COLLEGE. It’s an exciting word, but also a terrifying one. After months of endless applications, emotional acceptances and rejections, and difficult decisions, you’re finally ready to pack your bags and go. Or are you? 

As your departure date draws closer, you’re probably suffering from some serious pre-college anxiety. You’ll have to make new friends, adjust to new academic expectations and learn how to live away from home.  That’s a lot of new—no wonder you’re nervous! But never fear: we’ve compiled a list of some tried-and-true ways to calm down and get excited about the next four years of your life.

1. Talk to current college students

When you’re nervous about something, the best way to feel better is to talk to someone who’s been through it and survived—and no matter where you live, there are sure to be tons of college students home for the summer.

“I talked to a very good friend of mine who was a rising junior,” says Laura, an HC campus correspondent from Virginia Tech.  “Listening to her tell me about her freshman year and everything she went through really put things into perspective that it isn’t as bad as you think and you CAN get through it.”

Even if you don’t have close friends who are in college, there are still plenty of people you can talk to—friends of your older siblings, people who were in the school musical with you or played on the same sports team, etc.  If you work a summer job, there are probably college kids lurking around somewhere—see if you can start up a conversation with them while you’re scooping ice cream or on break.
 
These students are your most reliable resource for what college is really like, from schoolwork to clubs to dining to parties.  Remember, though, that every college is different, and that traditions and customs at your friends’ schools won’t necessarily apply to your experience.  Just because your friend’s entire school participates in a naked midnight run doesn’t mean you’ll have to do the same!

2. Use your nerves for good

You’re nervous, and that anxious energy can manifest in all kinds of unhealthy ways—overeating, not eating, crying, etc.  Instead of letting yourself get worked up into a nervous wreck, put your energy into something constructive, like scouring the web for funky dorm furniture or doing research into your school’s student organizations on your school’s website under the “Student Life” tab.

“I moved across the country on my own to go to college, so I was getting very nervous,” says Dylan, an HC Campus Correspondent from William and Mary.  “I put all my nervous energy into packing—researching packing list recommendations, frequently visiting Bed Bath & Beyond, and looking around online for dorm decorating ideas.  It made me feel like I had a better handle on the whole transition.”
 
Doing research into your school will not only make you feel more prepared, but will also help you get excited about college.  You might even learn something you never knew about your school, like that they have an amazing kickboxing club or that one of their professors wrote your high school history textbook!
 
Looking for other great ways to channel your nerves?  Work on a project you’ve been meaning to get to for a while, like organizing your DVD collection or starting a blog.  If your school requires summer work, try to focus on that, and do it to the best of your ability.  Exercise is also a great way to get rid of nerves, so channel your anxiety into finding a cool new workout and giving it a try!

3. Make a plan

Make some concrete plans for the first week of school.  Your school is sure to have a huge activities fair, so plan to ask your roommate to go with you.  Make a promise to yourself to sign up for as many organizations as possible so that you’ll immediately have plenty of things to do and people to meet around campus. You might even join one of Her Campus's craziest clubs!

“If you and your friends are bored one night, maybe you WILL decide to go to that Rugby Club party or Mock Trial Cookout,” says Ashley, a campus correspondent from Wake Forest University. “College is all about meeting all kinds of people and you won't find them unless you force yourself to get out of your room and try as many things as possible.”

4. Actively get back into “school mode”

You may be totally fine with the social aspect of college, but freaking out about academics.  Will the classes be too hard?  Will the professors be nice?  Will I even remember how to do school?  HC Contributing writer Ben Kassoy, who recently graduated from Emory University, suggests reviewing old high school notes or textbooks before leaving for college, especially for subjects you know you’ll be taking freshman year.  It’ll get you back into a “school” frame of mind, remind you how to study and take notes, and make you glad that you’re not headed back to high school come fall!

5. Attend orientation and other school-related events

Go to orientation, even if it isn’t required.  At orientation you can get a feel for campus, see all the great organizations that your school offers and make some new friends, all before the scary sophomores, juniors and seniors get there!  Many schools also offer a chance to meet with an adviser, so if you’re worrying about what classes to take,  they’ll be there to help you figure out what classes best fit your interests and aspirations.

Some schools also plan other summer events, like meet-ups and picnics in specific cities.  If possible, attend one of these.  You’ll get to meet some of your future classmates, and these events are full of alumni and current students just waiting to tell you how amazing your new school is!  You’ll usually receive an email or card if one of these events is happening near you, but you can also search for your school’s alumni association and contact them.

6. “Meet” your future friends

If it’s not possible to meet your classmates in person, go on your school’s Facebook group and add to the conversation.  You’re not really “meeting” these people through Facebook, but it’ll make you feel like a part of your college class.  And through reading the posts you’ll realize that the other students are just as nervous as you are! 

These groups are also a great place to ask and answer questions about your school.  Freaking out about the online Spanish placement exam? Someone out there will probably be able to calm your nerves!  To learn more about being a social-media-savvy pre-collegiette, check out this HC article on Facebook etiquette.

7. Learn the skills for living away from home

Another way to turn your nerves into productivity is to bond while still getting ready for college.  Nervous about those housekeeping tasks you’ll have to do for yourself once you get to school?  Ask your mom to help you wash and fold a load of laundry, or get some friends together to cook a simple meal.  You’ll be much better educated in those living-on-your-own chores, and you may have some great quality bonding time!

8. Figure out what you’re nervous about and answer each fear

Though it may just feel like an overwhelming wave of panic, there are some specific parts of college life that you’re worried about—and in reality, most of your fears probably don’t make much sense.  Maybe you’re an absolute pro at introducing yourself to complete strangers, but you’re still freaking out about the college party scene.  Or maybe you’ve always been at the top of the class, and you’re worried college classes will make your grades drop. Pin down these specific fears and refute them.  For example:

• Fear:  I’m afraid that I’ll be awkward with the other people in my dorm, and they won’t want to be friends with me.
• Answer: Last year at my summer job I made tons of new friends, and I’m still in touch with them!  I’m awesome!

9. Find the humor

Remember in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when the students got rid of a Boggart (which would take the shape of the thing the student most feared) by turning what they found scary into something hilarious?  Humor is a great way to get past something that freaks you out because it forces you to look at the situation in a whole new way.  Watch funny college movies, talk to relatives and friends about their funniest college experiences, even make stupid jokes about the size of your suitcase—we guarantee you’ll be feeling less doom-and-gloom in no time.

10. Put it all in perspective

You may not feel like you’re ready, but you are.  You’re a smart, savvy collegiette who’s ready to take on the world.  And remember, you go to college to get an education—not just from books but also from friends, experiences, and yes, even mistakes.  It’s normal to feel nervous, but know that you’re going to be just fine.  If you don’t believe it, take this advice from former HC campus correspondent Jenna, who attends the University of Maine:

“I think some of the best advice I ever received was that although it seems like everything is changing when you leave for college, in no time at all you will feel at home there and a new 'norm' will be in place. Change is hard because it takes time to feel comfortable and adjusted to a new routine but everyone in college is going through the same transition and is looking for friends and study buddies, so there is no need to feel out of place. As I go into my senior year I am just as nervous for the new norm of post-college life as I was going into college. Your jitters will go away once you realize you are about to have the best four years of your life!"

From the moment you got accepted to college, people started telling you about the infamous Freshman 15. As if graduating high school wasn’t stressful enough, you were bombarded with horror stories of packing on weight once you move away from home.

Fast-forward to freshman year: you’ve managed to avoid greasy dining-hall pizza and have pushed yourself to make the trek to the gym a few times a week, but you look in the mirror and can’t help but notice that your jeans are significantly more snug than usual. What’s the deal?

What’s normal and what isn’t?

The usual suspects

Of course, the main reason for weight gain in collegiettes (and college students in general) is overeating and not getting enough exercise. “Many young people go from being very active with sports, etc., in high school years to being relatively inactive in college,” says Dr. Celeste Corcoran, who specializes in pediatric medicine at South County Hospital in Rhode Island. “This, along with changes in dietary habits, especially with the intake of fatty foods, fast foods and alcohol, will have a dramatic effect on weight gain.”

So how much weight gain is something to worry about? Well, according to Social Science Quarterly, the average freshman gains only 2.5 to 3.5 pounds during freshman year. It’s perfectly normal for your weight to fluctuate a few pounds at any given time, especially during periods of change in your life, like starting college.

If you do start eating more and exercising less at college, weight gain of up to five pounds can be normal, according to Dr. Corcoran, but gaining more than that during your first semester at college could point to a more serious problem, like a health condition.

What if you’re working out and eating healthily?

Gaining weight for any reason can be an uncomfortable and upsetting experience, but it can be even worse if you have a healthy diet, drink plenty of water and work out regularly but are still gaining weight. “There can be numerous reasons for weight gain, like medication side effects, depression, menopause, etc.,” says Brooke Schantz, a registered dietitian.

Fortunately, if you educate yourself about the most common medical reasons for weight gain and learn to recognize the symptoms, you can spot these health conditions early on and start treating or managing them so you can get back to loving life as a healthy collegiette!

Reason 1: Side effects from medication

Other than diet and exercise, medication is the most common cause of weight gain in collegiettes, especially “the birth control pill and some medications used to treat depression and mood disorders,” Dr. Corcoran says. Birth control pills and medications used to treat depression or anxiety can cause either weight gain or loss, depending on the individual and his or her own reaction with the medication.

“The first brand of the birth control pill that I went on made me gain 10 pounds in a month, which was terrifying,” says Alexa*, a junior at Middlebury College. “I tried a couple of different brands before I found one that didn’t give me mood swings or make me gain weight, and I’ve been on it ever since.”

If you experience weight gain when first starting the birth control pill, don’t panic! It’s very common and can typically be corrected by switching to another brand of birth control, or even to the non-hormonal IUD, which doesn’t affect your hormone levels (and you don’t have to set an alarm to remember to take your pill every day!).

While birth control is a common culprit, depression and anxiety meds can lead to weight gain as well. “I went on anxiety medication around the same time I left for college,” says Meredith*, a sophomore at the George Washington University. “I lost a few pounds and then started to gain so much weight out of nowhere.”

Meredith’s story is unfortunately common: According to WebMD, up to 25 percent of people who take antidepressants experience weight gain of 10 pounds or more. Anxiety or depression medications often cause an increase in appetite and a slowdown in metabolism, even if you lead an otherwise healthy life.

If you’re already on medication for a mood disorder or birth control and the only unpleasant side effect is weight gain, talk with your doctor about switching brands of medication, as different brands affect people in different ways. It’s important to remember that if your depression meds are working for you, you shouldn’t necessarily stop taking them just because of a few extra pounds. Be sure to discuss the options with your doctor before making any decisions regarding your medication.

Reason 2: Depression or anxiety

It’s important to note that depression or anxiety themselves can also cause weight gain because of increased appetite and decreased energy, which are the result of chemical reactions taking place in your brain. "Low neurotransmitter levels associated with depression and anxiety often lead to overeating in an attempt to numb the uncomfortable sensations,” says Catherine Garceau, a traveling health educator and speaker. “Eating the wrong foods feeds this vicious cycle, and depression or anxiety worsen.”

Indulging in some Ben & Jerry’s after a breakup or celebrating the end of finals week with some greasy pizza is one thing, but if you consistently turn to food for comfort and notice yourself gaining weight, be sure to talk to a doctor or licensed therapist if you feel you may be suffering from depression or anxiety.

Reason 3: Hypothyroidism

One of the most common causes of weight gain is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is “a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain important hormones,” according to Mayo Clinic. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and plays a huge role in regulating metabolism, so when the thyroid is sluggish, it can lead to excessive weight gain of anywhere from 10 to 50 or more pounds.

It’s important to note that this condition is more common in women. Oprah Winfrey, Jillian Michaels and Sofia Vergara have all publicly discussed their struggles with different thyroid conditions.

If you think you might have an issue with your thyroid, consider these other signs: “Other symptoms to look for would be low energy, excessive hair loss and cold intolerance,” Dr. Corcoran says. If that sounds like you, definitely contact your health care provider to be tested for hypothyroidism. Luckily, hypothyroidism can be treated with thyroid hormone medication, and symptoms should disappear within a few months, according to WebMD, so you’ll be back to being the healthy, happy collegiette you are!

Reason 4: Celiac disease

While gluten-free diets are all the rage these days for college students looking to be healthier, a small percentage of people actually have celiac disease, “a gastrointestinal disorder that is caused by gluten intolerance,” Dr. Corcoran says.

According to Celiac Disease Foundation, gluten is a binding protein complex that acts as a glue to help foods maintain their shape. When people with celiac disease ingest gluten, it causes their bodies to have an immune response that damages their intestines, making it difficult to absorb necessary nutrients and often causing painful stomach problems. Gluten is found in pasta, bread, cereal, pastries and other foods containing certain grains, but can also be found in more unexpected foods, like beer and some brands of salad dressing and hot dogs.

While celiac disease is mostly known for causing stomach pain and discomfort related to gluten ingestion, it can also wreak havoc on the rest of your body. “I have also seen celiac disease cause either weight gain or weight loss,” Dr. Corcoran says.

Processed food created specifically to be gluten-free could also be a culprit. “I gained weight later in my gluten-free experience when gluten-free products became more accessible,” says Ashley*, a senior at Bucknell University. “I later learned that [some of] the food that is gluten-free, like pastas and gluten-free flour, etc., are the equivalent of eating really processed white bread. Basically, it turns right to sugar in your body.”

So what should you eat if you have to be gluten free? “Eating naturally gluten-free foods like meat, veggies, fruit, rice and quinoa is the best way to stay healthy while on a gluten-free diet,” Ashley says.

If you think you might have celiac disease, try to determine if your symptoms are worse when you consume certain foods, and be sure to talk to your health care provider. Keeping a food diary is a great way to track what is causing you stomach problems. There are also several apps, like mySymptoms, that can track your symptoms for you!

Reason 5: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

A less-well-known condition is polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. According to WebMD, PCOS is a condition in which cysts develop on a woman’s ovaries, causing hormone imbalances. PCOS can cause irregular menstruation, depression and significant weight gain.

“I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16,” says Rachel*, a junior at the University of Maryland. “It's very easy to gain weight and very difficult to shed the pounds.”

When you combine PCOS with lowered self-esteem as well as the college lifestyle, it can be very difficult for collegiettes to keep the weight off. “Between battling depression, university dining halls and PCOS, I've probably gained 60 pounds over the last four years,” Rachel says.

As there is currently no cure, it’s important to talk with your doctor as soon as possible to start managing your PCOS and establishing a routine. “Sometimes I'm able to lose 15 pounds at a time, but it just creeps back up the second my routine changes,” Rachel says.

If your appetite and workout regimens haven’t changed but you’re still gaining weight and you notice irregularities with your menstrual cycle (particularly that your period comes more infrequently or not at all), hair loss, acne or depression, it might be time to call your doctor or visit your university’s health clinic to find out if you suffer from PCOS.

With papers, lab reports, extracurriculars and friendships, juggling all the elements of college can be stressful even without the added concern of physical appearance. Add in unexplained weight gain, and even the most well-adjusted collegiette can feel vulnerable and insecure. Still, it’s important to remember that not all weight gain is due to an inactive or unhealthy lifestyle. If you can recognize the symptoms of these common medical conditions, you’ll be better prepared to tackle those extra pounds and get back to looking and feeling amazing on campus.

*Names have been changed.

Name: Rachel Hofstetter    
Age: 29—and this close to 30!
Job Title/Description: Co-founder of guesterly, author of Cooking Up a Business and former O, The OprahMagazine food editor…It’s been a wild ride!
College/Major: Miami University (in Ohio)/Economics
Twitter Handle: @rachelhoffy and@guesterly

What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

Rachel Hofstetter: I was the assistant to the (amazing) editor-in-chief of CosmoGirl magazine, and I LOVED it. The best way to see how an industry works is to be the shadow of someone who’s involved in the big-picture planning and execution—and assisting an EIC meant I got to see how editorial, advertising and production all came together. Sure, I managed a crazy calendar and did the normal assistant duties, but being a top executive’s assistant also means you get to meet and work with a lot of the top talent at a place. It was the best first job I could ever imagine. And I got it after interning at CosmoGirl— the most classic way for both sides to know that it’s a good fit.

How did you make the transition from editor to author?

RH: I went from CosmoGirl to O, The Oprah Magazine, where I was able to transition into food (which I’m obsessed with!). I even did a stint at culinary school. Part of my job was to know everything new and cool in the food world, which meant I met with a lot of chefs—and a lot of people who had started their own food business[es]! I became fascinated by these food entrepreneurs’ stories of how they had turned their love for something like chocolate chip cookies into a multi-million dollar company.

I wrote a story about some of my favorite food entrepreneurs for O, and it turned out that lots of people dreamed of starting a food business! Soon I had a book deal with Penguin, and I spent the next eight months writing about fascinating companies like Hint, Vosges Haut-Chocolat, popchips, and Justin’s [Nut Butter]. I was still working full-time as a food editor, so I’d write during the early mornings and on weekends; definitely a lesson in discipline!

Tell us about the even bigger transition: from editor/writer to entrepreneur!

RH: Writing Cooking Up a Business was an incredible learning experience; I say it feels like getting a master’s degree in entrepreneurship! And all that time listening to these inspiring stories definitely made me start to experience the itch myself. But I had no immediate plans to start something; I already had a dream career!

But then, a concept my husband and I had created for our own wedding—a mini printed lookbook featuring fun photos and bios of all our guests—started becoming a hit. Soon our friends, and then friends-of-friends, were asking us to create our so-called “guesterly” books for their wedding. Wait, we had something that people loved and were willing to pay for? In fact, something people were begging for?

The light bulb went off. This was exactly how so many of the entrepreneurs in my book got started! Their friends and family would beg them to sell their special product. So, about a year ago, my husband and I decided to give guesterly a try. We first opened with a high-end custom version, similar to what we’d been doing by hand for our friends. And after a successful first six months, we decided to get real with the technology. This spring, we launched guesterly.com, where anyone can quickly and easily create a guesterly book for weddings, birthday parties and all sorts of reunions and social events.

The transition from editor to entrepreneur has been exhilarating, and it turns out that running a team that produces beautiful stories is actually quite similar to running a team that produces a beautiful product. Except now, instead of working nine hours a day I usually work about 14 to 20!

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

RH: In all things—magazines, books, startups—it’s the people and your network that matter just as much as the quality of your work. My first year in New York, I made a group of friends and colleagues, all of whom were magazine editors at the Hearst Tower. It wasn’t about networking; we just said “yes” if someone asked if we wanted to head to happy hour or grab a group lunch. But as we’ve all “grown up” and moved around jobs and industries and tried new things and met new people, that core network has made almost every introduction that’s led me somewhere amazing. I was lucky, and now I realize that “making friends” is one of the absolute best things you can do for your career.

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

RH: I’m going to give a big shout-out to Chandra Turner, the founder [and president] of Ed2010 (the best site and community for want-to-be and junior magazine editors!). I had no journalism experience (I think I was the first econ. major who ever landed in her inbox!) but I had a passion for magazines, and she took a big chance on me with the world’s best internship. Everything changed with that. Today, in magazines, there’s no one I admire more than Chandra, both for her mentorship to lots and lots of editors [and] for the great magazines she runs!

And then I’m going to cheat and say another person: my best friend Tammy Tibbetts has always made me think bigger. When we were roommates, she started a non-profit called She’s The First, which eventually grew so large that she left her magazine job and now runs an organization that helps hundreds of thousands of people a year. The joke was always that Tammy was awake when I went to bed at night and awake when I woke up in the morning, but I saw how that hard work and dedication paid off. It definitely gives me the inspiration and strength to build guesterly (We even believe in She’s the First so much that we donate to their girls with each guesterly sold!)!

What is the best part of your job?

RH: Creating something I love and am proud of, every day. And when we meet randomly meet someone who’s been to a guesterly wedding and they’re all enthusiastic... Well, I usually start jumping up and down with excitement. And I love hearing from entrepreneurs who learned a lot from my book; that’s my ultimate compliment!

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

RH: Learn everything and create your network of superfans; I believe there are lots of advantages to doing this in a more traditional corporate setting. But think like a startup! Seeing new opportunities, win-win partnerships and challenges makes your world bigger than you could ever dream of.

And order a box of 100 personal note cards and spend a few minutes each morning to write a note. All of the great women I know send handwritten notes for congratulations, appreciation and hellos. It’s classy, classy, classy.

The start of fall semester always comes with the excitement of moving in to your new place—minus the actual moving in part. Whether your school is down the road or across the country from your house, the hassle of trucking your stuff around has hardly gotten easier since freshman year: 50 pounds of luggage doesn’t feel any lighter, your pile of stuff hasn’t gotten any smaller, and you still haven’t figured out that Undetectable Extension Charm. We know you’re frustrated, and our nerdy Harry Potter references probably aren’t helping. But don’t drop out just yet—first try Her Campus’s recipe for making move-in day as painless as possible.

Be ready.

Good things may come to those who wait, but an easy trip to your first day back at college isn’t one of them. If there’s anything you know you can do before move-in day to prepare, get it out of the way now. Go through the stuff you threw in your basement when you moved out last spring; throwing out and replacing old or broken items and amenities now will save you the hassle of hauling them all the way to campus and hunting for necessities there. Forward your home mail to your campus mailbox, and make sure any textbooks you ordered online arrive at the right place depending on their delivery dates. Preparing well now will save you time and space—both of which you should worry about in physics class, not your new apartment or dorm.

Pack right.

“Be super light with packing,” advises Annie Robinson from North Toronto Collegiate Institute. “If you don’t need it, don’t pack it. Be ruthless with whatever you don’t need.” The easiest way to make sure you don’t over- (or under-) pack is to write a list of everything you truly need before you get started—and be honest with yourself! It’s okay to pack the classic essentials and your newest back-to-school fashion finds, but as a general rule, avoid packing anything perishable, messy, or easily replaceable. Harper Yi from at The College of William & Mary moves by the principle, “Just buy it when you get there.” There are exceptions, says Harper, but only the well-justified ones fly, like specific items you can’t get at school: “I only pack Asian food that is easy to find where I live [at home] since there are tons of Asian grocers back home, but none near my campus,” she says. Check out OneBag.com for additional tips on how not to set foot on campus with loads of luggage Elle Woods-style.

Keeping your bags light is a start, but “professional” packers know to pack strategically, too. Tempted to throw all your stuff into your suitcase and deal with the inevitable wrinkles in your favorite top later? Resist the temptation and instead use those critical thinking skills you keep chatting about in cover letters to streamline the move-in process.“I packed my clothes on their respective hangers,” says Emmanuel College collegiette Hyanna Cardoso. “It took me less than an hour to move into my dorm. I just removed them from my closet [at home], folded them in half, place them in a box (in order of my closet) and voilà”

Get help.

Take advantage of the resources around you. One tried and true option is to rent a U-Haul, but an even easier answer might be right in front of you. Many schools offer services to help students with move-in day, like storage space and golf carts (or attractive members of the football team). Look for off-campus resources, too; Katherine Mirani from Northwestern University found a particularly convenient program while shopping for the start of the school year: “I used this Bed Bath & Beyond program where you can pick out the stuff you want at a store in your hometown/city, then pick up the stuff at the store closest to your school. It worked out really well and saved me a ton of shipping issues.”

Even if you’re working solo, there’s no need to bear all the weight.“I always used a moving dolly to haul around my stuff,” says UNC-Chapel Hill graduate Michelle Lewis. “It makes [moving in] a lot easier than carrying everything.”

Dress the part.

Just when we were starting to daydream of the perfect move-in, Harper snaps us out of it with more of her sensibility. She makes a point to “not try to look cute on move-in day. You’ll be carrying stuff in, probably in the August heat, and if you try to impress everyone with how cute you look on move-in day, you will inevitably have makeup running down your face and sweat-soaked clothes.” Well, that daydream turned into a nightmare. A better approach, says Harper, would be to “wear sensible clothes, get your stuff moved in, take a shower, change, and then get ready to mingle.” That doesn’t mean you have to dress like Yoda—just adopt the same attitude you would while studying: choose something comfortable and functional that still looks cute enough to wear around campus on your first day back.

Make space.

Space Jam isn’t just the movie we miss most from the 90’s; it’s also what we call an unfortunate side effect of poor planning and a move-in malfunction. To avoid claustrophobia and a scene from Hoarders, try the following tips for making the most of your tiny dorm or apartment.

• Either before you leave home or once you get to campus, check out local convenience stores or specialty shops like the Container Store for neat space-savers and stackable crates.
• Loft your bed for extra storage or desk space underneath. Ask your RA or the residential life office to provide the necessary tools.
• Invest in products like the Space Bag, which sucks up all the air surrounding your clothes and reduces the space they hog in your closet.
• Consolidate your items. Useful tech gadgets like surge protectors, for instance, can save you time you’d otherwise spend untangling wires and searching for outlets.
• Be creative. As Harper advises,“Maximize zero space. Your rain boots? You can stuff socks into them. Your shoe boxes? Put some camisoles in them. This saves space and trips down to your car when you move in.”

Settle in.

The exhaustion that follows a hard day’s work may tempt you to throw up your hands in frustration with your first-world problems and retire early for the day. But trust us—the time to get settled and make your space livable is now, while you’re in the move-in mode and you still have the time. Use organization methods like color coordination to keep your stuff straight, and label your boxes and drawers to save yourself prep time in the morning, especially for the first few weeks while you get used to your new place. And have fun! Each new school year brings another chance to decorate the walls with your personality. Annie suggests Dormify.com for “interior design must-haves and advice.”

Our six tips are sure to make your first day back less of a hassle so you can get your real school year started sooner. So stop dreading move-in day. Follow our recipe on how to make your first day back easier and we guarantee you’ll like the way you move.

With the recent release of the long-awaited first glimpse of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, it's hard not to get nostalgic about the sensational (and beyond sensual) first book. Or maybe the trailer has convinced you to finally set aside your pride and jump on the hot and steamy bandwagon. But regardless, Fifty Shades of Grey is an emotional and sexual roller coaster we all buckled in for that left us weak at the knees. It's basically high-class literary porn intertwined with a love story, and it's everything we ever needed out of a guilty-pleasure book. However, finding ourselves getting all hot and bothered from the words on those pages left us with some interesting thoughts.

1. "Okay, I don't get what everyone was making a big deal about; this isn't that intense."

This isn't such a big deal. It's just like any other book with a love interest. Hmm, I wonder what everyone else was talking about.

2. "Holy wow! I spoke too soon."

Wait, woah, what? Is this legal? Seriously, are these the sort of books they used to ban back in the day? This is so hot.

3. Is it just me, or was Anastasia Steele based off of me?

Seriously, though. I'm plain, simple, not nearly this sexually experienced... If this book is based on my life, where is my Christian Grey?

4. "Did E. L. James have the most amazing imagination or the world's best sex life?"

Do real human beings have sex like this? But seriously, have I been doing it wrong my whole life? This is unreal. How did she think of these things?

5. "I'm fairly confident my ovaries are exploding."

This is too much to handle. I think I should put the book down and step away for a bit. But I can't. This book owns me. I am a slave to a paperback book. And I am absolutely okay with that.

6. "Does the guy sitting next to me know what I'm reading? Shoot. He just made eye contact. I feel dirty."

I couldn't stop reading, but maybe subtly reading in class wasn't the best idea. I'm sweating. The fictional Christian Grey is making me sweat. And this boy in my sociology class knows.

7. I want a fun, sassy inner goddess/subconscious. Hey, guys - you up there?

Let’s band together and be an awesome posse. Wake up. Let’s do this.

8. "Do they make real men like Christian Grey, and where do I sign up?"

No, seriously, if someone knows the answer to this question, please contact me immediately.

9. "Scratch that, I think I would spontaneously combust. Don't sign me up."

You know what, I don't know how Anastasia is doing this. I don't think I'm cut out for this. Sorry, Mr. Grey. It's not you; it's me.

10. "Wait, JK, sign me up, pencil me in, tattoo it on my forehead if you need to. I. NEED. A. MR. GREY."

Sorry for my disloyalty, sir. Take me back. I want you. I NEED you. Please forgive me.

11. "How do I feel about the Red Room of Pain? I don't know how to feel."

What are these contraptions he's using? I think I'm scared. I also think I'm turned on. I don't know what to think. I also don't know if I'll be able to stop reading any time soon.

12. "I am single. So... very... single."

Yep, I realize that Christian Grey is a fictitious character, and that crushes me into a million pieces. BRB gonna hyperventilate in the fetal position until I've come to terms with that fact.

13. "Jamie Dornan is about to make my dreams come true. Why can't it be Valentine's Day yet?"

So what if I just spent countless hours pining over a man who doesn't exist? In a few short (long, agonizing) months, the beautiful god that is Jamie Dornan will be making all my dreams a reality. Until then, we wait.

Women come in all shapes and sizes, and bikinis should, too! Thus the hashtag #Fatkini--a new nickname for a bikini for plus-size women--has been entering the sphere of Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr. Women everywhere have been posting pictures of themselves looking gorgeous in their bikinis, even if they're not 5'8" and 130 pounds. The social media campaign is intended to prove that plus-size women can too look fab in a bikini and to push for more plus-size swimsuits in stores, according to The Independent. 

The trend is supposedly inspired by plus-size blogger Gabi Fresh, who calls regularly for better clothing options in plus sizes and who has just launched a three-year partnership with swimsuitsforall to design some amazing plus-size bathing suits. These women are on a quest to stop fat-shaming and give plus-size girls some smokin' swimwear, and it seems like nothing can stop them!

What do you think of #Fatkini, collegiettes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Will the president choose to pursue a career in the music industry after his second term? Maybe he will with the help of the YouTube account "baracksdubs," which, according to E! Online, released a mash-up video of the president himself rapping Iggy Azalea's "Fancy." First things first--the president didn't exactly rap all by himself; the video consists of tiny clips spliced together of President Obama saying each word in the song. Has he been speaking in code in all of his speeches, hoping someone out there would discover his love for "Fancy"? We'll never know, but we'd like to pretend that the answer is yes!

The president's music career may not end with "Fancy"--he's already done "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen and "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk and Pharrell (at least, his clip-splicing fans have made it seem like he has), according to The Wrap. We already knew you were fancy, Mr. President, but f any of you need further persuasion, watch the clip here!

Let’s face it: breakups are terrible for everyone involved. That’s why when it’s time to end things with your latest campus cutie, you may be totally clueless about how to approach this sensitive subject. In the heat of the moment, you could end up saying some terribly clichéd (and super lame) things that no one wants to hear when they’re getting the boot from your life. But not all breakups have to be a complete failure!

Avoid these six breakup lines, and your conscious uncoupling might go a little more smoothly.

1. “It’s not you; it’s me.”

This one’s the oldest line in the breakup handbook, and it’s almost completely lost its credibility at this point. Say this to someone during your dramatic breakup speech and you’re almost guaranteed a complimentary eye roll from him or her accompanied by an angry sigh.

What to say instead: “I don’t think we’re right for each other.”

You’ve got to keep everyone’s best interests at heart, but you also don’t want to entirely blame yourself for why you guys didn’t work out. Not everyone can find the Ashton Kutcher to her Mila Kunis right away (even Mila Kunis herself didn’t). If you’re not right for each other, than there’s nothing you can do but acknowledge it and move on to better things!

2. “We can still be friends.”

We hate to break it to you, but the person you just dumped probably won’t be braiding your hair and gabbing about cute boys with you any time soon (or ever, for that matter). While you have nothing but the best of intentions when opening the pathway to friendship, there’s no individual in the world who likes being demoted from the romance zone to the friend zone.

What to say instead: “I hope we can move past this someday.”

It’s highly doubtful that you and your ex will become fast friends, but there’s always the hope that one day you can at least be friendly with each other. After all, you’re bound to run into each other at a party at some point, and you don’t want an Orlando Bloom/Justin Bieber-esque brawl to ensue. A friendly wave in the hallway is really all you’re asking for!

3. “Things are moving too fast.”

If you actually like someone, you’re most likely not going to mind if he or she is picking up the pace in your relationship. Telling a guy that things are moving too fast is just an excuse for when you realize that this guy likes you WAY more than you like him.

“I was seeing this guy my freshman year of college, and he was really into me,” says Hannah, a junior at the University of Washington. “We had only known each other for a little less than a month, and I barely knew anything about him, but he kept talking about making our relationship official. We had only been on a few dates, and I could tell he was super into me, which made me realize that I wasn’t actually that into him. I had to tell him things were moving too fast, but honestly, I just didn’t like him the same way he liked me.”

What to say instead: “This relationship didn’t turn out how I hoped it would.”

When you first met him you thought the two of you had some potential, but as his interest in you skyrocketed, yours grew smaller and smaller. You started off with good intentions, but stringing him along now would just be mean on your part. Not every relationship turns out how we hope it will, and he can’t expect you to dive headfirst into a serious relationship if you really aren’t feeling it.

4. “I’m not good enough for you.”

The “I’m not good enough for you” line isn’t going to fool anyone. If someone was really too good for you, why on Earth would you break up with him or her? This line is ultimately just a cop-out so you don’t have to tell him that you just don’t like him like that anymore.

Yes, your former SO may be a wonderful person, but if you’re not feeling it, then you’re not feeling it, and he deserves to know. Otherwise he might spend a few sleepless nights wondering what he did wrong, because, according to you, his only fault is having no faults.

What to say instead: “We both deserve something better.” 

Believe it or not, you can think someone is totally awesome but not want to date him or her! It’s important to be compatible with the person you’re kissin’ on the daily, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling no chemistry even if that person is completely out of this world.

However, this person deserves an explanation as to why you’re ending your romance, and it’s best to just give it to him straight. Let him know you think he’s a great person, but you guys just aren’t meshing like you had hoped.

5. “I’m sorry (x1000).”

Breakups can be pretty nerve-wracking and may induce a serious case of word vomit. That’s why you may feel inclined to throw in a pitiful, “I’m sorry!” after every line of your well-rehearsed breakup speech.

The fact of the matter is, adding on an apology to every word you say won’t exactly make him feel better, no matter how much you truly mean it. Besides, you shouldn’t have to apologize for doing what you feel is best for your relationship. If this is really the right decision for you, then there’s no reason to be sorry!

What to say instead:  “I hope you understand.”

You don’t need to ask for forgiveness, but saying, “I hope you understand” is a good way to show sympathy. He may not understand your reasoning now, but give him some time! This lets him know that you sympathize with how he’s feeling, but you’re standing your ground and doing what you feel is best for yourself.

6. “I’ll always love you.”

Regardless of how you’re feeling in the moment, saying, “I’ll always love you” is not the best way to cut ties with someone. Maybe he’s moving away, maybe you’re leaving for different colleges or maybe it’s just best for you two to be apart at the moment. Whatever the reason is, however, keeping the L-word on the table will give him hope for you guys in the future, even if that’s not what you intended.

You never know what time apart will do for you – you might miss him more than you anticipated, or you might just realize how much you love being alone! Either way, it’s probably best to keep love out of the breakup equation.

What to say instead: “I’m always here for you, but it’s time for us to move on.”

Love may be a little too strong in the case of a breakup, but letting someone know you still care for him or her is fair game. Feelings don’t just disintegrate overnight, and you want to let him know that if he’s ever in a sticky situation, he can always call you for help.

Breakups are a tricky business, but when you know how to handle them effectively, they can be a little bit easier to maneuver. As long as you avoid these six terrible lines, your breakup should go smoothly (well… as smoothly as a breakup CAN go). 

We were looking for the perfect summer read to round out our days of sunshine and free time, and we’re beyond thrilled to have found one that can keep us on the edge of our beach chairs! For any collegiette looking for more than just your typical summer romance read, RUMBLE is the hard-hitting book to beat.

Ellen Hopkins, the New York Times bestselling author of Crank and Trick explores the highly charged landscapes of faith and forgiveness with brilliant sensitivity and emotional resonance in RUMBLE, in stores August 26th. The book trailer (yes, book trailer!) says it all: we can just imagine ourselves glued to the pages, and we already want to know what happens next! 

“There is no God, no benevolent ruler of the earth, no omnipotent grand poobah of countless universes. Because if there was... my little brother would still be fishing or playing basketball instead of fertilizing cemetery vegetation.”

“Matthew Turner doesn’t have faith in anything.

“Not in family—his is a shambles after his younger brother was bullied into suicide. Not in so-called friends who turn their backs when things get tough. Not in some all-powerful creator who lets too much bad stuff happen. And certainly not in some ‘It Gets Better’ psychobabble.

“No matter what his girlfriend Hayden says about faith and forgiveness, there’s no way Matt’s letting go of blame. He’s decided to ‘live large and go out with a huge bang,’ and whatever happens happens. But when a horrific event plunges Matt into a dark, silent place, he hears a rumble . . . a rumble that wakes him up, calling everything he’s ever disbelieved into question.”

Want to score the scintillating summer read for free? We’re sweetening the deal—to help our one lucky winner drown out the noise so she can concentrate on the page-turner, we’re also giving away an iPod Nano with RUMBLE! 

What are you waiting for? Enter to score your prizes below! Learn more about the book and follow SimonTEEN on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/simonteen, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram.

Two months ago, heads buried in books, cramming for finals and craving lazy sun-filled afternoons, we were pretty darn well ready to pack up and dive into our summertime fantasies. Behind the pages of our econ textbooks, the idea of fabulous new internships, various vacations and European adventures, annual summer flings and—let’s not forget—homemade meals you don’t have to swipe an ID for, seemed all too appealing.

Two months in, we’re over it—and itchin’ to head back to campus.

Whether your hometown is boring you to tears, or your stressful internship has you desperately missing a college schedule(read: no Friday classes, ever) we all have our own reasons for counting down the days ‘til September. Here are collegiettes’ top 20:

1. Sharing the Same Address as the BFFs

Turns out that in the real world, all your faves don’t actually live down the hall from you. Sigh. Arranging get-togethers between summer jobs, long commutes and vacations is a mess. How much cooler was it to grab the girls for dinner simply by swinging by their adjacent rooms, instead of the tangled mess that is trying to plan get-togethers during the summer?

2. Living at Home Has Us Feeling Like We’re 15—Again 

Back to sneaking in after-hours? After getting in the groove of living on your own, it’s totally frustrating to go back to curfews and helicopter parents. (And trying to protest that you actually stay out a lot later back at school doesn’t really seem to help matters).

3. Campus Meal Plan = Much-Needed Choice and Convenience!

Sure, we’re often bitter about the cost-per-meal ratio, and we all love to hate on the oft-wilting lettuce and greasy fries, but when it comes down to it, we secretly adore the dining hall. If we want to have an omelet and toast for dinner, or samples of three different types of cookies for dessert, we better darn well have that option. It’s better than a soggy Starbucks wrap on our way home from work!

4. Actual Motivation to Work Out

With free access to top-notch facilities, we had no excuse during the school year for skipping out on the gym—and one really good one for checkin’ out the basketball team mid-work out.

5. Boys, Boys, Boys

As we’ve probably all learned, it’s a lot easier to meet guys as a co-ed. From flirting with your charming chem lab partner to always running into that neighbor down the hall from you, there just seem to be way more possibilities for romance in college. (Vastly older summer co-workers aren’t really cutting it for us).

6. Hometown Parties Just Don’t Compare to College Nightlife, Period

Between Thirsty Thursdays, Friday-night frat parties, and the knowledge that there’s probably a great party going on anyday of the week on campus, our summer social lives in comparison seem kind of, well, lame.

7. We Desperately Miss Our Favorite Hangouts

Whether you’ll be a sophomore or a seasoned senior, you’ve likely spent a lot of time scoping out a whole range of favorite haunts and hangouts around campus. Our college towns have become like second homes—and we’re officially homesick. Here’s to regaining our seat at the local coffee shop, hitting up our beloved boutiques and cheap eats again—even getting back to that perfect campus study spot we swear is the only place where we can actually focus.

8. Our Inner Intellectual is Wilting

Truth is, we’re actually feeling a bit nostalgic for class. Inspiring professors, incredible courses and that personal satisfaction you can only get from acing a paper for a class you’re completely passionate about are much better alternatives to making copies and fetching the office coffee all summer long.

9. The College Schedule…or Lack Thereof

Summer has many of us working 9 to 5—and yearning for the days when a 10 a.m. once a week felt like a killer. The ability to form a sched around your personal body clock just might be one of the greatest perks of college life.

10. Milestones Are Ahead

Turning another year older has its perks—from finally being able to (legally) check out the university bar life, to getting better campus housing picks and scoring prime class times (as in no mornings…see above). Plus, actually getting to take classes in your major is way more exciting than the usual drab “intro”s and 101s.

11. We’re Months Behind on Gossip

Sporadic texting, Skype and Facebook stalking just don’t cut it. We can’t wait to catch up with our college girls for real in the fall and get all the dirt on their latest adventures—especially from those who were abroad in the spring.

12. Spontaneous Dorm Makeovers

Admit it: your room at home is pretty much a shrine to the past—and probably hasn’t changed since the early 2000s. Heading back to school means news digs and more flexibility to regularly redecorate with fresh designs. Sure, your dorm room may be the size of a postage stamp, but really, isn’t that half the fun? Get creative!

13. Space from Home

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and during the semester we were quite sentimental about our families and friends back home. But going back to living with the ‘rents, dealing with pesky siblings and remembering why we stopped hanging out with certain hometown friends in the first place can make us all(sheepishly) crave that distance again.
 
14. Being True To Your School

As cheesy as it is, school pride definitely helps to make college, well, college. Between belting out the fight song at a pre-game pep rally, indulging in crazy traditions (naked quad runs, anyone?) or even just participating in a friendly intramural softball game, there are just certain things that we won’t really get post-grad. Admit it—cheering on your hometown MLB team just doesn’t bring the same kind of passion we feel come college football season. Rah, Rah!

15. We Secretly Enjoy Over-Achieving 

If you’re the typical collegiette, you’re involved in a million things on campus—and being away from it all is actually stressing you out. Summertime has us stuck in the office mailroom; we’ll feel a lot more confident once we’re back to our Editor-in-Chief/Student Council President/MVP positions!

16. A Much-Needed Change of Scenery 

Whether you’ve been braving the concrete jungle this summer as an intern, or stuck back in strip-mall suburbia, it’s easy to get nostalgic for the blooming flowerbeds, grassy quads and fall foliage of your campus. Plus, being able to walk everywhere means you actually get to enjoy it.

17. We Heart the Campus Activities Board

Back on campus, there seem to always be a million events going on at once—and even better, most of them are free. University-sponsored events like outdoor concerts, formal dances, and poetry slams and comedy acts kept us oh-so active—and free or discounted tickets on local museums and plays kept us cultured and within budget!

18. Movie Nights---or, How We Find Ways to Procrastinate 

Silly traditions often get us through those miserable late-night study sessions. We so miss the bonding, camaraderie and guilt-free midnight snacking. The bleary-eyed cramming part? Yeah, not so much…

19. Studying Abroad is Just Around the Corner

How could you not look forward to a 4-month-long credit-earning vacation—er, study session? For those who are so lucky as to be studying abroad this year, get psyched for heading overseas and enjoying one of the absolute highlights of your college career. ¡Vámonos!
 
20. Pant Suits are Stifling Our Fashion Freedom

Office dress codes are crampin’ our style; we’ll be glad to return to the days of wearing what we want. Whether you simply slip into sweats before lecture, or enjoy putting together crazy, trendy pieces just for the fun of it, we all love college fashion for the same reason we love the dining hall—choices.

Whether you’re moving in to a new dorm room or a new apartment, the start of the school year means new digs and an opportunity to make your space your own. Check out these craft ideas to take your drab, neutral-toned dorm room to the next level.

1. Dry-erase calendar

Keep yourself organized and your dorm cute with a calendar! Use this more visual method of organization to balance the many events and assignments in your day-to-day life. This craft from the blog The Aesthetic Writer is a great way to plan ahead.

What you’ll need:

• 1 12-inch-by-16-inch frame
• 35 2-inch-by-2-inch paint chips in various colors
• Dry-erase marker

Directions:

1. Organize the paint chip squares into seven columns and five rows, using the first row as the days of the week.
2. Tape the paint chips to the blank side of the picture insert of the frame.
3. Next, assemble the frame so that the colorful swatches are now behind the glass of the frame.
4. Use a dry-erase marker to write on the glass of your new reusable calendar.

2. Scarf organizer

You can never have too many scarves… except when you’re stuck in a cramped dorm room and have nowhere to put them. Make the most of your limited space and abundant wardrobe by using this scarf organizer from Stacy Vaughn’s blog to consolidate your massive collection.

What you’ll need:

• Wire hangers
• Masking tape
• Scraps of fabric
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• A 20-ounce can

Directions:

1. Straighten out the wire hangers using your pliers.
2. Wrap the wire all the way around the can to give it a circular shape. Hold one end of the wire down while wrapping tightly because the wire will unwind and create a larger circle than the can when you’re finished.
3. Cut each of your wire spirals into two wire rings. Tape the ends of the wire together to prevent any potential poking.
4. Arrange the rings in any formation you’d like and tape them together where they meet.
5. Next, cut your fabric scraps into one-inch-thick strips.
6. Dab a bit of glue on the wire ring, and then wrap the strips around the glued area. Continue gluing and wrapping the fabric strips until all the wire is covered.
7. Let the glue dry, and then you’re free to hang your scarves!

3. Rotating to-do list

Instead of the usual to-do list you offhandedly maintain in the corner of your history notes, jazz up your nightly or weekly goals by organizing them in a fun, visually appealing way with this to-do list from Cornflower Blue Studio.

What you’ll need:

• Card stock
• Sticky notes
• Markers

Directions:

1. First, designate just how many goals on average you’d like to accomplish at a time. This example shows six spaces for to-do entries.
2. Draw six squares (or however many goals you’d like) that are slightly larger than your sticky notes on one end of the card stock. At the top of the card stock, title your list however you’d like.
3. Next to your title, draw a square slightly larger than your sticky notes denoting a space for a note that will state your deadline for accomplishing your set tasks.
4. Finally, fill in the squares with notes, each describing one item on your to-do list.
5. Take the sticky notes off your card stock when you’ve accomplished that goal.

4. Crate seats

Storage space is limited in a 10-by-10 room you share with another person. Use this craft from the blog Tupelo Honey to maximize the space you do have while also creating more seating options for any guests who may stop by!

What you’ll need:

• Plywood
• Foam mattress pad
• Fabric
• File crates
• Staple gun and staples

Directions:

1. First, measure the plywood and fabric so that you have enough to cover the top opening of the crate. You want the cushions to be able to rest on top of the opening so you can still store things in the bin.
2. Once you’ve measured everything out, cut the foam to match the size of the plywood squares.
3. Next, cut the fabric so that it comfortably covers the foam and wraps around underneath the wood.
4. Staple the fabric in place.
5. Rest the cushion on top of the crate. Now you’re ready to store all of the potentially unnecessary things you brought to college in one fashionable place!

5. Cupcake twinkle lights

A colorful twist on the classic twinkle-light craze, this craft from the blog The Cubicle Chick uses cupcake wrappers and a strand of lights to beautify your space and give you a break from that fluorescent lighting.

What you’ll need:

• 2 packages of different-size cupcake cups (one should fit inside the other)
• 1 strand of twinkle lights
• Scissors
• Glue stick

Directions:

1. Before starting this craft, be sure to check the list of decorations and lights allowed in your room. Certain schools have different regulations for lighting fixtures.
2. Take the large cupcake cups and cut a scalloped edge around each of them, creating the effect of flower petals.
3. Next, do the same with the smaller cups or leave them circular.
4. Glue each smaller cupcake cup inside each larger one.
5. Once the glue has dried, use a pencil or the tip of the scissors to poke a hole in the center of the cups.
6. Poke each light bulb through a hole in the cups. Make sure the holes aren’t too big so that the cups don’t fall off of the light bulb.

6. Burlap wreath

This wreath craft from the BurlapWreath.com proves wreaths aren’t just for the winter months and holiday season! They can be hung year-round outside your dorm room, where you can decorate it for your roommate’s birthday and each season.

What you’ll need:

• 1 12-inch metal wreath frame
• 20 feet of 6-inch burlap ribbon
• Floral wire to secure the burlap to the frame
• Scissors to remove any excess ribbon

Directions:

1. Tie the burlap ribbon to the innermost part of the wreath frame using the floral wire to fasten it in place.
2. Pull about three inches of ribbon through the inner part of the wreath frame, creating a loop.
3. Repeat this same process two more times, pulling about three inches of ribbon through the two other openings in the wreath.
4. Flip the wreath over and repeat.
5. Pull three inches of the burlap ribbon through the first opening, followed by the second and third.
6. Then, flip the wreath back over to the front and continue this process until the remaining openings of the wreath frame are filled.
7. Cut off any excess burlap ribbon, and secure the end of the ribbon with the floral wire.
8. Add flowers, buttons, photos and anything else you want to place on your wreath to jazz it up.

7. Braided T-shirt rug

Those old high school T-shirts aren’t doing you any good just collecting dust in the back of your closet at home. Use them to add a splash of color and personality to your new space while still holding on to the glory days. While this may be a bit of an ambitious DIY craft, this excellent tutorial from My Poppet will walk you through it.

What you’ll need:

• About 13 old T-shirts, which makes the rug approximately 5 feet by 3 feet (the more shirts, the larger the rug)
• Large needle
• Yarn
• Sewing machine
• Sewing thread, any color
• Scissors
• Hair clip to hold the braid in place when not working on it

Directions:

1. Cut your T-shirts horizontally into about 2-inch strips.

2. Next, braid, braid, braid. Take a combination of your fabric strips and begin to braid them together. Cut a hole in the end of each strip to thread a new strip through it to continue braiding without as much sewing.

3. Then, lay out your braid in the shape of the rug you desire. If you’re making an oval rug, lay out your long braid clockwise on the floor, starting with an approximately three-foot-long loop that will be the center of the rug.

4. Start sewing at the first turn or loop of the braid, snaking along the length of the braid.

5. Continue sewing your rug and wrapping your braid in a circular rotation until it is in the desired oval shape.

6. Finish it off by tucking the end of the braid under the rug and sewing it in place.

8. Homemade mugs

This is the perfect present for your roommate who may or may not be a total stranger. Do you want to get her something, but you just don’t know her well enough? Make her a personalized mug as seen on Craftaholics Anonymous and fill it with miscellaneous candy that she will surely devour during a late-night study sesh.

What you’ll need:

• Plain coffee mug
• Sharpie
• Rubbing alcohol

Directions:

1. First, wipe the mug with alcohol and a paper towel to clean it.
2. Draw on your design. Try a funny quote, a picture or a name—anything works!
3. Wait 24 hours, and then put the mug into a cold oven right on the rack.
4. Next, set the oven to 425 degrees, and set the timer for 30 minutes.
5. Once the mug has been in the oven for 30 minutes, turn the oven off, but leave the mug in the oven until it has completely cooled off, which could take several hours.
6. Finally, hand-wash the mug and run it through the dishwasher just to make sure your design stays on.

9. Stencil pillow

Throw pillows are decorative and chic, and they look even better personalized! You don’t have to stick to the ones that came with your comforter set; you can create your own pillow design to add a bit of zest to your sleeping space using this tutorial from Wit & Whistle.

What you’ll need:

• Pillow or pillowcase
• Cardboard (for added stability if you’re using a pillowcase)
• Pencil
• Letter stencil
• Fabric marker

Directions:

1. Pick a quote or favorite saying to stencil onto the pillow.
2. Next, if you’re using a pillowcase, put the cardboard inside to make sure the marker doesn’t bleed through to the other side and to keep the fabric stretched out.
3. Sketch your letters onto the fabric of the pillow or pillowcase using a pencil and the stencil. This will help you figure out spacing and give you a chance to fix mistakes before graduating to the permanent marker.
4. Once you’ve penciled everything in, you can remove the stencil to color in the letters with the marker more freely and easily.
5. Let the marker ink dry for several hours, and then plop your pillow on your bedding.

10. Flower cone wall display

For those collegiettes with a green thumb, living in a 10-foot-by-10-foot dorm can make gardening a bit difficult. However, it’s still possible to put fresh flowers on display in a cute way with these flower cones, as seen on the blog Oh So Very Pretty.

What you’ll need:

• A few sheets of 8.5-inch-by-11-inch cardstock (each sheet makes two cones, so however many you want, divide that number by two, and that is the number of cardstock sheets you need)
• Scissors
• Tape of any sort
• Hole punch
• String
• Flowers

Directions:

1. Cut the 8.5-inch-by-11-inch cardstock paper in half (landscape) so the size of the paper is now 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches.
2. Roll the sheets into cones.
3. Secure each cone in place by taping each cone along its edge.
4. Punch two holes near the top of the cone on opposite sides of the cone.
5. Next, cut the string into various lengths ranging from 3 feet long to 6 feet long, depending on how high and low you’d like these cones to hang.
6. Pull the string through both holes of the cone so that it can be seen cutting across the middle of the inside of the cone.
7. Hang the cones at various heights along the wall using whatever form of wall fixtures your dorm allows (Command hooks, nails, pushpins, etc.).
8. Add fresh flowers to the cones. Cut the flowers to a length that allows the blossoms to be clearly seen over the top of the cones.

Crafting is not for the faint of heart. It takes dedication, patience and quite possibly all the supplies available in an elementary school art room. However, it’s not hard to go from dull and boring to eye-catching with your dorm room—you just have to know where to start! Now get crafting!

The dating pool in college is already pretty small, especially on more isolated campuses, and by now, you’re probably sick of seeing Tinder taunt you about having no one new around you. It only complicates things when you don’t know which girls on campus are into girls – there’s no secret code, after all. Don’t worry, though; there are plenty of available cuties around. You’ve just already met them!

It might seem awkward to rekindle things with girls you’ve already ended it with or to chat with an acquaintance from two years ago, but look at it this way: You get to skip the small talk. People change a lot in college, so maybe the girl who wasn’t right for you first semester is senior year’s Princess Charming.

1. The Girl From Orientation

Okay, so your freshman orientation was a long time ago. And yes, sometimes you cringe when you think about the people you met there whom you thought would be your BFFs but now you just awkwardly avoid in the hallways. But it wasn’t all bad – maybe it’s time to reconnect with the girl you were flirting with before college life made you way too busy. The next time you see her around, find an excuse to grab coffee and see if she’s just as great as you remember.

2. Your Floormate From Last Year

You've basically lived together, so by now you probably know each other pretty well. After all, sharing a bathroom gets people pretty comfortable with one another! So now that dormcest is no longer a concern, maybe it’s time to get to know each other in a different way. Grab a bite to eat and see where reminiscing leads.

3. The “Is She or Isn’t She?” Girl

You guys have talked and joked, but you were never quite sure if she was really into girls (and maybe she wasn’t sure if you were either). But it’s a new year, and you might just find that it’s worth a shot. Break out those snooping skills, and see if you two are destined to be more than friends!

4. Your Former Lab Partner

You could feel some sparks (ones that weren’t from the Bunsen burner), but you figured it was too complicated; what if you broke up and were stuck mixing chemicals together for the rest of the semester? That’s no longer a concern, and you already know each other well enough that it’s totally not weird to text her to hang out. What do you have to lose?

5. The One Who Got Away

It happens. You were crazy about her, but a stupid fight or a semester abroad really messed up what you had going. If she’s available, swallow your pride and see if getting back together is a good idea or if you were really destined to be a sad Taylor Swift song. The worst that can happen is you stay broken up, but if it works out, you’ll be closer than ever.

6. The Girl You See Everywhere

She’s president of the Pride chapter at your school. You sat near her in your writing seminar. She always seems to be ahead of you in line at Starbucks. Make the plunge and stop skirting around each other; you can’t help but notice how gorgeous she is every time you see her, and you know you have similar interests. Find an excuse to talk, whether through a mutual friend or even by saying exactly what you’re thinking—“I feel like I see you everywhere!”—and see where it takes you.

7. The Cute Freshman

A three- or four-year age difference used to be weird, but in college, a junior dating a freshman isn’t out of the ordinary. It might a little complicated, but it’ll be nice to see a fresh face or two around campus once the new crop of freshmen arrive. Strike up a conversation and flirt your way to a new relationship with a great girl.

8. Last Year’s FWB

Maybe you were too busy for a real relationship, or maybe you were just more interested in hooking up than dating, but last year, it was totally great to have FWB situation. Now, you’re looking to settle down, and you find yourself missing last year’s girl. Maybe feelings complicated things last year, but it’s time to talk about it! Put your pride aside and ask her if she’s interested in starting over.

9. The Girl From Home

LDRs are hard, but when you go home for vacations, it’s nice to have someone you can hang out with (especially if a lot of your high school friends have fallen by the wayside). You had a good thing going before you had to end it and leave for school, so shoot her a message and catch up. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be worth the trouble.

Finding other ladies to date around campus can seem impossible, especially when you think you’ve met them all and the LGBTQ+ community is smaller than you’d like. If you look around, though, you’ll notice all the great girls and see the awesome relationship potential that you may have missed when you first met them. Don’t limit yourself, and definitely don’t be afraid to go out on a limb –  you might just find your perfect match!

Admit it: it may only be August, but you can’t stop thinking about fall semester. With back-to-school fast approaching, we’re all clocking long hours dwelling on the friends we’ll be seeing again (or meeting for the first time), how to decorate our dorm rooms like interior design divas and what we’ll wear during those crucial first weeks of the semester (hello, first day of class)! Well, rest easy, collegiettes; Victoria’s Secret PINK has made it simple with these 6 things you’ll need for dorm life.

1. Game day apparel

Just in time for back-to-school, PINK has released its all-new PINK Collegiate Collection, and we’re beyond excited. Goodbye to the boring, unflattering shirts from the campus bookstore, hello to the cutest tees, sweats and leggings ever! These are the ultimate must-haves for (fashionably) repping your school spirit.

For those chilly September football games, we recommend the cute tunic hoodies or half-zips. If you’re going to be attending lots of indoor basketball or volleyball games, pick up a throwback jersey or mesh V-neck. Or, get it all (we won’t tell!). You can easily mix and match the tops and bottoms, so you’re ready for game day every day!

There’s more: it’s not just the styles that are new. There are now more schools in the spirited collection than ever before. Do you go to one of the lucky 67?

2. Cute ‘n comfy study clothes

Athletic Tee, $26.50

Aside from all of the fun sporting events, there’s that other reason we go to college… academics! Whether you’re sitting in Psych 101, studying for midterms or completing a bio lab, looking good while staying comfy (and cozy) is essential. After all, it’s super hard to concentrate if you don’t feel comfortable in what you’re wearing.

That’s why we love cotton tees, loose-fit blouses, skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans, leggings (especially tucked into riding boots), pullover sweatshirts, circle scarves, fuzzy socks and stylish cardigans in fun colors and prints. With these pieces, both your style game and your study game will be strong.

3. Dorm décor

PINK Reversible Duvet Cover, $77.95-$99.95

Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, a little bit of homesickness is inevitable (Seeing pictures of our dogs gets us every time!). Fortunately, we’ve discovered a way to relieve our longings for home, short of asking our parents to ship us our puppies. Basically, we make our dorms or apartments as home-y and familiar as possible.

It’s much more difficult to miss your old bed (and home) when you’re lounging in a Pinterest-worthy pad. Pack a duvet you love like this PINK Reversible Duvet Cover, lots of pillows, matching sheets (and an extra pair if you’re not in love with that laundry life), posters and wall decals, a fuzzy rug, personal pictures (of your dogs?! Just a thought), mementos that won’t take up too much space, a bulletin board and a full-length mirror (for all of your outfit selfies, of course). At the end of the day you’ll have a dorm worth drooling over, and you won’t want to leave!

4. Beauty sleep essentials

Sleep Tee, $22.95

We collegiettes work hard, play hard and sleep hard, and we want to look darn cute doing it.

Our nighttime favorites include silky pajama sets for that Sex and the City-esque, “I’m a sophisticated woman” vibe; feminine boxers, because they’re too cute a style not to borrow from the boys; robes and nighties, which never fail to make us feel sexy (#IWokeUpLikeThis); and of course, classic cotton PJs, when we want to make nighttime nostalgia a thing.

You obviously don’t need all of these options for school, but bring your faves, and stock up on the essentials for back-to-school shopping! When you go on a spontaneous midnight snack run with your friends, and everyone is complimenting your sleepwear, you’ll thank us.

5. Shower essentials

Mesh Shower Caddy, $14.95

Every single summer as we pack for college, still reveling in the glory of our full-size tub or lovely tiled shower at home, we forget what shared bathrooms are like. We don’t have to go into the dirty details, but yeah, dirty is a good descriptor.

This year, we’re pledging to finally remember our shower flip-flops, bathroom caddies, thick towels, hair turbans and washcloth sets. Because getting athlete’s foot is not our idea of a fun college souvenir.

6. Sporty looks

Seamless Bralette, $22.95-$24.95 (or special 2/$35)

The sporty chic look is in this season, and you can rock it with the Seamless Bralette by PINK or their newest skinny sweat: the Gym Pant.

So that you don’t look just fit, but also fashionable, pack some or all of these pieces for your college closet: sports bras, spandex shorts or crops, leggings, yoga pants, breathable shirts, sporty hoodies, bright bralettes, cute baseball tees, and eye-catching colored sneakers. You’ll be ready to rock the look that all collegiettes are lusting after!

Gym Pant, $44.95-$49.95

Better start making that list and checking it twice, collegiettes, because fall semester is getting close!

The world lost one of its great comedic actors on Monday when Robin Williams passed away at the age of 63 from an apparent suicide. Sources close to him say he struggled with depression and addiction for most of his life.

Most college students will remember Williams for his iconic roles as the exuberant and endearing Genie in Aladdin, the inspirational and eloquent Professor Keating in Dead Poets Society, the wise and passionate Dr. Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting and the lovable and hilarious title character in Mrs. Doubtfire, among many other roles.

Robin Williams and his comedic genius were hallmarks of our childhood, and though his passing leaves us utterly heartbroken, it also gives us a chance to remember his greatest works and to celebrate the life of a spectacularly talented and beautiful performer.

1. Good Will Hunting: "It's not your fault"

In one of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history, Robin Williams' Dr. Sean Maguire finally breaks through to the troubled but brilliant Will Hunting by repeatedly telling him that it's not his fault. This is one of the most moving scenes in film and we tear up every single time. Pass the tissues, please.

2. Dead Poets Society: O Captain! My Captain!

Professor Keating in Dead Poets Society is arguably one of Robin Williams's most beloved roles, and for good reason. This scene at the end of the film when Keating's former students stand on their desks to quote Walt Whitman and salute their teacher as he leaves the premises is epic, moving and an appropriate tribute to such an amazing actor.

3. Mrs. Doubtfire: The lemon meringue mask

This scene in which Robin Williams has to smash a cake into his face to maintain his identity as Mrs. Doubtfire is funny no matter how old you are, and the voice he makes when he says "Oh, hello!" is actually just about the most hilarious thing we've ever heard (and something we try to replicate on a daily basis, tbh). 

4. Aladdin: Genie in a bottle

Our collegiette generation first fell in love with Robin Williams as Genie, the charismatic and endlessly entertaining scene-stealer of Disney's Aladdin. Williams's incredible vocal talents and unparalleled knack for impressions made the iconic "Friend Like Me" song one of the most enjoyable Disney numbers to hear (and one of our personal favorites).

5. Good Will Hunting: "He stole my line"

It's rumored that Robin Williams completely improvised this line at the end of the film as a response to Will's note, which read, "I had to go see about a girl." This film proved that Williams had what it takes to be a comedic actor in a serious role, and this off-the-cuff line is the perfect tone on which to end the film.

6. Jumanji: The jungle man-child

Robin Williams's role as Alan Parrish (the man stuck inside the board game Jumanji for 26 years) may be one of his more family-friendly roles, but it's still an amazing example of Williams's ability to blend drama and comedy (and even romance) together flawlessly, all while keeping us infinitely entertained and invested in his character.

7. Flubber: The mad scientist

We can't even remember how many times we watched this as a kid, and Robin Williams's amazing physical comedy is something we appreciate even more now that we're older. This scene will never get old, and Flubber will continue to be one of Williams' most underrated films.

8. Mrs. Doubtfire: Coolest Dad Award

If this movie is ever on TV, you can bet that collegiettes everywhere will be watching. This scene from the beginning of the film when Daniel throws a chaotic completely amazing birthday party for his son and dances on the table to "Jump Around" by House of Pain was the scene that made us wish Robin Williams was our dad. I mean, look at those dance moves!

9. Hook: Peter Pan lives

When Robin Williams starred as grown-up Peter Pan in this 1990s remake of the classic fairytale, we had no idea we would fall so in love with this movie (Okay, so that wasn't until years later, but still). This scene in particular gets us every time: one of the Lost Boys, Pockets, touches Peter's face and finally realizes that he is, in fact, Peter Pan returned to Neverland. We felt the excitement all the way on the other side of the screen!

10. Dead Poets Society: "What will your verse be?"

We end our tribute with what is arguably the most poignant scene Robin Williams ever filmed. As Professor Keating, Williams is telling his English class about the magic of words, his own speech becoming something powerful and poetic as he declares, "The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

Rest in peace, Robin Williams, and thank you for your contribution of such an incredibly beautiful verse.

If you or someone you know is suffering, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. It's okay to ask for help.

Chatting with your new college roommate for the first time can sometimes be, well… awkward. You may try to play it cool as you make small talk about dorm decorations and majors, but chances are you’re putting a lot more thought into that convo then you’d ever let on. Inspired by the College Humor gem “Yo, Let’s Text For a While And Then Maybe Hook Up,” Her Campus presents to you our take on the first interaction you may have with your new roomie.

Roommates are the best: they’re our friends and our confidants, and sometimes, they’re basically our significant others. When you’re so close to your roommate that the two of you may as well be dating, that’s when you know it’s real. She’s more than just a person you share your room and your fridge with; she’s your better half and the best part of having to inhabit a crappy college dorm room. We think it’s time to pay homage to the beautiful love that only roommates can understand. Here are a few signs that you two are soul mates.

1. Privacy isn’t really a concern

You and your roommate have a VERY open door policy (that includes the bathroom and all). There is literally no such thing as privacy in your relationship, because you already know every detail about each other’s lives, and it’s highly possible that pretty soon you’ll begin functioning as one human being. So be free, be yourself and be creepily close to your roommate on the verge of stalker status, because you guys are in love and that’s the way it should be.

2. You have a telepathic connection

Who needs words when you can say everything you need to with just a look? Whether it’s judging “that girl” at the party, acknowledging that super hot guy at Starbucks or having a full-fledged conversation via facial expressions that causes outsiders to question your sanity, you and your roommate can just look at each other and know what the other is thinking. You’re connected on a whole different level, and it’s actually almost concerning how fluent you two are in your own silent language. 

3. You’re constantly aware of what the other is doing

You aren’t the type of roommates who sit at home wondering where the other is when one’s at the library all day. No, you’re the type of roommates who keep tabs on each other at all times, and if one of you falls off the grid, it’s time to call the search party and make sure she’s okay. Nothing says I love you like an “SOS are you alive?!” text from the roomie. Plus, you both like to update each other on every little thing that’s happening during your day, because your roommate shouldn’t have to wait to find out about the duck family you saw on your way to class.  

4. A night in together can be better than any night out

The two of you out together are a force to be reckoned with. But the two of you alone together for a girls’ night in is downright dangerous. Break out the wine, open up Netflix and get ready for some serious bonding, cuddling and laughing—it’s going to be a night to remember. There’s no need to worry about FOMO when you’ve get the most fun person at the party sitting right next to you.

5. Other people have noticed

So what if everyone has noticed that you and your roommate basically make the perfect couple? Everyone is fully aware that you two are a package deal, and while you know that your two-for-one special is the best thing that’s ever happened to the world, others may question your relationship. Let them be jealous! People should start taking notes, because not even Jay Z and Beyoncé have anything on the two of you.

6. You act like an old married couple

Sometimes you do sweet things for each other, like make each other dinner. Other times you fight about who needs to clean the hair out of the shower drain because you could swear you did it last time. But most of all, you act like you’ve been together for decades because your relationship goes far deeper than a year or so living together. So even when you do fight, it always blows over immediately after. That is, until the next time the drain needs to be cleaned out, because even the perfect roommate can cause some pet peeves.

7. You really don’t need anyone but each other

Sure, your other friends are cool, but at the end of the day, all you really need is each other. Let’s just face it: the two of you are inseparable, and the world would be a little darker of a place if you were only neighbors or classmates. Maybe your relationship is unconventional and borderline crazy, but you’re too busy being besties to care! You don’t need anyone else—just each other, a comfy couch, a pint of ice cream and two spoons.

It's that time of year when you start to put away your maxi dresses and bikinis and think about leather boots and cozy sweaters - collegiettes, it's time to pack for college. Whether you toss your stuff in the car and drive a couple hours or you have to fly across the country, every collegiette faces the struggle of packing her life up again during the summer in preparation for fall semester. 

1. At first, you have so much time. You're way ahead of the game.

2. In fact, you have so much time that you make a list of everything you're going to pack.

3. This is easy - you've already packed all of your underwear.

4. Oh, wait - you need that dress for a party next week.

5. Suddenly, your room has become a mountain range of clothes.

6. Everything was organized...

7. ...until you had to find something to wear to the last event of the summer and you unpacked everything again.

8. You thought you had enough suitcases and boxes...

9. ...until you thought about your shoes.

10. And before you know it, it's the night before you leave.

11. And all you can bring yourself to do is watch Netflix.

12. Has anyone ever faced this much adversity?

13. Suddenly, everything you own has expanded to twice its size.

14. You can't shut any of your suitcases...

15. ...and it doesn't even matter how you pack your stuff anymore. Put the bras with the dress shirts - we don't care.

16. Is your stuff breaking while you pack it?

17. Of course, all your friends have been done for weeks.

18. And wait - you were supposed to leave 20 minutes ago.

19. There, you're finally done! Except, oh, wait - did you really forget to pack your pillow and comforter?

20. You throw everything in the car, casting away your lists to the wind...

21. ...and you beg your mom to send you everything you forgot as soon as you get there.

Don't forget to start your packing early this summer, collegiettes! Before you know it, it'll be time to load the car and head off to school. 

The start of fall semester always comes with the excitement of moving in to your new place—minus the actual moving in part. Whether your school is down the road or across the country from your house, the hassle of trucking your stuff around has hardly gotten easier since freshman year: 50 pounds of luggage doesn’t feel any lighter, your pile of stuff hasn’t gotten any smaller, and you still haven’t figured out that Undetectable Extension Charm. We know you’re frustrated, and our nerdy Harry Potter references probably aren’t helping. But don’t drop out just yet—first try Her Campus’s recipe for making move-in day as painless as possible.

Be ready.

Good things may come to those who wait, but an easy trip to your first day back at college isn’t one of them. If there’s anything you know you can do before move-in day to prepare, get it out of the way now. Go through the stuff you threw in your basement when you moved out last spring; throwing out and replacing old or broken items and amenities now will save you the hassle of hauling them all the way to campus and hunting for necessities there. Forward your home mail to your campus mailbox, and make sure any textbooks you ordered online arrive at the right place depending on their delivery dates. Preparing well now will save you time and space—both of which you should worry about in physics class, not your new apartment or dorm.

Pack right.

“Be super light with packing,” advises Annie Robinson from North Toronto Collegiate Institute. “If you don’t need it, don’t pack it. Be ruthless with whatever you don’t need.” The easiest way to make sure you don’t over- (or under-) pack is to write a list of everything you truly need before you get started—and be honest with yourself! It’s okay to pack the classic essentials and your newest back-to-school fashion finds, but as a general rule, avoid packing anything perishable, messy, or easily replaceable. Harper Yi from at The College of William & Mary moves by the principle, “Just buy it when you get there.” There are exceptions, says Harper, but only the well-justified ones fly, like specific items you can’t get at school: “I only pack Asian food that is easy to find where I live [at home] since there are tons of Asian grocers back home, but none near my campus,” she says. Check out OneBag.com for additional tips on how not to set foot on campus with loads of luggage Elle Woods-style.

Keeping your bags light is a start, but “professional” packers know to pack strategically, too. Tempted to throw all your stuff into your suitcase and deal with the inevitable wrinkles in your favorite top later? Resist the temptation and instead use those critical thinking skills you keep chatting about in cover letters to streamline the move-in process.“I packed my clothes on their respective hangers,” says Emmanuel College collegiette Hyanna Cardoso. “It took me less than an hour to move into my dorm. I just removed them from my closet [at home], folded them in half, place them in a box (in order of my closet) and voilà”

Get help.

Take advantage of the resources around you. One tried and true option is to rent a U-Haul, but an even easier answer might be right in front of you. Many schools offer services to help students with move-in day, like storage space and golf carts (or attractive members of the football team). Look for off-campus resources, too; Katherine Mirani from Northwestern University found a particularly convenient program while shopping for the start of the school year: “I used this Bed Bath & Beyond program where you can pick out the stuff you want at a store in your hometown/city, then pick up the stuff at the store closest to your school. It worked out really well and saved me a ton of shipping issues.”

Even if you’re working solo, there’s no need to bear all the weight.“I always used a moving dolly to haul around my stuff,” says UNC-Chapel Hill graduate Michelle Lewis. “It makes [moving in] a lot easier than carrying everything.”

Dress the part.

Just when we were starting to daydream of the perfect move-in, Harper snaps us out of it with more of her sensibility. She makes a point to “not try to look cute on move-in day. You’ll be carrying stuff in, probably in the August heat, and if you try to impress everyone with how cute you look on move-in day, you will inevitably have makeup running down your face and sweat-soaked clothes.” Well, that daydream turned into a nightmare. A better approach, says Harper, would be to “wear sensible clothes, get your stuff moved in, take a shower, change, and then get ready to mingle.” That doesn’t mean you have to dress like Yoda—just adopt the same attitude you would while studying: choose something comfortable and functional that still looks cute enough to wear around campus on your first day back.

Make space.

Space Jam isn’t just the movie we miss most from the 90’s; it’s also what we call an unfortunate side effect of poor planning and a move-in malfunction. To avoid claustrophobia and a scene from Hoarders, try the following tips for making the most of your tiny dorm or apartment.

• Either before you leave home or once you get to campus, check out local convenience stores or specialty shops like the Container Store for neat space-savers and stackable crates.
• Loft your bed for extra storage or desk space underneath. Ask your RA or the residential life office to provide the necessary tools.
• Invest in products like the Space Bag, which sucks up all the air surrounding your clothes and reduces the space they hog in your closet.
• Consolidate your items. Useful tech gadgets like surge protectors, for instance, can save you time you’d otherwise spend untangling wires and searching for outlets.
• Be creative. As Harper advises,“Maximize zero space. Your rain boots? You can stuff socks into them. Your shoe boxes? Put some camisoles in them. This saves space and trips down to your car when you move in.”

Settle in.

The exhaustion that follows a hard day’s work may tempt you to throw up your hands in frustration with your first-world problems and retire early for the day. But trust us—the time to get settled and make your space livable is now, while you’re in the move-in mode and you still have the time. Use organization methods like color coordination to keep your stuff straight, and label your boxes and drawers to save yourself prep time in the morning, especially for the first few weeks while you get used to your new place. And have fun! Each new school year brings another chance to decorate the walls with your personality. Annie suggests Dormify.com for “interior design must-haves and advice.”

Our six tips are sure to make your first day back less of a hassle so you can get your real school year started sooner. So stop dreading move-in day. Follow our recipe on how to make your first day back easier and we guarantee you’ll like the way you move.

By now you may have started working on that seemingly never-ending checklist for college. You got your bed risers, your mini fridge and your own personal fan—everything to perfect your new dorm room. But there’s still more to do to prepare for school in the fall, and you won’t have to run to Bed Bath & Beyond for these finishing touches. There are several smartphone apps that will help ease your transition to college life, whether you need help with academics, time management, exercise or budgeting!

We talked to several collegiettes and got their feedback on the best apps for college students. Here are our seven faves!

1. iStudiez Pro

As excited as you probably are for dorm life, the dining hall and hangouts on the quad, there’s another important side to college life: academics. Luckily, iStudiez Pro can help ease your transition into college courses and help you manage your time. iStudiez, which was named the Best College Student App in 2011, helps you organize your class schedule and plan out your days. iStudiez Pro is $2.99 on the Apple App Store, but there’s also a free lite version if you want to try it out before you buy.

Morgan Hegarty, a junior at the University of Oregon, says that iStudiez is the app she relies on the most. “It organizes my calendar and my upcoming exams and assignments in a really easy-to-read way,” she says. Not only does the app help you keep track of your schedule (which can be tricky to remember for the first few weeks of school!), but it also organizes it in a very visually appealing way and syncs to all your iOS and Mac devices. An easy fix for anyone’s time-management problems!

2. Eventbrite

Now that you’ve got your academics all organized, it’s time to have some fun! Eventbrite is an app that helps you discover popular local events and see what your friends are up to. You can browse events (like trivia nights, festivals, cooking classes and everything in between) and get tickets with a click of a button by entering your email address (and your credit card info if there’s a price for the ticket). The tickets are automatically saved to the app with a bar code, so when you show up to your event, all you have to do is flash your phone! The Eventbrite app is free on the App Store and Google Play, and it also has a website so you can browse events on your computer.

3. Mint

Since you’re officially a college student now, you can also consider yourself officially broke. Okay, maybe not broke, but you should always be budgeting your finances and making sure you’re not overspending now that you have a bit more freedom!

Mint is a great app that helps you keep track of your money. It’s an easy-to-read app that links to all your bank accounts and gives you updates on how much you’ve been spending. It also lets you know what you’ve been spending your money on by organizing your expenses into categories (You may be surprised by how much you dish out on Starbucks after using the app for a while). You don’t even have to count the app in your new college budget, as it’sfree on the App Store and Google Play!

4. Evernote

The Notes app on your iPhone can only do so much, so thank goodness Evernotehttps://evernote.comis another option! To put it simply, Evernote is the most advanced note-taking, list-making time-management app yet. It might sound complicated, but we promise it’s super user-friendly!

Evernote allows you to create lists, take snapshots, record audio and set reminders all in one place and across all your devices. “It organizes all your notes and you can access it on your laptop, phone and iPad with the same login,” says Eliza Lavine, a sophomore at the George Washington University. “Plus, it’s easy to send [notes to your friends] or record lectures!” The best part? It’s free from the iTunes Store and Google Play!

5. 7 Minute Workout Challenge

With classes, clubs and whatever else you may be involved in this fall, it might be a little tricky to fit in a workout every day. This app helps you fit in short but effective exercises anytime, anywhere.

The 7 Minute Workout Challenge app is a compilation of quick exercises that can be performed in seven minutes that actually achieves the equivalent of a longer workout. The best part is that they’re simple moves that are easy to learn and easy to do anywhere, even in your dorm room! You can get the app for$1.99 on the App Store.

6. Google Drive

If you haven’t already familiarized yourself with Google Drive (docs, spreadsheets, the works), then get ready to! Google Drive makes it easy to share content with others by keeping all of your work in one place online and letting others access it when you grant them permission to do so. It especially comes in handy during group projects, as all members of your group can work on one presentation or document at once from their own computers and phones. The app is available through the App Store and Google Play.

Iris Goldsztajn, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles, says she loves this app. “If you have ideas for a paper or project, you can jot them down on your phone and have your notes directly on your computer or [on a library computer]!” she says. It makes for easy access anywhere by anyone.

7. Studious

Easily distracted? Addicted to texting? Studious, which is available for Android devices, may be the perfect app to help you direct your attention to your professor rather than your phone. You can input your class schedule and the app will silence your phone during those times. In addition to quieting your phone, Studious can also remind you when your homework assignments are due and when your tests are scheduled. You can also save notes from class on the app!

Who knew you could prepare for school on your smartphone? If you’re at all nervous for the transition to college, these apps will definitely help you ease into it and manage your time in the best way!

When it comes to transitions and new experiences, your late teens and early twenties have all the other decades beat. Think about it—most college students see their living situation change every time a summer break or a new academic year comes around. For many collegiettes, the first and biggest of these transitions takes place in an on-campus residence hall, complete with a random roommate, an 8x10 dorm room and a resident advisor.

Eventually, though, it’ll be time to leave all the fun and frustration of dorm life behind for a new life off campus. You’ll replace the cafeteria’s Chicken Finger Wednesday with your own personal Starving Grocery Shopping Thursday, and you’ll swap out your RA for a landlord. The transition from life on campus to life in an apartment or house is a pretty big one in its own right—luckily, Her Campus has you covered with the ten most important things to keep in mind when you decide to venture off campus.

1. Living with Landlords - Know Your Rights and Document Everything

While living on campus, you rarely deal directly with the people who own your space. This, of course, will change when you move off campus. From the moment you sign your lease to the day you turn in your key, make sure you know how to interact and communicate with the landlord who’s leasing his or her property to you.

From the very beginning, make sure you’re documenting everything you possibly can. Any verbal agreements with your landlord need to be in writing as well, says Allison Lantero, a Boston College graduate who took her landlord to small claims court and won.

Allison and her roommates decided to take their landlord to court after their security deposit was only partially returned, with no detailed receipt and no bank statement for a $1,200 damages charge. They won the case, but Lantero says it would’ve been easier if every stipulation of their lease had been in writing—some agreementswere made over the phone and couldn’t be documented in court.

“If it’s not in writing within the legal document of the lease, it’s not enforceable,” says Kendal McDevitt, former coordinator for the Office of Off-Campus Community Relations at Appalachian State University. For any agreements that are not written into the physical copy of the lease, McDevitt recommends writing them in, and having each roommate as well as the rental company initial the changes. “First, go through the apartment and document the condition of rooms and appliances. Some apartment complexes provide handouts for this. If not, take a blank sheet of paper in with you and write down damage of anything you see. Second, take pictures of the apartment in its original condition. Keep a copy of the pictures yourself and submit a copy to the rental company,” McDevitt says.

Still confused about your rights as a renter? “Have a lawyer look over the lease for you,” says Chelsea McLeod, a recent grad of Rhodes College.

2. Start thinking like your mom

No, this doesn’t mean you have to start worrying about yourself(and calling yourself multiple times every day). But your mom did handle the ins and outs of your childhood home for at least eighteen years, so it might not be a bad idea to tap into her superpowers.

First, put some thought into your surroundings. Remember how your mom hauled dozens of plastic tubs down from the attic so she could redecorate the house for each holiday season? It may seem tedious, but little touches go a long way toward making a house feel like a home. So if you’re allowed to paint the walls of your rental or apartment complex, paint them! If your living room furniture is mismatched, go online and learn how to make fun covers for couches and chairs. If you’re artistic, buy wooden initials - they’re cheap at stores like Michael’s and A.C. Moore - and paint them for your room. Just make sure you clear any big changes with the roomies.

Second, remember that it’s now your job to keep your home stocked and supplied. Collegiettes who were asked about items they forgot to pack mentioned paper towels, vacuum cleaners, floor mops, toilet paper, brooms, tool kits, toilet plungers, pasta strainers, and bathroom mats. Add these items to your list, and sit down with your roommates to brainstorm other basics you may be missing. 

And don’t forget to pack beyond the basics as well.“I noticed what separated other people’s apartments from mine from feeling like home is everyone else had a much more decorated place with candles, posters, and plants,” says Jessica Len, former Her Campus Campus Correspondent at UC Davis.

In addition to year-round decorations, other collegiettes  suggest getting into seasonal decorating. Cut and decorate a Christmas tree with your roommates or make a spring wreath for your door. Do whatever you can to make your new place one you’ll want to remember.

3. Learn to grocery shop and learn to cook some simple staples  

One drastic difference between dorm life and apartment life revolves around one of the things college students love most: food. While living on campus, you’ll typically have a meal plan that grants you access to cafeteria meals, no cooking or grocery shopping required. Off campus, unless you feel like trekking to campus every time you feel like a snack, it’s likely a little bit different. Before you move into your apartment, make sure you’ve discussed the food situation with your parents—namely, who’s paying for what—and make a trial grocery store run while they’re still in town.

It also helps to learn a few simple meals before moving into your apartment, so that after a long day, or after your Julia Child masterpiece burns/collapses/explodes, you can whip something up quickly. If you’ve never cooked before, ask a parent or a family friend to show you how to bake chicken or boil rice. If you know the basics but need new ideas, add a new cookbook to your Kindle. There are dozens of cookbooks tailored to college students in all sorts of living situations, or check out some of HC’s recipe ideas here, and here. 

4. Learn some simple cleaning fixes

You may have been cleaning your room for your whole life, and maybe you even Swiffered your dorm room once or twice, but cleaning an entire apartment is a whole different story. Before you find yourself knee-deep in dust and dirty dishes, make sure you have a cleaning schedule for yourself. You can clean your bedroom on Saturdays and your bathroom on Tuesdays—it doesn’t matter, just make sure you know what needs to be done and when you need to do it.

It’ll also save time (and take some pressure off your wallet) tolearn a few simple home-cleaning fixes—this is another area where asking for Mom’s know-how comes in handy. Instead of buying expensive cleaners, clean countertops, refrigerator shelves and other surfaces with white distilled vinegar. Dilute it with water, about one quarter cup of vinegar to every gallon of water. And instead of using up expensive paper towels to clean your windows, pick up a stack of free campus newspapers - the newsprint will remove smudges without leaving any streaks.

5. Stay plugged in to your campus

When you were living in the dorms, it probably wasn’t hard to feel like a part of the action on your campus. After all, it’s literally where you slept and worked and ate. After moving away and embracing the off-campus lifestyle, though, you may feel a little detached from the undergraduate community at your college or university. For Appalachian State University grad Jordyn Coats, whose studio apartment isn’t in her university town, keeping up with extracurricular activities has been the key to staying involved. “I play roller derby with some amazing women at least every other day,” she says, referencing the year-old competitive roller derby team she founded. Whatever your niche is, from intramural sports to knitting club, don’t drop it because the meetings are no longer quite as close by. If you’re only on campus when it’s time for class, you won’t feel as connected to or invested in it.
 
Even if all doesn’t go as planned, make every effort to get to know yourself better during your first off-campus experience. If you’re working too much to pay your rent and not using half of your apartment’s fancy features, find a less expensive place next time. If your roommates are always studying but you’d rather be loud, seek out friends and roommates who feel the same way. As a collegiette, it’s the perfect time to learn what works for you. Soak up all the knowledge you can from your off campus living experience, and make the next one even better.