making dinner in the kitchen, they kept taunting me and blaming me for using the milk. Though I generally ignore them when they gang up on me, this time I decided to stand up to them. I told them that if I couldn’t use their milk, they couldn’t use my dishes—I grabbed a cup of tea that one of the girls had just made, poured it down the sink, and went into our shared living room.

Even though it might not have been the best way to deal with conflict, I was really proud of myself for having stood up to them for the first time all year. But never ones to let conflict end, my roommates threw my dishes into the sink, breaking them, and then grabbed a strobe light, shining it in my face in an attempt to get me to have a seizure. I tried to put up with this and ignore them as I continued my schoolwork, because I didn’t want them to think I was weak—but after thirty minutes of relentless torture, I finally went back to my room and shut myself in. It didn’t end there, though—they spent the rest of the night dialing my phone and banging on the door to my room.

It wasn’t even over the next morning. My roommates had pushed all the furniture in our dorm against my door, and covered the area with the broken glass from my dishes. I had to climb over it all to get out of my room. When I got back from class, they were all sitting at the table in our living space, with insults written about me on a whiteboard. I took it down, and threw the whiteboard marker at the table—and in retaliation, one of the girls hurled her cup of hot tea, drenching me in scalding liquid and missing my head by mere inches.

After all I had put up with that school year, this was the moment when I knew I couldn’t take it anymore and had to get out of there—fast. I turned around, walked out the door and headed straight to the office of residential life. They granted me an emergency move-out when I told them about my living situation, as they deemed my dorm an unsafe environment. It was the first time I had asked for help, and I was glad I did it.

Going through this experience taught me a lot. The most important thing I learned was that I can’t just sit around waiting for happiness to come to me. I have to take it upon myself to do what’s best for me, even if I’m scared of the unknown. I was trapped because I was too afraid to admit I needed help—at the time, I thought that admitting I was living a nightmare instead of having the time of my life at my dream school was admitting failure, and I didn’t want anybody to think that I couldn’t handle college. Yet I didn’t want to stay there, and I hated everything about it—it felt like nobody cared.

It took two and a half semesters at SSU, three different dorm rooms and 15 roommates altogether to make me finally realize that this was not the place for me. On November 6, 2013, I left school to go home. Since then, I’ve learned that dropping out of a 4-year university to head home doesn’t mean I failed at college—it just means that the college experience I always dreamed of having wasn’t going to happen for me at SSU, and leaving the school means I can now focus on finding it somewhere else.

Now, I’m attending the community college in my hometown, working as a daycare teacher at a local after-school program, and I have an incredible internship at a wedding magazine—all opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to me had I stayed at SSU. As it turns out, dropping out of college was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and instead of feeling alone and stuck, I am now so excited to start the next chapter of my life.

Plus, I’ll still be the first person in my family to go to—and graduate from—college… it just won’t be at Sonoma State.

Do you have a story to share? Submit your story to Her Story!

Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

My parents don’t want me to go out of state for college, but I do because I want to learn how to be independent.  How do I convince them to let me apply out of state?–Maya

Maya,

I respect your desire to be more independent; college is the perfect time to gain necessary life skills that will help you to do so. Just so you know, you’ll learn how to be independent wherever you decide to attend college!

To start, I think it would be helpful to not think of this situation as trying to “convince” your parents to let you go out of state. Rather, it would benefit you in the long run to make sure you listen to their concerns, especially if they will be helping you pay for school. They love you and have your best interests at heart, so make sure you respect them and listen to what they have to say about your situation, too! Next, begin to evaluate some of the pros and cons of going or staying.

So, before you make a decision to move out of state just yet, you should take some time to pinpoint your true reasons for wanting to do so. Is it only because you want to learn how to be independent? As I said, regardless of where you go to school, you’ll learn how to be on your own. Even if you go to school an hour or two away from your home, you’ll still be living independently to some degree. This means you’ll be in charge of your schedule, your meals and your laundry, among other responsibilities. You don’t need to be out of state to learn all these skills, and if it’s a better financial choice for you to stay in state for school, I’d definitely consider it. Before you know it, you’ll be rocking college life like an independent pro, just like Elle Woods did in Legally Blonde when she totally crushed it at Harvard.

A con of going out of state for school could be that, if it’s a public school, you might have to pay a higher tuition price than the students attending the school who are from the state. This doesn’t apply to private schools, since they charge the same tuition regardless of what state or country you’re from. If you’re on financial aid and do this, then you’ll have higher loans, which you’ll have to pay once you graduate. When you have the burden of extra loans, you’ll have to be more dependent on your parents for a little while after you graduate, so in the long run it may benefit you more to learn how to be independent at a school in your state. You do not want to have an awkward dinner conversation with your parents like Lena Dunham did on the pilot of Girls to discuss your excessive loans!

A pro for attending a school in another state is if the school has a really good program for whatever major you want to study. The reason why I picked my college is because I originally started my college career as a dietetics major, and my school has an awesome program for nutrition. Even though I’ve changed my major to journalism, I’ve stayed at my college because it has also provided plenty of other amazing opportunities for my career. Keep these things in mind when you’re deciding on a college that’s right for you.

There will also be opportunities for you to travel during your college career. If that’s another reason why you want to go out of state for school, do know that you’ll still get to experience other parts of the country. Additionally, you’ll probably have time once you graduate school to travel, so don’t pack your bags and head to college in the South if you live in the North just because you want to experience soul food and sweet tea.

Once you’ve evaluated these pros and cons, now you can have a mature and effective conversation with your parents. Choosing a college is a big decision, and if your parents are feeling strongly about you not going out of state, it’s a good idea to consider why they feel this way and to talk to them about their concerns, too. To have a solid conversation with your parents, make sure you’ve written down important aspects of what you want to tell them and possible responses to common questions they could ask you, such as why you think it’s a good idea for you to go out of state. Also, make sure you plan out when you want to have this conversation with them to make sure it’s not rushed and that they aren’t caught off guard!

After you’ve thought about your decision for a while and discussed the pros and cons with your parents, then you’ll be able to make a solid choice that will make everyone involved feel better. Best of luck!

There’s a saying that floats around the Internet around midterms and finals every year: studying = students + dying. This definitely doesn’t need to be the case come any big exam, paper, project or major assignment, however! Regardless of your campus’s nerd factor, you can still mix things up next time your studying takes a turn for the worse with one of the following “study hacks.”

1. Get colorful

There are lots of ways to work that right brain of yours when it comes to studying. To start, think about taking notes (or rewriting ones you hastily scribbled down during a lecture) in different colors. Use different colored pens to highlight or write different parts of your notes. For example, use one color for original material, another one for references to a textbook or other physical materials used in the class and another one for possible exam or test material hinted at during a lecture. Many studies have also shown that color can have a significant effect on your mood. Changing from a boring black pen to brighter, more interesting colors can turn studying into a way more positive experience. 

There are other ways to get creative while studying and prepping for projects and exams as well. Think about integrating a visual or two into your notes when studying, or add some visual flair to a project or presentation you’re prepping for, like a picture or two, a diagram, a chart or table, a graph or something else that catches the eye. Switching from poring over notes and reading lots and lots of text to thinking visually could be just the break you need. Get those creative juices flowing, and inspiration is sure to follow!

2. Put your notes to music

Playing to your strengths is definitely key when it comes to livening up a study sesh. For more musically-inclined collegiettes, it’s just a matter of finding the perfect pitch!

“For my geology class two years ago (because science is so not my thing, and music is so my thing), I used my notes and created songs to the tune of my favorite songs, incorporating the content from my notes!” says Hannah Richman, a student at Hofstra University.

To get started, think of a basic tune, a killer song that won’t get out of your head or anything else catchy. Then, start swapping out the actual lyrics with bits and pieces from your notes. You may not be the next Iggy Azalea, but you’ll feel way more prepared for your next midterm! 

3. Use an Internet-blocking app

This might just be the simplest tip you can follow to make studying more efficient and faster: Stay off unnecessary sites! Apps like Self Control (for Macs) and Cold Turkey (for PCs) block sites like Twitter and Facebook that can be oh-so-fun but oh-so-distracting as well. Stay on track, finish studying and then tweet to your heart’s content!

4. Speed things up

Maximize your listening time if you’re reviewing lectures or other recorded material by quickening the pace. Programs like Audacity, which you can use to record all kinds of audio files, allow you to speed up audio and video so you can watch it twice as fast – as long as you can keep up, that is! Use the effects menu in Audacity to mess around with different speeds to find one that works for you. This site has a really helpful explanation of how to do this if you’re still confused.

5. Bribe yourself

When it comes to prepping for a big exam, you definitely don’t need to be above a bribe. “When I have a big exam, I try to give myself incentives to keep my motivation high,” says Alicia Thomas, a collegiette from Penn State University. “I make little deals with myself, like, ‘If you read 20 more pages you can have some frozen yogurt,’ or, ‘Once you know all of the terms on these flash cards you can watch an episode of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix.’" 

If you’re having trouble coming up with an incentive to use, there’s always the gummy bear system! Place a small piece of food (like gummy bears) at staggered intervals throughout a page of text you’re trying to read. Once you reach the item, pop it in your mouth and enjoy! Ahh, the sweet reward of studying…

6. YouTube it

If you’re slogging your way through a boring chapter in your econ textbook, see if there are lectures or videos available on sites like YouTube that might explain the material in a more exciting and understandable manner. These manageable, bite-sized videos that can be excellent sources for clarifying concepts that are tripping you up or were introduced in a confusing way by a professor or TA! Channels like Crash Course offer up a bunch of these mini lectures on a range of topics spanning everything from how to convert units in science to the history of World War I, usually in 15 minutes or fewer!  MinutePhysics and TED-Ed are two other channels with tons of thought-provoking, relevant lectures just waiting to enhance your studying experience.

7. Try the Pomodoro Technique

Make the most of your study time! Named for the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Francesco Cirillo, the founder of this technique, first used, the Pomodoro Technique states that whenever you’re working on something that takes up a large chunk of time (e.g. studying for a quiz, writing a paper, preparing a midterm project or whatever it is you might be working on), it’s most efficient to spend 25 minutes working on the task, then take a five-minute break. After four 25-minute chunks, take a 15-30 minute break instead. If you find yourself getting distracted or losing focus, the Pomodoro Technique might be worth a shot!

The method itself is in line with studies in recent years that show that taking short breaks can increase the amount of memory a person retains. For collegiettes who want to learn more, check out this short video to get a better feel for the Pomodoro Technique.

8. Make a game out of studying

This one takes some creativity at the start, but can be super fun and totally worth it in the end. Take a board or card game and repurpose it to meet your study needs. For instance, replace the cards in games like Trivial Pursuit with flashcards related to your next exam or quiz for a class. Or, take a game like Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity, and instead of using the response cards provided in the game, use cards with new vocab words for a second language class instead. Ask your friends in a class to write out a portion of the deck to spread the workload out a bit. Then, host a game night! It’ll be so much fun you won’t even realize you’re studying!

9. Crank up the tunes

It’s an age-old question, and is probably a battle you fought once or twice with your parents when you were in high school: Can listening to music really help you study better? The answer, it turns out, is yes! Research has found that playing music can improve your attention span (meaning you’re able to study longer!) and memory (so you’ll ace that next exam). Other scientists have also found that music increases brain processing speed, as well as improving the accuracy of brain processing as well.

That being said, don’t waste time shuffling mindlessly through your iTunes library or clicking on Pandora station after Pandora station. Have a few go-to options when it comes to your study playlist to save you time and make studying a bit more fun. “It sounds dumb, but I have a playlist of guilty pleasure K-pop songs ready for whenever I need to do some major studying,” says Jolena Baker, a collegiette at the University of Minnesota. “I only listen to this playlist when I’m studying, so it’s sort of like a little treat for myself. Even if I’m not looking forward to studying, I’m looking forward to hearing some great tunes.”  

Studying in no way has to end in you dying. To avoid death by boredom, mix things up by throwing a hack or two into your normal study routine. You never know – you might even enjoy hitting the books!

It's Monday so you know what that means—another edition of our sorority themed nail art! This week's manicure is for the Chi Omega girls! Check out this easy DIY red and yellow mani perfect for that upcoming semi-formal. 

Chi Omega's colors are cardinal red and yellow so I chose to use Revlon's Revlon Red ($3.99) and Milani's Yellow Whiz ($4.49). I also made sure to have my dotting tool (5 piece set for $5.99) and toothpick ready.

First apply the red polish as a base and allow the paint to dry completely.

Next, put two drops of yellow paint on a paper plate. Using the toothpick, write the Greek letters for Chi Omega on the pointer finger and middle finger, respectively.

Since Chi O's symbol is the owl, we'll draw a little one on our pinky nail. For this, I used Essie's Fear or Desire ($6.03), Kiss Nail Art Paint in White ($1.95), and Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Black Out ($2.26).

Using the yellow paint, brush a half oval on the bottom half of your pinky. Take the toothpick, and draw ears from the top of the head. With the larger end of the dotting tool (you can also use your toothpick for this if you don't have dotting tools) and white paint, create two big circles under the ears. Also draw an empty half circle as the stomach of the owl. To complete the eyes, use the black paint and the tiny end of the dotting tool to place small black circles inside the bigger circles. Lastly, use the orange paint and the toothpick to create a triangle as the beak of the owl.

And there your have it—your nails are complete! Let us know in the comments if you gave this mani a shot, and stay tuned for next week, when we reveal out next sorority-inspired manicure!

There are few things more terrifying to a collegiette than a pregnancy scare, regardless of the situation. Your period is a day late, then two, and before you know it, you’re in full-on panic mode. Whether you’re single, you’re casually dating or you’ve been in a committed relationship for years, a missed period is bound to lead to panic and spiraling thoughts for anyone. During a potential pregnancy, it can be difficult to think straight and figure out what your next move should be, which is why we’re here to provide you with some advice on what to do if you think you might be pregnant.

First things first

How late is too late?

First, write down the dates of your last period as well as the date you were supposed to get your period. There’s a chance you miscounted and you’re actually not late, but if you are, it’s important to have accurate information about your missed period.

As for when you should be worried, it’s largely based on your own body. If your period fluctuates, meaning that it typically comes a few days early or late, give yourself a few extra days to see if you get it. If your period typically arrives right on time (to the day), then even a day or two late would be enough to consider the possibility that you might be pregnant.

Make an appointment with a professional

If you go to school near home or you have a gynecologist from home, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with him or her. Your gynecologist or general practitioner is familiar with you and your body and will be better able to tell you what is normal and what isn’t. Tell the nurse or doctor when your last period was and how many days late you are. Also tell him or her whether or not you are on birth control and what kind, and how long ago you had unprotected sex. Your doctor will ask you additional questions to rule out the possibility that you’ve missed your period for other reasons and advise you on whether or not you need a pregnancy test, as well as what your next steps should be.

Your school’s health center is specially trained to deal with issues specific to college students, so there’s no reason to be embarrassed about talking with a nurse or doctor at your college (and they’re bound by confidentiality agreements so your parents won’t find out). Not only will these nurses and doctors be able to answer your questions and provide you with their professional opinion, they can also often administer free pregnancy tests to students.

Regardless of which type of health care professional you seek out, it’s crucial to make an appointment right away, especially if you have had unprotected sex in the last 120 hours, so that a doctor can help you explore your options for emergency contraception. A pregnancy scare can leave you anxious, distraught and vulnerable, so be sure to seek out help as soon as you can.

All about pregnancy tests

There are several ways to determine whether or not you are pregnant. It is important to note that it may take up to three to four weeks from the first day after your last period for your blood or urine to indicate pregnancy. There are two main choices available for pregnancy tests:

1. Urine tests

An at-home urine test is the most common for collegiettes and is relatively inexpensive at the drugstore (First Response is $14.99 at CVS). According to Planned Parenthood, it is safe to take a pregnancy test as soon as your period is late. Keep in mind that, according to Mayo Clinic, if you take the test too soon (before one week after your missed period) it could result in a false-negative, or a result that says you aren’t pregnant even if you are, simply because it is too early for the test to detect the pregnancy hormones in your body.

For best results, you need to follow the directions very carefully, so if you’re too nervous or worried you might misread the instructions, it’s a good idea to go to a professional. College and university health centers typically use urine pregnancy tests as well, but the individuals administering them are trained professionals, and therefore, the margin of error is much lower. According to Terry Jenny, administrative director of Parton Health Center at Middlebury College, if you take a test at your college health center, the results will be available immediately and the nurse or doctor will be able to provide you with professional advice about what your next steps should be.  

2. Blood test

A blood test, administered by your gynecologist or primary physician, will determine the exact amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your blood, the hormone produced after implantation, according to WebMD. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a blood test can detect pregnancy earlier than a urine test (about seven to 12 days from conception), but this type of test is more difficult for a college student to obtain. While Jenny points out that a health center “can draw the blood and send it to the local hospital for testing,” it is more expensive as there are lab fees (and also a doctor’s visit fee if you have the test done at the hospital). If you think you’re pregnant, it’s a good idea to take an at-home test or a urine test at your on-campus health center first. If those tests are positive, then it’s a good idea to consider a blood test to be absolutely sure.

Telling the guy

Whether or not you’ve taken a test yet, those first few days after a missed period can cause you to feel a level of anxiety you didn’t know was possible. Especially if it hasn’t been long enough for a pregnancy test to be accurate, it can be incredibly difficult to know whether to tell the guy about your pregnancy fears.

Should you tell him?

Whether or not you tell the guy is largely dependent upon your own individual feelings about the situation. If you can keep it together for a week or two until you can take an accurate test, then it’s probably best to not tell a guy you don’t know all that well that you might be pregnant. Of course, if you’re having a sizable crisis over potentially being pregnant and you feel like you need to tell him, then do so.

“How you decide to tell your partner, family and friends is a personal decision that only you can make,” Jenny says. Deciding if you should tell your family or friends is your decision, and there is no right or wrong way to tell people in your life that you might be pregnant.

How to tell a hook-up

Have the conversation face-to-face and let him know that you are planning on taking a test. Keep it short and sweet, and definitely don’t apologize – he contributed just as much as you! If he tries to bring up the question of what you would do if you do turn out to be pregnant, gently let him know that you will keep him posted but that you will cross that bridge when you come to it. No need to get ahead of yourself when it comes to something that might not even be an issue! Of course, if you’re telling your boyfriend, you can be more open and communicative when it comes to discussing your options, but don’t stress yourself out until you’re sure.

How to tell your boyfriend

If you’re in a committed relationship and you feel comfortable telling your boyfriend, it can be really helpful.

“I thought I was pregnant my sophomore year and my boyfriend and I had only been dating for a few months, so I was scared to tell him,” says Rebecca*, a senior at Middlebury College. “I eventually told him, and even though he was just as freaked out, he said he was glad that I told him so that I didn’t have to deal with it alone.”

If you’re in a loving relationship, your SO should be more than willing to help you through whatever comes your way, pregnancy scares included.  

Your next move

You may or may not have thought about what you would do if you were to get pregnant in college, but as important as it is to think about potential options, it’s equally important to not put unnecessary stress on yourself or your relationship until you know for sure that you’re pregnant. If you take the tests and they come back positive, then it’s time to fully involve your guy as well as your families and health care professionals to decide what the best choice is for you, whether than means having the baby and keeping it, putting it up for adoption or choosing to terminate your pregnancy.

If you turn out not to be pregnant, then count your lucky stars and reevaluate your current modes of contraception to figure out what is and isn’t working. This is a conversation you can have with your gynecologist and also something you can bring up with your SO. Once you’ve had a pregnancy scare, you want to do everything possible to make sure the next time you think you’re pregnant is when you actually want to be!

*Name has been changed.

Turning 25 seems like the time when we’re supposed to have our lives together. We should be semi-established and debt-free, and, most importantly, we should know what we want to do with the rest of our lives—right?

The reality is that a lot of us are still figuring it all out. We might have landed an awesome job, finally met the perfect plus one or moved to a new city, but inside, we’re freaking out. Am I making enough money? Is this the person I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with? Is this the career path I really want to be on?

RELAX! You survived the crazy and exciting world that is college, so you should be able to handle anything. But you’ve still got some learning to do. A lot of things that are perfectly acceptable (and expected) in college are not well received in the real world, especially when you’re about to turn 25. Read on to learn 15 things you should know how to do before you turn 25.

1. Make a meal that is (almost) as good as your mother’s cooking

You’re not always going to have your mom around to cook you her famous lasagna or melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-chip cookies. In college, you might have survived on microwaveable meals and grilled cheese, but it’s time to actually start cooking (and not just Pinning) those recipes.

If you’re not ready to graduate from mac and cheese, though, there are ways to transition from college staples to real world meals. You might be surprised to find how easy—and inexpensive!—home-cooked meals are. Go grocery shopping and pick out your favorite fresh ingredients, and then have some fun in the kitchen. Open up a bottle of wine, turn on some tunes and let the cooking begin.

2. Host a (classy) party

You’re at the age where you should be hosting classy cocktail parties instead of throwing ragers. You don’t have to entertain guests all the time, but you will want to have party-throwing skills up your sleeve—like knowing how to cook the perfect small bites, inventing a fun signature drink and using just the right amount of decorations to go with your theme. Try sending out actual invitations in the mail instead of creating a Facebook invite that will probably end up being deleted. And remember that a good hostess does more than just ensure that bar is well stocked.

“Make sure you have a clean house and enough toilet paper for everyone,” says Jilian O’Neill, a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama. “I’ve been to house parties before with dirty kitchens, and I didn’t want to eat anything. In college it’s different because nobody cares.”

3. Drink responsibly

No more shots. No more binge drinking. No more hangovers. Yes, you can have a drink at happy hour and indulge a little during special occasions, but you shouldn’t be drinking on a Monday night just because you’re bored, and you definitely shouldn’t be waking up not remembering a thing about the night before. It’s important to know your limits, especially when alcohol is at work environments, like an office party or work dinner—you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of coworkers or clients.

4. Distinguish between a casual fling and the real thing

You’re done meeting loser after loser and mistaking Mr. Wrong for Mr. Right. You’re older and wiser now, and you should know that just because he’s buying you a drink at the bar doesn’t mean he wants to date you. By 25, you should know if he’s going to stick around the next day and actually call when he says he will, or if he’s just a one-night stand kind of guy—whether you met him at a bar or on Tinder.

Pay attention to the way he treats you when you’re around his friends. A good guy won’t change how he acts toward you when other people are around. Does he make time in his schedule just so he can see you? Does he remember the little details? Does he show extra support when you’re having a bad day? These are just a few signs that this guy is a keeper.

5. Be a great bridesmaid

Your friends will start getting married soon (if they haven’t already), so you should be ready to stand beside them when they say, “I do.” Being a bridesmaid is a lot of fun, but it also requires some work and money, so make sure you are ready to commit. If you haven’t had the honor of standing up in a wedding before, ask a friend who has for advice before the big day.

“A great bridesmaid is someone who is willing to handle a wedding task (such as organizing a guest book) without asking questions, because the bride is too stressed to function,” says Jilian, who got married recently.

Be prepared to do everything: helping her say yes to the dress, planning the bachelorette party, recording gifts at the bridal party and, if you’re the maid of honor, giving a speech. “A great bridesmaid handles wedding-day problems without alerting or worrying the bride,” says Karli Burnett, who graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011. Make sure you’re willing to do whatever the bride asks—even if she’s being a little bit of a Bridezilla.

6. Ask for a raise

Negotiating your salary is easier said than done, but if you deserve higher pay for what you’re doing—whether you’re asking for a raise or you’re negotiating for more money when you’ve been offered a job—it’s important to know how to have that conversation. You should be able to show your boss or the HR representative all the positive contributions you have made or are capable of making for the company as well as other concrete reasons why you deserve to be making more. Be sure to keep track of any your milestones and accomplishments at work so you have specific examples to offer when meeting with your boss.

7. Set up your own health insurance

Up until now, you’ve probably been on your parents’ insurance plan. All you needed was a little card with your insurance information on it, and the rest was taken care of for you. Twenty-five is the last year you’ll be able to mooch off of your parents when it comes to health insurance, so make sure you do some research and find an insurance plan that works best for you, whether you use the insurance plan your company offers or find one on your own.

8. Write a check

In today’s digital world, it might seem like writing checks is a thing of the past, but there will be times when you need to write one: when paying rent, putting down a deposit on a new apartment or paying back your roommate for last month’s utilities. If you’re 25 years old and still mixing up what goes on which line, well, you’ll want to figure that out!

9. Save your money

No more impulse buys or overspending on things you don’t need. Start keeping track of your money and limit unnecessary spending. Download an iPhone app such as Mint, sit down with a rep at your bank, save your receipts and avoid putting more on your credit card than you have in cash. You can no longer list “Mom and Dad” as a source of income anymore (except for in emergencies... right?!), so setting yourself up to be in a good financial situation now and in the future will go a long way.  

10. Travelalone

You will have to travel alone sooner or later, whether it’s for work or for fun. Learn how to pack light with just the essentials. Get to the airport ahead of time—no more last-minute races through security! Try new foods, explore town on your own, wander into a coffee shop or hang out with the locals.

“Go out to dinner alone—it’s very empowering, and you get to take in everything around you without really entertaining someone,” says Erika Dolowiec, a medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Before you travel alone, make sure you tell a trusted friend or family member where you’re going and check in with him or her occasionally so he or she konws you’re okay.

11. Avoid hitting snooze

You don’t want to be late for an important meeting or sleep in until noon on the weekends, so resist the urge to press snooze five times in a row. Even if you aren’t a morning person, you should reset those circadian rhythms and learn to wake up at a decent time. Go to bed around the same time every night (even on the weekends) so your body gets on a regular schedule. If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night tossing and turning with a million things on your mind, try lying still and focusing on your breathing. If this doesn’t help, read a book to help you fall back asleep. Waking up early (or at least on time) will pay off—you’ll have time for breakfast and you won’t be rushing around the house looking for your lip gloss or driving like a maniac so you can make it to work on time.

12. Go house hunting

We’re not telling you to go out right now and buy a house, but we are telling you to start learning the basics of house hunting (or apartment hunting). You may have been living with roommates for the past few years, which isn’t a huge transition from what you were used to in college, but finding a place to call your own—not surrounded by a bunch of other people in their 20s—might feel weird at first. But one of these days you’ll need to move out of that comfort zone (literally), so you should be prepared when it actually happens.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when looking for a new place to live: Are utilities included?Is there a garage?How long will my commute to work be?Do they allow pets? Just watch an episode of House Hunters, and soon you will be throwing out phrases like “crown molding” and “open-concept floor plan” like a pro.

13. Do your own laundry

We tell you this before you head off to college, but on campus, you can get away with signing up for laundry service or waiting until break to bring your dirty clothes home. Perhaps you’ve even gotten away with getting wash and fold over the past few years, especially if you live in a big city where you don’t have a washer and dryer in your unit (in other words, the best excuse for not having to do your own laundry!). By now, though, you should definitely know the basics—like separating lights from darks, knowing what fabrics should be washed in cold versus warm water and even how to hand wash delicates without ruining your new, expensive goods (because your real-life wardrobe is going to be worth a lot more than your college clothes). You’ll want to invest in an iron and even a small steamer, too—those button-downs you wear to work every day aren’t going to iron themselves. It’s important to look put together in the real world, so you need to know how to take care of your clothes properly.

14. Stitch a button

Sewing may seem old-fashioned, but it’s a great skill to have. There will be times when your boyfriend will find a hole in his pants or a button will be missing from your favorite blazer the night before an important work meeting. Whether you choose to use a sewing machine or just a needle and thread, you should be able to handle a minor sewing project without having to go to the tailor.

15. Conquer your fears

You can’t spend your life being afraid of everything. It’s time to be brave and challenge yourself by tackling a new fear each day, whether it’s facing your fear of heights, taking the initiative and going for a promotion at work or even taking the first step in starting your own business. Once you’ve overcome one fear, you’ll have an easier time tackling the rest, and being able to see that you’ve accomplished things you never thought possible gives you even more room to grow.

Real life may feel just as new as freshman year did when you were starting college, but it’s no excuse to act like a first-year collegiette! Now is the time to take on more responsibilities, accomplish your goals, speak up for what you deserve and become more self-sufficient. But remember: You might think you’re old by the time you’re 25, but you still have so many more milestones to reach, so we’ll forgive you if you do hit snooze one too many times or still resort to ramen on some days.

Name: Jo Ling Kent
Age: 30
Job Title and Description: Correspondent. I cover the global technology sector and China for FOX Business Network.
College Name/Major: Rice University, BA in History, Asian Studies and Policy Studies; Fulbright Scholarship to China; London School of Economics, Masters in International Affairs; Peking University, Masters in International Affairs
Website:foxbusiness.com
Twitter Handle: @jolingkent

What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

Jo Ling Kent: There is never a typical day. When I am at Fox Business HQ in midtown Manhattan, I'm in the office around 6 AM reading and working on my stories. I go on the air at 9 AM with anchor Maria Bartiromo for her show, Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo. I usually report on every Fox Business show during market hours, including Varney & Company with Stuart Varney, Risk & Reward with Deirdre Bolton, Money with Melissa Francis and Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman. I also tape a business-focused package story that airs on local Fox affiliates around the country and file a few radio reports. Often, I do a live report for Fox News at some point during the day and pitch in on Neil Cavuto's Fox Business show.

If I'm on the road in Silicon Valley, my alarm goes off at 3 AM local time and we're on the air by 7:30 AM with live interviews and reports all day.

In between, I'm on the phone talking to sources, booking interviews and researching stories for the next day, week and month. I'm addicted to Twitter, too.

What is the best part of your job?

JLK: Working with a smart and savvy team of journalists, breaking stories and interviewing business leaders like General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma. I also love meeting with start-up founders and getting to know their stories.

What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

JLK: My first gig after college was translating Chinese interviews for correspondents and writing web stories for ABC News' Beijing bureau. I met then-bureau chief Chito Romana when I first arrived in Beijing and offered to help out. He gave me a chance to get into the field and dig up interesting stories in China. I worked with a talented team who showed me a lot about how to get things done in the field. I covered the 2008 Olympics, the 2008 Taiwan presidential election and the Sichuan earthquake.

After graduate school at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), I planned to go to law school. I had already put down my deposit when an associate producer job at CNN's Beijing bureau opened up. I applied, got hired, moved back to China and spent two years covering everything that happened in Mainland China. We traveled to nearly every province in China and filed stories non-stop. I ended up getting hooked on journalism and eventually decided not to pursue law school.

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

JLK: I used to think my reporting for the web was less important than what correspondents did on the air. I wish I knew back in 2006 that online journalism was equally integral.

You’ll be covering the midterm elections this November! How do you prepare for reporting on such a big story?

JLK: A lot of research, phone calls and teamwork with our producers and anchors at Fox Business Network. I love covering elections. I reported on the 2012 presidential campaigns with NBC News as an embedded reporter. So I have been calling sources from those days on the campaign trail to get up to speed. And of course, there's no substitute for getting to know voters.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

JLK: Just get out there and do it. Be humble. And meet as many people as you can.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

JLK: One mistake? Try a lot more than that! When transitioning from being a producer to an on-air reporter, I worked in Hartford for NBC Connecticut. I had almost no idea of how to be a good local reporter. At the beginning, I was objectively terrible. Thankfully, because I worked at such a great station with supportive colleagues, I learned from the best and tried to make progress quickly.

It might have helped that I was not afraid of putting myself out there and I would work any extra shift I could get. My favorite was the Sunday 3:30 AM shift (which is basically Saturday night) with cameraman Mark Hahn. It was a humbling experience and I made a plenty of mistakes, but it ended up being one of the best years of my professional life.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

JLK: One of my favorite moments recently was interviewing Alibaba co-founder and executive chairman Jack Ma live on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The company dominates e-commerce in China and was the biggest initial public offering in history. It was also the ultimate intersection of my two beats: technology and China.

The most surreal moment of my career was arriving on the scene of the Newtown school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. No words can describe the horror and sadness that strong community and its families have endured. I am still in awe of their grace and strength.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

JLK: I'm not in charge of hiring but the top qualities I look for in a colleague are intelligence, grit, curiosity, energy, motivation and a sense of humor. And a taste for adventure!

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

JLK: Go into the field and do original reporting as soon as you can on a topic you care a lot about. If that's China, Chile or Silicon Valley, figure out a way to get there and churn out stories with a news organization or on your own. Master the local language. Nothing can substitute for being on the ground and building sources. Come to think of it, this probably applies to a variety of industries outside journalism, too.

“You’re going to want to take off your clothes and touch each other. But if you do touch each other, you will get chlamydia… and die.”

There’s nothing like a little Mean Girls and an overly dramatic sex ed teacher to scare you away from sex. But while your first time may seem scary, you don’t have to worry—because we’re here to guide you through it! You’ve already learned about the risks (perhaps you’ve seen one too many STD pictures) and benefits associated with intercourse, but how’s a girl to know what to realistically expect? We spoke with several sexperts to help you better prepare—physically and mentally—for when you’re ready to take the next step.

Will it hurt?

When thinking about sex, worrying about pain is a perfectly normal concern to have! Many girls assume that losing their virginities will be painful because of what they learn about the hymen, a tissue that lines the opening of the vagina. If it tears, it’s supposed to hurt… right?

Reena Liberman, MS, a private practice sex therapist in Ann Arbor, MI, explains that intercourse may feel uncomfortable at first, but the pain shouldn’t be too overwhelming. “If it’s the first time having intercourse and the hymen is still intact, it might feel like a little pinch, but it shouldn’t be very painful,” she says. Also, before you even have intercourse, you could have broken your hymen when using tampons, during masturbation or even with strenuous exercise.

Along with tearing the hymen (aka “popping the cherry”), it’s normal to experience bleeding during and after the first time. Liberman says that light spotting is typical, but anything more than that may signal that something is wrong (or maybe it’s that time of the month!). “It’s normal to bleed… and it depends on the kind of hymen that the woman has,” she says. “There shouldn’t be too much blood. If it’s flowing, then there is something else going on.” According to Liberman, the hymen varies in size and thickness from girl to girl, and so this can dictate how much bleeding, if any, you will experience.

Yes, sex might feel uncomfortable at first, but the idea that penetration is supposed to hurt is a myth! Much of the pain that we associate with intercourse comes if the woman’s body is overly tense from nerves. “Often because it is a nervous or anxious moment, it can [be] hard for the woman to self-lubricate, and that’s what can make intercourse more uncomfortable or even painful,” Liberman says. “Along with this, the muscles can tense up and add to the discomfort.” 

To help ease the pain, Susan Ernst, a physician at the University Health Service Women's Health Clinic at the University of Michigan, says that young women should look into using water-based lubricants. Caution: stay away from oil-based lubricants because these degrade latex condoms faster, making it easier for them to break during intercourse. Liquid Silk ($17.99 at CVS) and K-Y Liquid Personal Lubricant ($11.99 at CVS) are great options to try.

If intercourse is painful or uncomfortable, Taylor*, a senior at the University of Michigan, says that you should speak up to your partner. “My first time, I did not feel comfortable telling the guy that I was with how it was feeling,” she says. “My best advice is to try out different positions, do whatever feels comfortable; if it hurts, switch it up and communicate [with your partner].”

Should I tell him that I’m a virgin?

If you’re not sure if you should tell your partner that you’re a virgin, guess what? Many collegiettes go through the same thing! If you’re worried about disclosing your virginity, you can always make it clear to your partner that you’re inexperienced instead.

“Instead of saying I was a virgin, I told my first partner that I was inexperienced and was feeling nervous,” Kayla*, a senior at Michigan State University, says. “I wasn’t lying; I really was inexperienced! But this way, your partner knows how you’re feeling and you don’t have to explain your virginity if you don’t want to.”

If you want to tell your partner you’re a virgin, it’s best to clear the air in the beginning. Who knows… maybe he’s a virgin as well! And if he has a problem with you being a virgin, then he’s not worth losing it to.

Should there be foreplay?

Foreplay is anything that leads up to intercourse. We’ve come to think of foreplay as an opening act before the main event—an appetizer before the entrée. However, Liberman says that thinking about the experience of foreplay as inferior to the act of intercourse is misleading. “Foreplay suggests that it’s not as important as intercourse, whereas most women can orgasm during this time,” Liberman says.

For the first time having sex, Liberman explains that it’s important to take things slow in order to make sure each partner is ready. You can use this intimate time as you please; there are no set rules to follow! “Foreplay is extremely important for women because that’s when women are most aroused,” she says. “If you jump into intercourse, the woman might not be lubricated enough to enjoy it and may not experience the full pleasure of sex.”

Sarah*, a junior at the University of Michigan, also says that foreplay is important. “What is considered foreplay by many straight couples—oral, fingering, manual stimulation, kissing and touching—is considered sex by many gay and lesbian couples,” she says. “It can be just as fun and important as vaginal sex, so don't just write it off as something that you do on the way to the main event.”

Will I have the “Big O”?

After living vicariously through The Notebook and just about every other Nicholas Sparks inspired-film, you can only dream that your first time will be as romantic and satisfying as the passionate love scenes those couples have. But when it comes to pleasure, it’s important to have realistic expectations.

Ernst says that it’s uncommon for girls to experience an orgasm during sex for the first time because they aren’t familiar with interacting with a partner. “It’s more common that women don’t [orgasm] just because they are not as aware of their own bodies and what it might take to reach that stage of excitement,” she says. “As they get more comfortable with their partner and their partner knows them and they know themselves, that becomes more common.”

Contrary to popular belief, it’s rare that you’ll reach the grand finale solely from intercourse, even with experience. “It’s generally not common for women to have orgasms with intercourse, and most don’t,” Liberman says. “Even after the 10th, 20th, or 100^th time, it’s uncommon.”

According to Liberman, the reasoning behind this is that the vaginal canal isn’t the most sensitive area, and so it’s more common for women to orgasm when other areas, such as the clitoris, are stimulated. Collegiettes: this is why foreplay is important!

Amy*, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, says that over time you will learn what feels good for your body. “I did not experience an orgasm when having sex until I had practiced at it for about three years,” she says. “While my hope for all people is that they experience great orgasms, having an orgasm is not the end-all-be-all.  Feel comfortable enough to do whatever feels good.”

What should I do about contraception?

If you’re thinking about having sex, it’s important to consider the different contraception options beforehand. “I think it’s a great idea for young women to think about contraception before they become sexually active, and even come in and have a consultation with a health care provider who can talk about all of the options,” Ernst says. “There are a million options, and there’s one that’s right for everyone.”

Whether you decide to use female or male condoms, they are a must-have for your first time (and any time after that!) Even if you’re on birth control, no love without the glove—it is the only way to protect your body against sexually transmitted diseases and infections. You can find inexpensive female condoms such as FC2 ($6.88 at Walgreens) or male condoms at any local drugstore. It’s always smart to have backup in case things get heated and he doesn’t have protection on him!

And what if your worst nightmare comes true? The condom broke. You forgot to take your birth control pill that day. Ernst wants girls to know that Plan B (emergency contraception) is now offered over-the-counter and is a viable option for collegiettes.

What if I’m feeling anxious?

You’re used to pre-test jitters and the anxiousness associated with going on a first date, but this is a whole new playing field. First things first: it’s okay to be nervous!

“It’s normal to feel anxious because [having intercourse] is probably unlike anything you’ve done before, and so like anything new, it can be scary,” Liberman says.

Rachel*, a senior at the University of Michigan, says it’s okay to be nervous, but that girls should also feel like they are ready to make the decision before they do. “Wait until you are absolutely certain that you are ready to have sex,” she says. “You should realize that sex can be scary, but can also be pleasurable, exciting and a wonderful way to connect with another person. To lessen anxiety, you should become comfortable with your body and with your partner. Knowing beforehand exactly what you would or would not be comfortable with doing is important.”

To make the experience less intimidating, Liberman says that girls should become comfortable with their own bodies before having sex. “It’s important to educate yourself about your body,” she says. “To go into sex for the first time without knowing anything about your body is doing a disservice, because you don’t know what [it] looks like and you don’t know what to expect from yourself. If you’re more familiar with yourself, including masturbation, you’re probably going to feel less anxious [and know what feels good].”

Liberman recommends that women take the time to read about the female body; there are an infinite number of online resources to look at if you have any sex-related questions, including Go Ask Alice! and Scarleteen. Along with reading, she says that it’s helpful to get to know your body more personally (when you have some alone time, if you know what we mean). Once you begin to explore your own body, you will know what to expect from yourself with a partner when that time comes. If you’re self-conscious about trying masturbation, the shower is a natural, easy place to start. 

Liberman adds that there are a few checkpoints to hit before you’ll be ready to have sex. “Readiness can be indicated by: making the decision that you want to do it, getting to know yourself, feeling ready and not having too high or unrealistic expectations, so that when you’ve done it, you can say, ‘Okay, that was the first time! Now I can learn more about it and be less nervous the next time,’” she says. “If you expect it to be perfect, of course you are going to [feel] disappointment.”

You may have expectations for your first time, but keep in mind that it’s different for every collegiette! Just remember that it should be your decision and no one else’s. When you’re ready, we hope that our tips help!

*Names have been changed.

You’re a good friend. When something awesome — like say, a new relationship — happens for someone you know, of course you’re beyond happy for him or her. Cue the rose petals and the Michael Bublé playlist! Huzzah for the new couple!

Except, let’s be honest: While Romeo and Juliet are dancing around in their newly constructed bubble of love, oblivious to the outside world, their actions can get pretty obnoxious. And there you are, the audience to their love affair — except, unlike a Shakespearean play of old, you can’t throw food at them to make them stop. What you can do is sneakily forward them this article.

Please, for the love of our sanity, new couples, stop doing these seven things… and for those of you single readers, when your time comes, keep these hints in mind as well.  

1. You hang out with only each other

There should be a verb for said phenomenon: ghost (verb; to quickly and abruptly vanish from your friends’ lives, to only hang out with your new paramour, to become suddenly unavailable).

In all seriousness, one of the worst things you can do when you begin a new romance is to forget that you actually had relationships before this. Even if they weren’t the kind that involve making out.

Your friends were there for you while you stressed about midterms, got a little too tipsy, cried from homesickness and had an internship crisis. In other words, they’ve stuck with you, so now it’s your turn to stick with them.

It’s so tempting to spend all of your time with your new boyfriend or girlfriend and completely ghost on your friends. However, whether your love lasts or not, you’re going to want to hang out with your friends again — so make a serious effort to maintain a good balance now. 

2. “I” suddenly becomes “we”

PSA: Just because you are now spending a significant portion of your time with another person, cuddling together, watching “your” TV show together and going on sushi dates together, does not mean you have merged into a single entity with him or her. We are not two-headed aliens, nor are we Queen Elizabeth. So let’s refer to ourselves in the first person singular, shall we?

Sample dialogue: “We went to see that new movie with (insert cool actress and actor here). We think (cool actress) has been getting way too much hype! But we thought (cool actor) did a great job.”

Did you hear that? That’s the sound of nails on a chalkboard. It’s screeching through your friends’ minds as they listen to you. Let’s try again:

“We went to see that new movie with (insert cool actress and actor here). I’m not sure why all the critics are saying (cool actress) deserves an Emmy; I thought her performance was pretty weak. (Cool actor), however, was super convincing.”

Much better, right? You’ve spent your whole life developing your own personality, opinions and independence! Now go forth and use them.

3. You engage in serious PDA

Something about a new boyfriend or girlfriend has a way of magnetizing your lips and hands to his or her body and erasing all of your self-control. It’s like zooming back to the Paleolithic Era. “Such. Cute. Butt. Must. Touch.”

Hold up, homeboy or homegirl. If your SO is cool with you grabbing his or her tush, then you go right ahead and grab it — in private. Because, although being flirty and fun in public may work for you, it doesn’t work for, oh, 99 percent of the population, who incidentally are being held captive to your public display of butt attack.

There's a good rule of thumb (literally) for deciding whether or not you and your honey boo are being appropriate. Picture your grandmother on the scene. Is she smiling kindly and ready to bake some cookies, or is she frowning in young-people-these-days disapproval? Don’t make Nana mad. Dial down the touchiness.

4. You can’t stop talking about your relationship (and all of the details)

While you may find it fascinating that your SO has a nut allergy or that his or her first pet was a guinea pig, unfortunately, your friends do not share this fixation. They especially don’t want to hear you talk on… and on… and on about how no one at your SO’s preschool could eat PB&Js or that the rodent’s name was Harry.

Nonstop narration on the details of your boyfriend or girlfriend’s lives isn’t only annoying, but it’s also a little rude. Physically, you’re with your friends, but mentally, you’re with your sweet thang. Your friends will inevitably get resentful.

However, this doesn’t mean you can never talk about your SO — just make sure it’s a topic of conversation, but not the whole conversation.

5. You act like no one else “gets it”

When you enter a new relationship, the magical feelings (read: lust, adrenaline, happiness, anxiety) that make you feel like you’re the star of a Disney movie are a little overwhelming. Apart from making you do weird things like burst into song and talk incessantly about your SO (see above), these emotions can also make you feel like you’re the first person in the world to ever feel this way about another person. After all, if everyone walked around in this state, there’d be spontaneous combustion on the streets.

Okay. Feel free to, in the safety of your own mind, believe that your love is the truest love that’s ever been brought to life in this universe — but do not share this with the outside world. Do not disregard your friends’ advice because they “don’t know how it feels.” Do not tell people they’ve never experienced a similar passion. Especially do not act like you’re worthier because you’ve been blessed with a history-defying romance.

6. You two are inseparable (and not in a cute way)

Here are some things you should never leave the house without: your keys, some form of money (at least $20), a form of identification, your underwear and your cell phone.

Did you notice what was missing from that list? Your SO.

Unless your boyfriend or girlfriend is about to depart on a multi-year journey, then relax. You will have lots and lots of time to hang out with him or her and count each and every freckle on his or her adorable arm. Therefore, there is no need to take him or her along with you to every activity in your life, from the dentist’s office to drinks with your besties.

Sorry, Jordin Sparks, but you can and will breathe when you’re not with your SO, even if that’s not how it feels “whenever [your SO] ain’t there.”

7. You take endless couple selfies

Pregnant women may glow, but it’s common knowledge that you’re never as photogenic as when you are in a relationship. Every strand of your hair shines, your smile is flawless, your teeth are white as snow and, by the way, you have an adorable accessory to prop on your arm in pics — your SO.

We understand the urge to document your glory for the world, but trust us: The world is perfectly content with snapshots, not the whole scrapbook. Please limit yourself to a Facebook album or two, and definitely do not get confused into thinking your Instagram followers need a new couple pic every day of the week.

While we’re on the subject of social media, examine your recent tweets and Snapchat stories as well. Are they all about your man or woman? If yes, take note: This is not endearing. This is obsessive. We know you have other interests besides your snuggle buddy, so let’s see ‘em.

Well, new couples, we wish you the best on your road from I-was-just-single-dom to we’ve-been-together-HOW-long?!? land. It’s a beautiful journey. And if you avoid these mistakes, it’ll be a non-obnoxious one as well. Trust us, your friends will thank you.