The aches and pains of intern life. [Ed2010]

Harvard's Twitter is getting in on the Pokemon Go action. [The Huffington Post]

The story of Gabby Douglas' second Olympic attempt. [The New York Times]

Should you wear makeup to the beach? [Vogue]

What people want to change about you, according to your zodiac sign. [Thought Catalog]

If "The Bachelorette" contestants were Pokemon. [BuzzFeed]

The expensive legacy of a failed Olympics bid. [Chicago Tribune]

Dunkin' Donuts power ranking. [Lucky Peach]

Kylie Jenner is not a crier. [allure]

What do mass killers have in common? [New York Magazine]

In the words of Ms. Carrie Bradshaw, “I like my money where I can see it—hanging in my closet.”

Oh… don’t we all Carrie, don’t we all… but as graduettes, there comes a time where we must put on our big girl pants and learn to take care of business. With real world jobs and responsibilities comes the grown-up stuff we wish we didn’t have to worry about—including taking control of our finances. Sure, the “b” word (“budgeting”) has crossed our mind a few times, but it always seems so difficult and tedious, and something that should be happening in the future. If you’re like most twentysomethings you may not even know where to start, let alone successfully manage your finances. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with these five money lessons.

1. Close your account at “Bank of Mom and Dad”

During college, many of you weren’t able to completely support yourselves. Whether you had an entire expense account to blow, or had grocery money tossed to you every now and then, it was nice having parents who loved you, cared about you, and supported you… even when you were away at college. However, becoming dependent on this safety net is often what keeps many collegiettes, and graduettes, from being able to succeed and thrive financially on their own.

Utilizing your parent’s resources every once and a while when the going gets tough is okay, but if you find that you’re consistently short on rent, bills, or in a perpetual state of “broke and fabulous,” you may want to reconsider how you are managing your money. By slowly weaning yourself off the financial cushion provided by your parents, you’ll gain the ability to become an independent and responsible adult.

Rather than relying on your parent's financial account entirely, try using them as a source of financial advice and knowledge. Find out how they saved in the past, what mistakes they may have made, and what you can do to assure you can have a financially stable future.

2. Start saving RIGHT. NOW.

One of the hardest lifestyle changes that take place in your twenties is learning that saving is not only smart, but necessary, when learning to manage your money correctly. As new members of the “Real World Club” with a new job, salary, and apartment, we find ourselves in a constant state of movement—and always seem to be reaching for more instant gratification. It’s difficult to save and put money away for later years, especially when we really want that new cherry red convertible, wardrobe, or even something as small as the designer bag you saw at the mall the other day.

We get it; saving money is HARD. In the past, working menial jobs throughout college with such little income made it hard just to afford Taco Tuesday night. Yet now, with a degree and full-time job, there’s no more room for excuses.

As we enter our after-college lives, the concept of saving is something we often put off. We think, “I’ll start next year,” or “after this paycheck” or the next… or the next… But the longer you wait, the more we’ll regret it in the future. As painful as it is to save now, it’ll be even more painful to look back ten years later and wish you started today. We’re not only talking about saving for a rainy day… we’re talking about the big picture.

According to Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, President of Charles Schwab Foundation, “The sooner you start saving and investing, the easier it is on your budget… the sooner you start the less you have to save because you have time on your side.”

In other words, the money you save and invest today will be worth so much more 10, 20, and 30 years from now thanks to compounding interest; no matter how little the amount may initially seem. On the other hand, if you wait to start saving 10 or 20 years down the road, the money saved will have less time to gain interest, meaning you’ll ultimately end up with less, even if you're saving more each month. Experts from Forbes.com suggest saving at least ten percent of your income annually in your 20s in order to properly prepare for retirement.

Sure, it would be nice to actually spend our entire hard-earned paycheck month after month, but in reality, what you come to learn in your twenties is that saving may not be as overrated as it seems. So take our advice. Start saving. Start early. Start now. 

3. What in the world is a credit score? And how can I get one?

In college, we were taught everything from political theories to chemical formulas—most of which we’ll never use again. Through all the lectures and exams, you’d think we’d have at least learn more about this whole credit score thing.

According to Investopedia.com, a credit score is defined as a number that reflects an individual’s '"credit worthiness” and is used by financial lenders and institutions in order to see how likely a person is to pay back his or her debt. This number is calculated to be anywhere from 300 to 850. The higher the number, the better the score.

As you may know, a bad credit score can keep you from doing a lot of great things in life such as buying a car or a house. Without a good credit score, lenders have a hard time trusting you enough to lend you money, or to let you open a credit account. So if you need good credit in order to even get approved to start building good credit, how in the world are you ever supposed to start in the first place? Fortunately, you’re not the first to ask this question, and there are a lot of experts and resources that can help you answer this and many others.

A great place to begin is at your local bank. Speak with an advisor about opening your first line of credit. Every card is different, so be sure you know the benefits and drawbacks (for example, whether there are any fees, and what the interest rates are), and what you need to do to get approved.  If you’re unable to get approved on your own, you may be able to work out other options.

Try looking into a credit card that specifically caters to college students or recent grads, such as Discover It or Capital One’s Journey Student Credit Card. These cards often offer perks and benefits that are specifically helpful for twenty-somethings. These perks can include point redemption on items you spend the most on such as gas or restaurants. This can be particularly helpful for building credit because many find it helpful to use these cards specifically for the rewards categories only. If you’re worried about falling into debt, or overusing your card, try using a card with gas rewards exclusively at gas stations. This can also help for budgeting purposes as you’ll be able to see exactly how much you spend on gas each and every month. Just be sure to only spend what you can pay back. Pay regularly, pay on time, and you’ll be on the right track. Be sure to do your research and you’ll be one step closer to a better credit score in no time.

4. Organize, budget, and take control

Figuring out things such as income, bills, expenses, and taxes can all seem pretty overwhelming at first. Where do you even start? Whether you have one bank account or two, two lines of credit or six, what’s important is that you are able to organize everything into one place. Mint is a great app that not only helps you organize your finances, but budget and take control of them as well. With Mint, you’re able to see all your accounts in one place; you'll see how much money is coming in and how much is going out, so it's easy to get a glance at what you're spending on. At the end of each period, you are able to see a snapshot of your overall wealth and debt. Additionally, Mint will give you a free credit score every month provided by Equifax. Although there may be multiple methods of managing this information, the important part is that you find a method that works for you and that you are able to stick with it.

Start by penciling out a plan. A standard way many people go about organizing finances is giving “every dollar a job.” As we talked about earlier, you’ll need to start saving for retirement and your “rainy day emergency fund” as soon as you start having income. That gives at least 15 to 20 percent of your income the job of providing security.

Next, you’ll need to budget expenses. This includes everything from rent, utilities, food, car payments, student loan payments, and other bills. While this will typically vary for each individual, be sure that you adjust your budget and planning to your own needs. Although you may have been able to afford going to dinner and a movie every weekend while living at home, now that you’re in the real world, lifestyle changes may need to be made in order to live within your means and for you to achieve your financial goals.

5. Differentiate between wants and needs

Understanding the difference between wants and needs may seem pretty basic, but believe it or not, this is probably one of the most difficult lessons we have to learn in our twenties. Self-indulgence and self-control are at a constant battle in the real world. It’s almost as if each and every item just shouts at you saying, “HEY! You deserve me! You need me!” #thestruggle. But as much as you think you need a new dress for your hot date this weekend, in reality, it wouldn’t kill you to just wear your go-to LBD.

On the other hand, legitimate needs such as doctor appointments and car maintenance often tend to get put on the back burner because they are such large expenses, and putting down that much at once might feel excessive, no matter how necessary. At the end of day, as much as you may hate to admit it, these are the actual needs that your income should be spent on. Sure, it’s okay to treat yourself from time to time, but there’s a big difference between buying a nice new pair of shoes that make you look like a million bucks and buying a pair of shoes that cost nearly a million bucks. Just like anything else, moderation is key.

Agreed, we all need to treat ourselves from time to time whether it be dinner with friends, or a mani-pedi just to relax for a bit, but be sure that these “needs” still correlate and are added within your budget. If you feel there is something you just can’t live without, be sure you know that while your money is going towards one thing, it is being taken from another. If you stick to your budget and savings plan you’ll see that in order to get what you want, you need to make sacrifices. If that means taking a trip to the secondhand store for work clothes, or seeing a early matinee movie instead, that’s okay. It may seem difficult now, but if you gain a grasp of it all now, it’ll be that much easier to achieve your financial goals in the future.

Managing your finances after graduation can be quite a struggle but just like anything else, these things take time and patience. It won’t be easy at first, and there may be a lot of trial and error, but if you start now you’ll be thanking yourself years down the line. Do your research, spend wisely, and stay organized; you’ll have your finances under control in no time.

The commencement ceremonies have ended, the celebrations have come and gone and it's finally time to face reality: college life is over. Even though it's summertime and you shouldn't have a care in the world, you do. In fact, you have a whole list of worries. Mostly surrounding the fact that you actually have to become a functioning member of society and are slowly realizing you have no idea how. Welcome to the 25 struggles you'll have the summer after you graduate college.

1. Crying a little every time you realize you're no longer a college student

What do you mean college is over?

2. Seeing all the upcoming seniors complain that they have so little time left

You have NO idea.

3. Moving out of your place and being forced to relive your most precious college moments

*Sobbing* And there's the table where we ate pizza every Saturday at 3 a.m.

4. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms from your roommates a week after you leave

Can we just live together forever?

5. Finding a job

Can I just not?

6. Buying a new wardrobe for that job

Bye-bye crop tops, hello button-downs.

7. Trying to figure out what "adults" wear out

Am I allowed to show my midriff anymore?

8. Trying to figure out how "adults" act

So, did you see the evening news last night?

9. Deciding where you want to live

Maybe somewhere I don't have to live in a cardboard box?

10. Finding a new roommate(s)

Looking for non-psychos.

11. Splitting costs of everything with those roommates

Venmo for days.

12. Making new friends

Please like me.

13. Realizing you'll never find drinks as cheap as they were in college

Do you have anything for less than $5?

14. Figuring out what a 401K is

Please tell me why I have to worry about retirement right now.

15. Setting up a savings plan

This is going to take some practice.

16. Trying to learn about all the necessary life skills they never taught you in college

Did I miss the lesson on how to fill out a W-2?

17. Paying for actually everything

Yay, I got paid! And...there it goes.

18. Dying a little inside every time you look at your student loans

Remind me again why I have to pay all this?

19. Slowly losing the ability to party as often as you used to

I need more sleep.

20. Getting a hangover basically every time you drink...

This never used to happen.

21. ...then taking a full day to recover

My rallying abilities have seriously declined.

22. Realizing you can't skip work like you skipped class

I just can't today.

23. Being forced to be productive every weekday

This 9-5 thing is getting kind of old.

24. Being separated from people who have been in your life for years

Why does this have to happen?

25. Pretending you actually have this whole adulting thing figured out

I have no clue what I'm doing.

UPDATE: Here's what Taylor Swift has to say about all the drama.

Happy National Snake day, everybody. As Kardashians do, Kim Kardashian has made it a memorable one.

We knew something was about to go DOWN when Kim took to Twitter today with a ~shady~ message, and given her vows to shut down anybody trying to tear hubby Kanye West down, we just had a feeling we knew who she was referring to. And damn, did she just deliver the ULTIMATE CLAP BACK.

When rumors first emerged that Taylor had known about—and even approved of—those controversial lyrics in "Famous," they were pretty hard to believe. With Taylor's team denying that any such approval call took place, and the singer's entire squad rallying against Kanye, it was hard to imagine Tay giving the okay on lyrics suggesting she and Kanye "might still have sex," and that he "made that bitch famous." Even when Kim revealed the phone call had been recorded, we had our doubts—if there was hard evidence of the call, why wouldn't Kanye release it and settle the drama once and for all?

As we know, Kim has had enough of Taylor, and she took matters into her own hands when she released the very telling video on her Snapchat. In it, Kanye reads lyrics from the song to Taylor while she's on speakerphone, to which Taylor replies, "I mean, it's like a compliment, kinda!" He then goes on to explain, "What I give a fuck about is you as a person, and as a friend. I want things that make you feel good—I don't wanna do rap that makes people feel bad." Taylor then says, "Go with whatever line works better." During the call, Taylor also emphasizes that she appreciates Kanye calling her about the song. "That's really nice," she is heard saying.

But no, the craziness doesn't end there. She then went on to say, practically word for word, what Kim claimed in GQ.

"If people ask me about it, I think it would be great for me to be like, 'They called me and told me about the line before it came out. Joke's on you guys, we're fine,'" she says. "You guys want to call this a feud, you want to call this throwing shade but right before this song comes out I'm going to be on the Grammy red carpet and I'm going to be like, 'He called me!'" This is badddddd.

Omg. OMG. What is even happening right now? Taylor hasn't weighed in yet—but we're waiting on the edges of our seats to hear what she has to say about this. In the meantime, our heads are spinning.

We at HC are looking forward to yet another year of dorm life! Sure, the showers might become scalding hot when someone flushes the toilet, but college is the only time when you get to live in the same building with all of your friends, and that makes it all worth it. And even the dingiest dorm room can look so much better with some creativity and a few basic craft supplies. Whether it's your first semester in college or the beginning of your senior year, these DIY ideas are sure to spruce up your room! 

1. Flower lights

These adorable flower lights are perfect for spicing up a string of Christmas tree lights. All you need are a few colored cupcake liners and scissors. Cut the cupcake liners into flower and leaf shapes with a hole in the middle of each, and then tape or glue them to the back of the light.  

2. Clothesline picture holders

You're not limited to photos! Hang up notes, cards, movie ticket stubs, and other paper memories to create an eclectic yet super easy display for your room! 

3. Washi tape pinboard

If you haven't discovered washi tape yet, you've been missing out. It's colorful, it comes in a bunch of fun patterns, and it's easily removable. Use it to decorate your wall, mirrors, windows, or this adorable pin board! 

4. Mini corkboards

Don't have room for a large corkboard? Buy or cut smaller shapes for a cute yet equally effective pinboard. 

5. Cookie tray magnet board

No need to buy an expensive magnetic board! Grab a fun, colored cookie tray from the local supermarket and stick it on the wall with a few poster stickers. Then, decorate it with a variety of adorable magnets.

6. Cheese grater earring holder

An affordable, easy way to keep your earrings from tangling: spray paint a cheese grater and hot glue large beads to the bottom for feet!

7. Chalkboard table

Spice up a thrifted table with some chalkboard paint. Use it to jot down your creative whims, phone numbers, to-do lists, or doodles! 

8. T-shirt doormat

This one takes a little more time, a plain plastic or rubber doormat, and five to eight T-shirts, but the result is a cozy rug! Cut the shirts up into strips and hot glue the strips into rows on the doormat.

9. Braided laundry basket

Another idea involving old T-shirts, but this one has a more complicated braiding pattern.

10. Colorful floor cushions

Cut strips of colorful fabric and sew them onto two large fabric cricles, then stitch and fill them to make giant, comfy floor cushions.

11. Pillowcase laundry bag

Attach an embroidery hoop to a nice pillowcase for a really easy, always-open laundry bag.

12. Brick bookends

Need bookends? Spray-paint a brick with gold, then decorate it with trims of lace or other fabric for a glamorous, feminine touch.

13. Mason jar supplies holder

A really easy supplies holder: take a vintage wooden picture frame and hammer nails into the top at equal intervals. Then, dangle mason jars with some twine to hold paintbrushes, scissors, and writing utensils. Can we say hipster?

14. Toothbrush holders

You can buy StickOnPods, or you can simply attach a plastic toothbrush travel case to the wall with glue or removable wall stick-ons. 

15. Can organizer

Add fun scrapbook paper to a few different sized cans for an easy, unique, and functional supplies organizer!

16. Shoebox charging strip

Keep those power cords from getting tangled in a neat little box. You'll need a ribbon box and a power strip.

You guys, we don't know who to believe now. Kim Kardashian doled out some major realness to Taylor Swift over Snapchat today, publishing a series of clips showing Kanye's call with Taylor, where the singer is heard loud and clear approving the lyrics that she and Kanye "might still have sex," going as far as to call it a "compliment."

Yep—all this, after a rep for Taylor once told GQ, “Kanye did not call for approval, but to ask Taylor to release his single ‘Famous’ on her Twitter account. She declined and cautioned him about releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message.” 

Well, shit has undeniably been stirred up, and Taylor just took to Instagram to respond to the insanity. Yes, the recording of the call looks reallllll bad for Taylor, but she's still sticking by her story—most of it, anyway. 

We're left wondering what the whole truth is—or was this all just a misunderstanding? In her call with Kanye, Taylor told him, "You gotta tell the story the way that it happened to you and the way you experienced it. Like you obviously didn't know who I was before that"—which sounds like it *could* be a response to the line, "I made that bitch famous." But she's right—mention of that line isn't on the recording, and probably because it actually wasn't discussed. And a previous statement from Taylor's team actually lines up (emphasis ours):

“Taylor does not hold anything against Kim Kardashian as she recognizes the pressure Kim must be under and that she is only repeating what she has been told by Kanye West. However, that does not change the fact that much of what Kim is saying is incorrect. Kanye West and Taylor only spoke once on the phone while she was on vacation with her family in January of 2016 and they have never spoken since. Taylor has never denied that conversation took place. It was on that phone call that Kanye West also asked her to release the song on her Twitter account, which she declined to do. Kanye West never told Taylor he was going to use the term ‘that bitch’ in referencing her. A song cannot be approved if it was never heard. Kanye West never played the song for Taylor Swift. Taylor heard it for the first time when everyone else did and was humiliated. Kim Kardashian's claim that Taylor and her team were aware of being recorded is not true, and Taylor cannot understand why Kanye West, and now Kim Kardashian, will not just leave her alone.”

What's next? Bring on the shitstorm. We are READY.

Name: Stevie Benanty
Age: 26
Job Title and Description: Founder of a conversation, a global community that showcases the lifestyles and tastes of creatives and professionals through storytelling
College Name/Major: The George Washington University 2011, BA in Psychology/Minor in Writing
Website:www.aconversation.com
Twitter Handle:@aconversationxo
Instagram Handle:@aconversationxo / @sbenanty 

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

Stevie Benanty: Because I just launched this new lifestyle platform, I wear all hats around the company. I do work with a web developer to keep my website looking great as well as with a designer who illustrates all of the avatars and icons you see around the site. I handle all outreach to prospective features (people we want to interview for the site); I am the content creator as I comb through the interviews for tidbits that we can create posts about (this ranges from researching and choosing hotels, restaurants, shops, and more); I am also the editor-in-chief as I write and rewrite content for the site. I also handle all of the digital marketing and social media for the website.

There is no typical day for me—yet! But my goal every day is to be as organized as possible and always stay ahead of my deadlines—that way I am never rushed and always prepared for any surprises or issues that might arise. On any given day, I am writing and scheduling content posts on the website, I am filling out content calendars or social media calendars. I might be reading all of the fun interviews and spend hours finding the best hotel that fits with the feature. I get to learn about things I would be learning about in my free time!

My job is very creative and I am fully on my own schedule. I purposely set up the website with all of the newest technologies so I can be organized about my time and schedule content and social media ahead of time—this allows me to take a few hours off for personal time or to work at night if I want to. I have found that it creates an environment where there’s rarely a fire drill. I can always concentrate on what’s next instead of catching up on what needs to happen now.

Why did you start a conversation?

SB: I started a conversation for a few reasons. The first reason is that I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and work for myself. My father always worked for himself, and I came to appreciate a strong work-life balance and being in charge of my own schedule. I am at my most creative and effective when I can take breaks to concentrate on other things or work on other projects. I knew having my business be all digital would allow me to have control of my life. I’ve always liked to travel and running a business that allows me to work from anywhere—as long as I have internet—was important. I don’t have to give up one passion for another passion. This all works in harmony.

My inspiration for a conversation came from me wanting a place to combine everything I personally enjoy: travel, food, fashion, music, business, etc. I wanted a place where I could write and recommend all of the wonderful things I’ve been able to experience. I also wanted to add in the component of featuring interviews (or “conversations”) with people so that the site would have a lot of different opinions and contexts. My goal was to feature people who I find really interesting—and who are building or working for really cool businesses—so we can all get a deeper look at how we shape our lives. Learning about the world is so much more interesting when you’re hearing it through a personal story or anecdote. Learning why someone really loves a specific restaurant—maybe someone got engaged at this particular place—gives us better insight.

What is the best part of your job?

SB: Talking to and connecting with people from all over the world. I’m able to get into the minds of really passionate people, and it inspires me all the time. It makes me happy to see and hear how hard people work at what they love to do. It makes me work harder.

The other best part is seeing everything that I have in my head come to life—from the people we feature to the designs on the website. Translating it from idea to reality makes me super excited and feel very accomplished.

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

SB: I’m still learning all the time but the biggest one is that things take time. Success is not overnight. You have to plan out the best route to get to where you want to be so you can hit each milestone thoroughly.

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

SB: I worked for a few really bad bosses out of college—even though I loved the jobs I was doing, it’s not worth it to work for people who don’t have good morals. You never want bad behavior to rub off on you.

What do you look for when hiring people?

SB: Passion, passion, passion. People who want to learn more and be better speaks miles to me. If someone is constantly striving to be more knowledgeable and be a better worker, that’s so impressive. And on a basic level, trust. Especially if you’re launching a new company or start up, trusting employees and co-workers is a top priority. I want to create a team, where we all work together.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

SB: If you’re going to do it right, do it right the first time. My grandmother always told me that, even if it was about doing chores or homework. It’s so true, to this day. Take the time to figure it out and do it as well as possible, and you won’t waste time fixing mistakes.

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

SB: Opportunities are everywhere, and learn to trust your gut. You can learn something from every situation—good or bad, you just must be open to it. Being an entrepreneur is about always coming up with a solution. There are so many times when Plan A doesn’t work, so just come up with Plan B and keep going. If you can move your project forward a little bit at a time, that’s called progress. And also that learning what you like in your career—working with solid people, flexible hours, new technologies, whatever—is just as important as learning what you don’t like. It’s the same as in a relationship—we learn the traits we like in people and also need to learn the traits we won’t put up with in order to find a good match. People should treat their lives and careers with that principle.

A good email mantra to abide by is: never send something in an email that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the paper. It’s short, sweet and pretty self-explanatory. 

Still, there’s a lot to consider before hitting send on a work email, like the internal anxiety attack and threatening nausea that the mere thought commands, for example. To help with that, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you perfect your email etiquette.  

1. Choose your email address wisely

Fact: true embarrassment lies in your first email address. Marketing manager, Kari Beaulieu, confesses, “My email address in high school was bubblychick860@yahoo.com.” Sadly, she says, “I still get emails from college-aged professionals who are using email addresses just like this.” Her advice: “If you’re interacting with a potential employer, use your school email address or create a Gmail account that’s as plain as possible—think just your first and last name. If that’s not available, try changing the order or throwing in your middle name.”

Your email address is more than likely the first thing your recipient reads, especially if this is a first-time interaction. Think of your email address in this situation as your interview suit: there’s no doubt that you’d want to make a memorable and professional first impression at a job interview, so you—of course—dress the part. Make sure your email address does the same. Besides, using the format that Beaulieu suggests gives you the added bonus of ensuring that your recipient knows your name right away—and that’s a major key.   

2. Create a concise subject line

Most professionals, if not all, decide whether or not an email is worth their time based on the subject line alone. That’s because most people already spend way too much time checking their email. The Huffington Post reports that the amount of time we spend checking email per week is actually equivalent to the number of hours it would take us to binge-watch the entire first season of Orange is the New Black (really, which would you rather do?).

5. Be courteous

Avoid excessive or aggressive punctuation, like exclamation points. These can be misinterpreted in an email because the recipient cannot see your facial expressions or body language, and they cannot hear your intended tone of voice. The same goes for typing in all caps.

Jodi Adler, author of How Dare You? Helpful Hints for Staying Sane in an Insane World, adds that in an email, “snark and sarcasm often lose their meaning, so unless you know a coworker well, leave the snark for happy hour.”

6. Be respectful of others’ time

You know all those sayings about time—how it’s fleeting and waits for no one, blah blah blah (time is obviously very obnoxious and a little self-indulgent)? Well, they’re true. So keep emails brief and to the point since most people receive dozens of them daily. A long, unorganized email is likely to be deleted without ever having been read.

Also, be mindful of other commitments your recipient may have when requesting urgent responses. It’s best to give them 48 hours to respond before following up if the situation is urgent; a week if it is not. Lastly, it is your responsibility to express gratitude for your recipient’s time and to respond to them in just as timely a manner. 

7. Pay attention to grammar and spelling

Relationship and etiquette expert, April Masini, says, “The attention you pay to an email translates to the attention you’ll pay to a relationship, whether it’s career-related or personal.”

Make sure you spell check—multiple times if it's an especially important email. Masini’s golden rule is: “If you’re sloppy with your spelling, you’re going to be sloppy elsewhere in life.” She also warns against emojis and text lingo: “Use words. It shows your ability to communicate.”

8. Don’t send emails while you're angry or emotional

“Just. Don’t,” says Janet Kornblum, a media training coach. “We’ve all done it: sent that ranting email. It felt great to get it off your chest. And then you thought about it or it came back to bite you.” Instead, she says, “If you need to write it, do it but don’t fill in the recipient line, lest you send it accidentally—angry emails only beget angrier responses.”

It’s kind of like that episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians when Kourtney’s therapist suggested that she compose her not-so-pleasant emails and text messages to ex-beau, Scott Disick, without actually sending them, as some type of cathartic release. Except, Kim accidentally sent one and ruined everything. Don’t be Kim.

9. Minimize calls to action

One email should have one call to action, that is, one request you are making of the recipient. CEO and Publicist, Erika Taylor Montgomery, says it’s important to make it clear if you need information from the recipient. “Because they can’t see you or read your body language, it’s important to try to reduce misunderstandings. Try ending the email by reiterating the question and a time by which you need a response, like ‘Can you please send me those details by Wednesday at 3 p.m.?’” Specifying a deadline, if applicable, will help your colleague prioritize their time—and is more likely to get you a timely response without the need to follow up regularly.

Unless necessary, avoid asking for too much per email; details may get lost and it can be overwhelming to see five different requests in an email.

Related: How To Write The Perfect Networking Email

11. CC with care

Marketing and social media expert, R.E. Beck, shares this memorable tidbit about copying others in an email, and we agree: “Remember the ‘three-way calling attack’ scene in Mean Girls? It applies to office email, too. Say you're having an email discussion with a coworker, and after a few messages you think it makes sense to loop in your boss. Before you add your boss' email to the CC line, give your coworker a chance to veto the idea. She was having a conversation with you—don’t unexpectedly share that conversation with a third party.”

13. Attach the document

No, really. Nothing is worse than sending an email referring to an attachment—that you forgot to attach. Ok, we lied. There is something worse: the follow-up email you’re forced to send, explaining your error.

Luckily, some email servers will alert you if there’s no attachment to an email in which you mentioned, “see attached.” Either way, always double check!

14. Sign off respectfully

There are lots of ways you can close a professional email. Any of the following will work just fine: “Best regards,” “Sincerely,” “Thank you,” or “Looking forward to hearing from you.” Your sign-off should reflect the organizational culture of your office. For example, in a more laid back or casual office, “Best Regards” might sound oddly formal. Simply “Best” or even, “Thanks,” might be sufficient.

Also, once you’ve emailed back and forth a few times (or if the conversation is ongoing), you may not need to sign off formally moving forward. If this is true of your situation, you can close the email by typing your first name or preferred nickname.  

15. Make sure your email signature is precise and professional

Career coach and social media expert, Carlota Zimmerman, says, “When I get emails from potential clients telling me they’re having a hard time finding a job, and under their signature are GIFs of '90s movies, three phone numbers, a backup email like catpersonxxx@gmail.com, and for good measure, an Ayn Rand quote, my immediate response is ‘Oh, ya think?’”

Ideally, your email signature should include your full name, job title, company’s name and website, office and cell numbers, and office location. If applicable (and professional), you may also include social media links, but only if the linked profiles are relevant to your job.

Note that your company may already have a standard signature format. If one is not provided during your onboarding process, ask your supervisor or peers for advice. The standard signature is often customizable; you can adjust your contact numbers (which is especially useful if you rely more on your mobile phone than on an office phone), and sometimes even the social media links. It’s advisable to check with your supervisor before making any changes to the standard signature, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Better to be safe than sorry.

The art of the professional email is complicated. There’s a lot to consider—like tone, language and timing—and different industries call for different levels of professionalism. But just like it’s better to be overdressed than undressed, it’s better to err on the side of formality when you’re uncertain about an email. Your recipient will respect that you took the time to compose a concise and considerate message. 

Name: Elizabeth Wagmeister
Age: 25
Job Title: Contributor on Page Six TV; TV Reporter at Variety
College Name/Major: UC Santa Barbara, Communication major/Multimedia Writing minor
Website: elizabethwagmeister.com
Twitter:@EWagmeister
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewagmeister
Instagram: @ewagmeister
Snapchat: @EWagmeister (she’ll be snapping behind the scenes from Page Six TV!)

Founder and Campus Correspondent of UC Santa Barbara’s Her Campus chapter, Elizabeth Wagmeister launched her journalism career as a collegiette. After working for TV Guide, Hollywood Life and in her current reporting job at Variety, Elizabeth snagged a spot on new entertainment show Page Six TV, which premieres tonight on Fox. We sat down and talked to her about her career, her new gig and her advice for future journalists.

What have been the most prominent milestones in your career path from Her Campus to Page Six TV?

Elizabeth Wagmeister: I know it sounds cheesy, but honestly I consider every day to be a milestone because every day is different and I still feel like I’m learning. Going from Her Campus to TV Guide to Hollywood Life and to Variety, I’ve learned so much along the way from all of my career mentors and from every story I’ve written. But I would say getting the gig with Page Six TV is definitely a big milestone because it’s my first regular role on a TV show, and that’s not something that I really ever expected to happen and certainly not this quickly.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from your work experience?

EW: I think that what I’ve learned is that you never say "no" to anything because there’s a reason for everything and every closed door leads to an open one. I have covered events that I wasn’t necessarily interested in, but I met someone who was standing next to me on the red carpet or who was standing next to me at the bar who became a really great contact or source for something else.

What has been your biggest obstacle thus far and how did you overcome it?

EW: I think my biggest obstacle has been myself. What I mean by that is that I hate uncertainty and I second-guess everything. My parents always tell me to stop worrying. I need to tell myself, “You just need to go for it.” I really think that you just have to take risks and tell yourself not to worry.

What is your experience as a woman in such a competitive career path?

EW: I actually really feel so lucky and embraced as a woman, but I think that I really have not had the same experience as everyone. I’ve actually only had female bosses, which is amazing, and that is something that I definitely contribute to my success. These strong women (Debra Birnbaum, Cynthia Littleton, Bonnie Fuller) have risen the ranks, and in their generation—the generation ahead of me—it was even more tough to do that in male-dominated workplaces. But I’ve also been to different industry events where I’m just trying to talk to a source or talk to someone that I’ve worked with and felt like they were hitting on me. I think you should know how to deflect that and say to yourself, “I’m here to do my job. I’m here to work, and if someone wants to hit on me it’s not going to work.” You’ve got to keep your eye on the prize.

How do you feel your skill set has developed since you left college?

EW: I learned so much as a person in college. But, in terms of working at a magazine—the only way you can learn how to work at a magazine is by working at a magazine. When I was at TV Guide, I really learned how to navigate the workplace and get a good interview when you’re only given two minutes on a red carpet. I learned how to do really good, thorough research. I learned how to just write a good story. Then, when I went to Hollywood Life, I learned how to write on deadline for a breaking news website, how to write gossip and celebrity journalism (that’s actually nothing I had done before), and SEO and social media. That was also the first place that I ever was on camera. When I went to Variety, I had to learn everything. I felt like I knew nothing about the entertainment industry compared to the industry veterans I was working alongside, and I truly think I’ve learned more in the past year and a half at Variety than I have in life. Going into work every day when you don’t feel like you know everything and still have a lot to learn I think makes you focus and more eager.

What advice would you give to current Her Campus writers who are interested in developing a strong journalism career?

EW: I would say definitely Her Campus is a great place to do that. Like I said, you can really learn to be a journalist if you’re actually a journalist! The great thing about Her Campus that I loved is it was really just a bunch of college students who weren’t working journalists, of course, but we all wanted to be. So it was just a fun, creative space to be able to brainstorm with everyone and interview on campus. But I would say do that during the school year and intern during the summer. If I hadn’t interned, I wouldn’t have gotten my first job, which then lead to my other jobs. Also, try to have informational interviews. I know that’s what everybody says, but I reached out to so many random people and I've ended up working with a lot of them now!

What about Page Six TV are you most excited for?

EW: I am really excited because I am a print journalist and reporter and writer, but I love doing TV work. But what I’m more excited for is for people to see it because it’s just so much fun. As an entertainment journalist who covers TV, I know what’s out there and there are so many panel shows and so many entertainment news shows, and this one is truly different. It’s a format that we’ve never seen before. It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and it’s easily digestible for viewers. After a long day, if you watch it, you’re going to have fun and you’re going to learn something.

Are you sad that Gossip Girl has come to an end? After all those hours you put into watching it on Netflix (or perhaps you're an OG who watched as the series aired), you were bound to be devastated when you finished the show. Keep the Gossip Girl spirit alive with these DIYs inspired by the soapy series.

1. Serena's Butterfly Wall

Now, you can decorate your bedroom just like Blair decorated Serena's.

2. XOXO Gossip Girl Mug

We know you love Gossip Girl…and coffee.

3. Prada Sign

Recreate your own version of this piece from the van der Woodsens' stylish Upper East Side apartment.

4. T-Shirts

Show the world just how big of a fan you are with these GG-inspired tees.

5. Blair's Twisted Ponytail

Who doesn't want to look like the beautiful Blair Waldorf? We know we do.

6. Blair's Headband

Keep each hair in place AND embody Blair? Yes please.

7. Serena's Crochet Necklace

Now you can be as glamorous as Serena any time you want.

8. Serena's Wall Art

A little bit of black and gold is always a good thing.

When influencer, model and body-positivity activist Essie Golden organizes a pool party, you know that it’s going to be epic. This weekend, the Custom Hotel hosted the self-love event of the summer, where partygoers caught a dip in the pool, complete with cocktails, selfies, snacks and more.

The Golden Confidence Pool Party is a blatant finger flip to societal expectations as it builds a community of like-minded women with bold personalities where size is irrelevant. For Golden, the concept behind the event was to have women “find their confidence here, if that's what it takes to take that somewhere else and realize it really doesn't matter what you look like.”

An emboldening message for women who want nothing more than to cover up their bodies, Golden aims to have an international party next year and spread the love. We can’t wait to see what next year’s pool party will look like!

We get it—crawling out from beneath your warm, cozy covers just to hit the gym at an ungodly hour can be a torturous process that seems nearly impossible. Sacrificing that extra hour of sleep in the morning to hit the elliptical may not sound very appealing, but it’s definitely worth it. Here are a few tips for how to get yourself out of bed to master your early-morning workouts.

1. Find a workout buddy

There’s no motivation like having a workout buddy. You don’t want to be the friend who cancels at the last minute because you overslept or because you just didn’t feel like getting up. Try calling or texting each other in the morning to make sure you’re both awake.

“If I didn’t have anyone to go to the gym with, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t work out,” says Amber, a junior at Columbia University. “One of my closest friends is on the track team, so she’s definitely the one who motivates me to work out with her when she’s not at practice.”

Just picturing how upset your bestie would be if you blew her off while she was waiting for you bright and early should be enough to get you out of bed!

2. Move your alarm clock to the other side of the room

Your alarm clock is a necessary evil. Moving it the other end of the room means that you’ll have to get out of bed and get up just to turn it off. Once you’re up and stretched, you’ll be less likely to hop back in bed!

“To me, the only hard part about getting up in the morning is physically removing myself from the bed,” says Brittany, a junior at the University of Georgia. “As soon as I’m actually standing up straight, I’m ready to take on the day.”

3. Pack your gym bag the night before

With all the confusion that comes from being half awake and half asleep, there’s a good chance that you may forget something on your way out the door. Packing your gym bag and laying out your clothes the night before will better prepare you for your sweat session and also save you some time before you hit the gym—think of the extra minutes of sleep you’ll save!

4. Do a workout you enjoy

Working out isn’t an easy thing to do for some people to begin with. We know your relationship with your bed is important to you, but getting up to do something that you actually enjoy could encourage you to leave your precious bed to get some fitness in.

“The prospect of getting on a treadmill at 7:30 wasn’t really appealing to me, so I signed up for a yoga class that was offered at the same time,” says Kasia, a senior at Villanova University. “Whenever I didn’t want to get up, I would just tell myself how good I would feel after my yoga class and how much it would be worth it.”

If spending an hour on a machine isn’t your thing, think about participating in an activity like Pilates or dance aerobics that will have you feeling refreshed before your early-morning class.

5. Get enough sleep the night before

As college students, we may be used to late nights and early mornings, but you have no idea how much better a workout can turn out if you’re well rested!

“It’s definitely easier for me to get up when I actually get sleep the night before,” says Ashley, a junior at Georgia State University. “It’s like the combination of being well rested and working out in the morning keeps me way more alert during the day.”

Try to skip hitting the bars with your friends the night before your workout and head home early to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep.

No one ever said it was easy to work out the morning, but the work you put in at the gym will not only help you get fit, but also have you feeling refreshed and alert for the rest of what may be a long day. Change up your early-morning routine by trying a few of these tips to get yourself up and out the door before your AM session at the gym. 

So, you know Taylor Swift's famous Instagram response to Kim Kardashian's Snapchat release of that "Famous" phone call? You know, the one that's been made into about 500 memes already? Well, the internet is poring over every last detail—and the latest theory is that Taylor crafted her response ahead of time... which would mean she knew Kim was going to release that phone call. 

See the word "Search" in the upper left corner? Some people think this means Taylor already had the note stored on her phone since it would normally say "Notes" if she had just been writing it.

People are getting super into the drama and seem to be pretty pissed off about the possibility of this being pre-written. Here are some responses on Twitter:

What do you think? Was Taylor's response pre-crafted? Is the whole thing a set-up?

Personally, I don't think the "Search" necessarily indicates it had to be pre-written. She could have easily went to another page and used the search function to go back to the note—but clearly some people disagree.

The drama just keeps getting better.

Twitter became a breeding ground for hate, shade, and sass last night after Kim Kardashian released Snapchats showing hard evidence that Taylor Swift knew about Kanye’s offensive "Famous" lyrics.

Just about everybody has decided to jump into the debate and voice their opinions, including 19-year-old actress Chloë Grace Moretz, who had a strife with the most famous Kardashian a few months ago when the mother of two posted another nude picture to her Instagram account.

Moretz tweeted last night her disgust with how certain celebrities continuously use their voices for the wrong reasons. Without naming anyone in particular, it was implied, given the timing of the tweet, that it was directed towards Kim.

She then reprimanded celebrities for focusing on petty issues.

While Kim did not respond, her younger sister Khloé decided to involve herself and tweeted a hasty response attached to a pretty nasty photo.

Regardless of where you stand in the Kim vs. Taylor debate, it's pretty clear that this tweet was unecessary and done in poor taste. Orange Is The New Black star Ruby Rose swooped in as the voice of reason:

She then went on to remind people that bullying and cattiness is not beneficial for society, especially when more important issues should be top priorities.

Khloé chose not to apologize, but rather, explained her tweets.

The drama isn't about to end anytime soon, but Rose is right—can we not spread hate?

Yes, even the Biebs has been Pokémon hunting—in the middle of the night.

When a rare Pokémon, Gyarados, was spotted in Central Park last night, all of New York City lost its chill, and Justin Bieber couldn't help but get in on the action. A Reddit user reported that Justin—along with six bodyguards—was spotted around 12:30 a.m.

"There had to be at least a couple huge Bieber fans in the crowd. But listen: priorities. There are things more important than pop stars. And those things are Pokémon," according to the Reddit user.

Bieber's friend, Alfredo Flores, posted a video of the affair on Instagram.

Earlier on, Justin was seen in Inwood, a neighborhood in upper Manhattan, where he was caught on video saying "Gotta catch 'em all."

Would you rather catch a Gyarados or the Biebs? Pretty sure we know which one we'd choose.

The Pokémon Go obsession is still going strong. We've heard some crazy stories—the app has led people to everything from true love to dead bodies. Most recently, we saw the full extent of the madness when a rare Pokémon made an appearance in New York City's Central Park.

When a Vaporeon showed up on a Thursday night, people literally RAN to Central Park to capture it; one man was even filmed leaving his car engine running in an attempt to score the Pokémon. This is NUTS—but at least people are getting up and moving? We're trying to focus on the silver lining here... but this isn't quite what we expected to see come out of 2016.

Just in case you thought there wasn't already enough drama in the celeb world, Selena Gomez just got herself involved. 

The singer got herself into hot water in the Twitter-verse for venting about celebrities using their influence inappropriately, and we can only assume she's talking about the escalating nastiness between Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian. 

The response was quick and forceful. Some Twitter-ites were quick to note that Selena hasn't been too vocal about some important movements, like #Blacklives matter. 

In a since-deleted response tweet Selena asked whether "if I hashtag something I save lives?" and then added a heated-sounding "You don't know what I do."

Selena's heated response, even though it got deleted, pulled a lot of criticism:

Meanwhile, others defended her by pointing out her charity awareness and philanthropic work:

That's a lot of drama over a tweet calling on an end to drama.

A Missouri man fatally shot three police officers and injured three others on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. While the motives behind these murders are still not completely clear, the shooting has added to the rising tensions across the nation, The New York Times reports. 

Although police have not officially released the names of the victims, family members and sources close to the investigation have confirmed to CNN that Officers Montrell Jackson, Matthew Gerald and Brad Garafola were killed. 

The shooter, later identified as Gavin Long, openly carried an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle down Airline Highway early Sunday morning when police were called to the scene. According to CNN, Long began shooting without saying a word, ambushing the officers. "There was no talking, just shooting,"said Baton Rouge Cpl. L.J. McKneely in a press conference.

Officials believe Long, who was killed in a shootout with police, carried out the attack alone. 

Long, an African-American former marine, was discharged from the US military in 2010. Under the pseudonym Cosmo Setepenra, he frequently posted to social media with anti-government and anti-police sentiments. Long also warned in a July 10 YouTube video that people needed to "fight back" against police violence.

Anxieties over police-civilian relations have put the US on edge, especially in the past few weeks. It's easy to see why tensions between police officers and citizens have been exceptionally high in Louisiana following the death of Alton Sterling. Sterling was killed by police outside a gas station in Baton Rouge earlier this month. This and the death of Philando Castile within just days of each other served as tragic examples of African-American men dying at the hands of the police.

When protests over the two shootings broke out, four Dallas police officers were subsequently killed.

Black Lives Matter leader DeRay Mckesson responded to the Baton Rouge shootings by advocating for an end to these violent outbreaks. "The movement began as a call to end violence. That call remains," Mckesson said.

President Barack Obama also spoke out after the Baton Rouge shooting. "We as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence against law enforcement. Attacks on police are an attack on all of us, and the rule of law that makes society possible," he said in a statement. "We don't need inflammatory rhetoric. We don't need careless accusations thrown around to score political points or to advance an agenda."

The president added that although tensions are clearly very high in light of recent events, unification is what is most important for the country to overcome these tough times. "Only we can prove, through words and through deeds, that we will not be divided," President Obama continued. "And we're going to have to keep on doing it again and again and again. That's how this country gets united."

Greek life is unlike any club you’ve been a part of before. While you may be accustomed to simply signing up and immediately getting access to the club of your choice, sorority recruitment, otherwise known as rush, can be one of the most intense (yet exciting) things you experience in college. No matter your year in college, there are a few ways you can prepare for rush so you don’t go into the experience blind.

1. Round up your letters of recommendation

Summer is the time to secure your recommendation letters from collegiate members or sorority alumna. Some college chapters require recommendation letters, other chapters only suggest them and others make no mention of needing them. Find out your college’s policy before you do too much or too little work to get them.

If you do plan on going through with the letters of recommendation, they should all be mailed and received by each sorority prior to the start of recruitment. Depending on your college, you may be required to submit one to two letters of recommendation for each sorority on campus. While that may seem like a daunting task, finding alumni from each chapter is easier than you may think. 

Megan Christi, a sophomore at the University of Alabama, found all 32 letters of recommendation that she needed through mutual connections. “I was the first person in my family to get involved with Greek life,” she says. “All I did was create a post on Facebook of the sororities I needed letters of recommendation from, and asked for alumni of the chapter to reach out to me. My friends shared my post over and over again, and left comments tagging people who could help.” You’d be surprised how many people in your life have Greek affiliations.

2. Perfect your resume

Every person you ask for a letter of recommendation from may not be familiar with every aspect of your life, so it’ll be important for them to have your resume so they can personalize your letter. The resume you create will be different than a resume you use to apply for jobs. It should highlight your academic achievements, community involvement, hobbies and interests.

Your resume should be divided into the following sections. To keep it brief, each section is as follows:

• Your name and contact information such as your email, phone number and address
• Education: Your high school, graduation year, class rank, GPA weighted and unweighted, AP/IB classes and ACT and/or SAT scores
• Personal information: Date of birth, college attending, major, classification, your parents’ names, the colleges they attended, their degrees and occupations if applicable
• Greek affiliations: If anyone you know is affiliated with Greek life, include them here
• Activities: Clubs you spend a significant amount of time participating in
• Honors: Academic and nonacademic awards
• Volunteer: Community service
• Hobbies: Anything you’re interested in that was not mentioned before
• Work experience: Any current or former jobs you’ve held and your title there

Be sure to include what year you participated in each item. Include a very short description of anything that wouldn’t be clear to a complete stranger.

3. Clean up your social media

You’ve probably been told by your parents that whatever you post online will follow you for the rest of your life. You’ve also probably ignored that statement at some point and posted whatever you wanted.  

While social media is a great place to express yourself, sororities may browse your page to get a feel for who you are. You shouldn’t alter who you are for recruitment, but getting rid of any incriminating Instagram posts from a crazy summer night or setting your alcoholic recipes board on Pinterest to secret will benefit you in the long run.

Paula* works as the vice president of her chapter’s standards committee at Louisiana State University. “During recruitment, my sisters and I would look up the girls on social media,” she says. “Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr were the big four. I remember going to a potential new member’s Twitter account and she was essentially bragging about how drunk she got the night before. She was instantly cut.”

For starters, change your profile picture to a cute, up-to-date photo with only you in it. Delete anything you wouldn’t want your grandma seeing, and if you’re unsure that your page is up to par, make your account private. However, if you make your account private, don’t make all of your information private. Keep your school, occupation, hometown, interest and hobbies available to the public.

4. Prepare for questions with mock interviews

Be prepared to answer lots of questions during rush week. You have to be quick on your feet and confident in your answers, just like you would be in a job interview. The goal is to leave an impression on everyone you talk to so that you’re lingering on their minds far after the conversation has ended.

It’s very common to hear questions pertaining to your involvement in high school and on campus if you’re an upperclassman. Talk up any clubs you participated in and any leadership positions you held. If you haven’t been formally involved with many organizations, don’t sweat it too much. Talk about your aspirations and what you do around campus to make it a better place.

Practice mock interviews with your friends and family. It may seem silly, but you’ll become more relaxed while talking about yourself and all your good attributes.

5. Plan out outfits ahead of time

Do not dress like somebody you’re not! Rather, dress as the best version of you and stay true to your style. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that whatever you wear you wouldn’t mind being introduced to your SO’s family in it. So if you think you lack a classy but cute outfit, it doesn’t hurt to start shopping for clothes now.

Katie Elsworth, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, rushed her freshman year, so she’s seen plenty of recruitment outfits during her time in a sorority. “Lilly Pulitzer dresses are probably what a lot of girls associate with rush week,” she says. “But don’t just limit yourself to that! Yes, it can be a safe bet, but it’s also pretty expensive. Stores like Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe will definitely have what you need without breaking the bank.”

As far as specifics, she recommends sundresses, cardigans, rompers, jumpsuits and a little black dress. Heels or wedges pair well with any of those looks.

Related: What to Wear for Every Step of Sorority Rush

6. Don't schedule anything during rush week

During rush week, do not make any other commitments. You will be tired. There’s no telling how long a day of rush might last, so take some time off of work and don’t schedule any appointments during that window of time.

Amy Wagner, a junior at Georgia Southern University, quickly realized that her job and rush week was a lot to balance at the same time. "At first, I didn't take off work because I thought I could handle the two," she says. "I realized that people aren't kidding when they say rush week will consume all your time and energy. Thankfully, my boss was understanding when I had to call out for a few days. Not everyone will be as understanding, though, so just take the time off ahead of time."

You want to put your best foot forward, so this should be your only focus if possible.

7. Don’t limit yourself to a certain house…

All of your friends may be in a sorority together, or your mom may be hoping and praying that her sorority gives you a bid. Despite your connections, don’t have your sights set on one specific house. You are your own person, so their sorority may or may not be the perfect fit.

Elana Golub, a junior at Northwestern University, knows that the sorority that is your home will find you—you don’t go out and seek it yourself. “The process itself is supposed to help you figure out where you fit best—nothing else should influence that,” she says. “Just pick out your favorite outfits, come with an open mind and don’t try to be someone that you are not.”

Don’t try to force anyone to like you. You’ll naturally click with the right group of girls.

8. …Unless you’re rushing a non-traditional sorority

Before you decide to rush, you should be knowledgeable about the different kinds of sororities. The majority of sororities on campus will be social ones, but there is Greek life outside of the social realm. Other types of sororities focus on service, religion, academics, career and culture and do not participate in formal rush. Social sororities that are new may not participate in formal rush either.

Kaitlin Manion, a recent graduate of Temple University, found her home in a new sorority on campus. “I did research on the sorority I wanted to join because mine was new to campus,” she says. “I did that so that I could see if their ideas, values and philanthropy aligned with who I was as a person and what I wanted to gain from a sorority. You shouldn’t go in there reciting their entire history, but you should know the basics.”

Whatever your passion may be, there is a group of people ready to welcome you into their family.

Yes, it may be summer and relaxing poolside may be your full-time hobby. However, you can start preparing for sorority recruitment now. Instead of walking into rush with a stomach full of butterflies, you’ll walk in with a confident strut and your head held high. Good luck, ladies!

*Name has been changed

By Maxine Diehl

The transition of leaving home and going to college is a big step for anyone. Your entire life changes and you have to face all the emotional hurdles without your family and friends next to you. However, people who live with mental illnesses like anorexia, depression or anxiety face even more difficulties than the average college student. Here are just six of the many ways that college is different for people who struggled with mental health issues.

1. Spending all day every day with people is exhausting.

You probably used to wear a mask to hide what you were really thinking and feeling during your struggles. Only when you were at home or with true friends did you let that mask go. In college, you have to get used to breaking that habit, otherwise acting all day will completely exhaust you. “It took months before I realized that I didn’t have to smile all day to ensure no one worried about me feeling bad again,”  says Jane *, a junior at Boston University who has depression.

2. Living with people other than your family is scary.

You fear that roommates will judge your habits and notice all of your quirks. They may not understand them and you’ll have to explain that you need to sleep at a set time everyday because of insomnia, or that you need meals every five hours because you used to suffer from an eating disorder and otherwise get nauseous easily. “For the first weeks of college I felt horrible, because I didn’t want to tell my roommate that I had to go to bed because of my meds when she still wanted to talk. I was scared she would think I was being unsocial,” says Brittany*, a sophomore at Boston University.

3. Pressure to party or drink can result in massive anxiety.

If you have an addiction, the idea of being surrounded by alcohol and drugs is a massive trigger. Similarly, if you deal with anxiety, a crowded evening sounds like the opposite of fun. But especially if you are looking to join a sorority, a lot of people will keep asking you to come out, which will leave you feeling left out if you don’t go, and uncomfortable if you do. “Once I admitted that I would rather stay in and watch a movie, a lot of my friends were willing to do the same,” says Anna*, a freshman at Emerson College.  We often forget that there are lots of people who are in similar situations and maybe equally afraid to speak up.

4.  Irregular schedules can lead to a lot of stress during the first weeks.

Unlike when you were in school or therapy, there is no set time for work, rest and food. Instead, you have to adapt and find a schedule that works for you. However the beginning of every semester is a lot harder, as your body and mind have been through more than your peers' and therefore don’t adjust as quickly. “I always try and adjust my classes to ensure I can wake up and go to bed around the same times. It makes picking classes a lot more of a hassle,” Brittany says.

5. You have to fill out forms for medications and doctors.

As if college didn’t already bring enough paperwork with it, people with mental illness will often have to fill out many more forms about their current mental state and are forced to deliver supporting material of your mental health if they plan to go abroad or transfer schools. Furthermore, vacations are spent checking up with all your old doctors back home and refilling prescriptions.

6. Moving requires a lot more planning.

If you’re still seeing a counsellor or doctor, the idea of moving to go to college elsewhere is daunting. It takes time to build up trust with your doctor and having to look for someone new in a new city can be an arduous process. “I already had to see a bunch of doctors back home in order to find one I clicked with. Looking for someone new again really frustrated me, as it felt like I had to explain everything all over, even stuff I was no longer dealing with," says Jane*, about her move to Boston from another country. In fact, according to one study 80 percent feel overwhelmed with their new responsibilities.

College forces us all to grow and speak up about our needs, but if you have to deal with any extra differences because of your past, you deserve even more respect. In the end, it will make you stronger and you should be proud of the changes you’ve overcome, but keep reminding yourself that what you’re doing is hard and cut yourself some slack. And if your friend or roommate has to deal with any of these issues, try and be understanding and help her adjust as well as possible.

*Names have been changed.