There’s a lot to love about summertime. No class! Shorts and tank tops! Casual patio parties! But beyond all of the obvious seasonal perks this season brings, there are actual biological and physical reasons why summer puts you in a good mood. We talked to Dr. David Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, about the connection between summer and your good mood.

1. You can eat more fresh foods

While you can certainly get fresh foods year round, summer in particular seems to be teeming with fruit and veggie options. “There are lots of reasons to focus on a whole foods, plants-based diet,” says Neubauer. “There are positive effects on our bodies and brains, and on our thinking and feeling.” These effects include physical effects like good digestion and clear skin as well as harder-to-measure effects like mental clarity, alertness and energy. “There’s been a lot of speculation that a vegetarian diet can have effects on cognitive functioning and mood,” Neubauer says. “We need more research to prove that. In the meantime, eat as healthy as possible.”

When you’re shopping, skip the processed foods and support a local farm at your weekend farmer’s market. The fruit and veggies there will often be organic—and delicious! Some foods that are in season during the summer are carrots, cantaloupe, blackberries, and, of course, watermelon. When you eat well, you feel good; hence, a better mood. Need ideas? Check out our article about the best foods to eat this summer to keep you healthy.

2. You’re getting more sleep

Okay, so this one may not apply if you’re waking up super early for an internship or a job. However, in general, college students will get more sleep in the summer than they do in the school year. This has huge effects on your mood and happiness level, Neubauer says. “There’s tons of evidence coming out about the negative impact of not getting enough sleep or sleeping off and on at different times. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability and even depression,” he says.

For Johns Hopkins senior Vanessa, this is very much true. “During the school year, I probably get six hours of sleep per night. In the summer, it’s more like 10 hours,” she says. “I definitely feel better and more energetic during the summertime.”

Without a doubt, sleep keeps you happy and sane. But there’s a caveat: Neubauer says healthy sleep should be consistent, so you should aim to fall asleep and wake up around the same time each day for you to feel fully rested. Also, oversleeping can make you lethargic and groggy. Eight hours per night is a good bet for collegiettes.

3. You can get in more outdoor exercise

Working out in the winter can be a drag, especially when it requires leaving your cozy dorm room for the windy, snowy outdoors. Sure, jogging on a treadmill for an hour in your crowded rec center does the job, but it’s not nearly as fun (or scenic!) as running through the woods, in a park, or even down your street. Outdoor exercise, whether you’re swimming in a pool, kicking a ball around a field with friends, or going on walks, can make you happy purely because these things can be more fun outdoors.

But Neubauer links it back to sleep. “There is some evidence that lots of activity will help sleep,” he says. “It’s not a simple one-to-one relationship. A huge amount of exercise won’t [inherently] make you tired. But regular exercise has a positive effect on sleep.” Since sleep promotes general happiness, summer’s potential for outdoor exercise (but really, exercise of any kind) has a big effect on how you feel. “I personally just prefer working out outside,” says Hillary, a student at Boston College. “Because it’s more fun, I think I tend to work out longer, too, than if I stayed inside.”

4. The weather is nice and sunny

According to Neubauer, there’s research being done on the connection between sunlight and mood. “It is clear in cases where people are very depressed that strategic light exposure can have a direct therapeutic effect, especially those with seasonal affective disorder [a disorder where you become depressed in colder, darker months],” he says. “The principle is well-established. People… who are more down in the wintertime have more energy and their mood is up in the summer.” Basically, the brightness of summer can naturally enhance your mood and make you feel happier.

Want to really capitalize on this? If you’re feeling down, go outside if it’s sunny. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but people definitely are in tune to sunlight, and it can have an impact on your health. But be careful about sun exposure and sunscreen, Neubauer advises. You don’t need to burn or tan to get the positive benefits of the sun! Make sure you’re consistently applying sunscreen if you plan on being outside.

So if you feel a little more cheerful than normal in the summer, thank the season and enjoy the happiness of these months. School will be back before you know it! 

Ah, professors. You see them every day, even on the days you don’t want to. They can be funny or strict, boring or brilliant. Sometimes we forget they’re real people, and the fate of your grade is literally in their hands. Love them or hate them, we all have to have them.

Any collegiette will tell you that a professor can either make or break your classroom experience. Luckily for you, there are dozens of websites designed to help you avoid Dr. Lectures-a-Lot so you can take Professor Total-Hottie. Based on real collegiettes’ advice, here’s your go-to guide to professor rating websites, how to use them and things to consider when choosing your classes!

Where to find professor ratings

Just like you can Facebook stalk your random roomie (don’t lie; we’ve all done it!), there are dozens of websites where you can get lowdown on your profs. Most sites give you an overall rating for professors, but some include real students’ comments, “hotness” scales and even past syllabi. Here are some of the most popular sites and all their helpful features.

Rate My Professors

Rate My Professors boasts that it’s the largest destination for professor ratings with over 14 million opinions on professors in North America and the UK. All professors are categorized by school and department, and students can rate them on a scale of one to five on the following qualities: helpfulness, clarity and easiness. Those scores are averaged to get the professors “overall quality” score. There is also an option to rate attractiveness, depicted by a little red chili pepper!

Additionally, students can leave comments to explain their ratings and submit grades they received. There’s also an option for professors to respond. Some profs thank their students for their high praise, while others break down their grading system to explain why their class isn’t an easy A. Upcoming features will allow students to “like” or “dislike” the helpfulness of a rating and plus provide descriptor tags so it’s easier to compare professors across the board.

“I use RateMyProfessors.com religiously!” says Summer Ford, a junior at Boston University. “What I like most is when students give a general outline of the coursework. It really helps you get an idea of the workload. It’s definitely a useful site!”

MyEdu

MyEdu has countless tools to help you succeed in college, one of which is professor ratings. To access professor ratings, students have create a personal profile based on their school and major. Then the site allows you to create a schedule with your specific registered classes so all your information is in one spot.

Similar to other professor rating websites, profs are broken down by department and classes they teach. Each class has a short description, including any prerequisites and dates that classes were held during the most recent semester. You can access info like the percent of students who dropped the class, the average GPA/grades received and old syllabi. Instead of scales to measure helpfulness or easiness, students write short paragraphs about their experience, and other users can “like” the post if they find it useful. If the professor teaches other classes, MyEdu has links to those specific class reviews as well.

“I've always used MyEdu.com,” says Jasmin Escher, a junior at the University of Texas at Austin. “What I also find to be tremendously helpful is pulling up old course syllabi to see how heavy the workload of the class is. You can more easily decide which classes will fit best into your schedule!”

Koofers

Similar to MyEdu, Koofers has more than just professor ratings. Students can access Test Banks, which include practice exams and study guides. You can also create your class schedule and find jobs and internships.

Students rate professors by writing short descriptions of what their class is like. What makes this website different is that it provides the average GPA for the class, plus information about tests, quizzes, projects and extra credit. Students can rank how hard exams are, how often professors give pop quizzes or not and how much they curve their grades! Users can rank how useful each post is, and then the site highlights the most helpful reviews so you’re not searching through pointless comments.

“I use Koofers to find out specific information about a class,” says Krista Jacobs, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University. “It’s helpful to know what kinds of assignments I can expect in the class or if homework will be graded. That information makes it different from other rating websites.”

Things to keep in mind when using these sites

Now that you know where to go, it’s time to start your professor-rating research. While these sites are meant to guide you to the best of the best, there are some important things to keep in mind before you decide on your professors. Collegiettes weighed in so you can have the best classroom experience possible!

Using the difficulty scale

Let’s be real, when you see that low grade on the difficulty scale paired with comments that promise you, “this will be the easiest prof you’ll ever have,” you’re tempted to take the class. But taking a class that you can apparently breeze through may not be in your best interests.

“Classes aren’t supposed to be easy; they’re supposed to challenge us to think and learn,” says Sarah Desiderio, a senior at Pennsylvania State University. “So many students bash profs because it wasn’t an ‘easy A.’ Don’t shy away from a class you want because the ratings say it won’t be a cakewalk.”

Iris Goldsztajn, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles, reminds us that difficulty is also a personal assessment; something that might be hard for one person could be extremely easy for another. Additionally, taking a less difficult class just because it’s easy, not because you’re interested in it, can actually be detrimental to your grade. “There might be a class that everyone says is a piece of cake, but if you’re not interested in it, it might be really difficult,” Iris says. “For instance, I once took ‘the easiest science requirement ever,’ but I was so bored in the class and I ended up with a B-, the lowest grade I’ve received in college.”

If a class seems interesting, don’t discount it because the professor might be ranked as difficult. Amy Way, an assistant professor in Villanova University’s communication department, encourages students to take a risk on courses that sound interesting. “Just take a chance and go for the ride,” she suggests. “Trust that the college you’ve selected has put a great deal of effort into hiring smart and talented individuals that you’ll learn something from. Yes, it might be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get something out of the course.”

However, there are some warning signs you should be aware of to avoid a difficult professor. Elizabeth Deuel, a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says there are a few things you should take seriously. “I look for comments about their grading style, how they engage students and if they are respectful,” Elizabeth says. “If a teacher seems to get a lot of feedback about being a overly hard or unfair grader, I won't take their class, because I hate having to fight with teachers over grades.”

That being said, don’t just drop a difficult professor without really doing your research. You may have to work a little harder for an A, but if the prof is respectful and fair, you might actually gain a lot from his or her class!   

Students’ comments

One of the best things about these websites is real feedback from past students. Comments can give you insight into why professors got their ratings as well as give you advice for how to succeed in their classes.

“I take into consideration how many recommendations the professor has and read through the reviews to see what tips previous students give,” Jasmin says. “Your best bet is to consult the sites as a starting point to get a feel for the class, and then try to reach out to friends at the university to get their personal opinion.”

Keep in mind that most comments come from students who either love or hate the class, rarely those who are neutral. “People are more motivated to leave a comment if they’ve had an exceptionally good or extremely bad experience,” Way says. “So you’re just getting anecdotes from those on the extremes and not hearing from other students.” 

While comments can be extremely helpful (especially if you don’t know anyone at your college whom you can talk to), be sure to consider where the comments are coming from. Don’t get caught up in the extremes or overdramatic reviews. Instead, search for the ones that seem like a realistic portrayal of the professor, and then make your decision!

Reviews from students in that major

One of the best ways to determine if you want to take a class with a certain professor is to look for reviews from students in a specific major. There are some general core classes that every student has to take, so consider who is writing the comments, because that might give the review a positive or negative twist.

“If it’s a class everyone has to take, chances are some people are going hate the class topic and rate the professor poorly regardless of teaching skills,” Krista says. “But if communication majors are rating communication professors harshly, you know their reviews are based on teaching style, not the topic. They hold more weight.”  

If an engineer is taking an English class, chances are she’s not going to enjoy the required reading as much as English majors. When looking for reviews of her previous English professor, Krista found a student who openly admitted to hating reading. “They rated the professor really harshly because they hated reading,” Krista says. “Just because a student hates a class’s subject doesn’t mean their professor is bad.”

While it may take a little more time to read through all the student ratings, finding one or two reviews from someone in that major can give you a more accurate understanding of what the professor is really like. They’re definitely more helpful than a review from a bitter student who hated the required class!

One of the biggest sources of anxiety for pre-collegiettes is dealing with college classes and professors. No matter where you go to school, you’re going to face a few awesome profs and some not-so-good ones. With professor rating websites, you can prepare yourself when you choose your classes. Keep these tips in mind next time you’re researching a professor so you can have a great first semester!

Your friends are your rock; you can always count on them for a good laugh or a shoulder to cry on. You’d be lost without them, right? Well, not necessarily. Your friendships could actually be hurting you and your health much more than you might think. Some friends might be unhappy or unhealthy themselves, but you shouldn’t be afraid to move on from friends who are just plain bad news for your health. We asked collegiettes to share their bad friendship experiences, and we checked in with experts to make sense of these situations and help you (and your friend!) through some sticky situations.

1. Their unhealthy habits influence you

The situation

You probably have a lot in common with your friends; that's why you’re friends in the first place! Even if you don't like some of the things your friend does, spending time with her might make her habits rub off on you. This can be a great thing, an opportunity to grow and evolve – unless her habits have the potential to hurt you.

“Drinking or eating too much, smoking, spending too much are bad habits that can rub off from a friend,” says Irene S. Levine, PhD, psychologist, friendship expert and producer of The Friendship Blog. “When you see someone doing something to excess, it can make you lose your perspective and act the same way.”

Samantha*, a senior collegiette, is all too familiar with this situation. “I've had some friends with unhealthy body image/eating habits. It's very easy for those behaviors to rub off on me,” she says. “Although I love my friends, I can't handle the constant negativity and bizarre eating habits. I have to distance myself and remember that I can't allow myself to fall into that trap.”

Why it happens

We’re strong, ambitious collegiettes, and we (usually) know how to make the right decisions! So why are we so easily influenced by our friends' habits? Jessica Rozler, co-author of Friend or Frenemy?, explains: “Bad habits influence us because – let's face it – some of these things can be fun.”

This makes a lot of sense, especially since we often want to look back on our college years as the most fun time of our lives. “Take, for example, the friend who parties too much,” Rozler says. “She's always down for a good time and puts her school work low on her priority list. If you are buried in your studies, it's very tempting to join her during her nights on the town when you should really be doing work.”

As for much less seemingly fun bad habits, like Samantha's friends’ eating patterns, Dr. Levine explains that the influence can stem from our having similar tendencies to start with. In this situation, our friend would just bring out these tendencies in us rather than create them.

How to deal

So your friend encourages you to engage in activities that make you uncomfortable or put you at risk. What should you do? “If you have a friend who is prone to dangerous or risky behaviors, you may want to limit your interactions,” especially if you find yourself tempted to imitate her, Dr. Levine says.

But there is a second solution, Dr. Levine says. “Another approach is to see her in a group, so that peer pressure will curtail unhealthy behaviors,” she says. Dr. Levine explains that “while it’s easy to dismiss one other person challenging your behaviors, it’s more difficult to do that to a group.”

So if you are the only one to call your friend out on something she does, it will be easier for her to deny it or get defensive. “Peer pressure often can be very motivating in getting someone to reexamine his/her behaviors.” If you are worried about someone's behavior, try talking to mutual friends about it first. If they agree with you, it will be easier to confront the friend in question as a group.

2. You compare yourself to them

The situation

If a friend of yours has low self-esteem and repeatedly lists her perceived faults and failings, you might become more likely to see those same faults in yourself by comparison.

This has happened to Clara*, a senior at Pennsylvania State University. “When a friend is putting herself down for how allegedly fat or ugly she is, and I'm sitting there confused because I think she’s neither of those things, sometimes it makes me doubt myself,” Clara says.

Conversely, if your friend is very confident and seems perfect to you, you might feel unworthy compared to her.

Why it happens

Don't worry if you have a tendency to compare yourself to others, because “comparing ourselves to our friends is natural,” Dr. Levine says. “Unless it is to excess, it can be motivating. A thin friend can help motivate us to lose weight. A brainy friend can encourage us to study more, etc.”

But on the other hand, “if you lack confidence, you may not see your friend realistically and underestimate the traits you have that she might envy,” Dr. Levine says.

How to deal

Rozler offers a simple solution to avoid negative self-talk within your group of friends: “just refuse to participate. Change the topic or simply say that you don't want to talk like that.” But if this method doesn't work and “you always feel bad about yourself after spending time with a friend, you really need to reevaluate that friendship,” she says.

If you have the opposite problem, that is, envying an apparently flawless friend, “just don't do it,” Rozler warns. “Two very true clichés: You are your own worst critic, and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

Your friend might seem perfect, but she also “has her flaws and insecurities, just like we all do,” Rozler points out. “I guarantee that she admires and envies things about you and thinks that you have it really good in some ways.”

Bottom line: as hard as it may be, try to maintain a positive and realistic outlook on yourself. Comparing yourself to your friends, whether they’re insecure or perfectly confident, has a good chance of bringing you down – unless you use it as healthy motivation.

3. They pressure you into certain behaviors

The situation

Usually our friends have our backs. But sometimes a so-called friend will make us feel obliged to engage in something we don't want to do. “I’ve been in situations where if men have bought me a drink, a friend of mine has said, ‘Well, now you have to hook up with him,’” says Maria*, a senior at New York University.

Peer pressure is pervasive in middle and high school, but it most definitely doesn’t stop happening in college. Your friends might pressure you to drink, use drugs or, like Maria, hook up with people for all the wrong reasons. The NYU collegiette says she feels inadequate in these situations, especially “after a lifetime of being told not to settle and not to tone down [her] personality.”

Why it happens

Dr. Levin says, “sometimes, in the face of a friend’s urging, it becomes very difficult to exercise self-control and say ‘no,’” which can lead to a dangerous situation.

How to deal

If one of your friends has a tendency to pressure you into doing things you’re uncomfortable with, try seeing her in a group or planning ahead to hang out in a “safe zone,” like a restaurant, a movie theater or the mall.

However, if you think your friend's behavior is endangering her health as well as yours, “you should express your concern to her and also let her know that you're worried about her,” Rozler says. This will be a difficult conversation to have, but following this advice should help. “In general, be direct, don't accuse her of anything and express that you really care for her,” Rozler says.

Expect that the conversation might not go as planned, and “if she doesn't want to change her lifestyle or reacts in a hostile way, you'll have to distance yourself from the friendship,” Rozler warns.

4. They take more than they give

The situation

A friendship is an exchange; both of you should be giving as much as you take. If your friend expects more from you than you can possibly give her and gives very little in return, it can become a problem.

A one-sided relationship where you’re always on the giving side can really take its toll on your health. “You might feel like are being taken advantage of,” Dr. Levine says.

Isabel*, a senior at Franklin & Marshall College, once had a friend like this.  “[She] would just dump all her drama on me and call me in tears asking me to make it all better when I had my own drama,” she says. This was too much for Isabel: “I later told her that I was sick of the drama and that I couldn't handle it anymore.”

How to deal

It is up to you to “assess whether the relationship is really reciprocal and worth keeping,” Dr. Levine says. Indeed, there is a difference between a friend who doesn’t give back once or twice and a friend who fails you time and time again. Nobody’s perfect, but a true friend should have your back.

If you really care about a friend who has been taking too much from you lately, consider talking to her about it. This will be as difficult as confronting her about a dangerous habit, but Dr. Levine's guidelines are a great place to start. Her advice? “Get the facts before you make accusations, try not to blame the other person, spend at least as much time listening as you do speaking,” she says.

Timing is also key. “Save discussions for when tempers have settled down and make sure you pick the right time and setting,” Dr. Levine says. Even if your friend doesn't react well at first, hopefully in time she will understand your point of view and realize that she needs to change.

5. They put you down

The situation

A good friend should lift you up, make you laugh and make you feel happy and confident—not bring you down! Yet sometimes someone close to you might make you feel bad about yourself, whether purposefully or not.

“A former friend of mine, who I stopped talking to for this and many other reasons, used to try to make herself seem better than those around her by a ‘career ethic,’” Maria says. “She would ask people what kind of jobs/internships they got, belittle them, or, if they didn't have one, state how their life was going nowhere or that she was somehow going to succeed solely based on these assumptions.”

Why it happens

There are various reasons why your friend might belittle you regularly. “Some friends put us down in an effort to build themselves up,” Dr. Levine says. “They may be jealous or suffer from low self-esteem.”

As for more passive-aggressive remarks, “your friend may be angry at you for something she hasn't expressed and it seeps out as underhanded criticism,” Dr. Levine says.

Finally, Rozler says your friend's trash talk “might be so subtle that she doesn't even know she's doing it.”

How to deal

A so-called friend putting you down is never okay, and “if it's destroying your sense of self-worth, this is not a true friend,” Rozler warns.

With that in mind, both experts agree that this girl might be struggling with her own self-esteem. If this is the case and she has been a good friend in the past, “it might be helpful to point out her strengths so she feels better about herself,” Dr. Levine suggests.

If you think your friend is angry at you for some reason, “you might want to call her out on her behavior and explain the effect her put-downs are having on your friendship,” Dr. Levine says. Either way, communication is key.

If being around a certain friend is hurting your physical or mental health, don’t be afraid to walk away. However, if your friend puts you or herself down on a regular basis, this could be a cry for help. Ultimately, it’s up to you to distinguish between hopeless situations and ones where your friend simply needs you.

*Names have been changed.

Happy #WomanCrushWednesday, collegiettes! We have a new woman crush — actually, a whole team of them.

Photos of the female Harvard rugby team from their Tumblr, Rugged Grace, have been cropping up everywhere on the Web recently. Why? Well, for once, the women haven’t been Photoshopped down to their gym socks or attacked with a team of hairstylists and makeup artists just for the sake of a photo shoot.

Instead, the team members are dressed in plain gray sports bras and spandex and are covered in inspirational messages written in black Sharpie. These literal body comments are both long (“You inspire us to work harder and be better every day”) and short (“fearless,” “Captain Cool,” “#Quad Lyfe”).

According to Shelby Lin, a member of the team who recently graduated, each message portrays what the other women consider to be that specific player’s best qualities.

“We simply asked our teammates to write what they loved about each other, and refrained from giving much direction or expectations. From that there was an outpouring of appreciation about each other’s bodies, attitudes and characters,” Lin said. “I didn’t expect the process to be so emotional, but after each day I felt full of pride for the women involved and how much we respect both ourselves and each other.”

The pictures were taken this May at the Kundalini Yoga Boston studio. The rugby team also wrote an opinion piece for the Harvard Political Review called “An Exercise in Body Image” to accompany their photo essay.

“The photo essay… is a testament to the power that a sport like rugby has. It demonstrates that there is the potential out there for women to be proud of their bodies, no matter what,” wrote the article’s authors, Brooke Kantor, Helen Clark and Lydia Federico. “Although it is extremely difficult to maintain a constant state of positive self-image in our culture, every time a woman celebrates the beauty of her own body or of another woman she is making a political statement. She is saying that she refuses to accept the messages spread by mainstream culture, and she is refusing to accept that her body is only valuable as a visual object.”

Clark later told The Huffington Post that the team has created a culture that appreciates every shape.

"We are hoping that people will be inspired by the photographs to celebrate their own strength and to recognize the beauty of the women in their lives," she said.

So next time you’re feeling a little insecure, grab a piece of a paper — or find a body part. Write down what you love about you. Because thanks to these women, next week’s #WCW will be ourselves. 

Flirting is an art all collegiettes should learn. It’s tricky; you have to walk the fine line between letting a guy know you’re interested and coming off too strong. There are some ways to get his attention, but if you don’t know what to do short of screaming, “I want to have your babies!” (note: we would advise against this direct method), don’t worry! There are definitely subtler ways to get him to notice you. We spoke to flirting and communications expert Rachel DeAlto for some tips and asked college guys about subtle ways girls have gotten their attention!

1. Flash Him a Smile

Happiness attracts people, and college guys are no exception.

“No one wants to flirt with or date someone miserable,” DeAlto says. She warns collegiettes to be careful of “resting b*tch face” (when you think your face is supposed to be in neutral, resting mode, but you appear to look angry or miserable). “It will make you completely unapproachable,” she warns. Look in the mirror and see how your face naturally falls when you’re not smiling. Try to soften your features and make a conscious effort to smile.

Former HC RLCG Sean McFarland agrees that smiling does the trick. “Smiling goes a LONG way,” he says. “When a girl just smiles when talking in normal conversation, it drives me nuts.”

DeAlto suggests smiling as often as possible in conversation. Also, “smiling with eye contact across the room is the best way to get a guy to approach you,” she says. “A general rule for how to smile is to smile with your eyes––this isn't a glamour shots pose; it’s an authentic, warm… invitation.”

2. Get Caught Sneaking Glances

Eye contact is another subtle flirting technique to master. “One thing I notice is... [when] I catch them staring at me when I’m not [looking],” says Michael Viloria, a recent graduate of Simon Fraser University. “It really boosts my confidence and makes me feel attractive. It also makes me feel more comfortable with the way I talk and how I am.”

If you’re looking at him and you catch his eye from across the room, hold his gaze, but know when to let go.

“This can be very intimate; only three seconds is necessary," DeAlto says. "Making eye contact shows him that you are interested in connecting. No longer than three seconds, or you may look creepy; less than a few seconds and he might mistake it for a passing glance.”

3. Touch Him Subtly

Lightly touching a guy can send the message that you want to connect, or that you feel a connection.

“Some of my favorite ways a woman can flirt are to subtly use touch during conversation,” Sean says. “A subtle touch to the knee or the back of the arm can go a long way.”

Joel Dobben, a grad student at the University of St Andrews, agrees, but warns not to overstep boundaries. “Touch his arm or shoulder lightly if he says anything really funny or perceptive,” he says, “but don't rub him as if you're consciously sending a physical message."

4. Take on a Flirty Tone of Voice

Don’t just show him you’re interested, let him hear it! Michael likes when girls let him know they’re into him not by what they say, but how they say it. “There is a little change in their tone of voice; it becomes more playful,” he says.

When responding to a guy, show your interest in what he has to say by the sound of your voice. Avoid a monotone, unvaried pitch when speaking––you could lose his interest, and you may come off bored.

“A change in tone can happen naturally, BUT you can make it happen when you are talking through a smile,” says DeAlto. “It will literally change how you talk.” She suggests practicing saying, “How are you?” with a straight face and then saying it again with a smile—you’ll notice a difference. “The change is immediate, easy, and effective,” she says.

5. Let Him Know You Think He's Funny

It’s one of the oldest tricks in the flirting book, but it works like a charm every time: pump up his ego a bit by laughing at his jokes.

Michael says a girl gets his attention when he notices that she’s laughing at everything he’s saying. “It is a self-image boost kind of thing. It also makes me feel like she is someone that is fun to be with and a potential partner,” he says.

You don’t have to laugh too much, especially if it’s not genuine. But if you feel a giggle coming on, let yourself express a positive reaction to his jokes. He’ll be drawn to you when your laughter reassure him that, yes, he is funny (or at least you think so).

With all of these tips, the most important thing to remember is the balance between playing hard to get and coming off desperate. "Flirting is about letting him know that it's okay to hit on you, and that you won't sneer and ignore him,” says DeAlto. “You don't have to be overly sexual or try too hard; if he is interested, all he needs is a couple indicators that you are interested, too.”

Colleges across the country have been installing gender-neutral bathrooms in order to create a more inclusive environment for trans and non-gender-conforming students.

Northwestern University and Illinois State University are among the schools to have introduced gender-neutral bathrooms on campus most recently. These restrooms are open to students of any gender so that they can "feel safe, regardless of gender expression or gender identity,"according to Michelle Margulis, president of Northestern's Rainbow Alliance LGBT student group. The push for safety is crucial; elsewhere and in the past, trans and non-gender-conforming students have been banned from using school restrooms and harassed in public ones. 

"Most folks don't think twice about using the restroom, but for transgender people, accessing the restroom that matches our gender identity too often results in ridicule or violence,"says Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center. "Those of us who don't fit narrow gender stereotypes -- including transgender people transitioning from one gender to another -- are most likely to be targeted."

As of now, more than 150 schools across the U.S. have embraced gender-neutral bathrooms to give all students, regardless of gender identity, some peace of mind. 

Forcing trans or non-gender-conforming students to use a traditionally gendered bathroom "repeatedly 'outs' them to other students or employees and stigmatizes them daily by singling them out and prevents them from having critical peer experiences,"says Sasha Buchert, staff attorney for the Transgender Law Center. "Trans and gender nonconforming students should be focusing on their education or getting their job done well, and not about which bathroom they can use."

We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you’re stressed about a fling gone wrong, a recently wrecked relationship or how to handle a stage-five clinger, Real Live College Guy Dale is here to help you navigate the college dating scene.

I've known my crush/coworker for three years. When I left for college, we got closer. We hug all the time (long and tight), joke and talk about our problems (such as his cheating ex). He calls me his favorite and keeps telling me to visit him at his apartment when I come back from school. But he said he could never like a mutual friend of ours (who is like me) because their lifestyles don't mix. Are we just friends? Is he putting his feelings aside because he doesn't think it could ever work? –Friend-Zoned in Florida

Florida,

I definitely think you’re friend-zoned, but I wouldn’t say that it’s a bad thing, necessarily. I want to know why guys and girls can’t just be friends sans romantic feelings. In case any of my readers needed a heads-up: It’s totally possible for a guy to like a girl as just a friend.

I think your friend values your relationship, which I’m assuming he thinks is totally platonic. I also think that he said he wouldn’t be able to date your mutual friend (the one you’re like) as a way to quell any possible romantic feelings. I take that statement as him saying, “I like hanging out with you and I appreciate that we can talk about stuff, but our lifestyles are too different for us to ever be compatible with each other.”

And here’s the thing, Florida: That’s totally okay!

I get it. I’ve been there. One of my best friends was also the girl I had the biggest crush on in high school. We were friends then and nothing ever happened — not necessarily because our lifestyles were too different, but because we were too alike. Regardless, we’ve moved on from that stage in our relationship, and she’s someone with whom I can hang out at Starbucks and talk with for hours without feeling like I’m in love with her. It’s a miracle, I know, but somehow we’ve managed to bypass everyone’s assumptions that men and women can’t just be friends without feelings.

As much as it might suck for you to hear, I’ve got a strong suspicion that you two are simply friends. I don’t think he’s putting his romantic feelings for you aside, because I don’t believe he had any romantic feelings for you in the first place.

So you can look at this situation in one of two ways:

1. You constantly reflect on what you two would be like as a couple. If you do this, you’ll never move on. Maybe one day the two of you will decide to go out, but I think your differences would cause you two to eventually end things, and then what? Then you’ve lost out on both a relationship and a friendship, and you’re stuck with nothing but regret. Depressing, I know.

2. You move forward and accept that you two are always just going to be friends. Hang out, have fun and realize that a friendship with this guy might be leaps and bounds better than a relationship with him would be. With this option, you don’t have to worry about losing him at all.

Even though you're working hard to get along with your supervisor and stand out as a memorable intern, internships can be really tough—especially when you're not the best intern in the office. Another intern outshining you can really put a damper on your experience. But you can make your internship better not by competing with your co-intern, but by learning from her! Intern Queen Lauren Berger and Anne Brown, founder of career advice website Grad To Great, weigh in on six simple lessons you can learn from an awesome fellow intern.

1. They are enthusiastic about busywork.

Face it: occasionally, interns have to do some less-than-exciting work, like making copies or running errands. A subpar intern might hesitate to take on the task or quietly complain about it. But a great intern takes on the work with a smile and enthusiasm.

"An intern who acts as if everything is beneath [her] will never do as well as the one who brings an enthusiastic, can-do approach to her tasks," Brown says. Interns agree, too, like Shira Kipnees from Franklin & Marshall. “I take every job my boss gives me with a smile, and because of my nice attitude, she tends to give me more responsibilities and also more perks, such as letting me out of work early because I finish everything efficiently and nicely,” she says.

Berger suggests taking these boring tasks and turning them into a learning opportunity. "It's really great to see an intern not only doing the tasks that you give them, but [who] really wanted to understand the purpose behind them,” she says. “It shows that you're learning and taking the internship seriously.” So, the next time you get an assignment that involves busywork, ask what the task is for and how it contributes to the company. But be careful—you don’t want it to seem like you think the task is pointless. So instead of saying “What’s the point of this?” say “Sounds great! How will you use this information?” or “Is this part of a bigger project?” Not only will it help you understand and complete the job better, but you'll learn in the process, too!

2. They ask thoughtful questions.

Remember, you're not just doing an internship to put it on your resume; you're there to learn about your chosen industry. Really great interns remember that on a day-to-day basis. "The more you act as if you are interested in the work you're doing, the more responsibility you'll be given," Brown says. "And an internship is all about gaining as much real world experience as you can."

The best way to learn more about your internship is to ask lots of questions, Berger says. So in between your typical "How can I help?" and "Can you show me how to do this?" questions, impress your boss with intriguing questions about your career field, your employer's experience, or the company as a whole. For example, you could ask what they think the future of the industry looks like, or if they have ideas to improve the company. For bigger questions like these, it’s probably best to schedule a meeting with your boss instead of springing them on her while she’s busy working.

3. They ask for extra opportunities.

Good interns do everything their boss asks them to do. But great interns want to do more than that, so they find more ways to get involved and learn from their internship. Asking to get coffee with your boss, attend meetings, or contribute to a big project will show your boss that you really want to get as much as possible out of your time with the company. But there's a fine line, too! "It's a matter of being eager but not overeager," Berger says. If your boss seems hesitant to let you come to a meeting, don't ask again. Even if you don't get to take the opportunities you seek out, at least your boss knows you're looking for them!

Rachel Wendte, a recent grad of Butler University, found success in asking for more responsibility at her internship. “I told [my supervisor] that I would love more projects and that if anyone in the department needed my help, I was ready,” Rachel says. “She took my request to the next staff meeting and they listened. By the next week I had three more projects to work on. The best part of taking on the extra work was that people noticed. After a while, I no longer had to ask to attend staff meetings; I was invited.”

4. They make the most of downtime.

Whenever they have free time and there's nothing to do, most interns keep themselves busy by organizing the office, but amazing interns create their own tasks that will help the company in the long run. For example, Berger says that one of her current interns will scour the Web for industry news and send relevant articles to her. Because she's so busy and doesn't have time to do that kind of work, Berger really appreciates her intern's initiative.

Need some ideas to fill up your downtime? Try one of these:

• Brainstorm ideas for other projects.
• Make an internship handbook, if there isn’t one.
• Brainstorm ideas for new social media initiatives for the company.
• See if anything on the company’s website needs to be updated.
• Come up with a list of questions to ask your boss before you leave.
• Brainstorm or pitch new project ideas for your company.
• See if other departments can use your help.
• Make a master list of passwords, if you know them.

5. They know how people in the office communicate.

Communication is important in any field, and it can really make the difference between a good intern and an outstanding one. "An intern who can communicate well will make a good impression," Brown says. "This includes both verbal and written communication. The ability to write a clear, concise email is critical to success as an intern, as is the ability to get a point across during a conversation."

If you feel like you’re not on the same page as your boss sometimes, it might be because of how you're communicating with him or her. Take cues from your fellow interns about the best way to approach your co-workers. If you usually ask your boss questions in person but other interns stick to email, see if emailing works better. Similarly, know when the best time is to approach your boss. "There's a time and a place for everything," Berger says. "If you know your boss is on a tight schedule that day, it's probably not the best day to share your ideas. It's about reading the room, feeling a situation out, and knowing when the conversation is appropriate."

6. They take the job seriously.

Even though interns aren't officially full-time employees, the best interns perform like they are! "An intern who can successfully handle the types of assignments that full-time employees normally tackle will definitely stand out," Brown says. That doesn't mean you have to be doing huge projects to perform like a full-timer. "These tasks could be filling out a weekly report or taking notes in a meeting, then e-mailing them out to the participants," Brown says. "The ability to share in the workload of the team and shift some of the burden squarely on her shoulders is what makes an intern not only stand out, [but also] makes her valuable to the company."

By following the behavior of other employees and conducting herself in a mature, professional way, an intern can show that she really is a part of a team—not just a college student passing through. “You may only be an intern right now, but if you take yourself seriously and show your coworkers what you can do, you could have a good chance of becoming an employee [in the future],” says Christina Favuzzi from Cal Poly.

Following in stellar interns’ steps can help you become the best intern ever, too! Just remember that to really stand out and make an impact, go above and beyond your supervisor’s expectations, have a positive attitude, and make the most of your time with the company.

You’re running to work, trying to get there a few minutes early to impress your boss. Your bag is weighing heavily on your shoulder, and by the time you get to your cubicle, you’re dripping sweat, desperately wanting to take off the wool pants you’re wearing in the 90-degree heat.

In the summer, it can feel natural to start exposing more skin. However, style guru Jess Galfo of Dressed by Jess advises that staying stylish in a summer office can be done without getting noticed for the wrong reasons. “I swear by the Three C's: conservative, classy and chic,” she says. “It's important to be noticed for your hard work, not your tight clothing, plunging neckline or short miniskirt.”

Dressing the part for your summer internship doesn’t mean having to sacrifice the comfort of staying as cool as possible in the office. “Your summer wardrobe should combat the heat with breezy, lightweight alternatives,” Galfo says. “Reach for fabrics that are breathable, such as linen, silk and cotton.”  Every office culture is different, so before you start shopping, make sure you check with your supervisor about dress-code guidelines! Here are some safe bets that’ll keep you looking and feeling cool all summer long.

1. Jump on the jumpsuit trend

Whether you’re checking out the fashion runways, Googling your favorite celeb’s street style or just walking around town, you’ve likely seen jumpsuits everywhere. While this new fashion trend often features plunging necklines and bold prints, there are also simpler versions that can be appropriate for the workplace and can be a lighter alternative to tight, thick pants and a heavy blazer.

Because jumpsuits can appear casual, dressing them up with office-appropriate heels and jewelry are a must to make them look sleek and professional. Stick to one in a basic color with a higher neckline, like this jumpsuit from ASOS ($95.27).

2. Take it to the maxi

If you’re looking to keep your legs covered without turning to the heat-locking, heavy material that business pants are often made of, a maxi skirt (or dress) can be a great alternative. If you choose to rock this look, remember to avoid sheer fabric, slits, over-the-top patterns and body-hugging fabrics. Even if you’re looking to gain style points, it’s important to keep it professional!

Pair a maxi skirt like this one ($16.99 at Charlotte Russe) with a dressy blouse in a nicer material such as silk to make this look office-ready.

3. Short(s) and sweet

It can be hard to tell if wearing shorts to work is appropriate or not; it really depends on the office. Your safest bet is to ask your supervisor about this before you do it or to simply follow her lead.

“If you are still in question if you can wear shorts to work, stop and ask yourself, ‘would my boss wear shorts?’” Galfo says. “If the answer is no, then I suggest you stick to dresses, skirts and lightweight pants.”

However, if you do find that this trend is acceptable in your workplace, we’re here to help you find the most professional pair.

Leave your favorite denim shorts at home and opt for dressier pairs. Style them with a blazer or nice blouse, depending on your workplace. A good rule of thumb: shorts should be longer than your fingertips when you put your arms at your side, but much closer to your knees.

Every office is different, so it’s important to wear this trend carefully. “If you work in a more creative field, like fashion, for example, then you can be more bold with your outfit choices,” Galfo says. “Little Chloe shorts paired with an H&M basic tee, statement necklace and pointed pumps scream super sleek and ultra-feminine.”

For a safe bet, try these boardwalk shorts in black, navy or khaki ($49 at Ann Taylor).

4. Dress it up

As long as they fit with your office’s dress code, dresses are the perfect way to look (and feel!) cool in the blazing summer heat. However, that doesn’t mean that you can wear your favorite going-out dress or anything with a short hemline. Dresses for the office should cover your shoulders, should have an appropriate neckline, shouldn’t be too tight and should be a conservative length (see the fingertip test mentioned earlier for shorts for a good guideline).

“Flaunting necklines are not appropriate for the office,” Galfo says. “Instead, reach for high-rise necklines with a rounded or squared finish. This flirty geometric-print dress by MANGO [$39.99] paired with a colored cardigan is corporate-girl approved!”

If your dress has smaller straps, throw a light sweater or blazer over it for an even more professional look that will still keep you cool. If you’re in an office environment that allows it, play with color and prints to add a little bit of flair to your basic professional wardrobe!

5. Pencil it in

A true classic, pencil skirts are a perfect, timeless example of office-appropriate clothing that helps you avoid burning up under the summer sun. No matter how strict your office dress code is, a pencil skirt is an item that’s appropriate in any setting. “They are simple, yet stylish,” Galfor says. “The key is to choose a high-waisted style that is not severely hip-hugging.”

Dress it up with a blazer or wear it more casually with a blouse or peplum top. In general, Galfo says that when deciding on colors, it’s best to stay neutral (black, gray and beige are great go-tos).

For a basic look, try this pencil skirt ($69.50 from LOFT) and spice it up with a brightly colored necklace!

Not sure where to start looking for your corporate-approved summer outfits? Galfo recommends Topshop, H&M, Zara, MANGO, Urban Outfitters, LOFT, Gap and Kohl’s. Happy shopping, collegiettes! 

Twitter is a beautiful, beautiful place filled with adorable animal pictures, celebriy gossip, hard-hitting journalism, free food alerts, inspirational quotes, hilarious commentary - we could go on forever. And it's normal to be passionate about beautiful things, right? Right?!

But unfortunately, sometimes a passion can turn into an addiction. Here are our top 15 signs you're addicted to Twitter. (Don't worry if many of these apply to you; we're currently exhibiting a few symptoms ourselves.)

1. When you’re trying to get someone’s attention, your first instinct is to call out “@” plus his or her Twitter handle rather than his or her actual name.

2. If you think of a good Tweet, you drop everything to post it, because otherwise you know you’ll forget its wording and your followers will miss out on your genius.

3. You become enraged upon learning friends/brands/celebrities/companies don’t have accounts. How will you stalk them now?!

4. The first place you learn about breaking news is Twitter.

5. You occasionally sleep-tweet.

6. Sometimes you can feel yourself thinking in clever 140-character blurbs.

7. You love using hashtags in real conversations, like “hashtag dying” or “hashtag no way.”

8. You’re following all the best accounts, like @CIA, @feministtswift, @HonestToddler and @EmrgencyKittens.

9. You were one of the first people to upload a header photo when the site redesign came out.

10. You use services like Qwitter, TweetReach and ManageFlitter to track when people unfollow you, what your most popular tweets are and who's seeing your tweets.

11. You live tweet major life events, like Beyoncé concerts…

12. ...and not-so-major life events as well, like your struggles to pick out the perfect party outfit.

13. You know exactly which times of the day are the best for tweeting or retweeting.

14. It’s your dream to someday have a Twitter convo with one of your favorite users or celebrities.

15. You’re seriously thinking about working in social media—after all, it’s kind of your area of expertise/calling.

There’s no one way to be queer, but no matter who you are, one of the most personal experiences you’ll have can often be the most nerve-wracking (and sometimes the most dangerous): coming out. Whether you’re out to a few close friends or your whole campus, coming out to your family can be a whole different ball game. Here are a few things to consider if you’re still on the fence about coming out of the closet.

1. Potential safety risks

Ideally, safety wouldn’t be a concern when it comes to coming out. But in a world where being anything other than straight can quite literally get you killed – the FBI found that 19.2 percent of violent hate crimes in 2012 were motivated by sexual orientation– it’s something to think about. Are your parents open to different sexualities, or have they made comments about LGBTQ+ issues that made you squirm? If you feel like you might be in danger at home for being who you are, call a hotline or find someone you can talk to.

Psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula points out that having the support of others around you is crucial in case your family reacts poorly.

“Social networks go beyond just families,” Durvasula says. She suggests finding people to talk to who support you and will help to “soften the challenges this transition can bring.”

2. Your financial situation

Some families may not resort to physical violence, but there are other ways of rejecting your identity. If your parents would, for example, kick you out of the house or stop paying your tuition, it makes the decision a lot harder. A lot of collegiettes are still figuring out how to manage their own money, but every situation is different. You need to decide if coming out is worth being suddenly cut off.

While some people have gotten creative with that problem, such as the University of Pittsburgh student who turned to GoFundMe to crowdfund her education after her homophobic parents cut her off, it’s often difficult to sort out how to finance your education.

If getting cut off is a concern of yours, talk to your school’s financial aid office about your options in the event of losing your family’s financial support. Search for scholarships, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you find yourself suddenly penniless. Be sure to get support from a mental health professional if possible.

3. Your personal comfort

The closet is more comfortable for some people than it is for others. You need to find out for yourself if you’re ready to come out, even if you know your family would accept you. Sexuality is fluid and complicated, so if you need time to figure out what you’re feeling, then maybe coming out isn’t the next step.

Keep in mind that Durvasula says, “it is not unusual for a woman to experience emotions such as depression, apathy, anxiety, distractibility that interferes with academic performance,” when she faces rejection for her identity. It is crucial to have support from a counselor, your peers or LGBTQ+ groups on campus who can help you figure out how you feel and how you might deal with your family’s reaction.

4. Available campus resources

Most colleges and universities have mental health centers with counseling services for free or a small fee. Durvasula suggests taking advantage of campus resources while deciding if you’re ready to come out or not.

“A young woman is highly recommended to use counseling as a place to discuss fears and feelings about coming out to prepare her to do so with her family,” she says. “Oftentimes fear about family response can make a woman defensive out of the gate, and therapy may be able to help her with those dynamics.”

If such services are not available, such as at religious or conservative schools, Durvasula suggests seeking the support of LGBTQ+ student organizations, local support groups or local LGBTQ+ centers that will help guide you through the process. Talking to others about their experiences and having the support of your peers can make all the difference, Durvasula says.

Final tips

There are plenty of resources for deciding how and when to come out. If you’re ready but you don’t know how to bring it up to your family, try writing a letter to your parents (or whomever you’re coming out to). That will give them time to process the information, and it removes the threat of immediate danger if they aren’t accepting of your identity. You can also bring along a friend you’re already out to for support. Always be prepared for any type of reaction.

Lastly, Durvasula points out that it’s likely you may never feel completely ready to come out – just like you may never be done coming out, either. In a heteronormative culture, coming out is a constant process: when you’re assumed to be straight and cisgender, you will often be faced with wondering if it’s safe to come out to certain people in certain contexts.

With all these things in mind, remember: Coming out can be a personal and difficult journey, and only you will be able to decide when and how you will make it – or if you want to at all. But if coming out is important to you, make sure to take the necessary precautions and assess the risks to have the best coming-out possible. Good look, collegiettes! 

It's not fair that we have to wait until Valentine's Day 2015 for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie (intimidating first date, anyone?), but at least we have a brand-new trailer to tide us over until then. Based on the ultra-popular book trilogy by pseudonymous author E L James, the Fifty Shades of Grey film features Dakota Johnson as Washington State University student Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as wealthy and mysterious entrepreneur Christian Grey. Over 90 million copies of the book have been purchased in print and e-book, and you can read the steamy trilogy in 52 different languages (if you're feeling ambitious). 

If you weren't excited enough about the movie, get ready for the best in Queen Bey news: Fifty Shades of Grey features a new version of Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," and it's intense, to say the least! B herself posted the teaser on Instagram five days ago. Cue fainting!

Beyoncé's tantalizing teaser got us all kinds of excited for Fifty Shades, but it's nothing compared to the trailer itself! Check out Dornan and Johnson in all their glory (and bated breath and meaningful stares) for yourself!

Are you ready for this movie, collegiettes? Would this make for the perfect date flick or for one awkward evening? Share your thoughts on the trailer below!

With everyone flocking to the same new smartphone releases, cell phone cases are a way to set your phone apart from its clones. They give you a chance to show your personality, and they're now better known for their decorative appeal than their protective properties. Some phone case designers have completely exploited this transformation by creating some of the most wild cases we've ever seen. Though they may not be as popular your average printed case, these creative phone cases will definitely make your device the center of attention. Be jealous, regular cases!

1. We thought flip phones were old school, but this case takes the cake (very reminiscent of Zack Morris's brick phone from Saved By The Bell).

2. If you hated jumping on the mobile phone bandwagon, there's a case for landline lovers, too!

3. Should we be speaking into the mouthpiece or the ear?

4. Cuteness overload - it's almost un-bear-able.

5. As if long phone calls with your mom weren’t painful enough.

6. Who needs theft protection when you have a venomous-looking phone case?

7. We hate when people brag about their new phones. Now they don’t have to (especially after the iPhone 6 is released!).

8. If this case can't withstand semitrucks, fires, and bullets, we want a full refund.

9. Did Katy Perry lose her phone?

10. This phone case is so smokin’ hot, you don't even need to ask for a light!

11. We bet this phone ran out of rollover minutes.

12. Whoa, what a handy way to hold your phone!

13. This case can double as a hand warmer in the winter months (but, it tends to shed in the summer).

14. What did you say? We can bear-ly hear you through all this stuffing.

15. Imagine trying to subtley answer a text... in the middle of a business meeting... in front of your boss.

16. Phone hackers decided to explore a new type of phishing.

17. These bread phone cases look scrumptous, but we hope they don't cause grainy reception.

Would you pick one of these outrageous covers over your current one? (The bread one looks pretty tempting, but maybe that's just our hunger talking). Let us know in the comments below!

Some girls idolize Jennifer Aniston. Others would give their iPhones for all eternity if they could just somehow be Kardashian sisters. But you? No matter how much you try to tame your bangs, wear cute clothes every single day (seriously, we're ready for a "groutfit at work" day) and eat that kale-spinach-chia super-salad for lunch, you just can't help it: inside every girl, an inner Liz Lemon awaits, eager for her chance at the meatball sub that is life.

1. When someone asks you if you longboard.

2. When you realize your phone manners are less than stellar.

3. When your pizza arrives just as your Netflix episode ends.

4. When you have to stand and speak for hours at sorority recruitment.

5. When people tell you that you look tired.

6. When you find out the door is a "push," not a "pull."

7. When you think about what Lean In means to you.

8. When you daydream about your ideal man.

9. When you have the best Saturday night ever.

10. When the restaurant doesn't give you free bread.

11. When people talk about what they did with their boyfriends this weekend.

12. When other people brag about what's on their resumés.

13. When you think about your plans after college.

Sometimes you just want to yell, "NERDS!" to the whole world. Whether or not she appears at the most convenient times or says the right thing, we all have at least a little bit of Liz in us. And, no matter how many times we inhale that sandwich in front of our crush or showcase our cringeworthy dancing skills, we have to admit that we want her to stay. 

“One time at band camp…” is a classic joke, but revelations about the culture of sexual harassment that’s existed for years in Ohio State University’s marching band are far from funny.

After a parent complained, the Ohio State administration launched a two-month investigation of the band that uncovered some deeply abusive hazing traditions.

According to the 23-page report released at the investigation’s conclusion, each new member, or “rookie,” is given a nickname; past nicknames have included “Captain Dildo,” “Jewoobs” (given to a Jewish girl with large breasts) and "Tw*t Thumper." A couple of witnesses said that even the band's director, Jonathan Waters, used band nicknames on occasion when he was upset.

Another practice, called “tricks,” involved “acts that band members individually perform,” usually connected with their nickname. For example, a college girl called "Squirt" was told to pretend to orgasm while sitting on bandmates’ laps… including her brother’s.

Each year, the marching band also held a late-night practice at Ohio Stadium called “the Midnight Ramp,” which band members attended either in their underwear or completely naked. According to The Columbus Dispatch, a female student once got alcohol poisoning during a Midnight Ramp. After that, staff members committed to coming every year. No one else got alcohol poisoning — but no one stopped stripping, either.

“[A] witness described her first year in the Marching Band as ‘culture shock’ and cited alcohol consumption at away football games as an example,” the report said. “Another witness described the Marching Band as operating under a ‘culture of intimidation.’”

As a result of the investigation, Waters was fired today. He “knew or should have known” about the sexualized culture but “failed to eliminate it, prevent its recurrence and address its effects.”

Hazing is usually associated with fraternities, sororities and sports teams, but the revelation of the marching band's dark culture proved that hazing and harassment can in fact occur in any student group at any school.

Three words, eight letters. It took Chuck and Blair two whole seasons of Gossip Girl to say them.

Why is it so hard to say “I love you?” What do those three little words mean, and when should you say them? To find the answers, we interviewed fellow collegiettes and Paul Dobransky, director of Women’s Happiness and author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love.

How to know you’re in love

What love means

It’s no secret that there’s a lot of pressure when it comes to saying “I love you.” Besides the fear of rejection, we often think that love is some mysterious, sacred feeling we’ve been saving for “the one.”

However, Dobransky says the feeling of love itself isn’t so different from friendship. “Love is just positive emotion shared between two people, a mutual boost of self-esteem,” he says. In fact, we say “I love you” all the time to family members. With romantic relationships, there’s just added desire and attraction, but at the core, it’s still the same feeling of care and concern that you’d have for other people in your life whom you love.

Love also isn’t a statement about who your partner is and if he or she is attractive, intelligent or kind; it’s about the time and energy you’ve chosen to spend on this person. Saying “I love you” is like giving a hug or a kiss – it’s a way to reinforce the bond that you’ve created together.

What love shouldn’t mean

Saying “I love you” doesn’t automatically define the status of your relationship, Dobransky says. Those three words can’t replace having a long discussion about your future together, so don’t think of them as a sign that you’re moving on to the next level. If you’re trying to figure out his level of commitment, it’s better to just ask him point-blank.

Before you say it

Overcoming the fear of rejection

If there’s one thing scarier than saying “I love you,” it’s not hearing those words back! Be honest about your expectations. How disappointed would you be if your partner was hesitant to make the same commitment?

Jamie*, a sophomore at Rutgers University, says she’s hesitant to tell her SO she loves him. “Rejection is really scary,” she says. Jamie says she also fears getting judged by her peers because she hasn’t been dating her boyfriend for very long.

It’s completely natural to want security, and there are plenty of nonverbal ways to find out whether or not your SO loves you so you’re not completely in the dark. If he’s not giving off obvious signals, bring up the subject and ask him if he’s ever said those words to anyone. He might just be more hesitant to show his affection verbally.  

Finding the right time

Once you’ve thought about your expectations and decided that your feelings are genuine, wait for the right time to tell your SO. It could come at any moment, such as after you’ve kissed him goodnight, while you’re cuddling together on the couch or even after a big fight. Don’t try to plan too far ahead – the most important part is that it feels natural and comfortable for both of you.

Justin, a student at Rutgers University, says “I love you” should be a spontaneous, unplanned moment. “I just remember [my girlfriend and I] were making up after a huge fight, and we were on the couch and we looked at each other,” he says. “And I just couldn’t stop laughing for some reason; I was just so happy.”

How to react if your SO says it first, but you’re not ready

Dobransky says you’ll know if you’re ready to drop the L-word based on how long it takes for you to say it back. “If you have to think about it, then you probably aren’t there yet,” he says.

Even if they are just words, “I love you” should make you feel empowered and confident—never controlled or pressured. If you’re not ready to say it back to your SO, say that you feel flattered and explain that you’re not sure of your own feelings or you don’t want the same thing in a relationship. If your SO really loves you, then he or she will appreciate your honesty.

It may seem overwhelming, but there’s an upside to love being so complex! Your definition of love will change based on your experiences, so there’s no one right answer to vocalize your happiness. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than three little words. If you trust the time and effort you’ve invested in your relationship, then you can find the courage to be honest about how you feel.

*Name has been changed.

Sometimes, it can be hard (really hard) to admit that your parents know what’s best for you. Remember when they used to yell, “Sit up straight!” and “Don’t slouch!”? However annoyed you felt then, it’s time to accept the fact that they were right. Along with looking confident, sitting and standing straight makes for a healthier body. Wish you had listened to Mom? Don’t worry; it’s not too late to fix your posture! We spoke with several experts to get their tips and tricks on how to straighten up.

What is Good Posture?

Posture is all about body alignment! Aaron Lundgaard, a Michigan-based chiropractor, says that normal, neutral posture is having your head, shoulders, and hips level. When standing up, imagine drawing a straight line from your ear to your shoulder, your hip, and finally, to your ankle. Your weight should be distributed on both of your feet equally. When sitting down, your feet should be on the floor in front of you, and your spine should rest flat against the back of your chair.

Katey Balint, a massage therapist based in Ann Arbor, says there are visual cues to look for when trying to correct your posture. “With poor posture, you curl forward and your shoulders come in, so you get that hunched look,” Balint says. To avoid having a hunched back while sitting, pay attention to where your knees and hips are positioned. “When you’re sitting down, your hips should be higher than your knees so that your spine straightens out, and you are forced to sit up straighter as a result,” she says. While standing, let your arms hang by your sides. Your palms should face the outside of your legs if you are standing correctly. According to Balint, people who have rounded shoulders will hunch over and have just their thumbs facing their legs.

Get Moving

Hours of sitting slouched over in lecture, or maybe just bumming on the couch on a Saturday, can take a toll on your body and your posture. Andrew Haig, M.D., a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, says that “the body is healthiest when it is in action and moving.” Haig says that moving for a few minutes after sedentary activity will help alleviate stiffness and work to restore your body’s posture. To fight the slouch, try taking a five- or 10-minute walk between classes or during a break at your internship.

Find the Perfect Chair (Or Go Chair-less)

Sick of slipping into the sinkhole that is your couch? Are the 100-year old chairs in the library not cutting it? We feel your pain (literally). Finding the perfect seat can be tricky, Haig says, but it will help you improve and maintain a healthy posture as well as lessen the frustrating back pains that exam cram sessions or lazy Saturdays often cause.

When looking for the right chair, Haig says students should consider the height, along with what it’s made of. When sitting, your desk or table should be at elbow height, which allows your shoulders to relax and promotes a straighter back. We all know that your beanbag or butterfly chair is comfortable, but an ergonomic chair will work wonders on your posture!

An extreme solution: would you consider going chair-less? Standing while doing work (occasionally) will teach you to maintain good posture and enhance blood flow and circulation to the rest of your body.

Practice Yoga

Along with reducing stress and promoting self-awareness, yoga is perfect for strengthening and straightening up your body. Diana Hough, operations manager at A2 Yoga, says that yoga’s influence is invaluable. “When you’re working with yoga, you are strengthening your core muscles, and it’s the muscles that help with body alignment and stability of your bones,” Hough says. “Yoga itself teaches you how to reconnect with body movement and flexibility, which is very important for posture.”

It can be intimidating going into a studio alone for the first time, so grab a friend and get yoga-ing together! Groupon is a great place to look for cheap classes in your area. If you can’t find time to go to a studio, there are still moves to practice on your own at home. Hough provided us with beginner poses that will help improve your posture!

Mountain pose

For this pose, “you’re working with your deeper back muscles and you’re maintaining alignment with control to your sacrum, a bone at the base of the spine,” Hough says. Simple steps for mountain pose:

1. Stand with your feet and legs together
2. Keep your chin parallel to the ground and your arms at your sides
3. Close your eyes, and feel your body as it balances from the top of your head to your pelvis
4. Breathe slowly
5. Hold for 30 seconds

Wide-legged forward bend

“This counterpose has you hanging upside down so that gravity is pulling the muscles in your back,” Hough says. “When you’re doing the forward bend and you bring yourself to stand up (back into mountain pose), you will experience an elongated feeling.” Simple steps for wide-legged forward bend:

1. Stand with your feet spread apart
2. Lean your torso forward (so that you’re hanging upside down)
3. Place your hands on the ground below your shoulders
4. Hold for 15-30 seconds

Stretch it Out

Along with yoga and exercise, Lundgaard says it is essential for students and interns to stretch in order to maintain a healthy spine, which means a healthy posture! Sorry, collegiettes — slouching is a big no-no. “Environmental stressors and repetitive stress causes changes in spinal joint position and reduced spinal movement. If these changes are allowed to become our ‘new normal’ position, a cascade of problems occur,” he says.

Lundgaard gave us a few examples of simple back stretches that can be done at home, or even at your desk. He recommends completing these stretches after every hour to two hours of sitting. Along with keeping your spine healthy, stretching during yout lunch break has other perks. “This also helps with retention during [working],” he says. “Our brain retains materials better at the start and stop of a study session, and so more breaks equals more material memorized.” We like the sound of that! Next time you need a break, give one of these a try:

Stretch 1

Stand on the floor facing a chair. Lay one of your legs straight on the chair. Lean forward with a flat back and hold for 5-10 seconds. Switch legs, and repeat.

Stretch 2

Sitting in your chair, spread your knees apart. Lower yourself to the ground so that your hands touch the floor. You should feel a comfortable stretch in your lower back. Hold for 10 seconds and push up with your arms. Repeat 5 times.

Good Posture Never Sleeps

When you’re tired, worrying about how proper you look is probably pretty low on your list of priorities. At the same time, it’s important to realize that your posture still matters, even in the comfort of your own bed! Ever wake up with a kink in your neck? What about those horrible back pains from sleeping at the wrong angle? Your mattress and pillows play a big role in making things comfortable and improving your posture. The American Chiropractic Association recommends using a pillow that will allow your head to rest comfortably, staying aligned with your shoulders and hips, to avoid neck or back pains.

Alright, admit it: your parents were right, and they always will be. If you’re guilty of slouching (as many collegiettes are!), it’s not too late to start practicing better posture. With these tips, you will go from slouching to straight up in no time! Have any suggestions or tips of your own to share? Leave a comment below! 

For collegiettes with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or a desire to cut all things gluten from their diets, the gluten-free lifestyle has one universal roadblock: where is the food you can actually eat? No matter what your story is, one thing is true: trying to find gluten-free recipes can be kind of a pain. No, scratch that: finding gluten-free recipes that are actually good can be kind of a pain.

We’ve scoured everything from foodie blogs to Pinterest to find some great (and not impossible) gluten-free recipes—everything from cookies to orange chicken—that you’ll love.

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies

No recipe list is complete without chocolate chip cookies! These gooey, chocolatey cookies only take 20 minutes to make. What more could we ask for? Try this recipe courtesy of Gluten Free on a Shoestring.

Ingredients:

• 1 7/8 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (don’t use any if your gluten-free flour already contains it)
• 6 1/3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening, melted and cooled
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 egg and 1 egg yolk at room temperature, beaten
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, tossed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (the flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and granulated sugar).
3. Add the brown sugar and mix well.
4. Mix in each of the wet ingredients (butter, shortening, vanilla and egg) one by one. Add in the chocolate chips and mix them in completely.
5. Dollop the dough two inches apart on the baking sheets (the recipe yields about 20 cookies, so each dough ball should be about 2 ½ tablespoons). Since your dough will be slightly warm and very gooey, stick the baking sheets in the fridge or freezer to cool before baking (about an hour in the fridge or 10 minutes in the freezer).
6. After chilling the cookies, bake them for about 12 minutes or until completely cooked. Fully cooked cookies should be lightly brown around the edges and appear almost wet in the center—make sure you don’t overcook them! No one likes a dry cookie.

2. Macaroni and Cheese

This recipe from Food Network is ideal for the collegiette with a love of all things carbs and cheese!

Ingredients:

• Salt
• 16 ounces (2 boxes) dried gluten-free elbow macaroni
• 4 ounces soft goat cheese (chevre), crumbled
• 4 ounces aged white cheddar, grated
• 1 large bunch lacinato kale, stems removed, leaves cut into ribbons (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add enough salt to a large pot of water to make it taste like the ocean. Bring the water to a boil and then add the macaroni. Stir for a minute to keep the noodles from sticking, and then let cook for 8 minutes.
2. While the macaroni is cooking, put the goat cheese, cheddar and kale in a large bowl.
3. When the macaroni is cooked to your liking (we like it al dente), use a slotted spoon to scoop it into the bowl of cheeses and kale.
4. Pour about ½ cup of the water the macaroni was cooked in into the bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes.
5. Stir until the texture of the cheese sauce is smooth with kale sprinkled throughout.

3. Buttermilk Pancakes

Everyone loves brunch, even people on a gluten-free diet! That’s why we added these great buttermilk pancakes to our list. Check out this recipe from Cooking Classy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white rice flour
• 1/3 cup potato starch
• 3 tablespoons tapioca flour
• 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups buttermilk (can substitute 2 cups of regular milk and 2 tablespoons of vinegar)
• 3 tablespoons canola oil or melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Mix together the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl (rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and xanthan gum).
2. Add in wet ingredients (eggs, buttermilk, canola oil and vanilla extract) and mix thoroughly until a few lumps are left.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Pour batter on the skillet and cook until the bottom is golden-brown. Flip and let cook until the opposite side is golden-brown.
4. Spread some butter across the top, add some delicious maple syrup or enjoy these beauties as they are!

4. Rice Krispies Treats

We collegiettes love a good Rice Krispies treat, so thank goodness they make gluten-free Rice Krispies! We love this recipe from Kellogg’s.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package of giant marshmallows (or 4 cups mini marshmallows)
• 6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies Gluten Free Cereal

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter over low heat in a saucepan. Add in the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove saucepan from heat.
2. Add the cereal and stir until well coated. Using a spatula or wax paper, press the mixture into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan that’s sprayed with cooking spray.
3. Let them cool and cut them into two-inch squares.

5. Chicken Tacos

Who doesn’t love tacos? Here’s a gluten-free Mexican indulgence courtesy of Dani Stout.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons tapioca flour
• Dash of garlic powder
• Dash of chipotle powder
• Dash of salt
• 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil (which, we promise, will leave no coconut taste in the finished product!)
• 1 cup shredded chicken
• 4 tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeño, diced
• ¼ onion, diced
• Juice of half a lime

Instructions:

1. Mix the eggs, flour, garlic powder, chipotle powder and salt in a blender until smooth.
2. In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat.
3. Add half the batter to the skillet.
4. Let cook for about two minutes and then flip it and cook for another two minutes (think of a pancake).
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the other taco shell.
6. Add shredded chicken to each taco shell.
7. Combine the tomatoes, jalapeño, onion and lime juice in a medium-sized bowl and mix together.
8. Add to taco shells.

6. Banana Bread

What’s better than delicious bread? Delicious banana bread. Here’s a great gluten-free banana bread recipe from Taste of Home.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose baking flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4-5 medium bananas)
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix together the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
3. Mix together the eggs, bananas, sugar, applesauce, canola oil and vanilla in a smaller bowl. Add to the large bowl with the flour mixture and stir until moistened.
4. Spray two 8-in. x 4-in. baking pans with cooking spray and pour half the batter into each pan. Sprinkle each with the walnuts.
5. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted to the center comes out nearly clean (if it comes out completely clean, your bread is too dry!).
6. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans.

7. Orange Chicken

Just because you follow a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you don’t crave Chinese food like everyone else! Try this recipe from Add a Pinch.

Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ¼ cup gluten-free chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ¼ cup fresh orange juice
• 3 tablespoons coconut aminos
• 1½ teaspoons Sriracha sauce
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish, optional

Instructions:

1. Melt the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat and then add in the chicken. Cook together until the chicken is browned (about 8-10 minutes); remove from skillet and set aside.
2. While the chicken is cooking, stir together chicken stock, honey (or maple syrup), garlic, orange zest, orange juice, coconut aminos, Sriracha sauce, ginger and red pepper flakes.
3. Add the mixture to the heated skillet after the chicken has been fully cooked and removed. Heat the mixture on low heat until it can coat the back of a wooden spoon, and then pour over your chicken.
4. Try enjoying this recipe with a side of broccoli, carrots, string beans or any of your other favorite veggies!

Whether you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth or a hankering for Mexican food, we hope this list helped you build a repertoire of gluten-free foods you find delicious. Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Handling money in the summer is like putting a load of socks through the laundry. Somewhere between the spin cycle and the dryer, you lose one, presumably behind the washing machine or through black magic, never to be seen or worn again. It isn’t a big deal for the most part because it’s just one sock and it was that holey one you didn’t wear often and who really cares about hosiery anyway? But then you lose another couple, and another couple, and suddenly one day your feet are freezing and you are left to do without, sulking and sockless.

This is exactly how it goes with your dollars over the summer. What’s a dozen George Washingtons on a bottle of red when it’s going toward a couple homemade pitchers of sangria, right? And with a glass of that punch, you can’t help but toast to one long, glam, illustrious summer of fun and frivolity, and spending whatever amount of money it may take to achieve both. Suddenly, however, you’ve lost track of what exactly happened to your most recent paycheck (and the one prior), and as your summer vacay hits the halfway point, you realize you need to make extra money stat, or the entirety of the next school year is going to be a big ole’ broke bust.

So avoid college bankruptcy and tap into HC’s financial advice for how you can make a little extra money before the summer’s over. Wouldn’t you like to have your sangria and drink it too?

1. Tutor online

You may be unqualified for some of the jobs you’ve desperately applied for (Cruise boat captain? Really?), but tutoring is one gig you’ve got in the bag. You don’t have to be an education major to tutor a younger student in a subject of your expertise. A website like tutor.com invites college students to apply for online tutoring positions through the completion of several introductory placement tests. Since their tutoring services are provided online through chat-style windows, you can work from anywhere with an internet connection (Starbucks, anyone?).

Also, you’re only obligated to be available for as few as five hours a week, and you have complete control over those hours. However, according to the website, highly active tutors “earn anywhere from $800 to $1,600 a month.” And having held a tutoring position, even for a couple months, will look great on your resume when applying elsewhere in the future.

2. Teach another language

Speaking another language is not only an impressive skill but also a bankable commodity. If you are a fully fluent speaker of another language and feel confident in your ability to teach it, why not put your linguistic skills up for sale? Advertise your services in places likely to garner a response, such as libraries, childcare centers, tutoring agencies, and in the online classifieds of any colleges around your area.

If local advertisements aren’t receiving many bites, expand your pool of possibilities and check out Verbalplanet.com, which is a website that links up language teachers and students from all over the world via Skype for video classroom sessions. Signing up is free, and if you’re accepted as a language tutor, you can start immediately and receive payment via PayPal. All you need is an internet connection and Skype, which is free to download at its website.

From Irish Gaelic to Urdu, Verbal Planet has students who want to learn your language. You determine how much to charge for your services and keep 100% of what you earn, which for English tutors, for example, falls around $30 per lesson!

Beth, a graduate of University of Toronto, even used her knowledge of American Sign Language to find a tutoring job.“After I finished teachers college, I was looking for a way to set my résumé apart from the rest, and out of personal interest, fell upon learning sign language, which I picked up quickly and fell in love with. Teaching it to others is not only lucrative, because fluency in ASL is so rare, but I gained teaching experience too, which was instrumental in finding a job post-grad.”

3. Give music lessons

Like speaking another language, knowing how to play and teach an instrument is a seriously marketable skill. Advertise in music stores, daycare centers, and local classifieds, and contact school band directors from elementary and high schools near you with your contact info to pass on to their students. The best part about giving lessons is that most people won’t seek more than a single lesson a week, meaning picking up a music teaching gig will bring in a little cash flow without placing huge constraints on your time.

Furthermore, teaching an instrument will incite you to practice yourself, which, be honest, you probably haven’t been doing as much as you should while away at school. We understand—drum kits and dorm rooms do not a happy marriage make—but with a money-making opportunity on the line, you have no excuses left! Most music teachers of conventional instruments like guitar and piano charge a standard of $20 per 30- to 45-minute lesson, but the rarer your instrument—didgeridoo?—the higher the value of your tutoring! Look into what independent music teachers in your area charge per lesson and gauge your fee based on that.

Claire, a student at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, spent last summer teaching several high school students how to ace their upcoming music school auditions.“Having been through the rounds of auditions myself, I knew the ins and outs of what the judges look for in a performance. Tutoring others about to go through the process themselves was a really great experience because it was a short-term commitment… and I got to do what I love, which is play music!”

4. Promote for events

If you’re outgoing and/or have a large following on social media, getting onto the promotion team for events can be a great way to earn extra money in a non-traditional setting.

Alayna, a student at Stetson University, touts event promotion as a great way to make cash over a single weekend. “Most jobs will pay $14 an hour or more for these types of events. The best events that worked out for me, for example, have been NASCAR events. Definitely search the internet for promotional jobs in your area.”

Best of all, event promotion is only on an as-needed basis, meaning that it requires no long-term commitment from you if you’re already juggling one or more work schedules.

Look for event promotion opportunities in your local classifieds and online job listings. Promoter opportunities may include anything from festivals to concerts to club events to simply advertising products (think: Red Bull Girls) and will likely entail such varied tasks as handing out flyers to advertising on Twitter and Facebook. Contact the advertising and PR teams for upcoming events in your area and ask how you can get involved. Even if you can’t get involved with the PR team, you may be able to score some free event tickets if you sell a bundle first.

5. Dog walk

Dog walking is not only profitable, it’s also the most adorable way you could possibly make money this summer. Also, other perks include being paid to exercise, not having to wear a uniform, not having to work in an office, and cute dogs (did we mention already how cute dogs are? We weren’t sure.)

Most people can manage letting their dogs out several times a day on their own, but for those with limited mobility, or those who are just plain busy, relying on a dog walker to take Fido out for an extended jaunt every day is a favor worth paying for. Expect to charge approximately $10 to $20 per dog, per week. Taking into account the fact that you can feasibly walk four to six dogs at a time, (or at least per day), you could be making a cool $120 a week for the rest of the summer.

Courtney, a student at the University of Western Ontario, got into dog walking because she thought her own dog was looking lonely.“I had to walk my dog Maggie a couple times a day anyway and figured I may as well walk a few others while I was at it. As long as all the dogs you’re walking are fairly obedient and genteel, walking several at a time is no biggie. Maggie made some new friends and I made some extra cash—about $20 per dog, per week.”

6. Babysit or Pet Sit

Ever since the first Baby-sitters Club book came out in 1986, babysitting has been the most universally popular way for a female adolescent to earn a steady wage (plus tips!) in a few hours. And while babysitters may be a dime a dozen, so are babies, and so are time-strapped mothers and fathers around the world desperately seeking somebody else to take care of their kids every so often.

Jenni from Boston University recommends SeekingSitters, a website that hires screened sitters to connect to families nationwide. “I get to put down my availability on the calendar (literally any days I have extra time) and then they assign me babysitting jobs on those days and during those times. The families are background checked and so are the babysitters, and I get paid direct deposit into my account, plus tipped by the families!” Sittercity and Sittingaround are also quality online networks functioning the same way as SeekingSitters.

Furthermore, there’s no need to limit yourself to humans when animal owners need you just as much as parents. Advertise your pet sitting services online to get linked up with the multitude of pet owners vacationing this time of year sans Fido.

7. Sell your books

During the school year, it’s impossible to justify a single chapter of 50 Shades of Grey when your academic life is a personal study in 50 shades of procrastination and deadlines. During the summer, however, you inhale books like they’re beer and you’re a middle-aged dad on Super Bowl Sunday.

Kelsey, a collegiette from Boston University, suggests selling those books after turning the final page. “Unless you adore a book and want to keep it for the rest of time, chances are you’re not going to touch it ever again, so why not?”

Cash4Books is an accredited website thats will purchase books (including textbooks!) from you as long as they meet a variety of criteria, such as cover quality and publication date. Half.com, a company powered by eBay, also functions the same way, promising you payment within three to four days of your initial posting. You might as well, right? Your bookshelf can’t support all those books, but the money you earn from selling them could support you.

8. Pick up a paper route

Where there are people, there are paper routes, and taking on a stretch of streets is an easy way to earn a guaranteed fixed income this summer. If you can handle the hours (which may have you hitting the streets as early as 4 a.m.) then go ahead and contact your local newspaper to pick up a vacant route. Try to snag one close to your house so you don’t have to travel too far from home plate during pre-dawn hours.

Pay attention to the details of the job in its listing as some may require that you have your own vehicle to do in-car delivery. Others may also ask that you personally assemble the paper’s sections and insert flyers and advertisements and the like. The best part is that, despite the painfully early shift, the time commitment for this job is fairly minimal and the hours won’t impede your social life (unless you’re the party-till-daybreak type).

9. Take surveys

Making money off of taking surveys is like shooting fish in a barrel, it’s so easy. That being said, it’s also pretty easy to get scammed. Watch out for surveys that require you to submit extensive personal information—especially information about your personal accounts. To protect yourself, sign up for Survey Bounty, which is a survey directory, meaning that once you select your country and click on the survey panels listed for your country that you deem trustworthy, you’ll only receive emails from those select survey companies. You can choose from there which to complete.

If you’re still uncomfortable giving any information out to an online source, check out the classified sections of colleges to find reliable sources conducting academic research studies for which they require (paid) survey takers. While the fee may be fairly menial, it’s better than nil!

Summer is supposed to be a short-term fast cash period for funding our exploits throughout the other nine months of the year when our time is otherwise relegated to academics. But when one full-time job isn’t cutting it financially, there are other ways to raise a little supplemental income. Get out there and get money, girl. It may not buy you happiness, but it can buy you that expensive pair of espadrille wedges before the season ends.

Trying to find something to stand out at a music festival or just looking to make a statement? Look no further than the new NYX Macaron Lippies for crazy colors to spice up even the biggest lipstick hoarder's collection. As dedicated beauty bloggers, we have more lipsticks than we care to admit, but they're mostly of the pink, red and nude variety, and sometimes a girl's just gotta mix things up. We've been keeping an eye out for some bright-hued lipsticks at the drugstore, but to no avail; until now, that is!

NYX Cosmetics has released a line of super bright and colorful lipsticks in 12 amazing shades, featuring a lime green, electric blue, citrus yellow and even a gray lipstick for the most daring beauty junkies. Needless to say, we wanted the entire collection, but we managed to restrain ourselves and only purchased four. We tried to choose colors we would actually (potentially) wear. We opted for the Lavender, Blue Velvet, Chambord and Violet shades, shown below. 

Although you can find NYX in most drugstores, these Macaron Lippies have been super difficult to track down, so we ordered ours right off the NYX website. Each of the lipsticks was $6--only a third of the price of the Lime Crime Opaque Lipsticks ($18 each), which, until now, were the go-to lipsticks for crazy colors. We were more than happy to throw down the cash for these cheaper lipsticks, especially since our delivery included a complimentary NYX Color Lip Balm!

In terms of the actual quality of the lipsticks, reviews online have been split; some beauty gurus say that certain colors in the collection went on smoothly and opaquely while others were patchy and requried many layers to get full coverage. Obviously, we had to see for ourselves! We started our experimentation by swatching the four shades to get a feel for pigmentation and creaminess.

Everything looked good, although the lavender color was a bit more difficult to apply. Next step? Getting our lovely interns to test out and model our lipsticks! Huge shoutout to HC interns Marissa Angelone, Celeen Hefele and Ingrid Marquardt for helping out! The girls started by prepping their lips with the LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub ($9.95 at LUSH) to remove any dead skin and keep the lipstick from clinging to any dry patches. This was followed by the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask ($26 at Sephora) to moisturize the lips and make them smooth. 

Once our models' pouts were perfected, it was time to have some fun!

Lavender

As predicted, this color was by far the most difficult to work with. According to HC management intern Ingrid, "The lipstick was not pigmented enough; I had to layer it a lot to get an opaque finish." The color itself is a pale purple with an almost gray undertone that is definitely unique and super gorgeous in the tube. This shade looks incredible on girls with fair skin, like Ingrid, and would really jump out on girls with darker skin, if you can get past the patchy texture! 

Violet

This vibrant violet color was a winner in our book! It applied smoothly and provided opaque coverage while packing a punch of color. "It went on really easily and didn't feel drying at all," says HC digital intern Marissa. Rich purples look especially great on olive or dark skintones, but they can also work on paler girls with autumn/winter coloring, especially with a plum or red gloss on top to vamp it up. We have a special place in our hearts for purple pouts, and this is definitely the color we'll get the most wear out of!

Blue Velvet

Talk about a pop of color! This was the lipstick we were most excited to try, just because it's so unexpected (okay, and we've always been jealous of how good Ke$ha looks rocking it). The texture of this color is similar to Violet, and HC editorial intern Sophie was impressed by the pigmentation: "It was super opaque from the first swipe; I have a lot of red in my lips naturally, but this lipstick was very true to its color and canceled that out." We'll definitely be rocking this look at the music festival we're headed to this weekend!

Chambord

We're not quite sure why we picked this color; maybe we were thinking about Halloween or just feeling nostalgic for our middle school goth phase. Either way, this color is not for the faint of heart, but we kind of love it anyway. Modeled by HC management intern Celeen (the pink and white gingham shirt she was wearing really made the look), this color performed remarkably well, given that black lipsticks tend to go on more gray and patchy than most other shades. "The color went on really nicely and was very black," says Celeen. "It was also really easy to remove and didn't stain my lips like I was expecting." It takes a brave soul to wear this color, but if you can, more power to you!

We had so much fun trying out these lip colors and were really impressed with the overall pigmentation and staying power of these shades. All four shades were easily removed with a makeup wipe, as well, which is definitely a bonus. For the price, you really can't beat these lipticks, especially since you most likely won't be going through a tube of blue lipstick any time soon (unless, of course, you're Ke$ha). We're already thinking about adding to our NYX Macaron Lippie collection and can't wait to rock these bold colors!

Which of these shades (if any!) would you dare to try? Let us know in the comments!