You’ve probably been back-to-school shopping for years by now, so you know the drill – new pencils, backpack, notebooks, the works. But here’s a hint: school-supply shopping for college is a bit different than it was for high school. You may not find a need for a pencil case or an accordion folder, but instead, you’ll find yourself in a pickle when you’re missing a flash drive or laptop case, not to mention all those dorm decorations you didn’t need until now!

There are numerous things you’ll need to gather up before it’s time to head to college, and, luckily for you, we’ve got your guide! Here are seven supplies collegiettes recommend bringing to college that you may have never needed for high school.

1. An external hard drive/flash drive

Getting your hands on a personal computer for college is one thing, but getting all the accessories and add-ons is a whole other process. Tori Kay, a sophomore TV/radio production major at Ithaca College, couldn’t live without an external hard drive. While you may have gotten by in high school with just your laptop’s memory, your classes may have you working on (and saving) numerous assignments on your computer. This is especially true if you have a major with projects that take up a lot of digital memory (like graphic design, film or computer science); You’re going to want to think about investing in more space – namely, an external hard drive.

Even if your work won’t take up much room on your computer, definitely think about getting a small flash drive. You may have to get a PowerPoint presentation from point A to point B (i.e., your laptop to the classroom’s desktop computer), and a flash drive will certainly come in handy then! Depending on your major, classes and workload, you’ll need a certain size. Check out Amazon for some great options, from small flash drives to external hard drives with loads of space for your upcoming projects!

2. Basic craft supplies

In some ways, college can be a little like elementary school. No, you probably won’t be fighting over crayons, and yes, you should be able to spell by now, but there are plenty of opportunities for crafting!

Iris Goldsztajn, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles, says craft supplies were the number one thing on her collegiette shopping list. “I love crafting, and living in a dorm wasn't about to stop me,” she says. “I brought things like ribbon, stickers, construction paper, washi tape, small paint tubes and brushes and more.”

Try washi-taping your phone and computer chargers, creating a photo collage or making your own magnet board out of cookie sheets! Crafting can be a great way to bond with your roomie and spruce up your dorm room.

3. Home office supplies

Most pre-collegiettes who are headed off to college have no problem remembering the big things (minifridge, check; twin XL duvet, check; tons and tons of Easy Mac, check), but struggle when they end up in their rooms without the basic supplies that were always readily available at home. We don’t always think about the items that we’re used to sharing with our parents and siblings, such as office supplies, so make sure you add those to your list!

Katherine Varga, a junior at the University of Rochester, recommends bringing everyday office supplies like a stapler, rolls of tape and paper clips. “In high school, I took those things for granted,” she says. “But when I moved out of my house, I needed to get my own to keep in my dorm!”

Think about stocking up on some simple supplies like scissors, Sharpies and printer paper to keep at your desk. You’ll thank yourself later!

4. A printer

Depending on your school, you may have to invest in a printer to keep in your dorm room. Some schools have printers available 24/7, some have limited access and others may just leave you on your own. Either way, chances are you’ll need to print hard copies of multiple assignments at some point, and you don’t want to be left high and dry.

Zöe Renauer, a senior at University of California, Berkeley, agrees that while a printer isn’t always necessary, it will definitely make your life easier. “I didn't have my own in high school and wasn't sure if I should bring one to college, but when you're pulling that all-nighter, you'll be so happy you don't have to run to a copy shop or the library before class!” she says.

Depending on your classes and how much printing you’ll be doing, your needs will vary. If you’re looking for something simple, consider one of the HP DeskJet printers. If you want printing, scanning, faxing, the works, take a look at the all-in-one wireless Canon PIXMA.

5. A whiteboard

Another thing that Zöe found handy when she arrived to campus was a whiteboard. While you may have never needed one in high school, you may be surprised at how helpful they can be in college. “It's such a nice way to organize your thoughts for an essay or do practice problems for a math class,” Zöe says.

There are tons of different sizes, variations and uses for whiteboards. You can plan out assignments like Zöe, map out a calendar or even simply write down your class schedule! While your high school schedule was probably pretty easy to keep track of, it’s a bit different in college. Having a whiteboard to keep a schedule and write down notes on can come in handy when you have a lot on your mind. It’s a great tool to reuse over and over again for different purposes. Check out this handy whiteboard calendar from PBteen for $19!

6. Dorm décor essentials

You most likely never had to buy wall decals in high school, but now that you’ll be living in a dorm, these are the things you’ll have to think about! Dorm décor is a nice way to liven up your otherwise bland room at the beginning of the year. Aside from the obvious bedding, toiletries and storage containers, you’ll have to remember to check a few other things off your list!

Corkboards, desk lamps and Christmas lights can do wonders to spruce up an empty room. And don’t forget those little details like picture frames, fridge magnets and Command hooks for hanging! Mirrors can help make your room seem bigger, complimentary color schemes will really make it pop and memorabilia like old photos can make your new dorm feel like home.

7. High-end headphones

If you’ve never had a roommate before, you’re in for a learning experience! Sharing a room or suite can be a ton of fun and allows for strong friendships to be built. However, you do have to be more conscious about some of your everyday habits, many of them having to do with noise, now that you’re living with others.

A good pair of headphones is a necessity for more than just walking to class or hitting the gym. They can come in handy for late-night Netflix marathons and pump-up homework music. Let’s hope that your roomie is packing some, too!

If you’re looking for some simple earbuds, head to Amazon! Opting for full-on noise-canceling headphones? Check these out!

Gone are the days of filling the shopping cart with pencil sharpeners and kitten-covered folders! This year, you’ll be heading to Bed Bath & Beyond to cover your school shopping list. Make sure to add these seven essentials to your shopping cart, and you’ll be covered!

When it comes to the undergraduate experience, nothing says “college” quite like tailgates, a rowdy student section and a closet full of school merchandise. But even without a Division I football team, a college with a proud student body and plenty of spirit to go around can still qualify as #obsessed! 

10. AMHERST COLLEGE (Amherst, Massachusetts)

Freshman year can be an adjustment period, so when 98 percent of freshmen return for their sophomore year, you know a school is doing something right. That’s the statistic for Amherst College’s retention rate given by a recent study by U.S. News & World Report, which is the highest rate of any liberal arts school in the country.

It’s clear that students are proud to go to Amherst, and not just for typical reasons. “School spirit goes beyond athletics,” says Erin, a junior. “Everyone is excited to support each other… because most of the time your friends are the ones competing or performing.” Amherst is living proof that sometimes the most spirited schools have a quieter sense of pride that manifests in the close relationship between students. As one collegiette tells Her Campus, said, “No matter what your major is or how you spend your spare time, at the end of the day, WE ALL BLEED PURPLE!” Now that’s camaraderie!

9. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE (Santa Paula, California)

With fewer than 400 students enrolled, Thomas Aquinas still managed to score the #1 spot as the college or university with the highest average percentage of alumni who donate to the school in a 2013 U.S. News & World Report ranking: a seriously impressive 63.7 percent. Why so loved by alumni? “I believe Thomas Aquinas alumni are generous with their donations because so many of us feel that the school was generous to us while we were students,” says Fiona, a recent graduate of the college. “Alumni see that the school is one-of-a-kind in that its curriculum is built around the development of the whole person rather than a career-focused curriculum.”

Having a holistic curriculum and personalized experiences definitely matters when considering whether to donate to your alma mater, but we bet that the liberal arts college’s picturesque location in the valleys of California is a major source of pride as well (come on, it can’t hurt!). Either way, alumni are super spirited and inspired to give back to their school!

8. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (Princeton, New Jersey)

When you’re an Ivy League powerhouse, having a large endowment pretty much comes with the territory. Even among the Ivies, however, some stand out among the rest. Princeton has an endowment of $1,857,040 per student, making the Ivy number one for endowment per student in the country. Why? People LOVE Princeton, even after they’ve graduated!

So where does all this money come from? For one, it comes from the incredibly active alumni who donated over $58 million to Princeton in the 2013-2014 season. But the generous alumni of Princeton aren’t just donating money; they’re also getting involved, says Audrey, a sophomore. “When I think about school spirit at Princeton, I think about how our students and alumni are constantly planning events to celebrate [the university].” It’s clear that Princeton grads love their alma mater, and with good reason! “Students at Princeton get excited for all events,” says Catherine, a junior, “whether it be sports, arts, random activities, etcetera.” Sounds like the kind of place we’d want to give back to, too!

7. BARNARD COLLEGE (New York, NY)

School spirit isn’t the first thing most people think of when they think of a women’s college (images of football games tend to come to mind instead), but Barnard has got it in spades! The college is only a step away from Columbia University, but many students feel that Barnard has more school spirit than its Ivy League neighbor due to more intimate size and more liberal-arts feel. Students at Barnard are benefitting from the college’s attempts to amp up alumni giving by encouraging school spirit on campus; the efforts include events like Spirit Day, a day to celebrate Barnard (and also doughnuts, BBQs and Build-a-Bears). This basically sounds like the best day ever, so we can only assume that Spirit Days are a huge success.

As one collegiette tells Her Campus, the spirit definitely isn’t centered around athletics. “I definitely wouldn’t say [Barnard] is most known for its team spirit,” remarked one contributor, “but it does have school spirit! We are really united and proud to be Columbia/Barnard students.” Two times the student body sounds like two times the fun (and spirit)!

6. BOSTON COLLEGE (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts)

We couldn’t talk about BC without mentioning the awesome athletics, especially the hockey, basketball and football teams (but why choose?). Just as amazing as the teams? The fans! “Even if our teams don't always do well,” one collegiette tells Her Campus, “having a unified school and an enthusiastic group of fans makes the losses easier and the wins even sweeter.”

While most people know about BC’s amazing athletics, the college has plenty of other activities that garner just as much student support. “We have the ALC Showdown,” explains Ingrid, a junior at BC, “which is a dance battle/competition with all of our teams on campus. In the weeks leading up to the Showdown, the different teams will break into impromptu routines in dining halls or quads, which is really cool and gets people psyched for the event!” Looks like BC has plenty of spirit to go around, on and off the field!

5. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY (Provo, Utah)

Brigham Young University students have a reputation for being, well, happy! Alumni have been raving about BYU for years, but a ranking from The Daily Beast came out last year listing the college as the seventh happiest college in the country (and tied for the best overall student experience), meaning that there’s some serious school spirit to be found on this campus.

School spirit is bolstered by things like the institution’s religious focus, the stellar freshman retention rate and the general kindness with which students treat one another, according to Deseret News. "BYU has great school spirit because we share values and we always try to be honest and treat others with love," says Isaac, a rising senior.

Clearly, BYU students are happy (and love BYU), and they’ve provided the world with proof in this adorable music video of students lip-synching and dancing to Pharrell’s hit single. At such a spirited school, how can you not be ecstatic all the time?

4. DUKE UNIVERSITY (Durham, North Carolina)

If you follow college sports at all, then you’re probably familiar with the powerhouse that is the Duke University Blue Devils team. Known for having amazing athletics and equally amazing academics, Dukies are crazy proud to be where they are, especially the athletes. “There’s a lot of pride in wearing the Duke uniform,” says Karly, a sophomore and a member of the track and field team. “The athletes not only represent top-tier athletics, but also rigorous academics, and that’s something we hold in high esteem.”

Even for the non-athletes at Duke, school spirit is part and parcel of the college experience. “Have you ever heard about the Cameron Crazies?” asks Elodie, a junior, referring to the ultra-dedicated sports fans who flood Cameron Indoor Stadium during basketball games. “We really couldn’t get more obnoxious if we tried!” she says. “The nights leading up to a game, we tent outside and then we cram body-to-body inside just to watch the games.” Now that’s dedication, especially considering the fact that basketball is a winter sport…

If that image makes you a bit claustrophobic, fear not! There are plenty of other ways Duke students show their school spirit. For example, one student at Duke University wore a piece of Duke apparel every single day of the academic year. That is dedication, friends (and a seriously well-stocked campus apparel section, if we do say so ourselves)!

3. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (Columbus, Ohio)

If Duke is bonkers about basketball, Ohio State University is fanatical about football! This large state school is home to a fiercely competitive athletic department and even more fiercely devoted fans. The overwhelming school spirit and pride in athletics brings over 40,000 students together with a common focus, creating a sense of camaraderie among students. “I can definitely say that OSU sports aren’t just an obsession; they’re a way of life,” says Kelsey, a junior.

Not a huge sports fan? You will be soon enough! “During football season,” Kelsey explains, “the social life at OSU basically revolves around the games, and school spirit is not an option!” Spirit is especially out of this world at the final game of the season against the University of Michigan Wolverines, Ohio’s rival team. With such undeniable (and inescapable!) school spirit, it’s no wonder the Buckeyes clocked in at number three on our list! We can practically hear them chanting and cheering from here!

2. THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Now that we’ve mentioned Ohio State, it only makes sense to mention its biggest football rival: the University of Michigan. When it comes to crazy school spirit, the Wolverines’s spot on this list is well deserved. “At the crack of dawn,” says Rebecca, a junior at UMich, “students wake up sporting head-to-toe maize and blue and get ready to head to the Big House, the largest football stadium in the country.” A huge part of the football culture at Michigan is the famous fight song, “Hail to the Victors,” arguably the most recognizable song in college football. Every student memorizes it before even stepping on campus (We have to admit: it is pretty epic).

While Michigan’s rivalry with Ohio State definitely fuels school spirit on campus, it’s not the only reason why Wolverines are such a spirited bunch. As Rebecca points out, “From academics to athletics, the pride people have at the University of Michigan is ever-present and stays with students long after they graduate.” Go Blue!

1. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

And finally, after reviewing nine of the most #obsessed colleges and universities in the country, the title of the most spirited college goes to… the University of Alabama! Why, you might ask? Well, we obviously have to mention the football team that has become one of the most well-known and best-loved teams in the nation, as well as the insanely spirited fans that make UA games such a spectacle. “We have some of the biggest and best tailgates for every football game,” says Connor, a junior. ‘It’s crazy to see how much Alabama gear people are wearing.”

If Michigan has the most recognizable fight song, ‘Bama definitely takes the cake for best, shall we say, “battle cry.” With a stadium that seats over 100,000, it’s no wonder “Roll Tide” pride is off the charts. Connor concludes, “The quote, ‘At some places they play football. At Alabama, we live it,’ sums up our school pretty well.” We couldn’t agree more!

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

Whether they’re in the classroom, on the playing field or promoting feminism, collegiettes at these 10 colleges are making positive changes in the world. Inspired by Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal and author of #GIRLBOSS, we came up with a list of schools where girls are empowered, supported and really smart!

10. MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE (South Hadley, Massachusetts)

In the realms of alumnae success, academics and feminism, Mount Holyoke College excels. MoHo’s amazing gender studies program in particular contributes to the environment it fosters, where girls can (and do!) change the world. This school had a powerhouse of inspiring female graduates, such as Emily Dickinson; the college’s current president, Lynn Pasquerella; and the founder and CEO of Care.com, Sheila Lirio Marcelo.

“Mount Holyoke harbors a strong sense of women empowerment,” writes a collegiette in HC’s Complete College Guide. “It prides itself in the diversity of the student body, which includes not only just women from around the world, but also a population of LGBTQ young students.” No wonder this inclusive community has so many powerful women!

“I think Mount Holyoke is a place filled with girl power because it is a community filled with the brightest independent women that are willing to take on any role and any challenge,” says Leen, a senior at Mount Holyoke. “Mount Holyoke girls inspire each other to be better and do better. It is also a great place to be a woman because you are constantly surrounded by supportive women who encourage you to be yourself and speak and act freely.”

With their amazing academic program and inclusive community, Mount Holyoke College is a place that supports and inspires its women!

9. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles, California)

The weather’s certainly not the only amazing part of this school. Whether these girls are participating in “Take Back the Night,”, an annual vigil to raise awareness for victims of sexual violence, or doing fellowships at the Center for Feminist Research, the busy women of USC are committed to making their campus—and the world—better for women. To support the killer female athletes at the school, USC is among the top 25 schools in the country that spend the most on their female athletes, coming in at a whopping $140,176 per athlete.

“I’ve found that USC is an extraordinarily open and accepting community,” says Kelly, a senior. “There are also plenty of events promoting sex positivity, feminism and inspirational women speakers. But if anything, it's the whole community of positive and forward-thinking students that makes USC.” This school is ready for a world where men and women are equal!

8. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

If you’re looking for an inspiring group of women in Washington, D.C., look no further than American University’s Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, which began the “Why YOU Need Feminism” campaign at American University. The women (and men) of American University came up with amazing statements, such as, “I need feminism because my ambition shouldn’t be a turn-off,” and, “I need feminism because I want to wear a dress… while being the one who wears the pants.”

American also has an amazing Feminist Art History Conference that celebrates a wide variety of disciplines and topics related to feminism and art history.

“With so many girls on campus, there is a great sense of girl power!” says Claire, a senior at American. “So many undergraduates are involved with a cause that moves them and are active in their communities. It’s great to go to school in such a feminist community.”

At American, female ambition is ingrained into the culture!

7. VASSAR COLLEGE (Poughkeepsie, New York)

This college isn’t all female anymore (it became coed in 1969), but its support of its women has stayed just as strong ever since Vassar College demonstrates a long commitment to excellence in the study of gender and female leadership. According to Synonym.com, Vassar College has one of the best undergraduate women’s studies programs in the country—students in the program “tailor their own course of study with guidance from a program adviser.” Vassar is a school extremely focused on gender equality.

“Vassar began as an all-women's college, and going coed never changed its commitment to empowering women,” says Rachel, a ‘96 grad. “Today, Vassar students work hard and play hard. They honor creativity and fierce authenticity, no matter who it's coming from. Plus, we have one of the coolest women's studies programs around.”

What’s more important than creativity and authenticity? Queen Bey, Sheryl Sandberg and Hillary Clinton would all be feelin’ that.

6. THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

With a great program for female entrepreneurs and an increasing feminist presence on campus, George Washington University is an awesome place to be a woman. Whether you want to join the Feminist Student Union or intern with an organization that supports women, you can find your feminist place at GW.

“I think [GW is] a good place to be a girl because there are so many ways to get involved in women's organizations off campus,” said Kaly, a sophomore at the school. “I have friends interning with EMILY's List or NARAL Pro-Choice America. But we also have sororities that focus on being involved in the community.” No matter how these ladies want to make a difference, GW (and D.C.) offer amazing resources for girls with ambition.

In a 2013 article in The GW Hatchet titled “Why We Need Feminism at GW,”, Sarah Blugis, then a sophomore, wrote about the steps GW should take in the future and the steps it’s already taken.

“The University has a very active Feminist Student Union, a female Student Association President and many progressive, tuned-in students dedicated to bettering the welfare of women,” Sarah wrote. “Additionally, GW has recently reformed its sexual assault policy, giving survivors an unlimited time to report crimes.”

Even the school administration has taken steps to give women a stronger voice in the community—this school knows a little something about girl power!

5. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY (Berkeley, California)

Whether you want to be a computer programmer, a professional basketball player or both, UC Berkeley will support you to do whatever you want to do. If you’re an ambitious pre-frosh interested in coding at Berkeley, you can do CS KickStart, a one-week program (that’s totally free!) targeted to girls interested in computer science.

In addition, UC Berkeley invests the fifth-highest amount of money in the country in its female athletes. Paying $200,224 per woman, according to Kaarme, Berkeley proves girls run the athletic world, too! Move over, boys.

“UC Berkeley is a place filled with a lot of girl power because it’s a place that allows females to express themselves without the fear of being judged,” says Monica, a junior. “There are currently more women then men attending the university, which empowers females even more to achieve their dreams and projects.”

If you’re interested in gender equality at Berkeley, the resources available to students are amazing. The Gender Equity Resource Center at Berkeley offers programs for students on self-defense, sexual harassment and gender identity. No wonder women at Berkeley are such great students, athletes and activists!

4. FRANKLIN W. OLIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Needham, Massachusetts)

Collegiettes at Olin are interested in building bridges, making machines and studying how the world works. Olin College of Engineering aims, according to its website, to “graduate engineering innovators who will be leaders in solving the pressing global challenges of today and tomorrow.” In 2011, the school offered an additional $180,000 for women’s undergraduate research courtesy of the Clare Boothe Luce Program of New York’s Henry Luce Foundation, Inc., according to Boston Business Journal.

“It is inspiring to be surrounded not only by such intelligent, talented and passionate people, but to have so many of them be women,” says Chelsea, a senior. “Olin is also pretty open to and aware of discussions surrounding the gender gap in STEM fields, because the administration strives so hard for gender equality in our own population.” Olin is bursting from the seams with girl power—what an incredible circuit (no pun intended) of people!

3. HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE (Claremont, California)

If you dream of becoming Facebook’s next big programmer or a stellar electrical engineer, check out Harvey Mudd College! While many colleges still see a lack of women in their STEM fields, Harvey Mudd actively empowers women to choose these majors. Named one of the top 10 colleges for women in STEM fields by BestCollegesOnline.com, Harvey Mudd College continues to make great progress in getting women into engineering and the sciences. According to U.S. News & World Report, under the leadership of school president Maria Klawe, 40 percent of computer science majors (compared to only 10 percent five years ago) are now women.

Klawe, the first female president of Harvey Mudd and a celebrated mathematician and computer scientist, has been a driving force behind the positive changes for women on campus for the past eight years. She brings female students to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Computing of Women and has separated computer science classes by level of programming experience to make people with a lack of prior knowledge about programming feel less intimidated, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“Harvey Mudd is a great place to be a woman in STEM because we are surrounded by amazing female role models,” says Sarah, a sophomore at Harvey Mudd.

2. WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (New Wilmington, Pennsylvania)

You might think that the best colleges for butt-kicking women in STEM fields would be in Silicon Valley or tech hubs like Austin, Texas. But look no further than rural New Wilmington, PA—the home of Westminster College. According to Forbes, 36 percent of Westminster College graduates in 2008 were STEM majors, and more of them were women then men—a rarity in the world of undergraduate education. The math and computer science department is 50 percent female, according to Westminster statistics.

“The academics at Westminster are fantastic. They are by no means easy, and regardless of major, you are well prepared for life after college,” says a former student on Niche. “The professors allow you to build rapport with them, and they actually care. Within my four years here, my department has become like a family.” Girls here go to class with pride and ambition!

At Westminster, girls can rock computer science classes and not be labeled as geeks for loving math (anything but!). That’s the kind of girl power we love!

1. BARNARD COLLEGE (New York City, New York)

Who run the world? Barnard girls! This women’s college in New York City is overflowing with powerful women. The president of Barnard, Debora Spar, wrote Wonder Women: Sex, Power, and the Quest for Perfection, which, according to The Huffington Post, “calls on all women to ‘kill the myths’ that make them feel inadequate.”

A collegiette featured in HC’s Complete College Guide explains why she chose Barnard: “I applied to Barnard because I wanted a place where women worked well as both individuals and as part of a larger community that did include males,” she says. “It felt like the best of both worlds, a way to foster education and ideas produced by women while not unrealistically separating ourselves from men.”

Barnard supports women in all of their endeavors. The college ranked among the best colleges for women athletes according to CollegeXpress. The school also hosted a Wikipedia “edit-a-thon,” which aimed to add more important women to the site as part of the Rewriting Wikipedia Project. Overall, Barnard consistently demonstrates a commitment to making the world a more empowering and inspiring place for women.

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

Every college has some social outliers, but at these unique schools, alternative is mainstream and mainstream is practically nonexistent! These hippie havens promote student-designed majors, growing their own organic food, social responsibility and environmental sustainability. These schools’ laid-back, nature-loving students are all about peace, love and being as counterculture as possible. Here is our list of the top 10 hippiest, most free-spirited colleges in the country!

10. SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE (Bronxville, New York)

Considering that Sarah Lawrence’s unofficial school slogan is, “You are different. So are we,” it comes as no surprise that Yoko Ono’s alma mater attracts some quirky individuals (and scored a spot on the Princeton Review’s best colleges for hippies). The school was famously known for its Coming Out Dance, originally created to celebrate sexual diversity, which was canceled in 2005 after students partied a little too hard.

 “Everything about Sarah Lawrence is unusual because students make that their goal every morning when they get out of bed,” says Anna, a student at Sarah Lawrence. “I will always remember the night last April 20th when I walked to main campus to get a late-night snack and saw people running around naked.” Enough said!

9. HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE (Amherst, Massachusetts)

Hampshire College, one of five colleges in the western Massachusetts consortium, is “made up entirely of those strange kids you knew in high school,” according to Rachel, a student at the college.  

The school’s educational philosophy eschews letter grades and majors, giving students the freedom to design their own academic path and participate in plenty of, um, extracurriculars (let’s just say that April 20 is a widely celebrated holiday at Hampshire). In fact, the legendary yearly Hampshire Halloween celebration, which is big enough to close down campus, is fondly known as “Trip or Treat.”

As if Hampshire needed further hippie cred, the school’s radio station even broadcasts out of a yurt in the middle of a wooded area. Groovy, man!

8. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY (Berkeley, California)

Not only is Berkeley one of the most prestigious public universities in the U.S., but it was also a center of student activism and social change in the 1960s and ‘70s. Today, the school still boasts a liberal, free-spirited population committed to changing the world one protest at a time.

“Protests are a part of daily life, you can buy local … produce from the student-run Berkeley Student Food Collective and many students live in giant co-op houses that feature student artwork painted on every available surface,” says Zoë, a senior at Berkeley. “Whether you're a barefooted hippie or the frattiest frat boy, it's assumed here that you're politically progressive, concerned with ecological sustainability and are interested in the world around you.”

Berkeley’s location in the San Francisco Bay Area gives students the opportunity to soak up an abundance of arts and culture. The peace-loving environment draws old-age and new-age hippies alike (which may have something to do with Berkeley being named one of the top pot-smoking cities in America.

7. OBERLIN COLLEGE (Oberlin, Ohio)

Northern Ohio probably isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a hippie haven, but Oberlin College is as liberal and left-leaning as they come. According to one student, “If you’re a liberal, artsy, indie loner who likes to throw around the phrase ‘heteronormative white privilege,’ then Oberlin might be the place for you.”

Known for its competitive Conservatory of Music, Oberlin boasts challenging academics and a nonconformist student body.  “I've never heard a student talk about learning for the sake of a job later or making money,” says Leigh, a freshman at Oberlin. “Most people want to ‘change the world.’”

On another hippie note, Oberlin is committed to environmental sustainability, whether it’s by offering sustainability-themed student housing or serving locally grown products in the dining halls. The school even has a bike co-op on campus so that students can rent bikes for the semester and learn how to fix their own. Nothing screams hippie like eschewing gas-guzzling cars in lieu of fresh-air transportation!

6. THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE (Olympia, Washington)

Located between two of the most liberal cities in the country, Seattle and Portland, Evergreen State’s geographically diverse campus offers both forests and beaches, making it the ideal school for outdoorsy students. Instead of grades, academic progress is determined by professor evaluations, and students have the option to design their own major, whether it’s botany, theater or outdoor leadership and education.

Evergreen State is also home to the Flaming Eggplant Café, a student-run café that focuses on providing affordable, local organic food options to students, such as tempeh, falafel and magic kombucha.

“If you want to study something specific, I would recommend going to a different sort of college,” says Eli, a student at Evergreen State. “But if you are looking to find yourself without all the hassle of backpacking around Europe, then by all means come to this bizarre campus.”

Who needs a semester abroad to find your inner hippie when you can just spend a semester at Evergreen State?  

5. NORTHLAND COLLEGE (Ashland, Wisconsin)

Northland, called “the environmental liberal arts college,” is the epitome of a small, artsy college – we’re talking just under 600 students total! Needless to say, students here get to know one another pretty well over the four years they spend in Ashland (a city known for its sizeable hippie population). The typical student is described as being a friendly, “environmentalist tree-hugger” with a penchant for activism and outdoor activities. In fact, life at Northland begins with a required Outdoor Orientation trip, in which first-year students participate in five- to 12-day adventures in the Wisconsin wilderness. Trip options include kayaking, sailing, camping, canoeing and astronomy-themed backpacking. Sign us up!

4. WARREN WILSON COLLEGE (Swannanoa, North Carolina)

If there’s one thing students at Warren Wilson care about, it’s sustainability. The school, which was named one of the top 10 greenest colleges in America by Popular Mechanics, supplies students with food from its own organic garden, uses hybrid cars, has a cafeteria compost program and uses sustainable farming practices (the campus is home to 300 acres of farmland). The most popular majors include English/creative writing and, of course, environmental science, for all of the nature lovers who call Warren Wilson home. Students love participating in activities such as yoga, poetry readings and community service.

As if that wasn’t enough, downtown Asheville, known as the hippie capital of the south, is only a 15-minute bus ride from campus, giving students the opportunity to check out the city’s farmer’s markets, live music scene and even a weekly drum circle.

3. LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE (Portland, Oregon)

Lewis & Clark College is a modern-day hippie’s dream come true; what else would you expect from a college located right outside the city where Portlandia is set and filmed? The college boasts a popular College Outdoors program, which gives adventurous students the opportunity to participate in activities like hiking, backpacking and kayaking in Oregon, California and Washington. Students believe in promoting community-supported agriculture and are described as being “very concerned about living healthy and sustainable lifestyles.”

Off campus, students can explore all that nearby Portland (ranked one of the 17 best U.S. cities for hippies!) has to offer, from vegan cafés to obscure indie-rock concerts.

2. BARD COLLEGE (Annandale-on-Hudson, New York)

This small school in upstate New York, known for its strong liberal arts focus, is a haven for hippies, hipsters and other “eccentric intellectuals.” One student describes the typical Bard coed as a “radical hyper-intellectual philosopher/artist who is too hip for his/her own good, and can frequently be found dragging on cigarettes in ironic T-shirts and skin-tight jeans, discussing Hegel with their equally hip friends.”

Between the school’s location “out in the middle of the woods” and the politically active, socially conscious students, it’s no wonder Bard took the number two spot on The Princeton Review’s list of best colleges for “Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians.” Mainstream students need not apply!

1. BENNINGTON COLLEGE (Bennington, Vermont)

Ever wished that grades in college could be optional? At Bennington, they actually are. The school’s curriculum allows students to explore their interests without restrictions or annoying core classes (because academic requirements are so not groovy). Named the number-one college on the Princeton Review’s list of best schools for “Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians”, Bennington draws an assortment of nature-loving, free-spirited students to its campus in the farmland and woods of southern Vermont.

“Exotic hair colors, face paint, dreadlocks, piercings, homemade clothes or no clothes at all are fairly common sights,” says Bennington student Emma, who also cites didgeridoo-building, poetry readings, tree-climbing and interpretive dance as typical extracurricular activities.

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

If you’re looking for (or you want to become!) a gladiator in a white suit, these 10 schools are definitely your best bet. With these schools’ awesome political science programs and their students’ ability to spin anything, we don’t need the experts in the Oval Office to tell us that the colleges on this list are chock-full of Olivia Popes in the making. So don’t worry, because when there’s a problem facing these collegiettes, it’s handled.

10. AMHERST COLLEGE (Amherst, Masschusetts)

We have a feeling Olivia Pope could convince us Ryan Gosling isn’t hot and Twilight is still our favorite book, she’s that convincing—and Amherst students are definitely Pope-level persuasive. Not only did CollegeXpress call Amherst one of the best colleges for speech and debate in the U.S., but get this: The students are such good speakers they actually changed the formal rules of American parliamentary debate. In other words, they could definitely tackle tricky press conferences and annoying journalists à la Olivia.

Also, their poli sci program is highly regarded, and you're probably familiar with one of the school’s more famous political alumni—President Calvin Coolidge. However, he’s great and all, but Fitz is definitely a sexier prez. Sorry, Cal.

With all that, we’re not surprised that The Princeton Review found that Amherst has some of the most politically active students in America. Olivia is definitely involved in politics… some might say a little too involved (like Fitz’s wife, Mellie).

9. THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

University of Pennsylvania students have to know how to hold it all together, as Newsweek deemed them the second most stressful school in the nation in 2012. Managing stress is something Olivia is intimately familiar with; A normal person who’s had to fix the number of problems she's confronted would definitely have had a mental breakdown by now (or several). Luckily, her red wine and popcorn seem to help her keep her stress in check.

“Penn is a very competitive place, so everyone is very driven and has to grow a thick skin academically,” Hannah, a UPenn junior, says.

UPenn's excellent political science department encompasses 11 different programs — impressive! The university also has an extremely active women's center, so these Popes-in-training will have no trouble staying empowered.

Add ambition and politics, stir in some political leanings and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a horde of Olivia Popes.

8. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (Princeton, New Jersey)

Olivia Pope's background is shrouded in mystery, but we do know she received a degree in political science from Princeton. So it's no surprise that Princeton's Department of Politics has a 99 out of 100 rating on FindTheBest’s list of schools with degrees in poli sci and government. Political science is the one of the most popular majors at Princeton, which tells us lots of women are following Ms. Pope’s path. According to the Politics department’s website, the graduate school let women enroll “long before co-education in the undergraduate field became an irresistible demand.” Thank you for recognizing how kick-butt women (like Livy!) can be, Princeton!

Although we don’t know which on-campus organizations Olivia would have joined, we’d bet good money on the Alexander Hamilton Society, which promotes “constructive debate on basic principles and contemporary issues in foreign, economic and national security policy.” She may have also joined Running Start, which aims to “inspire young women to get involved in politics and leadership.” She could have also joined Debate Panel… or the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society… or the College Republicans… okay, there are a lot of clubs Ms. Pope could’ve joined.

We have no doubt she would have kicked butt up and down Princeton’s prestigious halls, controlling any and all campus scandals.

7. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

After Olivia Pope graduated from Princeton, she went to Georgetown Law. In fact, the only reason Olivia agreed to those weekly dinners with her dad? He was paying for her law school tuition. So was it worth it?

“Not unlike our entire student body at Georgetown, women here are driven, motivated and passionate,” one collegiette told Her Campus. “One of the most popular clubs on campus in Georgetown University Women in Leadership.”

Lacey, a senior says that Georgetown students “in general are extremely driven, and many are passionate about becoming involved in politics, including female students. I would say that interest even goes beyond just serving in the government, but also being active agents of change in the system for a variety of issues.” Sounds like a white-hat-wearers to us!

According to the school’s website, 23 Georgetown professors have been U.S. Supreme Court clerks. Okay, so does everyone at Georgetown wear a white hat, or what?! So we can see why Olivia suffered through some seriously painfully awkward dinners with her dad so she could go there.

6. BARNARD COLLEGE (New York City, New York)

The students of this women’s college have a reputation for being ambitious and confident. In fact, one of the past application supplements was, “Tell us about a time when you majored in unafraid.” Sheryl Sandberg of Lean In fame was Barnard's commencement speaker in 2011, and the school counts famous political movers and shakers such as Margaret Mead among its alumnae. But lest you think it's a woman-eat-woman world, don't worry — just as Olivia Pope takes care of her own, this college's attendees are fiercely protective and loving of one another.

“The nurturing, creative and empowered spirit of the community is so visible and constantly moves me,” one Barnard collegiette told Her Campus.

Olivia’s office may not always be nurturing, but the gladiators aren’t just a team: They’re a family. Just like Barnard’s campus.

5. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles, California)

Students at USC run their own on-campus public relations firm, TriSight Communications. The firm is so legit, its clients include the British Consulate-General of Los Angeles and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. We all know how important "spin" is to Scandal’s lead star, so USC is definitely Olivia Pope & Associates-friendly! USC also has the Strategic Communication and Public Relations Center that, according to the department, "plays a leading role in the continuing evolution and expansion of the public relations profession." We’d call that a game-changer. We can see why Education Portal ranked USC the best school in America for public relations, and we have a feeling Olivia would agree. Too bad she can’t call USC students the next time she has a lot on her plate and would rather angry-kiss Fitz than fix another problem!

Emily, a freshman at USC, says, “I meet women like Olivia Pope all the time on USC’s campus. They're super focused, super dedicated and they definitely know good PR—especially when it comes to publicizing frat parties or football games!”

Come graduation, USC students put theory into practice. According to LinkedIn, more than 14,000 USC alumni currently work in media and communication. We think we hear the sound of Olivia Pope raising her glass of red wine in approval.

4. BOSTON UNIVERSITY (Boston, Massachusetts)

Before Olivia Pope was ever a household name, there was Judy Smith, the inspiration for Pope’s character, who was a special assistant to George H.W. Bush and is currently the CEO of the crisis management firm Smith & Company. Smith attended Boston University and received a Bachelor of Science in public relations.

But Smith isn't BU's only insanely powerful alumna working in politics and public relations. Joan Schneider, Carol Cone and Alana Feld Hackel are all media and PR heavyweights who also got diplomas in PR from the school.

With three separate student-run communications agencies— Adlab, PR Lab and Hothouse Productions — we’re not surprised BU produces so many excellent communicators (cough, fixers, cough).

“I think BU does a fantastic job of encouraging women to be strong and independent,” says sophomore Amy Alexander. “Women are encouraged to take leadership roles in clubs and organizations. They are also encouraged to participate in any interests they may have and are never confined to stereotypical female activities.”

We wouldn’t call Olivia stereotypical—more like mold-breaking and barrier-busting. Sounds like BU women are the same way!

3. STANFORD UNIVERSITY (Stanford, California)

Olivia Pope is primarily a fixer of reputations (namely, Fitz’s shaky rep), and the students at Stanford know a whole lot about keeping theirs spotless — according to Times Higher Education, the university has the third best reputation in the world after Harvard and MIT.

While most schools are lucky to have just one political magazine, Stanford boasts two highly regarded publications — one for each side of the political spectrum, obviously.

“I know so many of my friends [from school] watch Scandal because they’re inspired by Olivia Pope,” says Hannah, a junior at Stanford. “A bunch of them are actually interning on Capitol Hill right now!”

And the political participation doesn't end once students receive their diplomas. Sandra Day O'Connor, Dianne Feinstein and Susan Rice all graduated from Stanford and have gone on to have stellar careers in the U.S. Supreme Court and the Senate.

2. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

Students at American University are definitely wearing the proverbial "white hats" Olivia is always talking about. BestCollegesOnline.com picked them as one of the most socially conscious campuses nationwide, and American was also Princeton Review’s Most Politically Active School in 2010. In addition, 59 out of the 288 clubs on campus are related to politics, social justice or student governance, and a large number of its students intern with politicians. So, where do we sign up to intern for Fitz?

“It’s really politically active,” one collegiette told Her Campus. “Clubs bring in really cool speakers, like Bill Clinton.”

Colleen, a senior at American, agrees. “We definitely have a lot of people interested in political communication, and I know the show has mentioned our school a couple of times, too!” she says.

When they take over the White House (which is just a few miles away), these Pope-esque students will be well prepared. Not to mention, Judy Smith got her law degree at American!

1. THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

It's almost like GWU was designed to churn out future Olivia Popes! For starters, it's a little more than half a mile away from Olivia’s stomping ground, the White House, so graduates can go straight from their dorm to the Oval Office (once they secure maximum clearance, obviously). Alumni include Mitt Romney’s campaign manager, Barack Obama’s campaign speechwriting director and NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd. Counted among the faculty are former ambassadors, CNN correspondents and associate justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. Furthermore, the political science program and political communications major are some of the highest-ranked in the country.

“Everyone thinks they’re going to be in office someday — or working with someone who is,” says Kaly, a sophomore at GWU. Seeing as Olivia works closely with the president, Kaly’s fellow students could definitely be in Olivia’s stilettos someday.

Plus, Kerry Washington is an alumna of GWU and actually gave a commencement speech to graduating students in 2013, calling them the heroes of their own stories. Stories in no small part inspired by her and her kick-a** on-screen persona!

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

Whip out your calculators, collegiettes, because it’s time to rank the nerdiest colleges in America! From their huge RPGs (Role-Playing Games, obvi) and award-winning robot clubs to intense study-a-thons and prestigious engineering degrees, the students at these schools strike the perfect balance between (geeky) work and play. We love them all the more for it! We have no doubt that someday, they’ll be running the world—while simultaneously crushing it in Legend of Zelda, of course.

10. NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA (Sarasota, Florida)

Ahh, dodgeball: the sport (slash form of torture) that struck fear into the hearts of every knock-kneed nerd in middle school. According to The Princeton Review, the New College of Florida is such a “dodgeball targets” college, it’s the nerdiest in the nation. Students love to challenge each other to chess matches on the school’s whimsical giant chessboard. They also go to “Bowling Balls,” dressy events held at the school’s bowling alley (yes, the school truly does have its own bowling alley!).

“We say LET YOUR NERD FLAG FLY!” once cheered the school’s Facebook page. “Finish this sentence: You know you’re a nerd when…” Students and alumni eagerly chimed in, leaving answers such as, “you cheer for Fulbright and Rhodes Scholars but pay no attention to NFL picks!” and “You announce a research project to your friends and they offer to join you!”

Between the school spirit, fun traditions and kooky attendees, we’d say this nerdy school is a haven for those who hold calculus, computers, crunching numbers and coding near and dear to their hearts.

9. WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (Worcester, Massachusetts)

At Worcester Polytechnic, nerdiness is an inherent part of the school’s culture and traditions. Its student handbook is called the Tech Bible, and their fight song is heavy on the math references: “E-I, Radical, Pi, Fight 'em, Fight 'em, WPI!” What’s more, an impressive 13 of WPI’s clubs are devoted to science, technology and gaming, including the Science Fiction Society, the Society for Medieval Arts and Sciences and 15 different engineering-oriented clubs, such as Society of Fire Protection Engineers. The inevitable question remains: what mascot can perfectly embody this eccentric and awesome culture? A goat named Gompei, of course!

8.HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE (Claremont, California)

Grads from this California college are nerdy, and it works for them. We mean that literally: in 2010, a PayScale study found that Harvey Mudd alums have the best mid-career salaries post-graduation in the U.S. (In case you’re wondering, that’s $126,000). How are they hustlin’? The most popular jobs are software engineer, project engineer, aerospace engineer, electrical engineer and mechanical engineer. These students definitely like to keep things consistent.

However, they’re also pretty creative — in a nerdy way, of course. In 2010, students collaborated to build a Rube Goldberg machine, a purposely over-complex device that performs a simple task, like a chain reaction. Their creation spanned eight dorms!

Harvey Mudd’s clubs are delightfully off-the-wall as well. There’s a Nintendo Entertainment System Techmo Super Bowl Club for Students of Harvey Mudd College, endearingly nicknamed NESTSBCSHMC, and the 38-year-old Gonzo Unicycle Madness Club. So if you want to be an extremely well paid, elaborate-device-constructing, video-game-playing, unicycle-riding engineer… we’ve found the school for you.

7. BROWN UNIVERSITY (Providence, Rhode Island)

Brown students have a reputation for being some of the most intellectual of all the Ivy Leaguers—a group that’s obviously already pretty intellectual. “What I like about Brown is that learning transcends the classroom and becomes part of daily conversation with friends and classmates,” says John, a junior. “Everyone is passionate about learning.”

In October 2013, Brown and Wikipedia organized a Wikipedia “Edit-a-thon”; for five and a half hours, participants worked on the Wiki pages of female leaders in the science and technology fields. Plus, the school has a Disney a capella group, and you don’t know nerdy until you’ve seen a group of adults yodeling The Little Mermaid’s“Kiss the Girl” in perfect harmony.

Lastly, our favorite geek ever, Hermione Granger — okay, Emma Watson, as she goes by in the Muggle World — just graduated from Brown with a degree in English literature. She may be gone, but we have a feeling there are plenty of Hermione types walking around in Brown’s colors:seal brown, cardinal red and white.

6.CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

When Bill Cosby gave his commencement speech at Carnegie Mellon in 2007, he opened with, “Uhhh… Nerds.” What he was lacking in eloquence he made up for in accuracy. For instance, this year CMU held a LAN (Local Area Network) event, which is essentially a huge gaming fest. “Pittsburgh gamers will be welcome to come to CMU’s campus and play their favorite video games!” the event site says. “In the month leading up to the event, online tournaments will be held for League of Legends, StarCraft II and Dota 2. The finals for these will be played live on stage.”

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that John, a former Carnegie Mellon student, says, “Lots of geeks, no question. I knew a lot of hackers, people into the deep web.” Mellon even celebrates Geek Pride Day every year, and can you blame them? These students will one day dominate the world with their smarts and savvy, so they have every reason to be proud!

5. ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Rochester, New York)

Each year in the fall and again in the spring, more than 500 students participate in RIT’s “epic” weeklong Humans vs. Zombies game. According to one student, it’s the community’s favorite pastime! They also love their Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival, which features “interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions and research projects.” Last year’s festival kicked off with the Power Wheels and E-Vehicle Autocross Challenge, a racing competition for electric vehicles. Other highlights included a 3D printer that created customized prosthetics and cyber security presentations. So nerdy — so cool.

Nerdiness is a major source of pride for RIT students, as it should be. In February, when RIT was named the geekiest college in America by ThinkGeek, Ben, an RIT student, wrote, “Honestly, I’m surprised that you’re even having a contest for this. RIT is hands down the nerdiest school in America—if not the world.” We’re not so sure about that, Ben; we’ve found four other colleges that we think are even nerdier. But one thing’s for sure: RIT’s quirky culture definitely earns it a spot in the top five.

4. COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART (New York City, New York)

We’re in awe of Cooper Union’s quirky geniuses. In 2012, they devised a pulley system out of strings, balloons, weights and hooks to send pizza to another group of students who had barricaded themselves inside the Foundation Building (they were protesting a potential tuition spike). Students know they’re nerdy. In fact, they embrace it! Katie Correll, who graduated from Cooper Union with a mechanical engineering degree, competed to be “King of the Nerds” on a TBS reality show of the same name. Unfortunately, she wasn’t crowned as the victor. However, we have no doubt that another CU student could take home the title.

“The engineering school generally attracts nerds,” says Amber, a Unigo user. “Many students spend their entire four years in the library. It's a popular Saturday night activity.” Hey, at least when they’re tired on Sunday mornings, they’ll feel better knowing they wore themselves out by being productive!

3. FRANKLIN W. OLIN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Needham, MA)

Virtually every student at Olin College studies engineering, a notoriously difficult major. They work for their grades; according to the Huffington Post, Olin students are the second most studious in the nation, falling short only of Caltech in Pasadena. When they’re not snuggling with their science textbooks, Oliners enjoy a “rich geek culture.” They love off-beat activities like spelunking, river rafting, Midnight Math (because what else does one do in the dead of night?), fire juggling, trapeze, unicycling and juggling. Some of the most popular choices for downtime? Video games, Dr. Who marathons and Pokémon club. “It’s a small class — only 350 students — and we’re all pretty nerdy,” Evan, a sophomore, says. “Everybody has such unique passions and interests.” With a kick-butt nerd culture like this one, being just plain “normal” sounds like no fun at all!

2. TUFTS UNIVERSITY (Somerville/Medford, Massachusetts)

This is a school that not only cultivates but also actively seeks out nerds; Tuft’s class of 2016 application essay prompt was “Celebrate your nerdy side”, after all. So what did accepted students write about? Their annual grammar party, their intense Harry Potter obsession and how they love “the way Ticonderoga pencils glide across loose leaf paper like an airplane glides through a patch of cumulus clouds.” They have a female science and technology club called the Nerd Girls (go collegiettes!). Plus, their Quidditch team is one of the most beloved and active organizations on campus; it even has its own Twitter. Perhaps most tellingly, Match.com put Tuft’s hometown, Somerville, as the third best city for finding nerds to date. So ready your broomsticks, collegiettes, and fly on over to Tufts to find a nerdy guy or gal to call your own!

1. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

MIT made our 2013 list of Geekiest Schools, so students probably won’t be too shocked to show up on this list as well; still, we couldn’t help but bump MIT up to the #1 spot this year. After all, on their admissions blog, students call the school “a nerd’s paradise” and a place where almost every student instantly recognizes 1024 is a power of two (If you didn’t already know that, don’t worry; neither did we). Each year on Pi Day, MIT lets its successful applicants know they’ve been accepted to the school. And according to Marilee Jones, dean of admissions, when she asked a group of students what they daydreamed about, one of them replied, “We don’t daydream. There’s no reward, so we don’t do it.” To even out the rough edges, MIT actually started offering “Charm School” classes on table manners, what (and what not) to wear and social grace. Essentially, how not to be awkward.

The university also has a storied tradition of “hacks,” meant to showcase the brilliant and creative spirits of its students. One of the most famous hacks took place in 1999, when the Great Dome was transformed into R2-D2. Another notable prank took place in 2012 when students rigged up the outside of the Green Building, home to the MIT Earth and Planetary Sciences department, to display a game of Tetris. Creativity aside, if you’re walking around campus on non-hack days, you’ll want to have a good head for numbers—because that’s how everything is laid out. Every major, class and building has its own unique numeral. What does that all add up to? 2 nerdy 4 words. 

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

Collegiettes study hard… but do they have to only study books? Could they, for instance, study those super hot guys they spy over the top of their textbooks? There’s no harm in closely reading the body language of your eye candy to liven up exam prep, after all. These 10 schools will give you the best study breaks—and the hottest guys—around!

10) BOWDOIN COLLEGE (Brunswick, Maine)

OK, our editor-in-chief’s fiancé went to Bowdoin, so we might be a little biased… Nope, there are still plenty of other reasons why Bowdoin guys score a spot on this list! “What makes the jocks attractive is that there's a lot more to them than their sport,” says Lily*, a junior. “Then there's also the typical outdoorsy New Englander category. I guess in addition to looks, their general nonchalance and quirks [are] what make these guys stand out.” Sophomore Yasmin loves that “the guys at Bowdoin are really easy to get to know and friendly.” With collegiette comments like these singing the praises of Bowdoin guys’ looks and charm, we’re starting to feel like they’ve transplanted the warm southern gentleman into the cold New England north! Lucky us!

9) HOWARD UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

The men of Howard University sure aim to impress! Niche awards them an overall grade of A+ based on their level of attractiveness, friendliness and how willing they are to engage with other students. Senior Kali defines Howard guys as “truly one of a kind. Howard students are always passionate about whatever they are doing. Whether it’s class, studying or partying, everything is serious at Howard.” Known for being one of the best-dressed colleges in the nation, Howard is clearly home to some tasteful hotties. Passionate, well-dressed and unique college guys? Talk about a triple threat!

8) WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)

Wake Forest freshman Annie* is excited for more than just attending classes in those gorgeous brick buildings this fall; on the tour that made her fall in love with Wake, she noticed that the college’s male type is “preppy boys down south,” namely due to the campus man candy’s wardrobe choices and manners. Wouldn’t you love to meet a gentlemanly Wake guy on campus between classes—or better yet, spend an afternoon with one lounging on the school’s romantic wooden swings? We’re feeling a major Nicholas Sparks moment coming on! We can only imagine how relaxing those swings would be, and we’re sure they’re a great way to meet that Campus Cutie from your 9 a,m. business class!

7) BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY (Provo, Utah)

Brigham Young University seems to attract a specific type of student: one who is religious, friendly and (of course) attractive! As student Caitlin told Niche, “BYU students are well known for being uncommonly friendly and inclusive. Although they may look intimidating at first, with their seemingly uniform blond hair and Abercrombie & Fitch clothing, the majority is surprisingly nice.” Nice and cute? Sign us up! If you’re looking for the all-American boy to bring home to your parents, BYU seems like a good place to start!

6) COLGATE UNIVERSITY (Hamilton, New York)

What must it be like to go to a school with the buffest of buff guys? Let’s direct this question to the collegiettes of Colgate University. Ursula, a Colgate student, says, “Literally everyone is in such good shape because it's such an athletic campus. Plus, the guys are almost all really nice.” Well, that sounds promising! Colgate is also known for being a party-friendly university, according to The Daily Beast, so Colgate collegiettes can casually bump into the Campus Cuties of their dreams at Greek get-togethers (of which there are many)—if they haven’t yet spotted them at the gym, that is!

5) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles, California)

Unsurprising for a school located in sunny L.A., USC is one of the ultimate hot spots for hot male man candy. One of its students, Jamie*, says that the guys at the University of Southern California “have all got the laid-back, beach-y vibe. I've never met a bunch of more relaxed fellas!” But these SoCal guys are more than mere beach bums! Business Insider ranked USC in the top 10 for schools that qualify as both hot and smart, meaning these guys are a lot less shallow than the waters they’re treading as they await the next big wave. That guy hangin’ ten seems even more attractive now, huh? When they aren’t on the beach, Jamie adds, the men of USC do in fact put on shirts (sadly); Jamie explains, “Walking around campus, you'll be sure to see all the latest fashion trends on very tan, very toned bodies” (OK, so it’s not so sad after all). We love a guy who can dress to impress, with or without his shirt on!

4) BOSTON COLLEGE (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts)

Boston College boys have preppy little hearts made of gold (and bodies of steel)! Kate*, a junior at Boston College, shares what she calls a “shallow but true” assessment of the typical BC guy: “On a superficial level, guys at BC generally know how to dress well, and it never hurts when the CSOM (business school) boys have to wear suits to class.” Why? Well, let’s just say that BC boys are no slouches in the athletics department (read: they have muscles), and they’ve been known to resemble models in J.Crew catalogues, according to Elise*, a graduate. While junior Sarah* agrees that guys are preppy and fit “the bro stereotype,” she thinks one of the most attractive qualities of BC bros is that they “genuinely care about their school, job, volunteering [and] friends. Everyone is really invested in something.” Junior Alyssa* agrees, adding how BC’s guys set them apart from other colleges’ men: “They are always looking to go on service trips or help others,” she says. “At most places there are more girls who give up their time like that than guys, but at BC it is more even.” So they’re hot on the outside and have even warmer hearts on the inside—is your own heart melting yet?

3) UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER (Boulder, Colorado)

We all have that one friend at UC Boulder who posts incredible Instagrams of breath-taking sunsets from the end of their hike of the day (#HOTD, if you will). With access to the best of the great outdoors, is it any wonder that UC Boulder students are some of the healthiest around? They sure look it! Senior Ethan says, “Everyone is in such good shape from working out and doing things outdoors all of the time that all you will see are tan muscles everywhere you look, and who doesn't like that?” Who, indeed? So, UC Boulder collegiettes, next time you bump into that Campus Cutie you’ve got your eye on, ask him if he wants to go rock-climbing (or do any of the other outdoor activities offered by the Outdoor Program. Who knows? Maybe you’ll steal the show in his next #HOTD!

2) UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (Coral Gables, Florida)

The weather in Miami is hot, but the men of the University of Miami are hotter! "University of Miami guys are the perfect combination of chill and fun,” says Becca, a junior. “They are the frat guys who like to party but will always be willing to help you study for your last final since they got an A in that class.” UMiami’s male population received an A+ grade from Niche, and students say it’s completely warranted. Why? Well, as Becca puts it, “we're in Miami... They're all beautifully tanned & good looking!" Talk about an unfair advantage—they’re shirtless all the time, showing off those beach bods!

1) TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (College Station, Texas)

There are certain things that we expect of Texas: pickup trucks and politeness are at the top of that list! Jessica, a junior, helps confirm that these dreams can come true; she explains, “Before I moved to College Station I had never seen so many pickup trucks in one city, so there’s definitely the country-lovin’, ‘I only own cowboy boots for shoes’...kind of guy.” Senior Jenny adds that politeness is a given (and definitely a plus). “The guys here are by definition southern gentlemen,” she says. “They encompass everything that goes with that term; they are chivalrous, good-looking and altogether good old country men.” So, does this mean these lucky ladies could end up with the protagonist from an old western—a Clint Eastwood clone, perhaps? Sign us up! With a campus that’s less than 50 percent female (47.9 percent to be exact!), collegiettes at Texas A&M have a good chance of snagging a gentlemanly cowboy for themselves. We’re totally envisioning riding off into the sunset right about now…

*Names have been changed.

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

Classes are important and you love your friends, but we all know the real reason you love your campus is its Instagram potential. Whether you’re a Hudson, X-Pro II or Amaro type of girl, we can all admit to snapping a few typical Instas of the most gorgeous parts of our school. But is your school one of the most Instagram-worthy campuses in the country? Check out HC’s list!

10. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

Between the Coker Arboretum, the Old Well and the perfectly kept lawns, UNC-Chapel Hill could give you a full four years worth of Instagrams. On senior day, you can climb up the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower to grab the aerial view, or, if you can’t wait, just snap a pic of the bell tower itself—you’ll join the ranks of the other Tar Heels crazy for their gorgeous campus!

“I think that UNC is so Instagram-worthy because of its old architecture, distinct locations (such as the Old Well and Arboretum), abundance of plants and trees and the general happiness of the student population that can be seen shining from pretty much every student that you pass,” says Morgan, a senior at UNC.

Morgan cites the Old Well, the quads, Wilson Library and The Pit as common Instagram subjects from UNC students. With this gorgeous campus, who isn’t dying to be a Tar Heel?

9. THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (Seattle, Washington)

Can you say “#cherryblossoms?” This campus doesn’t even need a filter—with fountains, gorgeous architecture and, of course, the infamous pink trees that adorn the campus in spring, you’ll have a gold mine of material for Instas and almost unlimited throwbacks (“#tbt to when it wasn’t raining…#Seattle”).

“At University of Washington, you are surrounded by spectacular buildings that look like they could be the set of Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter films, beautiful people with unique personalities reflective of Seattle's quirkiness and breathtaking views of both Lake Washington and Mount Rainier,” says Ben, a senior who has taken summer classes at UW.

We don’t care about the rainy Seattle weather—we’re ready to transfer!

8. THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER (Boulder, Colorado)

Our phone cameras are dying to capture these gorgeous buildings with the Flatiron rock formations in the background. No wonder so many students are so proud to be Buffaloes!

“Our campus is right under the Flatirons and it makes everywhere you turn Instagram-worthy,” says Natalie, a senior. “I chose CU when I was 12 because I visited the campus on a road trip with my parents and fell in love with the mountains. Hiking after class is almost an everyday thing, and it kind of allows you to escape from everyday craziness.”

There’s nothing like looking out your dorm room window to a beautiful mountain range every morning!

7. DUKE UNIVERSITY (Durham, North Carolina)

Whether you’re in the mood to Instagram the Duke University Chapel or the beautiful quads, this school’s Gothic architecture is bound to make any Insta-holic swoon. Could you maybe get a little bit ugly, Duke? Just to make us feel better?

“The Chapel is probably a common sight on Instagram,” says Kamry, a junior. “It stands at the center of the university and makes a great opportunity for a photo op, whether it's surrounded by snow or backlit by the sunrise. And the stained-glass windows are even more beautiful from the inside.

“The Duke Gardens and Cameron Indoor Stadium/Krzyzewskiville also make Duke pretty Instagram-worthy, especially when the weather's nice or there's a basketball game that day,” Kamry adds. They may be good at basketball, but Duke could win the 2014 Insta Championships, too.

6. CORNELL UNIVERSITY (Ithaca, New York)

What initially stands out among Cornell students’ Instagrams is, of course, Ithaca’s gorges. “The most clichéd quote about us is ‘Ithaca is gorges’ because we have a lot of gorges everywhere,” says Torie, a junior at Cornell. “In the summer, people go gorge-jumping and take pictures that look really cool.”

But what makes the Insta-holics stick around after snapping a few too many pictures of their friends gorge-jumping are the cherry blossoms, pink magnolias, fall foliage, clock tower and the on-campus dairy bar, where Cornell makes its own ice cream. We can’t get enough of their Instagrams—even if we’re not down with the snow.   

5. FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE (Lakeland, Florida)

With much of its architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Florida Southern College has a campus with clean, modern architecture that reflects the perfect Florida weather! If you’re lucky enough to visit (or even luckier enough to attend), you’ll love to ‘gram the Water Dome, the gorgeous trees and the white of the buildings against the blue Florida sky!

“If you're a student and you don't have a picture of the Chapel and Water Dome in the day, at night, in the rain or at sunset, I question if you really even go here,” says Bethany, a junior at FSC. With gorgeous architecture and the beautiful lake nearby, it’s amazing that these kids ever go to class!

4. LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE (Portland, Oregon)

If a gingerbread house became cuter, came to life and took in about 2,000 lucky students as its gingerbread people, we would find the situation at hand at Lewis & Clark College. With the mountains, the fall foliage and the most charming set of stairs we’ve ever seen, this college captures everything that is beautiful and rustic in one fell swoop!

“The campus is seriously so beautiful,” writes a sophomore on Niche. We definitely agree!

3. FURMAN UNIVERSITY (Greenville, South Carolina)

Clock tower? Check. Water feature? Check. Lakeside location? Check. Yeah, we’d get married here, too! Furman boasts charming lakeside gardens and beautiful brick architecture, and, seriously, the Clock Tower by the lake gets us every time. We’re ready to transfer.

“Furman is Instagram-worthy because it has a hundred hidden facets that are so beautiful that you want to share them with other people,” says Jasmine, a 2014 graduate. “It’s the little things at FU that make you remember to slow down and enjoy the present.”

Whether you’re drooling over the fall foliage or dying to swim in that beautiful lake, Furman looks like the perfect place to snap an Insta as you enjoy your beautiful walk to class.

2. KENYON COLLEGE (Gambier, Ohio)

Though Kenyon College is small, every part of the campus—from the idyllic Middle Path to the Hogwarts-esque dining hall—is just begging for some Hudson or Valencia. The Gates of Hell, Ascension Hall and even the stray cats of Gambier prove to be frequent subjects for everyone who’s scrolling Insta during econ.

“The Kenyon campus is the perfect storm for photographers,” says Emily, a junior. “You've got these gorgeous Gothic buildings, an unpaved gravel path — Middle Path —that goes from one side of campus to the other and is lined with trees and flowers, and then the actual village of Gambier, which is quaint and filled with white, shingled houses and the occasional Amish horse and buggy. There's literally something worthy of a picture every place you go.

“I love going to Kenyon because even when I’m having a horrible day, I just look around me and automatically say, ‘This place is gorgeous,’ and everything's fine,” Emily says. We don’t mind the cold Ohio winters when there’s such a gorgeous campus surrounding us!

1. THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO (San Diego, California)

Is this college or paradise? This small university boasts stunning white architecture, flowing fountains, lawns more regularly manicured than our fingernails and signature California palm trees. If only we could Instagram the smell of the ocean nearby…

“[USD] has so many Instagram-worthy features: palm trees, fountains, a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean during the sunset,” says Courtney, a 2014 graduate of USD. “But mostly it's because the typical experiences of college become that much more photogenic when they happen in such a surreal setting … we live where you [go on] spring break.”

Basically, we can’t believe this is a place where people actually go to class. Someone needs to pinch these students to wake them up from this fairy tale… oh, wait, it’s real. 

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

With early classes, twin-sized beds and dining-hall food, college can be full of #princessprobs for regal collegiettes. But never fear, we’ve rounded up the colleges and universities that offer luxurious amenities, provide spacious dorms (with enough closet space for your ball gown collection) and boast regal alumni, making every girl feel like royalty. Even princesses have to get an education, and these 10 schools are definitely fit for a princess!

10. BRYN MAWR COLLEGE (Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania)

Being a princess is hard work, and there’s nothing better than returning to your spacious bedroom at the end of a long day and feeling like the queen you are. At Bryn Mawr College, you’ll not only have luxurious dorm rooms, but you’ll also enjoy a pristine and gorgeous campus at this all-female school.

"Whenever I am giving someone directions to a building on campus, they always ask, 'Is it the building that looks like a castle?'" says Allegra, a recent graduate. Indeed, in recent years Bryn Mawr has topped the Princeton Review’s list of schools with “Dorms Like Palaces.”

The administration clearly understands the importance of spacious and luxurious rooms. "Some dorms on campus have fireplaces, others have bay windows, all have character," Allegra says. In fact, it’s not uncommon for students to feel they almost have too much space and not enough to fill it with. That’s a #princessprob we’d like to have!

9. BROWN UNIVERSITY (Providence, Rhode Island)

Brown University is one of those colleges that wouldn’t, at first glance, appear to be particularly princess-like. The Rhode-Island-based university’s hippie reputation is ironic given the positively regal students who have attended the institution, most notably silver screen-starlet and Hollywood royal Emma Watson, who graduated in May 2014. Members of the royal families of Iran, Austria, Jordan and Greece have all attended Brown, as did Lady Gabriella Windsor of Britain and Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark. If American political royalty counts, then it’s also worth mentioning that the son of JFK, John F. Kennedy Jr., also attended the Ivy.

It’s not just the famous alumni that make Brown a college fit for a princess, though. The university was founded in 1764, meaning the pristine grounds and quintessential New England feel are steeped in tradition. “[Take] a quick walk around College Hill and you’ll find architecture spanning several centuries, as old as our country,” says John, a junior. Princesses are well-versed in history as well as grand buildings (they do live in them, after all), so if you’re looking for world-class academics, regal grounds and a shot at having a crown prince in your physics class, Brown might be the place for you.

8. ARCADIA UNIVERSITY (Glenside, Pennsylvania)

If you’re looking for a college that looks just like a castle, then Arcadia University might be the place for you. Often compared to Hogwarts, Arcadia is home to Grey Towers Castle, the most iconic landmark of the university and one of the most regal-looking buildings to ever house an admissions office (or so we think). “You know you’re at Arcadia when you text your friends to tell them, ‘See you at the castle for some wine and cheese!” says Chantel, a collegiette at Arcadia.

While castles and towers are definitely regal, the true sign of royalty is being able to jet set around the world at a moment’s notice; after all, the world is your oyster. Arcadia’s College of Global Studies allows students to travel and study abroad all over the world, providing plenty of opportunities for students to sharpen their international diplomacy skills. “If Grey Towers Castle, complete with ballrooms, a grand staircase and student housing, doesn’t convince you, with Arcadia’s … study abroad program… you can travel anywhere in the world to work and study in a country where real royalty lives,” says Miranda, a sophomore.

If you want to walk by a bona fide castle every day on your way to class and be regaled with stories by your jet-setting friends, Arcadia could be your perfect fit.

7. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS (Paris, France)

Is anything really more opulent than Paris? There’s the Louvre, Versailles and, of course, the American University of Paris. Besides the obvious elegance of the City of Light, AUP has attracted its fair share of gorgeous royals over the years, including Princess Claire of Luxembourg and Grace Kelly’s grandson, the second in line to the throne of Monaco, Andrea Casiraghi. Unfortunately, he was just married last year, crushing the dreams of all of us who envisioned ourselves as the next Grace Kelly.

For royalty a little closer to home, American socialite Olivia Palermo also attended the university (and anyone who has seen her fabulous wedding dress will not dispute that she is royalty). “Actual princes and princesses go to the school,” says Sofia, a student at the university. “But [students] who are not princes or princesses most likely live like them anyway.”

With the glamorous grandeur, impeccable designer fashions and accents to die for that Paris has to offer, it’s no wonder that Sydney, a freshman, feels that “AUP is fit for a modern-day princess because you have everything you could ever want from a city school right at your fingertips!”

6. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (Washington, D.C.)

If there were ever a place to meet your very own Prince Charming (or just a royal bestie), Georgetown is it. Georgetown is world-renowned for the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, which attracts would-be diplomats and international royalty from all over the world (including the dreamy Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark).

Additional royal men from Greece, Denmark, the Netherlands and Jordan also attended Georgetown and undoubtedly rubbed elbows with the bigwigs in U.S. politics. “Georgetown is one of the most internationally oriented universities with amazing international diplomacy opportunities,” says Sara, a senior and a student at the School of Foreign Service.

With such an amazing international diplomacy program, access to (hopefully) eligible royals from all over the world and a front-row seat to the inner workings of American politics, Georgetown would be a great fit for any would-be princess.

5. HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY (High Point, North Carolina)

High Point has definitely ticked all the boxes when it comes to keeping students satisfied and entertained. The university has spent more than $700 million on upgrades such as hot tubs and movie theaters, according to The Epoch Times.

The picturesque campus is often compared to Disney World, and that obviously means that it’s home to princesses galore. “HPU has everything you could ever dream of, from swimming pools, an arcade, high-end living accommodations and beautiful landscaping to a picture-perfect promenade that always plays classical music,” says Sarah, a senior.

If that isn’t quite enough to entice you, HPU also offers a first-class restaurant, a cinema, a putting green, a sports bar and an ice cream truck to satisfy any princess’s sweet tooth. And, of course, no Disney-themed university would be complete without a mini village – the Greek Village, to be exact. With enormous houses for each sorority and fraternity complete with a pool, it looks like dreams really do come true for these collegiette princesses!

4. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY (Princeton, New Jersey)

If you’re looking for a college truly fit for a princess, look no further than Princeton! Besides having the perfect name for princesses-in-training (thank you, A Cinderella Story, for pointing this out), Princeton actually has the palatial amenities to back it up. “Many of the buildings offer rooms with their own bathrooms and showers, which is great,” says Catherine, a junior. “[Princeton] truly does make you feel like you are walking around a castle, kind of like Hogwarts!”

As Audrey, a sophomore, explains, “Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed, I just remember to pause and look up at the buildings that surround me. I’m instantly reminded of how lucky I am to be living on such a regal campus.”

Princeton has graduated some pretty regal alumni, including actual royal Queen Noor of Jordan and a myriad of American royalty, including Michelle Obama and the ever-regal Queen of Eyebrows, Brooke Shields.

3. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

If bigger is better, then the University of Alabama’s opulent and palatial Greek houses take the cake. When your university has almost 35,000 enrolled students, it’s to be expected that everything – including Greek life – is also huge.

So, what exactly can a sorority princess expect at ‘Bama? Well, for starters, an absolutely enormous, jaw-droppingly gorgeous house, like the new Alpha Phi house.

Still not palatial enough for you? How about Gamma Phi Beta’s new 40,000-square-foot (yes, that’s correct) home slated to be finished spring 2015? In addition to being absolutely enormous, the newest sorority house will house 68 women (that’s a lot of princesses) and even feature a study room with a coffee-shop atmosphere. Having spent over $202 million on Greek life over the past decade, Alabama is certainly not opposed to splashing out cash for a college experience opulent enough for any royal.

2. THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS (St Andrews, Scotland)

Our number two pick takes us across the pond to the United Kingdom, and, to be more specific, to the rolling, green hills of Scotland. You knew we had to include the University of St Andrews, seeing as it was where Prince William and Kate Middleton first fell in love, not to mention it has a rich history. “I love the traditions,” one student tells Her Campus. “They signal the end of the academic year and remind you how old this place really is.” Such rich traditions hearken back to days of lords and ladies and inspire a certain regal nostalgia and old-world charm.

Magazines and newspapers have reported that Kate Middleton deliberately chose to go to St. Andrews because she knew Will would be there, but if that’s true, can you really blame her? After all, St Andrews reported a 44 percent increase in applications after announcing that Prince William would be attending the Scottish university. We can’t help but assume that most of those applicants were princess hopefuls, and we don’t blame them one bit!

1. YALE UNIVERSITY (New Haven, Connecticut)

If you’re serious about being a princess, there’s no better choice than Yale University, the Ivy-League pinnacle of prestige and luxury. For starters, Yale actually looks like a castle, especially Harkness Tower, the gorgeous and imposing Gothic tower that has come to symbolize the university.

The buildings are just as beautiful inside as they are on the outside, according to Alison*, a recent graduate of Yale University. “It is fit for a princess because of the castle-like residential dorms (called residential colleges), the Gothic towers and the beautiful dorms,” she says. “There are even two-story [dorms] called princess suites.”

Yes, princess suites. In Welch Hall, there are actually floors reserved for “princess suites”, or female-only, two-floor dorms featuring massive common areas and bedrooms and skylights. It doesn’t get much more regal that that!

If you do manage to be accepted to the prestigious Ivy, you’ll be in royal company. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden studied at Yale briefly in the late 1990s and Hollywood royal Claire Danes attended the university around the same time. If you’re looking for a truly royal experience, Yale is the place for you.

*Name has been changed.

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

If anyone deserves her own superlative, it’s Beyoncé, and these schools exemplify the ***flawlessness of Queen Bey to a T. Whether it’s a killer dance team, a pro-feminism student body or even a class on the pop queen herself that makes the school stand out, these colleges have what it takes to make Miss Sasha Fierce proud. Bow down to the top 10 most Beyoncé colleges in the country!

10. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI (Columbia, Missouri)

The University of Missouri is now offering a course where reading Jay-Z’s autobiography Decoded is part of the curriculum, and you just know Mrs. Carter would be all over this. The class, called “Jay-Z and Kanye West,” gives students the chance to explore the hip-hop stars from different perspectives, such as how they fit within and change the history of pop music and how their rise to celebrity and corporate power alters what we understand as the American dream. So, does this mean that getting tickets to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s “On the Run” tour counts as studying?

“The point [of the course] is to sort of compare their music and writing to more traditional poetry and also look at how they fit into rap music as a whole,” says Nicole, a senior at Mizzou. “I know it always fills up fast, which isn't surprising because I think most people would rather watch Kanye videos than stare at a boring PowerPoint presentation!” Considering the fact that these hip-hop stars are Beyoncé’s husband and friend, there’s no doubt that Queen Bey would love this class (and be the first to register)!

9. MCNALLY SMITH COLLEGE OF MUSIC (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

The McNally Smith College of Music is taking music studies to a whole new (cooler) level. Students can now get a degree in hip-hop studies (say what?!), the first program of its kind in the U.S. What’s more Beyoncé than rocking rhymes and busting beats? These students learn how to command a crowd, just like Queen Bey herself! Hip-hop students can take courses like “Deejay or Emcee Techniques” or “Language of Rap and Spoken Word” taught by faculty members who have worked with national hip-hop greats like Atmosphere and Fatboy Slim. All in favor of signing a petition to get Bey’s hubby Jay-Z to teach a class here? Now put your hands up (wuh uh oh uh uh oh oh uh oh uh uh oh...)!

8. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

Who run the world? Girls. And, because of the 58:42 female-to-male ratio at UNC, they run the campus, too! As one collegiette tells Her Campus, “UNC is a woman’s club.” Although this relative lack of eligible bachelors means there are a lot of ladies without a ring on it, the UNC girls don’t buy into the hype, and they don’t let that stop them from having a good time. All the single ladies, now put your hands up!

Plus, the women of UNC are all about helping one another out, which totally sounds like the Destiny’s Child dynamic to us (R.I.P. our fave girl group). “I think it’s very encouraging because the student body is mostly women, and the faculty (at least in my department) [are] mostly female, too,” says another UNC collegiette. “So, there’s plenty of support and examples of female empowerment. I think it’s been a positive experience being a woman here.” Queen Bey would so be on board. On top of all that, UNC was ranked the most liberal school in North Carolina; and with both a Feminist Students United group and a feminist magazine on campus, we think that Queen Bey, who’s all about gender equality, would fit right in.

7. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON (Houston, Texas)

Beyoncé is always referencing her hometown of Houston in her songs, so it’s safe to say that this southern city holds a special spot in her heart. Whether she’s filming a music video in Houston, referencing one of the city’s famous restaurants in her songs or rocking a Houston Rockets jersey, Yonce shows that she has major love for “H-town,” which is also home to the University of Houston.

Besides just being located in Bey’s hometown, UH is known for churning out awesome rap/R&B stars, including Lil Wayne and Chamillionaire (though the latter dropped out to pursue his music career and the former eventually switched to online classes). Queen B. would have been right at home here with these star-powered, beat-dropping classmates while they were around campus!

6. CABRINI COLLEGE (Radnor, Pennsylvania)

Cabrini College’s amazing dance team is the epitome of fierce, fabulous ***flawlessness (three words we always associate with Queen Bey!). These talented ladies help out with Special Olympics, teach dance to underprivileged children and even got the opportunity to participate in the annual Cabrini Night at the Phillies, during which they performed at a Philadelphia Phillies game in front over 40,000 people. Talk about a Beyoncé-worthy crowd! This year, the group showed major love for the pop goddess with this killer, must-watch dance routine choreographed to some of Bey’s biggest hits. We think Mrs. Carter would approve!

5. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (New York, New York)

New York City is the capital of fashion, which means that NYU collegiettes can be seen strutting down the street in the edgiest, Queen-Bey-worthy ensembles. “Everyone’s pretty stylish and independent,” one NYU collegiette tells Her Campus. “The streets can seem like a runway at times with people wearing every type of fashion imaginable.” Runway, yes. Concert stage? Most definitely!

Attending this prestigious school in the concrete jungle requires almost a Beyoncé-level income, however, as an NYU degree comes with a hefty price tag. Still, these collegiettes always look on the bright side. One NYU alumni even created this parody video of Beyonce’s “Partition” about the school’s tuition. We’re totally anticipating “Tuition” hitting the Top 40 charts any day now!

4. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (Charlottesville, Virginia)

At the University of Virgina, girl power (something we know Queen Bey is all about) and major crooning skills are alive and well on campus. “It's insane how big a cappella is at our school,” says Claire, a sophomore at UVA. “The number of all-girls groups definitely seems to growing, and everyone loves seeing them performing around grounds. On a random weekday you'll see a group standing on the rotunda steps performing and everyone stopped to listen. It's worth being late to class for!”

One of these rock-star female a cappella groups is The Virginia Sil’hooettes, one of the 12 best college a cappella groups in the country! These girls have made a name for themselves belting out covers of powerhouse singers like Adele and (of course) Beyoncé, opening for Ben Folds and winning multiple Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. Queen B. would be proud!

3. BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC (Boston, Massachusetts)

Berklee’s music program is one of the best in the country with a history of producing famous musicians (John Mayer, Aimee Mann and three members of Imagine Dragons, just to name a few) and Grammy winners on Grammy winners (doesn’t Bey have a few of those?).

The college even hosts an annual one-day symposium about the business of hip-hop, which features words of wisdom and advice from some of the biggest names in the industry. In 2011, the symposium featured an all-female panel that included Nina Packer, who manages rappers like Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne. Talk about star power!

2. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (New York, New York)

Not only is Columbia an Ivy League university, but blue is also one of its school colors. Clearly it’s Blue Ivy Carter's future alma mater! Plus, Columbia is in NYC, and you know Jay-Z loves Brooklyn.

Since the prestigious school attracts some of the brightest, most talented students from all over the world, the diverse campus is home to future world leaders, visionaries and otherwise kick-a** women! We prefer to call them “Independent Women. “Being a woman on campus is empowering,” one Columbia collegiette explains to Her Campus. “You're surrounded by so many fierce and fabulous individuals that you can't help but feel fierce and fabulous yourself.” Sounds like Miss Sasha Fierce would fit right in!

1. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

For the ultimate Queen Bey fanatics, Rutgers is now offering a course called “Politicizing Beyoncé,” which examines race, gender and sexuality through the singer’s music. “The course asks questions about Beyonce's song lyrics, dress and what our love of her says about feminism and American culture,” says Lin, a sophomore at Rutgers. “I haven't taken it yet, but I'm definitely excited about having such an interesting interdisciplinary course coming to our campus!” The class will also explore Beyoncé’s control over her own aesthetic and her alter ego, Sasha Fierce. What more does a Bey devotee need? With a whole syllabus inspired by Beyoncé herself, Rutgers’s pop culture class easily earns it the #1 spot as the best Queen Bey college.

Check out the rest of Her Campus's 2014 College Rankings here!

Moving definitely isn’t the most fun thing in the world.  Packing our piles of clothes and belongings into boxes and fitting them wherever we may need them to go can be extremely stressful.  And, after all that, you have to unpack everything and find a place for it in your new home!

For anyone moving into a new apartment, you’re probably wondering how to make all of this less sucky.  Luckily, we’ve put together a list of tips to help make moving easier for you.  Read away and get packing, collegiettes!

1. Pack only what you need

You’re moving into an apartment, not a different country (most of us are, anyway).  Packing too much will take up your time as well as space in your new apartment.  Emily Fontanella, a sophomore at Rutgers University, puts it simply: “If you don’t wear it, don’t pack it.”  If you don’t use something you own at home, it is unlikely that you’ll want it collecting dust in your apartment.

Sara Premtaj, a sophomore at the College of Charleston, says “it's super important to go through all the stuff that you have and weed out everything you don't wear/use anymore.  It's so annoying to pack and unpack things you really don't need.”  The Salvation Army is always willing to take donations, so ask yourself: “Do I ever wear this?”  If not, you can most likely donate it to someone who truly needs it.

2. Keep your clothes on hangers

Packing clothes from your closet into boxes just to take them out again is a hassle—and it’s unnecessary!  Aja Frost, a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, shares a tip to help make packing your closet a breeze. “I take big garbage bags and slide my clothes, still on their hangers, into the mouths of the bags,” she says. “Then, I poke a hole in the top of the garbage bags and pull the hanger necks through.”

To make sure nothing falls out, tie the bags at the bottom and use the “hanger handles” to hold your clothes.  There’s little to no time involved in doing this!

3. Package breakables properly

There’s nothing worse than unpacking your stuff only to find that it broke in transit.  When packing breakables, bubble wrap will be your best friend.  Plates are best wrapped in bubble wrap with paper in between each, and glasses should be stuffed with crumpled paper in addition to wrapped in bubble wrap to reduce empty space in your boxes (empty space can cause damages).

Be sure to line your boxes with packing paper and place heavier items on the bottom so your smaller items don’t get crushed.  Don’t forget to label your breakables with “FRAGILE” so anyone who’s helping you knows to use extra care when handling these boxes!

4. Take bulky furniture apart

Fitting big pieces of furniture into a moving truck is a lot easier than fitting them through the tiny door of an apartment.  Megan Flink, a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi, says, “I had to take apart some of my furniture in order to fit it in the itty-bitty doors of my first apartment. Invest in tools!”

Taking furniture (dressers, desks and chairs) apart will also create space in your moving van for other items, like the boxes and boxes of clothes you probably have… which leads us to our next point!

5. Get a floor plan

Not only may all your furniture not fit through your apartment door, it may not fit in your apartment in general!  Allison Chen, a sophomore at the University of California, Santa Barbara, says, “Get a floor plan. The worst thing is probably buying all-matching assembled furniture from IKEA … just to lug it up to the third floor and bring it in to your apartment before finding out that it doesn’t fit.”

With a floor plan, you’ll be able to figure out what you can fit in your apartment before you get there.  Much easier!

Zoë Renauer, a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, shares similar advice. “It's important to remember that rooms always look bigger without anything in them, so never assume things will fit,” she says. This means you should have measurements for your room before you buy your furniture.

6. Label your boxes

It may seem frustrating in the moment, but color-coding and/or labeling everything while you pack will be to your advantage later.  Kaitlyn Russell, a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, says, “I just recently moved from one apartment to another this summer, and I made sure to label every box. I had family helping me move, and this helped them to put stuff in the correct room without me having to look through it all first. It definitely made the process faster!”

Color-coding or labeling will not only help you, but it will help whomever is helping you as well.  You can download packing labels for free here.

7. Know your moving truck rental policy

Sure, you briefly skimmed your moving truck rental policy before signing it—who has time to read all that tiny print?  But in reality, the policy is more important than you think, and reading it could end up saving you time and money later.

The rental truck policy will sort out driving requirements, finances and any other uncertainties there may be.  You never know if there are restrictions on who can drive the truck, restrictions on how long you can keep the truck, deposit information or where the truck must be returned.  Knowing this information will be beneficial to you when moving day comes around!

8. Put larger items in the front of the moving truck

Now that your belongings are packed and you know your moving truck’s rental policy, let’s get down to the actual moving.  It’s important to pack your smaller boxes and bags in the back of the moving truck, because you’re going to need your bulky items first when you’re actually moving into the apartment.  Dressers, desks, beds and chairs need ample space to be moved, so if these are the first items you take out of your truck, your apartment will be empty enough that you can move them around and see which arrangement works the best.  Once you have this settled, you can start moving in your clothes and other smaller items.

9. Know who’s helping you move

You’re definitely going to need help moving into your new apartment, but that doesn’t mean you need the whole neighborhood! Predetermine who will be there to help you on move-in day so you won’t have too few or too many hands.  Make sure you bring a few strong family members or friends to help move the heavy items.  You may also want to have someone organized on hand so he or she can help keep everything in line.

If you have a roommate or roommates, talk to them about how many people they’re bringing to help and when they’ll be moving.  If you have too many people, everyone will be in one another’s way!

These tips will help you avoid a headache when you move into your new apartment.  Pack smart and think things through, and your move will be easier than you could have imagined!

Name: Jess Lee
Age: 31
Job Title and Description: CEO and co-founder of Polyvore. Polyvore is a new way to discover and shop for the things you love in fashion, beauty and home decor.
College/Major: Stanford University/Computer Science
Website: polyvore.com 
Twitter Handle: @jesskah 

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

Jess Lee: As CEO, I spend most of my time on two things: people and product. By people, I mean recruiting the best possible team and creating an environment that empowers them to do their best work. By product, I mean identifying problems our users have, and letting loose that amazing team to come up with solutions.

There is no typical day. It’s everything from interviewing people, to giving presentations, to learning how to write better SQL queries. The one constant is that I’m always learning.

What is the best part of your job?

JL: As a first-time CEO, many of the challenges I face are ones I’ve never experienced before. I learn something new every day, which is both humbling and rewarding. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by a team of smart, passionate, interesting people who enjoy solving problems in clever ways, and we work through the hard problems together. The best part of my job is getting to learn new things all the time alongside people I really love being around.

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

JL: I grew up in Hong Kong and moved to the Bay Area for college. After studying computer science at Stanford, I was pretty sure my path would lead me to become an engineer. Then I got a call from a Google recruiter, encouraging me to interview to be an associate product manager. I didn’t really know what a product manager was at the time, but I went to the interview anyways.

One of my interviewers was Marissa Mayer (then a director of product at Google, now CEO of Yahoo!), who gave me the advice to always choose the more challenging path where you’ll grow and learn. Being a product manager definitely felt like the more unknown, challenging path, so I took it. That was how I ended up at Google.

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

JL: When I was interviewing for my first job, I was only evaluating companies based on their products, not based on their teams or culture. It turns out the two most important things that impact your day-to-day job happiness are who you’re going to be working with and what the work environment is like. When you’re interviewing, don’t forget that it’s a two-way interview. Make sure to evaluate the people who interview you, and to ask them what they like or dislike about the company.

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

JL: When I was growing up, my mom ran her own small business out of our apartment. Because of that, it never occurred to me that women weren't normally CEOs.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

JL: Marissa Mayer told me to constantly challenge myself and to go where you can learn and grow the most. Even if you don’t succeed at it, you’ll have learned a lot. That’s the piece of advice that made me decide to join Google in the first place. It also led me to the decision to leave Google, make the leap to a startup and step into the CEO role at Polyvore. I made a ton of mistakes along the way, but I’ve also learned so many new things.

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

JL: Early in my Polyvore career, there were times when the company was doing too many things at once, or when I personally was doing too many things. I eventually learned that there are only a few things that really matter in moving your business, and it's better to do those things really, really, really well, rather than doing a lot of things poorly.

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

JL: When Polyvore was five people in a living room, I never imagined we’d grow to have so many users. Some surreal moments for me: seeing a Polyvore set projected on a huge billboard in Times Square, having Kate Moss judge a Polyvore contest, winning a Webby Award and being mentioned in an interview as a favorite fashion site by one of my all-time favorite actresses, Kristen Bell.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

JL: One thing I look for is the ability to break a complex, big, hairy problem into smaller pieces. At a startup, you’ll be faced with major challenges, and you have to be able to decompose that challenge into smaller, easier problems that you can tackle one by one; otherwise you’ll be overwhelmed.

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

JL: Surround yourself with great people and try to learn new things.

Whether you were interning from 9 to 5, waiting tables or perfecting your tan by the pool (lucky), those three months of summer seemed to drag on forever without your best friends, favorite restaurants and wild college parties. But don’t despair, collegiettes; school is back in session. And not only is it a new semester, it’s fall semester. And fall semester is the most awesome time of the year. Here are a few reasons why (actually, 33):

1. It’s a fresh start. It’s a new year, which means a clean slate. Fall semester is the best time to reinvent yourself into the ultra-studious, ultra-fun, ultra-collegiette you’ve always wanted to be, or just to keep improving on the awesome collegiette you already are.

2. Seeing your friends again. Be prepared for a lot of screaming, running hugs and squealing, because you’re back with your best friends again after a long summer break and you can’t wait to start having collegiate fun together again.

3. Catching up on summer stories. Annie interned at Google, Emily had a super-hot summer fling with that dark-haired lifeguard from her work, and Beth visited New York City where she actually saw Ryan Gosling in a restaurant (or a blonde lookalike, at least). Clearly you’ve got some summer gossip to share.

4. Fall fashion. A new school year is the best time for a wardrobe refresher, and we’ve already picked out the latest fall trends that we want to show off this semester (in case anyone forgot how stylish we were over summer break). Who doesn’t love an excuse to go shopping?

5. Back-to-school events. Most schools have a few days to get students acclimated and excited to be on campus before class starts (usually called Welcome Week or something similar), and these can be full of concerts, outdoor movies, and informational sessions — all for students. And did we mention they’re usually free? Take advantage of them; remember, your college budget starts now…

6. Free stuff! Free stuff everywhere! Welcome Week typically has an event where student organizations will give you free t-shirts, Frisbees, sunglasses, food, you name it to persuade you to sign up for their club. Not only is free stuff awesome, but Welcome Week might also help you find a fun organization to join that you had never heard of before (ski and snowboard club? Cool!). Just try not to write your name down on too many sheets of paper or your e-mail inbox will be dreadfully full before class even starts.

7. Being free of your parents. Yes, you’re free of your parents for spring semester, too, but you were at home for winter break for like, three weeks. This was three months. Three months of curfews and nagging. We love you, Mom and Dad, but we missed our freedom.

8. Buying a ton of back-to-school stuff. Because even notebooks and laundry detergent can give you a shopper’s high. The best way to start off a new year is buying a lot of new things!

9. Fall semester is perfect for starting your new year’s resolutions. Who decided January was a good month for that, anyway? Why would you start your vow to go to the gym twice a week or chat up that hot guy in your psych class when the school year is halfway over when you can start now?

10. New exercise classes at the gym. (Speaking of those new year’s resolutions…) Did last year’s group exercise schedule bore you so much that going to the gym just became so banal (totally why you stopped going… or never started in the first place)? Never fear, a new exercise class schedule is here! And look, that combo kickboxing-Zumba-yogalates class fits perfectly in your fall schedule! Now you have no excuse not to get healthy this year.

11. The first week of classes. Wait, classes? That was one thing we didn’t miss over the summer. But the first week, otherwise known as “Let’s Read the Syllabus Then Leave After 10 Minutes” week, lets you ease into your academic life (ugh) a little more smoothly.

12. Start of the year parties.“Let’s Read the Syllabus Then Leave After 10 Minutes” week goes perfectly with lots of wild back-to-school parties. No homework means more time to have fun! For a week, anyway.

13. New guys. A magical thing happens every fall on college campuses: a whole new crop of freshman guys arrive, ready to save bored collegiettes from their man-droughts. And even if you may be nervous about dating a younger man, think about all the hot new transfer students and new guys in your classes that you haven’t met before. Microeconomics just got a whole lot more interesting.

14. New friends. So that hot guy in your microeconomics class ended up already having a girlfriend (ouch). But why not talk to that hilarious girl who sits on the other side of you in class instead? A new year means new classes with new people who could have a lot in common with you, such as a love for Darren Criss and late-night ice cream runs.

15. Sorority rush. For those GDIs out there, rush might be more of a headache than anything else, but for girls interested in the Greek system, rush is an exciting introduction to hundreds of girls who could become your new BFFs.

16. Football games. Dressing up (or painting up) in your school’s colors, waving pom-poms like your life depends on it, screaming at the refs and cheering on your team until your throat hurts; there’s nothing quite like college football. Even if you can’t tell the difference between a cornerback and a quarterback, anyone can appreciate spending a sunny Saturday cheering on your school with your best friends. Go State!

17. Tailgating. With football comes tailgating, and with tailgating comes delicious food, beer and lots of cute guys. Need I say more?

18. At first, the dining hall food doesn’t seem too bad. At first.

19. New digs. A new year means it’s time for a new dorm or apartment that’s (hopefully) not a 25-minute walk from your classes like last year and (hopefully) doesn’t smell quite as weird as your old dorm did.

20. A new living space means new décor. And lots of DIY — yay for Pinterest! Or Target, if you’re not that crafty.

21. A new roommate. Remember how much your roommate’s sexiling habits and overflowing trash can drove you nuts last year? Guess what: she’s finally gone. Hallelujah!

22. A new RA. He’s kind of hot, too… and just down the hall…

23. Fall TV shows. Time for weekly viewing parties with your dormmates (and lots of popcorn).

24. Falling leaves. Red and orange leaves + the quad = a perfectly picturesque campus worthy of an admissions brochure. Ahh.

25. Holiday drinks at Starbucks. We missed you, pumpkin spice lattes. And the red cups are just so much cuter than the white ones!

26. So. Many. Breaks. There’s fall break, Thanksgiving break and winter break, which is way more time off of papers and exams than that measly couple days you get for spring break next semester.

27. Fall weather. It’s not too hot and not too cold (all you need is a light jacket!); fall weather is perfect for playing Frisbee on the quad, starting an outdoor exercise routine and walking home from a night out without freezing your butt off.

28. Halloween. Don’t you miss dressing up in costumes and eating a ton of candy every Halloween as a kid? You’re in luck — in college, going out on Halloween dressed like a flapper or a witch or a Transformer that can actually morph between car and robot (yep, it’s been done) is cool again. Halloween is the one night a year where the entire campus comes together to don the craziest costumes you’ve ever seen and throw the craziest parties you’ve ever been to.

29. Homecoming. Concerts, parties, football, a new Homecoming Queen and King and lots of cute old people walking around campus talking about their former hangouts and favorite college memories. One day, that’ll be you…

30. Thanksgiving break. Remember how the dining hall food tasted good “at first”? Welcome to your first home-cooked meal in three months. Our mouths are watering already.

31. Black Friday. Your back-to-school wardrobe finally feeling a little dull? Time to get up at 5 a.m. (or 3 a.m.… or 12 a.m.), down a ton of coffee and duke it out with a lot of sleep-deprived people over sweaters and jeans with triple-super-markdown prices. Then take a nap. Then eat leftovers.

32. Tacky Christmas sweater parties. Now you can tell your grandma how much you loved wearing her Christmas present to you and actually mean it.

33. Winter holidays. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And nothing says festive quite like a dorm decorated with red and green lights, a mini Christmas tree, blue and white streamers, or a silver menorah.

Excited yet? We are! Get ready — something tells us this fall semester is going to be seriously epic.

Costume changes, choreographed dances and memorizing lines— rush has more practices than a high school musical.

Rushing a sorority is a flurry of going from house to house and trying to impress the sisters, but from the sisters’ side? Rush is a carefully calculated routine of smiles, conversation starters and rotations. Here are the 15 things you’ll definitely hear a sorority girl say during rush.

1. “I didn’t think I’d ever join a sorority either!”

Yeah, okay, we’ve all said this one to the girl who didn’t quite look like she wanted to be there—even if we didn’t mean it.

2. “I really found my home away from home!”

Except our real home doesn’t have parties, catered food and 30 girls to compete with for the showers.

3. “These girls really are my sisters!”

They drive us crazy, just like real siblings do. 

4. “I’ve found my best friends and my future bridesmaids.”

Who else will hold your purse and your hair back in one night?

5. “It was so great meeting you!”

It’s great meeting everyone during rush—we are trying to find our future littles, after all!

6. “You guys, I just found my little!”

We’re going to say this on the first day of rush, and the second day of rush…

7. “We have good relations with all fraternities and sororities on campus!”

Our relations are all anybody wants to talk about—but this is the one week we CAN’T!

8. “We love getting ready together before all of the cocktails and mixers!”

Code for: I party with my sisters before, during and after functions.

9. “We really shouldn’t be talking about going out, but…”

Booze and boys are off-limits during rush conversations, but if you’re not going to drop it…

10. “We’re gonna get fined for that!”

Let a girl carry trash outside the house? Fined. Booze? Fined. Boys? Fined. Rush songs could be heard outside? Fined. 

11. “Me too!”

You like going to football games? Me too! You like underwater basket weaving? Me too! No matter what you say, I’m going to be relatable and lovely because I want you to like me as much as you want me to like you.

12. “What were you involved in in high school?”

Ah, the opener. Hopefully we’re going to hit it off when we both realize we played volleyball and I’m going to tell you about our intramural team and it’s going to be great.

13. “Our whole chapter is really close; I could tell you every girl’s first and last name.”

Umm… is that Brittany? Ashley? Maybe that’s Hannah…

14. “Why did you decide to go through recruitment?”

Another great opener question! Why are you here? Tell me about how you want sisterhood and fun, and I’ll tell you anecdotes about my sisters and the fun we have.

15. “Our chapter is actually really affordable!”

Yeah, you’re clearly going to spend a fortune—if not on the actual sorority, then on the T-shirts, food and spirit jerseys.

A weeklong marathon of smiling, repetitive conversations and no booze or boys? Do it for the littles. 

Arguably one of the best parts of college is being surrounded by thousands of campus cuties there for the picking. Talk about having plenty of fish in the sea—it’s like our own sushi buffet. Some hook-ups are downright awesome, while others may be cringeworthy and something you plan on keeping on the D.L. for, well, ever. However, there are certain hook-ups most of us can’t help but be guilty of.

1. The “Friends With Benefits” Hook-up

This is as classic as it gets: You guys are buddies, and that’s never gonna change. But at one point or another, you realize how attractive he is. And how cute his smile is. And dang, he has a nice butt!

When it’s just the two of you, you have such an amazing sexual chemistry. And the second you’re back with your friends, it’s like nothing has changed (and you didn’t just spend an hour making out on the couch; your hair just looks like that because it’s windy out).

Watch out for the signs that it’s not working out anymore, though. You may have to decide whether you want your friend or your hook-up buddy more.

2. The Sober Hook-up

Nothing says, “I think you’re attractive and I like making out with you” like a sober booty call. It’s almost an entirely sexual relationship, but that’s totally fine by you. Whether it’s a quickie after class or a phone conversation that basically goes, “You free?” “Yeah.” “Wanna have sex?” “Yeah,” it’s fun, convenient and downright primal. There’s not really much to your relationship other than that, and you’re both entirely aware of and okay with that.

The sober booty calls usually only last for so long until you realize hooking up in daylight with someone you have no feelings for just isn’t cutting it for you anymore.

3. The Drunken Hook-up

This one is much more common than its sober counterpart. It’s 3 a.m., you get the “Heyyyyy. You out?” text and it’s game over… or game on, depending on how you want to look at it.

You probably don’t talk to this person at all during the day. You could really care less about how the other’s day went. And you’re not even sure what he or she is majoring in. But you know this hook-up buddy has a good body and is good at using it, so the late-night calls and texts are welcomed and expected. You just head out from wherever you are and get your groove on, because what is college without the occasional drunken booty call?

4. The Potential Boyfriend Hook-up

This isn’t just any hook-up. Something about him is different, kinda perfect and basically everything you ever wanted out of a man. The only problem is you’re not sure if he’s looking for anything more than a casual hook-up, and you’re scared of ruining things. So you act like you don’t have feelings for him and ignore the butterflies you feel every time he laughs at one of your jokes. Usually this goes on for a few more months until it slowly fizzles out and he moves on to someone else. Sigh.

5. The (S)ex Hook-up

Maybe you and your ex broke up a long time ago, or maybe it’s only been a few weeks. But regardless, you know it’s never going to work out between the two of you. But you also know that you guys have GREAT sex. It’d be a real shame to give that up, right?

Just be careful that things don’t get too complicated. For the most part, this either reignites a relationship, which will most likely end for the same reasons it did before, or you both realize you’ve been pretending you’re still dating and it’s really not working. But it’s fun while it lasts!

6. The Hot Stranger

You’ve both been guilty of daydreaming in class of what the other would look like naked, and you’ve definitely both caught each other checking the other out. Or maybe you pass each other on the street every Wednesday on your way to Starbucks. Either way, you finally get around to hooking up, and it’s probably pretty average. He’s actually kind of jerk. Or, he’s really strange and you can’t get over the stuffed animals on his bed staring at you while you do your thing (*shudders*). Or maybe it really is as great as you thought it would be! Either way, it’s usually a one-night stand, and that’s basically what you expected.

7. The Awkward Morning After

You wake up the next morning and avoid opening your eyes for as long as possible so you don’t have to acknowledge what happened last night. Maybe it was an insanely awkward or horrible experience. Or maybe the person lying next to you should really not be lying next to you (aka your best friend’s ex-boyfriend). Regardless, it’s an unspoken agreement that your night together is better left a secret to the world as you both slowly try to forget.

These hook-ups are never fun, but these happen to the best of us. Just don’t make a habit out of these, because it’s oh so awkward passing each other on campus and giving the courtesy head nod. But you’ll just say the initial post-hook-up “hi,” like ripping off a Band-Aid, and most likely spend the rest of the semester acting like it never happened.

Casual hook-ups are a part of college—probably one of the most fun parts! Sure, there are some that we would probably rather pretend never happened, but the ones that are mind-blowingly awesome are well worth it. No regrets!

Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, whether you go to a huge university or a small college, you’ll notice that some things about college never change. While it’s not normal to see people sleeping in public or listen to a person you can’t understand for an hour and a half in the real world, these oddities make up every girl’s college experience.

1. Getting lost on the first day of classes

You’re excited for this psychology seminar, but it seems that either you've accidentally stepped into Narnia or they added this part of campus while you were gone for the summer. Now you look like a freshman with your map open on your iPhone.

2. The latecomer

This class is only an hour long, and this guy is waltzing in 30 minutes late with coffee in hand. He also tends to be the one who leaves 30 minutes before the exam period is over. You’re tempted to trip him on his way in.

3. The sleeper

This guy is there for every lecture, but he’s in his third REM cycle by the time you’ve gone over the syllabus. Why does he even bother?

4. That couple

Your entire group of friends been secretly wishing that they would break up ever since their eyes locked across the room at orientation. You would love to date that guy, but you're pretty sure you're already slotted in for bridesmaid duty five Julys from now.

5. Your personal ubiquitous stranger

Seriously, is this person following you? You might as well introduce yourself now, because you see this person in class, at the dining hall and just walking around campus all. The. Time. It's either destiny or stalking. We'll go with destiny...

6. The incomprehensible professor

Whether he or she whispers, shouts, speaks with an accent or mumbles to the floor, you might as well not even go to lecture, because the only thing you can understand from this person is that your Facebook News Feed isn’t refreshing fast enough.

7. The hot TA

Everyone is counting down the seconds until the semester is over so they can ask this guy out. Hot and applying to med school? Yes, please!

8. That class no one can get into

Whether it’s wine-tasting, puppy-petting or social dance, every school has that one class everyone wants to take… and no one can actually get into. Good luck in the lottery next year, ladies.

9. That time of year when everyone is sick

That one sick person sneezes in the dining hall, and suddenly your entire school has caught the plague, usually in the dead of winter during finals week. Perfect.

10. Your Party Friends

There are those people you see every time you’re out—and nowhere else. “Oh my God, it’s you!” “Oh my God, it’s you!”

11. You're always glad to be back

Whether your parents have been driving you crazy or your summer job bored you out of your mind, it's always good to be in the land of unlimited dining-hall food, neighbors who are also your friends and class that is (usually) kind of, sort of optional.

Ah, football season. We meet again. We can’t say we’ve missed actually watching the games and pretending we know what’s going on (it’s easy, just cheer when everyone else does and shout out general buzz words like “c’mon!”), but we certainly have missed the wondrous festivities that occur before the games. We're talking about pre-games and tailgates, of course, both of which are comprised of five Bs’: burgers, beer, booze, belligerency and more beer. But alas, as fun as all this tailgating action is in the moment, these five B’s sadly result in one dreaded son of B: belly bulge.

Luckily, this does not necessarily have to be the case this football season. With this Pick It & Skip It Guide, you can battle the bulge while still enjoying all the tailgates. Sounds like a touchdown to me — that is a football term, right?

Pre-Tailgate Plan

The best way to stay healthy at tailgates is to eat a balanced meal beforehand (think fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins) so that you don’t have to fill up on the junk that’s there.

“Absolutely eat a good breakfast with lots of protein and healthy fats - like a veggie omelet,” Behavior Modification Clinician and Certified Nutrition Specialist Susan Holmberg says. She emphasizes protein and healthy fats specifically because they release a hormone that signals satiety, regulating your appetite and thus preventing sugar and carbohydrate cravings that come with being underfed.

“Make sure to eat a meal containing proteins, fats and (‘free’) veggies or even a cup of any kind of legume about a half an hour before you go so that it ‘kicks in’ and you are not hungry when you get there,” she says. “I can only speak for myself, but if I leap on the food immediately, I sort of set the tone for the entire event!”

“Another strategy in general is to hold off eating at all as long as you can so that you don't end up eating for such a long time and sometimes some of the options are simply gone by then,” Holmberg says. “I have found that it is easier to hold off than to guarantee you can stop once you start - especially once you put alcohol in the mix.”

Though the following swaps will help you save calories, typical tailgate fare is far from healthy. So if you can minimize your intake of it by arriving with a satisfied stomach, you’ll be better off. Plus, you already know it’s not good to drink on an empty stomach so eating a nutritious meal before you start will put you on the right track. Now let’s see what to skip and what to pick!

Drinks

Skip it: Ice Luges, Beer Bongs, & Handle Pulls

Pick it: Red Solo cup

Guzzling alcohol that’s cascading down an ice sculpture or flowing freely from any sort of tube or bottle (like beer bongs, funnels or taking swigs straight from a communal handle) may be quintessentially “college” — but it’s certainly not healthy (or safe).

First off, it is impossible to keep tabs on how much alcohol you’re downing when you consume it this way. You’ll therefore be much more likely to over-consume, which will take a toll on your health, your belly and your chances of actually making it to the game. To make matters worse, we all know from health and sex-ed classes that by putting your lips directly on something that countless other football fanatics are drinking from too, you’re putting yourself at risk for getting sick. Mono, the flu, common colds, and cold sores — which spread faster than gossip on college campuses — can all be transmitted through sharing drinks. Yuck!

So rather than sabotage your health by falling victim to flashy drinking mechanisms, grab a classic Red Solo cup instead. You can use the lines on the cup to keep track of how much you’re drinking (see the picture below… who knew?!) and make sure that you’re the only one sipping from it. Don’t forget to alternate between drinking water and alcohol so that you keep your intake in check and stay hydrated. Your immune system and waistline will thank you.

Skip it: Jungle Juice

Pick it: Light beer or your own mixed drink

As with drinking straight from a bottle, it’s impossible to know how much alcohol you’re actually consuming when drinking jungle juice or any other kind of punch. These mixed concoctions usually taste so sweet and fruity, that you underestimate how strong they are and thus drink more and more, again leading to dangerous and unhealthy over-consumption. The calories will add up not only from this over-consumption, but also from all the sugar that these juices are packed with — they’re sweet for a reason!

“Mixers (like Tequila Sunrise mix) are often as high as 40 calories an ounce, more than triple the calories of soda,” Holmberg says. Let’s do the math: a cup of punch that contains three shots of alcohol, a half cup of mixer and a half cup of soda would come out to be around…400 calories per drink! Any sort of pre-mixed drink at a party is likely filled with these high-calorie mixers, or sodas and juices, so steer clear.

As for choosing what to drink instead, Holmberg explains that this depends on “whether you are looking to have a glass in your hand at all times and want to prolong how long it takes you to get a buzz, or are really interested in the quickest buzz in the ‘cheapest’ (least caloric) possible way. For the former, I suggest lite beers or wine spritzers alternated with sparkling water, or something like that. For the latter, straight liquor without mixers will do the job cheapest.”

As opposed to jungle juice, Holmberg’s suggested drinks allow you to control how much alcohol you’re consuming and what you’re mixing with it. Rather than sugar-laden sodas and juices, opt for low calorie or calorie-free drinks such as seltzers, naturally flavored waters, or unsweetened iced teas. If you’re going to go for juice, choose fresh fruit juices (like orange juice) over stuff like fruit punches or cocktails, so you’ll at least get a dose of vitamins and less added sugar. Since many tailgates or pre-parties may be lacking in healthy drink options, plan ahead by bringing your own!

Eats

Skip it: Hamburger

Pick it: Hot dog

Alright, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but neither of these tailgate staples is the best choice for your health, due to their high doses of saturated fat and sodium content. In terms of calories however, a hot dog (including the bun) is usually just under 300 calories, while a hamburger can contain as much as 620 calories and more saturated fat, according to The Huffington Post. If you want to cut back on calories, hold the bun (which is a refined carb and therefore packs sugar but lacks fiber and won’t fill you up) and instead wrap your meat of choice in lettuce.

Skip it: Mayo

Pick it: Mustard

Depending on the brand, one measly tablespoon of mayonnaise can pack anywhere from 35-110 calories and up to 10 grams of fat (which is about how much fat is in an entire Krispy Kreme donut!). Regular yellow mustard, on the other hand, has about 10-15 calories per tablespoon and no fat. So when you’re deciding what to layer on your burger or dog, go for the mustard, or at least use the mayo very sparingly.

Skip it: Chicken Wings & Tenders

Pick it: Kabobs & Grilled Chicken

As a general rule: if it’s fried, breaded or absolutely smothered in sauce, try to skip it. Chicken wings and chicken tenders — game day favorites — sadly both fall under this category. Frying chicken adds on calories and unhealthy fats from the oil, and chicken wings do the same via the skin and sauce. Here are some shocking stats to keep in mind when those wings are tempting you: 10 hot wings from Pizza Hut have 600 calories and 1 order of Buffalo wings from Applebees has 1,724 calories — about as many calories as you should have in an entire day!

If the tailgate you’re at has kabobs, grilled chicken or any other main dish that’s not fried or drowning in sauce, pick that instead. You’ll save tons of calories — and a few napkins, too.

Skip it: Nachos

Pick it: Pretzels

From the chips to the high-calorie and high-fat toppings they’re swimming in, a plate of nachos typically contains hundreds of calories. To satisfy a salty craving, reach for pretzels instead. According to Livestrong.com, while pretzels do have a substantial amount of salt, they have fewer calories and less fat than most brands of chips.

Holmberg points out, however, that while pretzels are “clearly less of a calorie commitment” they “will never fill you up in the long run and it is easy to pick at them all day and never really acknowledge how much you really ate.” So make sure to portion control — if the bag is out, check the nutrition label to see the serving size, which is usually about a handful, and try to stick to one or two servings.

At the stadium, a soft pretzel would likewise be a better pick than loaded nachos or even popcorn, which come doused in unhealthy toppings (cheese and butter and salt, oh my!). Moreover, a pretzel comes in a more reasonable serving for a snack, whereas nachos and popcorn tend to come in huge bags or tubs, making you more likely to mindlessly overeat while watching the game. Your best bet: dust some of the salt off the pretzel and split it with a friend!

Skip it: Ranch & Creamy, Cheesy Dips

Pick it: Salsa & Bean Dip

Like mayo, ranch dressing and other rich dips such as nacho cheese or sour cream are loaded with calories and fat — especially saturated fat, which you definitely don’t want.

According to MyFitnessPal.com, 2 tablespoons of ranch dressing can have 140 calories and 14 grams of fat. Reach for the salsa instead, which is made of fresh tomatoes, and you’ll get an extra boost of vitamins and antioxidants. Bean dip can be a healthier choice than creamy dips too, especially if it’s homemade and not from a jar, because of the protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals that beans contain. So rather than dunking your chips (or better yet, veggies if they’re available!) into empty-calorie dips that won’t fill you up but will fill you with fat, go skinny dipping with salsas and bean dips.

There are only a few home games per season, so if you do end up splurging at the tailgates it’s not the end of the world — you can work it off during basketball season. But by making the easy swaps in this guide, you’ll be headed in the right direction in the battle of the bulge. Go team!

Every college girl wants to return to campus looking and feeling her best, and that usually includes having a hot new wardrobe. Back-to-school shopping is a must for us fashionistas, but sometimes shopping on a collegiette budget can be a little depressing (not to mention difficult). That’s why we’ve compiled a list of stores that are both trendy and affordable. Thanks to these retailers, there’s no need sacrifice a small fortune for style!

1. Tobi

Tobi is a great online store for college students because of the array of affordable clothing it provides and the awesome 50 percent off sales it has on a regular basis. With cozy sweaters, cute daytime dresses, hot going-out clothes and more, it’s easy to invest in a back-to-school wardrobe here. Make sure to check out their new arrivals section for 30 percent off of the latest styles, which is updated daily. An added bonus: new members get 50 percent off of their entire purchase. Sales all the time on style-savvy clothes? It’s every college girl’s dream!

For a fall-ready look from Tobi, try out their Feel Good Jumpsuit ($54) in black. Wait for a sale or use your new-member discount to get this jumpsuit for only $27. Jumpsuits are very much on trend this season, and they’re easy for us collegiettes to throw on in the morning. Plus, this one is 100 percent cotton, so it’ll feel like you’re in your pajamas, but you won’t look like it! This jumpsuit can easily be taken from day to night with the addition of a statement necklace, like their Double Chain Curb Necklace ($10) and a pair of heels.

2. GoJane

Looking for cheap new accessories to flaunt on campus? GoJane should be your go-to retailer! They have an extensive range of sunglasses, shoes and jewelry for unbeatable prices. Check out their shoe section for trendy new sandals or fun new party shoes; you won’t be worried about trashing these in a frat house basement because of how inexpensive they are. And definitely don’t miss their sunglasses section for some pretty awesome designer-inspired looks, like their Wire Frame Aviator Sunglasses ($3.93), which could pass for Ray-Bans. Wear them with GoJane’s Perfect Basic Scooped Bodycon Dress ($14) and Teardrop Cutout Gladiator Sandals ($26.93), and you’ll have the perfect outfit to transition to fall with.

3. Necessary Clothing

Necessary Clothing is an affordable store with locations only in NYC, so unless you live in the New York area, your best bet is to hit up their website. The store has a ton of really cute tops, so it’s super easy to revamp your wardrobe for the new school year without breaking the bank. Definitely check out their rompers for a great look to transition to fall, like their Brickell Key Jumper ($34.99). The long sleeves make this a perfect choice for fall weather. Wear this look with the Diane Sandal ($21.99).

An added bonus of this site is that it has its own beauty section, so you can get a new head-to-toe look all in one place! Finish off your fall look with Soft Lip Matte Cream in Copenhagen ($6), because a berry lip is very on trend for fall!

4. Nordstrom Rack

For collegiettes who love Nordstrom brands, check out Nordstrom Rack, which gives them to us at a fraction of the cost! Nordstrom Rack is Nordstrom’s outlet store, which carries a lot of the Nordstrom products we love from brands such as Free People, BCBGeneration, Alice + Olivia and Michael Kors at much lower prices. With lots of store locations and a new site online, these discounts are well within the reaches of us college girls. Need a new moto jacket for fall? Pick up Blanc Noir’s Washed Linen Blend and Faux Leather Moto Jacket, originally $120 and now down to $30! When you wear it with Abound Pleather Detail Leggings ($16.97) and the Abound Racerback Pocket Tank ($16.97), you’ll have an edgy new look for fall. How can you resist the chance to get designer clothing for up to 70 percent off? This is a great location for back-to-school shopping for collegiettes who love designer labels at a fabulous discount.

5. boohoo

Originally a British store that now offers free shipping to the United States for orders over $35, boohoo is an affordable option for college girls who like a little European influence in their outfits. boohoo has a ton of items, so it’s nearly impossible to not find what’s missing from your back-to-school wardrobe. Looking for some new sweaters with a twist? Check out their Charlie Crochet Shoulder Jumper ($35.99), which features some gorgeous shoulder details, and wear it with their Neve Paisley Print Joggers ($29.99).

boohoo has a killer sale section, too, where you can get up to 70 percent off their already-low prices. With the sales, the free shipping and the low prices, boohoo is by far one of the best places to score your favorite styles for less.

6. ASOS

If you’re looking to have it all, ASOS is definitely your fashion stop. The site says that you can “shop from over 850 of the best brands, including ASOS’s own label.” That means that not only does ASOS have a lot of clothes, but there are some exclusive styles you can only get from ASOS. And for those of you always envious of celebrity style, check out their CELEBS <3 ASOS section, where you can see celebs rocking ASOS products. You’ll find links to the items so you can get the paparazzi-ready look yourself (without paying designer prices)!

And don’t miss their $30 and Under Dresses section, where you can load up on fall dresses like the New Look Mirror Heart Print Dress ($23.22) or the New Look V Front Skater Dress ($11.61).

7. Forever 21

We couldn’t forget about Forever 21! Last but not least, this store has been a staple in collegiettes’ wardrobes for, well, forever, because of its truly awesome prices. Because of the vast assortment of inexpensive clothing Forever 21 has, everyone can find items to suit their personal style within their price point. Most jewelry is under $10, most tops are under $25 and most dresses are under $30.

One of the best things about Forever 21 is their extensive jewelry collection because of how affordable yet chic it is. Their Scalloped Bib Necklace ($5.80) can instantly take an outfit from day to night. Try it with the Seam-Stitched Shift Dress ($22.80). Gorgeous statement necklaces and dresses at uber-cheap prices—how can we resist?

With these seven awesome stores in your arsenal, affordable shopping has never been easier! Stock up on a new wardrobe before heading back to campus so you can start the school year on a stylish note.

At LGBTQ+ club, you’ll meet some characters as colorful as the pride rainbow itself. From those who love to unleash their controversial opinions to those who are there solely to land a date, with these characters around, there’s never a boring LGBTQ+ club meeting. Here are the 13 types of people we’ve run into at our colleges' LGBTQ+ club meetings.

1. The PC Police

The PC Police is the girl who comes to LGBTQ+ club solely to educate those around her about politically correct LGBTQ+ terms and to scream, “THIS ISN’T A SAFE PLACE” every time someone voices even the slightest of controversial opinions. She doesn’t come to the meetings to make friends or because she or enjoys being social with other queer folks; she comes because it’s her duty as a social justice warrior to make the LGBTQ+ community as politically correct as humanly possible. From her squeaky-clean appearance to her ability to condescend without even trying, The PC Police is the person to avoid at club meetings.

2. The Mute One

The Mute One is the person who comes to every single meeting despite NEVER saying a single word at any of them. In fact, if you’ve ever had to interact with him in a group activity, chances are he stared at you for five minutes and breathed heavily. He’s the type of person who is probably nice once you get to know him… that is, if you can get past his bowl cut and inability to communicate with any being other than his pet tarantula.

3. The Loud and Proud One

From her rainbow-colored suspenders to her overwhelming enthusiasm for everything gay, The Loud and Proud One loves LGBTQ+ club way more than she probably should. She attends every meeting, raises her hand at every possible moment and loves referring to the club members as “one big ole family.” The favorite activities of The Loud and Proud One include watching LGBTQ+-related documentaries, talking about LGBTQ+-related documentaries and twirling a rainbow flag whenever possible.

4. The Aggressor

The Aggressor, The PC Police’s mortal enemy, is the person who comes to meetings solely to stir up controversy. The Aggressor loves to engage in conversations that he knows will upset people, like talking about how gays shouldn’t get married or how bisexuality isn’t really a thing. The Aggressor has very few friends in the club. In fact, he probably hasn’t bothered to learn a single person’s name. It’s unknown to most people why The Aggressor even comes to the meetings when all he does is yell at other people and create tension. Perhaps it’s because if he doesn’t yell at someone at least once a day, he’ll explode.

5. The Activist

The Activist is the person who comes to meetings with an agenda. She wants to change the world, and LGBTQ+ issues are just the tip of the iceberg. She walks into the room with a bandana on her head and a petition in her hand, ready to get the ball rolling. In fact, it’s impossible for her to attend any meeting without mentioning some political rally or bringing a petition for people to sign. Side note: This person generally wears A LOT of denim and/or thinks showering regularly is more of a suggestion than a mandatory thing.

6. The Frisky One

The Frisky One comes to LGBTQ+ meetings for one reason: to get laid. She’s known for her incredibly bad pick-up lines (“Do you have a map? I just keep getting lost in your eyes”) and her effortless ability to make everyone in the room feel uncomfortable. She doesn’t care about LGBTQ+ issues or making friends; she cares solely about finding someone to date or hook up with. You can’t really blame her, though—LGBTQ+ club is kind of an all-gay buffet, after all.

7. The Serial Dater

The Serial Dater is a lot like The Frisky One, except she can actually land dates. In fact, she can’t go more than five minutes without being in a relationship. She loves to go dancing and has more dating applications than a 45-year-old cat lady has cats. If you meet her, she’ll most likely try to put the moves on you, but don’t be fooled; she’s not worth splitting cheesecake with. Besides, she’s probably already dated half the club already.

8. The Newbie

As the name suggests, The Newbie is the person who is coming to Pride Club for the first time. She can come for several reasons: She’s either really interested in joining an LGBTQ+ club, or she’s overeager and signed up for every club mailing list on campus. She LOVES telling you all about what clubs she was involved with in high school and how many parties she’s attended in the few weeks she’s been in college. Don’t waste too much time on her, though; she’ll most likely come to one or two meetings before realizing the club isn’t for her. And if she does come back, prepare yourself for how much she’ll talk about what it’s like to be a freshman.

9. The “What Did He Just Say?” One

Another enemy of the PC Police, this is the person who just doesn’t understand how the LGBTQ+ community works. He tends to unintentionally say and do horrible things without knowing any better, like referring to trans* people as “she-males” or “tr*nnies”. In fact, he most likely thinks “LGBTQ+” is a type of club sandwich. Avoid interacting with this person unless you want to end up being his walking LGBTQ+ dictionary.

10. The Balanced One

The Balanced One is the person who knows how to play both the political and social sides of the group. She makes good points without being condescending, and she knows how to keep things calm. Favorite activities of The Balanced One include redirecting tense conversations, telling mood-appropriate jokes and wishing that someone half as sane as her would come to the club meetings. She generally ends up being the favorite of the group because she’s someone you both respect and like.

11. The Talker

You know the person who can’t go more than 30 seconds without expressing his or her opinion? That’s the Talker. He can’t stand not being able to participate in a conversation, and he squirms whenever the moderator says, “Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t spoken yet.” His favorite activities include interjecting in conversation, starting every sentence with the word “I” and speaking for five minutes straight without having to take a breath. While he may make good points at first, you’ll be wishing he would shut up by the end of the meeting.

12. The Straight Friend

The Straight Friend is the person who was dragged to the meeting because she owes her gay friend a favor. She generally chooses to watch rather than participate, and if she’s asked for an opinion, she’ll most likely mumble a disingenuous response. She loves twirling her hair, counting down the minutes on the clock and trying to seem interested while being completely uninterested.  You’ve got to give her credit for showing up, though!

13. The Ally

Unlike The Straight Friend, The Ally comes to LGBTQ+ club because he truly cares about the community. He attends every meeting and loves to offer up his own perspectives on the topic at hand. He’s quick to defend himself whenever someone questions his ability to comment on a subject, and he loves talking about what drove him to become involved with the LGBTQ+ community (in most cases, his best friend is gay or he has a gay family member). He may not be part of the LGBTQ+ community, but you can be sure he’ll bring the cookies to the Pride Potluck!

With a group of people as colorful as the rainbow, you can guarantee that LGBTQ+ meetings wouldn’t be the same without them!

Grab your suitcase, sunglasses and cameras, collegiettes! Whether you’re embarking on a spontaneous weekend road-trip with your best friends to the city next door or a once-in-a-lifetime semester abroad, we have the five strategies you need to upgrade your travel experience from “economy” to “first class.” The train to Amazing Vacation Station is now boarding…

1. Do some social media research

Unlike our assignments for class, this is one time where using Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to do research is totally encouraged (and an awesome idea). Welcome to the wonderful world of hashtag recon!

It’s super easy to discover the hottest spots or little-known local secrets of wherever you’re going; just search #(insert destination here). For example, if you’re going to Malibu, search #Malibu on Twitter or Instagram to see what people are doing and where they’re going! If you want to see results from all the platforms at once, use Tagboard, a site that will display every social media post with the common hashtag of your choice.

If you have friends or acquaintances that have visited your destination in the past, you should definitely check out their old posts (it’s not stalking if it’s educational!). Ingrid Marquardt, a junior at Boston College, did exactly that. “I did social media research on Orléans and Île de Ré in France before I went!” she says. “We did a kid-swap with a family friend, so I went and stalked Florentine (my French twin for the summer) on Facebook to get a feel of where I'd be staying. I also paid attention to what she was wearing in the different albums. My picture scrolling not only made me more excited about the trip, [but] it [also] informed my packing and helped me create a list of things to expect while there!”

Bonus: if your friend has geotagged a post, you can click on the location and see everyone’s pictures from that spot. That means you can get an inside look at a popular café or nighttime hotspot, tourist destination or famous beach!

2. Create a (loose) plan

Don’t get us wrong: we’re all about impromptu adventures. How else would we stumble upon hidden gems and have crazy stories to share once we’re back with our besties? That said, having an approximate idea of each day’s activities is super helpful and will keep you from wasting time figuring out what to do once you’re actually in Vaca Land.

“Even if you're not a planner,” says Sophie Dodd, a senior at Middlebury College, “I definitely recommend creating some sort of outline of what you want to do while you're traveling. When I studied abroad in Edinburgh, I knew I wanted to hike up Arthur's Seat, tour Edinburgh Castle and visit the Highlands. Having a list of things I wanted to do and places I wanted to go helped me to get the most out of my trip!”

With a list like this in hand (and any reservations you need for activities made in advance), you’ll leave your vacation knowing you did almost everything you truly wanted to do. Plus, the last thing you want to do is have to make big decisions while you’re trying to relax, so make those in advance! Who needs stress?

3. Scout out the location with Skout Travel

One of the best parts about travel is the people you meet—and now, thanks to the app Skout and its popular Skout Travel feature, meeting people is much, much easier. Skout is the world’s largest network for connecting with new people (nearby or around the globe)! You can use it for all kinds of things like finding friends in your college town or getting to know potential dates, but if you’ve got a city in mind you’d like to visit, Skout’s Travel feature is the first of many in this cool app that you’ll want to try.

Here’s how it works: Once you’re signed into the app, you can use the Skout Travel feature to travel anywhere virtually for 24 hours by searching for a location or picking one of the “go-to” destinations like Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney or Tokyo. No need to buy a ticket or hop on a plane! Once you “arrive” on your phone, the app shows you people either close by or with similar interests, along with location-relevant news. In the past eight months alone, Skouters have taken more than 3.4 million “trips” using the Skout Travel feature. Why? Essentially, using Skout allows you to scout out (pun intended) the place that you’re going so you can get the inside scoop from locals and prospective travelers alike about the best spots to visit (and maybe even make plans to meet up)! Sounds like the best vaca ever to us!

If you’re looking for the most amazing vacation ever (and a social one at that), this app is the key to having your best trip yet. Plus, the basic version of the app is free! Whether your trip is right around the corner or only in your daydreams (at least for now), you can make friends and scout locations starting today!

4. Make a realistic budget

Something about being on unfamiliar terrain can make even the most practical collegiette lose control of her wallet. The combination of fun souvenirs, new-to-you stores, amazing (and expensive!) opportunities and tons of restaurants (plus the adrenaline rush of being somewhere different) makes it beyond easy to spend more than you’d like. Way, way more than you’d like.

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but better us than your credit card bill, right?

Keep your expenses in line by creating—and sticking to—a travel budget. Decide in advance how much you’re willing to spend on the trip, then give yourself a realistic amount for each day, taking into account food, shopping, gas or transport expenses, travel knick-knacks and activity costs. This will help you make good decisions on the go: if you’re eating somewhere with $25 entrees, you’ll probably have to skip the parasailing the next day to stay on budget.

5. Don’t wait ‘til the last minute to pack (and pack the essentials)

Let’s admit it: We’ve all done it. Even though we were beyond excited for our trip, we thought we could get away (literally) with procrastinating on our luggage duties. Next thing we know, we’re on vacation with nine pairs of socks and no underwear. Convenient!

In order to avoid this debacle, pack early and wisely. Gabriella Diniz, a senior at Bridgewater State University, recounts that one of the students on her study abroad tour didn't plan ahead and almost missed their flight out because she left her passport at home! Her whole group, in turn, felt her stress as they waited until the very last minute for her mom to come drop it off. Don’t let this happen to you!

When you do pack, don’t forget to bring along all the documents you need along with your other vaca essentials, like your driver’s license, passport, flight confirmations, insurance papers, hotel bookings, etc. We’d recommend making copies of all of these and storing in a separate compartment (not the same one where you’re keeping the actual documents themselves), so if something happens to your first copies, you won’t have an utter disaster on your hands.

Aoi Asano, a junior at Syracuse University, says that she always abides by this tip. “When I travel, especially [to] foreign countries, I usually bring a copy of my passport with me and put the actual passport in the safe at the hotel where I’m staying,” she explains. “Carrying my passport all the time is very stressful and makes me worry [about pickpocketing].” Having everything you need (and keeping it all in a safe place) will make your trip so much less stressful!

We’ve given you all the tools you need to have a fabulous vacation—now go jet set your little heart out!