Name: Kirstin Taylor Maldonado
Age: 21
Job Title and Description: Singer and co-owner of Pentatonix, a five-person vocal group
Website: www.ptxofficial.com and http://www.youtube.com/user/PTXofficial
Twitter Handle: @kirstin_taylor

What is the best part of your job?

Kirstie Maldonado: Being able to wake up every day knowing I'm living out my dream of performing is the best feeling in the world.  I also never traveled much previous to being in the group, so getting to adventure out and see so many beautiful places has been amazing! The different cultures and ways of each place fascinate me, and I love getting to meet so many different people. It's all a blessing!

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

KM: Oh man, so many things. I went into this when I was 19 and it was a career path I thought I'd never be a part of. Moving to LA and making albums was an exciting outlet, but I always thought I'd be slumming it job to job in NYC with hopes of being on Broadway!  There are a lot more twists and turns than one would think, a lot of background work that can influence what an artist does or what their brand is. 

Fortunately, we've had a lot of freedom branding who we are, but we were very fortunate with our deal and how we got into the business. We didn't receive the biggest support initially, so we worked hard to make our dreams and ideas a reality. But there are a lot of loopholes. In general, I just wish I had educated myself more about what I was getting in to as opposed to following along. I couldn't contribute much that way.

If you could sing a duet with any musical artist, who would it be and why?

KM: Sara Bareilles!  I have always nerded out to her music and I’m obsessed with her! When I found out she was a judge on the show that got PTX its start (NBC's The Sing-Off), I freaked out! I just think she's an inspirational person and songwriter.  I love her style and her personality, and she's just so grounded and firm in her beliefs! And I think musically she's so talented!  When I saw her on tour for the first time last year, I was basically crying the entire time, because I was so in awe of how talented and fun she was. She's a great role model of staying true to yourself and not caring about conforming to anything; she’s a true artist, in my opinion!

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

KM: I feel like 2013 was one giant snowball of me being confused with my place in life and within the group. A lot of it was self-confidence issues, a lot of outside issues and a lot of me questioning the future of what I was doing. And my mistake was letting all that influence me so that I wasn’t the best I could be in life!  

I think many in this industry go through that down time where their belief in themselves gets knocked down a few pegs, and they take a moment to decide whether this is exactly what they should be doing with their lives. Through all of that, I learned that performing is what makes me the happiest and any outside factors shouldn't change that. I learned that I want to touch people's lives through what I do and inspire them to believe in themselves and their own dreams. And I learned to surround myself by good people that support and love me, to grow a backbone and to stand up for myself and what makes me happy.  

You always have to take every opportunity you get and go for it with all your heart while staying true to yourself. In this industry especially, there's the potential to have so many copies of what's already been done well, but the best you can give to anyone, and what's worked well for the group, is what you offer.

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

KM: This year, honestly. This year has been a whirlwind. While 2013 was a struggle for me individually, professionally it's been the best year of my life! I geeked out when we met Ellen DeGeneres (and got to sing on her show, which is a huge deal for me), Beyonce acknowledged our Beyonce medley on Facebook and traveling to Europe and being able to tour and perform there was indescribable.  I can't pick one moment. There are so many surreal moments where we're just performing and I'm like, “Wow, this is incredible. This is why I do this.  This is why I love what I do.” It's making sure you live for every moment and take it all in. And it's remembering how blessed I am for all these amazing opportunities.

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

KM: Be the best you that you can be. Find others with similar aspirations, the same passion and love of music that you have and the same work ethic. Never be complacent and never accept mediocrity. Surround yourself with good people who support and love you. And have confidence in yourself and your abilities!

As smart and beautiful collegiettes, we know you'll love our new giveaway with Hyperion Teen that combines our two favorite things: books and beauty! Enter to win a copy of Melissa de la Cruz’s new novel, The Ring and the Crown, a glam makeup kit and a $150 Sephora Gift Card! Keep reading to learn about how you can enter to win this amazing "Glam of Thrones" prize pack!

Melissa de la Cruz, a New York Times best-selling author, is at it again with her new book The Ring and the Crown. This new YA novel full of romance and magic follows four girls who are circling the Franco-British throne. Of course, love and status get in the way, and soon the safety of the kingdom and the fate of the monarchy are endangered.

Want to get even more excited about the novel? Watch The Ring and the Crown’s new book trailer below. It’s both beautiful and intriguing!

Read the book's entire synopsis here. 

The Ring and the Crown will be released on April 1, but Her Campus is giving away the book along with some other goodies to one lucky collegiette! One winner will receive the “Glam of Thrones” prize pack. The prize pack, which includes a copy of The Ring and the Crown as well as a makeup kit and a $150 Sephora gift card, is worth more than $200! 

To enter, fill out the form below. The winner will be chosen at random and announced in the April 7 STUDY BREAK.

Don’t forget to visit The Ring and the Crown’s official website and use the hashtag #RingandtheCrown when sharing on social media! Plus, connect with The Ring and the Crown author Melissa de la Cruz on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. You can also find Hyperion Teen on Twitter at @HyperionTeens. 

Good luck, collegiettes!

There's just one week left to enter Campus Crasher Madness, the free competition (powered by SKYLLZONE in partnership with RECESS) among U.S. colleges to win a free concert by The Chainsmokers!

Right now, the University of California, Davis is in the lead with 29,800 points. Here are the rest of the schools in the top ten:

2. University of Washington with 8,900 points

3. University of Texas at Austin with 6,700 points

4. University of Michigan with 4,800 points

5. Cornell University with 2,200 points

6. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with 2,100 points

7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with 1,800 points

8. University of Maryland, College Park with 1,800 points

9. Arizona State University with 1,700 points

10. University of California, Santa Barbara with 1,600 points

Enter here by April 7 at 11:59 p.m. EST for a chance to win. Spread the word and help bring #SELFIE to your school!

Do you ever find yourself shrugging your shoulders and settling on the "boys will be boys" conclusion? Real Live College Guy Andy is here to show you that mature men do (in fact) exist. He has an uncanny ability to sort out the good guys from the bad apples and is here to bring you the best in college love advice.

How early is too early to sleep with a guy once you've started dating? That is if you would like it to end up being something serious, and not just a hook-up. – Boyless at Brandeis

Boyless,

So you’re worried that by sleeping with him too soon, it will make him think of you as only a hook-up. However, this is making the assumption that when a guy hooks up with a girl, he only wants something casual. But I’m a self-confessed hopeless romantic who enjoys sex, and I’ve even had sex on a first date and stayed very much interested in a relationship with the girl after we hooked up.

As the saying goes, "it takes two to tango" so any guy who throws a girl under the bus (and probably labeling her a "sl*t" in the process) for hooking up with them on a first date is 100% hypocritical. If a guy labels a girl in this way after a first date hook-up, he ought to look in the mirror. How can a guy in this situation think the girl isn't girlfriend material but think that he did nothing wrong?

Point to be had is any guy who thinks about casting off a girl as not relationship material for putting out too soon is indeed scum and not worth your time.

There is absolutely no reason that two consenting adults can't go out on a first date, hit it off, have sex that night, and then maturely ask how they both feel about each other in the morning. The next day, either party can simply say to the other, "Hey, I had a great time last night, I'm not normally the hook-up type, so if you're interested in genuinely dating, let me know."

If a guy treats you differently because of how fast the two of you hooked up, he's not the right guy for you. My advice is to not worry about when you sleep with a guy and just do what feels right.

For filmmaker Daphne McWilliams, life has always been about mother and son. The single mother and her teen son have long tackled the world together, going down a road full of emotional ups and downs in the absence of a constant father figure. Now, Daphne seeks to put that journey in perspective with Talk to Her, a film in progress with a Kickstarter campaign that's intent on revealing the raw, often unspoken emotions driving the relationship between single mothers and their sons.

The film comes at a time when the number of single-parent households is on a sharp rise in America. In 2013, a quarter of all households in the U.S. were run by single mothers, but discussion around single-parent households still hasn’t changed. Type in “single-parent households U.S.A.” into a search bar, and pages upon pages pop up that link single-parent households to poverty, stunted job mobility and other economic factors. While there are whispers of positive single-parent households, much of it is swept under the rug in favor of the classic economic approach to the issue.

Though economics do play a huge part with single parents, an emotional aspect exists that has faded somewhat into the background, and it's one that McWilliams first noticed in her son.

“I always think of when he had to tie a tie for the first time,” she remembers in an interview with Her Campus. “He came up to me and asked me to teach him, but then ended up going to see a male teacher at school and asked him to do up his tie instead. He felt like he needed to see a man for this because there are some things that boys look to a father for.”

As McWilliams’ son, Chase, grew, she gradually picked up on an emotional need that seemed to be missing, one that inspired her to film Talk to Her. McWilliams’ determination to provide an intimate portrait of young men raised by single mothers led her to gather interview subjects for a documentary.

Kevin Keenan was the first to sit down with McWilliams. Unlike the other men interviewed for Talk to Her, Kevin had never met his father, yet he was still suppressing the same thoughts and feelings as Chase and had no one to turn to for guidance. As he and his mother grew ever more estranged from each another, Kevin couldn’t help but feel lost as he struggled through his teen years.

“I wanted to be more independent. I wanted to talk to girls, and I had so many questions about so many things,” Kevin says. “But I couldn’t express any of that because I just didn’t feel like there was someone who I could talk to, someone who could give me advice and tell me what to do. I didn’t have an outlet.”

It was years before Kevin could start to emotionally open up, thanks to an art teacher and a special agent named Pete Dowling, who served as Kevin’s father figure. Even then, speaking out was still a challenge until he met McWilliams at her son’s school a few years later

McWilliams then approached Kevin about Talk to Her.

“I said ‘yes’ but then hesitated -- I didn’t know if I should do it,” Kevin recalls. “I was gradually becoming more comfortable in my own skin, but I hadn’t ever talked to anyone about a lot of things that had to do with my mom and my dad, and I never thought that I would.”

But the story changed once cameras started rolling.

“We talked for four or five hours, and I told her things that I honestly hadn’t ever told anyone in my life,” Kevin says. “It was such a release; a huge weight just lifted off my shoulders because everything that I had wanted to say all these years just came out. I cried a few times because it had been so tough to keep everything in.”

After the interview, McWilliams knew she wanted to make a full-length feature film. Nine men came and volunteered their stories, helping McWilliams realize some things about her son, who’s in his early teens.

“One of the things that I discovered was the importance of a mentor in these young men’s lives,” she says. “It didn’t matter what background these men came from. Those that had a strong mentor, like Kevin with Pete, were in a better, more stable place than those who didn’t."

She adds, “A lot of them did suffer not having a father. There were certain things that they felt they missed out on, even something as simple as playing catch, which we all take for granted.”

For the interview subjects, the long unspoken feelings uncovered a whole new perspective on their relationships with their mothers. In Kevin’s case, the post-interview thoughts prompted a serious discussion with his mother, one that eventually led to acceptance and closure.

“[My mom] was actually upset at first when I told her about the interview because we never, never talked about my dad,” Kevin says. “But we sat down, and we talked about everything we felt, everything I felt, and just cleared up so many of the questions that had been in both of our heads. It was our way of finding acceptance, and then moving on.”

As she prepares to conduct follow-up interviews in April, McWilliams’ will once again give these same young men an opportunity to talk about their emotions. The emotional aspect behind single-mother parenting has been avoided for too long, she says, but a lot of these feelings are ones many men and women can relate to -- not just men who grew up with single mothers. Everyone, agrees Kevin, develops insecurities, and that fact will drive Talk to Her home for all viewers.

“In the end, [Talk to Her is] not so much about the story as it is about human emotions that every man, woman and child feels at some point in their lives,” Kevin says. “Everyone feels pain, and this is a group of young men whose situation might be very different from yours, but they’ve gone through the same feelings of helplessness that everyone is familiar with.”

In the process of unpacking those emotions, McWilliams hopes to debunk many of the myths and stereotypes about men raised by single mothers, especially as the number of single-parent households continues to rise.

“When people talk to me about my son, they’re always talking about how he’s the man of the house or they call him a momma’s boy, but he’s neither,” McWilliams says. “From what the men I’ve interviewed have said, you really start to notice that men raised by single mothers are put into those two categories all the time, but the truth is my son is my son, and like those men, he’s neither one of those things.”

But most of all, she hopes to give the men a safe space to speak.

To learn more about "Talk to Her," you can visit the film's Kickstarter page or the official site. The Kickstarter campaign ends on April 3rd.

It’s that time of year. Similar to the Hunger Games or getting the perfect swimsuit at Target before they all sell out, registering for classes is stressful and emotionally taxing. Obviously you want to take the best classes with the best professors... but so does everyone else at your school. No matter what your major or concentration are, it always seems that the good classes get snatched up at an inhuman speed, leaving you with your second (or third, or seventh) choice course. Here's what every collegiette goes through while registering for classes. We feel you, girl. We’ve been there, too.

1. Plan out your perfect schedule, ensuring that you don’t have class on Fridays and you have the best professors. This is actually kind of exciting!

2. Get your registration time; not the worst possible time, but also not awesome.

3. Check with other people in your major to compare registration times and figure out, roughly, your chances of getting all the classes you want.

4. Skip class so that you have ultimate silence and focus during your registration time.

5. Frantically type in course numbers and titles as soon as your registration time starts. Start to feel really nervous. 

6. System overloads with all the people trying to register. Close out and start again.

7. First choice class is still open! Success.

8. Try to find your other classes. Of course, they’re all full.

9. Desperately try to find backup classes.

10. Stubbornly refuse to take a class that meets at 8 a.m. on Fridays.

11. Finally find enough classes to put together a full schedule.

12. Definitely not ideal, but at least you don’t have to take some obscure medieval poetry class.

13. Sigh with relief as you click “save.”

14. Cry a little as the result of all the emotional stress of what you've just been through. 

15. Take a nap. You deserve it.

And you're done! Until next semester, that is. 

This summer, Skidmore College will reportedly offer a course called "The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender, and Media."

The course, which will be taught by visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology Carolyn Chernoff, will examine how "ongoing media frenzy focused on Miley Cyrus' public image, music, and body highlights the ways in which intersectional identities are shaped by pop culture and mass media." 

According to the leaked syllabus, which can be found on Buzzfeed, the class will also cover the rise of the Disney Princess, what happens to Disney stars as they age, gender stratification and the hyper-commodification of childhood and more. 

Chernoff specializes in the "role of culture in reproducing and transforming social inequality" and is the cofounder of The Girls’ DJ Collective. She is also a long-time cultural worker and activist and has worked with many women’s cultural organizations on issues of violence prevention, self-expression, and arts and culture. 

So, all of your friends are taken… but you’re single.

Not that you’re not happy for them. Really, you are.

Totally not bitter at all.

But you can’t help but notice how things have changed now that you’re the only one in your group flying solo.

Girls’ nights out used to be a blast.

But now your friends are like,

And you find yourself having to convince your friends that it’s still okay to get a little wild.

You never have a proper wingwoman anymore, and your solo flirting attempts are just tragic.

And forget having anyone to dance with on the nights they bring their SOs out.

Your girl talk just isn’t as good as it used to be…

…because, let’s be real, it’s a lot less fun to listen to your friend drool over her boyfriend than it was to drool over someone else together.

In fact, you’re so starved for girl talk that you start wondering if you’re too boy crazy.

You try to whine about your single-girl problems, like,

But you don’t get very far without your friends acting like relationship gurus…

…or drawing on personal examples from their own relationships, to which you just want to be like,

There are nights when your friends don’t return your texts because it’s date night.

And when you’re not sure if it’s date night or not, you always wind up feeling needy when you text them just for something to do.

And you start thinking that you seriously need to make some new single friends for nights like this.

When you do finally steal them away from their SOs long enough for a chat, they always ask you if there’s anything new going on in your love life…

…usually as a segue into talking about their own.

But okay, okay; you don’t want to sound bitter. Luckily, a lot of your friends have really cool SOs!

Sometimes, though, third-wheeling is kind of a drag…

…especially if it feels like the SOs are always around…

…and the couples are always making out in front of you.

In all honesty, though, you have to admit that being single isn’t so bad…

…even if you have nights where you’re like,

You mostly just wish you had single friends who were on the same page as you.

You know, for solidarity.

But hey, maybe your BFF’s new boyfriend has a hot BFF to introduce you to?

It’s the summer before your freshman year, and we know that you’re more than excited about all the things college will bring. But of all the things that excite you most about college, your future roommate (or roommates, if you’re assigned more than one) is probably near the top of that list!

At the same time, rooming with a stranger can put many people on edge, especially since you’ll be rooming with her for a whole year. But getting to know your roommate before you move to campus can help with a lot of worries you might have. Read on to find out how you and your future roommate can reach out to each other and start on the right foot!

How should I contact my roommate?

Many colleges assign roommates randomly, and when they do, they usually give out some contact info for you to get in touch with whomever you’re living with. If the college you’ll be attending does that, how should you start talking to your roommate?

Email

Colleges that do give out roommate contact info usually give you your roommate’s email address, and email can be a great way to introduce yourself! Because you’ve never met or spoken before, it’s fine if your first interactions with each other are more formal since you’re just trying to establish some sort of contact with your roommate.

While some roommates don’t talk to each other all that much before college starts, others want to talk way more. If you and whomever you’re living with fall into the second category, there’s going to be a point where you might want to move away from email and get the conversation going elsewhere. Email is great if you want to keep up a steady dialogue, but you may want something more conversational and lively as time goes on.

Chat her up

If you and your roommate are more eager to get to know each other, start chatting each other! This is where Facebook, Gchat and any other chat service comes in. Chat conversations are more informal, but they also give both of you enough distance since you’re not super close yet. In cases where you and your roommate talk constantly, you’re likely going to want something more personal than email, which means chatting online is a great way to stay in touch.

By phone

Many colleges don’t actually give out roommates’ phone numbers, but if they do, you’re going to want to save it for way later, once you’re actually comfortable with your roommate. Calling your roommate as a first point of contact could be a little too much since you don’t know each other yet, so definitely avoid phoning her up until you’ve gotten to know each other better!

You’ve initiated contact—now what?

Share some basic facts about yourself

What sports do you play? What’s your favorite food? Does either one of you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? Just as you would do with any new friend you met, share some basic facts about yourself. But don’t make it all about you; ask your roommate questions and get to know all about her, too. That way, you can keep the conversation going!

• Some very basic icebreaker questions to try:
• What’s your major, and why did you choose it?
• Where are you from? What’s your hometown like?
• What extracurriculars were you involved in in high school?
• Where’s the best place you’ve ever traveled to? What was your favorite part about it?
• What do you think college is going to be like? What are you most looking forward to?

Since you and your roommate both just met and likely met online, don’t feel like you need to have deep, extremely personal conversations that you’re meant to have once you know someone better. As move-in day approaches, keep sharing more and more facts about yourself.

If you need to, start setting some boundaries

Like we mentioned before, it’s completely okay to let your roommates know what you are and aren’t comfortable with. Many collegiettes do it, and it lets them and their roommates start off conflict-free!

“We definitely talked about if we would be having boys stay over in the room ever or even just small things like if we liked to sleep with the room warm or cold,” Gonzaga University sophomore Sarah Wainschel says of her pre-move-in conversations with her roommate. “It wasn't too awkward to bring up sensitive subjects, like if we both drank or not.”

But at the same time, don’t try to set up too many limits from the get-go, or you may end up sending the wrong message about yourself. If you’re going to lay down some boundaries, bring them up after you and your roommate get to know each other a little more, since you might come off as too uptight otherwise.

“We didn't try to establish any rules or boundaries online,” says Alice*, a junior at Skidmore College. “I feel like it would have sent the wrong message, like we were overly controlling or demanding. I think it's best to talk those things over in person.”

Again, letting your roommate know your limits will make sure she has an idea of how she can live comfortably with you. But at the same time, don’t try to be too demanding from the start. If you feel like the conversation is better left for when you meet in person, that’s completely alright as well!

Some extra tips

Talk as much as you need to

Some collegiettes talk to their future roommates every day or a few times a week, but others only talk occasionally. If you aren’t super comfortable with constantly chatting up your roommate-to-be, know that it’s totally appropriate to reach out to each other only every now and then as well. Do whatever is natural to you, because that will keep your conversations from seeming too forced or being awkward.

“I just texted her and asked whenever [things] came up naturally in conversation,” Sarah says. “Besides that, we would text each other just every once in a while if we wanted input on what bedspread to get or to let each other know we loved the other’s dress at prom.”

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Let’s say that you have nothing in common with your roommate, or you feel like she’s just not someone you’ll get along with. Even if that’s the case, don’t give up and assume that you’re going to have a terrible time living together! There are tons of collegiettes out there who thought they wouldn’t get along with their freshman roommates but ended up becoming great friends instead.

“Actually, what's interesting is that my roommates and I couldn't have been more different from one another,” recalls Iris Goldzstajn, a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles. “The one who found me first was a shy art major from San Francisco, and the one who was a second year was a very engaged and opinionated poli sci major from Washington. I'm a really peppy girls’ girl, so we basically had very little in common! We bonded mostly over being able to learn from what we all had to offer and wanting to get along.”

This lesson is especially important if you’re browsing your roommate’s Facebook. Social media accounts only scratch the surface of what a person is really like, so don’t take everything you see at face value!

“I guessed from Facebook that I was totally different from both of my roommates, and I was right, but we ended up having a much more easygoing living space than most of my friends who were paired with girls more similar to them,” Alice says. “We never argued once, we were one of the few rooms that remained a triple the entire year and we still keep in touch!”

In the end, your freshman college roommate will likely be your first friend, and therefore the first person you get close to once you move away from home. While you won’t really get to know each other until you both actually move in, reaching out to each other will let both of you transition into college life way more smoothly!

*Name has been changed.

After months of editing your resume, relentlessly hunting for internships, and shopping for the perfect interview outfit, you finally landed a summer internship! Whether you’ve set your sights on the corner cubicle or the tent by an ancient archaeological dig, you’ll need to brush up on your intern manners in order to put your best foot forward.

1. DO smile

Employers and internship supervisors want to know that they’ve hired someone who is happy to be there, so show them that you are! Kelsey Mulvey, a collegiette from Boston University, polished her positive attitude during internships at Lucky magazine, Time Out New York, and Anthropologie.

“Interning isn't always a walk in the park,” Kelsey said. “Even when you feel a little overwhelmed, take on every challenge with a smile and a ‘can do’ attitude – your supervisor(s) will love your optimism.”

Struggling to stay smiling during those long, unpaid hours? Salwa Muhammad, the Program Director of Internships at Wellesley College, suggests learning more about your workplace.

“It could be getting to know co-workers outside of work or getting to know what the impact of the work you’re doing is eventually – not just in the 9-5 realm, but . . . how it affects people, how it affects the field you’re in,” Muhammad said. “The more you can feel part of a bigger mission or even a cog in a wheel that has a larger effect, the more you’ll be able to see yourself there in a positive light.”

2. DO say yes to everything (within reason!)

None of us wants to end up like Hannah on a past season of Girls, biting off more than we can chew and winding up with crippling anxiety, a popped eardrum, and an atrocious self-haircut. Don’t run yourself into the ground by taking on too many projects, but when you find you have the time to take on an opportunity, go for it! As an intern, you’re there to learn and hone your skills, so take as many chances to do so as you can. Internship supervisors will love your go-getter attitude.

“When I started at my first internship at the News & Observer, I was given some ‘fluff’ assignments that the other reporters didn't want to do,” said Michelle Lewis, an alum of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and HC's Senior Editor. “I started off by covering an arts festival on a Saturday. The fact that I would do these assignments that nobody else wanted to do and [that] I was happy to do them made my editor trust me with bigger responsibilities later on. I went from writing about a festival to covering murders on my own in a few weeks!”

3. DO practice good email etiquette

Internship etiquette goes beyond normal business hours. Even if you’re on your computer at home, you want to maintain your status as the star intern.

The key is to be respectful of the other person’s tight schedule – in other words, don’t leave them hanging! “Answering emails promptly is very important, especially for an intern, because you’re there for a short time and you want to make that impression,” Muhammad confirmed.

If you’ve never had to write a professional email, you might be confused about how to begin. How formal do you have to be online? “If it’s somebody you’ve met, and if it’s okay to use their first name – which I think most internship situations would [allow] – then it’s definitely okay to start off that way,” said Muhammad. “[Otherwise], you want to address people with Mr. or Ms., and you can always switch later.”

Muhammad believes it’s best to finish with an email signature that’s all your own. WiseStamp helps you customize signatures, but Muhammad warns against using funky fonts, bright colors, or images. “It’s fine to be somewhat creative, but also be professional,” she said.

4. DON’T text or use social media

It should come as no surprise that, according to Muhammad, texting and surfing the web are ultimate no-nos while you’re on the clock. You may not be getting paid, but that doesn’t mean you can waste your time at the office. The last thing you want to do is give off the impression that you’re more interested in your roommate’s latest foodie Instagram than in your project for the day!

However, Muhammad acknowledges that cell phone use is becoming more and more acceptable in the office, largely due to the fact that email has become so efficient on mobile devices (for which we owe yet another thanks to our best friends: smartphones). Marketing and advertising agencies are especially open to cell phones, provided you use them professionally. “My advice is [during] the first week: try not using it,” Muhammad said. “See what other people are doing. And if not using it is actually creating a disadvantage for you because they’re viewing you as someone who’s not tech-savvy, then go back to it. But always use it with caution.”

5. DON’T turn work time into social hour

As much as we would like to be employed simply to make friends, sadly, this isn’t the case. While it’s always nice to be tight with your fellow interns and even your higher-ups, your main focus should be your work. Otherwise, you’ll send the message that you aren’t taking your job seriously.

After interning at Glamour, Katrina Laivins, a collegiette from the University of Connecticut, realized that as an intern, “you should not be wasting your time gossiping [or] socializing with other interns. There is plenty of time after work or on the weekends when you can hang out with your intern friends and get to know them.”

Muhammad suggests taking advantage of coffee breaks and lunch breaks, happy hours, and any other social gatherings outside of the office to chitchat with your officemates. “Even though [coffee breaks] [only take] five minutes or less, it’s great bonding time,” she noted.

6. DO be friendly to co-workers

Why is that bonding time over mochaccinos so important? According to Muhammad, “Internships are great networking opportunities. Not only are you learning from the work you’re doing or the organization you’re in, but you’re [also] networking with the people, you’re working with their networks.” Nobody wants to network with someone whom they can’t stand to be around!

Networking aside, friendliness is often the best way to get things done. Need help with a project? Trying to agree on how to tackle a team task? Asking nicely is the best way to convince someone to cooperate with you, and people are usually willing to go above and beyond for co-workers whom they actually like.

7. DO give off the right body language

Props to you for perfecting your “I’m-thrilled-to-be-here” smile, but flashing your pearly whites is only half of the battle. Don’t forget to let the rest of your body do the talking, too!

First things first: the handshake. Keep it firm and confident! “If you're nervous about shaking hands, simply offer your hand first,” advised Rachel Wendte, a recent grad of Butler University. “It's a confident way to introduce yourself, and most people will follow suit without any weirdness. It's also just plain polite.”

The handshake needs to be accompanied by more than that mega-watt smile; you also need to make eye contact. Julia Kennedy, a student at the University of Portland, said that eye contact went a long way during her internship at Portland Timbers. “Making pointed eye contact, especially at the beginning, end, and important parts of a conversation, helps people think that they can trust you, lets them [know] that you're paying attention to them, and that you care about what they’re saying.”

While internship etiquette isn’t everything – you have to actually do your work, too! – it makes people take notice and appreciate your presence in the workplace, laying the groundwork for you to put your true talents on display. Follow these seven golden rules and you’ll be well on your way to internship stardom by the end of week one!

There’s no wrong way to make a charitable contribution—but there sure is a hot way!

The C*ck in a Sock campaign is raising money for Cancer Research U.K. (the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research) as well as raising awareness for testicular and prostate cancer. Guys post a selfie of themselves, wearing nothing but a sock on their penis, and they're raising awareness and encouraging donations!

But how can you help? You can donate to C*ck in a Sock by texting SOCK70 and the amount you want to donate to 70070 or visiting their Just Giving page. 

You can also check out some of the pictures using the hashtag #cockinasock or #getyoursockout on Instagram or liking their Facebook page, which has already racked up over 100,000 likes!

Get donating, collegiettes (and men, keep posting those pics!). 

Whether you found your roommate on the pre-frosh Facebook group, at orientation or through an online roommate search, you never really know a person until you live with her. Here are the 11 types of roommates you’ll find in college!

1. The One Who Never Stops Studying

This girl takes “silence is golden” to a whole new level. She’s constantly studying for her next big exam or completing her mountain of bio homework. God forbid you disturb her quiet study environment, or you will definitely have to deal with her wrath. She may be quiet, but she is fierce when there’s a chance you’d interfere with her path to good grades and a high GPA. The only time you can hold a conversation with her is when you’re talking about schoolwork—her favorite topic!

2. The Neat Freak

You may not be the tidiest person in the world, but she most certainly is. She always has her side of the room clean, including, but not limited to, her bed being made, her magazines in a neat pile on her dresser and her pencils placed perfectly in their holder. She’s the queen of Lysol-ing and organization, so your side of the room will always look like a disaster in comparison. When your side of her room isn’t up to her standards, you will surely get little snide remarks about it!

3. The Slob

Unlike The Neat Freak, The Slob has no cares in the world about her side of the room. Her clothes are piled high all over the room, there are empty Chinese food containers covering her desk and it’s hard to walk across the room without tripping over multiple pairs of her shoes. A little mess here and there is one thing, but The Slob adds to the mess 24/7, making you live right below the line of unsanitary living conditions. 

4. The One Who’s in a Serious Relationship

This girl is the stereotypical overly obsessed girlfriend. Her wall is littered with photos of her and her boyfriend, as if him being in the room 24/7 wasn’t enough. In fact, you basically have two roommates in this situation. They’re constantly taking over the room by cuddling, watching movies and doing other couple-y things you don’t want going on in your presence (but will happen regardless). 

5. The Partier

This roommate situation could go one of two ways: extremely annoying or extremely convenient. If you’re down to go out, your partying roommate will probably know the best frat houses to go to and have the cutest wardrobe to borrow stuff from. If you’re not exactly ready to live life in the fast lane, your roommate constantly stumbling in the room at 2 a.m. totally drunk is a whole different story.

6. The Mooch

The Mooch thinks that everything in the room can be shared. She’s constantly eating your food, borrowing your clothes or taking your school supplies. If she needs something you have, she’s not afraid to just take it without asking.

7. The Social Butterfly

The Social Butterfly loves socializing and talking to as many people as she can. She’s constantly leaving your door open to meet new people and wandering in and out of the hallway, stalking her next target. She invites different people over to hang out on a daily basis, even at the most inconvenient times. She’ll talk your ear off most of the time, but she’s great whenever there’s an awkward silence or you’re looking for a wingwoman.

What to do: If you feel like there are too many people coming in and out of your room, express your concerns with her. There are other places on campus where she can hang out, so maybe your room doesn’t have to be the hangout spot every day.

8. The Hermit

You’re not going to be able to miss this roommate, because she is always around. She lives in the room, constantly sitting on her computer or reading a book in bed. It seems like she doesn’t have many other friends, or any semblance of a social life, for that matter. It can get annoying when you want to have time to yourself, but at least you’ll always know where to find her if you need her!

9. The Drama Queen

This is the last type of roommate you need to be sharing a room with. If she as much as finds a stray sock of yours on her side of the room, you know you’re going to end up hearing about it. She’s an expert at writing passive-aggressive Post-it notes about what you’ve done wrong and sticking them on your mirror—unless she gets to confront you in person! She thrives on drama and will start something with everyone and anyone. Because you’re her roommate, you’ll most likely be her main target.

10. The Ghost

You saw her the first time you both moved in, but you haven’t seen much of her since. She’s always out of the room and busy, so you’re basically living alone. When you do get to see her, it’s never for more than a few minutes at a time. Sometimes you even wonder if she’s alive! But she (probably) is, just MIA.

11. The Perfect Match

Disregarding all the bad roommates you could have ended up with, ending up with your perfect match is a dream come true. You enjoy the same things, you have the same expectations of what your room should be like and you get along magnificently. Some may say you’re attached at the hip, but you both just think it was meant to be. She’s not only your roommate; she’s also your best friend. It was a match made in roommate heaven!

No matter what type of roommate you have, talking problems out and setting boundaries can help you deal with her.  So if you’re searching for a roommate or have already experienced one of these types of roommates, best of luck!

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

Breakfast

That may look like regular old oatmeal, but it's not. It's oatmeal... minus the oats! How? Why? Is this an April Fools' joke? Let me explain.

I love oatmeal so much that I pretty much have it every morning. And there's nothing wrong with that, because my bowl of morning oats has a healthy balance of fiber, protein and healthy fats. But because I have it so often, sometimes I need to switch it up a little so that I don't get sick of it. The other day, I was searching around for alternatives to oatmeal and I came across a recipe for oatmeal minus the oats on the blog Carrots 'N' Cake. I was intrigued - a dish that looks and tastes like oatmeal, but isn't oatmeal? How could it be? 

The recipe uses mashed banana and egg whites instead of oats. When cooked in a pot on a stove top, the banana and egg whites fluff up into an oat-like consistency. Tina, the blogger behind Carrots 'N' Cake, described the texture as "oatmeal-like, but not as creamy and a little bit slimy," like "really light and fluffy scrambled egg whites." I prepared the oatless oats exactly as Tina outlined in the post (besides the walnuts, which I omitted because I didn't have any), and I agree with her description. It was definitely light and fluffy. It does taste slighty egg-y, but it has a sweetness to it from the vanilla, cinnamon and banana. I kind of thought it tasted like bread pudding, which I absolutely love. I topped mine with a spoonful of almond butter, just as I do with my regular oats.

I really liked this recipe a lot, but it doesn't top good, old-fashioned oats for me. Texture-wise, I prefer the denser, creamier consistency of oats. But one advantage these oatless oats have over regular oatmeal is more protein. Because it uses egg whites in place of a grain, the oatless oats have three times as much protein as a half cup of rolled oats (15 grams compared to five grams). That makes it an especially good breakfast option because it ensures that your stomach won't be grumbling an hour later. 

This won't be replacing my morning bowl of oats, but I will for sure make it again every so often as an alternative. Interested in going oatless? Check out the recipe below. 

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 banana, mashed
• 3/4 cup liquid egg whites (or 3 egg whites)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (add more if desired)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Toppings of your choice 

Directions

1. Whisk together egg whites and almond milk and then stir in walnuts, ground flax, banana, vanilla extract and cinnamon; blend well.
2. In a medium saucepan, warm the mixture on the stove, stirring frequently, until the “oatmeal” reaches the desired consistency; this should only take a few minutes.
3. Top with berries, nut butter, seeds or whatever else your heart desires.

Lunch

I had somewhat of a weird lunch, not based off of any recipe but just off of a mix of ingredients I threw together. I had cooked quinoa in the fridge from a big batch I made a few days ago, so I decided to use it up. I microwaved a sweet potato for five to seven minutes until soft, mashed it up and then combined it with the quinoa. I added shredded carrots and a scoop of plain Greek yogurt to the mix and sprinkled some pumpkin pie spice on top for sweetness. Even though it sounds and looks bizarre, this bowl of randomness actually ended up tasting pretty good. It kind of reminded me of pumpkin oatmeal. 

Dinner 

For dinner, I had spaghetti squash, but I prepared it differently than I usually make it. I found a perfectly ripe avocado in my kitchen, which is rare because I tend to forget about my avocados until they are brown and disgusting, so instead of marinara sauce, I topped my squash strands with mashed avocado. Because it's naturally so rich and creamy, avocado makes for a great pasta sauce or a spread on toast. Just like butter, but better for you!

I mashed up one small avocado and mixed it with one cup of spaghetti squash and a half cup of garbanzo beans, and then topped it with a little bit of salt, pepper and fresh lemon juice. I loved this combination. Sometimes the simplest dinners are the most satisfying ones.

Kwasi Enin, a 17-year-old student from Long Island, N.Y, has received the rare honor of being accepted to all eight Ivy League universities.

“By applying to all eight, I figured it would better the chances of getting into one,” Kwasi tells NY Daily News. He received acceptance letters from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale. 

Together, the Ivy League universities accepted less than 9 percent of applicants for the class of 2018. Harvard had the lowest acceptance rate, with 5.9 percent, whereas Cornell had the highest at 14 percent.

The William Floyd High School senior scored a 2,250 out of 2,400 on his SATs, which puts him in the 99th percentile of students taking the exam. He is also an athlete, singer and member of his school's orchestra. 

Kwasi's parents emigrated from Ghana, making him a first-generation American. Although he has not yet decided which school he'll attend, he says he's leaning toward Yale.

"They seem to embody all the kinds of things I want in a college," he says. "The family. The wonderful education. The amazing, diverse students. Financial aid as well."

Kwasi says he hopes to eventually become a cardiologist or neurologist. 

“Mirror mirror on the wall, will my lab partner ask me out, after all?”

It’s a tale as old as time: girl meets boy, girl obsesses over boy, and girl does something stupid to chase boy away. Obviously, our college years aren’t synonymous with a happily ever after that includes a sunset and a Celine Dion soundtrack, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream—we may just have to settle for a “castle” (read: frat house) instead. But sitting on the couch rewinding our favorite Disney classics hoping for lust, love, and for our sadly unattractive classmate to magically turn into the hottest campus cutie (hey, it worked for Belle), isn’t exactly helping. In fact, come to think of it, our beloved Disney Princesses aren’t necessarily the greatest role models, to say the least — I don’t see a fairy godmother appearing at my doorstep ready to dress me to the nines. So just where are our royal role models steering us wrong? We’ve hovered over are classic VHS tapes and have uncovered the lessons you shouldn’t be taking from our idolized princesses.

Ariel: The less you wear, the more likely he’s going to like you

I’ll give her some credit because she does land Prince Eric, who’s definitely one of the hotter cartoon princes, but other than that, the undersea princess couldn’t be more desperate for her man’s attention. Not only does she compromise her voice for a pair of legs — um, hello so much more maintenance!—but she silently (literally) waits around in a barely-there shell bikini for Eric to come her way. And it totally works: the less you wear and the quieter you are, the more likely you’ll be able to land the man of your dreams.

Instead: Put some clothes on

Sure you should flaunt what you’ve got, but there is a fine line between being put together and being a full-on hot mess that no one wants to touch. Leave a little something to his imagination and don’t put it all out there right away. Ditch the bralette and high-waisted skirt, or the barely-there bodycon for something flirty, but not over too over the top — the frat house is no place for those ensembles, anyway. You’re a girl, so he obviously knows (we hope) that you have boobs. There’s no need to shove them in his face. Guys love a woman’s body, but let him have the opportunity to fall in love with your personality, too. Also, if an evil octopus ever offers to make a deal with you in exchange for you vocals, just say no. Trust us.

Mulan: Be one of the guys (and like everything he likes)

Mulan has moxie, tons of it. She chops off her hair, runs away from home, and impersonates a man in the Chinese army. (I cry when I get my hair trimmed.) Anyway, while she may be a serious force to be reckoned with, the Asian princess tries a little too hard when it comes to snagging her prince. Her intentions are in the right place—she is saving her father from the fight—but her actions can be misconstrued as desperate in the search for love.  Hello, she goes beyond the whole idea of trying to be one of the bros and literally becomes one! You don’t have to be ladylike 24/7, but Mulan drops all grace and class, and even her manners.  Spitting is just never okay.

Instead: Don’t change who you are for a guy

When it comes to love, many of us mold ourselves into someone else to impress the opposite sex:

“Basketball and beer are like my two favorite hobbies.”

“I love fishing, they don’t call it the great outdoors for nothing.”

“Star Wars marathon? Hell yes!”

Please, do you really think he’s buying any of that? Straying from the truth isn’t going to make a relationship work. Eventually, you’ll have to give up the act and, by then, it may be too late to salvage what you’ve got.  Plus, keeping up with the lies can be as exhausting as running a marathon — even Mulan falters when she has to go swimming in the pond with the guys.  It’s hard to hide yourself these days, especially with Facebook ready to air out your dirty laundry. Not to mention, it’s pretty hard to be happy when you’re not doing the things you love. If you’ve got Bieber Fever, admit to it. Can’t get enough of Twilight? Might as well spill about it. In the end, if he judges you based on your interests, then he’s totally not worth the time. Be you, end of story, and the beginning of happily ever after. Just remember: it’s not about forcing him to love everything you love too — relationships are about this funny little thing called balance.

Snow White: Strangers are your friends; go ahead, you can trust them

She may the fairest in the land, but I’m to go out on a limb and say that Snow White may also be the dumbest. She’s that girl—the one who wanders around the forest innocently and ignorantly. Flat out: Snow White is too sweet for her own good. Thus, it’s no surprise that she takes a (poisoned) apple from a complete and total stranger and then proceeds to eat said fruit, and basically almost dies. Did her parents and guardians seriously teach her nothing?

Instead: Don’t accept things from strangers

STRANGER DANGER: it rhymes for a reason. Snow (it’s the 21st Century, we’re not calling her by her first and last name, #excessive) is too eager to accept a seemingly harmless gift from an obvious questionable suspect. Just because Prince Charming comes and saves his damsel in distress doesn’t mean the same will happen to you. Whether you’re out at bar, a club, or even the frat house you’ve partied at far too many times, be careful of your surroundings and lucid about what you’re drinking — you never know who’s slipping a little something into your jungle juice. And getting roofied is so uncool not to mention, uh, dangerous. Check your drink/yourself before you wreck yourself.

Belle: Abusive relationships are fine and normal

In a completely unrealistic storyline (but still, one of my all-time faves), Belle, (despite having a good head on her shoulders), manages to get herself stuck in a castle full of talking silverware and a gruesome beast. He growls at her, throws temper tantrums, and, oh right, locks her in his massive house — sounds like a normal relationship. Not. Although Belle fights back in the beginning, she eventually succumbs to the Beast’s controlling ways. She even goes back him after he seemingly has a brain aneurism and frees her. Really, Belle? She’s seriously addicted to this emotionally abusive relationship.

Instead: Don’t let a guy control you

To quote the wise and all-knowing Miley Cyrus, “I can’t be tamed.” No guy should have you wrapped around his finger like you’re some kind of toy. Belle had a life outside of that castle, but the Beast wouldn’t let her leave and she took that as a final answer. Sorry, but no. You have to stand your ground and fight for what you want. Emotional abuse is just as rough as anything physical. If he tries to get in the way of what want, it’s time to walk the other way.

Cinderella: He should always come to you

Cinderella (is it time to call her Cindy, yet?) mops the floors, cleans the chimneys, and washes the dishes. She’s essentially a full-time maid who can’t escape her work, literally. So when she finally does get her night to shine she goes all out, mingling with royalty, she makes a serious connection with Prince Charming. But of course, as you know, when the clock strikes midnight, she bails, and runs back to her sad, pathetic life of chores. What’s a girl to do next? Oh, right — wait for the prince to come find her, of course! It’s very unladylike to seek out a gentleman. Gag…

Instead: Make moves, ask him out

See someone you like? Go for it! In this day and age, if you take Cinderella’s advice and wait for your prince to knock down your door with the perfect size 8 Louboutin heel, well, let’s just say you’ve got a lot of time to kill — better pick up knitting. Instead, gather some courage, fix your mascara, and get up and ask him out to dinner. Don’t wait for the magical shoe to be slipped onto your foot, go make your own magic. And on another note: if the friendly neighborhood mice start speaking to you, it may be time to stop inhaling the cleaning products.

So collegiettes, the next time you seek out your prince, toss the tiara out the window (figuratively, of course) and be you — as cliché as it sounds, I swear it’ll work.  Because think about it: the credits roll before you really find out what happens behind closed castle doors. Did they seriously live happily ever after in a nudist colony with poisoned fruit and abusive husbands? Your chances at happiness are significantly higher once you forget the Disney Princesses.

A dog is a collegiette’s best friend! Here are just a few reasons why we always miss our furry friends while we’re away at school.

1. Dogs are always happy to see you when you come home.

2. They make great listeners…

3. …and they’ll never judge you—their love is unconditional.

4. Dogs don’t need you to constantly entertain them. 

5. They force you to be active…

6. …but they’re also always down to cuddle.

7. Dogs will put up with your annoying habits.

8. When you have a dog, you’ll never eat alone again.

9. They teach you responsibility…

10. …and they know how to bring out the best in you.

11. Dogs can feel your pain.

12. A dog’s loyalty never expires…

13. …and no matter what, your dog will always be willing to give you a kiss.

It’s that time of year again. All of your friends are hearing back about their internship applications, but somehow you missed the memo and haven’t sent out a single application yet. With all your schoolwork and your busy social life, you may not have realized that summer is approaching—and fast. It happens; sometimes a busy collegiette gets so caught up with other things that her career plans can fall to the bottom of her priority list. But don’t worry; it’s not too late to snag an amazing internship! We talked to the experts about how to find an internship at the last second.

Start with recently posted positions

While many companies like to get a head start on hiring summer interns, this isn’t always the case. Start out your search by combing through job-posting sites. Tom Dezell, author of Networking for the Novice, Nervous, or Naïve Job Seeker, says you can try larger websites like Internships.com, but that “with any of the large career and job sites, you face the stiffest competition.” He recommends CollegeRecruiter.com or aggregator sites like Indeed and Simply Hired. Aggregator websites pull job postings from all over the web and put them in one place. They’re basically Google for your job search!

When searching for internships at the last minute, be sure to keep an eye on the date of postings. If you’re looking at a position now that was posted two months ago, it’s probably already been filled. Most of these websites will let you sort postings by date; start by applying for recent posts first so you can be one of the first applicants in. By focusing on these recent posts, you’ll seriously increase your chances of getting a position late in the game!

Reach out to alumni from your school

One of the most valuable resources you have as a student is the people who used to be exactly in your place. Usually, alumni love to help students from their alma mater. If you’re struggling to find an internship, Dezell says to seek alumni out during your job hunt. “Check with both the career center and alumni offices for possible contacts and introductions to alumni in fields you hope to pursue,” he says.

Career center associates usually keep track of prominent alumni in different industries, particularly those who would like to stay in touch with the school and its students. Make an appointment with an associate in your career development office and ask if there are any alumni he or she thinks you should be talking to! Ask for the alums’ contact information so you can email them.

You can seek out alumni online, too. “If you have started using LinkedIn, you could look up alumni at target companies and reach out to them directly,” Dezell says.

LinkedIn is an important career resource, so if you’re not already on it, make a profile ASAP! You can use the alumni search function to look for alums in your field, or you can try searching the whole site for the name of your school and of companies you’re interested in.

When you’ve found an alum whom you want to get in touch with, send him or her an email or personalized LinkedIn request explaining who you are and what your professional interests are. Tell the alum how you found his or her information, and ask if you can get together to talk about the industry. Don’t ask for an internship directly; mention that you’re looking for one, but focus on wanting to learn about the alum and his or her job.

Once you’ve started a conversation with an alum, tell him or her about what you’re interested in. Emily Miethner, founder of FindSpark, a community for young, creative professionals, says to “be specific about what type of role you want at one type of company. Otherwise, it’s hard for people to help you.”

If you tell an alum exactly what kind of opportunities you’re interested in, she’ll know to reach out to you if that kind of position opens up at her company or another one she’s connected to. Tell her exactly what you’re passionate about and how hard you’re willing to work for it, and you could be at the top of her list!

Find companies on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is useful for more than just finding alumni. Think about your industry and make a list of companies you would be interested in working for. If you don’t know any alumni who work there, search for the companies on LinkedIn. Most companies have LinkedIn pages where you can view its employees’ profiles.

“By looking up companies on [LinkedIn] that you might hope to intern with, you may discover you have connections to someone within the company that might be able to introduce you as an internship candidate,” Dezell says. Send a message through LinkedIn or send an email if the person’s address is listed, and tell her how interested you are in her company or job. By explaining your love of the industry and making the effort to contact her, you’ll stand out among potential interns.

If internship positions have already been filled, request an informational interview; people sometimes pull out of internships at the last minute, and you’ll be the first person the employer will think of when she needs a replacement. Even if the company isn’t hiring right now, you’ll stand out for future internships by expressing interest in the company. “Don’t be shy; associations will likely welcome the opportunity,” Dezell says. “They love to assist and know it’s a great opportunity to recruit future members.”

To ask for an informational interview, reach out and introduce yourself. Explain your interests and how you’re seeking an internship in the field and want to learn more about the industry. Ask for just 15 minutes to meet for coffee or chat on the phone; it’s not long, but it’s enough to get yourself noticed and have your questions answered.

According to Miethner, “It’s also okay to tell different people different goals based on what they’d be likely to help you with, if you’re open to a variety of opportunities.” For example, if you’re interested in publishing and public relations, reach out to people in both areas. Tell those in publishing how you’re dying to be an editorial intern, and talk to PR professionals about your passion for public relations. It’s okay to be open to different possibilities that you’re interested in, especially when you’re looking for an internship at the last minute. Cast a wide net and you’re sure to snag a great internship!

Get introduced

One of the most important things to remember while you search for an internship is that your network extends beyond professional contacts. Everyone you know – friends, family, professors – has the potential to help further your career. Ask your parents to think of friends they have in your industry. See if your older siblings know anyone, or ask your professors about their contacts. “Anybody you know that may have contacts in a field you’re looking at can [possibly] help,” Dezell says. “Don’t hesitate to ask anyone, since most people know people from many different backgrounds and can make referrals.”

If you’ve searched for companies on LinkedIn but don’t have any first connections there, see if you would be comfortable asking for introductions to second connections. You never know—your old roommate’s brother may have your dream job, and he may be looking for an intern! Send a message to your first connection explaining that you saw that he or she is connected to someone whose company interests you, and that you would love to be introduced to that person if that’s something he or she is comfortable with. Don’t push too hard; if your connection has only met that person once, he or she may not feel that an introduction is appropriate.

If your mutual friend can make an intro, Miethner says to “tell [your friend] exactly what you’d like them to say [to the person you’d like to connect with]. It isn’t pushy; it’s helpful.” That way, when you’re introduced, this new connection can know right off the bat what you’re interested in and that you’re seeking an internship. You should mention that you’re looking for an internship, but you shouldn’t be making any demands. Start out with your interest in the field and ask to meet for lunch or speak over the phone so you can prove yourself to be a valuable intern candidate.

Never be afraid to reach out to people; after all, the worst that can happen is that they say no. If that’s the case, just move on to the next contact. Reach out to everyone you can; you’ll never know whom you could meet if you don’t ask! Getting yourself out there is a great route to take when there aren’t many internship positions open. Making people aware of the fact that you’re looking for an internship will make them think of you when an opportunity arises. If you make connections now and stay in touch over the next few months, they’ll keep you in mind!

Make cold calls and create your own opportunities

This method can seem pretty intimidating to many collegiettes, but it’s totally worth it. If the companies you’re interested in don’t seem to be hiring interns, find a phone number for an HR representative or intern coordinator at the company and give him or her a call anyway. You can also try this over email since company phone numbers aren’t always available.

If you’re calling, give your quick elevator pitch and ask if the company is looking for interns. If the representative says the company has already filled its summer internship positions, ask if there’s any way you can volunteer to work with the company or shadow an employee for a few days. The company may not have the budget to pay another intern (if they’re paying interns at all), but if you’re qualified, they may accept the free help. Tell the representative you want to get involved in any way possible.

If the company you call doesn’t have an internship program at all, this is your chance to really sell yourself as a valuable addition to their team. When you’re struggling to find an internship, you need to get creative. Dezell says you sometimes have to “propose and create your own internship opportunities.” Give a brief description of your experience and how it relates to what the company does, and do your best to convince the representative to create a position for you. Dazzle her with your passion, dedication and fabulous personality, and she’s sure to want you on the team!

Go virtual

If there aren’t a lot of internships in your area and you’re concerned about getting summer housing in a major city at the last minute, consider seeking a remote internship. There are plenty of companies that hire interns to work from home. When searching for positions, try adding the term “remote” or “virtual” to your search.

Remote internships are great because they give you a lot of flexibility. They also save you the trouble of spending money on a commute or summer housing. This is especially helpful for unpaid positions; most unpaid interns lose money with the expenses required just to get to work.

If you’re interested in writing, social media or computer science, landing a remote internship is especially easy, since these industries require a lot of time on the computer and less face-to-face time. But no matter what industry you’re in, a remote internship could be possible. Virtual internships can be easier to get at the last minute because they require less planning in advance; if a company’s interns don’t have to find housing in the area, they can usually start work pretty much right away.

If your friends are accepting internships left and right, don’t sweat it, collegiettes! You have the resources you need to find an internship, even at the last minute. Take a deep breath and don’t stress. There are still plenty of opportunities out there!

You’ve tested the dating pool by going to frat parties, scoping out club meetings and looking extra cute for class in the hopes that you’ll catch the attention of that campus cutie who sits across from you, but finding a quality guy can be harder than it looks.

We all know the pickings can be slim on college campuses, and while every collegiette has different standards when it comes to choosing her guy, there’s one thing we can all agree we want to avoid: drama. While we can’t exactly find your dream guy for you, Her Campus is here to help you with a list of guys to avoid while searching for potential boyfriends.

While these rules aren’t set in stone, follow these guidelines to avoid the dramatic consequences that tend to come with dating these guys:

1. Your RA

While it’s your resident assistant’s job to make you feel as comfortable as possible in your dorm, dating him can cross the line and become a little too comfortable. While it may start out as what seems like the ideal situation (he lives down the hall!), it could backfire if things don’t work out.

“Last semester I was hooking up with my RA and I thought we were going to date, but he ended things with me and it got so awkward,” says Michelle, a freshman at the University of Delaware. “I see him every day and just look down. The mandatory floor meetings he runs every week are so uncomfortable now!”

2. Your TA

Having a hot teaching assistant makes that 8 a.m. chemistry class so much more tolerable, right? While dating a TA may not seem as bad as dating a professor because he’s still a student, it can be seen as unethical and should definitely wait until after the class is over. Plus, if you decide he’s not your Prince Charming, do you really want your grade lying in the hands of an angry ex?

3. Your Friend’s Ex

This is the girl code we learn from day one: your friend’s ex-boyfriend is off-limits.

“I’ve always had a crush on my friend’s ex-boyfriend. They had been broken up for over a year when we finally hooked up, so I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” says Lexi, a junior at the University of Michigan. “I immediately told her about it and asked if she would be upset if it happened again. She said yes, so I backed off, but our friendship hasn’t been the same since.”

Dating a friend’s ex is practically guaranteed to lead to drama—or even the end of a friendship.

4. Your Ex's Roommate

No matter how much you may like him, we can’t imagine anything more awkward than spending R&R time with your boyfriend… and your ex. Together. In one room. A relationship should be a comfortable experience, and by starting things up with someone who’s close to your ex (in both a “close friends” and a “close quarters” sense), tension will be created right from the start.

5. Your Dorm-mate

Dating someone right next door can seem like a perfect (and convenient!) option in college. Who doesn’t want to see their beau every day for the rest of the school year? However, there are two majors problems with this: one, too much time together may not always benefit your relationship, and two, if it ends, you’ll have to see him every time you walk in and out of your door.

“Dating my neighbor was the worst idea I’ve ever had,” says Sara*, a freshman at the University of Delaware. “After we broke up, he’d give me dirty looks in the hallway all the time and cause a huge scene any time I brought another guy home. It was terrible.”

6. The Campus Player

Every collegiette thinks she can totally change the guy who openly embraces single life by hooking up with everyone in sight. But before you go for this challenge, think about it—do you really want to be with someone with wandering eyes who is infamous around campus for his hook-ups?

7. Your Friend’s Brother

If your friend is a protective sister or brother, things could get weird with this one. “I dated my best friend’s brother for a little while,” says Arielle, a sophomore at the University of Delaware. “We all thought it would be great at first, but soon my friend was getting annoyed that every time I came over it wasn’t for her anymore. Eventually it caused too much drama, and I ended things with him.”

There are so many dateable guys out there, so when you’re searching for your potential beau, keep this list in mind to eliminate the drama. Enjoy your flings, collegiettes!

*Name has been changed.

For all of you born in 1990 or after, don't even try to pretend that these moments from your childhood and teenage years weren't monumental. *~mEmOrIeS 4 LiFe~*

1. Finding out Lindsay Lohan wasn’t two people.

2. When you received your first package of day-of-the-week underwear. 

3. The day General Mills tried to pull a fast one on us and change the shape of Trix from magical fruit to balls. 

4. When Cory and Topanga FINALLY got married.

5. The beginning of your trust issues with your science teachers. 

6. The day you found out you were going to marry a hobo, live in a shack, have 15 kids and drive a horse. 

7. Your very first conversation with SmarterChild.

8. The moment you found out what dreams were made of during Lizzie McGuire's epic performance in Rome.

9. The beginning of your Limited Too velour track suit collection (each came with a matching headband, of course).

10. Your first set of extensions.

11. When you finally made it through The Oregon Trail alive or without a flesh-eating disease.

12. The debut of the fresh, crisp Gameboy Advance.

13. The moment you realized none of your Easy Bake Oven treats would ever look like this (or even be edible, for that matter).

14.  When your parents finally caved and you felt like hot sh*t because you could whip one of these bad boys out of your back pocket. 

15. Your first blind date. 

16. When you finally figured out where the hell Carmen Sandiego was.

17. The first time you locked eyes with Leonardo DiCaprio during his role as the sexy orphan on Growing Pains.

18. The day your mom handed you this book and said, "Do you know what a menstrual cycle is, honey?"

19. Your first "growth spurt," thanks to these sexy kicks.

20. Your first desktop computer crash, thanks to LimeWire.

21. Your first puppet show.

22. When you almost had to get your foot amputated thanks to a festering blister from Jelly shoes.

23. The day you finally understood the true meaning behind the lyrics of "Genie in a Bottle."

24. The tragic end of Newlyweds when Jessica and Nick got divorced (aka the day you stopped believing in love). 

25. Discovering your name was in "Mambo No. 5."

26. That time you accidentally got high from sniffing Mr. Sketch scented markers. 

27. When you found out Genovia wasn’t a real place.

28. Your first contact with a spirit. 

29. The moment Shadow limped up over the hill in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

30. When Gwen Stefani taught you how to spell "bananas."

31. When you got your first MySpace friend.

32. The first time you fried your hair with your Conair 3-in-1 styling tool.

33. Your first (almost) mental breakdown from having to choose a side. It's either Nick or Justin. Take your pick. 

34. Your first true heartbreak: when Britney and Justin ended their magical relationship.

35. The birth of Now That's What I Call Music!

36. The first time your virgin eyes watched the "Lady Marmalade" music video.

37. Your first homemade wallpaper and book cover from Abercrombie and Hollister shopping bags. 

38. Discovering Barbie came in your size.

39. The moment you mastered T9.

40. The very second of the very day Girl Meets World was announced.

41. When Steve from Blue's Clues left under shady circumstances.

42. The day you realized you wasted hours of your life waiting in line for the newest Beanie Babies because they aren't really worth that much today after all. 

43. The day Mister Rogers left us alone to fend for ourselves in the world. RIP to our favorite man. 

44. Your first house party.

45. The beginning of your obsessive Lip Smacker collection.

46. When the past 15 years of your life flashed before your eyes as Andy drove away from his toys in Toy Story 3.

47. When the Rugrats hit puberty.

48. Your first super-stylish purse.

49. When Limited Too changed to Justice.

50. When your Sims woo-hooed in the hot tub for the first time.

51. Your first set of furniture.

52. Everything about the Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff and Aaron Carter love triangle.

54. Your first note written and signed with a silky-smooth gel pen.

55. The exact moment you mastered every move of the Macarena.

56. Getting to the next level of Brain Quest on road trips.

57. The first time your mom had to cut a knot of tangles and string out of your hair from that freaking Conair contraption.

58. Your first angry meltdown when your sand mixed the wrong way in your sand art.

59. When Ashlee Simpson decided to make an album.

60. Figuring out that the whole "no tears" thing was all a lie. 

61. That Christmas morning when you opened your human-sized American Girl outfit to match your doll, complete with a giant bow.

62. The first thing you were responsible for keeping alive.

63. When you realized Flintstones Vitamins weren't candy. 

64. When Herbal Essences changed their bottles.

65. The day your parents came home with a DVD player.

66. When your computer survived the turn of the millennium. #Y2K

67. When you forced your mom to take you to J. C. Penney for a training bra after this episode of Lizzie McGuire.

73. ...and then when he made a quick appearance on Dancing With the Stars.  

74. The first time you locked your Furby in your closet because it was scaring you half to death by talking to you in the middle of the night. 

75. When you were forced to come to terms with the fact that best friendships really can end. 

76. The first time you hit the streets in a fresh pair of Heelys. 

77. Your first sleepover with your fave twins ever.

78. The day you literally cried a river because JT came back solo style and released "Justified."

79. When you showed up to school on the first day with the most amazing Trapper Keeper of all time. 

80. Your first ride in your new car. 

81. The day Sex and the City reruns began to play on TV... because now you're actually allowed to watch them.

82. The first time your dog ate one of your microscopic Polly Pocket pieces. 

83. The Christmas you got your first iPod... which meant you could finally throw your Walkman away and listen to your music on the school bus without it skipping everytime you hit a pothole.

84. When the very first episode of SpongeBob SquarePants aired. 

85. The first time you had to wash your Doodle Bear because you ran out of room for people to sign it.

86. Your first trip to the moon in a pair of these.

87. The heart-stopping moment when the Backstreet Boys announced they were reuniting and going on tour.

88. The first time you almost passed out from blowing too hard in your Blo Pens. 

89. When you found out your baby-doll could actually pee, poop and eat. 

90. And of course, the moments our childhood idols... well, you know.