As spring semester kicks into full gear, the time we have to spend getting ready in the morning goes from as-long-as-we-want (read: winter break) to roughly a few minutes, and that's being generous. This means our hair rotates between the same few styles—the quintessential top knot, I-woke-up-like-this (literally) waves, the classic ponytail... to name a few. So, we turned to Pinterest to give our creativity a little boost and pulled together seven gorgeous looks that are way easier than they look—and are perfect for any occasion ranging from class to your sorority formal.

1. Braid-ponytail hybrid

It’s a ponytail, it’s a braid... and it’s fabulous! Texture, hair accessories and a little volumizing product make this 'do an easy fix for any outing. Add some lift to your roots with TRESemmé’s Two Extra Hold Hair Spray ($5). Tease your hair gently with a boar brush. Starting at the crown, section off hair to create a side braid. Use Charmsies’s Star Iron-in Hair charms ($12) to add some sparkle. Gather the braid and the rest of the ponytail together with an elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the elastic. Finish with hair spray.

2. Twisted bun

Give your sock bun a rest and take this elevated bun out on the town. Heavy duty hair pins—like the Simple Styles Spin Pin from Goody ($3.79)—are the secret to making this style stay secure all day long. First, curl your hair with your preferred method. Twist your hair as your gather it into a ponytail. Take a section of your ponytail, roll it into a loop and pin it in place. Keep looping and pinning until all of your hair is secure. Spritz with a setting spray and you’re done.

3. Rolled half up-do

For those days when you just feel like getting your hair out of your face, try doing so with unique rolled up-do. Separate your hair into two sections. Twist each section until it starts to roll on itself. Arrange each twist to your liking with bobby pins. Secure the sides of the twist with pins as well. If you have any little hairs sticking out, you can pull them out for a messier look or tuck them back into place. A little shine spray, like One ‘N Only’s Argan Oil Spray ($11.99) will give your 'do a sleek look.

4. Messy mini buns

You’ve got that messy bun look down, no problem. Take it up a notch with not one, but three mini buns for a cute up-do. Separate hair into as many sections as you want buns. Twist the two sections that start at the crown. Wrap them into a bun and loosely pin them into place. Let your hair do its own thing! Wrap the remaining sections into loose buns and secure them the same way. A little spritz of EVA NYC Surfs Up! Texture Spray ($9.99) will give your mini buns a matte finish.

5. Hair bow

A toned-down version of Lady Gaga’s infamous hair bow, this cute hairstyle is great for everyday wear. Grab small sections of hair from both sides. Cross the sections at the back. Tie hair into a bow and secture with bobby pins. Wear the rest of your hair straight, wavy or curled. Mini bobby pins from Conair ($1.89) will help secure your look.

6. Braided updo

Here's a cute ‘do that complements side-swept bangs. Start by giving your roots some major volume. Use Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Spray Mousse ($17.95) on dry hair for added fullness. Pin hair into a pompadour. Split your remaining hair into two sections and braid. Cross the braided sections across your crown, pin into place, and take this look out for the world to see.

7. Bobby pin up-do

Create a simple 'do in an unexpected way! Try Sephora Collection Ombre Bobby Pin Ups ($6) to make even the easiest hairstyle stand out. Simply separate hair into two sections. Cross them over each other. Slide pins over those sections in a triangular formation. Make sure you secure the hair to the crown. And that’s it—you’re done!

Now, all you need to do is take your Pinterest-worthy hair out on the town! Let us know which of these looks you're trying this weekend, collegiettes!

On Friday, the Supreme Court announced that it would take on its first major case concerning gay rights since 2013.

The politics of gay marriage are well politicized, and the topic is an emotionally-charged one that intersects with concerns of legal equality, sexuality, family, adoption, love and religion.

Often, these politics defy traditional party lines, especially for younger Americans. While we typically perceive liberals as the primary same-sex marriage supporters, 61 percent of Republicans under 30 favor same-sex marriage, according to a Pew Research study. This new pro-gay marriage conservative surge has even manifested in a new campaign within the Republican party, titled Reform the Platform. On the other hand, there were ten Democratic senators in 2013 who still did not support marriage equality.

These discordances illuminate how gay marriage, in many ways, is not a simple political or governmental question, but one that is entangled in how Americans perceive their own culture.  

However, within the world of law, emotional and "political" arguments (often shunned by judges) are surely subdued. This is an attempt to ensure legal objectivity. As judges interpret the Constitution and other laws in regards to gay marriage, themes of due process and equal protection clearly emerge. But these values are harder, and take longer, to apply to "newer" political campaigns. Advocates must work through the court systems, and often need to appeal decisions to create legal chance. Precedent is created slowly, and is cited until it becomes a governing judicial practice. Eventually, a case with enormous political and social entropy will arrive in the country's highest federal courts.

The legal debate that surrounds same-sex marriage is more subtle, and infinitely more complex. Like any issue, working through the judicial takes time and delicacy. It also leaves many frustrated by a court system that seems slow to react to social and political change.

This is what makes the Supreme Court's upcoming decision so huge.

In 2013, the justices ruled on both U.S. v. Windsor, determining the Defense Of Marriage Act (a federal law that limited marriage to heterosexual unions) unconstitutional, and Hollingsworth v. Perry, which struck down Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative on the basis of standing (a legal requirement that ultimately meant the decision did not have enormous legal "strength "to protect same-sex marriage rights).

Richard Wolf of U.S. News wrote: "Those rulings, while historic, did not resolve the threshold questions in the debate: whether gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry, or whether states have the right to ban the practice."

At the center of the upcoming case, the result of which should be announced in April, is a question of legal balancing. The Court must weigh the a prohibition of "animus" and what Judge Jeffrey Sutton addresses as a democratic legal right of a state's constituency to uphold a "long-existing, widely held social norm." "Animus," on the other hand, is what Indiana University at Bloomington law professor Steve Sanders calls "a desire to disparage or injure gays out of fear, misunderstanding, or dislike."

So while politics pushes to ideological extremes, often suffocated by homophobia, the country can hope that the Supreme Court will remain close to a more rational center. Even the more "conservative" justices seem cognizant of the arguments from both sides, while the Court's liberal members have consistently delivered opinions along Democratic party lines.

On the subject of Proposition 8, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy has asked, "There are some forty thousand children in California, according to the red brief, that live with same-sex parents, and they want their parents to have full recognition and full status. The voice of those children is important in this case, don’t you think?"

Meanwhile, his peer and Chief Justice John Roberts has commented, in regards to the U.S. v. Windsor case: "You don’t doubt that the lobby supporting the enactment of same sex-marriage laws in different states is politically powerful, do you?… As far as I can tell, political figures are falling over themselves to endorse your side of the case."

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who is often cited as being the Supreme Court's most sardonic and right-leaning member, has questioned: "I’m curious, when—when did—when did it become unconstitutional to exclude homosexual couples from marriage? 1791? 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted?"

Ultimately, whatever the Court's decision, it is one that could potentially eliminate or solidify the 31 state laws that currently ban same-sex marriage. 

An expensive line selling clothes for cheap? Who wouldn’t love that? A lot of people, apparently. When Lilly Pulitzer announced last week that it would be producing a line for Target, many Lilly fans were not pleased. Twitter exploded with angry messages, claiming that this would cheapen the brand, as they worried about its new, increasingly accessible status.

There are a number of problems with the Lilly for Target critics. Firstly, commenters who are worried that it will make the brand “cheap” or less respectable in some way need to consider the sheer number of leading brands and designers that have collaborated with Target in the past. Few would argue that Jason Wu, Zac Posen or Phillip Lim lost credibility after their highly successful Target partnerships. If anything, it increased the public’s awareness of the brands and influenced potential future consumers.

If you really like Lilly, it seems that you’d be happy to see the brand succeed and become more accessible. Reactions like these beg the question: do these people like Lilly for aesthetic reasons, or because owning something expensive makes them feel that they are somehow better than others? Class and style shouldn’t come at a price.

Perhaps we all need to take a moment to remember the brand’s namesake in her own words: “Style isn’t about what you wear, it’s about how you live.” —Lilly Pulitzer

Imagine the following scenario: you notice a small, ingrown hair on your leg and pop it. A day later, the pore where the ingrown hair was looks a little puffy. You notice a slight itch, too. You search the Internet for your symptoms, and in 10 seconds you’re sure you have a staph infection. You play it out in your head: maybe it will turn into a really serious staph infection. Maybe it’s the drug-resistant kind.

Or what about this: you have a slight stomachache that has persisted for a few days. It’s not too painful, but you definitely notice it. A few clicks on WebMD and suddenly you’re positive you have pancreatitis. Or toxic shock syndrome. Or stomach cancer. You start taking your temperature hourly, monitoring what you eat and telling everyone who will listen that you might have something serious and you need to see a doctor right away.

Sound familiar? You might have hypochondriasis, a mental disorder in which a person experiences excessive worry or fear about his or her health. But luckily, there are ways to calm down about your health! We talked to clinical psychologist and Psychology Today blogger Dr. Joni Johnston for the lowdown on health anxiety.

What is it?

Hypochondriasis (often referred to as hypochondria, health phobia or health anxiety) is a mental disorder. “Hypochondriasis is essentially the preoccupation with fears of having or the idea that one has a serious disease based on the person’s misinterpretation of bodily symptoms,” Dr. Johnston says.

Hypochondriacs will often seek diagnoses online, from friends and from doctors, but because this anxious behavior is excessive, reassurance from others will typically do nothing. “Essentially, no matter how many doctors the person visits, no matter how many normal tests, etc., the person continues to suffer from these pervasive thoughts and fears—‘Maybe the doctor missed something, maybe it wasn't the right test, maybe I have some form of rare illness that is hard to diagnose,’” Dr. Johnston says.

But just because you’ve been paranoid about your health a few times doesn’t mean you’re a hypochondriac. We’re all guilty of WebMD-ing our symptoms sometimes, but having hypochondria means you have to fit a few other diagnostic requirements. According to Dr. Johnston, as echoed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for diagnosis, a person must experience this excessive worry for at least six months.

“The main difference between occasional anxiety and hypochondriasis is the duration of the preoccupation, the severity and the interference it causes in other areas of a person's life,” she says.

Occasionally Googling your symptoms and asking friends and family what you should do is normal behavior. However, hypochondriacs will do the same, but then when doctors confirm what they actually have or that they’re healthy, they won’t believe it. “One of the hallmarks of this mental illness is that the fears persist in spite of medical evaluation and reassurance,” Dr. Johnston says.

Emma, a senior at Kenyon College, has experienced hypochondria for as long as she can remember. “I have believed myself to be suffering from anything from tonsillitis to a brain tumor,” she says.  “It's really hard to explain to someone who doesn't experience it themselves, but the best way I can explain it is that even though I know I sound crazy, every time [I think something is wrong, it] is genuinely terrifying.”

Is it related to other forms of anxiety?

Hypochondria is similar to generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder in that hypochondriacs have irrational and often obsessive fears about their body’s health. “In many ways it can be considered a severe form of health anxiety,” Dr. Johnston says.  “The person often [has] pervasive and intrusive thoughts (around health concerns) that she can't seem to shake off.” Like OCD, hypochondria can even have a compulsory feeling. Sufferers may think that they just have to check the Internet or get a doctor’s opinion.

Hypochondria is also comorbid (which means that suffers often have other disorders alongside it) with mental disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, OCD and depression. Additionally, hypochondriacs will sometimes have so much anxiety that the feelings manifest as physical symptoms. Just like some people get stomachaches when they’re nervous, hypochondriacs may develop symptoms such as nausea, stomachache, headache and fatigue simply due to anxiety.

How do you deal with it?

Regardless of if you think you have the mental disorder or if you just experience occasional worrying about your health, there are many techniques you can use to alleviate some of the nerves. However, you should see a doctor first if you think you may struggle with hypochondria.

• Close your Internet browser. Aches or pains? The Internet is the wrong place to go looking for the answer. “Google is full of diagnoses—plenty of them wrong,” Dr. Johnston says. “Enter a symptom—say, stomach pain—and you'll learn you could have anything from appendicitis to esophageal cancer. People, especially those with a predisposition to health anxiety, find themselves a lot more anxious after checking these sites. Do yourself a favor and don't symptom shop on the net.”
• Stick with one doctor. Constantly switching doctors until you’re satisfied with a diagnosis is only going to cause a headache, increasing the likelihood for different diagnoses and unnecessary (and expensive) tests. “Find one who you trust, create a good relationship with him/her and don't make a change,” Dr. Johnston says. “Be open and honest about your concerns and struggles.”
• Don’t self-check. Even if you’re pre-med and convinced you know what you’re doing, avoid constantly checking your temperature, pulse and blood pressure. “Put the at-home medical devices away. Focus on something aside from your body—it's much healthier and more productive,” Dr. Johnston says. Try to distract yourself. Pop in a movie, bake some cookies or do some yoga. Try to remember that the human body is an incredible machine. A random stomachache might actually just be a random stomachache.
• Join a support group. If you find yourself obsessively worrying about your health, seek the support and help of others. “You can swap knowledge and coping strategies, provide reassurance and answer each other's questions. And it helps to know that you're not alone,” Dr. Johnston says. Not into the group therapy? Set up a one-on-one meeting with a counselor at your student counseling center or talk to your doctor.
• Be active. Getting up and out may be the best thing for you even if you just want to lie in bed and use the WebMD iPhone app. “Exercising helps ease stress, depression and anxiety,” Dr. Johnston says. “No need for it to be intense, either; walk the dog, go swimming or do some gardening. Stress makes sufferers feel more anxious, and may also exacerbate symptoms they already have.”

Next time you’re feeling a little nervous about a bump or ache, try out a few of these tips. Remember, distraction is key!

What if nothing helps?

Okay, so you tried all of the tricks above and nothing is helping you relax about the rare disease you’re sure you have. Once a doctor or a psychiatrist diagnoses you with hypochondria, there are options, Dr. Johnston says.

Psychologists agree that a form of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective ways of treating hypochondria. CBT is a short-term therapeutic approach where psychologists will help you change the way you think and the way you act through a goal-oriented, step-by-step process.

Your student counseling center may offer this kind of therapy, or you may have to seek out psychologists in your area. Or, you could even use a CBT online program. “New research suggests that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (check out Online Therapy USER) is as effective and more accessible than face-to-face CBT,” Dr. Johnston says.  

If hypochondria is making you excessively anxious, your psychiatrist may also suggest medication, like an anti-anxiety medication or an antidepressant. This is a decision you and your doctor/psychiatrist will make together. Emma sees a psychologist and takes antidepressants to help her cope with her hypochondria. Others find better options for them. Like all mental disorders, hypochondria may mean different treatments for different people.

If anxiety about your health has got you on edge, know that you’re not alone! Distract yourself, stay off the health websites and chat rooms and seek the support to a professional if you need it. 

Jimmy Fallon plays beer pong against a robot. [YouTube]

Unrealistic beauty standards are mandated pre-rush at this California sorority. [The Huffington Post]

This cop just wants to ‘Shake it Off.’ [People]

Cursing is good for you?! (According to science). [YourTango]

This dog riding the bus couldn’t be cuter. [Newser]

New beauty products to get excited about. [SheFinds]

Why can’t Hollywood get female journalists right? [New York Magazine]

Where the sugar babies live. [The Atlantic]

Celebrity portraits created with emojis. [Business Insider]

This definitely isn’t the Barbie you grew up with. [Elite Daily]

The Oscars are known for being one of the most prestigious awards attributed to people in film. Directors and actors alike know they have “made” it in Hollywood when they are standing on stage, golden trophy in hand, giving their impassioned acceptance speeches. Actors like Denzel Washington and Daniel Day-Lewis have won more than once. And some actors—like poor Leonardo DiCaprio—are often nominated, but have yet to win.

But something was amiss with this year’s Oscar nominations. Not a single person of color was nominated for an Oscar in any of the major acting categories this year. Yep, you read that right. This is the first time the Oscar nominees in all the lead and supporting actor roles have included only white actors since 1998. Not to mention, we didn't see any love for female filmmakers or films with a female protagonist this year, either. It only took 81 years for a female to win best director. That was back in 2008 when Kathryn Bigelow won for The Hurt Locker.

This is especially strange since recent past winners have included black director Steve McQueen, Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and Taiwanese director Ang Lee, who all took home Oscars. People took their outrage to Twitter, sparking the #OscarsSoWhite trend. So who decides on the nominees anyway?

The Academy is the mysterious body of people who act like an electoral college for films. According to The Los Angeles Times, voters are almost exclusively white males. They average 63 years of age: 76 percent are men and 94 percent are white. 94 percent. Only 77.7 percent of people in the US are white. Does that sound like fair representation to you?

In their defense, The Academy is making steps to diversify. The Academy’s first black president is a woman named Cheryl Boone Isaacs. The organization has started to recruit younger voters. It seems like the organization recognizes what changes need to be made. We just wish they wouldn’t have dropped the ball with this year’s nominations.

Films do very well when they embrace diverse characters. There are studies to prove it. It would make sense for The Academy to be more welcoming to films and filmmakers that showcase diversity. Continually giving such a prestigious, well-respected award to the white male protagonist is getting old and frankly, a bit boring. Hollywood can make anyone a hero. It’s about time we celebrate the films that do just that.

A shopping trip can easily turn sour when ill-fitting clothes come into the picture. It's like, as soon as you try on what you think will be the perfect pair of jeans, BOOM, they turn into capris thanks to your long legs. Or when a store only has a dress in sizes 00 and 0, but helllloooo, where are the sizes for the rest of us?! Below, we've rounded up some great websites featuring trend-topping clothes for women of every shape and size.  

If you're petite...
Try: ASOS

Aside from providing both trendsetting and classic pieces, ASOS has a whole section dedicated to our favorite tiny ladies! Add some tights to this adorable Turtleneck Swing Dress ($47.38) and you've got yourself an outfit. 

If you're tall...
Try: Long Tall Sally

A tall girl’s fashion heaven! This website sells its own brand as well as larger sizes for tons of well-known brands like Silver Jeans Co. and Ruby Rocks. We love this Rib Knit Batwing Tunic ($86)—finally, a dress that won't look like a shirt! 

If you're curvy...
Try: Eloquii

From minimalist basics to stylish prints, this site is full of up-to-the-minute trends. Shop work-appropriate dresses that you can wear to your next internship, layerable sweaters to help you live through the rest of winter and chic jackets like this Leopard Baseball Jacket ($138.00).

If you're short...
Try: Gap

When you're on the shorter end, finding jeans that don't need to be hemmed can be the struggle of a lifetime. Look no further than Gap! They offer jeans in sizes 24-35 with the option of a shorter inseam—perf! These vintage-looking 1969 resolution true skinny high-rise jeans ($69.95) can be perfectly customized for any shape and size.

What other brands have you found to suit your body type?

If you recently graduated or you’re still working towards a degree, connecting with your school’s alumni network can be very beneficial to you. Your school’s alumni resources can help keep you in touch with fellow alumni and your alma mater while providing great networking opportunities for the future.  This can make it easier for you to make connections in your particular field, some which may even lead to a job!

It’s important to get a head start on connecting with your alumni network because you’ll stand out from the crowd and increase the potential of connecting with someone who can help you in the long run.  Whether you’re applying for a job or just looking for alumni events to attend, follow this step-by-step guide and you’ll be able to use the power of the alumni network to your advantage in no time!

Make an account online

Making an account on your school’s alumni networking website is the by far the easiest way to receive updates about everything that’s happening in your alumni network.  With a few clicks of your mouse, you’ll be able to create a profile and interact with your classmates and other graduates instantaneously.  Amy Layman, the executive director of alumni relations at Villanova University, says that an alumni website is one of the best ways for collegiettes to stay in touch with their alma maters.

“A website allows us more space for detailed information and serves as the home base for news,” Layman says.

By creating an account online, you’ll be able to stay connected with the alumni office that oversees all alumni activity.  Most online accounts allow graduates to sign up for email alerts, RSVP for events and access career resources that will help you in your job search.  Some even have special offers or discounts, and who doesn’t love that?  Each university varies, so contact your school’s office of alumni relations or visit the office in person to see how you can make the best of their online resources.

Follow alumni accounts on social media

Following alumni accounts on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook can keep you updated on everything from upcoming networking events to the score of the big rivalry basketball game.

Twitter is used to give grads information about events, spread campus news and share updates about alumni on a day-to-day basis.  Facebook is used for the same purpose, but also allows the university to upload pictures from events and lets alumni interact on the Facebook wall.

“We can update alumni on events, breaking news and interesting opportunities more quickly via these platforms than email or other forms of communication,” Layman says. “Following the alumni association on social media provides alumni and students easy access to this info, such as event changes based on weather or last-minute ticket sales for basketball games.”

LinkedInis the best way to connect with fellow graduates when networking or searching for a job.  LinkedIn groups for alumni offer discussion boards, job listings and searches to help find people you went to school with.  These features can help you connect and interact with different members whose experiences may help you in the long run. 

Many universities have subgroups for particular majors that can connect you directly to people in your field.  Villanova has a very active Alumni and Student Mentoring subgroup, so explore LinkedIn and see if there are any groups within the alumni group you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

Join the alumni directory

Your school’s alumni directory is basically the White Pages of your school’s alumni network.  It is a compilation of all of the school’s graduates’ profiles and their contact information online so it’s easily accessible and searchable. You can look up your old classmates, access discussion boards and send emails to other alumni as a way of networking.

“While LinkedIn is a great way to interact and make connections, some alumni will never use social media,” Layman says. An alumni directory provides access to many of these individuals who otherwise would not be reachable on social media.

An important part of interacting with the alumni directory is constantly updating your own information so other alumni can look you up, too.  Most schools offer alumni their own email address, but you should at least include your name, location and field of interest.  You never know who might come across your profile when looking to hire a recent grad, so the more detailed it is, the better!

Attend alumni events

Alumni events are a great place to interact and socialize with fellow graduates of your alma mater.  These events can range from professional networking cocktail hours to pregame barbeques. 

“From a career perspective, any event is a networking event,” Layman says. “Different activities will attract different alumni, from community service events to athletics events to official networking meetings to social meet-ups and more. Alumni from all walks of life—and in various career stages—attend university-sponsored events.”

Whether you want to reconnect with friends or get your name out into the professional world, attending these events can really help you in the long run.  LinkedIn and online networking may be able to help you to an extent, but you never know what you’ll be able to take away from some one-on-one personal interaction!

“A student or young alumna may glean advice from someone just starting in her career or may meet someone in a hiring position or even a CEO,” Layman says. “When people gather around a common interest and share a common experience—in this case, their alma maters—professional connections occur between people who may have otherwise never met.”

Reach out to alumni

The best way to use the alumni network to your advantage is to personally connect with the alumni themselves.  If you reach out in a professional manner, you’ll be able to network with alumni who have the experience and connections to potentially help you with your job search. 

“From online resources to in-person connections at events, there so many ways for graduates to connect with each other, with university officials and with their alma maters,” Layman says.

Layman’s biggest advice? “Don't be shy,” she says.  “When I meet individually with young people, especially students, they are often hesitant to reach out to older graduates. I often hear, ‘I don't want to bother them’ or ‘I sent them an email but haven't heard anything.’ Two words: follow up. Alumni are crazy busy—[they have] work, families, community life and more. They are inundated with email and other pulls on their time. But I hear time and time from alumni that they want to help our students.”

By reaching out personally, you’ll stand out from the rest of the students or recent grads.  One email to a graduate of your school might land you an interview, or, better yet, a job!

There are so many different ways you can get involved with your school’s alumni network.  By connecting with graduates, you’ll have an advantage in your career or job search.  Don’t be too shy to reach out to alumni for connections.  You both went to the same school, so there’s bound to be some school spirit you both have that may just help you out!

With Valentine's Day in the not-so-distant future, you may already be planning the perfect Valentine’s Day look. We've put together a list of three perfect hairstyles (and how to recreate them!) for those looking to try something new for the biggest date night of the year. Check them out below!

The side fishtail braid

The fishtail braid is beautiful, versatile and easy to do. Here’s how to get the look!

1. Gather your hair onto one side and brush it through so that there are no tangles or knots.

2. Separate your hair into two sections.

3. Take a small section of hair from the back of one section and bring it over to the front of the opposite section.

4. Then, repeat this alternating the side that you are taking the hair from until you reach the bottom of your hair.

5. Tie the bottom with an elastic.

6. For a more casual look, slightly pull the sides of the braid to loosen it.

7. When you’re done, to avoid frizz, give it a quick spray with a hairspray such as Drybar's Money Maker Flexible Hold Hairspray ($25).

Sultry beach waves

A soft yet sultry look. Here’s how to achieve it!

1. The night before Valentine’s Day, separate your hair into two sections.

2. Create two classic braids and sleep in this hairstyle. If you have just showered, the waves will be even better.

3. The next day, undo your two braids and redo your hair into one braid; this will keep the hair wavy, but by reconfiguring the direction of the strands, it'll look more natural by the end of the day.

4. When you are getting ready, undo your braid and spray in product such as TRESemmé's Smooth & Silky No Frizz Shine Spray ($3.99) and run your hands through your hair to loosen the waves.

Pin straight high ponytail

A classic, sexy, no-fuss hairstyle. Here’s how to get this look!

1. Spray a heat protectant such as Alterna's Anti Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray ($25) onto dry hair.

2. With a straightening iron, straighten your hair completely.

3. Comb a small amount of hair gel, like the Clean Hold Styling Gel ($16) from Kiehl's, through the top portion of your hair.

4. Flip your hair overhead and run your hands through it, collecting it into a ponytail; fasten it tightly.

5. Spray an extra holding spray such as Nick Chavez's Volumizing Extra Hold Hairspray ($23) over your hair to avoid any frizz.

Whether you're having a casual day out or a romantic dinner for two, these hairstyles will suit any Valentine's Day event!

Editor’s note: The use of both male and female pronouns throughout this piece represents the author’s stylistic choice. When writing about the transgender community, it is ideal to use a person’s current pronouns, and not pronouns referring to that person’s birth sex.

We were laying in bed one afternoon—post-coitus—my head on his chest as he ran his fingers through my hair. The blissful moment was unceremoniously interrupted when my boyfriend said to me abruptly, "I have to tell you something."

Immediately, my stomach dropped. I started to run through everything I knew about him, digging through the depths of my mind to figure out what his big secret was. He's a male, straight women's studies PhD student. Yeah. Yeah. My dream guy. And rare. Like not-chipping-your-nail-polish-during-the-first-week rare (or is that just me?). Avoiding-everyone-you-know-at-the-grocery-store-when-you-look-like-shit rare. Or, well, male-straight-women's-studies-PhD-student rare. And not only was he smart and successful (not to brag, but he has a prestigious fellowship from the best program in the country), he was also handsome, sweet, funny, and of course, a feminist. So, I guess it shouldn't have come as a huge surprise to me when my Mr. Perfect had to tell me something.

"What is it?" I asked, not knowing that I was really prepared to hear the answer.

"I want you to guess," he told me.

Guess? Was this some sort of game to him? Some kind of cruel game? He wanted me to guess, so he didn't have to tell me. It had to be something bad. Really bad.

I began running through details in my head once again. He was 25, three years my senior. I met him when he was the teacher's assistant for my women's studies class. He introduced himself by citing a love for "Arrested Development" and chicken tikka masala. He was my favorite kind of charming: nerdy and a little socially awkward, but still adorable. 

So naturally, I assessed his sexuality. Well, can you blame me? A tall, skinny, socially awkward male women's studies PhD student. You can't say it wouldn't cross your mind. Either way, I came back with the assessment of "straight" after a series of flirtatious interactions—including one where I went to his office hours to discuss the readings for the next class (riiiiiiight)—and his style was a little… clueless? But now, in bed together months later, my mind drifted back to that initial insecurity.

"Are you, um, bisexual?" I asked. As a godless, feminist liberal (and proud!), I'm totally cool with bisexuality. But how did I feel about my boyfriend being bisexual? Was I cool with it when it was a part of my own relationship? I didn't find out. Because no, he said, he was straight.

My mind again returned to the progression of our relationship. After weeks of mutual flirtation and a revelatory Valentine's Day, he stopped being my TA, and I stopped having to just fantasize about him. He told his mom that I "hunted him down like a wild animal" (mildly accurate), and I told him that I had found the only male, straight women's studies PhD student in existence, and he was delusional if he thought I was ever going to let him go.

His dissertation and research focused on fetishism. Kinky, right? Then he told me about the paper he recently wrote about bodily release fetishes. You know—sneezing, vomiting and the like. So, not the Cosmo kind of kinky (Use furry pink handcuffs! Use his tie as a blindfold! Leave the light on tonight!). My next question followed this line of thinking.

"Do you have some kind of fetish I don't know about?"

"Yes. Well, yes."

When she started transitioning, there was no question in my mind that we would stay together. I loved her, regardless of her gender. I reasoned that it wasn’t as if she was becoming a different person; just a different gender. And I knew she needed me there. Every single, small interaction was now a struggle. She worried about passing, meaning she worried that others would be able to tell she was transgender. Her voice. Her Adam’s apple. Her height. I got hushed, frantic phone calls from the Panera parking lot where she sat, frozen in her car, terrified to go in and order a sandwich. I was angry that we lived in a society where she was forced to have this fear. I comforted her, told her she was beautiful, and hung up.

To build her confidence, she became active on social media, cultivating an online presence that she had never cared about before. She became an advocate for transgender rights, and I was proud. It felt amazing to have her on my arm. She was first prize, and I was the winner.

It felt like her transition was something we did together. I chose her name. I picked out her clothes. I did her make up and her hair. I joked that she was my life-size Barbie doll. In the beginning, I was constantly nervous that I would slip up and use the wrong pronouns, and using the wrong pronouns with someone who is transitioning his or her gender is a deeply hurtful thing to do. Slowly, I truly saw her as my girlfriend—even without her wig or breast forms or make-up—and it was natural. Our sex life oddly didn’t change much. Our dirty talk did. She liked to feel pretty. She liked to feel delicate. And she liked to pretend she had a vagina. But it was the same naked body I was used to, so it didn’t feel like such a big change. Mentally, maybe, but not physically.

So, I was dating a woman. This meant wolf whistles when we kissed on a street corner and lying about her gender to my elderly grandmother. During part of her relationship, I was a teacher at a high school in Florida. One day, she called me when I was helping out at a speech and debate meeting. One of my students asked who was calling. I lied.

It feels terrible to lie about someone you love. It felt dirty. It felt wrong. But I wasn’t ready to come out at work, especially at a school in a state where you can be fired for being gay (fun fact: there are still 29 states where you can be fired for being gay and 32 states where you can be fired for being transgender. America!). This caused tension in our relationship. She thought I was ashamed of her; I assured her that wasn’t the case. I was being honest, but it wasn’t good enough.

When I graduated from college, logistics were not on our side. After fruitless months of job searching in Atlanta, where she lives, I ended up taking a position in Washington, D.C. Our relationship had been far from squeaky clean before this point—she was still close with her ex-girlfriend and had repeatedly lied to me about the nature of their relationship over the course of ours. There were trust issues. She gave me an ultimatum: either we lived in the same city, or we were engaged. That wasn’t going to work. This move to Washington was the final nail in the coffin.

She was supportive at first, but I knew she didn’t like the idea of living apart with no definitive end date. I drew up scenarios of her moving to the District with me, but I could tell she wasn’t into it, which made me feel like I wasn’t a priority to her. I realized she wasn’t the same person I had met in my women’s studies class. She liked the newfound attention she got from online admirers. She didn’t support me. She held me back. She was selfish. And maybe she had to be. After all, she never before had experienced being a young woman. She needed to focus on herself. It was hard to feel like I had helped her through such a difficult part of her transition—telling her employers, telling her devout Mormon family, coming out to her friends—and then was dumped when she had enough confidence to go on without me. I’d spent more than a year putting her first, and it was time to be my own number one. Though the break-up was nasty, I learned a lot from our relationship: about the transgender community and about my own sexuality. I’ve become a more open-minded person, and I’m grateful for that.

Now, I’m in an amazing relationship with a straight, male feminist (no women’s studies PhD, but hey, nobody’s perfect). The greatest difference is that I’ve found someone who loves me unconditionally and wants the best for me, and I couldn’t be happier.

For more information about the transgender community, visit the National Center for Transgender Equality or GLAAD.

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

The New Year brings new resolutions, one of the most popular being to start frequenting the gym again. How hard can it be to make it to the gym every single day, work out as hard as you can and look cute while doing it? A lot harder than you remember. If you're like us, your gym-going expectations don't always match up with reality.

Expectation

You're going to wear cute neon lululemon from head to toe and strut right into the gym.

Reality

You end up crawling there in a grimy T-shirt and your brother's old basketball shorts.

Expectation

You're going to run five miles on the treadmill and then maybe three more.

Reality

You do 15 minutes on the elliptical, one sit-up and a burpee, and then you order delivery on your way out.

Expectation

Today is the day you're going to find the love of your life, and you're almost positive he'll be weight-training.

Reality

You only spot one cute guy, and he doesn’t even glance your way.

Expectation

You're not going to sweat; you're going to ~*~glisten~*~

Reality

You're soaking wet and really regretting wearing a gray T-shirt.

Expectation

You're going to go to the gym at least five times a week.

Reality

Walking to class counts as exercise, right?

Expectation

You're going to hit up the gym with friends who motivate you to keep going.

Reality

You hit up the gym with friends who convince you to leave halfway through to get nachos.

Expectation

No makeup needed; your all-natural workout glow is beautiful as is.

Reality

*Walks by a mirror* “Is that a troll?”

Expectation

You're going to listen to a kickass playlist to motivate you.

Reality

You forgot to charge your iPod, so you're forced to watch the news on the TV two machines away.

Expectation

“Phew, that was a strenuous workout. I must've burned about 1,000 calories.”

Reality

Treadmill: 124 calories burned

“...Damn.”

“Dear Pre-collegiette,

Congratulations! On behalf of Awesome University…”

Phew! You can breathe a sigh of relief, because you’re in. Now that you’ve gotten that acceptance letter, your future is safe, and you can finally take a break from school for the first time in 14 years. Bring on the Nutella and Friends marathons. #blessed

Not so fast. We hate to break it to you, pre-collegiettes, but after a little celebratory R&R, you need to get off the couch and back to your desk. Even though you’ve already secured a spot in college, your school can still take back your acceptance if you start slacking.

Here’s the truth about rescinded college acceptances and how you can fight senioritis to make sure your acceptance letter isn’t followed by a warning one.

Having your admission revoked

Unlike the myth that Greek life is one big toga party or that everyone gains the Freshman 15, having your college acceptance revoked before you even arrive due to poor second-semester grades (or other factors!) can actually happen.

Does this mean if your A in AP Spanish slips to a B that you can say hasta la vista to college? Definitely not. However, if you slip more than one or two full letter grades, that’s when colleges start taking notice.  

“If you’re an A student, a D or an F could certainly do it,” says Bev Taylor, founder of The Ivy Coach, a college admissions counseling practice. “If you got some Cs, the college would probably just ask you to explain your grades and see if you had a valid reason for their drop.”

Why is your school allowed to revoke your acceptance? Well, if you look at your acceptance letter, Taylor says you’ll likely notice there’s a clause making your acceptance “conditional upon the successful completion of the final year of high school.” Your letter may have that exact phrasing, or it may say something like, “It is our expectation that you remain fully engaged in your studies and other pursuits for the remainder of your secondary school career.”

According to Taylor, that means you have to maintain the image of yourself that you presented in your application, whether you had a 4.0 or a 2.5.

So if you have minor grade slips? Not an issue.

“If you’re a B student and you have a C or two Cs, the same thing goes [as when A students get Bs],” Taylor says. “[The school] would probably never ask you about it.”

Collegiette Allison* says her C- in BC Calculus did not cause her school to revoke her acceptance.

“I got accepted off the waitlist for an Ivy League school, despite [my math grade],” she says. “Because I had maintained good grades in my other classes, and it had been pretty clear from my application that I was in no way going to end up as a math major, my school let it slide.”

However, it doesn’t matter if you’re an A, B or C student or what field you’re interested in. Taylor says in almost any scenario, an F could cause a school to revoke a student’s acceptance.

It’s not just receiving poor grades that can lead to a revoked acceptance. Dropping a course or switching to a less rigorous one—for example, deciding to move from AP Art History to pottery your second semester—is also considered a violation of the “successful senior year completion” clause, Taylor says. Changing one class most likely won’t end with a college revoking your acceptance; however, if you were to drop all of your AP classes for joke electives, that’s a different story!

“After I got in to my school, I decided I didn’t want to stay in my AP Econ and AP Computer Science courses,” says collegiette Kelsey*. “I transferred to basic classes that still fulfilled my high school’s requirements. Then, my college sent me a letter asking me to explain why I wasn’t taking the same courses [with which] I had started the year.”

Taylor says there are two types of letters you can receive for slacking off. The first, in which the admissions team says it has noted your drop in grades or class changes and would like an explanation, is the most common. The second, in which your acceptance is revoked with no warning, is pretty rare and usually reserved for non-grade-related infractions, like getting caught cheating or being arrested.

How to respond

If you get a warning letter, it shouldn’t come as a shock that you should take immediate action to bring up your grades. Talk to your teachers, schedule an appointment with your counselor and establish a study and homework plan—basically, do everything in your power to return your GPA to its former state.

Taylor says you should also reply to the college. Maybe something happened in your personal life that makes your grade change a little more understandable, such as a family illness or death. In those cases, explain what happened, apologize for your lapse and say you’re working to improve your grades.

For example, you could write:

Dear Awesome University,

Thank you for your recent letter inquiring into my grades. Those grades are not an accurate reflection of my work ethic, and I apologize. They have slipped due to circumstances I could not have expected or prepared for. In late December, my mother fell ill, and coping with her illness has made it difficult for me to concentrate on my schoolwork. I am doing my best to raise my grades and want to reassure you that I maintain the commitment to excellence that I had when I applied to your school.

Thank you for your understanding,

Pre-collegiette

However, you might not have mitigating circumstances to point to. While “senioritis” isn’t a valid excuse, you should send a letter to your school acknowledging your missteps and promising to rectify the situation.

It might go without saying, but once you’ve told the school you’re working on bringing up your grades, it’s essential that you actually, you know, work to bring up your grades.

How to stay focused

When it comes to staying focused during your last semester of high school, Taylor recommends keeping your eye on the prize.

“You’ve worked all these years to get into the college of your dreams, and now you’re going to give that all up by stopping before the finish line?” she says. “That makes no sense.”

Remind yourself what you’re (still) working for by printing out a picture of your future campus and pinning it on your bulletin board, wearing your college colors to school or setting your college’s fight song as your ringtone. Seriously, nothing is too corny if it motivates you.

Jaya Powell, a senior at Duke University, recommends trying to stay interested in your courses so you don’t feel like you’re doing busywork.

“I loved reading, so my senior year I took an AP lit class,” she says. “Because I was so interested in the course material, I had no trouble keeping up with my grades.”

You may also want to ask yourself why you’ve worked for good grades in the first place. Was it really just to get into college, or was it because you care about learning and making yourself proud?

“One thing that keeps me going is constantly asking myself, ‘What do you live for? Why do you care?’” pre-collegiette Angela Phung says. “It's a good reminder that my ultimate goal isn't college; it's to get to college to improve and grow more.”

You can also use your membership in honors clubs to keep your focus up. If membership is based on GPA, letting your grades drop means you might not be able to get that special cord or walk with the other students in honors club on graduation day.

“I'm a second-semester senior that has worked so hard over the past four years, and no matter how much I want to, I'm to going to throw all of that away to go to a few more parties and watch a little more Netflix,” says pre-collegiette Nina Brown. “There's only five more months, and it's not worth it to end my last semester of high school with bad grades.”

While it’s hard to keep chugging along after you know you have a twin XL bed ready and waiting for you on your future college campus, keep your motivation going strong by remembering that that twin XL isn’t quite yours yet. If you keep your grades up, you’ll have no reason to fear that letter asking you to explain or worse, gulp, saying your acceptance has been rescinded.

So finish strong, pre-collegiettes! You’ll be collegiettes soon.

*Names have been changed.

From wearing all of your favorite boots and scarves to playing in the snow, there are so many reasons to love winter. Unfortunately, the chilly weather and dry air during the winter months can also cause a plethora of health issues and worsen preexisting ones.

Common winter ailments can range from minor problems, such as dry skin, to more major issues, like vitamin deficiencies and asthma attacks. Here are some common health problems you might be facing this winter and how to solve them!

1. Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because most people get it naturally from the sun. Unfortunately, spending more time indoors during the winter may mean you’re not getting this vitamin naturally like you do during warmer months.

Deborah Cochran, a registered nurse at The Good News Clinics in Gainesville, Georgia, says that vitamin D deficiency is extremely common in the winter. “We’re always indoors, and there’s fluorescent lights, so we don’t have the natural light needed for our bodies to produce vitamin D,” Cochran says.

Vitamin D helps with a bunch of different functions of your body, but mainly it helps bones absorb calcium. Being severely deficient in this vitamin could mean your bones may become brittle and misshapen, which could lead to osteoporosis or stress fractures.

It’s recommended that adults get 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D a day. Your body needs about 20 minutes outside without sunscreen a day in order to produce sufficient amounts of this vitamin, Cochran says. You can also get vitamin D from food; a typical low-fat yogurt contains about 20 percent of your daily needs, and a glass of fortified nonfat milk contains about 25 percent of this daily value

If you’ve been feeling symptoms such as fatigue and lack of energy and think you may be deficient in vitamin D, talk to your doctor. He or she may recommend taking a vitamin supplement or increasing your consumption of foods that are rich in vitamin D.

2. Eczema and dry skin

When the weather turns cold and dry, your skin can turn dry along with it. Cochran recommends moisturizing by using natural substances such as almond oil, coconut oil or vitamin E in an oil form. Using oils that your body can absorb naturally will help keep skin moisturized throughout the winter, she says.

Dry, irritated skin is common in the winter, but there could be another underlying cause. If your skin seems flaky, red or more irritated than normal, you may have eczema. Eczema consists of red, dry, itchy patches that can show up anywhere on your skin. The exact cause of eczema isn’t known, but it’s thought to be your body’s immune system reacting to an irritant, resulting in the dry patches.

Eczema may look unattractive, but it isn’t contagious. If you think you have eczema, visit your doctor and he or she can prescribe a topical cream or medication to help clear the rash up.

Cochran says hydration is key to keeping dry skin and eczema at bay. “If you drink enough fluids, then you usually don’t have that dry, cracked skin,” she says.

Whether you’re suffering from a condition like eczema or simply have dry skin, there are a few easy things you can do to help alleviate the problem. Avoid irritants, like scented lotions, detergents and soaps, and consider switching to products made for sensitive skin, like Cetaphil products.

3. SAD (seasonal affective disorder)

It’s normal to feel sad every now and then, but if you’re feeling more than the “winter blues,” you may have SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. So what’s the difference between being sad and having SAD?

The American Psychological Association defines SAD as symptoms of depression that arise seasonally, usually during the colder months of fall and winter. The symptoms are similar to that of depression: feeling anxious, moody or withdrawn, and experiencing severe changes in behavior. SAD is thought to be linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by the drop in sunlight that occurs during the shorter days of winter.

If you’re having any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek help immediately. Many schools offer counseling as part of their student health services, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of this and call your school’s health services to set up an appointment.

4. Asthma

Finding motivation to exercise in the winter is difficult enough, but worrying about asthma can make this even tougher. While cold weather doesn’t cause asthma, cold, dry air can exacerbate asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing, coughing or chest pain.

“I was hospitalized once from an asthma attack I got while walking to class in the winter,” says Alexa Phillips, a University of Delaware graduate. “It gets a lot worse in the cold, and it was so bad by the time I got to class that an ambulance had to be called.”

If you have exercise-induced asthma, try to avoid vigorous exercise outside during chilly temperatures. Serious asthma attacks can be potentially life-threatening, so carry your inhaler with you at all times if you have asthma, and immediately stop exercising if you begin feeling the symptoms of an asthma attack.

5. Circulation problems

If you’ve ever forgotten to wear gloves on your walk to class or gone for a run when it’s just a little too chilly out, you may have noticed your fingers and toes turning a little white from the cold.

While white fingertips and tingling can arise from simply spending too long in the cold, Raynaud’s disease can also cause these problems. Raynaud’s disease is extremely poor circulation caused by the narrowing of small arteries. Sufferers of this disease may notice their fingers, toes or other extremities turning white and tingling in cold temperatures or when they’re stressed.

Women are more likely to have this disease, and genetics likely play a factor as well, so if your mom or another close relative has it, you may too. In most cases, Raynaud’s isn’t serious and is more of a minor annoyance. If you think you may have this, check with your doctor.

However, there is a simple solution for protecting yourself against the cold in winter months. “Just layering is important; making sure you have enough layers on when you go outside,” Cochran says.

6. Constant sickness

Every collegiette knows that when cold weather hits, you can expect there to be a lot more sniffling and sneezing around the dorm and in class.  It seems like in the winter, it’s almost impossible to avoid getting sick, but you can take a few preventative measures to lessen your chances of getting illnesses like the common cold.

“Contact is how things are spread, so the basic thing is always hand-washing,” Cochran says. “Just plain soap and water; nothing fancy.”

Cold weather also means flu season, so make sure you get your flu shot! Many schools offer it at the student health center, and pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS also offer the flu shot, often with no appointment needed. The flu can get serious pretty quickly, so it’s important to get immunized if you haven’t done so already.

To avoid falling ill with a cold or another virus, you can take the basic preventative steps: wash your hands, make sure you’re eating right and exercising and try not to spend too much time around people who might be sick.

Whether you’re suffering from a serious health condition or a minor annoyance, winter weather can be frustrating to deal with. Make sure you take care of yourself to avoid falling ill, and if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or your school’s health center!

This week we have a super classy and extremely easy manicure for our Alpha Phi ladies! We'll be doing a fun twist on the classic french mani that's perfect for winter—and can be done with any number of color combinations, so you can replicate it with non-sorority shades, too!

Alpha Phi's colors are silver and bordeaux, a deep wine, so I used Wet N' Wild Wild Shine in Metallica 468 ($1.49) and Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in Flirt ($3). You'll also need striping tape ($1.51); or, Scotch tape works just as well.

Paint each nail with the wine polish. Make sure your nails dry completely so that the tape in the upcoming step doesn't pull off any polish.

Next, apply striping tape horizontally to the upper area of each nail, like below.

Using the silver polish, paint the tips of your nails, making sure you don't get any color below the tape.

Let the polish dry for no more than a minute, then remove the striping tape. Waiting too long causes the polish to become sticky which increases the chance of smearing.

And there you have it—a beautiful wintery mani that's perfect for every Alpha Phi girl!

How do you feel about this twist on the french mani, collegiettes?

Strong morals, perfect hair—what more could you want from a Disney protagonist? While we love Belle’s intelligence and Jasmine’s sense of adventure, there’s something about Mulan that sets her apart from the other Disney princesses. Unlike a lot of female characters in older Disney movies, Mulan demonstrates some pure badass talent. We could all learn a lesson or two from Disney’s fiercest warrior princess!

1. She’ll do anything to protect her loved ones

She takes her father’s place in the war, passes as a man, undergoes hard physical training and defeats the Huns… yeah, it’s safe to say she’ll do anything to protect her family.

2. She rejects outdated traditions – without being rude

Mulan isn’t afraid to stand up for herself when it comes to her role in society, but she’s sure not to offend her family and community in the process. It can be easy to oppose what others think, but it takes class to express your opposing opinion without offending others.

3. Three words: strong eyebrow game

She gives Cara Delevingne a run for her money.

4. She stands up for what she believes in – at any cost

Mulan has strong morals and sticks to them no matter what – even if the whole country disagrees.

5. She defies common gender roles

While she does have gorgeous straight hair and perfect eyebrows like the other single women in her community, Mulan’s priorities lie elsewhere. She dedicates her time to learning, helping others and doing what she’s most interested in, even if it’s not what’s expected of her.

6. She’s outspoken

It’s one thing to defy society, but it’s a whole lot harder to speak up about it. Mulan isn’t afraid to voice her opinion, even when she knows it’s not a popular one.

7. She rocks a middle part

And, let’s be honest, that’s not easy to do.

8. She never gives up

Even when she’s told she can’t replace her father in the war, she does it. Even when the physical training seems impossible, she conquers it. Even when the Huns seem unbeatable, she thinks ahead and defeats them. And even when it seems her whole country is against what she stands for, she sticks up for herself.

9. She stands up for women who don’t fit into traditional female stereotypes

It’s one thing to reject traditional roles yourself, but it’s another thing to stand up for others in the same position. Mulan isn’t afraid to stick up for the women who value things that don’t necessarily go along with traditional views.

10. She doesn’t need a man

Unlike many protagonists in Disney movies, Mulan’s mission isn’t to get the prince. On the contrary, her goal is to protect her family and save China – the guy is just a plus!

11. She has a great singing voice

Don’t even try to deny it—you know you sang along every time.

12. She makes friends, even in difficult situations

Though her fellow warriors weren’t exactly welcoming at the beginning of Mulan’s training, she overcame their harsh words and actions and befriended them. She shows that being the bigger person can often pay off.

13. She keeps things in perspective

It’s one thing to save the whole country of China, but it’s another to do so and stay humble. Mulan keeps things in perspective and always knows what is most important to her.

Needless to say, we need Disney to pump out some more badass female role models like Mulan. Not only can she rock the middle part, but she can fight a war and change the minds of China while she’s at it. If that’s not badass, we don’t know what is.

College application season is coming to a close, which means you can (almost) breathe a sigh of relief. To take your mind off the not-so-fun part of waiting for acceptance letters, we’re skipping right to the fun part: Planning out everything you’ll need to bring to college.

But where do you even begin? From your wardrobe to your room, we’ve got you covered. Her Campus and Admittedly have partnered up with Dormify, Royal Native and LNA to help you upgrade your high school style to collegiette chic! Score a $1,000 gift card to shop at Dormify where you’ll find tons of must-haves for a super-fashionable room, from the cutest bedding to delightfully whimsical décor that’ll make your dorm room Pinterest-worthy. Spend hours lusting over everything on the site, or shop selections by theme, if you already know your aesthetic. Since we can’t send you off without a closet makeover, you’ll also win a $200 shopping spree to Royal Native, where you’ll shop one-of-a-kind dresses, jewelry, bags and more in vibrant, hand-blocked prints. We’re also setting you up with tons of basics from LNA, a line that was born from the idea of creating a perfect t-shirt (and they seriously nailed it).

Set the last of your college applications aside for a moment, because you won’t want to miss out on this incredible giveaway: Enter below now for your chance to win everything you need to survive college next fall! 

From an author that’s been deemed by London’s Daily Telegraph as “the new J.K. Rowling” comes a fictional series we can’t wait to read more of. To celebrate the paperback release of Half Bad and the upcoming release of its sequel Half Wild on March 24 (we’re counting down the days), we’re giving away a copy of the first book, plus a minimalist-chic backpack!

Written by Sally Green, Half Bad follows the life of 16-year-old Nathan, a witch who lives in modern-day England. But he’s not your typical witch—born from parents of differing sides (his mother, now dead, was a white witch, and his father, a black witch), he doesn’t quite belong anywhere. His father, who is part of the evil side, has him locked up, and Nathan needs to find a way to get out before he turns 17, the age when witches come into their own—otherwise he will die. Escaping proves to be a difficult task though; it’s hard to know whom he can trust, even when it comes to his family and the girl he loves. Half Wild continues Nathan’s story as he’s being hunted by both sides, and they’ve shown that they’ll stop at nothing to capture him—and destroy his father.

Enter now below to find out what happens in Half Bad—and you’ll also win a carry-all backpack in black or white!

Does the memory of midterms warm your heart? Has the word “undergrad” caused you to shed a nostalgic tear or two? If the answer is yes, you could have a case of the Post-College Blues, a very real condition affecting many new grads. But no need to despair! We'll show you the 10 most common symptoms of this hardly fatal ailment and send you skipping down the road to recovery.

Symptom #1: Sleep deprivation

Forced to rise when the sun does, you somehow still buy into the “just one more episode” lie. Inevitably, that one episode will turn into 2 a.m., and you can no longer employ the “stop, drop, and snooze whenever” method of the past. Admit it: it's time to leave the late nights for the weekend.

The cure: Set an earlier bedtime and a Netflix limit for yourself, especially during the week.

Symptom #2: Age avoidance

Having been surrounded by peers for years, you feel a strong inclination to avoid “the office grandma.” You couldn’t possibly have anything to talk about, and you probably know more than she does anyway, right? Wrong. This person could prove to be a valuable mentor and and one rockin’ woman.

The cure: Ignore the wrinkles and forge some new friendships.

Symptom #3: Cravings for comfort

Gone are the days of wearing sweats around the dorms and leggings around campus. Now is the time to familiarize yourself with the office dress code, and while you’re at it, you might want to stock up on clothes that are both comfortable and socially acceptable when you’re out running errands on the weekends. When you’re at home by yourself, though…

The cure: Invest in some real-people clothing.

Symptom #4: Crazy commutes

Your emotions range from frustration and anger to downright insanity, all upon entering a car. Yes, it was sweet and magical when you didn’t have to worry about gas, a lengthy commute, bad drivers in bad traffic… but no worries, there’s no reason to let these frustrations ruin your ride. Just take a deep breath and try not to let road rage get the better of you.

The cure: Audiobooks, podcasts and music can (safely) spice up the monotony.

Symptom #5: A lack of learning

Remember back in the day when you actually felt pretty smart? Face it: You miss going to school. But those days of wisdom don’t have to be behind you! We live at a time where education is literally at our fingertips, and often at no cost to you! From taking evening classes to picking up new hobbies, younever have to stop learning.

The cure: Sign up for some free courses through educational platforms like Coursera and iTunes, or browse Netflix’s extensive collection of documentaries.

Symptom #6: Reminiscing about roomies

They may have eaten your food, wrecked your apartment and stolen your crushes, but you secretly miss those girls. You ended up being best friends, and you could really use a giant group hug right about now. Thanks to technology, that hug is practically within reach—you’re only a FaceTime call away.

The cure: Make a conscious effort tokeep in touch with your friends after graduation.

Symptom #7: Nutrition deficiency

For the last four (or more) years, you were willing to eat anything that was quick, easy and inexpensive. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and you're still stuffing fast food and ramen in your face at alarming speeds. It’s probably time to rethink your food routine. Salad, anyone?

The cure: Start small and focus on incorporating more fresh foods.

Symptom #8: Awkward encounters

First name, brief hug, done. It sure was easier when most of the people you associated with were your own age. Now you're constantly wondering whether to drop the Ms. or to keep it. Do you stick with a handshake, or wield a high five? Adulthood should've come with instructions...

The cure: Go with your gut and always aim for courtesy.

Symptom #9: Social media obsession

Oooh, his hair… but what is he wearing?! You still give in to the marathon stalking sessions, but you have a lingering suspicion that you're wasting your life away. It's probably time to update your social-media habits and think about adding a more serious platform. Prepare to be both connected AND profesh.

The cure: Sign up for a LinkedIn account or update your current one.

Symptom #10: Backpack blues

You could fit your world in there when needed, and you still catch yourself trying to do so. As cute as some book bags may be, there is a time and a place for them, and that time usually ends with a diploma in hand.

The cure: Invest in an oversized, durable handbag to fashionably tote your necessities around.

The world may not have changed much since you flipped that tassel, but your place in it certainly did. The trick is to have fun during the transition by staying in touch with the friends you made and keeping in mind the wisdom you gained and the lessons you learned. Now go get ‘em, grad!

Name: Sara Alter
Job Title and Description: Founder & Chief Polish Officer at Pretty Please Nail Polish
College Name/Major: University of Delaware/Apparel Design
Website: www.prettypleasenailpolish.com
Twitter Handle: @prettypleasegal 
Instagram Handle: @prettypleasegal

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

Sara Alter: I am the founder and Chief Polish Officer of Pretty Please Nail Polish. With Pretty Please, you pick a nail polish shade you love and name it yourself (yes, YOU name it!). As the head of a small business, my day involves doing many jobs, all at once. In a given day I take on the role of a CEO, an accountant, a customer service rep, a business development strategist and everything in between.

There is no such thing as a typical day. Depending on the time of year (holidays, wedding season, etc.) some days have more focus on outreach (i.e. social media, public relations and marketing) where other days are more focused on behind the scenes work (i.e., picking polish colors, ordering inventory and website maintenance).

What is the best part of your job?

SA: Being able to put all of my time and effort into a company that I love. When you have a vision and you make it come to life, it doesn’t feel like work. Also, making my own hours (although they are long hours!) is great!
 
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

SA: After graduation I got an entry-level marketing and public relations job in Maryland, where I grew up. At the time, I wanted to use my education and interest in fashion to open up a clothing boutique, but I also knew I needed to learn how to promote a brand first. I started by asking family and friends whom they knew in the PR industry. If you can get an introduction, take it!

My parents suggested that I meet with a woman who ran the PR department of a bigger advertising and marketing agency, just to get some advice about the industry and next steps. I reached out to set up a meeting and by the end of our breakfast she agreed to hire me as an entry-level PR assistant. It was a foot in the door and I took it!

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

SA: If I had to choose one thing (I can’t choose “everything,” right?), I would say I wish I had thought more about the potential for competitor growth in the nail polish industry. When I started Pretty Please, Essie and OPI were the two big names in nail polish. Fast forward 10 months and everyone from pop stars to clothing brands started carrying their own nail polish lines. Even if you are the only business in a particular space today, you can never assume it will stay that way. Competition can turn up overnight and you want to be prepared with a plan so that your brand can stay relevant amidst a growing and changing industry.

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

SA: My mom. I grew up watching a strong, independent woman, and that made all the difference. She earned two masters degrees, one while working full-time and raising a young child. She worked hard to fulfill her professional goals, showing me by example that anything is possible. When I came up with the idea for Pretty Please, she was the first person to tell me to follow my dream and has supported me in every way since day one. A strong role model, whoever that may be, is a powerful asset. I wouldn’t be the same person without her.
 
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

SA: I love the quote by Robert Frost, “The best way out is always through.” When challenges arise, your first instinct might be to put it off, place blame or avoid the situation. I say don’t delay the inevitable. You have to grab the polish by the wand, take responsibility and push through. If you’re lucky, you’ll walk away with a great story, an invaluable lesson and the confidence that you can handle anything.

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

SA: Hands down my biggest start-up mistake was signing on to work with inexperienced web developers. Through a friend, I found a couple who were starting to work on websites as a side business. They were enthusiastic, believed in my brand and most important, they were cheap. I thought I had hit a home run.

As we continued to work together, I realized that they were in way over their heads. Months behind schedule, thousands of dollars down the drain and with little to nothing to show for it, I had to find someone new to come in and basically start from scratch. From this experience I had two big takeaways:

First, prioritize what is most important to your brand and put your money there. As an online retailer my website is crucial to the well-being and success of my company. I should have allocated my money here but in trying to be savvy, I made the mistake of skimping where I shouldn’t have, and my business suffered.

Second, referrals are helpful when making a hire, but a positive reference shouldn’t be the only factor. Interview more than one person for a position to get different perspectives and to see what each person can bring to the table. You can even learn more about what you need from an interviewee. I was impulsive and excited to get my idea in motion when I should have taken the time to meet with more people and get a better understanding of the scope of work and the commitment (timeline and otherwise) that my web developers would bring to the table.

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

SA: After two and a half years of running the business out of my New York City apartment, Pretty Please was growing to the point where I needed to take the next step and start working with a fulfillment center. Looking around my empty office after all the inventory had been picked up was such a surreal moment. I was nervous to lose the control, sad to see the first chapter of the business come to a close, but also thrilled to have a great team behind me and excited for all that was yet to come. It was a milestone. A surreal milestone.
 
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

SA: I look for smart, detail oriented, inquisitive problem solvers. I want to work with people who speak up, make suggestions and want to add real value. I find that people who ask thoughtful questions are usually the most engaged, excited and interested in the brand (not just a job), and that goes a long way with me. 

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

SA: If you want to be an entrepreneur, surround yourself with other entrepreneurs. They have been in the trenches, and only there can you fully learn and understand what it takes to run your own business.

Having an awesome idea and a profitable business are two very different things, and any entrepreneur knows that. Your family and friends will be there to cheer you on, but building a network of like-minded, knowledgeable and experienced small business owners will be priceless.