This week, a Russian city was rocked by two suicide blasts only six weeks before the Winter Olympics in Sochi. As the Russian government struggles to uncover who was responsible for the blasts, Colorado opened its first marijuana stores after a succession of laws that legalized marijuana use in the state.

Happy New Year, and welcome back to NEWSFLASH!

Russian City Hit By Two Suicide Blasts

The southern Russian city of Volgograd was hit by two suicide bombings early this week, prompting concerns over security measures leading up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.

A blast at Volgograd’s main train station last Sunday took 17 lives, while a second bomb detonated on a trolley bus one day later and claimed 14 victims.

The bombings reminded Russians and the international community of the central government’s tense relationships with Chechnya and Dagestan. Both regions have violently clashed with the Russian government in the past.

While government officials predict that no violence will mar Sochi because of the intense security presence around the city, security experts have warned that other cities in the North Caucasus could become targets.

No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the blasts.

Colorado Stores Now Legally Sell Marijuana for Recreational Use

Colorado passed some of the world’s most liberal laws where marijuana possession and usage were concerned, but the state took things even further by becoming the first place in the world to legally sell marijuana for conventional use.

Lines of 100 or more people long trailed from some stores on Wednesday as people waited to purchase marijuana from Colorado stores for the first time. Under Colorado’s laws, anyone 21 years of age and older legally holds the right to buy recreational marijuana.

At the beginning of this year, another Colorado bill came into law legalizing marijuana possession for state residents between 18 and 21.

Many hail Colorado’s legalization of marijuana sales, stating that the sale “[marks] the beginning of the end of the nation's decades-long war on marijuana and its harmful human and fiscal toll." Others, however, have warned against the potential harm caused by marijuana use. 

Sick of eating cereal and ramen for lunch and dinner? Want to spend less money eating out and finally start cooking for yourself? Put down that frozen pizza, because HC’s Health Editor, Sammie Levin, is here to share her daily eats so you can get ideas for healthy, satisfying meals that are easy enough for any time-strapped collegiette to make. After you read Collegiette Eats, your taste buds, wallet and waistline will thank you.

My family has eaten at a ton of buffets on this trip to Thailand. In fact, yesterday, all three of our meals were at buffets. Buffets can really tax your willpower. The options are seemingly endless, and the portions are literally endless if you’re at one that’s all-you-can-eat. It can be hard to reach for the salad when the fettuccine Alfredo is seducing you with its creamy deliciousness. 

After tackling several buffets over the past few days, I’ve come up with a few tips for how to eat healthily in these situations, whether at a hotel, a restaurant or your campus dining hall.  

Take a lap

Survey the scene first before jumping right in. If you start filling up your plate before knowing all the offerings, you’re more likely to overload ("oooh, waffles-I’ll have two of those, oh, and eggs, and that Danish looks good, and some yogurt can’t hurt…"). Before even picking up a plate, take a lap and see what your options are. Take note of what looks good, and then put together a balanced meal with your top few choices instead of getting everything.

Fill up on veggies and fruits first

This one is pretty simple: if you fill your plate with vegetables and fruit first, you'll have less room for the less healthy stuff. You'll also ensure that you actually get a substantial serving of fruits and veggies, rather than saving them for last when you may only have space on your plate for half a spoonful. 

Wait before round two

Freshman year, when I lived in the dorms and ate in the dining halls, and sophomore year, when I lived in the sorority house and had a meal plan there, almost all of my meals were all-you-can-eat affairs. This proved to be a huge problem for me. My self-control withered in the face of endless freshly baked cookies.

Often, I would get up for round two before I even finished swallowing my last bite of round one. Not because I was still hungry (I didn't even give myself enough time to see if I was), but simply because I wanted more of what I had just eaten and it was available to me just a few feet away. It’s a sad, sad feeling when you finish eating something delicious and there is nothing left on your plate but the streaks of sauce reminding you how good it was. You may feel overcome with loss and yearning. I’m kidding, but only a little bit—the struggle is real.

Don't play it like Louis C.K.

However, instead of immediately getting up for more just because you can, wait. Drink some water, talk to your friends and distract yourself from the urge to get more. If you give yourself time—at least 10 minutes—you’ll more often than not find that the craving has passed and you’re full. When it comes to buffets, it’s even more important than usual to eat mindfully and to really pay attention to your portion sizes and hunger level.

Share desserts

Buffets usually kill it with the desserts. There is always something (if not a hundred things) that looks too good to pass up on. Rather than stacking a plate full of desserts for yourself to sample, split a plate with your friends or family or whoever you're eating with. That way, you can get a little taste of what you want without going overboard. Most buffets also have fruit, so you could also have that for dessert. When you have a hankering for something sweet right after finishing your meal, sometimes the natural sugars in fruit will actually do the trick.

Now that you know my game plan for when I show up at a buffet, here’s what I ate at the three buffets we hit up yesterday.

Breakfast

At the breakfast buffet yesterday, I had scrambled eggs, a few slices of different cheeses, a mini bowl of Bircher muesli topped with a some extra almonds and raisins and two slices of dragon fruit. The eggs were excellent (eggcellent), and eating them with the sharp cheeses was a perfect combo. This was my first time trying dragon fruit, and I have to say it’s not my favorite. It has the same texture as melon, but no distinct flavor in my opinion. But you never know if you'll like something until you try it!

Lunch

For lunch, we stopped at a restaurant in between sightseeing stops for the second buffet of the day. I served myself a helping of pad Thai, to which I added more bean sprouts and chili flakes and a helping of sea bass and vegetable sauté. It was all okay, not great, but at least it hit the spot. I followed it up with a plate of watermelon and pineapple and a cup of coffee.

Dinner

At the third and final buffet, there was a sauté station where you could choose your ingredients and sauce. I got a mixed seafood and vegetable sauté with cashews in a spicy garlic sauce. Yum. I like ordering fish a lot on vacation since I don't make it as often at school. Plus, it’s good for you! Here are 10 health benefits of seafood. 

I think it’s safe to say my family is all buffet-ed out after yesterday. We’re sticking to menus today.  

What are your strategies for eating healthily at buffets and in the dining hall? Share in the comments! 

You got a kick out of the winter break blues with The 21 Worst Parts of Winter Break, as Told by Amy Poehler.

Spoiling littles was just one of the 9 Things That Are Only Acceptable in Your Sorority.

You took notes for NYE from The 6 Most Clichéd NYE Instagrams & What to Do Instead.

The 5 Craziest Things We’ve Done to Stalk Our Crushes hit home for many of you.

This information never gets old! The 8 Timeless Rules of Style proved helpful for us.

Imagine this scenario: you get to the end of an amazing college interview—your dream college interview, to be exact—and your interviewer asks you if you have any questions. You could shake your head with a polite, “No, you’ve answered everything!” But that response won't leave a lasting impression.

Why ask questions? You’ve already shown your interest in the school by going through the arduous application process. But imagine if you walked into an interview and weren't asked any questions?  Besides being really awkward, you would get the impression that the school didn’t really care much about you as a prospective student.  So in the same way that the interviewer is trying to figure out if you’re a good fit for their school, you should ask the questions that allow you to see how well you’d fit in.  Your interviewer has a wealth of personal knowledge—why not use it? After all, what better way to convey your enthusiasm for that open spot in the class of 2017?

Before you read on for HC’s pick of post-interview questions, here are a few dos and don’ts for interviewing your interviewer:

Do show that you’ve taken something from the conversation. Something to the effect of, “You mentioned there are ways to start a club outside of the school. Have you ever done this? How easy or difficult is that process?” This will show off your listening skills and your interest in the school.  

Don’t bombard the interviewer with questions. You want to be enthusiastic, not aggressive. About two to three questions should be your goal.

Do ask questions even after a bad interview. Asking good questions after a bad interview can give you the rebound boost you need, and prove to your interviewer that you’re determined and serious about the school.  You should also ask post-interview questions for a school you don’t think you’re interesting in attending. You never know what special programs or student benefits could make you change your mind. 

Don’t ask questions just to impress your interviewer. If you’re obsessing about the recent cuts in squash funding when your resume has lacrosse written all over it, then your interviewer is going to see right through you. Chill out. Ask the questions that interest you and show off your interests.

Do prepare a list of questions prior to your interview.

Don’t ask questions that you can find on the school website, especially if they're incredibly specific questions about a certain department or program your interviewer might not know how to answer.

Do Google your interviewer ahead of time. It’s a good way to check their age—if they’re younger, they can give you a better idea of what student life is like and ask what types of careers have been available to their peers post-graduation—and to see if they actually went to the school you're interviewing for.

Now that you’ve learned your dos and don’ts, here is HC’s list of approved college interview questions. Take your pick, pre-collegiettes—but keep in mind that some of these questions only work if your interviewer went to the school you’re being interviewed for. So, again, remember to Google him or her beforehand!

Why did you choose this school over the other schools that accepted you?

To put it another way: What makes this college stand out, and why should I choose it above all my other potential choices? This lets your interviewer know that this particular school may be one of the ones in your final round of decisions.

What was your favorite part of your college experience? Any favorite traditions?

Hey, you’ve got to measure the fun factor, right? This question does that and requires your interviewer’s personal experience, which is always a plus.  It gives you a feel for the environment at the school, and will let you gauge the amount of school spirit there—certainly better than any college website can!  Take this one with a grain of salt, though: your interviewer may have graduated years ago, so his or her personal experience may be very different from what you may experience at the school.

What do you wish you could change about the school?

Interviewers tend to paint a rosy picture of the school—understandably, because they’re trying to sell that picture to you.  This question is great because it lets you get a more realistic view of the school, and hopefully clues you in to any frustrations you should prepare yourself for.  Think of it as the counterpart to the “What are your three greatest weaknesses?” question.

I noticed this [insert program] has these [insert benefits/rewards, etc.] for its students. Can you tell me a little more about that?

It can be anything from a financial aid program to an athletic program to an honors program. Whatever the case, it shows the interviewer that you’ve done your research about the school, and you want to know even more! Trust us, this one will really prove that you’re excited about what this college has to offer.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you have given yourself as an incoming freshman?

Who doesn’t need a few words of wisdom as your prepare yourself for one of the biggest adjustments of your life? Transitioning in to freshman year isn’t always easy, and your interviewer’s advice can let you know what you need—an open mind, a fearlessness to try new things—to get you through your first year in college. Not only will this give you an indicator of the kind of student who “makes it” at this particular school, but it also may give you an idea of the person this college will help you to be come. Life skills, my friends.

You don’t have to use the questions above—you can come up with some great ones of your own! Just make sure you choose the questions that show off your interest, enthusiasm, and the research you’ve done on the school.  As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll be ready to ace interviewing your interviewer. Good luck, pre-collegiettes!

I’ve been told there are others like me, and the trick was just to find them. I’ve been told that the decisions I make are great, admirable even, yet at the same time I’ve been told I am not “normal” because of them.

I am a sophomore in college, and I do not drink alcohol.

The small school I attend, Western New England University, is far from a dry one. There’s usually some type of party happening any given weekend, and casual nights in tend to consist of sharing a few drinks with roommates and other friends. As is the case with most colleges, socializing and drinking go hand in hand.

I never drank in high school, but I was open to the possibility of it once I graduated, since a drinking atmosphere was sure to be more prevalent in college. After all, isn’t that what college is all about? A constant flow of parties with a few classes thrown in on the side? Or at least that’s what 18 years of pop culture led me to believe.

As an athlete on the university tennis team, my first two months at school were devoted entirely to the demand of being in season, which included abiding by team rules to refrain from drinking until the season ended. During that time, I witnessed friends who I thought were mellow and laid-back during the week transform into nuisances on the weekend because they were so inebriated. I’ve dealt with friends struggling to climb onto lofted beds, friends being overly friendly without realizing it and even my roommate getting sick in the room after needing assistance to come back in the early hours of the morning.

On top of that, I heard countless other horror stories of people who drank one too many. While not uncommon for college freshmen, I knew of friends getting sick in their dorm hallway and getting written up for disciplinary action. Although I had the rest of the semester to drink if I wanted to, the examples I had seen sent me in the opposite direction completely. When people spent every weekend getting sick, nursing a hangover and acting in ways they’d later regret or not even remember, I thought to myself, “What could possibly be so great about drinking?” I had no interest in harming my body just to fit into the cultural mold of a stereotypical college student.

Sure, I’ve gone to parties and found myself tempted to give in. Who wouldn’t be? When herds of people are pounding beers and tossing back umpteen shots, being the lone sober person among the crowd seems to scream “social outcast” to everyone participating. The sole fear of not fitting in provides as much temptation as a girl could need, since it has become an unwritten rule that college students must not only drink, but drink a lot. It also did not help matters when at every party I kept getting bombarded with incessant offerings of beer, vodka or anything else available. 

Saying “no” was not difficult at the first offer of a drink, but when I had to explain multiple times throughout a single hour that I wasn’t drinking, I considered joining the crowd simply to comply with the wishes of those around me. Alcohol made everyone around me loud and rowdy, and for someone who isn’t exactly an extrovert, I found this annoying and hard to tolerate while sober. Again, it made me consider just giving in and have a drink to eliminate the fuss of the crowd. But just because that would be the easier decision to make didn’t mean it was best for me.

When faced with peer pressure, I force myself to remember the bigger, more personal reason why saying “no” is a better option for me: alcoholism is no stranger to my family. I have several relatives battling it, and there is nothing scarier than watching a loved one change into an entirely different person because of alcohol. To see someone you look up to and respect quickly shed this persona results in a blend of emotions: confusion, disappointment, frustration. The thought of this alone deters me from alcohol more than anything. Knowing that I’m susceptible to this disease just because it’s in my family history is alarming, and if I can do anything in my power to keep it from harming me, I will. If this includes being classified in a certain way that separates me from the majority of the campus population, so be it.

Most, if not all, of my friends drink to some extent on the weekends. The average amount they consume ranges anywhere from two beers to a number of shots in the double digits. This doesn’t mean I judge them for it. I’m not naive, and I know that alcohol is going to play a prominent role on campus until I receive a diploma. Since I moved to school, the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is how to be independent. I have no desire in controlling each of my friends who go out drinking, nor do I want to lecture and preach to them why I am against it, because they have a right to their independence and can do as they wish. Some may never understand why I choose sobriety over intoxication, and they don’t have to. All that matters is that I know who I want to be, and I will stand my ground.

I can’t say for sure if I will drink once I am 21, but if I do, I will make sure I do it responsibly and in a way I feel comfortable with. In the three semesters I’ve been at college, I have not touched a drop of alcohol, and I could not be more pleased to say so. When it comes to my decision to not drink, I’ve been told many things. But the most important thing I’ve learned is to stay true to myself. 

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

We at Her Campus have partnered up with Josie by Natori to bring you the Josie Girl of the Month!  We showcased one collegiette per month this semester who was a Josie by Natori style icon. Josie by Natori is real style for real collegiettes—what’s not to love?

Our December Josie Girl of the Month is Becca Bahrke, the campus correspondent for Her Campus University of Wisconsin-Madison.  A true Josie Girl, Becca draws her inspiration from “people who are happy with who they are and don’t care what people think about them.” 

This fierce collegiette is a fashion risk-taker who isn’t afraid to try new trends.  We love how she styled her Illusion sleepshirt for a fun day out!

“I love expressing myself through what I wear and trying out new things,” Becca says. “I’ll try anything once!”

Love Becca’s look? We’re giving away an Illusion sleepshirt to one lucky reader! Enter belowby 11:59 p.m. EST on January 8th to win! The winner will be announced in an upcoming STUDY BREAK, so be sure to keep checking your email to see if you've won!

Most college administrators would say that it’s good to stay out of the newspaper headlines. Unfortunately, these schools couldn’t keep their scandals out of the limelight and practically wallpapered the front pages with their name. Though a spot on this list may not be an achievement to display on your fridge, students at these troublemaker campuses will remember their alma mater as anything but boring when they reminisce about their crazy college days. Bring on the journalists!

10.EMORY UNIVERSITY(Atlanta, Georgia)

In August of 2012, the president of Emory University announced that the schoolhad been sending false data to college rankers such as U.S. News & World Report for possibly a decade. The school inflated its standing in college rankings by intentionally misreporting SAT and ACT scores and class rankings, using data for students who were admitted rather than those who attended (whose scores were actually lower). At least partly because of the scandal, Jean Jordan, who served as admissions dean from 2007 to 2011, resigned from her new job as the director of college counseling at Holy Innocents Episcopal School. In her letter of resignation, she claimed she wanted“to pursue another endeavor.” Though no reports have concluded that Jordan was a participant in the scandal, Jordan told her administrators she did not want questions of integrity to be associated with the Holy Innocents, according to 11 Alive News. Despite Emory’s usage of false information, U.S. News officials said Emory’s No. 20 ranking would’ve stayed the same in the past two years had the data been correct, and the false data only had “a small to negligible effect” in the years before that (according to ajc.com).

9. CORNELL UNIVERSITY (Ithaca, New York)

In the spring 2013 semester alone, Cornell shut down two fraternities, Alpha Tau Omega and Zeta Beta Tau, and sanctioned four: Phi Kappa Psi, Chi Psi, Sigma Nu, and Delta Phi. The Cornell Daily Sun reports that Alpha Tau Omega violated drug and alcohol policies, while Zeta Beta Tau failed to comply with chapter and university expectations. Phi Kappa Psi and Chi Psi are both facing hazing allegations, while Sigma Nu and Delta Phi are both required to host hazing awareness programs. The campus has been debating the usefulness of Greek Life for ages, weighing its pros and highly publicized cons; in 2011, there was a particularly unusual case where the freshmen pledges hazed older brothers of the fraternity, which resulted in one death after a brother was kidnapped, tied up, and forced to drink alcohol. One popular commenter from another Cornell Daily Sun article recommended that the school step back and think, because “perhaps the Greek system has too large a presence at Cornell if measures to ensure student safety are constantly met with such controversy.”

8. YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE (Young Harris, Georgia)

A small college in northern Georgia, Young Harris College is also making a name for itself in the shameful business of Greek hazing. Members of the Gamma Psi sorority subjected their pledges to a slew of sexually and emotionally abusive rituals, including blindfolding pledges in the middle of the woods and forcing them to partake in "panty runs" (where pledges ran around in their underwear while fraternity members watched). Though outrageous hazing stories make headlines all the time, not many have an aftermath as appalling as this one. After the public caught wind of the news, Young Harris College prohibited the school newspaper from writing about the hazing scandal, and subsequently fired two professors who opposed the censorship.

7. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (Princeton, New Jersey)

Princeton alumna Susan Patton made feminists cringe when she advised young women at her alma mater to look for a husband before tossing their graduation caps. In a letter to the editor in The Daily Princetonian, Patton said powerful Princeton collegiettes have the best chances of finding an intellectually worthwhile mate during their undergraduate career. She warned single, female graduates that settling for a lesser-educated man will end in frustration (she divorced her non-Princeton ex-husband of 27 years earlier this year. Coincidence?). Though Patton intended for her letter to be “little more than honest advice from a Jewish mother,” she faced major backlash for her regressive words. But the real victim here is probably her son, a current junior at Princeton (Mom, you’re embarrassing me!).

6. AMHERST COLLEGE (Amherst, MA)

In 2012, more than a year after she was raped by an acquaintance, Angie Epifano came forward with a personal essay that condemned Amherst College's poor handling of sexual assault cases. Epifano revealed the disturbing advice she received from the school’s counseling services ("They told me: We can report your rape as a statistic, you know, for records, but I don’t recommend that you go through a disciplinary hearing."), so it was no surprise when her essay went viral. Her essay spearheaded a movement to address the rape culture at Amherst, garnering support from other victims and students across the country. The Huffington Post even named Epifano as one of the “Most Influential Forces in Higher Education.” Because of this collegiette’s outcry, Amherst College introduced a Special Oversight Committee on Sexual Misconduct in October 2012 to improve the school’s policies. You go, girl!

5. VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (Nashville, Tennessee)

The past year was not a good one for Vanderbilt school spirit. Four football players were dismissed from the team and suspended from the university following their alleged involvement in a sex crime.The administration and Metro Police are trying to keep details on the DL, but it was revealed that the crime happened in a campus dorm. Morale from stadium sidelines isn’t so hot either, especially after one Vanderbilt cheerleader made the mistake of taking explicit photo booth pictures with her boyfriend at a Kappa Delta formal. She didn’t realize the images were automatically uploaded online (though we can’t see why she thought it was a good idea either way) and unknowingly blasted her shameful selfies all over Facebook. We're going to assume that split-second blunder won’t be helpful for her law school applications.

4. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME (Notre Dame, Indiana)

Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o suffered heartbreak in his 2012 season when he received news that his online girlfriend had passed away from leukemia—only to later find out that the entire relationship was a hoax, and she didn’t exist! The man behind the elaborate prank, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, posed as a Stanford University student named Lennay Kekua, using photos of her to create a fictitious online persona who would eventually date Te’o. In an interview on Dr. Phil, Tuiasosopo admitted that his history as a victim of sexual abuse was a factor that made him use his false identity as an escape, but he became so invested in his alter ego that he eventually fell in love with Te’o! While some suspect Te’o played a role in the hoax in order to garner sympathy (he was a Heisman candidate), he maintains his innocence. In an interview with Katie Couric, Te’o says he had no part in creating the hoax. A few days after the story first broke on Deadspin, Tuiasosopo contacted Te’o to apologize. We don’t even know how you begin that kind of apology!

3. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

This school has forever changed the way we see “hostile environments.” The public was outraged when UNC’s student-run Honor Court charged Landen Gambill with an honor code violation for her “intimidating behavior” against her alleged rapist ex-boyfriend (she spoke out about the alleged rape but never named her ex-boyfriend outright). Though the charges have since been dropped (UNC is awaiting an evaluation of the honor code by a campus committee), Gambill is still one of five women who have filed complaints against UNC for underreporting sexual assault cases. Gambill and others claim the former Associate Dean of Students, Melissa Manning, was forced by higher administrators to decrease the reported number of cases. On top of this scandal, the school has spent almost $1 million on investigations into an academic fraud scandal that involved unauthorized grade changes and "no-attendance" classes for the benefit of student athletes.

2. HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

In a mass cheating scandal in August 2012, 125 students (nearly half of the 279-person class) were accused of breaching the no-collaboration policy on a take-home final. The dishonest plot was foiled when Matthew B. Platt, an assistant professor of government who taught the class Introduction to Congress, noticed similarities in his students’ exams. As a result, the school forced around 70 students to withdraw, or leave campus for a short period before returning (John Harvard would be disappointed!).

But students weren’t the only ones causing trouble. To make matters worse, the school secretly accessed the email accounts of 16 deans to find out who leaked the cheating story to the press. The deans were told of the snooping only after the snitch was caught. Harvard was slammed with yet another ethical mishap when it turned over four quiz bowl tournament titles because a competitor accessed the questions beforehand.

1. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

Rutgers, often called “Sl*tgers” in the Tri-state area, is notorious for having a party-crazed campus (it was even named the #1 Sl*ttist College in America by Barstool U). Last spring, eight students were arrested on various charges, including aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, riot, and failure to disperse, at their famous “Delafest” block party. More than 500 students attended the block party, which was meant to replace their beloved Rutgersfest (it was canceled after 2011 for being too wild). Rowdy students at Delafest set couches on fire and threw bottles at police officers who tried to disperse the crowd.

And the social scene was just background noise to the trouble in the athletics department at Rutgers. The school spent a whopping $2.3 million dealing with scandals involving ex-men's basketball coach Mike Rice, who was fired after a video of him berating his players was leaked online. Rice took tough coaching to another level, yelling homophobic slurs during practice and chucking basketballs at players' heads. As a result, the Director of Intercollegiette Athletics, Tim Pernetti, was also forced to resign. “Students are outraged and want Rutgers President Barchi's head on a platter—supposedly he knew about Mike Rice's behavior and the release of the video allowed him the opportunity to use Tim Pernetti as a scapegoat,” says Josephine Bathan, a senior at Rutgers. Pernetti was replaced by Julie Hermann, a former college volleyball coach—ironic, because we hear that Hermann wasn’t much of a role model either. In 1996, her entire team of Tennessee volleyball players signed a letter that accused her of “mental cruelty.”

Click here to see all of Her Campus's 2013 College Rankings!

You’ve probably made some New Year’s resolutions, but will you actually keep them? For inspiration, we talked to collegiettes with really crazy ones they stuck to in 2013. Instead of the tired workout plans and boring diets, these collegiettes took the idea of becoming a better version of themselves to a whole new level!

1. “I Will Travel to Peru”

After spending five weeks in Spain last year, Rutgers University senior Nicole Murray decided it was time to get out of the country again. As part of her resolution, she applied for a study abroad program and went to Peru for five weeks during the summer. She did everything from taking salsa lessons to zip lining!

“It was a great experience,” she says. “I learned that the United States is very, very privileged. Things like warm water don’t come easy in Peru.”

Since her return from Peru, Nicole has been more appreciative of her surroundings and her family. She says she finally understands how important the little things are. Plus, she found that her Spanish accent improved.

If you’re thinking about traveling to a new country in the New Year, Nicole recommends a study abroad program because it’s helpful to travel with a group of people your age and a guide who knows just where to go. Check out your school’s study abroad website and get in touch with a study abroad adviser to find out where you can travel to!

2. “I Will Learn a New Language”

Genesis Liberato, a human resource management major at Rutgers University and a native Spanish speaker, made it her resolution to learn another language. She opted for Polish, thinking it would be easier since she had friends who spoke it as their first language, and she says that her time and effort were well worth it. “It was one of my best classes because my professor was amazing,” Genesis says.

At first it was difficult for her to stick with. “It’s not like French or Italian, which are similar to Spanish,” she says. The class turned out to be challenging but fun, and she even took a second class during the fall semester!

3. “I Will Learn How to Play an Instrument”

Music lover and Rutgers University senior Erica Buckley took up playing the piano to accompany her singing talent. “I always sang, but I felt silly saying I was a singer but couldn’t play an instrument,” she says. “So I wanted to learn!”

For Erica, it felt good taking the initiative to do something she was interested in, despite the common belief that people only learn how to play instruments as children. Although it was difficult to find time to practice, Erica continues to play; she even hopes to learn how to play the guitar in the future.

Just remember, it’s never too late to go after what you want. Start taking lessons at a music store near you or maybe make a new music major friend who’s willing to teach you some notes. Hey, that’s what college is all about, right?

4. “I Will Get a Tattoo”

Nathalia Obara, a psychology major at Seton Hall University, wanted a tattoo to commemorate the passing of her older brother. “I had an older brother that died of bone cancer seven years ago, so my tattoo is where his scar was from the cancer,” she says.

Now Nathalia sports three peony roses on her right hip, with one flower signifying herself, one signifying her late brother and one signifying her other brother, Tommy. She’s glad she stuck to her resolution because she now has a simple reminder that “life is beautiful,” just like the flowers. Expressing her feelings through a tattoo has helped make the memory of her brother a happy one, she says.

Getting a tattoo is a bold and creative way to express yourself. If you’re thinking about getting one, Nathalia suggests starting off with something small, and then tackling a bigger one once you’ve had the experience.

5. “I Will Go Skydiving”

As part of her resolution, Vidhi Patel, a freshman at Rutgers University, wanted to try something more on the adventurous side. She and a group of friends made a pact to go skydiving before the year was over, and sure enough, they took a trip to Pennsylvania over the summer.

Vidhi says she was so nervous, she screamed the whole way down. “I felt such a rush,” she says. “It was amazing. Hell yeah, I would do it again!”

An easy way to make a daring resolution more fun is to plan it with a group of friends. Having a large group with you will not only make the experience more exciting, but it’ll also help calm your nerves!

Get inspired and think outside of the box to come up with a really creative New Year’s resolution. This is your chance to grow, help out and maybe even learn something new, so make it count and do your best to stick to your resolution!

This year, Gwen Stefani joins the ranks of her fellow musicians Katy Perry, Selena Gomez and Mariah Carey by collaborating with OPI. The No Doubt frontwoman and solo artist has designed seven new shades for the nail lacquer brand, and the highly anticipated line has just hit the shelves of Ulta stores and OPI retailers across the United States.

This glam-punk icon has put her signature spin on the new shades, cheekily naming the electric pink “Hey Baby,” the chrome silver “Push and Shove” and the satin black “4 In The Morning” after her own songs as well as No Doubt songs. The satin gold shade is named after her fifth studio album, "Love. Angel. Music. Baby.," and "In True Stefani Fashion" is a fun silver glitter. The trademark color of the line is a bright red called "Over & Over A-Gwen," an ode to the classic red lip color that Gwen always wears. Throughout the seven-piece collection, Gwen plays with various textures and finishes like chrome, glitter, satin and creme gloss to create nail looks for any occasion. With OPI's excellent reputation for long-wearing, highly pigmented colors and Gwen's knack for nail art, this new polish line is sure to be a major success.

When the line was first announced last October, OPI co-founder and Executive Vice President Suzi Weiss Fischmann said that the partnership was inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit “Punk: Chaos to Couture.” Gwen, who has had a successful career as both a designer and music artist, was the perfect partner to bring OPI's vision for punk-inspired nail lacquer to life. Gwen's expansive clothing line called L.A.M.B. has established her as a major voice in fashion, and, with her eye for design, Gwen brings glam-punk style into the world of nail art. Gwen is known for accessorizing her wardrobe with the perfect nail looks and for taking risks with gorgeous, edgy manicures. Check out some of our favorite Gwen Stefani nail looks below for some manicure inspiration!

Ravishing Red

There's nothing more classic than a deep red manicure, but Gwen makes it her own by matching it to her lip color and adding gem accents. Gwen makes her nails take center stage with a little extra sparkle.

Bright Citrus

Gwen certainly doesn't shy away from bright colors with this citrus manicure. The bright yellow polish provides the perfect pop of color for her black-and-white ensemble.

Half-Moon Mani

Gwen's half-moon manicure creates a fun geometric shape to go with any outfit. The black color is a classic choice, but you can mimic this style with any color you choose! Maybe one from the new collection?

All Checked Out

With this checkered mani, Gwen looks like she's off to the races! The black-and-white pattern can really liven up a dull outfit, so look to this style when you want to accessorize with your nails.

Animal Print

Gwen goes a little more wild with this super long, animal-print-inspired mani. This is a fun twist on the half moon style and really shows off her jewelry by drawing attention to her hands.

Living with another person is never easy, but learning to live with a roommate is part of almost every girl’s college experience. When you receive your freshman year rooming assignment, you never know just what to expect: will your future roomie have an erratic sleep schedule? Will she borrow your clothes without asking permission? Will she hate your music? However, with all its concerns, living with someone new also brings the potential of a lifelong friendship. A roommate can transform from someone you simply share a space with to someone you can share yourself with.

In their new novel, Roomies, Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando join forces to tell a story about that time after high school when everything feels like it’s ending just as it’s beginning. When Elizabeth receives her freshman year roommate assignment at the beginning of summer, she sends an email to her new roommate, Lauren (who had requested a single), in San Francisco to coordinate the basics. Soon enough, the girls are emailing back and forth and sharing secrets even though they've never met in person. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can relate to are each other.

You can be one of the first to read Roomies by winning a copy of the novel! Ten winners will receive a free copy of Roomies. Enter below by January 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST for your chance to win! You must be older than 13 years old and live in the United States to win.  The winners will be announced in the January 16 STUDY BREAK.

Happy reading, collegiettes! 

Name: Naama Bloom
Age: 40
Job Title and Description: Founder, HelloFlo
College/Major: University of Wisconsin-Madison/Communication Arts
Website: www.helloflo.com 
Twitter Handle: @naamabloom and @helloflo

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

Naama Bloom: There definitely is not a typical day. Because my business has many moving pieces and we’re a very small team, I’m constantly shifting from one task to another. On any given day, I might be responding to customer service, working through logistics with our warehouse, looking for content for the blog and having meetings with potential partners and investors.

What is the best part of your job?

NB: There are two things that I love about this company. First, I’m so excited that what I’m doing is changing the relationship that girls and women have with puberty and their bodies. I spend so much of my time talking to young women and their parents about ways that the experience could be improved. When I hear from people that HelloFlo transformed their periods into something they no longer hate, I’m so gratified.

The second amazing thing is that we’ve just launched a partnership with an incredible organization, Zana Africa, where each six-month HelloFlo subscription supplies a girl in Kenya with sanitary products, underwear and educational materials to get her through a school year. The fact that a company I started in my kitchen can help an organization like Zana fulfill its mission makes me so proud of the work we’re doing.

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

NB: I was a film studies major in college and moved to Los Angeles right after I graduated; I wanted to make movies. My first job was as a production assistant on a sitcom.

I moved to LA without knowing anyone. I had a few names of friends of friends and that was it. I got the job by talking to everyone I met and telling them what I wanted to do. I did a few free jobs on shoots and eventually met someone who introduced me to the producer of the show I ended up working on. Getting that job was pure hustle.

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

NB: When you’re first starting out and you get a really interesting assignment, you may be afraid of failing. You assume that everyone else knows what’s going on. What I know now is that none of us know what we’re doing in the beginning; we’re all faking it at first. I was never a founder or CEO before starting my business. I had some skills but I hadn’t done the job, and there are many things I had to figure out on my own.

If you knew everything, you’d be bored. When you see a job description and you see the requirements, you shouldn’t think about whether or not you’ve already done those things; instead, ask yourself the question, “Do I want to do those things and do I have the skills needed to get them done?”

Before starting HelloFlo, you worked for a large financial corporation. When and why did you decide to make the switch from working at a corporation to creating your own startup?

NB: I had the idea for HelloFlo for more than a year before I acted on it. I spent that year talking about it to everyone I met. Eventually, my husband pointed out that I’d been discussing it for a year and that I clearly had the passion for it. Then he scared me by saying that someone else would do it if I didn’t. That’s when I started moving.

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?

NB: This sounds so cheesy, but it’s my husband. He’s an entrepreneur and also happens to be one of the smartest, most strategic people I know. Being able to have someone smart to develop my ideas with who is also my biggest fan was what allowed me to take this risk.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

NB: I heard Sara Blakely (Spanx founder) speak at a conference about eight years ago. She shared her journey of getting Spanx on the market. She never gave up even though she had very few believers, and she was tenacious. When I’m feeling down or insecure about my business, I think about the fact that she was there too, and now Spanx is a household name.

HelloFlo’s “Camp Gyno” commercial went viral, getting more than 6 million views on YouTube to date. What was it like to be behind such a popular video?

NB: The two weeks after launching the video were the most insane two weeks of my life. Of course we hoped the video would go viral, but my aspirations were much lower. I would have been thrilled with a few hundred thousand hits. I was absolutely blown away by the response to the video. What was most gratifying was that the media attention shone a light on the way we talk about our bodies and our periods and how ridiculous all the euphemisms are.

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

NB: I have made so many, and I make them every day. I’d say that the biggest mistake I’ve made so far has been to focus on too many things at once. I have so many ideas for the business, but we’re a small team, so we really have to be ruthless about prioritizing.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

NB: The three most important attributes for me are intellect, tenacity and attitude. A small business means that we’re thinking about big strategic issues at the same time that we’re packing boxes for shipments. No job is too big or too small for anyone.
 
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

NB: If you have an idea for a business, think about what skills you’d need to make it successful. For example, HelloFlo requires a lot of marketing expertise. I’ve spent my post-MBA career in marketing roles, so I know what needs to be done. You need to know what the core of your business is and focus on it.

It's the age-old dilemma: You're curled up on the couch with some friends for a fun girls night in. With popcorn in hand and blankets galore, there's only one issue- What movie do you watch? I guarentee you that you won't face this problem again once you check out this list of the 30 best chick flicks. Enjoy!

1. The Notebook (2004)

How can you not love this heartwarming, sappy tearjerker? The Notebook is a classic love story that's bound to make you laugh, cry, and wish you had a Noah of your own.

2. Clueless (1995)

Clueless is a classic 90's chick flick. As if we didn't love the 90's enough, Alicia Silverstone is hilarious in this movie. Clueless is a perfect go-to movie for your next girls night in.

3. Mean Girls (2004)

This movie put an entirely new meaning to what it means to be from Africa. Girls quote this movie on the daily. How could you not? The plot is irresistible to make fun of and laugh about.

4. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)

As if Lisa Kudrow isn't funny enough as Pheobe in Friends, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is a hilarious tale of the shenanigans that go on when two high school best friends attend their reunion. It's definitely a must-see and a great way to laugh about your future and what your high school reunion might be like!

5. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

This movie puts a whole new spin on Shakespeare. Set in a modern day high school, this twisted love story is too irresistable to ignore.

6. Miss Congeniality (2000)

Miss Congeniality brought a whole new meaning to kicking butt. How many women do you know who can go undercover as an FBI agent at a pageant? Exactly.

7. Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

As a southerner, I can't help but adore the charm in this movie. Plus, it's fun hearing Reese Witherspoon with a thick accent. What's not to love?

8. The Lucky One (2012)

Zac Efron is all grown up in this romantic chick flick and fate brings him to the woman who kept him going during his time in the war. This movie is romantic and absolutely irresistable. The plot is an interesting twist on a love story, making it different than most romantic movies.

9. The Holiday (2006)

With an awesome cast, The Holiday never fails to disappoint. Two women on opposite sides of the world switch lives (houses and all!) for a few week and the swap results in awesome adventures and even better love interests.

10. Valentine's Day (2010)

Talk about good timing! With Valentine's Day coming up, this is the perfect chick flick for you to convince your man to watch. Valentine's Day follows several awesomely adorable love stories. It's a great movie that's guarenteed to make you swoon.

11.No Strings Attached (2011)

No Strings Attached is a classic tale about what happens when friends with benefits turn into something more. Plus, how can you resist Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman? Talk about a dynamic duo!

12. Friends with Benefits (2011)

Like No Strings Attached, Friends With Benefits is a pretty self-explanatory title. That said, the plot is anything but average. Several adorable scenes make Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake an hilarious romantic comedy team!

13. The Parent Trap (1998)

This might be a twist, but how many guys do you know who love The Parent Trap? Before Lindsay Lohan went crazy, she was an adorable redhead. This movie is a classic and fun for any night in.

14.How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

A magazine lover, I have always loved this movie.  Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are rock stars in this movie. I can quote it from beginning to end, and I’m still not sick of it.

15. Sex and the City (2008)

Sex and the City is a classic chick flick, especially for Big Apple lovers and city-goers like myself. Carrie Bradshaw has been my role model for as long as I can remember and this movie is way too fun to not see.

16. 27 Dresses (2008)

First of all, we all wish we had 27 dresses in our closet. That said, this movie gives the word “bridesmaid” a whole new hilariously horrendous meaning.

17. Gone With the Wind (1939)

"You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how."Swoon.

18. A Walk to Remember (2002)

I bawled like a baby the first time I saw this... and the second time. A Walk to Remember is one of the most romantic movies I have ever seen. This is a must-see.

19. Crazy, Stupid Love (2011)

Crazy, Stupid Love is crazy awesome. First of all, Ryan Gossling is irresistible. With Ryan’s looks and Steve Carell’s humor, this movie is a perfect chick flick for a night in with the girls.

20. He’s Just Not that Into You (2009)

Most of us have either heard this line or have had to say it to a friend. Either way, this movie is a classic and it’s so fun to follow all of the stories from the beginning of relationships to a marriage.

21. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

When Harry Met Sally is a classic friendship-turned-relationship story. It is a must-see flick for everyone.

22. The Ugly Truth (2009)

Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl are hilarious together in this movie about the realities of men’s thoughts on relationships.

23. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Audrey Hepburn is a goddess. If you haven't seen it, this classic chick flick must be on your bucket list.

24. Sixteen Candles (1984)

This movie has all of the flair of a classic love story with a great sense of humor. It’s a perfect chick flick and a great rendition of those awkward teenage years.

25. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

How could you go wrong with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks? This romantic comedy has everything you could possibly ask for.

26. Dirty Dancing (1987)

Patrick Swayze is to die for... and so is the music. Dirty Dancing always guarantees a fun night.

27. Bridesmaids (2011) 

This modern comedy will have you rolling on the floor laughing. Every scene is hilarious and this movie is a definite go-to movie for a girls night in.

28. Pretty Woman (1990)

Julie Roberts’ interesting career makes this movie hilarious and romantic. It’s a must see for every girl. Plus, who doesn’t love a good 90’s movie?

29. Titanic (1997)

Titanic is possibly one of the saddest and most romantic movies of all time. Crawl up with a blanket and a snack to this one, but don’t forget your Kleenex. It’s bound to make you cry.

30. Legally Blonde (2001)

The epitome of a wonderful chick flick. From Elle Wood’s sorority house scene to the video that got her into Harvard, Legally Blonde definitely deserves its spot on this list.

2013 was a huge year for our top celebrity, Miley Cyrus. While her wild antics got Miley attention and a musical comeback, lets hope 2014 brings another transformation. Here are a few resolutions we think she should make!

1. The short hair was fun, but now that everyone is copying her pixie cut, it’s time for Miley to get back to her signature long locks.

2. Put the tongue away and work on smiling for pictures.

3. Wear more clothes. Thank goodness she lives under the L.A. sun and not in the Midwestern snow!

4. Stop licking everything! Miley is bound to catch a cold with all of those germs floating around.

5. Get through one awards show without causing a scene.

6. Do more soulful covers like “Summertime Sadness.” It reminds us how well she can sing!

7. Keep the twerking to a minimum.

8. Find another wholesome hottie like Liam. Better yet, get back together!

9. Do another Nicholas Sparks movie! The Last Song got her a fiancé and a movie career!

10. Make more appropriate music videos.

11. Keep trying to make us understand “the Movement.”

If you’ve ever tried online dating, you know the Internet is full of weirdos. Don’t get us wrong; we’re firm believers in the power of websites like OkCupid to bring great couples together... but let’s be real. For every great date or flirty message exchanged that came from being winked at online, there were a few weird ones to weed through. We spoke to some collegiettes about the worst messages they’ve ever received, and the results were pretty entertaining. Check out the worst of these online pick-up lines, from the mildly uncomfortable to the what-were-they-thinking awful.

12.“Hey Friend, I think we could be friends. Sincerely, Friend P.S. Friendship”– sent to Emily, a senior at Barnard College

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to apply. While I appreciate your interest in my friendship, I am unfortunately not accepting friendship applications at this time. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Kindest regards,
Enemy

P.S. Enmity

11. “I'm sure you have been wondering where I have been all your life. Sorry I got held up rescuing damsels in distress, slaying dragons, freeing captured unicorns and then of course I got turned into a frog there for a bit. So sorry it took this long to get in touch with you. I'll make sure you have the fairest pony in all the kingdom and don't even get me started on the tiara :-) 

ps. you are a princess right?”
 – sent to Kelsey, a sophomore at Ohio State

Only one princess can express our feelings about this message:

10. “Can I get some fashion advice? I've been mixing pastels with plaid lately and I just don't think it bodes well for me anymore.”– sent to Kelly, a junior at Columbia University

Oh, baby, baby. There’s nothing sexier than talking prints. It’s true, though; we’ve heard pastels and plaid are an omen of upcoming rejection.

9. “I just looked into it and it’s not illegal to wear a towel to work.” – sent to Julia, a senior at Barnard College

…we’ll keep this in mind when we get dressed tomorrow, thanks.

8. “I wanna live in your socks so I can be with you every step of the way.”– sent to the author

That just sounds uncomfortable.

7. “Are u interested in a date? THANX”—sent to Elizabeth, a junior at Barnard College

No. UR WELCOME

6. “Hi!! Do you like older men??”– sent to Sarah, a junior at Barnard College

Isn’t there a reason you set an age range on these websites? Whoever said 40 was the new 25 was seriously disturbed.

5. “Hey sexxxXxE. I jus date Azn chicks but Ill make an exceptin 4 u babe ;)” – sent to Danai, a senior at Harvard

WowwWw. Were so flatterd, we cant belive we made the cut

4.“Can you give me directions to your heart? I've seemed to have lost myself in your eyes.” –sent to Rachel, a junior at Columbia University

Yikes. If you’re going to be this cheesy, could you at least use correct grammar?

3. “Ya, just bored. You do seem...ok :) How are you?” – sent to Emily, a senior at Barnard College

BRB, swooning.

2. “are you interested in my trademark massage today? :)”–sent to Rachel, a junior at Columbia University

Nope™

1. “9/10, would pollinate”–sent to the author

We don’t even know where to begin. Is this flattering? Disgusting? Both? Why did we lose a point? Why should we care?

What about you, collegiettes? Have you tried online dating? These messages are pretty priceless, but we bet you have some great ones of your own. Share them in the comments!

The college application process can be a daunting task, especially when it feels like you have too many decisions to make and not enough time to make them. Not only do you have to pick a college, but eventually you have to decide on a major, which you may even change once or twice (or more!) along the way.

Many pre-collegiettes (and even current college students) struggle with picking a major that is considered to be “practical” but also reflects their interests. Money is great, but you don’t want to spend four years taking classes on a subject that bores you to death!  If you know that a business, computer science or nursing degree isn’t for you, check out our list of unique majors that could turn your dream job into a reality.

1. Pop Culture

Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH)

Do you enjoy binge-watching television shows on Netflix or obsessing over celebrities? If so, this major might be a dream come true for you. Students who major in Popular Culture at BGSU study TV, popular music and literature, amusement parks and movies. This degree prepares students to pursue a variety of careers, especially in the fields of journalism, mass media, public relations and advertising. Fun fact: BGSU is the only institution in the nation to have a department of popular culture! Program courses include Introduction to Popular Music, Television as Popular Culture and Youth and Popular Culture.

2. Bakery Science & Management

Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS)

If you’ve ever wanted to open your own bakery or cute little cupcake shop, you might want to consider Kansas State’s Bakery Science & Management program. According to the KSU department website, this major trains students for administrative, research, production and executive positions in the baking industry. You can also choose whether to focus on production management, which is more business-oriented, or cereal chemistry, which involves quality control and research and development. Program courses include Flour and Dough Testing, Basic Nutrition and Principles of Milling.

3. Comedy: Writing and Performance

Humber College (Toronto, ON, Canada)

You’ll have to leave the United States for this degree, but if you’re looking to become the next Louis C.K. or the newest Saturday Night Live cast member, it might just be worth it. Humber College in Canada offers a major in Comedy Writing and Performance, which helps students jump-start their careers in the arts and entertainment industry. Students in this program develop their craft through stand-up, scriptwriting and sketch comedy, and graduates have gone on to work for Second City and Comedy Central. Program courses include Stand-up Comedy, Improvisation and Comedy Script Writing.

4. Costume Technology

DePaul University (Chicago, IL)

Have you ever dreamed of designing for the stage? Look no further than DePaul’s Costume Technology program. The Theatre School’s BFA degree is designed to prepare students for jobs as drapers, fabric cutters and costume shop managers. Graduating design students each get the opportunity to create an exhibit of his or her portfolio, which is then presented in Chicago to artistic directors, alumni and other potential employers. Classes include Drawing for Designers, Technical Production Practice and Principles of Design.

5. Floral Management

Mississippi State University (Oktibbeha County, MS)

Spending your days surrounded by beautiful roses, tulips and daisies and arranging flowers for a living sounds great, right? Besides working for or running your own flower shop, the floral industry offers tons of job opportunities that you may not have considered, such as garden design, wedding and bridal design planning and horticultural therapy. Interested? Check out MSU’s Floral Management program, which allows students to get hands-on experience in sourcing, purchasing, distributing, marketing and designing with floricultural products. Program courses include Interior Design Fundamentals, Permanent Botanical Floral Design and Wedding Floral Design.

6. Adventure Education

Green Mountain College (Poultney, VT) 

Yes, you read that correctly; at Green Mountain College, you can actually get a Bachelor of Science degree in (educational) adventuring. GMC’s program is designed to help trailblazing students develop as leaders and gain the skills necessary to flourish in the educational adventure industry. As part of the program, students learn about outdoor expeditioning by backpacking through the mountains, planning and leading their own outdoor expeditions and spending an “immersion semester” doing activities such as rock climbing, white water kayaking and rock climbing. Program courses include Sailing, Backcountry Cooking and Essentials of Scuba.  

7. Viticulture and Enology

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

For the ultimate wine-lover (or anyone who was inspired by Dennis Quaid’s characters’ Napa Valley vineyard in The Parent Trap), Cornell boasts a program in Viticulture and Enology, where you can learn to master the arts of grape growing and winemaking. Students study the climate and soil of the New York region and can concentrate on either the grape or wine production aspect of the industry. The program’s courses include Grapes to Wines, Wine Microbiology and Sensory Evaluation of Foods.

If you’d rather spend your day working in a bakery than a lab, one of these unusual majors could be for you! Who said college classes couldn’t be fun? 

“A penny saved is a penny earned!” Does anyone really live by this creed? Maybe so, but what does it mean to save a penny? What will a penny get you these days, anyway? A twenty-fifth of a gum ball? A twelve-thousandth of your English 202 anthology of Gothic literature? Sooo not worth it when that amazing camel angora cashmere sweater you’ve had your eye on since before gum balls and English literature were even created finally comes on sale and the last one just so happens to be in your exact size!

Unfortunately, it’s the adoption of this very attitude throughout last semester that has rendered your bank account emptier than your 8 a.m. Monday morning class. You know you should save your college funds for, ya know, college, but it always seems to prove so much easier said than done.

What’s a collegiette to do?

1. Eat in! (Not out)

Eating out is the ultimate luxury. Someone else cooks for you. Someone else does the dishes. You are waited on hand and foot. You can almost forget that you are, in fact, being charged for it all… almost. At the end of your meal comes the inevitable whopper of a bill you racked up after a drink, appetizer, entrée, and dessert, and it’s rarely pretty. Even eating a simple $15 meal just once a week can add up to upwards of $250 by the end of term if you don’t break the habit.

Satisfy your dining urges by organizing a potluck with your friends. Potlucks are a cheap, easy and fun way to bring everyone together. Unless you have a super generous boyfriend who insists on paying for your share every time you go to a restaurant (disclaimer: do not acquire a boyfriend solely for this purpose, cost-reducing as it may be), eating out is outif you want to spend less. And you don’t have to go to the grocery store every day to cook dinner, either. Buy a bunch of chicken breasts and some vegetables, add some PAM and teriyaki sauce, and you can make stir-fries in under 15 minutes any day you want.

2. Buy textbooks used! (Or don’t buy them at all...)

Textbooks are a necessary evil in the grand scheme of your expenses. A new semester means a new set of books, and at great cost. But how many times have you bought a textbook for a class and opened it a grand total of three times, once just to write your name in it? If you know for a fact you’ll be studying extensively from the textbook, buy it used! Most schools’ websites contain classified ads, which provide a great forum for you to link up with other students selling the textbook you need.

It’s also possible to rent textbooks through websites like Textbooks.com, a totally reliable textbook resource that allows you to save more than half of what your textbook costs at the campus book store. Many textbook websites like BookRenter, Neebo,Campus Book Rentals, and College Book Renter sites also offer bundle discounts on rentals of several textbooks or more so the more textbooks you rent, the greater savings you’ll receive. After you’re done with the textbook at semester’s end, you return it to the company free of cost!

Another option is to just not buy the textbook. That may sound like just about the worst advice you’ve ever received regarding your education but talk to any senior and they’ll support the fact that sometimes, the textbook just ain’t necessary. 

3. Locate the ATMs for your bank

Think about an ATM for a moment. It’s kind of like a money pit stop when you’re on the go. But when you stop at an ATM that isn’t for your bank, you’re charged a surcharge of a dollar or two (or even three) merely to dispense a bill. If you’re only taking out $20, stopping at an ATM that isn’t from your bank means you could be paying up to an additional 10% of your withdrawal. Doing this several times a week could add up to several hundred dollars paid in surcharges by the end of one year. 

Do yourself a favor and find out where the ATMs for your bank are. Next time you need to withdraw some cash, take the short detour to your bank’s specific ATM. If you can’t find one within walking distance, head to a convenience store or drugstore before trying another bank—the fees are usually lower. It may feel like the closer ATM is the more convenient choice, but what’s convenient about paying additional hundreds of dollars a year? Think about it.

4. Sign up for rewards from your favorite stores

Sign up for rewards at your favorite dollar-dropping spots like Sephora and Starbucks and save money at places you know you’re sure to spend. If you know you’ll be spending money at a certain place, signing yourself up for rewards will at least lower the toll on your bank account. Sign up for the e-mail list at your favorite places and find out about discounts as they come. “Signing up for rewards at my favorite stores didn’t cause me to spend more- it made me wait for the best deals to shop, instead.” says Courtney Sproul from University of Western Ontario, “It also left me feeling way less guilty at check-out!”

5. Recycle your clothing! (And your friends’ clothing, too)

No red-blooded collegiette can be blamed for embracing the trends of the latest season, but as trends come and go, so too will your funds! This being the case, it may be time to embrace the words of the wise prophet Justin Timberlake when he said, “what goes around comes back around.” Instead of going on a shopping spree at the start of each new season, organize a clothing swap and shop your friends’ closets! Invite a group of stylish girlfriends over and make some strategic item trades to shake up your wardrobe. You can always trade clothes out on loan if you’re not ready to part with them permanently

6. Stop paying for tickets and become an event promoter

No one wants to miss out on the event that anyone who knows anyone will be attending. You know that afterwards, albums upon albums on Facebook will be filled with photos of the event, over which you will cry silent tears to have been absent. But you just can’t work it into your budget to shell out for yet another $60 ticket!

Why not have your cake and eat it too? Contact the organizers of the next huge upcoming event to see what you can do to become a promoter for it. In most cases, you’ll have to sell a large volume of tickets to actually turn a profit, but most event planners will put your name on the guest list if you sell above a totally doable number of tickets. Stop paying, start promoting! On top of free entrance, a spot on the guest list of the hottest event in town certainly doesn’t hurt your street cred, either.

7. Stop studying at the café on the corner

It all starts with a light water, extra foamy vanilla latté. And then you’ve moved on to the double-shot macchiato to keep you energized. And then you supplement all these drinks with a toasted butter croissant and a protein plate. Before you know it you’ve spent $20 in one study sesh and you’re still not done reviewing your notes for tomorrow’s final. A coffee shop may seem like a relaxed oasis to study away from the stressed crowds of students cramming at the library, but it’s also a total cash-suck.

Even if you vow not to purchase more than one drink, there’s an unspoken rule at food and drink establishments of any kind that you “pay your keep,” so to speak. Purchasing a single chai tea when you arrive does not account for the five subsequent hours you spend taking up three of a café’s available ten tables for your laptop, textbook, notebook, empty mugs and mounds of crumpled paper.

8. Embrace the Art of Couponing

Ah, grocery shopping—nary a glamorous task. It’s easy to give in to what’s most convenient and least time-consuming as far as grocery stores go, but you’ll end up spending far more at the local independently-owned grocery store on the corner of your street than the large supermarket that may be a longer walk or bus ride away. Because large supermarkets like Publix, WalMart and A&P buy industrial amounts of stock, they get huge discounts on everything, which means the savings pass down onto you, collegiettes!

Furthermore, few college students realize that you can cut your grocery bill almost in half by simply clipping coupons for savings on your favorite things! As Stephanie Nelson, the “Coupon Mom” says, “Strategic shopping is not about changing the way you eat, it is changing the way you buy the food that you like.” You can find coupons in basically any local newspaper, in flyers at grocery stores and in printable versions online. Even Kourtney Kardashian’s doing it! In an episode of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Khloe introduces Kourtney to the couponing movement and she soon grows obsessed: “This is not just about saving the money. This is all a game. It’s like winning in Las Vegas. It’s so thrilling.” If a Kardashian sister endorses it, that means it’s definitely worthwhile, right? Okay, don’t answer that. But seriously, coupons are your newest best friends! Clip them like they’re free VIP tickets to Lady Gaga. You’ll be saving in no time. 

9. Buy in bulk

There are certain things a girl should never buy in bulk. For example, things with a short expiration date should really be purchased on an as-needed basis; please do not try to cut corners on your expenses by buying two months’ worth of milk. However, there are other things you can totally stock up on in advance, saving you money down the line. Buying the industrial size of anything is always the most cost-effective option if you know you will ultimately make use of it all.

Think bulk when buying things like shampoo and conditioner, bath products, feminine products, moisturizer and paper towels! As for groceries, many processed foods like cereal, ice cream, soda, water and paper goods can also be purchased in bulk. Spending a little more on an initial purchase will lessen your expenditure for months to follow.

10. Shop vintage or thrift

Thrift shopping, beyond saving money, is the best way to pick up statement pieces from bygone decades. Vintage is the chicest way to rarify your wardrobe and set yourself apart from girls who don’t step foot outside the outlet mall. Never again will you show up to a party wearing the same dress as another girl—and you’ll have the added satisfaction of having gotten it for a steal at your local thrift store. “Vintage shopping is my vice,” says Maggie Horikawa, a student at Barnard College. “It’s just an added bonus that sometimes what you want most only costs a couple dollars.” Beyond clothing, thrifting is also a great way to pick up things like picture frames, mugs and teacups, records –things that either don’t show their age or are made better with it!

With these tips in mind, it’s time to get out there and start saving! Get couponing! Get thrifting! Soon enough, you will be saving enough money to make even the Kardashian sisters envious.