Many recent graduates are choosing to go to business school to pursue an MBA, or Master of Business Administration. People who attend business school are typically interested in business administration and management, entrepreneurship, marketing and finance. Think of it this way: If the entrepreneurial Chuck Bass had actually gone to college, he undoubtedly would have pursued an MBA afterwards (we just can’t resist a Gossip Girl reference!).

While the head of Bass Industries probably could have bought his way in, the rest of us mere mortals must prove our merit by taking an entrance exam known as the GMAT. Whether you’re familiar with this test or not, it can be a bit daunting to take it, especially if you haven’t studied for a standardized test since your junior year of high school. But with a little help from Her Campus, you’ll be able to ace the GMAT and continue on your way to an MBA!

What is the GMAT?

The GMAT stands for the Graduate Management Admission Test and is the admission test you take to get into a post-graduate business program (think of it as the SAT for business school, only it costs a whopping $250!).

Format and scoring

There are four sections of the GMAT, each with a slightly different format.

• Analytical Writing Assessment: This section lasts 30 minutes and consists of one essay analysis of an argument, which will be graded twice by two different individuals and given a score from 0 to 6 in half-point intervals. The two scores will be averaged to obtain your final score. For an example of a past question, check out this page on MBA.com.
• Integrated Reasoning: This section lasts 30 minutes and consists of 12 questions covering reasoning, graphics interpretation and table analysis, graded from 1 to 8 in single-digit intervals, with no partial credit given. For example, you might be shown a table of data and then be asked to determine the accuracy of a series of statements based on the data given.
• Quantitative: This section is a bit longer, lasting 75 minutes and consisting of 37 questions covering data sufficiency and problem solving, and is graded from 0 to 60. An example of a Quantitative Section question is much more straightforward and could be something like this: “If u > t, r > q, s > t, and t > r, which of the following must be true?” There will be a series of statements, and you will have to choose which statement or combination of statements best answers the question.
• Verbal: This final section lasts 75 minutes and consists of 41 questions covering reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction, also graded from 0 to 60. For example, you might be given a statement and then asked which of the following assertions is best supported by the given statement.

Based on these divisions, you will receive five scores for the GMAT, one for each of the test sections and a total score ranging from 200 to 800. It’s important to note that the total score is based on your Verbal and Quantitative scores, and the Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning sections do not affect your total score.

According to MBA.com, the mean score is 547.35. For perspective, the average score at top-tier business schools is between 710 and 720, but you can check out the average scores at 200 of the best business schools in the world to find one that works for you. There are tons of amazing business schools out there, and you’re bound to end up at one you love, no matter how you score.

How to prepare

That being said, you obviously want to score well, and these five tips will help you prepare and feel confident for the GMAT and earn a spot at one of your top choice business schools!

1. Create a timetable

So, when should you take the GMAT? Most business schools have two rounds of application deadlines, the first being due in September or October and the second due around January. “Every business school sets its own application process,” says Will Taylor, pre-law & pre-graduate advising coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “A student needs to know the deadlines of the schools he or she is interested in before determining his or her own preparation and test-taking schedule.”

Taylor recommends taking the GMAT sooner rather than later. “In general, the GMAT should be taken no later than early in the fall semester, though I would recommend having it completed during the summer before the fall when applications will be turned in,” he says. In other words, if you plan on going right to business school after college, take the GMAT during the summer before your senior year of college or that fall at the latest. Keep in mind that your GMAT scores are valid for five years, so you don’t necessarily have to wait until your junior or senior year to take the test.

You will receive your GMAT scores (minus the Analytical Writing Assessment score) immediately after the exam on an unofficial score report. This report will contain the code you need to check your official scores online. According to MBA.com, within 20 days of taking your exam, you will receive an email with a URL to access your official score report online. Since the turnaround is so rapid, you can take the GMAT in the summer or fall and still meet the business school deadlines around October.

Once you’ve decided when to take the GMAT, it’s time to break out your day planner (or time to purchase one, if you haven’t yet!). You can take the GMAT once every 31 days, but no more than five times in a 12-year period, so pencil in the date(s) you plan to take the test and then work backwards. Schedule in any meetings you might want to have with a graduate adviser at your career center as well as any personal review sessions and the dates and times of any test prep courses you plan on taking.

How much time you give yourself to prepare varies by individual. Some students, like Kevin*, a senior at Harvard University, prepped for only a week before taking the exam, and one or two practice tests were enough to earn him a stellar score. Other students will start studying several months before the GMAT to give themselves plenty of time to read a prep book thoroughly, take a prep class or just become familiar with any potential material that might be on the test. If you’re not sure of the best way to approach your studying, set up a meeting with a graduate adviser at your career center and keep reading to find out more about the options available to you!

2. Familiarize yourself with the test

The official website of the GMAT is a gold mine of information and tools for GMAT preparation, so make sure you’re taking advantage of everything it has to offer! There is a search engine to find the test centers nearest to you as well as a checklist of what to bring to the test center and what to expect on the day of the test to calm any pre-GMAT jitters (and there will be plenty of those, no matter how prepared you are!). And if you’re not sure where you want to apply, there is a tool that allows you to filter schools to find the best program for you and compare your options.

Perhaps the best tool on the website, however, is the GMATPrep Software, which is free for registered users of MBA.com.

Kevin says he took advantage of these study materials when he took the test the summer before his junior year. “I actually just took two practice tests during the week leading up to the test, and did some practice questions on my own,” he says.

The GMATPrep Software includes 90 free questions, two full-length practice tests with answers, a comprehensive math review (perfect for all the humanities majors!) and a step-by-step guide to preparing for the exam.

Kerry, a senior at Bryant University, plans on taking a similar approach. “I plan on studying for the GMAT using the free [GMAT] online prep tests,” she says. “I originally thought about taking a prep course but heard from friends that they are really expensive, and with the registration cost of the GMAT already being $250, if I can save money, I want to!”

Since you’re already paying so much to take the GMAT, it certainly doesn’t hurt to take advantage of the perks that come with it!

3. Invest in a handbook

If you’re the kind of girl who likes to have hard-copy study materials and a hefty book to highlight and annotate, then a GMAT handbook is the way to go. “[One option] is to buy study books and take practice tests on one’s own,” Taylor says. “The benefits of this approach are that one has complete control over one’s schedule and is likely saving hundreds of dollars.”

There are lots of companies that make GMAT prep books, but a safe bet is The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 2015 ($45.95 at MBA.com). Regardless of which handbook you choose, do your best to get your hands on the most recent edition so that you’re up to date on the latest test trends.

These textbooks often contain an overview of the formatting and regulations of the GMAT itself as well as a review of some mathematical concepts. There’s also typically an initial test at the beginning of the book to estimate your GMAT score before working through the textbook. These tests can be super helpful in determining which areas you should focus more on. For instance, if you’re totally set on the reasoning problems but struggling with table analysis, then you know to spend a bit of extra time brushing up on that material. These books will also contain at least one full-length practice test with an answer key, and sometimes up to six tests in one book. If you work through the book as directed, you should notice marked improvement in your score from your initial test to your final practice test.

4. Take a test prep course

Taking a GMAT test prep course is another fabulous means of scoring high on the exam. “The second option is to take a course through a company like Princeton Review or Kaplan,” Taylor says. “The benefits of this approach are expert advice and insider tips as well as a structured schedule to make sure one actually completes one’s preparation.”

Test prep companies like Kaplan,Veritas Prep and The Princeton Review all offer GMAT test prep courses to best suit your time constraints and learning preferences. You have the option to attend private tutoring sessions, a group prep session taught in a classroom or an online prep class, or you can even follow pre-recorded lessons on your laptop or mobile device.

The instructors of these courses are certified to teach GMAT material and have taken and done well on the test themselves, so you’ll be in great hands. These programs are a great way to practice some questions you might see on the GMAT as well as an opportunity to discuss any questions you may have with a certified GMAT instructor. While these courses are expensive, costing anywhere from several hundred dollars for an online prep class to $2,500 for a private tutor, they’re an awesome option for the collegiette who struggles with setting aside study time and is a hands-on learner. Being held accountable for showing up to a prep class will ensure you’re putting in the hours!

5. Daily questions and apps

If you prefer to break the GMAT down into individual questions, download one of the many mobile apps available, like Prep4GMAT, a free app for iPhone and Android devices. This app begins by evaluating your knowledge and estimating your GMAT score and then tailors its study tips and questions to the areas you need to work on.

You can also sign up for daily GMAT questions to be sent to your email address through sites like GMAT Hacks. These questions should take no more than five minutes (give one a whirl on your morning commute!), and they will help to keep your mind sharp and the GMAT more manageable.

There are many different ways to prepare for the GMAT, and the method you choose should be one that works for your personal study preferences. Taylor suggests mixing and matching to create a customized study plan. “Options can be combined to varying degrees, and students should decide what works best for them based on their own study habits,” he says. Whatever your preparation preferences, these five tips for studying for the GMAT are sure to help you a

Between your classes, extracurricular activities and internships, everything you do in college is geared towards landing your dream job. And that dream job? It’s about to get a lot closer than you think.

Enter H’University—the college program brought to you by shaving company Harry’s—a series of expert-taught webinars led by leaders in a variety of industries. We’re talking Eva Chen, Lucky magazine’s Editor-in-Chief; Lauren Bush, Co-Founder and CEO of FEED Projects; David Chang, chef and Founder of Momofuku…and tons, tons more.

H’University is taking it a step further—you won’t just be learning from the best of the best. At the end of the series, you’ll have the option of participating in a challenge where the winners will be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview for a covetable internship at one of more than 50 companies: Michael Kors, Warby Parker, Dormify, TED, Harry’s, and of course, yours truly, Her Campus (and there’s so much more where these came from!).

This amazing opportunity and fast track to your dream job is right around the corner! You have until Tuesday, October 7 to apply—now is the time to take charge of your future!

The independence that comes with college life can be exhilarating and liberating—but it also comes with responsibility, collegiette. Having class for only four hours a day sounds awesome, but it doesn’t mean that you should surf YouTube and online shop your days away. Managing your time wisely is what can make or break your first year of college, so it’s important to have some idea of how you’ll handle all your glorious free time. Her Campus is here to help you with that by taking common high school activities and translating them to college life, so you won’t fall victim to procrastination or get lost in a mountain of unread notes during dreaded midterm week.

During high school you… had sports practice right after school.

In college you should… go to the gym right after class.

Why: Depending on where your classes, dorm, and fitness center are located, sometimes scheduling workouts can be more difficult than you realize. Factor in a shower afterwards with time to make it to your next class or social event and it’s enough to make a collegiette blow off the whole thing. So in order to avoid wasting a good workout day watching Khloe & Lamar reruns, figure out at the beginning of each week how many times you want to work out and when it would be most convenient to go. Write it down in your planner or put a reminder on your phone, so you remember to bring your workout gear with you that day. And once you decide to go, follow through! You wouldn’t blow off high school soccer practice, would you?

During high school you… had a study hall period every day.

In college you should… treat your breaks in between class like study periods.

Why: You may have an hour or two break before your next class, and a nap sounds oh so tempting. But just say no, collegiette! Instead of sleeping or goofing off in between class, bring homework or books with you and find somewhere to study. You don’t have to go all the way back to your dorm; it could be at the library, the student center, or a local coffee shop. Giving yourself time to catch up on schoolwork during the day also frees up your nights, leaving you more time to catch up on your beauty rest and relax.

During high school you… woke up the same time, five days a week.

In college you should… wake up the same time, five days a week.

Why: Adjusting to a sleeping schedule in college can be hard—sometimes your neighbors are loud or your roommates keep you up at night. Not to mention pulling all-nighters and college feeling like one huge slumber party. By going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day during the week you’ll get the right amount of sleep each night and your body will feel more rested. So even if class doesn’t start at the same time every day, try to get yourself on a consistent sleep schedule – it does wonders in the long run. Check out what happens if you don’t get enough sleep in college and you’ll be scheduling a bedtime every night!

During high school you… did your hair and makeup every morning before class.

In college you should… embrace your natural beauty.

It sounds cheesy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true! Don’t let me stop you from rocking a great outfit and killer hair to class, but depending on the feel of the campus, chances are most students go for a more casual look during the week. So wear what you feel most comfortable in—whether it’s skinny jeans and a fierce top or a hoodie and leggings, as long as you still look somewhat pulled-together. You can pick certain days of the week when you want to dress up for class or other commitments, and on off days wear a more relaxed outfit. 

During high school you… had homework assignments to complete at night on a regular basis.

In college you should… devote an hour each night to reviewing notes from class that day, doing the reading, or getting started on future assignments.

Depending on the class, sometimes your entire grade is based on three tests for the entire semester (or even fewer!). No homework or extra credit to fall back on. In order to ensure that you kick butt in your classes you should go over what was taught that day, so instead of learning and then forgetting you’ll be committing it to memory. These ten study tips to get you back in school mode will get you on the right track. Yes, boring we know. But you’ll thank us when test time comes and everyone’s cramming to learn a month of material and you’ve been studying it for a few hours each week already.

While deciding what to wear for a night out can be a weekly struggle for collegiettes, deciding how to perfect your hair and makeup for the occasion can be even tougher. When should you try that red lipstick you’ve been hesitant to wear? When should you wear your hair up, down, straight or curly?

Looking your best (but also appropriate for the occasion) can be tough, but we’ve rounded up the best beauty looks for every night out in college!  

1. Frat party

While they can be the scene of some of your best college memories, frat parties are usually far from glamorous. From the immediate sweat that comes with being in a house packed with far too many people to the probability that someone will spill beer on your shirt, shoes, pants or all of the above, it’s unlikely you’ll return from a frat party in the put-together condition in which you arrived.

Hair

Wearing your hair up or back is not only a super easy way to look effortlessly chic, but will also help you keep a bit cooler when the room heats up as the night goes on. Try a high ponytail, fishtail braid or messy bun; you won’t have to worry about your hair frizzing or falling out throughout the evening.

Makeup

We know frat parties can be synonymous with sweltering heat, but that doesn’t mean you need to ditch your favorite makeup. While there’s no need to break out intense makeup for a night at the frat house, if you want to go a little bolder with your makeup without having to worry about it leaving your face, you have options. Primer is your new best friend. To keep your eye shadow in place, try Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube ($12 at Sephora), which promises all-day (or night!) wear with no creasing. Before you create flawless skin with foundation, bronzer and blush, use Oil-Free Foundation Primer from Laura Mercier ($19.50 at Nordstrom) to make sure that your face stays the way you want it to all night.

“I like to go for a more natural look at frat parties,” says Amanda Paulson, a sophomore at Boston College. “Unlike the bars, clubs or formal events, frat parties are one of the few chances we get to be way more on the casual side, so I like to take advantage of that. I wear a light-color eye shadow like gold or pink with a shimmer and will add a small cat eye or pop of color on my lip to make it casual but still night-out appropriate.”

Like this collegiette, instead of going for an all-around dramatic makeup look, try picking one area to focus on, such as a bold lip or intense eye to keep your look going-out ready but not too over the top.

2. Club

Want to work that updo without getting judged? Ready to rock the smoky eye, bright lipstick and bold blush? A night out at the club is your night to go as big as you want—and expect everyone around you to do the same. Since going to a club is likely a special break from your usual weekend routine of local bars or house parties, there’s no reason not to go big, starting with your hair and makeup.

No matter what your go-to lipstick color choice is, the club is the perfect place to go bold with it.

Hair

When you’re at the club, no hairstyle is off-limits. If you like to sit with your girls and scope out the scene, super-straight hair or big curls are perfect for a fancier night out (and won’t get messed up with the usual drink spillage or intense heat you’re probably used to from typical weekend outings). If you like to tear up the dance floor with your besties, try a sleek ponytail secured with gel from Aussie for a chic style that will last all night long.

Makeup

“I like to wear an intense lipstick when I go to a club with my girlfriends,” says Jenna Turetsky, a junior at the University of Delaware. “It glams up any outfit, and I don’t need to worry about it getting on Solo cups or beer cans like I do at a frat party.”

If a bright lip color isn’t your thing, try dramatic eye makeup, such as a smoky eye, winged eyeliner or a few extra coats of mascara to make your eyes pop. For those looking to make a statement with bold eye shadow, try Almay’s Intense I-Color Collection. The brand offers palettes that are unique to different eye colors and come with step-by-step application instructions.

3. Girls’ night out

Whether you’re going to dinner and a movie with your girls or checking out an off-campus bar, a girls’ night out is the time when you can catch up and look fabulous while doing it.

“I love girls’ night out because my girlfriends and I can get dressed up in our nicer clothes and do our hair and makeup without having to worry about any of it getting ruined,” says Kara Malone, a junior at Lehigh University.

Hair

Girls’ night out can be a great time to try out bold hair and makeup trends you may not want to try in your usual nightlife scene. Try something like a cinched pony, a braid crown, a sock bun or a fishtail braid to switch up your look and keep it casually glam.

Makeup

As for makeup, stay on the lighter side for a GNO. For a simple night, piled on eyeliner or intense lipstick can feel a bit over the top. Instead, keep your look light with a bit of bronzer, blush and a cream eye shadow, such as MAC’s Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($21 at MAC).

4. Bar

The bar scene at every school is different, but it’s likely that the typical dress codes at a few of the go-to bars near campus fall somewhere between the casual wear of house parties and the glamorous duds of your club-clothes collection. Dressing for a bar can be tricky, and hair and makeup can be even harder. How do you look cute without looking like you’re trying too hard? You know the bar is casual, but you also know you’ll probably see every single person you’ve ever hooked up with/had a class with/walked past on the street/met that one time and said you’d hang out but never did, so you want to look your best.

Hair

“The bar feels a bit more dressy to me than a party or casual night out,” says Tiffany Amina, a junior at Northwestern University. What does this mean for your beauty look? “I straighten my hair and curl the ends and spray it so the curls hold throughout the night,” Tiffany says.

Makeup

“As for makeup, I use gel eyeliner and a shimmery shadow with one or two coats of mascara,” Tiffany says. “I usually save a bright lipstick for a fancier occasion, so I tend to just go with a lip gloss for the bar.”

If you want an eyeliner that is guaranteed to stay in place and look great, try Maybelline’s Unstoppable Eyeliner ($7.23), which will make your eyes pop without smudging. If you want a little bit of a lighter look, try a waterproof pencil such as Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner ($4.99-12.99 at Target).

5. Date party/formal

Date parties or any type of formal function are rare excuses to look fancy on a college campus. You may be ditching your LBD for something a bit more sophisticated, so how do you get a beauty look to match?

Makeup

“At formals or date functions, I always try to go for more of a pretty look than a sexy one,” says Anna Tanley, a sophomore at the University of Delaware. “I leave the gray smoky eye look for the clubs and use a lighter shadow, like the Naked Palette from Urban Decay [$54 at Sephora], shimmery lip gloss and then go a little heavy on the mascara and put liquid eyeliner lightly along my top lash line to give the look a bit of edge without going over the top.”  

Unlike a night out at a party, bar or club, you probably have your dress picked out and ready to go long before you decide which shade of eye shadow to wear. This means that you can build your beauty look around your gorgeous outfit!

“My must-have product for a formal party is blush,” says Andrea Lieberman, a senior at the University of Delaware. “If I’m going for a super-girly look, I put a bit of cream blush on the apples of my cheeks. If I want to vamp it up, I use more powder blush along my cheekbone. No matter what you’re going for, blush enhances that look.”

A date party can be a great time to play with flirty styles, such as a pop of pink on your lips or eye shadow in a lighter color, such as pink or a nude palette.

Hair

As you keep your formal makeup light and flirty, do the same for your hair! A formal event means you can go for flirty hairstyles that you may not want to try at house parties or bars. Try soft curls or loose waves, or play with a new part that you haven’t tried before.

No night out at college is ever the same, so your hair and makeup don’t need to be, either! Use these tips to switch up your look for every occasion. Enjoy your nights out, collegiettes! 

Whether you're a Cali girl at heart or a born-and-bred Vermonter, you can't deny that there's something magically distinctive about New England that sets it apart from every other region. Maybe it's the people, the rich American history, the amazing schools or the stunning landscapes that range from rolling green hills and imposing mountain ranges to gorgeous rocky beaches. If you're lucky enough to go to school in this idyllic corner of the country, then you'll definitely recognize these 21 signs you go to college in New England.

1. Your Instagram feed is full of photos like this:

2. It rains too often for heels to ever be a good decision.

You're much better off sticking with New England's footwear of choice:

3. When it comes to beverages, cider (whether of the alcoholic or nonalcoholic variety) is the obvious choice.

4. You know that there's nothing quite like a windswept New England beach.

5. Regardless of which team you were raised to root for, this man is now your hero:

6. Whenever you have a long weekend, Montreal is the obvious choice for a road trip, especially if you're not yet 21.

7. Flannel might as well be your school uniform.

8. Apple-picking is a startlingly common first date.

9. Maybe it's due to your proximity to Canada, but the most popular sport on campus is invariably hockey.

10. NoShavember could be an Olympic sport at your school.

11. You're guilty of wearing sweats under your miniskirt on your walk to frat parties in the winter.

12. There's a 75 percent chance your campus features an idyllic chapel of some sort complete with a prominent spire.

13. You take pride in the fact that you've survived a New England winter.

14. You actually know what the NESCAC is.

It's the New England Small College Athletic Conference, in case you were wondering.

15. You see a lot of this on your campus:

16. And a lot of this:

17. This is your reaction when someone says he or she doesn't ski or snowboard:

18. This is how everyone on campus looks on the first sunny day in March:

19. Dunkin' Donuts is not just a coffee shop; It's a way of life.

20. Class never gets canceled, so this is what you have to do to make it to class during a blizzard:

21. At least one of your professors has an accent like this:

Whether your school is nestled in the bucolic hills and mountain ranges...

... or located along the pictureseque coastline...

... you know just how lucky you are to live and learn in what is arguably the most beautiful part of the country. 

Happy #FollowFriday! You won't find better fashion-spiration than scrolling through your Instagram during class (oops).  Freshen up your feed by following these five models who walked in New York Fashion Week this season!

1. Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

This gorgeous model’s account is so fun to follow because she posts cute, glamorous, and silly pictures—plus, she's a collegiette, too (models, they're just like us, right?). You’ll get your fair share of fuzzy animals, smokin’ outfits, and star-studded photos on this feed.

2. Malaika Firth (@malaikafirth)

If you’re into selfies, inspiring quotes, and beautiful scenery, this model is your girl.  She’s the new face of Prada, and her adorable Instagram is so down to earth—can we please be friends?

3. Cora Emmanuel (@coraemmanuel)

This French model should definitely be on your to-follow list, especially if you love traveling and you're looking for somebody to live vicariously through. We're obsessed with her photos from the gorgeous beaches of Martinique!

4. Kendall Jenner (@kendalljenner)

Our list wouldn't be complete without Kendall! This beauty queen posts everything from glam selfies (and model shots that prove she's the real deal!) to adorable throwbacks of her and Kylie—too cute.

5. Josephine Skriver (@josephine_skriver)

Once you start scrolling through this Danish model's account, you won't be able to stop. You'll find backstage shots from runway shows (she walked for Carolina Herrera this season!), behind-the-scenes images from her photoshoots, and glimpses into her every day life at cafés, the gym, sporting events and more.

Whether you're already feeling nostalgic at the end of fashion week, or are just looking to give your Instagram feed a little extra oomph, you'll want to give these models a follow!

Which account is your favorite, collegiettes?  Let us know in the comments below!

Struggling with the transition from summer to fall? Looking through your closet to find that you have … nothing to wear (#fashiongirlproblems)? You’re going to want in on this—we’re taking you on a massive shopping spree to get you the ultimate head-to-toe fall wardrobe, and we mean everything.

We’ve teamed up with fashion and shopping site SheFindsto give away a $1,000 gift card to Ann Taylor, where you’ll score the most well-rounded wardrobe: structured coats, tailored pants, cashmere sweaters and all the dresses you could dream of (we’re talking everything from work-appropriate to night-out).

You’ll also get $500 to shop at Make Up For Ever, meaning you’ll have the product collection of every beauty obsessive’s dreams: dramatically lengthening mascara, the longest lasting eyeliner (ever), gorgeously pigmented eye shadows—and a stunning red lip, anyone?

We’re not stopping there: Five runners-up will also receive a $100 Make Up For Ever gift card! Don’t delay on your fall wardrobe overhaul—enter to win HERE!

It’s getting cold out there, ladies! Not like the type of cold that requires three pairs of leggings under your pants and four parkas just to keep you from freezing (although that type is coming, believe us)—but the type of cold where you walk out your door in the morning and are confronted by a chill big enough to confirm that yes, summer is over.

In preparation for the autumnal chill that is just around the corner, as well as the hopefully-not-polar-vortex winter that is also fast approaching (sorry), we’ve rounded up some of the coziest cashmere options on the shelves right now. From gloves to sweaters, we’ve got you covered – and all for under $100! You’ll be able to leave your dorm in the morning warm, cozy and ready to take on the day.

1. Oversized cardigan

Sweater, UNIQLO, $99.90

Slip this luxurious cardigan over any outfit to complete your look and keep you warm. We love the borrowed-from-grandpa look as well as the fact that this is maybe the most affordable cashmere cardigan in the world.

2. High-tech gloves

Gloves, Portolano, $45

Send rapid-fire text messages without sacrificing your hands to the frozen air with these functional and stylish gloves. We love the bright emerald color, which will add some interest to your winter gear, and are obsessed with the iTouch technology, which lets you type on a smartphone screen without having to take your mittens off!

3. Warm Beanie

Hat, UNIQLO, $29.90

Throw this cashmere beanie on to hide a bad hair day or “top off” an awesome outfit. The blue hue goes with virtually anything, at $29.90, it’s a price you seriously can’t beat. 

4. Socks fit for a princess

Socks, J.Crew, $88

Word on the street is that Kate Middleton herself wears cashmere socks from Corgi Hosiery, so why shouldn’t you, too? These indulgently soft socks will protect your feet from the elements, no matter how cold or wet the outdoors may be. Tuck them into boots or wear ‘em around the house in lieu of slippers and may your feet be happy for all time.

5. Scarves for Infinity

Scarf, Portolano, $65

This ivory infinity scarf can also be worn as a snood (scarf-hood) with any of your favorite cold-weather ensembles. The silhouette is super chic, so don’t be surprised if you’re mistaken for a street-style star whilst traversing campus with a scarf like this one around your neck.

With cashmere like this, who cares how cold it gets outside? Stay chic (and warm!), collegiettes! 

College apartments are notorious for being dirty and small, two very unfortunate things for young women like ourselves who just want to feel fabulous at home. Not to mention the fact that it’s hard enough living off more than ramen noodles on a college budget, let alone decorating an apartment to our liking. Once you’ve taken care of the essentials, how are you supposed to be able to actually decorate your apartment? Well, we have three letters for you: DIY. If you’re moving into your new apartment or trying to update your old one, here are some perfect tricks and tips to upgrade your apartment!

1. Create more storage

Any apartment can start to feel cramped when you and your roommates are trying to fit all your belongings in a tiny space. Not to mention studio apartments can literally feel like living in a box. Finding creative and simple ways to give yourself more storage space will do wonders for you and your humble abode. This clothing rack idea from Apartment Therapy is super easy to do and can help when we all commit the cardinal sin of over-packing, because, let’s be honest: A. We will never learn our lesson, and B. We obviously need a different dress for every weekend out.

Supplies:

• Rope
• An old curtain rod
• 2 hooks
• Hot glue gun

Directions:

• Glue the rope so that it wraps around the rod to cover the full surface.
• Screw 2 hooks into the ceiling (make sure they’re secured).
• Knot the rope in a loop at your desired length and hang it from the hooks.
• Slide the rod through the loops, and voila!

2.  Use unconventional seating

No one wants ratty old couches that smell like booze left behind by the former tenants. But it’s also insanely expensive to buy new furniture for an unfurnished apartment. That’s why it’s time to get the creative juices flowing and think outside the box (and by box, we mean your dinky little apartment)! Couches made out of up-cycled palettes are an awesome fix that will suit your budget. You can personalize a DIY couch, like this idea from HomeJelly, way more than some tan leather couch you’d get at Target (no hate, Target; we still love you). They even allow for plenty of storage space beneath for books, movies and whatever else your little heart and your littler apartment desire!

Supplies:

• 6 wood pallets (get from old warehouse or grocery store and see if they’ll give any away)
• Sandpaper
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Cushions and pillows
• Flat brackets and screws

Directions:

• Sand down pallets, especially edges and corners, so that the surfaces are smooth.
• Paint pallets the desired color and let dry.
• To secure the pallets, screw a flat bracket onto the top and bottom pallets (on each end), and then secure another onto the top front and back of each pallet group to secure them together.
• Cover with cushions and pillows.
• Enjoy your cozy new couch!

3. Make your own headboard

If you’re anything like us, your bed is probably your best friend, significant other and home sweet home. That’s why you gotta show it some love (and that doesn’t mean breaking the bank). Crafting your own headboard is an awesome way to revamp your bedroom and give your bed flair. The possibilities are endless and can be as extravagant or as simple as you want. No reason you need to go splurge on some fancy bedframe, or worse, suffer through a hand-me-down covered up with carvings of, “Kate loves Bill” and, “Randy wuz hereee.” Try this idea from Mr. Kate.

Supplies:

• Tapestry/fabric
• Hammer
• Nails

Directions:

• Secure tapestry on the wall behind your bed using nails. (Tip: Use fewer nails to make the fabric hang more loosely.)
• Nail the hanging fabric along the ceiling above the bed at your desired length.
• Enjoy your fashionable little cave/headboard! 

4. Make a mug mural

Kitchens in college apartments can be a little lacking when it comes to storage. It can be hard to find a place for everything, and pretty soon things start to get cluttered, dishes pile up in the sink and you just eat Easy Mac for a week until you can address the wreckage that is your kitchen without running off scared (okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration). Showcasing your coolest and cutest mugs is one way to not only make room in your cabinets for your other dishes, but also decorate your kitchen without causing you to spend all of your hard-earned pennies.

Supplies:

• A thin slab of wood
• Hooks
• Nails
• Hammer                                                            

Directions:

• Scatter the hooks in rows across the wood, leaving space for your mugs.
• Mount the piece of wood on your desired spot on the wall (preferably at eye level for easy access).
• Hang your mugs and admire your new functional and fashionable mug mural!

5. Skip the frame

Washi tape may or may not be God’s gift to college students. It’s seriously awesome and perfect for decorating your walls without permanently ruining them. There’s nothing landlords love more than gypping you out of your security deposits for the tiny holes all over the wall from your decorations. That’s why instead of hanging pictures and paintings, you can (and should) literally just print them out, tape them on the wall, and frame them with this wonder tape. You can even use the tape itself to make designs to break up the monotonous white walls you were stuck with.

Supplies:

• Washi tape (you can purchase it at any craft store in the scrapbooking section for around $5 a roll)
• Ruler

Directions:

• Using the ruler to keep things straight, frame your pictures.
• Tape in patterns and designs.
• Go wild and let your creative side out!

6. Make your own shelves

Dressers and bookshelves can be expensive, and most apartments are unfortunately not stocked with shelves where you can put all of your things. So instead, it’s beyond cheap and easy to make your own shelves. If you have an old ladder lying around at home, all you need are some wooden boards, and you’ve got yourself plenty of space to put books, movies and plants—even the TV if a TV stand is out of your budget. The best part is that you can adjust the shelves to whatever height you need to fit your things. It doesn’t get more convenient that that!

Supplies:

• Ladder (preferably wooden)
• Wooden planks (can be recycled from an old bench or purchased)
• Hammer and nails (optional)

Directions:

• Open up the ladder and place it against wall in your desired location.
• Place the planks through ladder rungs, leaving hangover wood off the edges for balance.
• Nail the planks to the steps if you want to secure them for heavier objects.
• Stack your new shelves with your favorite reads and décor!

You should love coming home to your apartment, and nothing will make you feel more at home than cute decorations and an organized living space. Not to mention you’ll still have money in your wallet to spare, so maybe splurge on those shoes you’ve been dying to get (shoe obsession is a real thing, but the first step is acceptance). Good luck with making your apartment just as fabulous as you are!

You’ve finally settled into your dorm, the dining hall has become significantly less intimidating, but suddenly, your college relationship is facing the dreaded “one month” hurdle. For long-distance couples, the first four weeks apart tend to be the “make it or break it” period. For hook-ups, that first month is the expiration date for the “casual” label. And for crushes, 28 days is just long enough for all that sexual tension to boil over. So whether you’ve been dumped by your long-distance beau or want to take your flirting to the next level, we’ve compiled a list of potential scenarios and talked to collegiettes and experts to help you through it!

Problem #1: Your long-distance relationship is having issues.

You promised one another that your love was stronger than the cost of a cross-country plane ticket. You agreed on daily Skype sessions and hourly texts and weekly phone calls. But four weeks is a long time and in the grand scheme of things, you’re barely out of the starting gate. You’re beginning to second guess your decision to remain in a long distance relationship. But how do you bring that up with your significant other?

“You have to approach the topic carefully,” says Frances from University of Rochester, who's been in a long distance relationship going on four years. “For me, we both wanted to stay together but we had very different ideas about what college and freshman year are all about. To be completely honest, I think entering freshman year in a long distance relationship is a mistake unless you truly believe you can grow on your own and branch out at school without feeling held back by your partner.”

If you feel the guidelines that you set before leaving for college aren’t working, you need to be honest with him. If you’re most comfortable writing out your thoughts, send your significant other an email laying out the issues you feel have arisen; conversely, if you work best face to face, set aside a Skype time when you’ll both be able to be alone in your respective dorms and talk openly.

Kelsey from West Virginia University has been dating her boyfriend since senior year of high school (despite the fact that he attends college in Florida), and she’s got a litany of long-distance tips. “A weekly time that you reserve for each other is really nice!” she says. Other suggestions include a “Netflix date” (sharing a Netflix account and watching a movie at the same time), and surprise care packages.

But Kelsey warns, “Also, you have to stay honest with each other while you're apart. Feelings can change, and they need to know if that happens. Long distance relationships are all about trust and if you don't have that it's not going to last very long.”

And if you do ultimately decide that you want to end things, wait until you’re able to meet face to face.“No one wants the rep of being that girl who dumped her guy via text, even though of course it's way more convenient - especially if you're out of town,” says Jen Kirsch, Relationship Expert on Cosmo TV's Love Trap. “Talk to him in person and be direct. Let him know that this is what will be best for you.”

While it may not feel like it at first, the forced distance between you and your ex is a blessing. You will never have to worry about running into him on the way to class, and you will never see him having a dance floor make-out sesh. But as we all know, physical proximity is just one piece of the relationship puzzle. Sever all your social media ties (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), because there’s nothing more heart-wrenching than getting a notification that your ex is “now in a [new] relationship.”

Once you begin the healing process, the social scene at school may seem a bit daunting. “To move on mentally and socially, take part in activities on campus,” Kirsch suggests. “Go to networking events, join a club of like-minded people. Perhaps take up yoga or get a gym membership. These things will empower you and make you feel better about your present state.”

Problem #2: You and your hook-up buddy still need to define the relationship.

Maybe you met a party, in class, or at the inaugural meeting of the poetry club, but something clicked, and suddenly you’ve been smooching the same guy for four weeks. As amazing as it’s been, you realize that you’re looking for something more serious. Having the “what are we?” conversation can inspire fear even in the bravest of souls, but it’s a necessary talk.

“Unfortunately, I think hook-up culture results in people spending a lot of time pretending they’re the person in the relationship who cares less, which leads to people being dishonest with one another,” says Beth from Kenyon College. “At the end of the day, it’s important to be completely straightforward and forthcoming. Pretending that you don’t want something more serious will only lead to hurt feelings, and the truth will come out eventually anyway.”

Try asking him to meet you in a public place - if your current relationship is purely sexual and you’re looking for something more, meeting in a dorm room is probably not the best idea. Lay out how you feel.

If he’s unwilling to make a commitment, be honest with yourself. Can you stand to be in a relationship that, in all probability, doesn’t have much of a future? If the answer is no, then you need to make clean break. “We teach people how to treat us by what we're willing to put up with,” Kirsch says. “Don't accept something or settle in hopes that he'll change. If you express that you've developed feelings and he doesn't feel the same way, walk away with your pride held in tact and find someone who thinks you're worthy enough that they don't want to lose you.”

The rules are the same if you’re the one unwilling to up the serious level: be upfront about your desire to remain casual. “If you’re not looking for a serious commitment, it’s equally as important to be honest with them,” Beth says. “People often think what they want to think about what a relationship is, and it’s incumbent on you to be explicit about what you want.” Sometimes, it’s painful to end a relationship with someone you care about, but it’s not fair to either party if there’s a discrepancy in dedication. Know that what you’re doing is, in the long run, the best decision for both parties. He’ll be able to find someone who’s willing to commit, and you’ll be able to keep on keepin’ on.

Problem #3: Your crush has yet to make a move.

For the past month, you’ve been sitting next to each other in that Econ class, eyeing one another from across the dining hall, and casually working into conversations your total and complete single status. The level of sexual tension is almost unbearable. But before you start smooching, ask yourself seriously how you’ll feel the morning after. Or the Monday after, in class.

That being said, there’s nothing hotter than unrequited love becoming requited. If you’re interested in getting to know him better, “start incorporating your crush into your daily life,” suggests Kirsch. “Does he have Snapchat? iMessage? Facebook Chat? Keep him in the loop about what you're up to, how your day was, what a pain you think your teacher is, etc., by using these methods to help build a foundation for a friendship. The benefit of this is that once you exchange messages, you can get a sense of who he really is, not just your superficial impression of him. This will help you decide if he's even worth pursuing in the first place.”

As happens to the best of us, sometimes crushes do not translate well to an actual hook-up, and you have the rest of a semester to spend together in a class. Take a deep breath. Do not panic. Acting immaturely will just prolong the awkwardness. Freshman year, I completely ignored a failed hook-up for the rest of the class, even though he repeatedly sat next to me. Four years later, he still remembers my cold shoulder and it completely ruined our friendship. That said, don’t feel pressured to have extended conversations or force yourself to become besties. The best you can do is keep your head up, smile, and try to move on. Everyone has embarrassing moments in their love life timeline, and there is no level of humiliation that isn’t helped by a basic level of politeness and time.

If you’re looking for some extra spending money, why not use your Internet expertise to make some cash? There are plenty of ways to get paid for your talents online. You don’t have to be a web genius to get noticed—it’s actually much simpler than you’d think! Many websites are willing to pay you for your feedback or your creativity. Check out these tech-savvy ways to make some extra money!

1. Offer your opinions

If you’re the type of person who enjoys giving feedback, surveys are a great way to make money. Some of these survey sites pay you a flat fee per survey, while others pay you based on your involvement. Sites such as MySurvey and Swagbucks  offer different opportunities to participate in consumer research. You can review different products and services and sometimes make up to five dollars per survey or get paid in gift cards.

“I took online surveys this summer to make extra money, and it was super easy,” says Elise Chapdelaine, a junior at Michigan State University. “I made a decent amount, and most surveys only took up to 15 to 25 minutes.”

2. Use your social media expertise

Calling all social media queens! Believe it or not, you can use your Twitter skills to make money. Sites like IZEA actually give you money to tweet out updates in order to promote companies’ brands. You can sign up for free to be a creator, as long as you have a substantial Twitter following. All you have to do is explain why you would be a good promoter for a specific company, and you can make up to $50 for just a few tweets. Why not get paid to go hashtag crazy?

3. Get paid for your photos

We’re all guilty of getting a little snap-happy with our camera phones from time to time, but don’t delete any photos just yet! There are tons of stock photo websites that will buy your most artsy pictures. With Foap, you can post photos online or through the iPhone app for companies to browse. You can upload as many photos as you want, and if one gets chosen, you make an easy five dollars. You may just end up seeing your photo on a major advertisement, collegiettes!

4. Make money with your sense of humor

Not only is writing articles good practice and a resume builder, but some websites will actually offer you money for it! If you love writing and have a great sense of humor, try submitting your work to CollegeHumor. If the editors like your article, you can make a flat fee of $25 dollars. An added bonus is that the more online traffic your piece gets, the more money you can make!

Making money online is simple and can help you develop awesome skills for the future. With these methods, you can make your own hours and participate as often as you want! Whether you love photography, writing, giving your opinions or even tweeting, there’s an opportunity out there for you.

Why Starbucks is spelling your name wrong. [Esquire]

People at New York Fashion Week are full of it. [Elite Daily]

The last 9/11 rescue dog. [Bustle]

The Columbia rape survivor carrying her mattress around gets a big helping hand. [Mic]

Dad and daughter get down to ‘Shake it Off.’ [The San Francisco Globe]

10 types of boyfriends you dated in high school. [PopSugar http://www.tressugar.com/Iconic-High-School-Boyfriends-From-Movies-10733507]

12 new fall shows to obsess over. [YourTango]

The solution to yoursoda habit. [Newser]

The ultimate‘90s trivia quiz. [BuzzFeed]

There is a thing called a selfie sombrero. [Pocket Lint]

Remember the good old days of college, when the most important decisions you had to make were things like what classes to take, who to sit by on the first day and whether or not to blow off your psych lecture… again? Alright, so maybe the early years had a bit more weight than that, but when you have to decide whether or not to write an honors thesis, those decisions seem like child’s play. 

Now, you face a new, more daunting question: Do you want to dedicate much of your final year in college to grueling hours of research and writing a lengthy project of your own devising? Depending on your school, the details of what your honors thesis will entail might differ, but typically, honors theses are long papers on an original research topic related to your major. Usually, on top of this, students will have to present and defend their findings to a panel. The bottom line? No matter which school you attend, the process is going to be both tough and rewarding.

So if you’re going back and forth on whether to take on an honors thesis, check out our tips on making sure it’s really for you. 

Good reasons to write an honors thesis

There are plenty of reasons to write an honors thesis, but let’s be real – some are better than others. Or, more specifically, some are more likely to lead to success than others. If you don’t want to crash and burn while working on your thesis, here are some reasons to write one that you should listen to. 

Intellectual curiosity 

Repeat after me: you have to be interested in your thesis. You have to be interested in your thesis!  Taking on a thesis when you’re not passionate or curious about the subject matter will turn the process into an unbearable chore. Chances are, your shoulders will already be piled high with obligations you’re not excited about – last-minute classes you need to take in order to graduate, the dreaded job search, grad school applications… the list goes on. The last thing you need is another project (especially one so large) that makes you groan. 

Instead, look at your honors thesis as a way to pursue something you’re curious about. As a project of your own devising, you’ll have the power to make it more exciting and catered to your interests than many of your previous projects. 

“Simply put, you will be smarter,” says Gary Alan Miller, the former senior assistant dean of academic advising at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The depth of work required will truly help you process your world differently.”

Developing skills for after graduation

We’ve all heard of the elusive post-grad “real world” and have joked about how college has left us woefully unprepared for it. Honors theses are a great way to cultivate some skills you might actually use after graduation so you can at feel more prepared. 

“While it can vary greatly from project to project, I think the number one skill one can develop during an honors thesis is critical analysis,” says Miller.  “Of course, a thesis should also hone your writing skills.  But one might also use creativity to discover your topic, networking skills to interact with people who can help and, of course, research skills in developing the work.” 

Not to mention, you’ll have hard proof of your abilities to work independently on long-term projects, and what employer doesn’t want to see that? 

Even if these skill sets seem particular to some majors and future careers more than others, Miller stresses that a common error in thinking about honors theses is that your major should be a large deciding factor in your decision-making process. In his opinion, students in every major should consider the possibility of writing one.

“One of the great advantages of the university is the generation of knowledge, and there are interesting topics to be explored across all disciplines,” he says. “While there may be some fields that students associate with an honors thesis more than others, it is a misconception that there is more benefit or appropriateness for them.”

Developing a relationship with a professor

If you’re lucky, by now you have at least one professor who you’ve gotten to know outside the classroom. It can be tough, especially with big lecture classes, but it can be done. Writing an honors thesis provides the unique opportunity to take these relationships one step further.

“It was kind of impossible for my adviser and me to not to become friends,” says Beatrice Kim, who recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in psychology. “He coached me through my panic and crisis of wanting to change research topics, and was really a mentor to me.” 

You’ll be working one-on-one with your faculty adviser, and chances are, you’ll come out with an even stronger relationship and a mentor whose help will extend past your graduation. That was definitely the case for Beatrice, who scored a job on her faculty adviser’s recommendation. 

But don’t just think of the post-grad benefits of this relationship. Having a strong relationship with your faculty adviser will likely enrich your research experience, provide invaluable mentorship and give you an excuse to pick the brain of talented and intelligent professors. 

“I am working with one of my favorite professors,” says Rachel Markon, a Northwestern University senior currently pursuing her honors thesis in history. “I was in a class with him last winter and it was the best history class I’ve taken. His work isn’t exactly in what I’m writing about, but it’s within the same concentration, and he’s so generally good at teaching and thinking that I wanted to work with him regardless. It was stressful to ask, but it ended up being great.”

Bad reasons to write an honors thesis

Like we said, there are plenty of reasons to pursue an honors thesis—but not all of them are good. Hint: if the following are the only reasons why you want to write a thesis, you might want to consider your priorities. 

Recognition

Admittedly, the fantasy is a good one. You spend your senior year working diligently on your honors thesis, and the end product is an impressive, 30-page paper that you will be able to brag about at dinner parties to future employers and to potential partners alike. Your research, so impressive and thorough, will be noticed by prominent scholars in your field, and next thing you know, you’re doing presentations, talking on panels, getting quoted in books—

Alright, alright. It all sounds good, but unfortunately, very rarely is the incentive of that fantasy about enough to keep you motivated all year. It might be a warm thought on a particularly rough night that will keep you chugging along, but without personal passion in the topic itself, it won’t be enough to keep your honors thesis afloat. 

Beatrice learned that the hard way. “I picked a thesis that I had no interest in because I wanted something that sounded impressive,” she says. “I wound up having to switch halfway through because I just couldn’t get myself to do it. In the end, my thesis was something I was actually passionate about, but I really wish I had picked it from the beginning.” 

You feel like it’s expected

Maybe you don’t want to write an honors thesis, but there is pressure for you to do so. Whether you feel like all of your classmates in your major are pursuing an honors thesis and you should too, your parents are breathing down your neck about the prestige or even a professor keeps less-than-subtly encouraging you to take one on, it can be hard to say no. 

Sure, we all learned to say no to peer pressure forever ago, but sometimes, turning your back on an extra work can make you feel like your time at school was less than a success. Don’t let it. Choosing to write an honors thesis should be your decision and no one else’s, so don’t be afraid to just say no. All the peer pressure in the world won’t be enough to push you through to the end if you don’t want to do it. 

Is writing an honors thesis for you?

Okay, so you’ve done some soul-searching and decided that you want to write an honors thesis. There are still things to consider: 

Do you have the time and energy to put into such a project? 

We’re not kidding when we say an honors thesis will be a huge time suck, so make sure you consider your schedule and your other goals you have for senior year. You might have to make some sacrifices to fit it in, so think carefully. Your schedule isn’t going to magically expand to accommodate a large project just because you really, really want it to. 

Do you have the faculty connections? 

While growing close to your faculty adviser is a great perk of writing an honors thesis, you’ll need someone to fill that role so it can happen. Make approaching a professor or potential adviser one of the first things you do and hammer out the details. You don’t want to get attached to an idea only to find that you don’t have faculty support to help you do it. 

If you’re nervous about getting an adviser, plan ahead. Rachel suggests going in for a professor’s office hours a few times to test the waters and build a relationship before asking them to help you. 

Do you actually have an idea? 

Just checking. It’s totally okay if your ideas are still in their incubation period, but sooner or later (or really, better sooner than later), those thoughts will have to move from the abstract to the concrete. Save yourself the headache and make sure you have a few to kick around with your faculty adviser!

Honors theses don’t have to be scary things. Sure, they can be exhausting, time-consuming and a bit daunting, but if you consider all of the above enough to make an informed decision, they can be exciting challenges. Weigh the pros and cons, talk to advisers and give yourself enough time to decide, and then, don’t be afraid to dive right in – and okay, we guess you can indulge in that those post-theses fantasies we talked about earlier. You deserve it. 

In my earliest memories, I am spinning. My eyes are glued to a sea of stormy skies and beneath my feet the packed earth smells of the coming rain. I am in Mexico. I am surrounded by laughter, and I bathe happily in the warmth of my family’s bubbling Spanish speech. I am home.

Then, life goes on fast-forward. My father had been in the United States for the first eight years of my life, visiting only a couple times per year, before deciding it was time that our family should be reunited. I remember my mother asking me if I wanted to go the U.S. I remember, more importantly, only thinking how exciting it would be to have a family that was always together. Months later, our suitcases were packed, and we passed the border as my little sister and I napped in the backseat of a car. We entered illegally into the United States, though then, as now, I did not understand how a human being could be illegal. All I knew was that I would have my mother and my father in this wondrous place talked about in longing whispers back home. Oh, but no, I had to remind myself, this was my home now.

Nothing was harder than being submerged unaware into a sea of cold English syllables. In the days before coming to the U.S., my mother had proudly shown me my Mexican report card. I had perfect grades. It was then with incredible confusion that I saw my English scores in the United States sink dismally low. But I learned, because I had to. I learned English at what I’m told was a remarkable pace. I became a little prodigy, and I proved to myself and to my mother that I was still smart and that I could not only float but swim in this foreign American culture. I was in all the advanced classes offered at my school. Simply because of the rural South’s lack of diversity, all of my friends were white, and for years I struggled to balance being a normal "American" girl with the silent demands from my family that I remain Mexican. But I felt American.

It was so easy to pretend for years that everything was normal. I was in high school, and I had a boyfriend. I won academic awards, and I was thought to be a good artist in my community and in school competitions. None of my friends or teachers knew I was undocumented, and I led a very sheltered life, never actually feeling the sting of prejudice that I know many people in my position have dealt with. I did not have a driver’s license, but I never needed one. After all, my friends and family were always around to take me wherever I needed to be. I was, outside of this particular circumstance, very happy. High school was a great experience for me... until I had to begin applying to college. Then, during my senior year, I learned the best and most heartbreaking news of my life: I had gotten into an Ivy League school.

I must make it very clear—I am not a victim. I have an incredible mother, an incredible family, and incredible friends. And yet, my senior year of high school was tiring. Tiring would soon become a very familiar word. It was expected that I would go on to college. After all, I was voted most likely to succeed. But when it became clear to my counselor that I was “illegal,” however, everything changed. In order to attend most universities in the United States, you must either be a citizen or permanent resident or come to study on a student visa. My counselor did not know what to do for me and told me, “It’s your job to find out how to get into college in your position, and your job to tell me, so that I can help others.” I felt, for the first time, helpless. It turns out I’m not very good at being helpless, so I did everything in my power to look for information. I found out that someone in my position could theoretically go to college in the U.S. as an international student. I spent entire nights poring over schools and means by which to get into particular colleges. My family makes a modest living, so I had to find a way to pay for college as well. The Ivy League, I found, was unique. All they looked for was hard work and the potential to do well. Once accepted, students are offered sufficient financial aid to finish school. I needed to get in, and so I got to work.

I took my SATs and SATIIs, and I started applying. I prayed harder than I have ever prayed, but as the months passed, looking at my mother’s apologetic face as tears streamed down in frustration became harder. It wasn’t her fault, and it wasn’t my fault, but I hadn’t made the choice to come to a country that didn’t want me. And I felt unwanted, and I felt alienated. And I cried. Alone and hidden, I would hold onto my chest, because it felt like it was caving in. I come from a place in Mexico where no one actually goes to college, especially not girls. Even as a child, it was one of my biggest fears. So, here I was, my fear coming true, and I could do nothing but try to re-learn how to breathe when panic would overtake me at the thought of working menial jobs or being sent altogether back to a place across the border that I no longer knew. As Latinas, we don’t inconvenience people with our emotions, with our tears. We are taught to be strong. I cried alone, and I waited until I received the impossible email that changed my life.

“Congratulations!” That one word sent my mother, my older sister, and me into a mess of hugs and tears. I had been admitted into an Ivy League school, and in turn my tuition was covered. The institution knew I was undocumented but did not ask that I get a student visa to protect me. We had filed for permanent residency after I had applied and the promise that I would eventually be here legally was enough for them. From then it was a hustle and bustle to get everything ready for me to go in the fall. I couldn’t fly because I did not have a legal driver’s license, so my father drove me to get to school. I returned home for breaks via bus, but it was all worth it... until an Immigration Customs Enforcement officer stepped onto the bus and asked if I was a United States citizen. It was completely random and nothing less than terrifying.

I speak perfect English, and they are not allowed to ask for documentation if you say you are a citizen. So, I lied, and they moved on. I was left in my seat, staring at my reflection on the window. My heart was beating faster than it had ever beat, and it was with detached surprise that I thought how remarkably normal I looked. When I got home, I broke down in my mother’s arms. This happened twice over a period of two years. Finally, we decided the gamble was too much. I would not go back home. I had to finish college, and we couldn’t risk shattering my dreams.

I have not seen my family for a few years. I have felt smaller and more helpless than I could have ever imagined. I have been angry and confused. I have broken down at odd moments, because I could simply not do anything else. With time, I learned to accept and to live one moment at a time. Not long ago, I had occasion to break down once more... in happiness. In 2012, President Obama changed everything for people like me. With his executive decision to grant individuals in my position the ability to work legally in the United States, I am one step closer to being the normal "American" girl I have always perceived myself to be.

Let this be clear: this is a story about happiness.

I will be the first in my family to graduate from college, and I will be the first Ivy League graduate from my town. Many people will not understand my story, and many American citizens will be angry that I am here. I know that I will not receive empathy from everyone. But I will say this: I am not an expert or a teacher, but I am a person—a person who is, more than anything else, just like anyone reading this. I offer my story in hopes that it touches some of you, and that it makes others like me feel as if they are not alone.

I remain a firm believer that people cannot be illegal.

In my happiest memories, I am spinning. I am spinning around my mother in our home; I am spinning with my niece in my arms. I am spinning with my friends, giggling as we sit by the river and contemplate our futures. In my happiest memories, I am here, and I am home.

Do you have a story to share? Submit your story to Her Story!

Summer is finally over, and that means packing up and moving out of the house. In our excitement to be free and flying out of the nest (finally), we may have developed a couple of expectations about what it would be like in the beautiful, disgusting and ever-entertaining jungle that is dorm life. Because despite the odor, chaos and awkward coed living, our dorm is our home away from home, and the independence is totally worth the shower fungus... we think. 

Expectation:

Waking up bright and early for a new, exciting day of college each morning. 

Reality:

Expectation: 

Cheerful morning chats with floormates in the charming and clean communal bathrooms.

Reality:

Expectation:

Becoming BFFLs with your roommates and staying up late having heart-to-hearts and slumber parties with your floormates every night until you fall asleep. 

Reality:

Most of your nights end like this.

Expectation:

Beautiful interior design that resembles the Hogwarts dormitories or better. 

Reality:

Think less Harry Potter and more Orange Is the New Black. 

Expectation:

Flirting with the emotionally mature and stunningly handsome guys on coed floors. 

Reality:

Some of them still need some time...

Expectation:

Your dorm will be decorated to Anthropologie levels of perfection.

Reality:

Expectation: 

You'll fill the room with your amazing summer DIYs that show off your creativity and crafting prowess. 

Reality:

Let's just say there's a reason we’re not all majoring in Fine Arts. 

Expectation: 

Becoming a microwave genius and creating gourmet meals with your microwave-only cookbook. 

Reality:

Expectation:

Spending time in the dorm kitchen really learning how to cook and making your own meals with fresh ingredients. 

Reality:

Expectation:

Finding a personal mentor and friend in your loving and doting RA.

Reality:

Expectation:

Being totally a totally independent, mature adult living on your own with no need to call home.

Reality:

Expectation:

Partying every night with your live-in friends. 

Reality:

Expectation:

A crazy awesome time that you’ll have a ton of stories to tell about when it’s over. 

Reality:

Even better. 

Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

What do I talk about with those whom I meet at orientation over text? We are in the same major, but that's the only thing we have in common that I know about. – Amy

Amy,

I remember orientation vividly. It was full of random small talk, free food (lots of chocolate chip cookies—no complaints here!) and wondering if the people I was speaking with would be long-lasting friends or passing acquaintances. Everyone is in the same boat of being both excited and nervous for college life, and once everybody in your class year gets together during welcome week activities on campus, you can all share in that awkwardness together!

The process you’ll take on how to talk with people you met at orientation totally depends on when your orientation was. If it’s right before the start of school, you can text to arrange meet-ups and just get to know them in person after you experience all of the equally awkward welcome week activities. On the other hand, if it’s months before school starts, texting isn’t the only answer. Try using a group chat on Facebook, which is a great way to get to know one another. You may have done this to start conversation with your randomly assigned new roommates, too. When you use Facebook chat instead of texting, more people can get involved in the conversation. Plus, it puts less pressure on responding right away, which is nice when you’re just getting to know people.

Once you meet people in your own major, the best way to get to know them at the beginning stages of your friendship is to see them in person at least once after orientation instead of texting right away. You can text the person or the group to hang out and then get to know them face-to-face. This will help you to get to know them better, because when you’re talking face-to-face with someone, there’s a better sense of connection between new people. You’ll be able to get a sense of what they’re like based on body language and personalities – two important details that aren’t present when you’re texting.

The students in my major had to take placement exams for certain classes in the major during the first week of class, so we texted to get together and study. This was fun because it was productive, but then led to good conversation afterwards. For the record, you will run into your acquaintances again at some point beyond orientation, either in class or somewhere on campus. If you’re interested in forming friendships with them, it’s a great idea to begin reaching out to them early on while everything is still new and exciting.

To get the conversation going, a compliment is always a great start. Since you’re new friends, you won’t be able to give them in-depth compliments about their character, but a simple “I love your shirt!” will make both of you feel comfortable with each other and can get further conversation going (“You love shopping at Charlotte Russe, too?”). Also, everyone enjoys a little bit of social media love. Next time you see one of your new friends put a new photo on Instagram, double tap it as a nice little gesture.

Once you have your in-person hangout, it’ll be a little easier to start texting. You can text your group to suggest getting lunch together sometime or coffee in the student union, since everyone loves having an excuse to eat or get a caffeine fix, right? From there, you’ll be able to bring up common get-to-know-you topics, such as where you’re from and why you choose your major.

When it comes to talking with students in your major, you can start out by asking questions related to the major without getting too academic. For example, if you’re an English major connecting with another English major, ask the person what her favorite book is or who her favorite author is. This keeps the convo related to topics you’ll both be interested in and allows you to get to know that person specifically. After you take those basic first steps, then you can start talking about a larger variety of topics that are unrelated to your major, like if she saw Divergent this summer and if she thinks it’s socially acceptable to make Theo James your #mancrushmonday every Monday.

Don’t stress too much about struggling to find topics to talk about over text with your orientation friends. Start small and think of one simple topic to talk about, like weekend plans, and let the conversation go from there.

With the insanity of keeping up with classes and the lack of ability to Martha Stewart-it-up in your dorm room, it can be easy to resort tobad eating habits like skipping meals or relying on junk food or energy bars to sustain you. Now there’s no excuse for studying on an empty stomach. We’ve compiled a list of quick and easy lunch recipes that you can whip together with six ingredients or fewer. They’re super tasty, healthy and doable for the cooking-challenged collegiette!

1. Cottage cheese parfait with a hard-boiled egg

By combining dairy, fruit and nuts, this lunch contains a good balance of protein, healthy fats and complex carbs to give you the energy you need. You’ll love the sweet-and-salty taste combo!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cottage cheese
• ¾ cup sliced fruit of your choice (peaches, apples, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, etc.)
• ¼ cup almonds or nuts of choice
• 2 hard-boiled eggs

Directions:

1. Place half of the cottage cheese at the bottom of a bowl.
2. Layer with half of the fruit and half of the nuts.
3. Place the rest of the cottage cheese on top.
4. Top with the rest of the fruit and nuts.
5. Enjoy your hard-boiled eggs on the side.

2. Tuna Pita

Adapted from Shape

This protein-packed pita (with tuna and Greek yogurt) is not just healthy and filling—it’s also super easy to make. You can quickly put this together and pop it in your bag so you can eat it wherever and whenever. Throw in a side of veggies or a piece of fruit to round out the meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole wheat pita pocket
• 1 can tuna
• 3 tablespoons plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon horseradish mustard (or plain mustard)
• ¼ cup spinach
• ½ sliced tomato

Directions:

1. Cut pita pocket in half and toast it.
2. Mix tuna, Greek yogurt and mustard in a bowl.
3. Stuff mixture into pita pocket and add spinach and tomato.

3. Chicken Caesar Wrap

Adapted from Kraft

Make this super quick yet delicious wrap for a satisfying lunch. The chicken breast is a good source of lean protein to power you through your day. And who doesn’t love a little bit of cheese and Caesar dressing?

Ingredients:

• 1 whole-wheat tortilla
• 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
• 1 tablespoon low-fat Caesar salad dressing
• ½ cup cooked chicken breast, chopped
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Mix the chicken breast, cheese and lettuce in a bowl.
2. Add dressing; toss.
3. Place mixture on tortilla.
4. Wrap tortilla.

4. Egg sandwich with a side of apple slices and peanut butter

While egg sandwiches are typically thought of as a breakfast food, they are equally as tasty for lunch! Egg and avocado are a match made in heaven, giving you a nutritious combination of protein, healthy fats and antioxidants.  Use olive oil instead of butter to oil your pan (olive oil helps lower cholesterol) when frying the egg. Enjoy it with a side of apple slices and yummy peanut butter. Peanut butter packs in a healthy dose of protein and monounsaturated fat (the good kind).

Ingredients:

• 1 whole-wheat English muffin
• 1 egg
• Olive oil spray
• ¼ of an avocado
• 1 apple
• 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter

Directions

1. Split English muffin in half and toast it.
2. Slice avocado; spread slices onto each half of the English muffin.
3. Heat a pan on medium to high and spray with olive oil.
4. Crack the egg over the pan and turn the heat down to low.
5. Heat until the egg whites have set.
6. Place fried egg in between English muffin slices.
7. Enjoy with a side of sliced apples dipped in peanut butter.

5. Green Club Sandwich

From BBC Good Food

If you like hummus (who doesn’t?), then this sandwich is for you. Besides adding a Middle Eastern flair to your food, hummus contains the healthy omega-3 fatty acids that your body needs to function at its best. The avocado in this sandwich will also give you healthy fats to boost your immune system, while the whole grain or rye bread will provide the complex carbs to energize you. Have a handful of almonds to go with the sandwich if you want a little something extra.  

Ingredients:

• 3 slices whole grain or rye toast
• 3 tablespoons ready-made hummus
• 1 small avocado, sliced
• 1 handful arugula
• 8-12 cherry tomatoes, sliced
• Pepper

Directions:

1. Toast bread.
2. Spread hummus on one side of each slice of bread.
3. On one slice of bread, place half the avocado, arugula and tomato.
4. Season with pepper.
5. Cover with other slice of bread.
6. Place the rest of the avocado, arugula and tomato.
7. Season with pepper.
8. Top sandwich with the last slice of bread.

6. Green Bean, Chickpea and Tomato Salad

Adapted fromYummly

This salad is so easy and quick to make. The green beans add a nice crunch to the salad, and the chickpeas make it filling, but it’s the feta that’ll satisfy your taste buds the most!

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup green beans, trimmed
• ⅔ cup tomato, coarsely chopped
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled
• ¾ cup garbanzo beans (chickpeas, rinsed and drained)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Put beans in saucepan of boiling water.
2. Cook beans for 3 minutes.
3. Drain beans and put into ice water.
4. Drain beans again.
5. Add beans, tomato and rest of ingredients into a bowl.
6. Toss well.

With these simple recipes, you won’t have to resort to Ramen or unhealthy fast food the next time lunch rolls around. If you have a few minutes, now you’ve got the time to make yourself a healthy, tasty lunch!

Have a good simple recipe? Share your favorite six-ingredients-or-fewer lunch recipes in the comments below!

Most collegiettes know the feeling: You sit down to take a test and you feel a few butterflies in the pit of your stomach. You go over definitions and formulas in your head one last time, take a deep breath and pick up your pencil with a steady hand.

But what if that’s not what happens? What if you sit down to take a test and your mind suddenly goes blank, your stomach twists itself into knots and you start to feel faint?

Sound familiar? You’re experiencing test anxiety, a very real type of anxiety that sets in before a test or exam. “Everyone becomes anxious before an exam,” says Dr. Roy Stefanik, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. “Some degree of anxiety helps in preparation and focus, but too much anxiety can cause poor outcomes.”

Test anxiety affects more college students than you might expect, but it’s not talked about very often. If you think you may suffer from test anxiety, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help you understand it and kick it to the curb so you can feel calm and confident for your next big test.

What causes test anxiety

Test anxiety has many potential causes, and understanding what triggers your anxiety can help you determine the best way to tackle it. It’s important to keep in mind thatanxiety can often be passed down from your parents, according to Dr. Stefanik: “Anxiety often has a genetic component, particularly in the offspring of anxious mothers.” If your siblings or parents struggle with test or performance anxiety, that could explain why you do, too.

If you’re the type of person who has a fear of failure and needs to excel at everything, test anxiety could be a result of your fear of not doing well. “Although obsessiveness can improve test scores, it can wreak havoc on one's emotional state, and a fear of failure (with either real or imagined consequences) can contribute to test anxiety,” Dr. Stefanik says.

If your train of thought before a test is something along the lines of, “If I don’t do well on this test, then my overall grade will probably drop a letter grade, and then that will knock my GPA down, and then I won’t be in the range of ideal candidates for my dream graduate school and I’ll end up living at home with my parents forever,” then you might have a fear of failure, which will cause you to be incredibly anxious about any exams or performance tests.

Similarly, a traumatic test-taking experience from the past, like bombing a calculus midterm or having a panic attack before the SAT, can leave a bad taste in your mouth and give you major anxiety about all future tests, says Dr. Stefanik, “particularly if the person bombing the test relies heavily on her academic performance as a measure of her self-worth.” Test anxiety can be your brain’s way of avoiding any more trauma by simply shutting down when faced with a similar situation.

The final common reason for test anxiety is unpreparedness. If you know you should have stayed in last night and studied but you went out anyway, you’re bound to have more than your usual amount of anxiety when you sit down to take your test the next day. Feeling underprepared happens to most collegiettes at one point or another, but if you feel that way before every test, your study skills (or lack thereof) might be to blame.

Signs and symptoms

Before we get into exactly what the signs of test anxiety are, it’s important to realize that there is a difference between the usual pre-test jitters most collegiettes experience and actual crippling test anxiety.

“Although there is no formal DSM [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders] diagnosis of test anxiety, it is a very real phenomenon,” Dr. Stefanik says. “When you have excessive uneasiness, worry, fear or apprehension about the outcome of an exam to the point that it hinders your performance or impairs the quality of your life, it becomes a problem.”

You may have test anxiety if your nervousness about an upcoming test keeps you from sleeping at night, affects your appetite or keeps you from enjoying activities you usually love. It’s normal to have a bit of trouble falling asleep the night before a midterm, but if you consistently struggle to fall asleep for several nights before a standard test, there’s probably a bigger problem at hand.

While there is no official diagnosis for test anxiety, your doctor or college counselor will be able to determine whether you suffer from test anxiety based on your symptoms. The telltale sign is “blanking out” during a test. It’s like everything you knew disappeared from your brain, and you can’t recall a single flash card or key term. This feeling of “blanking out” is one of the most common signs of test anxiety and often the most upsetting for collegiettes.

In addition to “blanking out,” physical symptoms of test anxiety can include headache, nausea, stomachache, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat and light-headedness. It’s one thing to feel butterflies before an exam, but if you’re doubled over or you feel like you might pass out, it’s probably something more serious.

Mental or emotional symptoms like excessive anger, fear, helplessness or negative thoughts can all suggest serious anxiety associated with test taking. You may even experience panic attacks, which can show up out of nowhere and make you feel an intense fear or discomfort.

“Panic is a sense of impending doom, like something bad is going to happen out of nowhere,” Dr. Stefanik says. “Along with terrible emotional feelings, the physical aspects can be terrifying, including chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness, tingling, nausea or light-headedness.”

Some girls get panic attacks during particularly stressful situations, but if you experience these attacks before every test or exam, they’re almost certainly related to test anxiety.

How to cope

Any sort of anxiety is debilitating, but anxiety surrounding a heavily weighted test can be crippling. Luckily, there are a number of proven ways to ease your level of anxiety considerably, which means less stress and more success!

1. Eat and drink healthily

With all the studying you’ll be doing, it’s important to stay healthy and keep your body (and your brain) fueled!

Before you study, stop by the dining hall for a low-fat, high-protein snack, like Greek yogurt, grilled chicken or part-skim mozzarella cheese. These snacks will give you energy and keep you focused without causing you to crash later on.

It’s also important to stay hydrated to keep you healthy and avoid fatigue, so aim to drink eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. You can use this CamelBak calculator to determine how much water is right for your frame and lifestyle.

2. Get enough sleep

Once you’re fueled and hydrated, it’s time to tackle your sleeping habits! “Although it's tempting to stay up and cram the night before an important exam, I find it much easier to relax during a test when I've had a full night's sleep the night before,” says Brianna, a freshman at Indiana University. “Look over [the] material, but know when it's time to call it a night!”

According to Dr. Stefanik, you should aim to get eight hours of sleep a night, particularly before a test. Plus, pulling an all-nighter is bound to leave you exhausted the next morning, and you’re more likely to reach for coffee or Red Bull, which Dr. Stefanik cautions against. “Avoid caffeinated drinks – they can worsen anxiety!” he says.

If you follow your study schedule, you shouldn’t be cramming the night before your test and you can get a good night’s sleep.

3. Exercise

If you don’t already, it’s a good idea to incorporate some light exercise into your daily routine to give your mind a chance to focus on something other than schoolwork. Dr. Stefanik recommends yoga to help ease anxiety.

Working out also increases endorphins, making you happier and less stressed. The next time you hit a study wall, head outside for a quick jog or a brisk walk to mix up your surroundings and take your mind off of the things that are stressing you out.

4. Visit your counseling center

While you obviously need to keep your body healthy, it’s just as important (if not more important!) to keep your mind healthy. If you suffer from test anxiety, it’s a good idea to visit your school’s counseling center to talk to someone.

College counselors can help you create a study schedule or plan of action for your next big test and may even help you receive extra time on your test if he or she feels as though you would benefit from it. Most college counselors can meet with you as often as you want, whether that’s once a week or just before midterms or finals.

If you consult with your counselor and find that you still experience test anxiety regularly, you might want to consider anti-anxiety medications. “If necessary, medications can be helpful,” Dr. Stefanik says. “[For example], there are beta blockers, which are used to treat blood pressure and reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.” Of course, talk with your doctor before starting any medications!

5. Study smart

To give yourself plenty of time to prepare, go through your class syllabus and add the dates of any important tests or exams to your planner ahead of time. You should aim to start preparing for a test at least a week in advance, but the more time you have to study, the better. You may find it helpful to make study materials, like note cards and study guides, two weeks before an exam and then spend the week before the test actually studying to reduce last-minute stress.

When it comes to study skills, experiment with a few different techniques to find out what works for you. Try color-coding your notes or making flash cards, or try reading your notes out loud or have a friend quiz you with your flash cards so that you can hear the material out loud. Alternatively, try going through your notes and highlighting the important material and then creating a condensed study guide. Having one or two pages of crucial study material is much less daunting than flipping through 20 pages of scribbled notes!

6. Practice

As important as it is to study, the best way to prepare is to practice! Create your own practice test by finding unassigned questions in a textbook, or look online for questions related to your study material. Professors will often provide a practice test or a link to past tests online, so take advantage of those.

If possible, Dr. Stefanik recommends “taking the test in the same room as the real one, with the same time constraints.” Simulate the test environment by turning off your phone and isolating yourself in your classroom or in the library, and give yourself only the amount of time you will be allotted during the actual test. Don’t pause to look at your phone or check Facebook, and try to treat the test like the real thing!

7. Keep calm the day of the test

Before you get out of bed on the day of your test, try to breathe deeply and relax your body to set the tone for the day. Try guided meditation apps, like the Simply Being app. It’s only $0.99 and it offers a guided meditation for anywhere from five to 20 minutes. You can choose to meditate with a soothing voice and relaxing music or the sounds of the ocean, rain or a stream.

As difficult as it might be, don’t talk about the exam with anyone else before you take it (try headphones on the walk to the exam). If you run into a classmate who says he or she isn’t worried at all, you might start to feel insecure or stupid (obviously not true!), while talking to a classmate who is freaking out will only reinforce your fears about the test. Either way, talking to your classmates will only stress you out, so don’t do it!

It’s a good idea to take this quiet time before the exam to give yourself a little confidence boost by being optimistic. “In the third grade, my teacher had all of us write down [encouraging thoughts] before a test,” says Anais, a junior at the Savannah College of Art and Design. “It sounds pretty simple, but positivity can help influence how well you take tests.”

You might feel silly, but actually writing out encouraging thoughts, like, “You got this!” or, “I’m super nervous, but I studied as much as possible, and that’s the best I can do!” can help flush out feelings of anxiousness before a test to help you be able to focus on the material in front of you.

8. Don’t forget to breathe!

When you get to the classroom or lecture hall, remember to breathe. Anxiety often causes our breathing to become more rapid and more shallow, meaning our lungs aren’t taking in as much air as they should. To combat this, Dr. Stefanik recommends breathing with your diaphragm. Close your eyes and place one hand on your stomach and one on your chest and take five slow, deep breaths, breathing through your stomach and keeping the hand on your chest as still as possible. Do this before you sit down to study and right before you take your exam to center yourself.

9. Treat yourself after the test

Take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back, because you did it! Treat yourself, whether that means buying yourself a decadent Starbucks latte, getting a manicure or even just having a sweatpants-and-Netflix night with your roomie.

As stressful as college tests and exams can be, a little nervousness can actually be motivational if it’s kept at a reasonable level. If you prep for your next exam by staying healthy, developing good study habits and having a game plan for the day of the test, you’ll feel like the confident and in-control collegiette you know (and we know!) you are. 

When it comes to the first game of the season, you definitely want to show your school spirit in something a little more stylish than the free t-shirts you picked up during Orientation Week.

Enter Mud-Pie, our go-to for chic clothes and accessories featuring your team’s colors in graphic patterns that’ll guarantee you fashion MVP status. To get you started, we’re giving away a $75 gift card to snap up pieces from Mud-Pie’s Game Day collection. Shop printed dresses, colorful infinity scarves, bold cuffs, carry-all totes and a cute picture frame (so your dorm room can look good, too).

If you’re going for best-dressed at every game this season, you’ll want to enter to win this amazing giveaway now. Score!

Name: Jamie Rothfeld
Age: 29
Job Title and Description: Manager, Corporate Communications, Hyatt

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

Jamie Rothfeld: I like to say that my job requires me to wear many different hats and be a bit of an expert in everything! I handle the public relations support for the Andaz brand, Park Hyatt brand and for Hyatt’s corporate responsibility efforts. I also deal with corporate executive visibility, corporate reputation, crisis management and internal communications.

I think it’s safe to say there is never a dull moment at the office and there is no such thing as a typical day. I can go in with a full idea of what my day should look like and then it can get turned upside down—but that is all part of the fun!

What is the best part of your job?

JR: I am a true believer that the way you feel about a job is defined by the people that surround you. I am extremely lucky to have a fantastic team of corporate communications experts (that all happen to be women!) who provide me with support, advice and collaboration—all which help when it comes to my professional growth. Plus, we laugh and have fun all day at the office—it doesn’t get much better.

I would also say that traveling is the other best part of my job. I recently got back from a trip to Vienna to support the opening of Park Hyatt Vienna, and there is nothing better than traveling to amazing places, learning about new cultures, visiting our hotels and meeting our colleagues around the world who inspire me every day!

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

JR: My first entry-level job was at a large-sized public relations firm based in Chicago where I worked on a variety of consumer-focused accounts. I had interned at the firm’s sister agency in Chicago right after I graduated college, and right when my internship came to a close, a spot opened at the other firm and they recommended me for the job. Talk about perfect timing!

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

JR: I wish I had known just how fast paced this industry is! You really need to be quick on your feet, and if you turn your head for a minute, you might miss something. It’s important to be quick, nimble and flexible (and you must drink a lot of coffee!).

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

JR: He may not know it, but my dad has really been an inspiration to me throughout my professional career. At a young age, my dad founded his own business, which is still thriving 30 years later. His determination, passion and unwavering work ethic have really inspired me and have taught me how to have a successful and fulfilling career. My dad is also really great when it comes to giving advice on the corporate and business world, and I find myself calling him weekly to get his opinion on potential issues or conflicts.

What words of do you find most valuable?

JR: One of my colleagues has a quote up on her desk that says, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” I use this as a way to think about my growth here at Hyatt. In order to excel and experience professional growth, it is important to continually take risks, push yourself and do the things that might scare you. With big risks come big rewards, and I think this type of outlook will make for a career filled with challenges, opportunities and excitement.

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

JR: How much time do you have? I have made so many mistakes throughout my career, whether it be not knowing an important person in the industry or sending an email to the wrong person (that can get you in big trouble!). But, the important thing is that I have learned from all of my mistakes and am better because of it. Also, when you make a mistake, learn from it and get over it quickly. There is no sense in focusing on a negative when you can turn it into a positive.

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

JR: One of the most surreal moments I’ve had thus far in my career was securing a cover story for our CEO. This past June, he appeared on the cover of a very prominent luxury sales trade magazine, and the story covered his journey as CEO of Hyatt, the great milestones and accomplishments he has had since he joined the company and his hopes and aspirations for the company’s future. Seeing a big story I pitched come to fruition and hearing positive feedback straight from our CEO was a truly memorable and humbling moment that I won’t soon forget!

 What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

JR: When hiring somebody, I think it is most important to get a gut feeling about a candidate. While experience, recommendations and expertise are all extremely important and should be considered, the most important thing to look for is that intangible good feeling you get about a candidate. It’s important for a person to have positive energy, and to me, it’s most important that a person can jive and easily work with the rest of your team.

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

JR: For someone who is looking to explore a career in public relations, I would say that perseverance is critical. The public relations field can be very tough and competitive, so it’s important to work through the challenges that this industry can present. I promise that it is a truly rewarding, fun and exciting career that will keep you on your toes and make you excited to come to work every day.

I would also say to never give up and to always work hard for what you want. I couldn’t be happier with where I am today, and hard work, passion and drive has gotten me here. Never give up and success is yours!