At Her Campus we hold in high-esteem the collegiette who keeps informed about current events. However, sometimes the news is dismal, and we know how disheartening it can be to hear of worldwide suffering but feel powerless to make a difference. In an ideal world, you would do something each day to better the lives of those suffering, right? Imagine that by getting dressed in the morning and accessorizing for your day, you could personally serve and help sustain a population of besieged women in a country across the globe. Sound too good to be true? We thought so too, but The Brave Collection, a Brooklyn based line of handcrafted jewelry, brings this notion to life.

Jessica Hendricks founded The Brave Collection during her post-grad travel to Cambodia, where she immediately became aware of the alarming day-to-day that Cambodian women endure. Human trafficking, the act of recruiting, transporting or harboring individuals for forced labor and sexual exploitation, plagues Cambodian women exhaustively, thus rendering Cambodia a hazardous and imprisoning country for women to live.

Inspired by the female survivors she met, Jessica partnered with Cambodian artisans to create a line of stunning bracelets and necklaces, hoping that her jewelry would de-stigmatize and spread awareness of this form of modern day slavery. Each unique piece is hand-carved and woven by artists who come from compromised and hostile backgrounds.

Jessica donates ten percent of proceeds to empowering Cambodian women and girls against human trafficking, so purchasing from The Brave Collection is a surefire way to contribute to concrete change. The brand’s Cambodian artisans work in supportive and creative fair-trade studios where they receive additional benefits through health insurance and stipends for their children’s education.

Support Cambodian women and victims of human trafficking by engaging with The Brave Collection’s initiative. You can help generate an open dialogue about the dangers and hardships that human trafficking bears! To help you get started, we’regiving away a 20% off discount code to all The Brave Collection jewelry at checkout with the exclusive code: HerCampus. Not only will you look great in this jewelry, but also, you’ll feel even better wearing pieces for an important cause. Who couldn't use a little bravery? #CourageIsContagious

This giveaway has ended.

Be sure to check out our current giveaways here!

Congratulations to our winners: Nicole Knutson, Taylor Ward, Ashley Ellam, Claire Rhee, Cassandra Kocek, Kiara Jefferson, Brooke Jones, Mia Tornel, Morgan Helfman, and Megan Bauer!

Our collegiettes know it best: navigating high school, college, and post-grad life is nothing short of complicated, particularly when we account for the hot conversation topics that are the female body and sex. Contemporary sex culture—saturated in sexting, casual hook-ups and Internet porn— heavily influences the day-to-day decisions that we make (oftentimes subconsciously) and plays a leading role in what is perhaps the most anxiety-inducing stage of our lives.

We know our collegiettes get it; they experience it firsthand. But did you know that only 13 states require that sex education be medically accurate, or that 70 percent of 16-24 year olds wish they’d known more about relationships and the emotional side of sex before their first sexual encounter? Though media seemingly often focuses on campus violence, were you aware that one in five college females are raped, but that only an estimated 11 to 20 percent report the crime to authorities? Did you know that in a 2014 study, a third of college men agreed they would “force a woman to have sexual intercourse” if they knew they could get away with it, but that that percentage dropped to 13.6 percent when the word "rape" was used in the question?

In GIRLS & SEX: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape, author Peggy Orenstein offers a clear-eyed, timely and authentic picture of the sexual landscape girls face in high school and college today. In her book, Orenstein reveals to girls and their parents comprehensive and in-depth facts about what teens and young adults experience daily, how they negotiate those experiences, and how they feel about them. Orenstein delved into the depths of teenage sexuality through copious adolescent interviews and dozens of consultations with psychologists, professors and experts. Her research exposes surprising, frequently upsetting, and always illuminating realities of collegiette’s sexual encounters in the modern world, and her writing indulges us in the scary truths of topics such as The Alcohol Effect, The Virginity Sweepstakes, The Tyranny of “Hot”, The Assault Epidemic and The Hookup Culture.

Orenstein is the New York Times bestselling author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter, a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, has been published in various publications including USA Today and The New Yorker, and has appeared on myriad shows like Today and CNN. Basically, she knows what’s up. GIRLS & SEX prompts us to consider how the personal realms of our lives are actually still incredibly political, and Orenstein poses this thought-provoking question: how can girls achieve equality in the classroom or the boardroom if they don’t have it in the bedroom?

We’ve partnered with Orenstein and HarperCollins Publishers to bring ten winners a signed hardcover copy of GIRLS & SEX by Peggy Orenstein, valued at $26.99 each, before it officially goes on sale on March 29. As students, mentors and members in society, it is our job to participate in a candid dialogue about the sex culture that we live in today. This begins, of course, with becoming well informed, and there is no better way to do so than with Orenstein’s latest, GIRLS & SEX.

Enter below now for your chance to win! For more from Peggy Orenstein, be sure to follow her Twitter and Facebook pages.

GIRLS & SEX

As JoJo eliminated man after man from The Bachelorette, we were really starting to get concerned about her choice to keep Chase around—especially when it started to feel like he should get the award for the most boring Bachelorette guy to ~ever~ exist. During his dinner date with JoJo in last night's episode, he talked about "getting to those real emotions that are there." But Chase, do you actually *have* emotions?

Leave it to Chase to surprise us all and suddenly become the star of the episode, with some very emotional moments that no one was expecting. Here are the signs that you were thrilled by the spectacle of it all.

1. You were finally rooting for him

When Chase told JoJo how much he loves her, and how hard it was for him to be vulnerable and say those words, you finally felt like he meant it. Rather than wishing he would go home, you were actualy hoping JoJo would say it back.

2. You were frustrated with JoJo

After Chase's heartfelt "I love you", you could not believe that JoJo just got up and left the room. No, JoJo—it's too late for this. We wouldn't have cared last week, but you can't say goodbye to Chase now! What are you thinking?!

3. You felt as let down as Chase

As JoJo explained her feelings (or, er, lack thereof), you felt *so* in tune with Chase's emotions. You could not believe JoJo was saying these words, and the sadness and anger Chase displayed perfectly matched the way you felt.

4. You wanted to be there to back Chase up

Every word Chase said to JoJo seemed like a release of his feelings from the entire season; he had just never been able to get them out before. You wished you could be there, standing behind Chase, shouting things like "Yeah!" or "You tell her!" You were LIVING for this confrontation.

5. His apology made you feel so many things

You ended the episode feeing very confused about why you were suddenly upset Chase went home, even though you've spent the entire season wanting it to happen. When he apologized to JoJo, you were proud of him for talking about his feelings again and you just wanted those moments to keep coming. You were kind of hoping JoJo would take him back and even now you don't understand why you wanted Chase to stay. 

Who knew Chase would be the one to give us such strong feels?

When it comes to packing for college, sometimes less is more. College dorm rooms aren’t known for their spaciousness, and when you arrive on your first day with all your worldly possessions in tow, you’re bound to feel some regret (and probably some annoyance from your roomie). You may be able to think up a dozen different situations in which it would be great to have your snow cone machine with you at college, but here are a few items that you’re really better off leaving at home.

1. Big stereo systems

We know you want your dorm room parties to rock, but unless you want your entire desk space taken up (and all your floormates’ ears to bleed!) your iPod speakers will get the job done just as well.

2. Cutesy knickknacks

You may think those snow globes and figurines scattered all over your shelves are a great way to express your whimsical nature, but all they’re really doing is collecting dust.

3. Your entire book collection

We know you love Harry Potter, but do you really think you need all seven books with you at college? With all the schoolwork, extracurriculars and hanging out you’re going to be doing, you’ll barely have any time to read for fun.

4. Excessive kitchen supplies

Not only are toaster ovens, mini grills, panini makers and other appliances usually prohibited from freshman dorm rooms, they’re almost always completely unnecessary (especially if you’re on a meal plan!).

5. Other prohibited items

For most schools, this means candles, halogen lamps, space heaters, incense and other items that are hazardous to your safety or the safety of those living in your dorm. Be sure to check with your school for items that aren’t allowed and keep those things off your packing list (and really, would you want to bring incense and have your dorm room smell like a fortune teller’s tent, anyway?).

6. Pets

How fun it will be to have a fish in my room, you think. How cute would it be to have a gerbil, you say. Spoiler alert: you’re going to regret it. Dorm room pets are not cute or fun, but rather smelly and inconvenient—and probably not even allowed by your school.

7. Clichéd college posters

That John Belushi Animal House poster may really resonate with your new “college student” persona, but purchasing one, as well as any poster with Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley or drinking paraphernalia on it, is the equivalent of walking around in a T-shirt that says “Freshman."

8. Stuffed animals

Cuddles, Snuggles and Mr. Fuzzykins may have sat faithfully on your bed for the past 18 years, but we think it’s best that they don’t join you on this latest journey.

9. Your printer

You’ll think it’s great to have one in your room… until the first time you run out of ink and you never use it again. Plus, your school will likely offer plenty of on-campus printing options anyway.

10. A full-sized vacuum

Because it’s totally necessary to have one of these to clean your 8x10 area rug, said no one ever. Stick to a mini one and save your precious closet space.

11. Off-season clothes

You’ll most likely be going home for Thanksgiving, so you can probably wait to haul those three heavy parkas to school until then.

12. Excessive furniture

It might seem like a great idea to bring an extra dresser, a bookshelf and a Ping-Pong table to make your dorm room the coolest on the floor, but once you see the size of your room, you’ll realize you’ve simply made it the most cluttered one.

13. High school apparel

You may have been a proud member of your high school’s cross country team for the past four years, but there’s no need to bring four year’s worth of warm up jackets and sweatpants with you to school.

14. Duplicates of what your roommate is bringing

Unless you want to end up with two mini fridges, two full-length mirrors and zero space, be sure to discuss who’s bringing what with your roommate before move-in day.

What are you definitely leaving at home this semester? Let us know in the comments below!

Rob Kardashian has never been as Insta-famous as his sisters, but followers were on high alert when it appeared that the 29-year-old had scrubbed his Instagram of all evidence of fiancé Blac Chyna. 

Not to worry... well, sort of. According to sources the Instagram purge was simply the result of a fight between the two, who have been engaged since April and are expecting their first child together. 

What looks like a dramatic fight on Insta turned out to be a more of a pre-baby spat. "Rob and her have been getting into little tiffs and Blac Chyna flipped on Rob," a source said. "He was so pissed at how she spoke to him, so he deleted everything about her to hurt her." How is this healthy?!

But the two have made up and are clearly dedicated to the relationship. "Rob has never cheated on her, but she is very paranoid about that from past experiences," the source explained, adding that they are "fine" now. "[They're] back in love and have spoken through their fight."

It's good to see that the two have made up after that dramatic Insta purge... but what should have been a private disagreement was made into an all-too-public fight by Rob's actions—and that can't be good.

The unthinkable has happened: Luke Pell has been eliminated from the competition for JoJo's heart. Even though we spent a solid two hours ugly-crying about it and cursing The Bachelorette gods for the cruel end to our favorite Texas hunk, there is a light at the end of the tunnel––Luke would be PERFECT as the next Bachelor. Here are nine reasons why this needs to happen immediately. 

1. He's one of the only guys who doesn't have a crazy ex trying to take him down

With Robby and Jordan as the final two, either one of them becoming the nextBachelor is unlikely because of the immense drama surrounding their previous relationships. Ain't nobody got time for that. 

2. Overall Luke seems to be drama free, unlike the notorious Chad and Alex

Luke has been a pretty non-confrontational guy, which makes him all the more likeable. 

3. He served in the military

Bachelor Nation LOVES this. 

4. He's a ridiculously talented musician 

Because the next Bachelor needs a quality we can swoon about. 

5. He's slow to love but loves hard

Luke won't be falling in love with all 25 women at the same time (thank goodness). He'll be slow to find the woman of his dreams, and when he does there won't be any stopping him. 

6. He's overcome so much

On top of the heartbreak inflicted by JoJo, Luke has also served in the military and lost a friend, which makes him compelling. 

7. That one time he showed up on a unicorn

#neverforget

8. He's so attractive it hurts

Because the next Bachelor needs to be hot hot hot. 

9. He's one of the only guys who legitimately wants to find a soulmate

Luke isn't here for a career move, fame or just to have a good time. He was legitimately looking for love and was crushed when it didn't happen. Luke deserves a shot at finding his unicorn, and we would love to see that happen.

Chris Harrison, we implore you to make Luke the nextBachelor. And if not, please send him over to us! 

As the Democratic National Convention moves along this week in Philadelphia, all eyes will be on the newly confirmed Democratic ticket—Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. While Kaine’s career in public service may have made him a household name in Virginia, he's still relatively unknown on the national stage. If you're not familiar with Kaine, here are some important facts you should know about your potential next vice president.

Sen. Tim Kaine is one of only 20 people in U.S. history to have served as a mayor, a governor and a senator. Kaine was elected as a city councilmember in 1994, as mayor of Richmond in 1998, as lieutenant governor of Virginia in 2002, as governor of Virginia in 2006, and as Virginia’s junior senator in 2012. Kaine serves on the Armed Services, Budget, Foreign Relations Committees in the Senate, as well as the Special Committee on Aging.  During his time in the Senate, Kaine sponsored or co-sponsored over two hundred bills, regarding a variety of issues, including education, taxes, women’s health and Syrian refugees.

One of Kaine’s most controversial positions is his stance on reproductive rights. As a practicing Catholic, Kaine is personally opposed to abortion. However, he has also stated, “I strongly support the right of women to make their own health and reproductive decisions and, for that reason, will oppose efforts to weaken or subvert the basic holding of Roe v. Wade. We all share the goal of reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The right way to do this is through education and access to health care and contraception rather than criminalizing women's reproductive decisions.” Despite his religious objections to abortion, Senator Kaine has continually promised to uphold the law and support a woman’s right to choose. 

This separation between legality and personal views carries over into Senator Kaine’s position on the death penalty. Though Kaine is personally opposed to the death penalty, he oversaw 11 executions while serving as Governor of Virginia. According to The New York Times, “He said his obligation to uphold the law as governor overrode his moral opposition to capital punishment, which was shaped by his Roman Catholic faith.”

Another polarizing issue in today’s political landscape is gun control. Though a gun owner himself and a supporter of Second Amendment rights, Senator Kaine is also in favor of gun control laws, saying, “I have long been a supporter of what I think are reasonable regulations, the kind of contemplated, frankly, by the Second Amendment, and I think those and others would be reasonable," Kaine said. "In Virginia we worked in the aftermath of Virginia Tech to do some important things on the databases of folks who have been adjudicated mentally ill and dangerous so that they couldn't purchase guns.”

Kaine’s positions on these three controversial issues show a pattern: that he is able and willing to separate his own personal views from what is legal and what is best for the country as a whole.

In addition, Kaine supports President Obama’s executive action on immigration reform and the DREAM Act, and is in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the United States legally and establishing a path to citizenship.

It is also important to note for us college students that Senator Kaine is in favor of reducing college costs, proposing cutting interest rates on student loans and offering more financial aid. Education at all levels is a priority for Kaine, as evidenced by his expansion of preschool programs for at-risk children while governor of Virginia, his support of the Every Student Succeeds Act and his opposition to school vouchers.

For those of us who watch a lot of political news coverage, we’ll be seeing a lot of Sen. Tim Kaine in the next few months. After November, it is possible that Kaine will be one heartbeat away for the presidency, as the saying goes, so it's important for voters to know the vice presidential candidates’ views as well. Now that both parties’ tickets have been confirmed, make sure to research both the top and the bottom of the ticket. Happy voting this November!

On Friday, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails from top members of the Democratic National Committee, corresponding to the beginning of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Penn. The leak, which is a part of WikiLeaks'“Hillary Leaks series,” revealed some damning evidence suggesting that high-ranking DNC officials strongly favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders, and even tried to sabotage his campaign. Here’s what you need to know about the newest emails that are damaging Hillary’s campaign, who may have leaked them and the fallout voters can expect.

The Emails Said Bernie “Isn’t Going To Be President”

According to The New York Times, some of the emails revealed top DNC officials deriding and minimizing Bernie’s campaign. In one email exchange, Luis Miranda, the communications director for the DNC, asked chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz if the committee should complain about CNN airing a segment on Bernie saying he wanted to remove Schultz from the DNC if he were elected.

“This is a silly story,” responded Wasserman Schultz. “He isn’t going to be president.”

This was just one of several exchanges that supported Bernie’s claim that the Democratic establishment was against him the entire time.

DNC press secretary Mark Paustenbach called Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver “an ASS” for saying they’d fight for the nomination until the convention.

Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall, suggested to another official that bringing Sanders' religion into the public eye may hurt his campaign. “It might make no difference, but for KY and WVA can we get someone to ask his belief,” wrote Marshall. “Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist.”

Keep in mind that the DNC is supposed to remain neutral throughout the primary contest, until a nominee is voted on and chosen. However, these emails showed quite the opposite—committee members were aggravated with Sanders’ campaign and sought ways to actively undermine him.

Experts Believe Russia Hacked the DNC

That’s right—Russia may have been the reason the DNC’s private exchanges are now open to the public.

NBC News reported that the at least one of the hacker groups attacking the DNC worked according to the Russian time zone and took days off on Russian holidays. In addition, the signature left by the hackers was written in Russia’s Cyrillic alphabet.

According to CNN, Russian hackers may have been inside the DNC systems for more than a year. The FBI even warned the committee of the possible security breach. However, the DNC claimed that the hackers were so sophisticated that the committee did not realize the extent of the problem until now.

The possible motive? Russian President Vladimir Putin may prefer a President Trump to a President Clinton. That’s why experts think that the leak was timed with the night before the convention—maximum embarrassment and damage to the Democrats and Hillary Clinton.

Because there is virtually no way to fully prove Russia perpetrated this leak, others believe that blaming the Kremlin nation is just an extensive coverup by the DNC. 

The Fallout From the Leak

As a result of the leaked emails, Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz promised to resign following the convention’s end on Friday.

“I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for America’s future,” Wasserman Schultz said in a statement, according to The New York Times. “I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory.”

The DNC apologized to Sanders in the wake of the very damaging emails. “On behalf of everyone at the DNC, we want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic Party for the inexcusable remarks made over email,” the committee wrote in a statement. “These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process.”

However, these apologies were definitely not enough in the eyes of many Sanders supporters. The movement Bernie started against the political establishment is heating up even more, despite his continued endorsement of Hillary Clinton.

“Hell no, DNC! We won’t vote for Hillary!” yelled Sanders supporters at the DNC, according to the Times.

Bernie supporters both cried and booed when he took the stage Monday night to express both his pain at losing the nomination, and his resolve that Clinton, not Trump, must win the presidency.

“I understand that many people here in this convention hall and around the country are disappointed about the final results of the nominating process,” he said. “I think it's fair to say that no one is more disappointed than I am.”

Despite this disappointment, Sanders added that there is no viable alternative to Clinton. In essence, for the sake of the country, Donald Trump cannot become the president, Sanders said, adding, “If you don't believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country.”

The vagina can seem like a ~mysterious~ beast, but that’s only because there’s SO much wrong information out there. We get it: it can be difficult to talk about “down there” but it’s important, and in our book, there is no such thing as too much information. We partnered with MONISTAT® and its educational campaign, It’s Time for TMI, to debunk some common myths about vaginas and yeast infections.

1. Yeast infections can’t be cured without a prescription

They can be! According to a MONISTAT® survey of 1,000 young women, 66 percent don’t know that yeast infections can be cured with an OTC treatment. If you’re experiencing the tell-tale signs of a yeast infection (vaginal itching, discharge and discomfort) you should see a healthcare professional. He or she will be able to give you a proper diagnosis. Once you’ve been diagnosed, ask your healthcare professional about MONISTAT®. It’s the #1 Doctor Recommended OTC yeast infection treatment—and it starts curing right at the source of the infection.

Almost all other vaginal infections do require prescriptions treatment, but fortunately with yeast infections, the cure can be found at your drug store. MONISTAT® is an antifungal (super important in curing yeast infections) and is prescription strength. In fact, MONISTAT® was formerly available only by a prescription!

2. Having too much sex can cause a yeast infection

While 81 percent of women believe sex is a primary cause of yeast infections, thankfully, this too is a myth!! There are many reasons women can get yeast infections, but sex is not one of them. While having sex can sometimes result in vaginal irritation, sex alone does not cause yeast infections. Yeast infections happen when the vagina’s natural balance of bacteria is disrupted. Infections can be triggered by things like your period, antibiotics and birth control, as well as just being sick! If you think you have a yeast infection, be sure to see a healthcare professional for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. If you’ve been diagnosed previously with a yeast infection and recognize the symptoms, your yeast infection can be treated with an over-the-counter antifungal product like MONISTAT®. MONISTAT® products come in a variety of treatment dosages and systems (MONISTAT® 1, 3 and 7) and are designed to help women confidently address their vaginal health needs on their terms. Regardless of which dose you choose (1, 3, or 7 day), you should experience some symptom relief after 3 days, and complete relief in 7 days.

3. Yeast infections are a type of STD

This is totally not true. Yeast infections are incredibly common and you don’t need to be sexually active to get one. Three out of four women will get one in their lifetime, and while they can be unpleasant, they really are no big deal and are easily treatable. So while condoms are a great way to prevent STDs and pregnancy, they will not protect against yeast infections. We’ve included tips to help prevent yeast infections below.

4. If you have vaginal itching and discharge, you definitely have a yeast infection

It very well might be a yeast infection, but itching and discharge can be symptoms for several vaginal infections or STDs like bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, for instance. This is why it’s so important to see a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and to discuss your treatment options. Even if you’re pre-med, trust us—your doctor knows best! Once you’ve been diagnosed, treating the yeast infection can be easy thanks to OTC treatment options like those from MONISTAT®.MONISTAT® also offers an easy-to-use Vaginal Health Test that can help determine if your symptoms may require a visit to your doctor if you are unsure. 

5. Eating a lot of yogurt will treat a yeast infection

We wish! Sorry, but there are no home remedies that will treat a yeast infection. Only antifungal treatments that are applied directly into the vagina at the source of the infection (available OTC or prescription) or taken orally (available only as a prescription in the US) can cure an infection! That said, there are some good ways to practice good vaginal health to help reduce your risk of getting a yeast infection.

• Keep the genital area cool and dry by wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing.
• Change out of damp clothes or bathing suits ASAP.
• Always wipe front to back.
• Change pads, tampons and liners often.
• And definitely avoid scented bath products in the vaginal area, including scented body wash. 

While talking about vaginal health isn’t always comfortable, we encourage you to get a proper diagnosis and then get treatment! Remember, you are certainly not the first to get a yeast infection, and it can happen to any of us. They’re easily treatable without a prescription and there’s no need to panic or be embarrassed! Visit ItsTimeforTMI.com to educate yourself about yeast infections and learn how to cure them. 

A 26-year-old Japanese man went on a stabbing rampage on Tuesday morning at Tsukui Yamayuri-en, a facility for the disabled, leaving 19 individuals dead and 26 wounded, the Associated Press reports. This was one of the deadliest mass killings in Japan since World War II. 

This attack came just months after the man, Satoshi Uematsu, reportedly sent a letter to Parliament outlining his plans for this bloody attack and stating that he believed all disabled individuals should be euthanized.

According to the AP, Uematsu stated in the letter that he planned on murdering 470 disabled people in what he deemed a "revolution." He further stated that he would turn himself in after the attack had taken place. He wrote that he wanted to be judged innocent due to insanity, and be given 5 million yen and plastic surgery afterward so he could continue living a normal life.

Uematsu was a former employee of Tsukui Yamayuri-en, working at the facility from 2012 until February of this year, CNN reports. Although his letter included all of Uematsu’s personal information and was delivered prior to his last day of work at the facility, it's unclear if it affected his employment. Instead, neighbors say Uematsu was in trouble because he had a tattoo, which is frowned upon in Japan.

According to CNN, the facility employs over 200 people, but only nine employees, including a single security guard, were actually working when Uematsu carried out the attack. He likely knew that there would only be a small of number of staff present when he broke into the facility at 2 a.m. Uematsu turned himself in to the Sagamihara police station immediately after, carrying the knife he used to commit the murders.

Those who knew Uematsu were shocked, describing him as polite and seemingly normal, according to the AP. Akihiro Hasegawa, Uematsu’s neighbor, called him an "ordinary young fellow." 

Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa released an apology for failing to act on Uematsu's clear mental illness, even after Parliament received his warning letter.

As college students, many of us often find ourselves crawling out of bed to our coffee pots, stopping by the nearest café in between classes for a much-needed espresso or surrounding ourselves in the library with a cluster of empty paper cups. However, this wild coffee dependency may not be doing us much good (no matter how enticing that cappuccino looks. Here are some ways to bring up your energy level without indulging your caffeine addiction.

Related: 10 Ways to Survive the 3 pm Workday Slump

1. Water, water, water

Swap out your morning Starbucks for a refreshing glass of H₂0. The water will not only keep you hydrated, but also kick-start your energy by delivering a surge of oxygen to your system.

“Your body is about 60-70% water, so dehydration can make you feel fatigued,” says Christina Chiu, dietitian at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

“I drink lots and lots of water to stay hydrated throughout the day,” says Kayla Lewkowicz, a recent grad working at a Cambridge start-up. “You really have to listen to your body!”

Wellness expert Peggy Hall recommends that you add fruit slices to your water. “When you put in the slice of fruit, all of the vitamins and minerals that are in the fruit—in terms of your electrolytes like sodium and potassium that keep you hydrated—all of those are going be absorbed in the water,” says Hall. “Now when you’re drinking the water, you’re hydrating yourself better so your brain is going to work better.” Keep chugging that water all day to boost your energy. Your body, your mind and your wallet will thank you.

Related: 7 Things Your Pee is Trying to Tell You

2. Straighten up, brighten up

Whether you are working at a desk job or studying at your dorm room desk, hunching over a table can be incredibly draining.

Surprisingly enough, just the way you are sitting can determine how energized you are. “You need to sit up straight,” says Hall. “Sitting hunched over is going to zap your energy. You can’t breathe because the lungs are collapsed.” It’s time to make perfect posture a priority.  

The light coming from your desk lamp may also be contributing to your midday yawns. According to Hall, compact fluorescent light (CFL) gives off an undetectable flickering. “It’s fatiguing to the eyes and fatiguing to the brain,” she says. Replace the bulb with an LED and feel much more awake!

3. Smart snacking

When the late afternoon rolls around and you start to fade, many turn to a snack for a caffeine-free boost. However, munching on chips or high-sugar granola bars won’t give you a sustainable, filling source of energy.

“Pair carbohydrates with protein when you eat,” says Chiu. “Putting protein together with a carb ensures that you not only get energy after eating but that it will still be there to sustain you a few hours later.”

“I make peanut butter energy bites that I refrigerate and take to work. It's honey, peanut butter, flax seeds and chocolate chips, rolled in oats,” says Alaina Leary, a graduate student at Emerson College. “I bring them to the office and eat them when I'm tired.”

Sydnee Lyons, a second year graduate student at Florida Atlantic University, notes that the first meal of the day is the key to her energy upkeep. “What's really been working is having a good breakfast before I do anything else,” she says. “I usually have oatmeal or toast, with a homemade fruit bowl and smoothie on the side.”

Hall suggests a nutrition-packed smoothie. “The green smoothie is my number one go-to for energy throughout the day,” she says. “Anything that’s green that you eat is full of oxygen in the form of chlorophyll…it’s basically stored energy.”

4. Catch some ZzZs

Being the busy collegiettes that we are, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always an option. When you feel your eyes getting drooping in the late afternoon, opt for a quick midday nap.

“Generally less than 45 minutes is suggested [for a nap],” says Chiu. “This provides your brain the rest it needs to spring back into action. Longer naps will make you more tired because of the different stage of sleep you’ll be waking up from.

“I'm lucky enough to work at a company that encourages quick naps if that's what you need,” says Kayla. “I take advantage of [them] usually once a week.”

Related: 17 Things Only People Who Live For Napping Will Understand

5. Get moving

Although it’s pretty counterintuitive, the reason you are exhausted AF could actually be because you haven’t gotten your blood flowing in hours.

“Getting up and taking a walk always helps! It gets your energy flowing and refreshes you,” says Rachel Petty, a senior at James Madison University. Alaina agrees, saying, “I recommend taking a walk, especially if you can get outside even for 15-20 minutes.”

“Energy production involves the mitochondria in your body,” says Chiu. “Getting more exercise sends signals to your body to make more mitochondria, which in turn helps your body make more energy.” She recommends heading outside, as sunshine is known to boost serotonin, your body’s natural happy hormone.

The next time you find yourself reaching for the coffee pot, try out these some of these natural tips to pump up your energy. You may be able to finally say goodbye to long lines waiting for a double espresso and caffeine-withdrawal headaches!

As girls we all have things in common, but us Jewish girls tend to vibe in a special way, often tracing back to the similar upbringings we all have. We all starve through the high holidays, or feel bad if we don’t. We all have mother’s that overfeeds us but still somehow make us feel bad for making poor health decisions. We even find that we know an excessive amount of the same people. However there's so much more, so we compiled of list of 15 things all Jewish girls understand.

1. How good manischewitz is

2. Playing Jewish geography

3. The importance of bagels

4. And really just brunching in general

5. The appreciation you will always have for Matisyahu

6. As well as using Yiddish words completely out of context

7. Reminiscing about the best summers of your life at camp

8. Or telling everyone (and we mean everyone) how amazing birthright was

9. Returning with 3000 bracelets from Ben Yehuda St

10. As well as a clear stance in the shwarma vs. falafel debate

11. Eating Chinese food on Christmas

12. Taking your non-Jewish friends to your family holidays

13. Bar Mitzvahs

14. Or any of the prayers that include fun gestures and banging on tables

15. Constantly being on the lookout for a nice Jewish boy your bubbie will approve of

Living in a sorority house is unlike any living experience known to women. While it can be chaotic to live in a house with excessive amounts of hormones, the memories and interesting experiences that you take out of it will stick with you for the rest of your life. In the reality of it, it can be stressful, but looking back you can't help but laugh at the good times, the bad times, and the unique times of living in.  Here are 16 things that you will learn when you live in your sorority house. 

1. You have one more Group-me chat to add to the far too many that your sorority already has

2. Your closet is everyone's closet.

3. If you have a car at school you're automatically cool with everyone that doesn't. 

4. Garbage accumulates faster than you ever thought was possible.

5. A group of girls can come up with some pretty creative combinations of food at 3 a.m. 

6. You learn your friend's class schedules better than your own.

7. The fomo studying on a Thursday night is way worse in your sorority house than it was in the dorms. 

8. Everyone somehow ends up on the same period cycle.

9. When that happens, it is bloodier than a zombie apocalypse. 

10. You can't help but feel terrible for the person who has to clean your house.

11. When you live with all of your friends, it gets really easy to tell who ended up having sex last night.

12. It also makes it easier to catch them sneaking home the next morning.

13. Meal times in the house are equivalent to the real life hunger games. 

14. Girls are savage and possessive when it comes to food. 

15. There is no better feeling than having an entire house full of people to lean on.

16. Even though you all get on each other's nerves every once in a while.

The question as old as time itself: How much do I need to tweet at the guys on The Bachelorette before they notice my existence and all of them fall madly in love with me?

If you’ve been keeping up with JoJo’s season, you’re bound to have a fat crush on at least one of them, but you’re probably sane enough to watch quietly from afar and, ahem, NOT Twitter spam them for an entire week. Fortunately, I live for your entertainment and decided to take up the burden of endlessly tweeting at the world’s most attractive eligible bachelors. 

Step 1: Ruthless Stalking

For the sake of conserving my time and followers, I planned to only tweet at JoJo’s final four (Chase, Robby, Jordan and Luke) and also a few of my personal favorites (Wells, James, Derek and Chad). Celebrity tweeting cannot be approached recklessly––it is an art (which still very often has no results). I took to Twitter and rabidly scrolled through each of the guys’ “Likes” section and retweets to see what they typically engage with.

RELATED: 'The Bachelorette' Recap: JoJo Sends the Next Bachelor Home, Chase Loses All Chill

I was quickly disappointed to find that most of what they like is tweets reeking of obsessive flattery or just generic statements from hot, young women.

Plus, a few of the guys (I’m looking at you, Jordan) only respond to or favorite things posted by people they follow. My heart felt hollow towards the gods I watch on ABC every Monday night, but I endured and made a game plan. I will tweet at them like I’m basic—I will, I will!

Step 2: Aggressively Tweeting

Primetime tweeting naturally occurs during episodes of The Bachelorette, which air on Monday nights. Thumbs ready and quivering, I followed suit with the rest of America and tweeted my feels about what was currently happening on the show.

As I expected, no response was to be had. Surely they were overwhelmed by the amount of messages they were receiving. Crickets chirped and I went to bed roseless, deciding that the next day I would try asking them simple questions. I mean, questions are easy, right? All you have to do is type. back. an. answer. I SUPPLIED THE WHOLE CONTEXT FOR THEM; THEY HAD NO WORK TO DO! 

RELATED: 5 Strange Things That Actually Happened During JoJo's Hometown Dates

And still nothing from any of them! I had to suppress my urge to level the guys of The Bachelorette with wildfire in true Cersei Lannister fashion. Racking my brain, I finally found my golden ticket. I had just created a quiz about Luke for Her Campus…surely all the guys would have a laugh taking a quiz to see how compatible they are with the southern hunk.

I soldiered on, sending every single one of them the quiz and willing them to notice me. 

Nothing. So I just started spouting words in a desperate last attempt. 

Finally, I resorted to this.

And after days of attempts, Robby liked the weirdest thing I tweeted. 

RELATED: 5 Reasons James Taylor is Actually the Perfect Guy

Step 3: Solemn Reflection

I wouldn’t say that I’m disappointed in this experience, but I clearly still have a lot to learn about tweeting D-list "celebrities." I’m not sure if it takes the perfect timing, a magical tweet formula or being #blessed enough that they just happen to see you, but Bachelorette tweeting should not be attempted by feeble rookies or those of us who have rejection anxiety. Let’s leave it the pros, like @HerCampus and @clmgiudici, while we twiddle away our Monday nights, silently cursing about how we don’t have a Jordan Rodgers in our lives. Also, can this please be a thing? 

Kendall Jenner is always at the forefront of fashion, and now, she's making an important statement by going out without a bra like it's NBD—because it's really not. But unfortunately, not everybody feels that way, so she's written a response to the haters in a post entitled "Free the Nipple" on her website.

"I really don't see what the big deal is with going braless!" she wrote. "I think it's cool and I really just don't care! It's sexy, it's comfortable, and I'm cool with my breasts. That's it!" 

She also wrote about how she uses her newly freed nipples as a fashion accessory. Kendall finds that it's "a fun way to show off my different nipple rings!" She elaborated, "Jacquie Aiche made me a couple of pieces that are really sick—like a pair of angel wings."

If Kendall's cool with her boobs, then everyone else should be too. Loving your body is the name of the game, however you choose to bare it or not.  

Applying for college is hectic enough… and now your parents are asking you if you want to work with a college counselor? What does that even mean!?

If you’re confused, we’re here to set things straight — college counselors are professionals you pay who can help you choose the right college or major, edit your college applications and answer any questions you may have along the way. So how do you know if you should work with one? Read on for questions you should ask yourself if you’re considering hiring a college counselor.

1. Do I have someone to support me throughout the process?

Although your parents may be the ones nagging you about applying to college in the first place, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be helping you every step of the way. If they are, you’re in luck. But, if they aren’t, a college counselor may be exactly what you need to guide you and keep you on track.

Michelle Podbelsek, co-owner of College Counseling Associates, gives us her two cents on the issue. "The application process can be complicated and stressful, so having someone who is supportive and good to bounce ideas off of is very important," she says. "Applicants also need to be sure their expectations are realistic regarding a balanced college list. If the student doesn’t have a school counselor, friend or family member who can help with those aspects, a private college counselor is a great resource."

You may be the first person in your family going to college, or maybe your parents are simply less involved. Whatever the reason, a college counselor will be there for you to clear up any uncertainties.

2. Do I know what I want in a college?

If you’ve known you wanted to go to Penn State your entire life, you likely don’t need a college counselor to reassure you of your choice. However, if you have no idea what you’re looking for in a school (location, size, programs), then a college counselor will be of great help.

"Many students come in to our office with very little idea of what they are looking for in a college," Podbelsek says. "We help talk them through the various elements they need to begin learning about—such as locations, size, school spirit, academic programs offered, etc. We also share (anonymous) anecdotes about how other kids have gone through the process or how their interests evolved as time went on, and discuss our impressions of our visits to the campuses." This could be super beneficial for some students!

Jamie Kravitz, a senior at Emerson College, says, “I worked with a college counselor during my senior year of high school, and she was incredibly helpful. She was so knowledgeable! Because of her, I was able to choose the right college for me.” Jamie’s counselor helped her create a list of schools she was interested in applying to, which ended up being super helpful in the end.

Related: 6 Things to Think About When Choosing a College

3. Do I know what I want to major in?

Maybe you have your college list narrowed down, but have no idea what to major in. While going in undecided is perfectly okay, it may be reassuring to some people to narrow down your interests before starting. College counselors are extremely knowledgeable about different majors and can help guide you in the right direction.

"I have either a very brief career test—takes only 10-20 minutes—or a full blown administration of the Strong Interest Inventory," Podbelsek says. "I also show students how to learn more about majors by getting on the college websites and looking at the class requirements for majors they are potentially interested in. The more they learn through these tasks, the better idea they have of how all of that may come together in narrowing down a major."

This will put you a step closer to knowing what you want to study.

4. Am I organized and efficient?

Organization is key during the college application process. If you’re scatterbrained and always leave things to the last minute, it may be best to hire a college counselor who will help you stay ahead.

"Many organized and efficient students may come see us for only one-two appointments," Podbelsek says. "They just want to see if their college list is realistic and balanced, their applications are correctly filled out, and have someone with experience read their essays to see if they are on target."

Jamie mentions that her counselor helped keep her on track with her various applications and essays. If you have a counselor telling you to complete things by certain dates, you’re way more likely to actually do it. Although we may think our own minds are strong enough on their own, the lure of Netflix can sometimes be stronger.

5. Will a college counselor make me feel more comfortable?

Although you may have a support system on your side, that doesn’t always mean you feel secure in what you’re doing. “Even though my parents were supportive during the college application process, I felt like a college counselor would be more knowledgeable and could help make my applications the strongest they could be,” says Emily*, a junior at the University of South Carolina.

Having a professional to work with and edit your applications may make some people feel better about the entire process. If you feel comfortable on your own, there’s no reason to recruit someone to help you. It all depends on you!

6. Can I afford a college counselor?

Cost is an important factor to take into consideration. Podbelsek says costs will vary depending on where you live and how experienced the counselor is, but if you think they will be helpful, it's probably worth it!

"At our office we offer both hourly consulting and a comprehensive program that begins January of the junior year and helps the student through the entire process for a set amount," she says. "We also offer a summer intensive program to motivate kids to get going on their process early."

College counselors will likely start with an evaluation of you, which can cost about $150. Prices for a counselor to review your applications and help you edit them can range anywhere from $250 to $40,000, so it's important to do your research beforehand! It's probably a good idea to talk to someone who's used a specific counselor to see if their price tag is worth it.

When it all comes down to it, working with a college counselor (or not) is entirely your choice. If you’re feeling lost and uncertain, a counselor may be the perfect person to help you step in the right direction. If you like to do things on your own, a counselor likely isn’t going to help you. If you ask yourself these questions, you should have a better idea of whether or not a college counselor is for you!

You’ve researched countless destinations and programs, discussed the pros and cons, gotten parental and advisor approval and are finally all set to study abroad––woo-hoo! The only question left now is what you’ll do about that boyfriend who won’t exactly fit in your suitcase. We’ve got you covered with tips on how to decide whether or not you want to keep things going with your guy, as well as advice on how to make it work when you spend time abroad if you do decide to stay together.

Before You Go

Have the DTR talk early

Once you have your study abroad plans set, settle on a time to sit down with your boyfriend and talk about whether or not the two of you want to make a long distance-relationship work. Megan*, a senior from the College of William & Mary, recently spent a semester in Paris away from her boyfriend. “With the date of my study abroad departure looming, [my boyfriend and I] were both a little afraid to bring up the conversation of the future,” she says.

Fear aside, waiting until your last night together to figure out what the two of you will do when you’re abroad? Probably not the smartest move.

“We started talking about it as soon as we both realized we were both going to go abroad to different places,” says Brooke, a rising senior from Northeastern University, who is getting ready to study abroad in Spain. “This was maybe five to six months before going abroad. It's important not to wait too long because it will just make things more difficult.”

Cover all the bases

Not sure what to talk about? Dr. D Ivan Young, a relationship coach, provides several suggestions for collegiettes getting ready to leave their boyfriends and study abroad. “You definitely need to have a discussion about ground rules,” he says. “Otherwise, don’t be surprised when someone does something that surprises you.” Bring up various changes and expectations you have concerning study abroad, and how you feel those will affect your relationship.

Discuss what’s going well that would make maintaining a relationship abroad worth the extra effort, as well as what could be challenging or worrisome during your time away from campus. If you’re already on solid ground, this may be an easy conversation.

“We both pretty much assumed we would be staying together and then we briefly talked about it to make sure we were on the same page,” Brooke explains. “The only factor we really weighed was whether or not we saw ourselves together after we went abroad. The answer for both of us was yes.”

How much or how little you’re willing to keep in touch with each other could make the decision on whether or not you want to stay together (or stay exclusive) easier as well. “You also have to be thinking about what you want from your trip, regardless of what you want from your relationship,” says Elizabeth, a recent graduate of the College of William & Mary who has left boyfriends back home during several trips abroad. “If you plan to immerse yourself in this new place and be constantly on the move, it might not be fair to ask someone to stay in a relationship with you, unless you really are going to commit to writing/emailing/texting/Skyping on a regular basis.”

Regardless of how easy or difficult the conversation will be, it’s an important one to have. Be open and honest to make sure the final decision you and your boyfriend reach is one that’s truly right for you and your relationship. Be sure the decision reflects what’s realistic for the both of you; being honest from the start could pay off majorly in the end.

“Of all my friends or the couples I know who went through a semester abroad this past spring, we were the only ones that made it to the end, and I think it had a lot to do with that understanding from the beginning,” Megan says.

Be clear: are you broken up, on a break or in a committed relationship?

As dedicated as you are to your boyfriend, a semester or year abroad is a long time (and let’s face it––those foreign guys and their accents are just so adorable). Circumstances change, making a break from the relationship appealing for some couples. “I was going away for a year, and we didn't want to hold each other back from experiencing anything––myself in Europe, him in college,” says Jill*, a junior at Skidmore College who recently studied abroad in Paris and decided to take the time away from her boyfriend to reassess their relationship.

If cracks are starting to show when discussing your expectations or you’re having a hard time agreeing on relationship terms, a break might be best. It's not wise to commit to a full-blown long-distance relationship unless you feel you're already a strong couple and you're willing to devote considerable time and attention to keeping up that communication.

“I broke up with someone before spending an entire semester abroad because I wasn't willing to do the work to maintain that relationship for such an extended period of time,” Elizabeth says. “Interestingly, that moment before I left ended up being the perfect time to really do an evaluation of the relationship–I realized I wasn't getting what I wanted anyway, and it became an opportunity to make a clean break.”

That being said, a relationship abroad can definitely work out for the better as well despite the distance. “After a few weeks, it was clear to both of us that we didn't want to be with other people, but giving ourselves space to figure that out was probably why it worked,” Jill says. Be sure to discuss your expectations for your relationship – whether you can see other people or not, the reasons for making whatever decision you come to, how open you’ll be with one another while abroad, how often you’ll communicate and with what means – and make sure you come to an agreement to make the most of your long-distance time together.

While You’re Abroad

Stay accountable to the ground rules you decide on

Be sure both of you know why you’re together and what the expectations associated with staying together are. The two of you should be committed to staying together for similar reasons, and should both be comfortable with the justifications for your decision. If one of you really wants to try and make it work while the other one isn’t too into it, problems might not be too far down the road.

“We're willing to go through a period of separation in the interest of our ‘end goal,’” says Alicia, a senior at Penn State who’s studying abroad in Spain. “We're willing to be apart for a while so we can be together in the long run… We trust each other, are honest and are willing to deal with a little distance so that eventually we can be together again afterwards.”

Trust is key in making a long-distance overseas relationship work. Dr. Young says that with young adults in particular, it’s hard to go for more than six weeks without being tempted to cheat. To avoid tears and heartbreak down the road, be absolutely 100 percent sure the both of you fully trust one another to ensure your relationship remains strong.

“Naturally there's a part of me that's scared he's going to find a tall, blonde beer wench with pigtail braids, but that's the part of me I work hard to ignore because I know I can trust him,” says Alicia. “If I didn't trust him so much, there's no way I'd be comfortable being abroad in separate places.”

Strike a balance between exploring and keeping in touch

As important as trust is when it comes to making a relationship work despite distance, it’s also important that both of you allow time to explore your new home away from home and experience new things.

“Since we'll both be abroad in different places, we realize the importance of making new friends for each of us,” says Brooke. “Additionally, we realize going abroad is pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we both want to enjoy it to the fullest extent.”

Regardless of your relationship status, don’t spend all your time keeping in contact with your BF. “The number one thing to avoid: Skyping him 24/7!” says Jill. “One girl on my program barely left her homestay because she would Skype her boyfriend every night, and when they broke up near the end of the semester, she was really upset that she hadn't spent more time experiencing the city and getting to know people.”

Deciding how much you’ll communicate with one another (whether it’s Skype, email, or whatever else you can think of using!) will have to be a decision the two of you make based on how much you’re used to talking and how much time both of your schedules will allow. This is especially true if you have to factor in a significant time difference. Moral of the story? If you’ve decided to make a relationship work in some shape or form, agree on a couple shared goals for how much the two of you stay in touch with each other. However, “be sure to send little reminders you exist so it won’t be out of sight, out of mind,” says Dr. Young.

Consider visiting each other

For collegiettes absolutely determined to make a relationship work, Dr. Young encourages couples to do everything possible to make at least one in-person visit while abroad. He describes the experience of sharing your time abroad with a BF as a “very romantic adventure” that can help develop a “sense of excitement” in the relationship through experiencing new sights, sounds and activities together as a couple.

When You Come Back Home

Recognize that studying abroad changes you

Studying abroad is a life-changing experience that will no doubt affect you and your relationship in ways you won’t be able to predict before you depart. “Don’t expect [the person abroad] to come back the same, because they won’t be,” Dr. Young says. “For most people, enlightenment as a result of studying abroad changes them. You’re coming back with new appreciations in play.”

Jill suggests reuniting with your boyfriend (or ex, depending on what happened during time abroad) regardless of where your relationship stands. “It might be good to decide that you'll meet up once you're home again no matter what--whether you've stayed close or drifted apart,” she says. “That way, even if it seems like things are headed south, you have a chance to remind yourselves what was so worth waiting for in the first place and then decide if you still want to work at it.”

Once you touch down back home, have another honest conversation with your partner and reassess where your relationship stands and what you mean to one another. Be open to the fact that both of you may have changed after being abroad.

Obviously there’s no easy answer on how to navigate relationships when you are abroad. Be genuine, sincere and caring, and you’ll no doubt reach a smart, (hopefully) satisfactory decision about what to do about your relationship that will allow for an amazing adventure abroad, regardless of what you and your boyfriend decide!

*Names have been changed.

After the whole “Famous” debacle with Taylor Swift and Kanye, one would think that the drama would have died down by now. But it's a new day, so we've got new ~drama~.

Speaking out on her new Friday night TV show, The Amber Rose Show, Rose said that she really wished that she had gotten a heads up from Kanye about being in his video, according to Refinery29. 

"Why didn't I get a phone call for using a naked wax figure in your video, Kanye?" she asked. Rose was one of the many people featured in the graphic video, but Swift was the only one who got a courtesy call. Granted, it wasn't in regards to the video, but she was called about the song as it involved her—while nobody else affected was (like, did Kanye call Donald Trump?). "Taylor gets a call, but I don't get a call, so please stay out of the fucking news so I don't have to talk about your ass no more," Rose declared. Mic drop. 

Basically, don't mess with Amber Rose, because she'll call you out on it.

Whether we want to admit it or not, we all secretly wish we could be a part of one of Taylor Swift's famous parties. While we might not have Selena Gomez and company in our immediate friend group, that doesn't mean we can't throw a party that Taylor herself might just wish she had crashed. 

Polaroid Station

Polaroid pictures are a necessity for any Taylor party, so make sure to stock up on extra film to capture every Instagram-worthy moment!

Photo Booth

No party is ever complete without a photo booth, and Taylor is totally in agreement with that. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to capture your memories. There are a ton of apps available to get the perfect photo strips using a mobile device. All you need is a timer on your phone camera and some cute props for the ultimate DIY photo booth!

Matching Outfits

Tay's squad is always decked out in the cutest outfits for her parties, so why not let yours do the same? If a store has an outfit you want your squad to wear, make sure they have enough of the same item and tell your friends ASAP. If you're feeling crafty, you could even make your own ensembles and hand them out to your guests as they arrive!

Pool Floats

In typical Swift fashion, pool floats are a must have for your party. Don't have a pool? They're the perfect way to supply unique seating for all of your guests, on land or in the pool!

Karaoke

As much as we might wish we could throw a party on Taylor's level, it might be a bit harder for collegiettes to get killer musical guests. Karaoke, on the other hand, can help unleash everyone's inner pop star. Get a cute pallet backdrop, and you'll instantly feel like you're on Taylor's level.

Karlie's Kookies

So we all know that Taylor has the ultimate squad, and her BFF Karlie Kloss plays a huge role in that group. If she isn't busy walking down the runway, Kloss is working on her cookie brand, Karlie's Kookies. While the cookies are definitely worth their price, if you'd rather make your own version, we've got you covered! 

Water Balloon Slide

Unfortunately, on a collegiette's budget, we can't really spring for a giant blow-up water slide like Tay did at her most recent Fourth of July party. But that doesn't mean you can't have some water slide fun! Just get some industrial plastic wrap, water and balloons for the perfect substitute.

Charades

Taylor's parties will never cease to amaze us. Charades were played at her latest shindig, which proves that no matter how famous you get, a game of charades will always be a party must. 

You don't have to break the bank to party like you were born in 1989. Just grab a few cats and your besties, and for all you know, Taylor might crash your party.

This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Samanthability, an InfluenceHer Collective member. Read the full post here. 

Whether it’s your first time going away to college or your last semester, odds are you’ll need to do some college shopping! It can be overwhelming to determine where to begin dorm shopping, especially if this is your first time away from home! When I moved into my first dorm, I remember freaking out about bringing the right stuff. I was frantically trying to determine what I would actually need! Would I need to bring my own light? What in the world was a “shower caddy?” How many towels were too many? Take a deep breath. Here, I’ve laid out all my tips I’ve learned from 4+ years spent in a dorm to create the ultimate dorm shopping guide. (Tip: Check the end of this post for a free downloadable checklist  you can take with you while dorm shopping!)

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU NEED

The first step is to determine what you actually need for your particular dorm. Each school is different, and each dorm at that school is also different. For my college, some dorms have communal bathrooms, while others have private bathrooms. Some have just two students per room, others have five! These are important details in determining your particular dorm shopping list. Check out your school residential website to see which dorms have what. You’ll want to answer the following questions:

• What furniture does your dorm come with? (Usually, you have a desk, bed, dresser, and maybe a closet.)
• Can you bring or rent a refrigerator and microwave?
• Does your room have a built-in light, or do you need to bring your own?
• Does your room have a private/shared bathroom or a communal bathroom?
• What can’t I bring (usually there’s a list of no-no items like hot plates and candles.)

Now that you know what you need, you can create your own personalized list, or use mine (see the end of this post).

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRICE

I don’t know about you, but when I was heading to school for the first time, I was worried it was going to cost an arm and a leg to go dorm shopping. You simply need SO MUCH, it seems impossible to get a good deal. Luckily, there are ways to be savvy about your dorm shopping. I think it’s easiest to go an all-in-one store where you can knock out all of your dorm shopping at once! These stores know students don’t have a lot to spend on their dorms, but they still want quality, cute stuff! Bed Bath & Beyond has always been my favorite place for bulk shopping because not only do they have crazy affordable stuff, but they also always have great promotions. I highly recommend signing up for their college email list! First-time subscribers automatically get a 20% off coupon for an in store item!

Keep in mind that you likely will not be keeping your college dorm stuff your entire life. With that said, you don’t need to purchase the most expensive bedding or decor. Bed Bath & Beyond carries items for all price ranges and styles, and it’s easy to stick to a budget! You’ve got so many other expenses as a college student, (textbooks, lab fees, parking decals…) you shouldn’t have to worry about breaking the bank while dorm shopping!

WHEN SHOULD I GO DORM SHOPPING?

It’s tricky to figure out the best time to go dorm shopping. If you’re like me, you don’t want to procrastinate and wait until the last minute, but you also don’t want to lug a ton of stuff all the way to campus! When I first went away to boarding school, I shipped a massive box of dorm stuff to campus so I wouldn’t have to drive with it all the way from Florida to New York! Check with your school to see if you’re allowed to ship items, it’s honestly such a relief!