Broke from calling late night love lines for advice? Looking for the lowdown on the hoedown when it comes to college guys? Real Live College Guy Sean is here to help you pick apart the mind of the average college guy. Whether it’s avoiding that awkward weekend hook-up, or full-on relationship advice, Sean is here to save the day!

This guy helped me get through a really nasty break-up earlier this year. He was super supportive and just a really great friend. Then once I had been single for a while, he asked me to watch a movie with him and he made a move. We hooked up for three dates before he told me we should just be friends. I made my peace with it, which sucked because I had real feelings for him at this point but I couldn’t exactly argue with his claims that "he wasn’t doing this for the right reasons"… whatever that means. Then last week, he asked me out on a "real date" as he called it, and kissed me in my car two nights in a row. When that turned into making out in his room again, he pulled the same thing he did a month ago!! Saying that he thinks we should just be friends. I have no clue what’s going on, but I really like this guy and he seems to be having major feeling confusion. Is there any chance this is going somewhere? Or is he not even worth it? – Conflicted at Cal Poly

Conflicted,

I don’t even know where to start. My head is so full of confusion from this guy, that it’s almost admirable.

This guy managed to pull off something that many men have only attempted to fruitlessly achieve. Generations of the world’s greatest men have tried to figure out how to escape the friend zone. But my God, when humanity is finally blessed to have a breakthrough, the man who discovered it throws away the formula because he’s a selfish pig and wants to watch the world burn changes his mind about the whole thing. Yikes. This can only mean that generations of future men will have to suffer until we have another breakthrough.

With this question, I won’t even beat around this bush. Even though he waited for you to recover from your break-up, he still flaked when he had his chance. As you probably know all too well, his moves are disorienting and exhausting. As a result, the best thing to do here is classic RLCG advice: just move on. It would be much better and healthier to simply move onto someone else who is much less confusing. Since he clearly cannot make up his mind about what he’s looking for when why try to figure it out for him? You’ve given him multiple chances to get himself together and it hasn’t led to anything. There are other guys out there who are still waiting in the friend zone who wouldn’t let you down in a similar situation.

The only thing I actually do like here is when he called off your first fling, saying it was “for the wrong reasons.” This may have had some basis. While you did start off as friends, perhaps his goals when you hooked up were purely sexual and he didn’t intend on having an actual relationship. So, calling things off would be the best thing to do. I get that. On the contrary, the lamest part about this is he called his second attempt a “real date.” Unless he thinks his life is an actual romantic comedy, there is no need for such a title when a simple explanation for why he called things off the first time would have sufficed. He should have at least acknowledged your history and just gave you the details straight. If he had specifically told you why the first time wasn’t good enough for him, it would be much more believable.

As I said earlier, there are tons of guys who wouldn’t confuse you like this. He’s had his chance, and he’s blown it. When he got another, he blew that one too (two strikes and you’re out, right?). You shouldn’t have to convince him to be with you. Since you’ve done everything you can do, the only thing left is to find someone else who will be more straightforward.

This week, Nigeria's government announced that it had found the whereabouts of more than 270 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants from a school in April, but officials are adamant about keeping their location a secret for security reasons. The world also lost a revered literary figure in Maya Angelou, who passed away Wednesday. Finally, White House press secretary Jay Carney is stepping down, ending his years of serving as a White House spokesperson.

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

Nigeria Announces That Missing Girls Found

A Nigerian military official declared Monday that the government had found the more than 270 girls who were kidnapped by terrorist group Boko Haram in April.

However, given the circumstances, Nigerian officials refuse to disclose the girls’ location. The military also stated that it cannot use force to free the schoolgirls, fearing that such a decision could result in a high number of casualties.

The girls were kidnapped April 14 from their school in a rural village. News of the girls’ disappearance did not garner international attention until May, when governmant officials and others across the world urged action.

The Nigerian government reportedly almost secured the girls’ release through a deal with Boko Haram, but it ultimately fell through. Since then, President Goodluck Johnathan has pledged to wage a “total war” against the militants.

Maya Angelou Passes Away in Winston-Salem Home

World-renowned poet Maya Angelou died at the age of 86 Wednesday morning in her Winston-Salem home.

Angelou was one of her generation’s key literary figures, authoring poem after poem and the widely acclaimed autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The book gives a personal account of Angelou’s troubled times growing up in a racially segregated Arkansas and other incidents, such as the sexual assault she suffered at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend.

The writer’s work earned her enormous respect and countless followers, who admired Angelou not only for her pieces, but her integrity as well. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.

Aside from her writing, Angelou was a professional dancer, singer, actor, newspaper editor, professor and civil rights activist. Her death was mourned internationally by fans and admirers.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney Steps Down

After more than three years of working for the Obama administration, White House press secretary Jay Carney will step down from the position.

Carney's deputy Josh Earnest, who worked on Obama’s 2008 campaign and is highly regarded among White House correspondents, will take over the role. He was long suspected as a possible replacement for Carney.

The current press secretary's decision to leave sprang from a desire to spend more time with his family.

Carney, a former Time Magazine White House correspondent, spent years addressing controversial crises and situations faced by the Obama administration, serving as a spokesperson for the president even in the toughest of times.

"More often than not people say to me, 'You have the hardest job or you have one of the hardest jobs,'" Carney says. "And I'm not saying it's easy every day, but I love it. It's an important interaction that takes place here. It's not always pretty. It could certainly be better. But to be a part of it is an honor and a joy for me. So no matter how tough the briefing is, I walk out of here having been glad to stand here."

President Obama announced Carney’s decision during a press conference, taking reporters by surprise. Carney will officially vacate the position in mid-June.

For all of you collegiettes who are either getting ready to graduate or (gasp) already have, you’re probably feeling a mixture of emotions. The idea of graduating and leaving the safety net known as your college bubble can be exciting, but at the same time, it’s a little scary. Will you get a job? Will you stay in touch with your friends? How are you going to pay back all of those student loans? But no matter how scary the Real World may seem, there are tons of fun, little perks to look forward once you grab that much-deserved diploma. Here are HC’s top 10 reasons to get pumped for life after college.

1. You’ll never have to wear shower shoes again.

Seriously, how gross are those shower shoes? It’s bad enough having to share a bathroom with an entire floor of girls—not to mention dealing with cold water and getting no water pressure—but the thought of not having to slip your feet into another pair of nasty flip-flops is enough to make your toes sing.

2. No more textbooks. Ever.

They’re big, they’re heavy and they’re insanely expensive. It’s the worst feeling looking at your bank account after the first week of classes and knowing that you are $500 poorer. It’s no fun spending hundreds of dollars at your campus bookstore knowing that you may open that overpriced chem book only once—or maybe even not at all. Can you imagine all of those adorable summer sandals and wedges you can buy with the money you’ll be saving? Plus, without those textbooks, you’ll actually have time to read Tina Fey’s Bossypants for fun (what a "novel" idea).

3. You can kiss all-nighters good-bye.

Almost everyone has done it. You set up camp in the library, chugged the Red Bulls and set two alarm clocks. Afterwards, you felt so exhausted that you may as well have taken a jet to Tokyo and back. Here’s the good news: you’ll never have to keep your eyes open for more than 24 hours again for the sake of an exam. No more tests, quizzes, projects or PowerPoint presentations to keep you up at night when you should be getting your beauty sleep.

4. Your dating scene just got upgraded.

Do you ever find yourself at a party and wonder why you feel so out of place? Hint: look around. The answer could be simply because you’ve found yourself surrounded by underclassmen boys that look young enough to still be carded at rated-R movies. All of a sudden, instead of feeling like the elephant in the room, you feel like the creepy old cougar in the room that is trying to get with a freshman because you couldn’t find someone your own age. One perk to graduating is that when you head downtown to a party after work, you’re probably not going to be the oldest person there (phew). Another plus: older guys will actually want to date you for the sole reason that they won’t have to introduce you to their friends as “she’s still in college.” Your chances are better at meeting older, more mature guys who are looking for girlfriend material as opposed to a fling.

5. You’ll never have to touch dining hall food again.

Admit it: you’re sick of it by now. The chicken that tastes like rubber, the Lucky Charms that you eat three meals a day and the questionable meat that is served on Taco Tuesdays. Sure, having pre-made meals is convenient, but there’s nothing like moving back home and having Mom’s homemade mashed potatoes or even being able to cook for yourself. Nothing tastes sweeter than knowing exactly what’s going into your food and who’s cooking it.

6. You’ll probably lose some weight.

Think about it: between ditching the dining hall food and not feeling the pressure (or the boredom) to have to go out to the bar every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, your jeans are probably going to fit a little better. Don’t be too surprised if you step on the scale and the numbers are bent in your favor. Simply by graduating, you can probably get away from not having to use the elliptical every day at the gym.

7. You’ll have weekends that are actually weekends.

Weekends are supposed to be fun, right? But when you think about it, you always end up sacrificing something when you’re at school, whether it’s going out on Saturday night because you have a big exam coming up on Monday or instead of relaxing with a coffee and the latest issue of Glamour on a Sunday afternoon, you’re reading 100 pages worth of Shakespeare for your Brit Lit class. But just like magic, once classes are done, you suddenly have hours and hours upon free time to do the little things that you were too busy to do before. Can you say, “win”?

8. You’ll have a new social calendar.

Leaving college doesn’t mean you have to leave your social life behind too. Instead of the always-dependable frat parties and $3 margaritas with your roommates to look forward every weekend, you’ll need to make room in your planner for Happy Hours after work with your new coworkers. Instead of the same old 21st birthday shindigs where the b-day girl wears a tiara and drags you to four different bars, you get to look forward to housewarming parties at your friends’ new apartments where you’ll ogle over Ikea furniture and maybe even a few engagement parties too (where you’ll obviously ogle over that gigantic piece of ice). After a couple of years of watching your roommate do keg stands in some random person’s basement, we’d say you’re in need of some new entertainment.

9. You don’t have to sleep in an extra-long twin bed anymore.

You’ve spent the past four years tossing and turning on those ridiculously long mattresses designed to accommodate basketball players. Not only are they super uncomfortable and hard as Neolithic rocks, but when your boyfriend wanted to spend the night, he probably had a tendency of opting for the couch as opposed to squeezing in bed with you. We can’t saw we blame him. The good news is that upon moving out of dorms forever, you’ll also be getting rid of those beds forever too. You can actually make room in your bed when your boyfriend visits, because you’ll actually have it.

10. You’ll have a degree!

You just finished up four years of college—that’s amazing! Remember to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. It wasn’t easy, but every time you look up at that framed diploma in your living room, you’ll be reminded of all the hard work that went into getting it—which is the best part of graduation.

Congrats, collegiettes!  

Socializing is great, but sometimes food just sounds so much better. Here are 13 signs that you really love food more than people. 

1. You'd choose staying in with Netflix and cookie dough over going out any day.

2. Your Instagram account is 75 percent #foodporn.

3. The same goes for your Pinterest account. ALL THE FOOD PICS!

4. You spend the day dreaming about your next meal.

5. Your idea of a perfect date is you, cheese pizza and a romantic comedy.

6. If there's no food at a party, there's no you, either.

7. You've canceled plans to peruse your refrigerator instead.

8. "Catching up" with friends over brunch is just an excuse to eat delicious breakfast food in the middle of the day.

9. You've considered going on a date just to get a free meal.

10. You don't understand the concept of dieting.

11. You get overly excited when you see the waiter bringing your food to the table.

12. You've joined student organizations just because you knew there would be pizza at the meetings.

13. Your two favorite words in the English language are "free food."

Epic things you never knew about the Disney princesses. [YourTango]

The food moments you need to experience this summer. [BuzzFeed]

Will the Internet replace college? [The Daily Dot]

Mindy Kaling sums up Harvard Law. [The Huffington Post]

The problem with cute self-defense products for women. [Jezebel]

12 things only people with bangs will understand. [Allure]

Everything you didn’t want to know about the Kimye wedding. [Betches Love This]

What if the Disney villains were action movie villains? [CollegeHumor]

5 facts you didn’t know about kissing. [New York Magazine]

Why making friends abroad is life changing. [Thought Catalog]

183.

I stared at the number in horror, not quite able to understand, willing it to change. But it remained on the screen, glaring up at me.

“183 pounds,” the scale glowered at me.

In shock, I realized that I was 17 pounds away from being 200 pounds. And if I had gained that much weight that quickly, when would I get to 200? 215? 240?

At 5’5” and wearing snugly-fitting size-12 jeans, I knew I was a bigger girl. But I didn’t think I weighed that much. Only really big people weighed almost 200 pounds, right?

I grabbed my iPhone and did a quick Google search for “BMI chart.” I had heard that BMI wasn’t a great indicator of health because it didn’t account for muscle mass, but let’s be real—it wasn’t muscle that was weighing me down.

Shocked, I discovered that at my BMI of 30.4. I wasn’t just overweight—I was obese.

Something needed to change. I had been unhappy with my weight all my life—even when I was a size four and six in high school, my self-perception twisted by all my size-zero friends. But I had never actually been scared for my health until now.

A couple weeks ago, my mom had gone to the doctor and discovered that she was dangerously close to being diabetic. My mom, who ran half-marathons. If she was at risk of diabetes, I was sure to be, too.

My eating habits had never been good in college. I didn’t know what portion sizes were appropriate. I never looked at nutrition labels, and I had no idea what food was good for my body. I was an emotional eater. I would eat when I was bored, sad, or stressed (which happens a lot in college!). I would eat when I was happy because like so many people, I celebrated accomplishments with junk food. I ate because food was there, not because I was actually hungry. Occasionally I would hit up the gym, but my read-a-magazine-while-riding-the-bike workout barely made me break a sweat. Add a semester abroad where I indulged in the four French food groups (baguettes, pastries, cheese, and wine) far too often, and I had gained about 40 pounds since my freshman year.

I strongly believe that people can be beautiful at any size. There are a lot of women who wear sizes even larger than a 12 who I admire and look up to. But what I wasn’t at my size was healthy. And I definitely wasn’t happy. Shopping, which I used to love, just depressed me as nothing looked good on me, and I always had to ask for the next size up. Wearing dresses was uncomfortable unless I wore shorts underneath them because my thighs would rub together. And, worst of all, I had lost my confidence.

That day, I told myself that I wasn’t going to be this girl anymore. I was going to take control of my health and finally treat my body right.

I decided to take up running because it was free and seemed like a great way to get fit. I have a complicated relationship with running: I’ve tried it several times in my life, but each time has ended up with me injuring myself from starting off too hard. My sophomore year of high school, I joined the track team as a total amateur, only to find myself sidelined a few weeks later from stress fractures caused by daily four-mile runs my body wasn’t ready for. But I was determined to stick with it and be safe this time, so I decided to start the Couch to 5k program. C25K is a nine-week run/walk program designed to get you from a beginner level to be able to run 30 minutes without stopping. The program is very gradual, so I figured it would be a good fit for me to avoid injury.

I started C25K the first week of January, thinking the first run (alternate running 60 seconds with walking 90 seconds for 20 minutes total) would be a piece of (low-cal!) cake. About halfway through, I was already exhausted. It was clear that I was totally out of shape, but I finished the workout and tried to keep a positive attitude instead of the negative one I used to always have after a bad run. It didn’t matter that I was slow—I did it.

Meanwhile, figuring out what to eat was a nightmare. I had no idea how to eat well, let alone how to eat to lose weight. Okay, so I should eat more fruits and vegetables and stop eating junk food. But how much bread could I eat? What if I kept eating food that I thought was healthy but it actually wasn’t, and I gained weight? Is peanut butter good or bad for you?

Clearly, I needed help.

“You should go see a dietician,” my mom urged me.

I was hesitant to make an appointment. I didn’t want to be that person who was so overweight that she needed medical help to get better. But I obviously needed guidance, so I went, even though I felt ashamed.

But the dietician made me feel proud that I had decided to make a healthy change. She was really encouraging, congratulating me when I told her about starting C25K. She explained to me how to read nutrition labels and what food was good for you. Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates, so it keeps you fuller longer. Fiber also takes longer to digest. Sugary drinks are useless because they don’t fill you up, but they cost you calories. It’s better to eat 4-6 smaller meals than three big ones because it curbs hunger.

The biggest point she made was that I shouldn’t eat just to eat—food is fuel for my body, not a cure for boredom. “Think of your body as a car,” she said. “If you’re driving around and your tank is full, you wouldn’t stop for gas, right?” Hmm, that makes sense.

“I want you to start eating 1,200 calories* a day,” she said. Wow, that seems small. But you’re the expert, I trust you.

“And 60-80 grams of protein.” Uh, okay.

“And around 120 grams of carbohydrate, 35 grams of sugar, and 40 grams of fat.” Whoa, slow down, lady. How the heck am I supposed to keep track of all of that?!

“There are a lot of apps and websites you can use to track all of this,” she said. “Track everything that you eat, even the small things.”

As soon as I got home, I downloaded the Livestrong MyPlate app. I was really nervous that this new lifestyle change wouldn’t work, that it would be too hard for me to keep up with, that I couldn’t do it—but I started anyways.

The first week was really hard. Not only did I have to find time in my crazy schedule to run and cook healthy dinners (I rarely used to cook), I was so used to eating horrible food all the time when I didn’t need it that it was hard for me to differentiate between boredom and hunger. My family and I all have a bad late-night snacking habit, which I knew I had to kick. Now that I was measuring my portion sizes, my meals seemed really small, but I discovered that after eating them, I felt satisfied—not overly full. I wasn’t starving throughout the day because I was snacking on protein-filled foods instead of chips and cookies filled with empty calories. And it turns out I actually really liked cooking, particularly since it was a productive way for me to procrastinate on homework.

After the first week, I had lost five pounds. I panicked at first—wasn’t that a lot to lose in seven days? But I was following the dietician’s advice to a T and definitely not starving myself. I called my mom, who is a nurse, and she assured me that it was normal; sometimes when really overweight people make a drastic, healthy change to their diet, they lose weight really quickly in the first few weeks, but it slows down. The next week, I lost another five pounds. It was as if my body was so relieved to be working off those unneeded pounds that it couldn’t wait to be rid of them. Eventually, my weight loss slowed down to about 1-3 pounds a week.

I kept running three times a week, still following the C25K plan, and I kept tracking my calories and nutrients religiously. Temptation to cheat was everywhere. Why is it that college campuses are full of people giving out free candy and cookies? My friends seemed impressed when I would pass on junk food at hangouts and club meetings, and that encouraged me to keep making healthy choices. Some mornings it sounded way more appealing to sleep in rather than get up early to run, but I did it anyways. If I slipped up with my diet or slacked on exercise, I didn’t beat myself up over it, and I started again the next day.

But it was hard for me to tell if my body was actually changing. I knew I was doing a great job eating well and exercising, but in my mind, I was still a size 12 and weighed 183 pounds.

In late February, I realized that my jeans were fitting loosely. I was getting sick of pulling them up all the time, so I went to the mall to get a new in-between pair, thinking that maybe I was now a comfortable size 10. In a hopeful moment, I tried on a pair of size eight jeans. They fit perfectly.

I almost cried in the dressing room out of happiness. I don’t think I’ve ever had to buy new jeans because my old ones were too big before; it was always because I had gone up a size. In my excitement, I bought two pairs.

The following months, I kept up with my food tracking and running three times a week, but the more weight I lost, the harder it became to keep the pounds coming off. I couldn’t lower my calorie consumption and remain healthy, so I started going to group fitness classes on days I didn’t run. Suddenly I realized that I wasn’t just getting thinner, I was starting to look fit. I was getting muscle! I started to discover what kinds of awesome things my body could accomplish. When I first had to run five minutes without stopping, it seemed impossible; I had to try it three separate days before I could do it. The first time I ran 20 minutes without stopping, I couldn’t believe it. The best part about exercising is that it started to be fun. Elle Woods wasn’t lying when she said endorphins make you happy.

As of today, I have lost about 36 pounds, and I can run 30 minutes without stopping. At 147 pounds, I am finally at a healthy weight and I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve accomplished—it seems crazy that I was actually able to do it! The best thing is that I feel healthy. I’m so much more energized now that I’ve made exercise a priority, and I’m feeding my body nutritious food instead of junk.

A few weeks ago, I wore a brand new dress (size six!) to a formal meeting for my music fraternity. My friend Anna came up to me after a meeting to compliment me on it.

“Michelle, I just want to tell you, you look really good!” she said. “Thanks,” I replied, beaming.

“And I know you’ve lost weight, but it’s not just that,” she continued. “You just seem so much happier and so much more confident, and I just love seeing that in you.”

Anna’s comment really stuck out to me. I realized that yes, I was thinner, but the best part about losing weight was that I was so much more confident and happy with myself. I was proud of myself for setting a really daunting goal and sticking to it, and I was proud of myself for finally treating my body right after 21 years.

* The nutrition guidelines I followed were given to me specifically by a dietician but aren’t appropriate for everyone. Please don’t attempt to follow them yourself if you want to lose weight; see a dietician so he/she can recommend what is best for you!

Whether you’ve landed the internship of a lifetime or you’re less than thrilled about your unpaid nine-to-five, you want to show off your best attitude and work ethic at all times. According to Rochelle Sharit, a career advisor at a New England university known for its impressive internship program, you should consider your internship a three-month-long interview. Your performance during the internship determines whether or not the company will hire you or give you that coveted letter of recommendation; so, as you would in any interview, watch what you say! Seem a bit daunting? As long as you avoid blurting out these seven career-killing statements, you’ll be in the clear!

1. “I’m bored.”

Imagine you’re trapped in an office on a sunny summer day, staring at your computer screen or notepad, waiting for someone to give you something—anything—to do. It’s not what you signed up for when you agreed to the internship, but unfortunately, it can happen. “That’s not an unusual situation,” Sharit says. “Sometimes the managers get so busy that they don’t necessarily assign enough work to an intern.” So the boredom begins.

Meredith, a student at Skidmore College, faced this exact problem at her internship at an ad agency. “On my very first day, I showed up and they told me that Mondays were slow,” she says. “I spent the day on Twitter and Snapchat!”

While a social media-filled first day doesn’t exactly bode well for an internship (neither does a social media-filled twentieth day, for that matter), you should never, ever say that you’re bored. Why? Because there’s always something to be done! Sharit advises, “As an intern, you need to show initiative and ask for additional projects if you’re done with what you’ve already been asked to do.” If you, like Meredith, find early on that you don’t have many assignments yet, Sharit suggests researching other departments in the company or the industry itself so that you can get a more competitive edge.

2. “Why aren’t I getting paid?”

Sure, you’re not pleased that you’re sticking to a strict ramen noodle diet. No, you aren’t a fan of never finding a paycheck in your mailbox. But should you complain about it? Absolutely not!

“If you’ve accepted an unpaid internship, then you’ve already agreed to those terms and you shouldn’t revisit the issue,” says Sharit. Voicing this question in the office is like wearing a bright t-shirt that says, “I don’t want to be here!” That’s not an attitude that any supervisor wants to see, and it’s completely unprofessional.

Rather than focusing on what you aren’t getting out of the internship, try focusing on what you are getting out of it. “Your goal is to get valuable experience, to develop a network in the company, to learn about the company and the field you’re in, and in the end, get excellent references,” Sharit reminds us. “If you can get all of that, then that’s really better than money because it will help you get a job.” Think of your unpaid internship as an investment in a future paycheck for a job you know you’ll love!

3. “I’m only doing this so I can put it on my resume.”

It’s not crazy to want to pad your resume. In today’s world, we competitive collegiettes always seem to be comparing our past experiences and piling on the internships and extracurricular activities until we barely have time to breathe. Hilary*, a George Washington University collegiette who interned at an NGO this past semester, reveals: “Honestly, I didn’t do my internship because I wanted to learn that much from the organization. I did it because I knew other employers would like that I’d worked there.”

Even if you did accept your summer internship just to add another line to your resume, you shouldn’t show it. Becca, a collegiette from Skidmore College and a Career Coach at the school’s Career Development Center, urges interns not to advertise any such less-than-noble intentions in the office. “You never know how you will feel about this company in four months or next year,” she says. “Maybe you’ll warm up to it, or there will be positions in other departments that interest you more.” Don’t burn your bridges before you have the chance to reevaluate!

Even if you show a positive attitude in front of your supervisor, you shouldn’t say anything like this to a fellow intern, either. “Anything that you say to a peer can be repeated,” reveals Sharit. “The bottom line is there is a lot of gossip that goes on in organizations.” Don’t feed the rumor mill. Stay positive and engaged every time you enter the office. Who knows? If you really have to pretend to be positive, you might find that after a while the feeling will grow on you!

4. “It doesn’t matter how well I do it, as long as it gets done.”

Whether you were considering saying this to your peer or your supervisor, you should probably rethink your approach (and your work ethic in general). You should bring your A-game when approaching any project, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you at first.

“I would show up and they would only give me little assignments,” explains Sarah*, a student at Tufts University who interned at a public health organization. “It didn’t seem like they really cared how much thought I put into it, as long as I did it right. But I never said that. I put the same level of effort into the little stuff as I would have into big projects.”

According to Sharit, Sarah had the right mindset. “Quality work is the key,” she confirms. “Sometimes you don’t necessarily know what it means to do something well, and it’s important to understand what the expectations are and to meet or exceed those expectations.”

Ask questions like, “How would you prefer that I approach this assignment?” or, “What would you like the finished product to look like?” If you give off the vibe that you aren’t trying very hard, your supervisor will catch on, and he or she will wonder if another applicant might have deserved the internship more.

5. “I didn’t have to get coffee/print copies/file paperwork at my last internship.”

Whatever you did or didn’t do at your last internship is no longer important. What matters is the internship that you’re currently doing, and that you do it well. Comparing the two or even disparaging one in front of your peers or supervisors will only make you seem whiny and ungrateful, and it definitely won’t earn you any higher-level projects or responsibilities down the road.

“You’re an intern, so there [are] going to be things that people will expect you to do that perhaps the managers are not doing. But in general, at most places, people all pitch in,” Sharit explains. “You shouldn’t really feel like there’s anything below you.”

If, however, fetching coffee is all that you’re doing, you can take some steps to ensure that you get more out of the internship. “I think that it’s important that you take initiative and try to find a way to make the internship more of a learning experience,” suggests Sharit. Do more research on the company or on ways that you can help it grow. Does it use social media? If not, and if you possess that skill set, Sharit says it might be a good idea to politely offer your services.

If at the end of the day your internship doesn’t turn out to be all that you hoped it would be, don’t stress! At the very least you’ll learn what you like and what you don’t, and you can leave with a letter of recommendation that will help you find bigger and better things.

6. “[Insert co-worker’s name here] doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

Julia, a collegiette at Boston University who interned for a wedding photographer, pulled more than her fair share of the weight during her internship. “The other intern I was working with had no idea what he was doing,” she says. “He was good enough to get hired, but I still had to teach him so much on my own so that we didn’t show up with bad pictures at the end of the day. I wanted to tell my boss about it but I never figured out how to phrase it.”

Julia’s problem is a common one. Sometimes you might find yourself working with someone who doesn’t seem to have the skill set he or she needed to have landed the internship. Maybe he or she is a fast learner in whom your boss has confidence. Maybe he or she got hired because of an inside connection. Whatever the case, Becca advises against drawing attention to it.

“No matter how good you are at your job, you will come across as petty and arrogant,” she says. “Instead of complaining about her poor performance, offer some constructive advice—carefully! Try: ‘I completed a project like that at my last internship. Let me know if you want some tips; no reason to reinvent the wheel!’”

Sharit suggests following the golden rule: if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Instead, find positive things to say about your peers. “It shows a real leader, someone who’s able to be able to acknowledge other people’s strengths, other people’s accomplishments, and I think people will really respect and notice that,” she says. Besides, your boss will realize if you’re awesome at your job and your co-worker isn’t. There’s no need for you to say anything at all!

7. “Last night I was so drunk that I...”

Before you fill in that blank, think again about what you’re sharing—or, more aptly, over-sharing. And then don’t do it.

“You never know how other people are going to perceive it,” Sharit says. “You might work in an environment where there’s no judgment about that. You will see, but it’s better to be safe and keep those kinds of comments to yourself.”

Stray away from touchy topics like your sex life and your partying, and, whatever you do, don’t ever mention that you’re hungover. Your boss wants to feel like you’re working hard, not counting the minutes until you can pop another Advil! But be careful not to close yourself off completely. “It’s not as though you don’t want to bring your personal life at all into the workplace, because that’s somewhat expected,” adds Sharit. “If you were to go to work and not share some personal information, people might see you as very aloof and unfriendly.”

So what can you share? Becca says that “stories about traveling, your cousin’s wedding, and your pets are usually fair game. You know the way you talk to your boyfriend’s parents? Talk like that.”

Being a star intern is about more than respect for deadlines and perfect grammar. It’s also about your attitude, and the number one way to get that across is by talking like you take your position seriously (which, hopefully, you do!). Keep these seven wince-worthy statements out of your office talk and stay positive—your professionalism will pay off!

*Names have been changed.

Do you ever read your monthly horoscope and wonder how exactly it’s supposed to pertain to your life? It’s highly doubtful that the alignment of the stars signifies that you should “plan a brunch with friends,” and you’re more than a little skeptical when your horoscope tells you that you’re going to meet a handsome stranger and fall madly in love with him for the third month in a row. So we put together horoscopes that could realistically pertain to collegiettes – finally something that holds some truth! 

Capricorn

December 23 – January 20

 Life

After a month of penny-pinching and Lean Cuisines, you’re stoked when you finally get your monthly paycheck. But beware: you may be a little overzealous, and by the fifth of the month, your paycheck will be gone! Online shopping got the best of you yet again. Saturday is the perfect time to stock up on ramen noodles and cheap granola bars for the long, tight-budgeted month ahead of you.

Love

Don’t worry about your tight budget when it comes to going out – when the weekend rolls around, you’ll be as charming as ever. Getting guys at the bars to buy you drinks will be a piece of cake! Take advantage of this serious confidence boost and be a little flirtier than normal when you and your friends hit the town.

Aquarius

January 21 – February 19

Life

You’ve been feeling a little tired lately – tired of school, tired of homework, tired of dining hall food and just tired in general because you’ve pulled two all-nighters in the past week and you can’t sleep with your roommate’s constant snoring. Have no fear, because in the middle of the month your workload will seriously decrease and you’ll have plenty of time to take mid-afternoon naps and get to bed at a decent hour. Be cautious, however, because your newfound free time may not be as productive as you hoped. Netflix will be your downfall – this is NOT the best time to finally start watching Breaking Bad!

Love

Your love life is just as tired as your school life, and you’re beginning to notice it. It’s time to kick your hook-up buddy to the curb and find a guy who doesn’t text you only past midnight on Friday nights. Despite your sleep deprivation, you’re looking better than ever this month – time to go out and meet a new guy!

Pisces

February 20 – March 20

 Life

Tensions are high this month with someone you consider to be a close friend – it could be your roommate, it could be your best friend or it could be the girl down the hall. Either way, she’s totally getting on your nerves, and you don’t know why! When you live so close to your BFFs, you’re bound to get annoyed with them every once in a while. Lay low and take some time for yourself. Confronting them too soon could lead to an unnecessary blowout.

Love

Love is in the air for you this month, and on the 12th you’ll meet a mysterious stranger who’s tall, dark and handsome. Unfortunately, this turns out to be just another case of beer goggles. Yes, he’s a stranger, and yes, he’s tall, but the dim lighting at the party may lead you to believe that he’s a little more dark and handsome than he really is…

Aries

March 21 – April 20

 Life

You may be feeling a little uneasy this morning thinking about all the things you have to get done today, but don’t worry—you’re not stressed out, you’re just hungover! Pop a few Advil, chug a bottle of water and go to your first three classes wearing a pair of really dark sunglasses. You’ll be feeling better in no time.

Love

Your love life has been anything but active lately, and you should expect that to continue through the month. You’re going through a serious dating dry spell, but these things happen! The 10^th is a good time to watch The Notebook and eat an entire tub of cookie-dough ice cream in one sitting.

Taurus

April 21 – May 21

Life

This month you’re going to gain some serious fitness motivation – it’s finally time to shed the freshman 15 and get that pre-college body back! Unfortunately, this motivation won’t last very long, and by the 9^th you’ll be skipping the gym for froyo runs and Netflix binges. Your bikini body can wait until next month, right?

Love

When the stars align with Jupiter on the 8^th, guess what: you’ll still be single. The guys at school aren’t cutting it for you anymore, and the ones who ARE all seem to have girlfriends. Can you ever catch a break? Looks like you’re stuck subtly flirting with the taken guy in your bio class. If he and his girlfriend ever break up, you totally have first dibs.

Gemini

May 22 – June 21

Life

They say there’s no place like home, and that seems to be true, because you are SO homesick this month. Dorm food isn’t cutting it for you anymore – you just want some of your mom’s home-cooked dinners! Friday is the perfect time to have a Skype date with your mother dearest. Just make sure she brings your dog, too!

Love

On the 22^nd you’ll meet the guy of your dreams. He’s funny, charming and cute, and he loves New Girl just as much as you do! What more could you ask for? Unfortunately, he turns out to be a real jerk despite the high hopes you had. He hooks up with you a few times, takes you on a few dates and then never texts you back. What gives? You may see him in the dining hall a few times, and he WILL pretend he doesn’t know you.

Cancer

June 22 – July 23

 Life

You’ve had a stressful few weeks and you need to unwind, so naturally, you turn to a bottle of really cheap vino. Six-dollar red wine is good for the soul! Look out, though, because the next day you’ll wake up with a TERRIBLE wine hangover and have to spend the entire day in bed despite the plans you had to finally do your 20 loads of laundry.

Love

Maybe your love life isn’t going too well, but your friends’ love lives sure are! You may find yourself being the only single friend this month, which isn’t really helping your social life. Plan on countless nights of third wheeling and lots of listening to stories about how great your friend’s new boyfriend is. You might be breaking out the red wine more than you had originally anticipated…

Leo

July 24 – August 23

Life

Things are not going your way this month, Leo, and you are fed up. Whether it’s setting off the fire alarm in your dorm after overcooking a bag of popcorn or tripping on the stairs in the middle of the student center, you seem to be cursed with a serious case of bad luck. Don’t worry, because your bad luck is bound to run out eventually… right?

Love

You’ve been thinking about the past a lot lately, and that’s making you nostalgic about your ex. Don’t get too caught up in the reminiscing, though, because contacting him will only bring you a world of trouble. It’s time to stop obsessing over your ex! Of course, you will fail to listen to this advice and drunk text him sometime in the near future.

Virgo

August 24 – September 23

Life

You have an A- on your last paper, great friends that you love, a rockin’ apartment that’s decorated to perfection and a cute guy on your arm – could ANYTHING go wrong? You’re flying high on life right now, Virgo, and nothing can bring you down! Unfortunately, your friends who are swamped with huge exams and relationship woes may not be too receptive to your newfound zest for life. Try to tone down the flaunting whenever you’re around them.

Love

You and your boyfriend are TOO CUTE, and everyone knows it. The only problem is that you’re PDAing all over social media, and everyone’s getting extra annoyed with your overbearing lovey-dovey ways. Maybe it’s time to tone it down? Save the photo collages for his birthday.

Libra

September 24 – October 23

Life

Can’t seem to find any study motivation this month? Don’t worry, because on the 11^th, you’ll be inspired to hit the books and spend a few extra hours in the library. It probably has something to do with the fact that you have a make-or-break midterm coming up, but hey, take any motivation you can get!

Love

On the 3^rd a new guy will enter your life, and you’ll fall madly in love with him. The only problem is, your feelings are more or less one-sided. In fact, he’ll probably ask you for your best friend’s phone number and call you “dude” way more than necessary. Welcome to the friend zone.

Scorpio

October 24 – November 22

Life

On the 13^th you’re going to post a selfie to Instagram that surprisingly gets a lot of likes. Score! It’s just the confidence boost you need to amp up your self-esteem during a time when sweatpants are your go-to outfit every day.

Love

With this newfound confidence, you’re ready to hunt down some cute guys. In fact, the cutie you’ve been crushing on for the past few weeks totally liked your picture. Could this be the start of true love? The first Saturday of the month will be a lucky day for you. You might just happen to run into him at this weekend’s big rager.

Sagittarius

November 23 – December 22

 Life

When the Earth aligns with Mars on the 15^th, you won’t even notice because you’ll be too busy being a total boss at your internship. That’s right, this month you’re going to be a serious powerhouse at your job and everyone will take notice. Bask in the glory of a job well done and own it!

Love

Since you’ve been so dedicated to your internship, your love life is definitely suffering. All that’s on your mind is work, work, work – no time for a boyfriend! Be on the lookout on the 7^th, however, because a cute new intern may be joining the team, and you’ll totally be into him. It’s really too bad that he has a serious girlfriend, leaving you to ogle over him at work while knowing he’s just not an option. It might be hard to not break out in a chorus of, “Hey, hey, you, you, I don’t like your girlfriend” a la Avril Lavigne.

Saying we’ll meet a tall, dark, handsome stranger this weekend isn’t going to cut it for us anymore, horoscopes! We think these predictions are a little more realistic, or at least a lot more relevant to our real lives. 

For the first time ever, this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards will include a new category: Fashion Instagrammer of the Year. Though this award won't be handed out during the June 2 ceremony, it was given to one of eight nominated superstar fashion ‘grammers on Friday, based on public opinion via “likes” on their page.

This year’s contestants employed artisan lattes, avocado toast and a lot of innovative fashion in their pics. The winner, announced on the Council of Fashion Designers of America website, was Patrick Janelle (@aguynamedpatrick). This New Yorker partnered with designer Thom Browne to create some of his most recent Instagrams, and as a prize, he will take over the CFDA Instagram account during the 2014 awards.

“I take every aspect of a shot into consideration: colour, composition, context of the image to the message, and even the way the image will look in my overall feed,” Janelle says. Sounds like a true Instagram pro to us!

Think you’re as good as @aguynamedpatrick? Tag @HerCampus in your next Instagram, and we’ll be sure to check it out! 

Name: Nadia Ali
Job Title and Description: Singer/Songwriter
Website: www.nadiaali.com
Twitter Handle: @NadiaAli

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

Nadia Ali: When I’m not touring, I am usually either in the studio writing, recording vocals or working with different producers. My daily routine would include waking up very early, usually around 6:00 a.m., going for a workout or hike and getting on with my day. I always just try to keep every day as productive as possible.

What is the best part of your job?

NA: I feel the best part of my job is meeting my fans at my shows and seeing their faces when I’m singing to them on stage. I’m always humbled by seeing the effect that my music has on my fans.

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

NA: I wish I had known how easily you can be convinced into signing contracts… when you first start as an artist, you just want your music to be exposed and you’re so eager that you sometimes end up signing contracts that aren’t as beneficial to your long-term career. People who are more experienced often take advantage of new artists. 

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

NA: My husband. He’s ultra responsible and it rubs off on me in all kinds of positive ways. If I start to slack, he’s the first person to call me out on it.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

NA: My dad once told me that it’s everyone’s responsibility to work hard and no one is going to do anything for you.

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

NA: As human beings, we’re never satisfied. It’s never good to compare yourself to anyone, whether it’s professional or personal. There is always somebody better, more talented and powerful out there.  There is no point of getting sucked into all that.

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

NA: The most surreal moment of my career was the first time I heard [my song] “Rapture” on the radio in the year 2000. I felt utter shock… truly surreal.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

NA: Well for me, hiring someone means working with a producer on a track. What I look for is someone who has the same vision as me musically.  There also has to be an undeniable musical vibe together in the studio. I’m typically very particular about the kind of sounds I go for, so when someone is on my page, he or she is likely going to get “hired.”

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

NA: If a woman’s aim is to become a singer, I would highly advise her to first develop her craft in songwriting. It’s such a powerful tool to have when you’re a singer. Really take your time and figure out what your identity is as an artist. Don’t compromise on your vision. People are always going to have a motive behind influencing you to do something. 

So you’ve been hooking up with this guy for a few weeks, maybe even months, but it still hasn’t really progressed to the next level. He hasn’t asked you out to dinner, let alone asked you to be his girlfriend. You may have not even had the DTR talk yet. And this is about the seventh guy who has done this to you. WHAT THE EFF GIVES?

Before you get ahead of yourself and buy a house full of cats in preparation for your future days as a spinster, check out this list. While in some cases it may just be that the guy isn’t looking for a serious relationship, it’s also possible that you’re unintentionally acting in ways that put you in the hook-up or FWB category, rather than the girlfriend category.

1. You’re being THAT drunk girl (and talking about partying nonstop)

If your classic night out ends with you stumbling all over the place, hanging onto anyone who comes within a one-foot radius of you, or kneeling over a toilet (or not even making it to the toilet), then you may be labeled as THAT girl—and having THAT girl as a girlfriend can be an embarrassing burden. Who really wants to be the one who always has to clean up your mess and carry you home?

“Guys like girls that can drink and have fun—definitely a turn-on. But girls that are constantly really sloppy or talk about how sloppy they are are just a nuisance, more than anything,” says Mike from the University of Michigan. “A girl like that gets labeled as ‘that girl that threw up all over someone.’ When the only memory people have of you is vomiting—nasty—you're not girlfriend material.”

Nate, a student at George Washington University, agrees. “There’s nothing worse than when a girl is constantly the one being looked after by her friends,” he says. “Any girl who just fell and can't find her phone and is simultaneously throwing up everywhere… no thanks. No one wants to date a scene-maker.”

Kiko from the University of Massachusetts Amherst says being “that girl” won’t get you past the hook-up stage. “Girls that try to come off as that ‘party girl’ completely scream ‘I don’t want to be in a relationship, I just want to f*ck dudes every weekend,” he says.

Getting wasted every night is a bad idea for plenty of reasons, and talking about it all the time just makes it seem like you’re actually proud that you projectile-vomited in the corner of the bar. So turn it down from blackout to buzzed. You’ll come off as fun yet responsible, rather than fun yet always passed out on some random dude’s couch by midnight. 

2. You act like you’re hot stuff  

Confidence is an awesome trait, and no one’s saying you shouldn't flaunt it if you’ve got it. But if you’re constantly parading around like you’re on the runway of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, confidence can turn into unflattering conceitedness.

“A girl that is obnoxiously loud and acts like she’s hot sh*t the first time you meet her signals that she is a b*tch,” Mike says. “You can’t really talk to those types of girls. Maybe guys would want to hook up with them, but more than likely they just can’t stand being around girls like that. It’s much more annoying than it is attractive.”

Would I have to constantly feed her ego? Would I always be waiting three hours for her to get ready to go out? That’s what your potential boyfriend would ask himself if you can’t stop bragging about that time you got stopped on the street because you were mistaken for Mila Kunis. If you look anything like Mila Kunis, that’s amazing and I’m jealous of you, but play it cool and don’t act like you know it. Being confident, yet down-to-earth, is a gf-worthy combination.

3. You talk more smack than Gossip Girl

If you’re always gossiping and talking behind people’s backs, especially about your own friends, the guys you’re around may consider you catty, shallow, and disloyal—none of which are traits of an ideal girlfriend. Calling Trang Pak a “grotsky little beyotch” at a frat party right after you were seen hugging her makes you seem mean and fake—again, not ideal.

Incessant gossiping may scare guys away because if they think you love drama (by talking about it and causing it), they might imagine that you would be hard to deal with in a relationship, or that the relationship would be full of fighting.

Instead of gossiping, your best bet is to engage in interesting conversation with a guy. “It’s true that you meet most girls in a party scene, but the ones that have always stuck out to me have been the ones that have talked to me about things other than the typical topics of conversation,” says Kiko. “One time I met this girl at the bar [and] we ended up talking about politics for the first 30 minutes of our conversation. I was blown away. Even though we didn't necessarily agree on everything, I was impressed by her knowledge and confidence to talk about it with a guy at a bar.”

He adds, “If you don't mention at least something that shows that you know that there is a lot more in this world than inside your college campus, then don't expect anything more than a one night stand (if that).

4. You look like you haven’t showered since the finale of Gossip Girl

“Damn, I want to cuddle with her and wake up to that smell all the time,” said no guy ever when you’re sitting in class, emitting fumes from a previous gym sesh because you forgot to shower… for the past five days. 

“Guys like girls that put themselves together nicely,” Mike says. “If a girl is well-put together and cares about herself, it’s a very positive sign for girlfriend material. But, if a girl walks around looking like complete sh*t all the time, not showering, clearly kind of dirty, she turns guys off.”

This is not to say you have to curl your hair into perfect ringlets every day and never touch a pair of sweatpants. As Mike advises, “you don’t have to put on pounds of makeup either. Guys will notice that, too. Overly done, obvious makeup is not a look guys want to be around every day.” It’s all about finding that natural balance… and maybe a good perfume.

5. You have a campus-wide reputation  

Just like you may write off a dude who has hooked up with half of your friends and is always seen bringing a different girl home every night, guys may be reluctant to date a girl with that reputation. Even if you're interested in settling down, getting around a lot tends to signal that you’re not looking for anything serious or exclusive. 

“Many guys don’t want date a girl who is a prude, but also don’t want a girl that your boys have heard SEVERAL stories about,” Mike says. “If you ask your friends about a girl and they can give you graphic stories on graphic stories about things she’s done... she's been around too much. Girls can get around, but keep it discrete. Once all that spreads, she’s not dateable in the eyes of most.”

If you had a wild run of hook-ups and earned yourself a reputation, but are now ready for a relationship, then tone it down and lay low for a bit. Hang out with the guys instead of hooking up with them, and you can reinvent yourself à la Jay Gatsby.

As for having sex the first time you get with a guy, the boys we interviewed are in consensus that this is not a deal-breaker in deciding whether or not you are girlfriend material. Kiko explains that though it may leave little to the imagination, first date sex is situational. Mike agrees. “If you like the girl and it just so happens that the first time you hook up you have sex, then maybe it’s a sign you get along well,” he says. “Guys do like a bit of a challenge, so not having sex may lead to more hook-ups until it does happen. But it really depends on the individual. Some guys just want to hook up and are not interested in relationships, so many times it has nothing to do with the girl. It's completely dependent on the situation and people involved.”

6. You never put down your cell phone

“There’s nothing worse than a girl that is clearly glued to her iPhone,” Kiko says. “Yeah, you know who you are, ‘girl that tries to be clever and not think I notice you texting at least three other guys.’ You're showing to me that you have other options than me and that after we hang out you're about to go to the next guy… some girls think they're really sneaky about this too, which just makes it worse.”

Plus, if you’re always texting or tweeting or Instagramming when a guy is trying to talk to you, it makes you seem uninterested and not invested in what he has to say. And if he can’t count on you to be there to listen and talk, he may think he’s better off keeping you in the FWB category.

7. You don’t get along with his best friends

“If she doesn't get along with your close friends, chances are she's not ‘the one,’” Nate says. “A guy may think that she's chill, but if all of his closest friends (who know him the best) don't see it, then she's probably not girlfriend material. Or, the dude will date her anyway and realize she is miserable three months and six expensive dinner dates later.”

Try to make an effort to get along with his crew. If they are unbearable, then you may want to reconsider the guy because, as Nate points out, those are the people closest to him, who he chooses to surround himself with. That can be a red flag if every single one of his friends drives you crazy—maybe he will, too.  

8. You’re way too clingy

If you’re clingy when you’re just casually hooking up, your guy—especially if he likes his space—may be freaked out that the clinginess would only increase if you were to date. In the movie How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, one of the major tactics Kate Hudson’s character uses to freak out Matthew McConaughey’s character is constant nagging, checking in, and invading his plans and his space. Being unbelievably clingy can send some guys running for the hills.

If he doesn't respond to your first text, there’s no need to quadruple text him. If he has a guys’ night planned, don’t try to get invited or make him feel bad about not hanging out with you.  Making it clear that you enjoy spending time with him but have your own life and respect that he has his is important for many guys.

On a similar note, Kiko says it’s admirable when a girl has her own strong interests and real aspirations separate from the guy’s. “It shows that if you were to be in a relationship with this girl, she would have other things to focus on other than the relationship,” he says. “Typically, when girls have nothing else better to do than focus on their boyfriends, they complain, and ain't nobody got time for that.” 

This list is definitely not true for every single guy out there—every guy has his own preferences and pet peeves. However, if you notice that you’re guilty of a lot of these behaviors and are stuck in the friend or hook-up zone, making a few easy adjustments can go a long way. And, if all else fails, you always have the cats to fall back on. 

Clayton Whittemore, a 22-year-old former Utica College student, was convicted Friday of second-degree murder. 

Jurors found Whittemore guilty of brutally killing his 18-year-old girlfriend, Alexandra Kogut, in her dorm room in September 2012. Whittemore beat Kogut to death with his fists and a curling iron. She was a student at the State University of New York College at Brockport. 

"This was one of the most brutal and violent murders I have seen in my career,"says District Attorney Sandra Doorley. "You know, the more I do this, the more personal these cases become for me. I really felt connected to the victim. I needed to be her voice in the courtroom and I needed to fight for Alex. And, I did."

Whittemore was known to have had a bad temper as well as a history of acting aggressively toward ex-girlfriends. Following the verdict, the victim's mother, Becky Kogut, tweeted, "Justice for my beautiful baby."

Whittemore could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison at his July 16 sentencing.

You’re home for the summer, so you hop in the car to head out and hang with your high school besties. Naturally, you turn on the radio and pump the jams. What kind of music is radiating through your stereo system? Country, obviously! Summertime is country-music time, no matter which part of the nation you live in. Here are the reasons why a little backwoods beat is better than anything else during the summer months.

1. Every song feels like summer.

2. It inspires you to live in the moment.

3. County music keeps it real…

4. ...and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

5. Country music makes you feel nostalgic for the past…

6. ..and it makes you realize how awesome your life is and has been.

7. And even when heartache makes us do questionable things... 

8. ...country singers remind us that it’s all about girl power.

9. Country artists are like one big family (that we want to be a part of).

10. Country lyrics are super inspiring.

11. Luke Bryan.

12. There’s always great relationship advice in country music.

13. Country music lets us know that there are real men out there somewhere. 

14. It also reminds us that a little self-confidence never hurt anyone.

15. Country music encourages the simple life. 

We love us some country music! 

Newsflash: Daddy’s little girls are still expected to spoil their fathers on June 15. Seriously though, this is your day to thank your dad for always cheering you on, helping you with anything from putting together your dorm furniture to getting to your internship on time, and for being there for him when you need him most. So write him a card, get him one of the great gifts suggested below, and then spend the day with your dad (and we’d venture to guess he’d be through the roof if you didn’t text through the whole thing).  

Cards Against Humanity

If your dad is borderline (or just completely) inappropriate at times, you’ll be able to one-up him with this party game. Warning: you will be uncomfortable playing it with him at times, so make sure you both can handle it! $25

Sunglasses

Is Dad a gimmick guy? A beer guy? Here is your perfect gift: sunglasses with beer opening arms. Yes, seriously. He’ll be rocking these all summer long and impressing with everyone with your creative gift from Brewsees. $30

Grilling Gloves

Keep your dad safe during grill season with these personalized grilling gloves (seriously, personalize them – he’ll be impressed!). $30

Letter Opener

Personalized gifts are great, and this one is subtle enough for dad’s office. Snap a picture of you, you and your siblings, or you and dad and create a fancy pewter letter opener with it on PlanetJill. Totally useful and always in his hand! $32 

Cookies

Away from your dad on Father’s Day? Consider sending him delicious cookies from Cookie Good. We love Caramel-Pretzel-Chocolate-Chunk and if your dad has a sweet tooth, we bet he will too! $32

Engraved Winston Shave Set

You can’t go wrong with a classy shave kit, like this engraved razor handle, blades and shave cream. The high quality package from Harry’s will impress your dad (who knew you were knowledgeable about a nice shave?!). $40

BBQ Dinner

Our mouths are watering just thinking about how good this is… uh, we mean, how good a GIFT this is. Get involved with his BBQing just as the season kicks off by gifting him with a fancy slab of Texas BBQ, like this tasty brisket. You provide the meat, he cooks it, and maybe you chip in with some yummy sides like coleslaw and potato salad too. Just a thought! $60

Vintage Book iDock

If your dad loves a good iAccessory, this is the one to get him this year. This super unique dock will charge an iPad, iPod or iPhone, but when it’s not in action it will just look like a pile of books. Starting at $68

Mini Tiki Torches

If your dad loves to entertain in the backyard (anyone from the family to the whole neighborhood), these mini garden torches from Uncommon Goods will add a spark (literally…) to his domain. $95

Ballpark Blueprints

Hit a homerun with the gift of blueprints from your dad’s favorite baseball stadium. The prints are nostalgic and a beautiful way to capture his love of America’s pastime. $185 

As you get ready to hang out on the beach, don’t forget to pack that one summer essential: a good book! Luckily, we have just the novels for you. Her Campus is giving you the chance to win a copy of best-selling author Cassandra Clare’s entire "The Mortal Instruments" series, including the final installment, City of Heavenly Fire, as well as a "Mortal Instruments" hoodie and a $100 Visa gift card. Your break won’t be complete without them, so keep reading to see how you could win!

In the final chapter of Cassandra Clare’s New York Times best-selling series, City of Heavenly Fire, darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Lives will be lost, love sacrificed and the whole world will change -- but don't just take our word for it!

Find out how the story concludes and catch up on the fandom by entering below for a chance to win "The Mortal Instruments" series. With six books at your fingertips, your summer will never be boring. A winner will be chosen at random and will be announced in the June 10 STUDY BREAK. 

Before you enter, don't forget to like "The Mortal Instruments" on Facebook!

Confusing guys, rampant hook-up culture and going steady—oh my! The realm of college dating is rough for any collegiette. But how do dating and relationships differ for collegiettes who strongly identify as feminists? Are there any specific challenges these women face? Her Campus chatted with collegiettes about how feminism affects your chances at love and how to get through sticky situations!

Some Guys Might See the “Feminist” Label as a Bad Thing

Collegiettes Weigh In

Although feminism means many things to many different people, a basic working definition is that feminism is the belief in gender equality, specifically focusing on women’s rights, including female representation, women’s salaries and women in the workplace.

However, many people (not just guys) don’t know what the term “feminism” really means, which can lead to a lot of misinformation and awkwardness. Jessica*, a sophomore at the University of Florida, found that many guys were turned off by her feminist label. “As soon as I mentioned to any guy that I was a feminist, they either didn’t know what I was talking about or immediately assumed that I was some angry, bra-burning woman who hated fun,” she says. “It was really discouraging, especially as a college freshman, and I started to feel like I’d never find anyone who wasn’t turned off by the idea.”

Julie*, a junior at the University of Virginia, also found that many guys just completely missed the boat on what the word “feminism” even meant. “I was once talking about feminism to a guy whom I considered well educated, and he honestly believed it was synonymous for the term ‘prude,’” she says. “This same guy ended up telling a bunch of his friends that I was a prude, and it made things really awkward between me and them.”

Guys Weigh In

“I’m not going to lie: the word ‘feminism’ conjures up images of angry women burning down buildings in my mind,” says Luke*, a rising junior at Wesleyan University. “However, I think whether or not I’d date the girl depends on her personally, and just like anything else, people view and show their identities differently. I’m not just going to swear off anyone who says they’re a feminist!”

Aidan*, a sophomore at the University of Florida, adds that for some guys, the feminist label can sometimes be intimidating. “I’d be a little freaked out if a girl came to me saying she was a feminist, not because of the term itself but because the word means so many different things to so many different people,” he says. “It’s hard to nail down, so I think it’d really have to depend on the individual girl and what her personal definition of it is.”

Sticking to Your Feminist Values Can Be Tough

Collegiettes Weigh In

Carly*, a junior at Wesleyan University, didn’t think that identifying as a feminist would change how people viewed her. “Wesleyan is an extremely liberal school, so people are generally not thrown off by it,” she says. “However, I soon found that though many guys were okay with me calling myself a feminist, they had huge issues with what that actually meant in practice.”

As soon as she started dating a fellow Wesleyan student during her sophomore year, Carly found that just because her then-boyfriend Ben* was cool with the term didn’t mean he understood what it entailed. “A couple months into our relationship, Ben started getting controlling,” she says. “For example, he’d expect me text him every morning and night no matter what but didn’t think he owed me the same courtesy; he just assumed that’s what women were supposed to do.”

When Carly confronted Ben about how some of his demands weren’t equal for both of them, he broke up with her. “I was really upset at the time, because I felt like this guy who had been super into the idea of gender equality was a total hypocrite,” she says. “It also made me really skeptical of other guys at Wesleyan, because many of them say that they’re feminists. Are they unaware of what it means, too?”

Guys Weigh In

The question is, do other guys expect you to drop your feminist values when you date them?

Jack*, a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania, thinks it’s totally cool for women to have strong feminist values — he just asks that they be patient with their significant others who may not be as educated.

“I’ve dated two different women who strongly identified as feminists, and I found that both of them defined the word completely differently, which was a little confusing for me,” he says.

Jack explains that many guys are fine with learning about feminist beliefs, but you have to give them time to let it sink in. “My advice for women who identify as feminists when it comes to the dating pool is to be kind if you’re correcting a significant other on [something] he said that may sound sexist,” he says. “It can be an awkward situation if you’re yelling at a guy for something he did when he doesn’t get how it was wrong. Remember that society sends so many sexist messages to young, impressionable men every day, and it takes time to correct.”

You Might Feel Like You Have to Settle

Collegiettes Weigh In

Carly also notes that one of the hardest parts of being a feminist is that sometimes you may feel like you can’t find someone who really understands why feminism is important to you.

“I’ve gone on dates over the years with many guys who either weren’t cool when I told them I was a feminist or very obviously didn’t agree with the principles of feminism, which was hard,” she says. “For a long time, I felt like I just had to settle for guys who didn’t get it, because I thought there was no one out there who did.”

So, are there guys out there who will totally understand (and practice) feminism?

Guys Weigh In

Don’t fret; there are still guys out there who will totally get how important feminism is to you! James*, a senior at Wesleyan University, even adopted feminist beliefs because of an ex. “My ex-girlfriend was really vocal about her feminist views, which at first was sort of uncomfortable,” he says. “She’d correct me (nicely) if I said or did something that was sexist or misogynistic, and eventually we broke up for unrelated reasons.”

James realized how important feminist values are in a relationship. “Looking back on our relationship since it ended two years ago, I can safely say I learned more from her about how to treat and respect women than from anyone else,” he says. “And for that, I’m really grateful, as understanding feminism has positively affected all of my relationships since then.”

How to Deal

Based on all of the perils vocal feminists face, you might be wondering: What’s a feminist collegiette to do? Luckily, our ladies have some answers!

Talk to Other Feminists

Over time, Jessica found comfort in talking to other feminists. “A bunch of my friends explained that guys not understanding what it means to be a feminist doesn’t mean I’m a terrible person; it means that they’re the ignorant ones,” she says. “It was also nice to know that I wasn’t the only girl dealing with these issues when it came to guys, and I’m so thankful for that!”

Jessica also thinks that other collegiettes shouldn’t be ashamed to call themselves feminists for fear of driving guys away. “It sounds clichéd, but any guy who doesn’t accept who you are isn’t worth your time anyway,” she says. “If you’re a feminist, say it loud and be proud!”

Communicate With Your Significant Other

After recovering from the breakup, Carly reflected on how she could better explain feminism to the men she dated or wanted to date. “I realized that in my relationship with Ben, the problem wasn’t that I was a feminist; it was that I hadn’t been clear with him from the beginning about what I thought that entailed,” she says. “If I’d talked to him sooner, I would’ve seen that him and I had different ideas of what the gender roles were in a relationships, and we could’ve either worked it out or broken it off earlier.”

If you’re looking to date someone long-term, Carly recommends talking to him about expectations before things get serious. “I don’t think it needs to be this really intense conversation about gender identity and whatever,” she says. “But I think making it clear that you think you should both have the same expectations and responsibilities in the relationship is important.”

When Carly started dating her current boyfriend, Zach*, earlier this year, she made sure to sit down and chat with him about what she wanted. “Zach already kind of knew about the issues I’d had with Ben, so he was really great about listening to me when I said what I expected out of our relationship,” she says. “Equality is important for both of us, and I’m glad I took the time to discuss it with him.”

Don’t Settle (No Matter What!)

Carly believes that you shouldn’t date someone who doesn’t deserve you or understand why feminism is so important to you. “Feminism is like any other identity you hold near and dear; you shouldn’t feel like you have to sacrifice it just because a couple of guys don’t like it!” she says.

She also recommends surrounding yourself with other people who believe in the same feminist values you do. “My friends are feminists and I’m part of several feminist causes and groups on campus, so I don’t feel like I’m crazy or something for believing in gender equality,” she says. “I guess all these guys just have to catch up!”

Overall, don’t be afraid that your feminist identity will affect every part of your relationships! As with any other part of whom you are, if a guy doesn’t like that you’re a feminist, he’s not worth your time. So kick him to the curb and find someone who truly loves you for you!

*Names have been changed.

Whether it’s crushes, classes or coed bathrooms on your mind, chances are you’ve already started stressing about your freshman year of college. But don’t worry! This collegiette has been there and done that, and she’s passing along her hard-earned wisdom to you lucky pre-collegiettes. Whether you’re daunted by your packing list (you do not need a label maker, promise), college-level classes (Wikipedia is your new best friend), making friends (easier than it sounds) or running into a one-night stand (honestly, just run the other way), Sophie’s likely encountered it all. Just sit back, relax and let her share the best advice she’s picked up along the way.

What is the difference between clubs in high school and clubs in college?– Zulakha

Zulakha,

College is full of transitions, and it can be tricky to get used to a new place and all the new things that come with it, especially when you’re used to your high school rhythm. If you were involved in lots of clubs, sports teams and other organizations in high school, it can be a little daunting stepping into the same (or totally different!) activities at a college level.

If you were involved in clubs in high school, you’ll probably notice some differences between high school and college clubs. Most schools will offer a ton more options, but if you have a unique or unusual hobby you’d like to continue with, most colleges will allow you to create your own as long as you have enough people who are interested in it!

One of the major differences I’ve noticed is that clubs in college are run by students rather than faculty. Not only does this make you feel really independent and responsible, it usually allows the group to have more productive and open conversations as well. Student-run organizations can be a great opportunity for you to take on more responsibility than you might have been able to in high school, which is empowering and, let’s be honest, looks great on a resume.

Since college schedules are a lot more flexible than high school schedules, organizations and clubs tend to have a greater variety of meeting times and places. For example, the Outdoors Club at my school meets outside every afternoon on the quad in front of my dorm, and I’m treated to a view of students climbing trees, playing Frisbee and learning to slackline all while cranking country music (witnessing this is the highlight of my day, FYI). Having more flexible class schedules makes attending club meetings much easier!

In my opinion, the single biggest upgrade from high school to college clubs is the fact that student organizations almost always have a budget provided by the college. This budget can be used to help buy equipment or supplies, advertise around campus (chalk murals are the way to go), go on field trips or even hire guest speakers to come and talk to the members of your club. Colleges love being able to boast about the hundreds of clubs they offer and they genuinely want you to have a great college experience, so they’re more than willing to help fund your extracurricular activities.

Whether you were Miss Participation in high school or you just want to get involved in college, joining a club or student organization can be a great way to gain confidence, make new friends or even meet a cutie who shares your interests. It might take a bit of getting used to, but I guarantee that getting involved in student activities will only enrich your college experience.

With summer here, the campus rec center may seem more crowded than the week before spring break as collegiettes try to perfect their beach bodies. But when it comes to hitting the gym, dieting, and getting to your ideal weight, the ultimate goal should always be health. We’re all for getting in shape, losing the freshman 15, and rocking that new bikini this summer, but it’s important to know what is a healthy weight for you, rather than hold yourself to unrealistic exercise and diet standards. We’ll help you find out what that weight is – and how to maintain it!

Finding Your Healthy Weight

If you want to know or track your weight, chances are that you’ll probably just step on the scale at the gym, see a number, smile or cringe, and then walk away. But a number on a scale is hard to interpret if you don’t know which weight is actually healthy for your particular body! Here are a few ways to find it.

Body Mass Index

Your individual healthy weight depends on a number of factors, including your height, shape, and even race. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a commonly used method that uses height and weight to estimate an individual’s body fat content. As a measurement of body fat, BMI can tell you how your physical composition compares to that of the general population.

Normal BMI measurements for adults fall between 18.5 and 24.9, whereas a BMI of less than 18.5 constitutes being “underweight,” a BMI of 25 to 29.9 constitutes being “overweight,” and a BMI of 30 or above constitutes being “obese.”

 “It’s easy to calculate your BMI online,” says Antonia Hartley, the clinical nutrition specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Campus Health. She suggests using the National Institutes of Health’s BMI calculator.

Although BMI is commonly used by doctors and health professionals, there is an increasing amount of evidence that suggests it may not be the best tool to rely on. The number from a BMI calculation does not distinguish between fat and muscle mass, meaning that a fit person who is very muscular could fall into the overweight range, despite being in good physical shape.

“When many college students think about a healthy weight, the may immediately think a weight that falls into the healthy BMI category,” Hartley says. “However, I truly believe that we can be healthy at any size. BMI is only part of the equation.”

As Hartley explains, even the National Institutes of Health assert that one can reach a healthy weight without falling into the appropriate BMI category. “While the NIH is clear to point out that a BMI of 24.9 or greater puts one at greater risk of weight-related diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, the NIH is also supportive of the idea that if your BMI is considered overweight or obese and you do not have two or more risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, then you are at a healthy weight,” she says.

The National Institutes of Health calculation

BMI may not be a perfect tool, but luckily, there are other methods of determining your healthy weight. According to the National Institutes of Health, women can find a healthy body weight for their height using the following formula: Five feet in height corresponds to a healthy body weight of 100 pounds. Each inch beyond those first five feet corresponds to a weight increase of five pounds. So, a woman who is 5’3’’ would have a healthy body weight of 115 pounds. Obviously, your weight doesn't have to fall right on that five pound mark, but you can use this formula to figure out a general range that works well for your height.

Waist size

Another way to know and keep track of your healthy body size is to measure your waist. Simply wrap a tape measure around your waist to the point where it fits snugly, and take a measurement. For most women, a healthy waist size is less than 35 inches, according to WebMd. However, the goals for a healthy waist size, as well as the standards for BMI, may be different if you are Asian.  

Body fat percentage

Like BMI, waist measurements do not take into account the composition of body mass. For this reason, calculating your percentage of body fat can also help you pinpoint your healthy weight and provide guidelines for weight loss goals. For adult women, a range of 10 to 12 percent body fat is considered “essential,” and a range of 25 to 31 percent body fat is considered “acceptable.” Obesity is classified as having 32 percent body fat or higher. For men, athletes, and other fitness enthusiasts, these numbers differ.

Body fat percentage can easily be calculated by your doctor or online. Just fill out your gender, age, height, weight and waist measurement here. Before determining a weight loss goal, you should make sure your ideal weight does not fall below the essential percentage of body fat.

Non-numerical indicators

Using a combination of the above tools can help you determine a healthy five-pound weight range for your specific body at which you can look and feel your best. Aside from these measurements, remember that weight is not the only indicator of true physical health.

“A healthy weight is a weight that supports good, overall health – in terms of normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol, and normal blood sugar, for example,” Hartley says. “People of just about every size can be considered to be at a healthy weight if these lab values are normal, if they do not have any weight-related health problems, and if they get adequate physical activity.” Hartley says that your doctor can help you find out if your lab values are normal.

With such busy lives, collegiettes often find it hard to keep track of their weight, and many don’t know the value of these measurements.

“I have a scale in my bathroom, and I know my average weight, but I don’t always keep track of it while I’m at school,” says Jordan Delaney from Gannon University.

“It’s easier to think about while I’m home for the summer or on breaks. At school, I don’t always have time to think about it.”

Even if you think you don’t have time, it is important to know your healthy weight before you begin any exercise or diet plan so that you can set appropriate goals for yourself and understand your true physical status—beyond the number on your scale!

Getting to Your Healthy Weight

If you are not at your healthy weight, there are plenty of things you can do to get and stay there. Firstly, you can (and should) talk to your doctor or primary care physician to discuss your healthy weight range and strategies for gaining or losing the right amount of weight in a healthy way.

Whenever you’re trying to lose or gain X amount of pounds, it’s critical that you do so in a healthy, responsible way. We all know that crash diets and crazy workout goals are not the answer for long-term health and change. Rather, it’s important to set realistic, specific goals for yourself to incorporate healthy behavior into your daily life.

“For those who have two or more weight-related risk factors (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar) and have a BMI that is considered overweight or obese, weight loss of five to 10 percent of their current body weight is recommended,” Hartley says. To achieve this weight loss, Hartley offers a two-step plan.

“The first step is regular physical activity that is fun and convenient,” she says. She recommends getting at least 150 minutes of “sweaty exercise” per week.

If you’re looking for fun and convenient physical activity, consider going to an exercise class at your local or on-campus rec center. You and your friends can easily spend 60 minutes dancing those pounds away at a Zumba class, for example.

“The second step is to make sure you’re eating a balanced diet,” she says. “My favorite tool is the US Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate, a simple tool that easily shows what a balanced meal should look like.”

MyPlate offers Daily Food Plans that can help you maintain your weight or gradually move to a healthier weight, depending on your weight goals. The plans are personalized based on factors like gender, age, weight, and level of physical activity.  

You can also follow these 10 weight loss tips that actually work, which include tracking your calories using apps like Livestrong’s MyPlate and MyFitnessPal, keeping a food journal, limiting your liquid calories, and finding healthy alternatives for your favorite sweet treats.

“Consulting a registered dietitian is also a smart first step toward receiving accurate, personalized recommendations,” Hartley says.

The right diet and exercise plan for your body will set you on a path towards a healthier you in no time!

Maintaining Your Healthy Weight

Once you get to your healthy weight, give yourself a pat on the back – and maybe splurge on a new dress or bikini! Remember, though, that maintaining that weight is just as important as getting to it in the first place. Experts warn that trying to lose weight beyond your ideal weight is unhealthy and often results in regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose.

Despite her busy schedule, Jordan manages her size and weight by working out regularly and making healthy eating choices.

“I try to go to gym everyday,” she says. “I’m not trying to lose weight; I’m just trying to maintain my shape and gain muscle.”

Physical activity is necessary not only to help you lose weight, but also to maintain your weight. Experts assert that getting an extra 20 minutes of physical activity per day is a great start to preventing weight gain. That doesn’t mean you have to go for a 20-minute run or do a bunch of push-ups – you can get those extra 20 minutes simply by going on a walk!

Emily Balkonis, a collegiette from UNC-Chapel Hill, also incorporates physical activity into her daily life on campus as a way to stay fit and healthy. “I try to get a workout in five to six days a week,” she says. “I make sure to split my time between cardio and weights every week.”

The combination of cardio and weights helps Emily get a well-rounded workout. “Neither alone has been effective for me in the past,” she says. Specifically, she runs outside, rides a stationary bike, or uses an elliptical, and uses both free-weights and weight machines.

Like losing weight, maintaining weight is also about sticking to a healthy, balanced eating plan. For those of us who like our junk food a little too much, using food-tracking tools like MyPlate can help with maintaining weight through a healthy diet. Calorie tracking apps can give you a target amount of calories and nutrients you should consume daily to maintain your weight based on your current weight, height, age, and gender.

“[MyPlate] is an easy tool to help folks moderate their intake of starchy foods like potatoes, breads, chips, and sweets, and increase their intake of low-starch vegetables and fruits,” Hartley says. “Using MyPlate can help with maintaining your weight by promoting a healthy, balanced diet.”

Let’s face it, collegiettes – most of us could probably use this type of help. “Research shows that only four percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students eat the recommended five daily servings of fruits and veggies,” says Hartley.

Once you’ve got the diet and physical activity under control, you’re on your way to healthy weight loss and maintenance. For success no matter what your goal, it’s important to stick with the program you set for yourself. Take it seriously, and don’t cheat!

A major reason why weight maintenance is so important is because yo-yo dieting, or inconsistent attempts at weight loss, can cause serious problems like depression and poor heart health. Furthermore, such inconsistency can actually reduce your metabolism and cause weight gain!

So stick with your healthy lifestyle, but don’t obsess over it. Emily says she owns a scale, but only uses it about once a week. “I like to keep track of my weight just to make sure I’m not gaining without realizing it; however I don’t suggest weighing yourself every day,” she says. “I did that my sophomore year, and because my weight fluctuated within a few pounds every day, it was harder to keep track of my overall progress. No huge changes are going to occur overnight, so weighing yourself that often isn’t necessary in my opinion.”

Obsessing about weight management can also lead to dangerous disordered eating. “If any of these behaviors, like tracking calories, becomes excessive, or if your weight gets too low for your height, you should definitely consult a registered dietitian, doctor, or therapist,” Hartley says.

The first step to any weight-related goal is to know your healthy weight. With that number, and the help of tools and apps, you can make a plan to get to – and stay at – the best weight for your body. By sticking to your plan, those physical activity and diet practices will soon become second nature, like they have for Jordan and Emily, and you’ll be on your way to a bikini-ready (and healthy) summer bod!  

Summer, blessed summer, is finally here. It’s time to don a swimsuit and sun by the pool (or in your backyard; whatever’s available to you) or jump in the water for a refreshing swim. No matter where you are this summer, there’s a perfect swimsuit for your location. Whether you’re watching bands rock out at music festivals across the country, babysitting kids with a summer pool pass or lounging on your deck to get a little color, Her Campus knows exactly what you should wear.

1. Channel Your Inner Kim K

Bandage Swimsuit, Etsy, $135

This bandage swimsuit is super sexy—perfect for lounging at a pool party or for a late-night dip with your summer fling. It’s an investment piece, but you’ll look so hot in it that the price is definitely worth it.

2. Psyched for Summer

Psych Out Bikini, Nasty Gal
Top, $55
 Bottom, $40

If you’re traveling to one of the many music festivals taking place nationwide this summer, this swim top will double as a crop top while you’re watching your favorite bands on stage. Pair it with the bottom when you go for a post-concert swim!

3. Monokini Mania

Geo Cutout Monokini, Forever 21, $19.80

We thank the trend gods of summer for keeping monokinis en vogue this year. This bold suit is a good mix of sporty and sexy, which makes it perfect for swimming laps or lounging with lemonade and a big, floppy hat. Put your feet up and let the compliments roll on in.

4. Prints on the Prowl

Swimsuit, ASOS, $57.16

You don’t have to frequent South Beach or the Jersey Shore to appreciate a good leopard print. This one-piece has just enough sass to make a statement but stops (way) short of Snooki. The ultra-flattering shape makes this suit perfect for walks on the beach or to the concession stand. We almost wouldn’t want to get it wet!

5. Surefire Surfer Chic

Rosebud Rash Guard, J.Crew, $78

Rash guards aren’t just for surfers! This one from J.Crew has UPF 50 sun protection, so you can look cute while protecting your skin from damaging rays. Whether you actually wear this rash guard out on the waves or you just wear it to chill under an umbrella poolside, you’re going to look the part of the über-cool surfer girl.

6. Ruffle Me Up

Pushup bikini, American Eagle
Top, $19.99
Bottom, $19.95

For a backyard BBQ, choose a top with a little oomph, like this bikini from American Eagle. The underwire cup will give the girls tons of support, and the top comes in sizes up to DD. The ruffles on the top match those on the bottoms, which we love.

7. Perfectly Patriotic Prints

American Flag Bikini, Luulla, $24.99

What would the Fourth of July be without an America-themed bathing suit for celebrating? This bikini is both patriotic and affordable. Save us a good ole’ American beer and a seat on your boat this July Fourth. We’d love to join!

8. Tulle Hot to Handle

Tulle Bikini, J.Crew
Top, $60
Bottom, $54

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a fancy pool soirée this summer, slip into this sultry-yet-gorgeous bikini, which is modeled after vintage French swimwear. Ooh la la! You’ll definitely catch some eyes in this one.

9. Race Me in a Racerback

Beach Riot Midnight-Sandy Bikini, Urban Outfitters
Top, $86
Bottom, $69

Though the high neckline on this sporty bikini may leave you with some funky tan lines, we’re obsessed with the sexy cut and fun floral print. Wear it for an after-hours dunk or when you’re laying out in the shade.

10. Birds in Paradise

South Beach Fearne Bird of Paradise Bustier Bikini, Lipsy, $30

If you prefer to be more covered up than “barely there,” this vintage-inspired bikini leaves something to the imagination. Wear it with big sunnies at a pool party and let your bathing suit do the talking. At night, pair the bustier top with a high-waisted skirt to go out on the town!

11. Sunny(flower) Days Are Here Again

Sunflower Flounce Bikini, Forever 21
Top, $14.80
Bottom, $12.80

If you find yourself leaning towards “sweet” and far away from “sexy” with your swimwear, here’s a bathing suit that’s flirty without being too aggressive. The floral print is on trend, as is the flouncy cut of the top. Get it before it’s gone!

We’re so excited to lay out, play and hang out this summer! What are your favorite swim styles this season? Let us know in the comments below!

You’re home for the summer, so you hop in the car to head out and hang with your high school besties. Naturally, you turn on the radio and pump the jams. What kind of music is radiating through your stereo system? Country, obviously! Summertime is country-music time, no matter which part of the nation you live in. Here are the reasons why a little backwoods beat is better than anything else during the summer months.

1. Every song feels like summer.

2. It inspires you to live in the moment.

3. County music keeps it real…

4. ...and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

5. Country music makes you feel nostalgic for the past…

6. ..and it makes you realize how awesome your life is and has been.

7. And even when heartache makes us do questionable things... 

8. ...country singers remind us that it’s all about girl power.

9. Country artists are like one big family (that we want to be a part of).

10. Country lyrics are super inspiring.

11. Luke Bryan.

12. There’s always great relationship advice in country music.

13. Country music lets us know that there are real men out there somewhere. 

14. It also reminds us that a little self-confidence never hurt anyone.

15. Country music encourages the simple life. 

We love us some country music!