1. The Sorority Squat

Originally created as classy way to duck so photographers could see people in the back row, the sorority squat lost its practicality when the entire group decided to get a leg workout. 

2. The “Candid” Kodak Moment

See someone taking sneaky candids? Better force some laughter so you don't look bored. "You just ate lunch? Wow, that is SO funny!"

3. The Cheek Smooch

The ultimate bestie PDA, the cheek smooch says you're super flirty (and have probably full-on made out with some of your girlfriends). #girlsnight #wine #badcombo

4. The Skinny Arm

Who needs to diet when you can slim down your waist and one arm with this easy move? Use with caution, though: doubling the skinny arm may result in looking unintentionally sassy.

5. The Death Grip Hug

Quick! Your friends are falling off a mountain and only you and this photo opp can save them! We also heard that the harder you hug, the stronger the bonds of your friendships will become (until you crush their lungs and they can't breathe).

6. The Gang Signs

Sometimes you just don't know what to do with your hands, so why not throw up some deuces or make your GDI friends think you've pledged your allegiance to organized crime?

7. The "I Still Need to Look Good" Goofy Face

This is the go-to pose for the girl who wants to prove she's fun, but she's completely against outdoor sports, breaking a sweat and anything else that could ruin her makeup. But she is totally down to wink and stick her tongue halfway out. Move over, Zooey Deschanel; there's a new quirky girl in town!

8. The Leg Pop

Do you need to go to the bathroom, or is one of your legs shyer than the other?

9. The “Don’t Tag Me on Facebook” Face

Often used when girls don't think they look good so they can use the excuse: "Yeah, see? I was totally trying to be ugly..."

10. The "Get Away From Me" Lean

It's like there's some strange magnetism going on in your bodies - that, or your friend just has really bad breath.

11. The Linear Brady Bunch

Often used to show your lineage in your sorority (do you really even know your great-great-grand-big?), this pose doesn't make the best use of camera space. Human Jenga, anyone?

Sometimes it can be hard to know when it’s time to speak up to your hook-up and ask the question every collegiette wants to know: “Are we official?”

Before you have the famous (or infamous) talk, see if any of these signs apply to you and your guy. If they sound familiar, it’s definitely time to define the relationship!

1. You aren’t dating other people

If this guy is the only person you’re dating, it’s important to talk to him and make it official to avoid confusion down the road.

“I was hooking up with someone for a few months and stopped seeing other guys almost immediately because I really liked him,” says Anna Trevor, a sophomore at the University of Delaware. “I was almost positive that he wasn’t seeing anyone else, but I was scared to ask. One day, I finally asked him if we were exclusive, and he asked me on the spot to be his girlfriend. I’m so much happier now that we put a label on it so I never have to wonder if we’re actually on the same page—I can be positive that we are.”

Like this collegiette, if you’re happy to be exclusive with your current hook-up and want to be official, have the DTR conversation and remove the stress of wondering what he’s thinking.

“If you are in a casual relationship and want to take it to the next level, it's usually because you have no interest in dating other people and you would like it if your guy feels and acts the same,” says Kim Olver, licensed counselor, certified life coach and author of Secrets of Happy Couples: Loving Yourself, Your Partner, and Your Life. “Without communication, it's difficult to know the answer to this.”

No matter how clear you think your relationship is defined without the conversation, it’s important to put a label on it to avoid questioning things later on. If you’re happy that he’s the only guy you’re seeing, making the relationship official will allow you to continue to feel that way with none of the confusion that comes with undefined relationships.

2. His friends think you’re together

Have you ever had that moment where you’re out at a party and your hook-up’s best friend introduces you as his buddy’s girlfriend? If his friends think you’re dating, it’s probably because he’s given them a reason to. Whether he’s been talking about you or flat-out calls you his girlfriend to his best pals, if you know his friends define you as his girlfriend, you may want to talk to him about defining yourself that way with him, too!

So, what do you do when you realize that your guy may be giving you the title of his girlfriend without talking to you first?

“Make sure that question is asked, whether he asks it or you do, especially if you're unsure of what's going on,” says Suzette Bonas, a junior at the University of the West Indies. If you feel uncomfortable making this a sit-down conversation, you can casually mention it as it happens. Telling him that his friend introduced you as his girlfriend can initiate a conversation about where you stand.

3. You’ve met his family

Would you introduce a random hook-up to your family? Most likely, he wouldn’t either. If your guy introduces you to the people closest to him, such as his family or friends, it’s fair game to assume that he sees you as something serious, and it’s definitely time to make your relationship official.

“My parents were visiting me on campus one night and I invited the girl I was hooking up with at the time to come to dinner with us,” says Andrew, a junior at the University of Maryland. “I knew that once I felt comfortable enough with her to introduce her to my parents, it was time for her to be my girlfriend.”

If he’s giving you the sign that your relationship is becoming more serious by introducing you to his family, it’s time to approach him about what that means to him.

4. You spend all of your free time together

If you’re spending your free time studying with your guy in the library, hanging on the couch with him or walking to class together, it’s time to make things official.

“I knew I wanted my to make things exclusive with the guy I was with when we started going on study dates together and hanging out during the day more than at night,” says Anna, a senior at the University of Delaware. “We both knew it was getting to that serious point, but once we actually talked about it, we could finally feel secure in our relationship.”

If you and your hook-up are in this situation, it’s clear that things are going in the direction of becoming official.

5. He brings you to formal events

A guy taking you on several dates or to his formals and special events can mean that things are taking a more serious turn. After all, if he’s bringing you to functions, that probably means he’s proud to be with you! This also indicates that you mean more to him than a casual hook-up.

If you’ve been his guest of honor at more than one event, talking about this with your guy is important to make sure that you see both see his invitation the same way.

Olver’s advice for collegiettes looking to take the next step and define the relationship? Figure out what you want first, and then be clear about it. “When you are having thoughts of exclusivity, it's important to talk about this so there are no misunderstandings,” she says.

If you’re ready to take on the label of an official relationship, talk to your guy. We know it can be hard to speak up, but having the conversation will allow you to move forward without any questions about where you stand. 

At this point in the college application process, you’re probably itching to learn more about the colleges you were accepted to. Luckily for you, there are more ways to connect with universities online than just through their websites! In fact, you probably won’t get a good feel of a university by one-sidedly interacting with its prospective students page.

It turns out that Twitter is a great way to connect with universities online, keep up with their events and programs and get a glimpse of life at these schools. Here’s a list of nine funny, informative and overall impressive university Twitter accounts you should follow!

1. Purdue University (@LifeAtPurdue)

RT @TaylorPrebel: Seeing all these tours today reminds me of my first visit to @LifeAtPurdue#loveatfirstsight#boilerup

— Purdue University (@LifeAtPurdue) March 31, 2014

Purdue, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, has a Twitter account that offers a great balance of original tweets, responses to students and retweeting others. Its tweets promote the university by announcing concerts, events, get-togethers and sports games. But what makes the @LifeatPurdue account different is its focus on campus life and helping out the current students. The account retweets students’ descriptions of the school, congratulates accepted students and spreads news of what’s going on around campus. While its tweets are still helpful and informative, the account mostly focuses on giving its followers a good idea of what life is like at Purdue!

2. Texas A&M (@TAMU)

Aggies win the @Facebook Texas Regional Hackathon. Whoop! http://t.co/JqAOwr1fCb via @TAMUEngineering

— Texas A&M University (@TAMU) March 31, 2014

Texas A&M does a lot of its own original tweeting, essentially acting as the school’s virtual cheerleader. Like most university Twitter accounts, it promotes games and events and cheers on students of the school. However, unlike other university accounts, Texas A&M’s does a lot of personal interacting with its students through ticket giveaways, competitions, social media campaigns and even some Game of Thrones trivia! Because the school conducts a broad range of research, its Twitter account has tons of newfound info and cool links to share with its followers.

3. University of Wisconsin-Madison (@UWMadison)

Two reasons why @uwgeoscience Museum's open house is awesome: ancient rocks & free ice cream. http://t.co/v7hes6GXxcpic.twitter.com/qBHspp1aQy

— UW-Madison (@UWMadison) April 2, 2014

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Twitter account has an equal balance of entertaining and informative tweets. Many universities make the mistake of simply blasting out links to articles and surveys, but UWM’s Twitter account steers clear of anything too boring. While the school does tweet out helpful info and important university-related news, it’s always relevant to the students and written in an easy-to-read way with links and fun photos. In the midst of helpful information, @UWMadison also retweets funny memes and silly thoughts like, “Is it Friday yet?” from its students. This account is helpful and functional for students, but it also brightens their days with funny quotes and pictures!

4. Syracuse University (@SyracuseU)

Need a little more orange in your life? Check out a few of these Citrus Dishes on our @pinterest board. http://t.co/UewU3FQi8E

— Syracuse University (@SyracuseU) April 2, 2014

Because of its reputation as a great school for communications, it’s no surprise that Syracuse has an impressive Twitter account. The account promotes the university’s other social media pages, offers tips for students and connects alums with their school. You can definitely feel the school pride from this account! Syracuse’s Twitter account is one of the most active university accounts, almost always bidding their followers good morning and good night. Want to feel like you’re reading a live stream of life on a college campus? Check out Syracuse’s Twitter account!

5. Princeton University (@Princeton)

Prof. Michael Oppenheimer is one of the lead authors on latest IPCC report on #ClimateChange. http://t.co/Ws7i3b6wlNpic.twitter.com/A2OcqTcX04

— Princeton University (@Princeton) March 31, 2014

If you’re not convinced that Princeton is prestigious in itself, then its Twitter page will prove it. Princeton’s Twitter account is followed by some pretty important accounts, like the Washington Post and Condé Nast Careers. With over 96,000 followers to please, Princeton does a great job at promoting the school and its ideals. What differentiates Princeton from its competitors is its tweets about its professors’ innovative and highly impressive discoveries. On a daily basis, you’ll see professors winning prizes, publishing journals and speaking on panels. If you weren’t already impressed by Princeton, you will be after you click the follow button!

6. Harvard University (@Harvard)

On #Instagram? Follow us to see photos of campus, like this sunrise over the Charles http://t.co/hrGsy0JsQOpic.twitter.com/Msextyl0YW

— Harvard University (@Harvard) March 30, 2014

Unsurprisingly, Harvard’s Twitter is as successful as the school itself! Harvard has more followers than any other university’s Twitter account. Harvard’s Twitter is extremely up-to-date and user-friendly (with short and sweet tweets and quick links), and the communication team behind the page is always interacting with its followers. The account live-tweets Harvard basketball games, shares photos of the campus and surrounding area and boasts about students’ and teachers’ accomplishments.

7. The University of Missouri (@Mizzou)

@TBB_RivvDee#turnup

— Mizzou (@Mizzou) April 1, 2014

When you glance at Mizzou’s Twitter page, it looks like you’re reading hundreds of different conversations. Along with the regular sharing of photos, posting helpful links and broadcasting events, Mizzou’s Twitter account has great relationships with its followers. In some way, you could say the account acts as the school’s customer service line, responding to current and prospective students’ questions and comments in a friendly, engaging and helpful way.

8. Marquette University (@MarquetteU)

"Marquette is a place I've admired from a distance for a long time." - @steve_wojo#mubb

— Marquette University (@MarquetteU) April 1, 2014

Marquette University, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has its own unique approach to Twitter. While it shares links, interacts with professors and other schools and updates its students on school happenings, the account also uses Twitter to promote itself in a new way. Instead of just boasting, “Hey, we’re great,” or paying someone else to say it, @MarquetteU keeps track of who tweets positive reviews and feedback about the school by favoriting said tweets. If you’re looking to see what great things people have to say about Marquette, just head over to its list of favorited Tweets to see the endorsements!

9. Rhode Island School of Design (@risd)

Happy First Day of Spring! Students participate in inflatable structures workshop @RISDFurniturepic.twitter.com/B29HHnhJYt

— RISD (@risd) March 20, 2014

While RISD’s Twitter account is helpful and informative, it certainly doesn’t get boring! RISD’s page looks just like a design school’s page should, with backgrounds of student work, an artsy bio and retweets from other art organizations. In addition to updating students and informing them about events, RISD’s Twitter account does a great job of sharing what’s going on at the school, like big art projects, exhibitions and impressive student work.

If you’re looking for a way to learn more about a school and life on campus, Twitter may just be the thing you need! Check out the Twitter pages of the schools you’re thinking about attending—you may learn something new!

As the semester winds down and the sun finally begins to shine, we can’t help but notice that love is in the air. It may not have hit you yet, but you can’t deny that you’ve noticed a lot more handholding and not-so-private displays of affection on campus. You could be next! The end of the semester is the best time to enjoy your DFMO, fling, FWB, or knight in shining armor. Here’s why:

1. You were getting sick of winter. Who wants to make snow angels when you can have water-gun wars instead?

2. Spring fever is catching, and suddenly everyone is more excited about everything from sunny days to soft-serve to Saturday night make-out seshes.

3. Going out for ice cream is a classic first date, and it just felt wrong trekking out for a cone clad in snow boots and mittens.

4. He might no longer have an excuse to give you his coat when you’re cold, but he can still show his chivalry by letting you cut him in line for the ice cream truck.

5. He might even buy you that ice cream, which would be convenient given the sorry state of your bank account after a semester of late-night Chinese food orders and fro-yo excursions.

6. Walks in the park may be clichéd, but they’re a heck of a lot more romantic than snowed-in dinner dates in the dining hall.

7. Walks in the park are also much more private than dining hall dates. Expect handholding and even, if you’re lucky, kissing. It just didn’t feel right sucking face surrounded by one hundred of your classmates and their lunches, anyway.

8. Everyone likes a girl who can throw a Frisbee, and you just caught the attention of every male on the quad with your champion skills.

9. Guys have finally ditched their flannels for T-shirts, and now you remember why you nominated them as Campus Cuties in the first place.

10. Singing in the car with the windows down shows off your Aretha Franklin-esque pipes, and the boys are bound to notice. Prepare for some serious R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

11. Even if your voice is more like Rebecca Black’s, you’ll definitely still turn some heads. There’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?

12. There’s nothing more feminine than flowers in your hair. If it worked for the Love Generation, it’ll work for you, too.

13. The only thing that beats flowers in your hair is flowers in your vase... brought to you by a beautiful boy. With springtime on his mind, he might finally take the time to stop by the florist.

14. Sundress Day 2014 is on the horizon (or has already arrived for you lucky collegiettes outside of the Northeast), and nothing feels better than that first day of freedom from jeans.

15. Sundress Day also happens to be many guys’ favorite day of spring, which means they’ll be in good spirits. He won’t be likely to say no to anything, least of all, going on a date with you.

16. When you’re not wearing a sundress, you’re rocking your Daisy Dukes and your Ray-Bans – and you’ve never looked better.

17. Speaking of which, it’s finally shorts and skirt season: the time to show off that fresh warm-weather bod you worked so hard for. What Freshman 15?

18. April showers bring May flowers, and not a minute too soon: the rain was doing something awful to your hair, and there’s nothing “come hither” about a bad case of the frizzies.

19. You just schooled everyone on the volleyball court, including that cutie from your econ class. Suggest a private lesson.

20. End-of-semester barbecues are the best way to meet new boys. Burgers, beverages, sunshine, and party tunes? What’s not to like?

21. Music festival season is upon us! Coachella may have passed, but there’s still time to stumble upon your very own indie sweetheart at Sasquatch!, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and many others.

22. Now that Game of Thrones is gracing our televisions with its presence once again, you and your guy can have a quality date night that both of you will enjoy.

23. It just so happens that Game of Thrones’ John Snow is very sexy and a fictitious romance is still a romance, right? Right.

24. Nothing’s better than lying in the sun for a while with your main man next to you on the grass. Literally nothing.

25. Now that you no longer have to consider the awkward in-class encounter with a hook-up (since classes will soon be over), you’re free to act on any and all secret crushes you’ve been harboring this semester.

26. With summer around the corner, some couples are bound to be calling it quits, be it over distance, graduation, or any other obstacle. Silver lining: now there are that many more cuties on the market for you to charm!

27. You’re also moving on. The end of the semester means saying goodbye to all of your least favorite ex-hook-ups from classes and hello to all of the toned, tan man candy now wandering the campus. Here’s hoping they’ll be more mature. 

28. Soon you’ll be moving to a new city for your internship, which means you’ll be entering a whole new dating pool. Time to get noticed!

29. You might even meet someone at your internship, and while office romances can be dicey, there’s nothing wrong with chatting up a guy who actually shares your interests (for once)!

30. In the meantime, you’ve got work to do. Study dates. Lots and lots of study dates.

31. Finals week is stressful. What’s the best way to relieve that stress? Cuddle sessions.

32. With the worst of your work behind you, you can finally get some beauty sleep.

33. Sleep not only erases the dark circles under your eyes, but also makes you a cheerier person (and we all know that crabbiness doesn’t exactly inspire any crushes).

34. Now that you and your boy-toy no longer have to worry about term papers and final exams, you’re free to flirt to your heart’s content!

35. Seniors are scrambling at the end of the semester and there’s no time left for beating around the bush. You’re hot. He’s hot. Just date already.

Whether you already have a special someone by your side or you’re looking to meet new men, now’s the best time to be a beautiful collegiette! Grab a guy and enjoy the sunshine!

Fresh from her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o has been announced as the new face of Lancôme. As if we weren't already obsessed with her we now have a beauty campaign to look forward to.

We absolutely love her as the new ambassador of the brand; here are a few reasons why. 

1. She is the very first black woman to be an ambassador of the French brand. 

2. She's incredibly smart and well-educated and also loves beauty. Lupita views makeup as an enhancement of a woman's beauty rather than a replacement.

In a statement following the news of her working with Lancôme, Lupita said, “I am truly honored to join the Maison Lancôme, a brand with such a prestigious history that I have always loved. I am particularly proud to represent its unique vision for women and the idea that beauty should not be dictated, but should instead be an expression of a woman’s freedom to be herself."

3. She isn't afraid to wear bright makeup and stand out.

Lupita killed it on the red carpet this season with the most amazing fashion and beauty looks. She rocked everything from bold lips to blue eyeliner. She is fearless when it comes to color and prints, which only leaves us hoping the campaign will feature her in bright colors that pop against her amazing skin.

This has been a great year for Lupita, but we're sure this is just the beginning for her. We are so excited to see what this partnership will come out with this September! 

Summer is approaching, and fast. If you still haven’t landed the internship of your dreams, being the fabulous collegiette you are, you probably have some interviews lined up. Interviews can be tough—how are you supposed to dazzle an employer with your sparkling personality while maintaining your professional persona? It’s a difficult balance to strike, but we consulted the experts about how to pull it off!

Focus on your passions

When you’re going into an interview, you should always take some time to prep beforehand. However, you should be prepared to talk about more than just your professional experiences! “It is fair game for an employer to ask a student what are her hobbies [and] interests… these responses are a great way to highlight your personality,” says Junea Williams-Edmund, associate director of civic engagement in Barnard College’s Career Development office.

When preparing for your interview, think of a couple of extracurricular activities you’re involved in. Make sure to pick ones you’re really passionate about, so you can speak about them eloquently and show your dedication. “Highlight your extracurricular activities, whether on or off campus,” Williams-Edmund says.

Discussing the things you’re interested in that aren’t necessarily related to work will give the employer a good idea of who you are as a person. “Given that we spend a great deal of time with coworkers, employers know how important it is to identify employees who will gel well with others and bring value to the company [or] organization,” Williams-Edmund says. Preparing yourself to discuss your hobbies and interests will help you effectively communicate who you are as a person.

Use real-life examples

Interview questions like, “What’s your biggest strength?” and, “How have you overcome a challenge?” can be difficult to answer. When answering tough questions like these, it’s important to use concrete examples to elaborate on your answers. Just saying you’re organized or passionate isn’t enough; you need to provide an employer with proof. You can draw from professional experiences or situations you’ve encountered in your other involvements.

Williams-Edmund says you can show off your personality by “highlighting examples from your work in extracurricular activities, community service or similar tasks” when answering these kinds of tough questions. “Use personal stories, and when doing so, emphasize your interactions with others and/or ways you resolved a particular issue,” she says.

For example, let’s say your biggest strength is your ability to communicate effectively. It’s not enough to simply state that. Think about a time that you used your impressive communication skills to solve a problem. Maybe there was a time you disagreed with a group member about a project and you went out of your way to address the issue and come to an agreement. Tell an employer about this specific example to show him or her exactly how you would handle a situation at work.

Using real-life scenarios to answer questions will provide employers with a more complete sense of who you are, how you think and how you interact with others. Show them proof that you’re a fabulous collegiette and they’ll be dying to have you on the team!

Get de-stressed

One of the best ways to go into an interview feeling like yourself is to get in the right frame of mind. When you’re feeling anxious, it’s easy to trip up and present yourself in a way that isn’t necessarily representative of whom you really are.

According to Reyna Gobel, author of CliffsNotes Graduation Debt, “More important than the questions to show off your personality is the attitude you bring into the meeting.” So what does Gobel do before her own big meetings? “I make sure I smile first,” she says. “Then I’m in the right mood to enjoy myself and make sure the other person knows I want to be there.”

It may sound trivial, but your attitude and mindset will directly affect your ability to speak about yourself and convey your personality to an employer. Taking a minute before going into your interview to breathe deeply and just smile to yourself will make you feel so much better!

If that’s not enough to get you in a good mood, try jamming out to your favorite tunes before you head to the interview. Pharrell’s “Happy” is an obvious go-to, as well as Betty Who’s “Somebody Loves You.” Dance it out in your room, have a healthy snack or take a nice long bubble bath before getting ready for your interview. Do whatever makes you happy! You’ll relax and be able to show your stuff when the tough questions are thrown your way.

Find shared interests with your interviewer

Finding mutual interests with your interviewer makes it easy to express your personality while impressing him or her. Lesley Mitler, president of the career coaching service Priority Candidates, Inc., says, “Research the people you are meeting using social media… to identify commonalities.”

With Twitter and LinkedIn, it’s impossible not to find at least a little information about someone online. Do a quick search and see if you can find some interesting things you have in common. Maybe you were both in the same sorority or were involved in similar volunteer organizations in college. It doesn’t have to be anything major, just something you can bring up casually in your interview.

If you manage to find some similarities between you and your interviewer, slip them into your conversation. It’s okay to say that you saw it online—it will actually be impressive that you’ve done some research for your interview, even if it feels a little creepy to you. You might be crossing a line if you can tell the interviewer his or her entire life story, but dropping one or two facts you found online will show you cared enough to do a little research.

If you can’t seem to find anything through social media, there are other ways to find commonalities during an interview. “Don’t just talk about yourself,” Mitler says. “Ask the interviewer questions that might unveil some similarities or common interests.” Asking things like “What drew you to this company?” or “Why did you choose a career in Industry X?” will show your interest and reveal some things about the employer.

Additionally, you can draw information from the interviewer’s office. Mitler says that asking about a vacation photo or interesting office décor will “show that you are interested and take a personal interest in the person you are meeting.” Asking about your interviewer is a great way to start a more natural conversation and express your personality.

Know the company

This is an essential interview tip every collegiette needs to know! Your interviewer is going to be looking for evidence that you really want the job. The best way to show that is to demonstrate a real interest in the particular company and the industry as a whole.

“Show your passion and interest in the job, company and industry by doing your research on current issues, trends [and] competitors,” Mitler says. “[Be] able to speak about the company and about how they fit into the competitive landscape.”

A simple way to keep up with a company is to follow it on Twitter or like it on Facebook as soon as you apply for a position, if not earlier. That way, you’ll keep up with what it’s doing without even trying. Being aware of anything from rebranding to a new CEO will show that you put in some effort and you care about the field.

Taking this step to learn about the company will always impress an interviewer. When you slip little tidbits you picked up about the company or the industry into your conversation, the interviewer will see you as a passionate, organized and truly dedicated candidate. Plus, you’ll be able to truthfully answer questions he or she might ask you relating to the company and position, such as why you wanted to apply there in the first place.

Keep your goals in mind

Employers are looking for specific information about you during an interview. “[Keep] in mind that the employer is analyzing your answers to see what type of person you are,” says Williams-Edmund. “Are you personable? Are you dependable? Can you work alongside teams and also work independently? Have you articulated a specific interest in working for that employer?” These are the kinds of questions employers are trying to answer through an interview.

You want to show off your personality in an interview, but you have to remember that you’re showing how you’d be a great for the job as well. An interviewer is not trying to figure out if the two of you could be best friends; he or she is trying to decide if you’re the right fit for a position at the company.

When preparing answers to interview questions, ask yourself if your answer shows that you’re outgoing, reliable, responsible and so on. You want to show an interviewer your professional personality. For example, talking about your volunteer work will show dedication, or explaining your role as your sorority’s social chair will show organization. If your answers demonstrate qualities like these, you’ll definitely show your interviewer what a qualified collegiette you are!

While it’s important to get along with whoever is interviewing you, the point of the interview is to show how well you could work at this company. You can be as hilarious and charming as you want, but if you don’t demonstrate an ability to thrive in a work environment, you’re wasting your time and your interviewer’s.

Interviews can be stressful, but don’t let your nerves get in the way of showing your personality. Use these tips to prepare yourself for your interviews and you’ll be able to show your interviewer who you really are. Just relax, be yourself and show the interviewer what you’ve got! 

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

No, you didn't read the title of this post wrong. Yes, there really is such a thing as healthy cookie dough. And yes, I ate it for breakfast. Mind blown? I know mine is; I never thought I'd be able to live out my fantasy of eating an entire bowl of cookie dough (at 11 a.m.) without any damage to my diet. This is life-changing stuff.

I found the recipe for healthy cookie dough on the blog Chocolate-Covered Katie, the best source for healthy desserts that don't taste like they could possibly be healthy. The secret ingredient of this recipe is... drumroll please... chickpeas! When I saw that this dough was made from the same base that hummus is made from, I was a little skeptical that it would taste anything like the real deal. But rest assured, the texture is pretty much spot on and the other ingredients in the mix add a sweetness that totally masks the taste of the beans. 

Alright, I've hyped it up enough; now it's time for you to make it and see for yourself! I've reposted the recipe below. For the nut butter, I used The Nutty Vermonter's Maple & Ginger Triple Nut Butter, which I highly recommend ordering online because it is some of the best nut butter I've had. It's made from a mix of almonds, cashews and pecans. Any nut butter will do, though. For sweetner, I used three tablespoons of maple syrup for the batch. In regards to Katie's note on the last ingredient, I used two tablespoons of oats and one of ground flax, and I thought that worked well. For my breakfast, I had half of the batch straight from the bowl, and I saved the rest for dessert later. I absolutely suggest having it plain, but it would also taste great as a dip or a spread on fruit or maybe even on top of banana ice cream. 

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

From Chocolate-Covered Katie

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed very well) 
• 1/8 teaspoon plus 1/16 tsp salt
• Tiny bit over 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup nut butter of choice
• Up to 1/4 cup milk of choice, only if needed
• Sweetener of choice
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 2 to 3 tablespoons oats (ground flax will also work)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients (except for chocolate chips) to a good food processor (not blender) and blend until very smooth.
2. Mix in the chocolate chips.
3. Dig in. 

Lunch 

Yesterday's lunch was a chopped salad taken to go and packed with goodness. In the mix: spinach, arugula, avocado, butternut squash, garbanzo beans, edamame, Granny Smith apple and cherry tomatoes, all topped with herb vinaigrette. Whenever you have a salad as a meal, aim to incorporate protein and healthy fats into it so that it has staying power. I got my protein from the beans and edamame. Other good toppers that have protein include grilled chicken or fish, egg (hard- or soft-boiled is delicious in salads) or tofu. The avocado and olive oil in the vinaigrette were my sources of healthy fats. Some other options include salmon, flaxseed oil, coconut oil or nuts. If you're going nuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds and pine nuts are all great picks. Stick to a two-to-four tablespoon serving. 

Dinner 

For dinner last night, I went to my family friend's house to eat some of their Passover leftovers. The host, one of my mom's closest friends from childhood, is an amazing cook, so I feasted like a queen. I had chicken marbella, roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus and a cheesy spinach-and-artichoke casserole. What is chicken marbella, you ask? It's your new favorite way to prepare chicken. 

Chicken marbella is an old dish with Spanish origins, but it was made popular in the 1980s by The Silver Palate Cookbook. It combines olives, prunes, wine and tons of delicious seasoning. Combining olives with prunes sounds gross, and I would never think to do it, but somehow it works out perfectly. The chicken gets extremely juicy from marinating overnight and is both sweet and savory, which makes for a rich flavor that eliminates the need for any sort of dipping sauce. I'm not exactly sure why (aside from its deliciousness), but it turns out that chicken marbella is actually a popular Passover dish. I'm hoping I don't have to wait until next Passover to eat it again, though. Luckily, the famous Silver Palate recipe is online, so I could take matters into my own hands. 

What's your favorite chicken dish? Share in the comments below! 

Finals week in college can feel like the academic version of the Hunger Games. We’re stressed out, exhausted and doing everything we can to stay sane. Surviving finals is all about finding the balance between getting everything done on time and not overworking yourself. Check out these tips for surviving finals week (and staying healthy along the way!).

1. Pick a good study space

In theory, studying in your room in sweats with snacks nearby sounds great, but living with roommates can make it hard to focus. Make sure you pick a study space that is quiet and free of distractions, whether that’s a café or a quiet corner of the library. Know what works for you and what doesn’t.

2. Plan out your studying

Pull out that barely-used planner and make a study schedule, keeping in mind how many exams you have to study for and how much time you’ll need to spend on each one. This way, you can focus on one project at a time, which will prevent you from getting overwhelmed.

3. Take breaks

Studying for hours without a break or two is a recipe for disaster. It’s important to give your mind a rest, even just for 20 or 30 minutes, to keep yourself from getting overworked (and losing your sanity!). Watch an episode of a TV show on Netflix (if you can stop at just one), exercise or talk to a friend—anything to get your mind off studying for a little while.

4. Eat healthy

It can be tempting to turn to junk food when you’re stressed out, but greasy pizza and fast food are only going to make you feel more lethargic. Instead, munch on a protein-rich snack, like a LUNA Protein bar! Not only will they give you the energy you need to power through a library study sesh, but eating the right amount of protein each day is the key to staying fit and lean because protein keeps you full longer. Our favorite LUNA Protein bar flavors are Lemon Vanilla and Chocolate Coconut Almond.

5. Get some Zs

Although many collegiettes spend finals week studying at the library until the wee hours of the morning, sacrificing sleep is never a good idea. Your brain needs rest, and if you’re exhausted, it’s going to be harder for you to focus and absorb information. So even if you think pulling an all-nighter works for you, give yourself time during the day to take a quick nap or two! Your mind and body will thank you.

With these tips, you’ll be able to take on finals week like a pro. Good luck, collegiettes! 

There’s a pill for everything these days: menstrual cramps, allergies, cold and flu symptoms—and we’re popping them like candy. But when it comes to something as broad as pain, there are so many options out there that it’s hard to know which to choose. Painkillers can help relieve everything from a muscle sprain to cramps to post-wisdom teeth pain. But there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of painkiller; they’re not all created equal! It’s important to make sure that you know what you’re taking because when taken improperly, painkillers can be harmful to your body and cause uncomfortable or damaging side effects.

We talked to collegiettes and Kathy Hahn, an Oregon-based community pharmacist who specializes in pain about the ins and outs of painkillers.

Which painkiller should I take?

You’re probably popping the same pill for an injury, a headache and a stomachache—but there might be a better drug for you. According to Hahn, there’s no perfect pattern of which drugs work best for what kind of pain—it’s usually very subjective. Use the following list as a starting point but if something works better for you, by all means stick to it. Also, for many types of pain, a traditional over-the-counter pain med (a drug you can buy without a prescription) might not be enough. If the drugs below haven’t helped you manage your pain, talk to your doctor instead of experimenting. She can prescribe something stronger if you need it.

Once you determine which painkiller from this list suits your specific need, see the next section to find out how much you should take!

Sore muscles and injuries: Sprained a knee from sports? “Young people can look at the injury and [ask], is this an inflammation? The NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) work best,” Hahn says. You can tell when something is inflamed if it’s red, swelling and hot to the touch. Ibuprofen, marketed as Advil and Motrin, is great at reducing soreness and inflammation, which is why it’s also great for reducing fevers. Ibuprofen is also a good bet after any sort of surgical procedure. “Advil has always worked the best for me, so I stick with that,” Vanessa, a student at Johns Hopkins, says. Kate, a student at Wellesley College, agrees: “I’ve had enough success with ibuprofen that I consider myself a very loyal customer,” she jokes. Kate uses ibuprofen for sore muscles and the occasional headache. Keep reading for tips on how much to take and how often! Also, you can buy all of the painkillers in this article in their generic form (buying ibuprofen instead of Motrin). Generic meds are usually cheaper, but they contain the same ingredients.

Menstrual cramps: If your period’s got you in bed with a heating pad, you might want to start with naproxen, says Hahn, which is the generic form of Aleve, another NSAID. Why? “It lasts longer than the other painkillers,” she says, making it a solid choice for all-day cramp relief. Many girls take Midol instead, which contains ibuprofen. Both work, but you’ll have to take the ibuprofen more often as it doesn’t last as long. Midol is often marketed for cramps but also fights other symptoms like fatigue and bloating with other ingredients like caffeine and bloat-busting diuretics.

Headaches: Tension headache? Hahn recommends acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Tylenol is a little less toxic than the other drugs, Hahn says. Tylenol works well for any sort of acute, or short-lasting, pain. I personally like Tylenol the best since it doesn’t irritate my stomach and works best for my headaches.

Keep in mind that you might have to toy with different types before you find the painkiller that your body responds best to. If Aleve isn’t working for you, try Tylenol or Advil. But do not combine them! Painkillers are hard on your liver, Hahn says, and taking multiple painkillers simultaneously puts you at risk for stomach bleeding, ulcers and kidney issues. So don’t take an Aleve and then a generic ibuprofen. “People don’t realize they’re in the same class (NSAIDs),” Hahn says. Combining more than one kind of painkiller may be harmful to your body. Doing this every once in a while will certainly not kill you, but you are setting yourself up for risky side effects, so stick with one. If one dose of ibuprofen isn’t working for your cramps, wait 4-6 hours if you want to switch to acetaminophen. Just don’t take both concurrently.

You might have noticed aspirin hasn’t been mentioned yet. Although marketed as a painkiller, when it comes to cramps and muscle aches, aspirin is not as effective as ibuprofen and can be more dangerous. “It’s the most toxic,” Hahn says, as it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and other side effects if you take aspirin regularly or use it as your go-to pain reliever. If you’re experiencing mild to moderate acute pain, avoid aspirin and try something else unless your doctor has specifically recommended it. For college girls, there’s no need to take aspirin—pain will typically respond well to one of the drugs listed above. Taking aspirin every once in a while will not harm you, but you should know that it is the most toxic painkiller, and can have harmful effects on your stomach. Hahn recommends avoiding aspirin all together for collegiate women.

How much and how often?

Two ibuprofens is not the same as two naproxen. Here’s what Hahn recommends:

1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Take 325 to 1000 mg every four to six hours as needed. Do not exceed 4000 mg a day. A regular strength Tylenol comes in 325 mg tablets, but you can also buy extra strength (500 mg per tablet), so check the bottle for the active ingredients. Take one or two pills every four to six hours. You can take two 500 mg caplets at a time, as long as you do not exceed 4000 mg a day.
2. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Midol): Take 200 to 400 mg every four to six hours as needed. Do not exceed 2400 mg a day. Ibuprofen typically comes in 200 mg tablets, so take 1-2 pills every four to six hours. Be sure to read the label, though, which will tell you how many milligrams are in each pill in the active ingredients section.
3. Naproxen (Aleve): Take 250 to 500 mg every 12 hours as needed. Do not exceed 1250 mg a day. Naproxen typically comes in 250 mg tablets, so do not take more than two a day.

When in doubt, read the label! And if you’ve got a sensitive stomach, definitely take with food. NSAIDs, ibuprofen and naproxen, in particular can be hard on the stomach, so definitely take with food or milk. As for acetaminophen, you don’t have to take with food.

What are the consequences of taking painkillers too often?

Here’s one of Hahn’s pharmacy mantras: “Take the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time,” she says. Painkillers can wreak havoc on your stomach, kidneys and liver. Take the lowest amount of the painkiller that will do the job and then stop. Popping painkillers haphazardly puts you at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers—way more painful than a simple headache!

Keep in mind that if you’re taking painkillers, you should also avoid alcohol. Taking an ibuprofen and then having a drink or two is fine—but if you’re on high doses (the maximum daily amount) of painkillers, combining that with several drinks is a bad idea, as alcohol is an additional stress on your liver. If you are taking painkillers for an extended period (more than one or two days), do not exceed three drinks to prevent stomach bleeding.

Hahn recommends one other rule-of-thumb: always, always check labels. Painkillers may be present in other drugs you’re taking for colds, flus and migraines. “There could be hidden ingredients,” Hahn says. Check the ingredients on your drug; if there’s already ibuprofen or acetaminophen in it, factor that into your daily limit.

So next time you’ve got a headache, don’t just reach into your purse looking for any pill! Painkillers can work so much better (and be gentler on your body) if you take the right one. One final word from Hahn: “Don’t take handfuls of things. Just because it’s over the counter, doesn’t mean you can’t cause serious harm. Pay attention to what you put in your mouth!” And remember, if your pain does not respond to normal dosages of painkillers, your doctor can prescribe something stronger and determine if something more serious is going on.

We think we can all agree that Matty McKibben is the best-looking character on Awkward, but are he and Jenna really meant to be? Here are just a few reasons why we’re rooting for Matty and Jenna to be together.

1. Matty is always there when Jenna needs him.

2. He gives the best hugs...

3. ...and he's an even better kisser.

4. He doesn’t always know the right thing to say...

...but when it counts, he's not afraid to ask for what he wants.

5. He genuinely wants Jenna to be happy, whether she's with him or not. 

6. Despite their past differences, he and Jake still have a totally bromatic relationship. 

7. He may have some awkward habits...

...but he still manages to be totally charming.

8. He can say the sweetest things.

9. He isn’t afraid to get tough when he needs to be. 

10. He may not always be the brightest bulb in the box...

...but he still manages to be unexpectedly wise.

11. Did we mention his body? 

12. How about that incredible smile? 

13. Most importantly, no matter what, he and Jenna always seem to be drawn back together. 

So I've been officially dating a guy for three months, and while the boyfriend-girlfriend thing was amazing for the first two months, now I feel that things have changed. I feel like he’s spending a lot more time with his friends than he used to. I don't mind him being with his friends at all, but lately I've been feeling like I’m in second place. He tells me what he’s planning on doing with them, but if somehow he can't do that anymore, then he asks if I want to do something. Or, if we go to a party, he doesn't offer me a ride home anymore. He does, however, offer rides to his friends.

I have already talked to him about it and how I feel like I’m in second place, but he swears it's not true, that he’d rather be with me than anyone else and that he's sorry he makes me feel that way even when it's not true. But I feel like he doesn't change, or maybe he doesn't realize he’s doing it again. I really love him, but I feel like he’s not giving me my place. I don't want to break up with him, but should I? ––Can’t Decide at Columbia

Columbia,

As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, I think this is a pretty easy case to handle.

You said yourself that you’ve already talked to him and he still hasn’t changed. He swears up and down that he’d rather be with you than anyone else, but he has yet to prove that.

The first few months of a relationship count as the honeymoon period. The fact that you’re already feeling uneasy two months in isn’t a good sign. Moreover, the fact that it’s two months in and he’s already overlooking his relationship with you to spend more time with his friends isn’t a good sign. Of course, everyone needs friends, and of course couples should spend time apart with their respective friends so they don’t get tired of each other. That said, when he’s doing more to preserve his friendships than he is to preserve his relationship, I question his sincerity.

If you’ve already talked to him about this and have yet to see changes even after his firm denial, I think you know what the next step is. Obviously, you aren’t very happy, and regardless of how much you care for him (“love” seems like a strong term for such a young relationship), your happiness should be a priority. Relationships are about putting in equal work, and he hasn’t done that. You’ve tried, and now you’re suffering for it.

I think you know that you need to end things with him. It isn’t going to be pleasant, but you can do better. 

Even with a talented team of stylists, our favorite celebrities sometimes slip up when it comes to hair and makeup. These stars mostly wow us during award shows and other glitzy events, but sometimes even they have an off day (and in these cases, serious off days).

Let's take a look in the archives of famous celebrity beauty "don't" moments.

Scarlett Johansson's Mullet

Circa 2003, Scarlett thought it might be a great idea to rock a bold mullet. We prefer her mid-length blonde curls to this 'do any day.

Christina Aguilera's Two-Toned Hair

It looks like Christina was trying to imitate a skunk with this hairstyle. If you're into having two-toned locks, make sure that the two colors complement one another more than this look.

Gwen Stefani's Red Cornrows

Gwen went all-out for this look, which is a big miss in our book. An extremely bold color combined with crazy cornrows isn't exactly flattering!

Tyra Banks' Crimped Hair

As one of the queens of the fashion and modeling world, we wouldn't have expected Tyra to slip up. Unfortunately, she did just that when she tried to rock this crazy crimped hair. Stick with your usual gorgeous hair to look fierce, Tyra!

Kate Bosworth's Bright Blue Eyeshadow

We give props to Kate for trying out something bold, but this look makes her look too much like a clown for our taste. The uneven application of the shadow doesn't help much either.

Solange Knowles' Eye Makeup Band

We think Solange was trying to keep up with the Star Trek crowd with this eye makeup, but it's a bit too much. The blue doesn't flatter her skin, and the line that crosses through her nose don't look appealing either.

Taylor Momsen's Crazy Smokey Eyes

We love the smoky eye look, but only when it's done with good taste. Taylor went a bit overboard with her makeup in this photo, looking more like a raccoon than the edgy rocker she was going for.

Mischa Barton's Black Eyeliner Overkill

Following in Taylor's footsteps, Mischa went too far with her dark makeup in this look. Since she is such a stunning woman even without makeup, we aren't sure why she'd go nuts with this eyeliner explosion.

What are your favorite celebrity makeup slip-ups? Let us know in the comments!

Remember when your fourth grade gym teacher lectured about the food pyramid? And how your dad hassles you about drinking a Pepsi at dinner? Every collegiette has rolled her eyes at pesky health advice, but the older we get the more we listen. We’ve consulted Alicia Kendig, a Sports Dietitian & Athlete Performance Lab Coordinator for the United States Olympic Committee on her biggest nutrition tips for young women—and found some obvious and not-so-obvious things we should definitely do in our collegiette years that our bodies will thank us for later.

1. Be a Picky Eater

Collegiette budgets can mean dollar menu dinners and candy during study sessions. But according to Kendig, it’s time to be selective about your diet again. “One health tip that I recommend for younger, energetic populations, who often think they are invincible, is to choose foods that have purpose,” says Kendig. “What I mean by that is to be proactive with your nutrition, as opposed to reactive.” Choose foods that contain high vitamins and minerals and good dietary fats, as opposed to saturated fats. “Scientific research suggests that vitamins and minerals boost immune system functioning, prevent and decrease the severity of illness and infections, and are used in many structural and functional metabolisms in the body,” says Kendig. The “good kinds of fat” are found in olive oil, avocados, almonds, and fish—and are linked to better heart, eye, joint, and skin health later in life.

2. Build Your Bone Strength

Think bone density is something you won’t have to worry about ‘til your sixties? Think again. “Building bone strength throughout the college years is vital for setting the base for good bone health later in life,” says Kendig. “Women in their teens and early twenties are still in the bone building phase of growth, and once they hit their thirties, that bone building tapers off.” Unbalanced diets with inadequate calcium and Vitamin D, low energy balance, and low weight bearing activity, like cardio and stretching can all contribute to low bone density. Develop a regular workout and weight bearing activity routine each week–and stick with it.

3. Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

Put those chips back on the grocery shelf, and listen to what mom always said: eat a variety of fruits and vegetables frequently throughout the day. “A constant supply of produce will help the body prepare to fight off infections and support everyday bodily processes,” Kendig says. “Always provide a constant supply for the demand.”

4. Avoid Soft Drinks

Pop, soda, coke, whatever you might call it, shouldn’t be an everyday indulgence. Loaded with sweeteners, soft drinks can increase a woman’s chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes, according to a Nurse Health Study. If you’re a stickler about maintaining your weight, the American Diabetes Association also confirms that diet soda consumption is linked to wider waists. Kendig warns that soft drinks are linked to low bone density, too. “It does not provide any beneficial nutrients and it is packed full of processed sugars,” she said. So trade your Diet Coke addiction for a healthier alternative—carbonated water mixed with juice provides a similar fizzy sweetness.  

5. Decrease Your Caffeine

Those four cups of coffee you downed this morning won’t just cause the jitters—high caffeine in any form is once again linked to low bone density and poor sleep quality. According to Kendig, high caffeine draws calcium away from the bones. Gradually decreasing your caffeine consumption each day will wean you off the habit.

6. Eat Protein

A collegiette’s favorite carbs, like that quick cereal dinner or sandwich from the cafeteria, aren’t as filling and beneficial as an adequate protein intake. Kendig suggests you consume protein throughout the day. “Servings as small as 10-20g at a time are enough to be beneficial to support muscle growth and repair, and to fill you up enough for a few hours,” she said. Protein from meat, nuts, eggs, rice, and beans are some examples.

The next time you make your grocery list, keep these tips in mind—and we promise your body will thank you later.

Preparing to study abroad can feel pretty daunting. What should you pack? Which immunizations will you need? Will your credits transfer?

Chances are you’ll have tons of questions because there’s so much that you need to do to prepare to travel overseas. Lucky for you, there are tons of people who can help as you get ready to study abroad. From finalizing your abroad class schedule with an adviser to getting the 411 from students who have already studied abroad, in order to be completely prepared for your trip, reach out to these seven key people.

1. Your study abroad program adviser

You should definitely talk to your study abroad program adviser, whether the program is affiliated with your school or an external organization. Study abroad advisers are experts about what your program offers, so they can give you a better idea of what to expect.

Emily Whalen, a program manager at the Boston University study abroad office, says students should ask in-depth questions about what their program includes. “Students should know what courses are going to be offered on their proposed program, how many students participate [in] the program, what type of housing is offered and how likely are they to get it,” Whalen.

Find out if your program offers orientation to help you meet others in your program and get accustomed to your new city, if linens are included with your housing arrangements or if you should bring your own and if your professors are natives of the country or if they are from your home institution.

Whalen also advises that you ask, “Does the program have on-site staff? Does the program include excursions, or are these extra? Does the cost of the program include housing, meals [and] airfare?” You’ll want to get a complete picture of all that your program offers.

2. Your academic adviser

Unfortunately, the credits you take abroad don’t always automatically transfer to your college back at home. “Each college has slightly different rules regarding transfer credit,” Whalen explains.

Will you be taking your courses for a grade, or are they pass/fail? Will your grades be factored into your GPA or merely be listed on your transcript? These are all important questions to ask your academic adviser. Talk to him or her about which classes you want to take abroad and which requirements the classes you want to take will fulfill. “[An] adviser can verify that the courses they have had approved fit in with their degree and that the student isn’t violating any transfer credit rules of the college,” Whalen says.

Be sure to find out if there are certain classes that your university or major won’t accept as transfer credits so that you know which classes to avoid! Sort this out before you go abroad—you don’t want to end up taking classes that will set you off track without realizing it. It might be hard to reach your academic adviser via email while you’re overseas, and the last thing you want to do during your first few days abroad is flood your adviser with emails and international phone calls in a frenzy because you don’t know which classes to register for.

“It was important for me to talk to my academic adviser to get my future straightened out in terms of classes,” says Megan Shuffleton, a sophomore at Emerson College who studied abroad in London. “I talked with him about what classes I needed to take to fulfill major and gen ed requirements and where I would pick up when I returned. I switched majors during my second semester at school, so it was important for me to find a program that offered classes that would fulfill some of my course requirements.

3. Your banker

Ensuring that your finances are in order before going abroad is an absolute must! If you head abroad and make charges on your credit card without notifying a representative at your bank first, your credit card will likely be canceled because your banker will think your card has been stolen.

“It’s always a good idea to talk to your bank and let them know that you will be traveling outside of the country so that they do not put a stop on your credit card,” says Nicole Gartside, a senior at NYU who studied abroad in Spain. “Nothing would be worse than being in a foreign country and having no money.”

This is definitely something to avoid, so be sure to talk to your banker before you leave. Let him or her know the exact dates when you will be traveling abroad and the countries you may visit while you’re there.

While you’re talking, don’t forget to ask about what type of ATM fees you may run into abroad. Some banks have international partners, so you may be able to use a partner bank—whether you use their services or ATMs—without incurring any additional fees. For example, if you have an account with Bank of America, you can use include BNP Paribas in France, Barclays in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Bank in Germany, Westpac Bank in Australia and New Zealand and Santander in Mexico. Knowing where you can take out money without being slammed with fees will be a major relief when you first arrive and are completely jetlagged, and it will help you save money in the long run!

4. Your doctor

One of the most important people to contact is your doctor. If you regularly take medication, you should ask your doctor if you can get a prescription for enough in advance to last your entire trip. From a unique allergy medication to a specific birth control prescription, it may not be feasible for you to get what you need in a foreign country. Since it may be difficult to get it shipped to you, stock up ahead of time for the essentials that you’ll need.

“There were a lot of steps to take in order to get just three months’ worth of medication,” Nicole says. “I was on the phone with my health care provider for a long time, and we needed to pay future balances in order to get future medication.” Since it can take a while to go through all the proper steps to get the medication you will need, do not put this off until the last minute!

You should also ask your doctor if you are up to date on all of your immunizations and see if he or she recommends getting any additional vaccinations before your trip. You can also talk to a representative at the country’s embassy that you are visiting or consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further vaccination recommendations.

Additionally, don’t forget to make sure you’ll have health insurance while abroad! Talk with your provider about the coverage you have; some offer health care abroad and others do not, so you may have to get coverage on your own. You can also talk to your program adviser about this, because you may even get health care coverage through your study abroad program.

Once you have coverage, look over what options you’ll have if you get sick. This way, you will be well on your way to staying healthy while abroad!

5. Your employer

Before you hop on a plane to a foreign country, check in with your current employer. You’ll need to give him or her plenty of advance notice that you will be leaving your position, and if you’re still interested, ask if you’ll be able to return to your job once you get back. “When you’re abroad, you won’t have much time or energy to communicate with employers back home, so it’s best to sort things out with employers before you leave,” Megan says.

It’s best to be honest about how long you’ll be gone for and know what date you would be able to start working again to give your employer as much information as possible.

“Sorting [work-related] things out before I left definitely has taken the pressure off of communicating now when it would be much more difficult,” Megan says.

6. A representative from your phone carrier

If you have a smartphone you want to bring with you, double-check with your phone company’s representative to ensure that you know what setting to put your phone on so you won’t be slammed with roaming fees! Even if you don’t want to use your smartphone’s “phone features,” you can still use it to take pictures and to connect to Wi-Fi as long as you know how to put your phone on the proper setting.

7. Students who have gone on your program before

One of the best ways to learn about what to expect when abroad is speaking with someone who has already gone on your program. If you don’t know anyone who has studied abroad with your program, your study abroad program adviser may be able to connect you with a student who did your program.

Once you’ve found someone who’s done your program, ask her to go out to coffee so she can spill the beans about her time abroad! Chances are, she misses it so much that she secretly—or not so secretly—loves to constantly remind people that she studied abroad, so she’ll definitely be down to talk to you.

Ask who her favorite professors were and what their grading scale was like, what condition the school buildings were in and where she went when she needed Wi-Fi or a printer. Ask about her housing accommodations as well as packing. What did she bring that she didn’t need? What did she wish that she’d brought? How much money did she spend? What did she wish she did when abroad that she didn’t do?

Get lists of the best local restaurants and cafes. Which clubs did she go to? Which stores did she shop at most frequently? It will be so much easier for you to navigate your first few weeks if you already have a list of places to check out.

“Before I studied abroad in Spain last summer, a friend of mine sent me a list of great locations she had found while previously studying abroad there,” Nicole says. “She recommended some great locations I would have never thought to venture into and steered me away from some places that sounded fun, but would have been sketchy or disastrous.”

Another way to learn about studying abroad is by heading to the blogosphere. Tons of students journal their day-to-day experiences when traveling, and you can learn a lot about what to expect just by reading those firsthand accounts.

“I did a lot of my research through other students’ blogs,” Megan says. “A lot of study abroad students keep a blog throughout the semester, and looking at past students’ blogs gave me a really good idea of what goes on during study abroad, what I’d need to bring, things to keep in mind.”

Tips and tricks from someone who has been there will help give you a picture of what to expect and make your adjustment to living in a new foreign country that much easier!

It’s important to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible before you study abroad. Don’t be afraid to constantly ask questions—you’ll be traveling to a new country, and by reaching out to these key people, you’ll be well on your way toward being completely ready for your trip! 

A ferry sinks off the coast of South Korea, taking dozens of lives and leaving hundreds trapped as the ship gradually went under water. The literary world also mourned the death of Noble Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose works live on forever.

Welcome back to NEWSFLASH, giving you the week's biggest stories!

29 Dead, Hundreds Missing As South Korean Ferry Sinks

A South Korean ferry carrying at least 450 passengers flipped onto its side during transit, claiming 29 lives and leaving hundreds of other passengers missing.

The ferry was traveling from the northwest port of Incheon to the resort island of Jeju. Many of the passengers were high school students on a school trip.

29 people have been confirmed dead while around 270 people remain unaccounted for. The South Korean government originally pinned the number of rescued at 368, but a counting error later reduced the number to around 174.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud thump before the ship stopped and began sinking, though officials are still investigating the disaster’s cause. The captain was reportedly not at the helm when the ship started sinking and is now being charged with five violations that could imprison him for up to five years.

Family members of the missing were furious when bad weather stalled rescue efforts on Thursday. Furor over the pace of the rescue operations is mounting as days go by with hundreds still missing.

Nobel Prize-Winning Author Gabriel Garcia Marquez Dies

World-renowned author Gabriel Garcia Marquez passed away on Thursday at the age of 87.

The Colombian writer had been in fragile health for years. During that time, he continued to make public appearances that eventually dwindled as time went by.

Marquez was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. Throughout his career, Marquez penned various classic novels and stories, including his infamous One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.

Politicians and citizens around the globe mourned Marquez’s passing, cementing his place as one of history’s biggest literary giants.

Name: Sam Moore

School: Falmouth

Age: 20

Course: Journalism

Relationship status: Single

Hobbies: I love to read, write, and then write about what I read, which is mostly about cycling. I’m a big cycling fan.

Describe yourself in three words: Sporting, relaxed, easy-going

Hometown: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk

Dream job: Editor of my own magazine

Pet peeve(s): Loud eating, loud cinema goers... basically anyone who is loud where they shouldn't be.

Describe your dream date: Victoria Pendleton

Favourite movie: For nostalgia alone (and Jeff Goldblum) - Jurassic Park

Top 3 items on your bucket list:

1. Launch my own magazine
2. Build my own house/renovate an old building, probably somewhere in South France
3. Cycle the French Alps/Pyrenees

Alex Romeo, a Junior Advertising Major who loves to read, is off to Europe this month for a semester abroad. Here at SU, Alex has quite the courseload with not only a demanding major, but also two minors: Marketing and Psychology. Read on to learn more about Alex's plans for next semester and the future! 

School: Syracuse

HC: If you could create and/or teach any elective course at SU, what would it be?

Alex: I think it would have to be some sort of class that would discuss the negative impact of our industrialized society in a global context.

HC: Major and practicality aside what is your dream job?

Alex: The head of communications for the World Wildlife Fund.

HC: What is the most valuable thing you have learned so far in college that didn’t come from a professor or a textbook?

Alex: As much as every school emphasizes the importance of achieving high grades and getting a job, they aren’t necessarily the most important things in the world.

HC: Name three things that you can’t live without!

Alex: Sadly, my phone.  Also something to read and coffee. 

HC:You are studying abroad next semester: what are you most looking forward to, and why did you choose London?

Alex: I’m looking forward to simply seeing as much as possible while I’m over there. I’m a pretty big history nerd, so I’m always going to want to go somewhere else and see something new. I chose London because England is an area in Europe that I’ve always really wanted to see. 

HC: Have you been practicing your British accent?

Alex: I probably have the worst British accent in the world (haha)!

HC: What was your favorite course you have taken so far at Syracuse?

Alex: The Age of Hitler and Stalin...Taught by a really great professor, Michael Ebner.

This week's Campus Cutie is Jarred Zuccari. Does he look familiar? This heart-throb is a senior at MDS major here at WVU and just turned 23 a few weeks ago... Happy Belated!

School: WVU

He is from Mclean, VA and decided to come to school at WVU along with most of his family. 

A fun fact about Jarred: He has a passion for politics.

His perfect girl has to be more than just a pretty face (study up ladies) and someone who likes to have fun. 

Jarred's hobbies include: traveling, cooking, reading, movies and going out with friends. 

The craziest thing Jarred's ever done: He got to swim in the grottos on the Amalfi Coast!

One word Jarred chooses to describe himself: Amazing... we agree. 

Name: Derek Thiel

Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI

School: C Mich

Age: 21

Major: Journalism/Communications

Relationship Status: Single

If you were stranded on an island, what three things would you bring?

Some reading materials, my phone, and my dog.

Boxers of Briefs?

Boxers

Where is your favorite spot to hangout on campus?

Right outside Warriner Hall

Blondes or Brunettes?

Brunettes

What's the craziest thing you have ever done?

Got arrested this spring break in PCB the day before my 21st bday

Qualities do you admire in the opposite sex?

Someone who understands sarcasm.

What's your favorite movie?

Blow

Do you have any awesome or hidden talents?

Not really, I can bong a beer in under a second.

Hollywood Crush?

Hayden Panettiere

This week's campus cutie is Aussie crew member, Louis Snelson. (left)

School: UC Berkeley

Snelson hails from down under, Australia.  He is currently a junior here at Cal and is a member of the crew team. While in high school, besides rowing, Snelson also swam, played rugby and was on the ski team. 

 

 

Snelson began rowing in 2005 and since then has gone on to do amazing things. Besides rowing for Cal, he also was part of the 2009-11 Australian Junior National team. 

 

 

Currently, the cute Aussie is a business major and list's Forest Gump as his favorite movie. His hobbies range from skate boarding, to surfing, reading, and simply hanging out with friends.

Brendan Sweeney

School: Drexel

Age: 19

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Class: 2017

What are your hobbies? Running, playing soccer, football, volleyball, and pretty much any other sport, painting, reading, and hiking. 

Are you involved in any student orgs? I'm involved in the Drexel Track club and the Biomed student advisory board.

What is your favorite part about Drexel? The fact that our mascot is a dragon and the campus is near the city.

Why did you choose Drexel? Because of the co-op program.

What has been the best moment you have had here? Getting interviewed for this -- and exploring the city for the first time.

What do you want to do after you graduate? Hike the Appalachian trail and then go to med school.

Name: Tommy Hana

School: Queens U

What are you studying, and what are you going into in the future?

Currently I’m in Arts and Science, hoping to go into life sciences. In the future, I’d love to work as a surgeon for doctors without borders. I’m also interested in health policy, so in the future I’m hoping to spend half my time in practice, and half on developing health policy.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like to read a good book. Exploring Kingston and the Queen’s campus is a lot of fun as well. My favourite thing to do is just chilling by the lake, it helps me relax when I’m stressed.

How would you describe yourself?

I describe myself as a dying whale, because I constantly make dying whale sounds when I’m stressed. I’m always eating, and sometimes I just lay there, when I’m tired.

Name the one thing that describes you.

I’m driven by self development, and trying new things. That’s what defines me.

Lastly, what is your favourite drink at Starbucks?

This is a really hard question, but I always get the Salted Caramel Mocha with two shots of espresso. 

With internship and job applications sent, soon collegiettes will hear back from organizations that were impressed by our qualifications. Interested in learning more about how well you’d fit into their company, potential employers often interview job candidates to connect a person to the pieces of paper—a résumé and cover letter—that helped you to initially stand out from the other applicants.

Interviews can seem scary; walking into an unfamiliar office to persuade a stranger to give you a job is no easy feat. But, even if public speaking gives you nightmares, Her Campus has the answers to ensure that collegiettes can stride confidently into any interview, equipped to demonstrate what an asset she would be to the organization.

Plan a professional outfit:

While it’s fun to try new trends, there’s a time and a place for everything. “Dress the part,” says Kayla Riley from the University of Maine. “This should go without saying, but you need to dress professionally to make a strong impression. Leave the miniskirt at home.”

Treat a job interview like dinner with a boyfriend’s ultra-conservative grandparents, no matter how casual the company is. Avoid bright nail polish, flashy jewelry and clothing that shows off any kind of cleavage: breasts, toes or butt. Pull your hair back or blow-dry it and wear it down and wear a simple outfit—try a black pencil skirt and a modest blouse with closed-toe shoes. It’ll not only impress your interviewer, but will also focus his or her attention on what you’re saying rather than judging your style. 

Research the company beforehand:

Simply reading the company’s website will help to give you a better understanding of what their mission is and what they’re hoping to accomplish. Although you may have already done this when you wrote a cover letter, refreshing your memory can’t hurt. “When researching a company my two stops are 1. The company website (specifically read over the MISSION STATEMENT, CLIENT LIST, and ABOUT US sections) 2. Google News (You want to be aware of any recent news breaks),” Lauren Berger, founder of Intern Queen says. 

If you or anyone you remotely know has the contact information for someone in the organization, get in touch with them. Ask questions that would help to master the interview, like what that company is looking for in its new hires.

Prepare questions for the company:

Towards the end of the interview, the job candidate will turn into the interviewer for a few minutes. Having specific questions to ask the interviewer, such as “What’s one thing you wish your interns knew before they started the job?” or “Why did you get involved in this company?” demonstrates you’ve spent the time to learn about the company and are sincerely interested in the job. Berger’s go-to question in interviews is, “Can you describe a typical day as an intern (or employee if it's a job interview) at your company?”

While you’re speaking, remember to let your personality shine. Even though the interview is formal, it’s still a conversation so don’t make the same rookie mistake Tufts University student Simmone did in her first interview. “I never looked up, at the end of the interview they told me point blank that I would not be getting the job because of failure to make eye contact and wished me luck for the future,” Simmone says.  Yikes.

Practice answers to basic interview questions:

It may be impossible to know exactly what the interviewer will ask, but you should be well-versed in talking about your strengths and weaknesses. “Speak slowly and clearly,” Kayla says. “When you're nervous it's common to rush through your sentences, but speaking calmly and coherently will show that you're confident.”

 Without stumbling over “um,” “like” and “uh,” your answers will sound more mature, professional and educated. As a result, convincing the interviewer you’d make a perfect fit for the job shouldn’t be as difficult. Additionally, rehearsing answers to questions like “What unique skills make you a good candidate for this job?” or “Why do you want this job?” will help to ease your nerves so you’re more confident entering the interview.

Bring your résumé:

Even though your employer already has a copy, neither of you has all of the details memorized. Before the interview, print the resume on thick paper—not as hefty as cardstock, but sturdier than printer paper—like these. With a document to refer to during the interview, there’s less to worry about remembering. Additionally, when the interviewer asks basic questions about your past work experience, you’ll have all the answers right in front of you!  Bring a copy for you and a copy for the interviewer—and an extra copy just in case!

Give yourself PLENTY of extra time to get there:

Google Map directions to the interview location well in advance so you know how to get there when the day comes. It’s imperative that you get to the interview on time; arriving at least 15 minutes early would be ideal.

The last thing you want to worry about is traffic, so make sure that you leave your house, apartment or dorm at least 30 minutes before the directions recommend. If you get to the interview way too early, there’s always the option to explore the area! Getting to the interview too late, though, is an automatic negative first impression and they might not even interview you.

After the interview, write the interviewer a hand-written note:

Follow up with your interviewer within a day after the interview. This easy step won’t take much time, but will help make sure you continue to stand out in his or her mind. “I like to get a hand-written thank you note on the employer's desk 2-3 business days after the interview,” Berger suggests. “Don't wait any longer.” 

Remember, though, that the interviewer is busy. Keep the note short; thank the person for their time and add an anecdote that demonstrates you paid attention during the interview. End the body of the note either with “I hope to hear back from you soon” or “When should I expect to hear back from you?” Either option shows the interviewer you’re still interested in the position.

Before you walk into the room, take a breath. The less nervous you are, the more confident you’ll sound!  Good luck collegiettes!