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These Woodland Critter Pieces Were Made for Winter

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There's nothing cuter than a woodland critter, and when you're faced with something so adorable... well, you kind of just want to take it with you everywhere. So we've pulled together all the best hedgehog, fox and owl-printed goodies to wear around campus, from sweaters to boots to scarves and more.

1. Womens Print Rain Boot Wellies- Purple Painty Pheasant, $69, Joules

We’re loving these wellies—they are perfect for any snow or thunderstorm. The deep purple color will match all of your dark winter clothes, while the small bird graphics put a whimsical spin on your average rain boots. Wear with knitted legwarmers and leggings and to keep warm all winter.

2. Bunny Knit Sweater, Aeropostale, $35.99

This simple-but-sweet bunny sweater is perfect for cold winter days. The graphic and sweater color are neutral enough to be styled over a patterned button down shirt and leather leggings.

3. Diminutive Critter Earrings, $9.99, ModCloth

These teensy hedgehog shaped earrings will add a unique look to your jewelry collection. The silver metal and small size of these earrings allow them to be matched with just about any outfit.

4. Bear Face Mittens, $8.90, Forever 21

 

We think these mittens will suit all your outdoor winter activities! Whether you’re ice skating, sledding or simply walking to class, these knitted critters will keep you warm and cute all winter long.

5. Footprint Mixing Scarf, $24.99, ModCloth

Show off your foxy side with this woodland-inpired scarf. The rustic fox print will give your outfit a vintage look you can pair with a pea coat and Chelsea boots.

6. Embroidered Owl Faux-Leather Wristlet, $51.20, BCBGMaxazriaPut all your valuables in this adorable owl-inspired wristlet. The white accents give this purse a chic and fun look, while the embroidery adds a nice detail to this unique bag. Style this revamped wristlet with a lace dress for a girly outfit or with boyfriend jeans and ballet flats for a more casual look.

What woodland critters will you be sporting around campus, collegiettes? 


5 Red Flags to Look For on Your Crush’s Facebook Profile

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When you’re crushing hard on that cutie you met a party last week, no one can blame you for doing a little bit of Facebook-stalking. Maybe you just want to get another glimpse of his face or giggle at those awkward pics she took in middle school. Or maybe, like a lot of us, you’d like to know what kind of person your crush is before you get in too deep.

Your crush’s Facebook profile can tell you a lot more than whether or not he or she ever had braces. Social media identities aren’t always what they seem: There are all kinds of red flags that can pop up on Facebook, from your crush’s choice in profile pic to his or her “About” section. We’ve gathered some warning signs to look out for on Facebook so that you can tell right away whether or not your crush is even worth crushing on to begin with.

1. The questionable profile pic trend

Sure, you shouldn’t judge a book solely by its cover, but your crush’s profile pic is the image he or she is putting out for the world to see, so it does mean something.

When you’re checking out your crush’s past profile pics, look for trends. One selfie might let you know that your crush happened to look great in a selfie one day. But five selfies in a row? And what about that guy who’s always posing with different women?

Jasbina Ahluwalia, dating coach and founder of Intersections Match by Jasbina, says that certain profile pic trends can let you know if you and your crush are compatible.

“Too many selfies can indicate self-absorption,” Ahluwalia says, “and lots of different women could indicate he's a serial monogamist to the extreme (or player with a ‘flavor of the month’ attitude towards relationships).”

On the other hand, if your crush’s profile pics are all of, say, cars, you need to be ready to talk about hot rides without getting bored. If that’s not your thing, it’s probably best to look for romance somewhere else.

2. Tons of party pics

These are the photos that make you cringe. Sure, most of us have had some crazy nights, but if the only photos your crush is tagged in are ones that would make your mother think twice about inviting him or her to dinner, this could be a major red flag.

These pictures can indicate that his or her lifestyle is “not consistent with a serious long-term relationship and/or a lack of discretion or self-awareness,” Ahluwalia says.

Of course, pursuing this crush comes down to figuring out how much you’d like to party in your relationship. Joe Tracy, publisher of Online Dating Magazine, says that one picture can send multiple messages. According to Tracy, reading the captions and comments on these photos can help you sort the fun guys from the duds.

“Comments like, ‘You were a lot of fun as usual’ could indicate the person has a fun/social personality,” Tracy says. “But comments like, ‘Looks like that beer got the best of you again’ or, ‘You got wasted last night’ could indicate that the person feels they have to drink to loosen up all the time, which could be a red flag.”

But even if you’re interested in getting with a wild partier and having some crazy weekends, you should still be wary of anyone whose profile is littered with these kinds of photos. Party pics show a disregard for a put-together professional and personal image.

(If you think this red flag sounds like your own profile, you should probably figure out if your Facebook page is hurting your chances with your crush!)

3. Obnoxious status updates (and plenty of them!)

If your crush is the kind of person you would have unfriended if he or she didn’t have a gorgeous face, that’s a red flag. You know that Facebook friend we’re talking about: the one who posts several status updates a day about unimportant things, or the one who’s just out to get attention. These might be vague posts attacking other people (“Some people just need to get over themselves”), boasts about his or her achievements or simply countless mundane opinions about anything and everything under the sun.

Other than simply being annoying and the worst, these serial status updates can clue you in to what’s going on behind the scenes. Ahluwalia says that you should watch out for your crush’s volume and frequency of updates. “If he's constantly giving status updates, [that] may indicate self-absorption or just way too much time on his hands,” Ahluwalia says.

Tracy says that the content of these updates can be another red flag.

“One thing to look out for is how ‘personal’ the posts are on the person’s timeline,” Tracy says. “A person always talking about others is an indication that your time with that person may be ‘digitally documented’ should you ever get together. Even more important is to see what they say about past friends/lovers, because you could end up being one.”

4.  Endless Facebook game updates

Speaking of annoying updates, watch out if most of your crush’s notifications involve Facebook games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars.

“If a vast majority of his updates involve virtual games, it is possible his social skills in the real world may be less developed,” Ahluwalia says.

Other than likely sending his or her friends way too many invitations to play, a crush who plays a lot of these games might also turn out to be a procrastinator or someone who just doesn’t have much going on.

“When a person’s timeline is full of nothing but game updates, that could be a sign that the person is using games to escape the reality of life or has an issue with game addiction,” Tracy says.

But, hey, it’s possible that one girl’s “game addiction” is another girl’s idea of a good time. If this red flag doesn’t seem like a total deal-breaker to you, you can use these game updates to learn even more about your crush.

“If you want to get to know them better, then signing up for the same games they post updates on can be a clever move,” Tracy says.

5. TMI in the “About” section

Facebook has made it easier than ever to tell people about yourself. Where you live, where you work, your religion, your sexual orientation — it’s all there. But that doesn’t mean that you have to (or should) fill out every single bit of information about yourself.

According to Ahluwalia, if your crush’s “About” section is “extra-long and filled to the brim with personal details, [then] that may indicate that he has limited sense of discretion or privacy.” This kind of crush could be more likely to kiss and tell or reveal more about your relationship (if you ever get that far).

According to Tracy, it’s also important to look at the types of details your crush includes in his or her description.  “A long, personal description of self-achievements could be an indication that they are self-absorbed,” Tracy says. “A positive and humble description could be an indication that they value life and others.”

On the other hand, it’s always possible your crush hasn’t remembered to update his or her “About” section since high school.  Still, these personal details express how your crush portrays him or herself, so it’s good to keep them in mind. 

We all know how tempting it is to Facebook-stalk your crush. And if you’re going to do it, you might as well put that stalking to good use. You can get some clues now to help you figure out whether or not you and your crush will be a good match (or if your crush is actually complete jerk!).

Be on the lookout for extremes, but don’t judge too harshly from one or two Facebook faux pas—you could end up overthinking things and ruining your chances with your crush. Also, even if you can’t find any of these red flags just from a Facebook profile, Her Campus has plenty of tips for how to spot the jerks later in the game!

15 Things Only Your Roommate Won't Judge You For

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Trust us, if anyone else saw you dancing around your room in your underwear or lying - unshowered - on the couch for hours, they would probably never speak to you again. Luckily, we all have that one girl who we know won't think differently of us for our most embarrassing moments. Here's our list of 15 shameful things only your roommate would never judge you for.

1. Using dry shampoo instead of washing your hair... three days in a row.

Headbands have a purpose, and that purpose is covering grease.

2. Saying you SWEAR you're going to the gym when you both know you're not moving from the couch.

Walking to the fridge and back is enough exercise for one day, thanks.

3. Pouring one glass of wine and accidentally finishing the bottle.

It's not your fault they don't make bigger glasses.

4. Walking around the room or apartment half-dressed in the middle of the day.

#NoPantsRevolution

5. Asking her to look at that pimple on on your back or the weird scab on your leg. 

Yes, you really HAVE gotten that close. 

6. Crying about that wedding video on YouTube.

(No, you don't know the people. But yes, his face when she walked down the aisle was just !!!!!!!)

7. Having an existential crisis.

Twice a week.

8. Listening to the same Taylor Swift song 12 times in a row.

SAW YOU THERE AND I THOUGHT, OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT FACE

9. "Forgetting" to wash your face at night.

A little leftover eyeliner won't kill anyone, right?

10. Drunk texting/calling your ex.

Instead of stopping you, she sits back and laughs.

11. Thinking you're Mariah Carey every time you step into the shower.

...and your lovely voice ends up on her Snapchat Story.

12. Those times you don't move from the couch for five hours straight.

Because the best part about having a roommate is having someone who will encourage your phenomenal procrastination skills.

13. Going out the night before a test.

At least you showed up.

14. Ordering takeout instead of eating the food you already have at home.

Who wants leftover salad when you can order Chinese?

15. Bursting into song in the middle of your sentence.

Of course, she always joins in.

Become a Fan of Taylor Swift & She Might Help Pay Off Student Loans

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Taylor Swift may have a reputation as America’s sweetheart, but now she can add philanthropy to her the list of reasons why we love her. A fan that created a video of Swift and her closest pals paired with the “Friends” theme song has received the ultimate thank you present. Rebekah Bortniker was surprised to find a package sent from Taylor herself. The package included a handwritten note, a watercolor painting, a canvas pouch, a necklace...and a check for $1,989.

Not only does Taylor care about her fans, but she wants to help support their dreams as well. Of course the clever amount Swift gifted her won’t pay off all her student loans, but it will definitely help. So if you’re a “Swifty” and want your own personal Taylor Swift gift, it’s time to get creative!

Check out Rebekah's reaction video here!

27 Signs You’re From Ohio

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1. You were born with a deep, burning hate for all things Michigan.

2. You’re unfazed by bipolar weather, having often experienced all four seasons in one day.

3. Although, you know the four seasons of Ohio are alternatively referred to as almost winter, winter, still winter and construction.

4. You basically spend your summers at Cedar Point and look forward to HalloWeekends all year long.

5. You know the frustration of having to drive to another state to see your favorite band…

6. …especially when that state is Michigan.

7. You know that every outdoor event calls for a game of cornhole.

8. Chances are you’ve been to at least one county or state fair in your lifetime.

9. You’re morally obligated to respond to someone yelling “O-H” with “I-O.”

10. It’s practically the state greeting.

11. You know people who pronounce “wash” like “warsh…”

12. …but you also know that it’s only people from other states who have accents.

13. Your choices for entertainment can be summed up in three words: mall, movies and food.

14. You know that Buffalo Wild Wings is referred to as “B-Dubs.” Anything else is just wrong.

15. The same goes for pop. What even is “soda”?

16. You know that Bob Evans is the only place to go on a Saturday morning when you’re a little… under the weather.

17. If you live in Northwest Ohio, walking on an incline on the treadmill is the closest you’ve ever been to walking up a hill.

18. Grocery stores are referred to in possessive form.  Kroger is “Kroger’s” and Meijer is “Meijer’s.” Why? Even we don’t know.

19. You’ve been to Put-in-Bay, Kings Island and Kalahari.

20. Either you can see a cornfield from your house, you’re within walking distance of a cornfield or you have a cornfield literally in your backyard...

21. …and hitting deer while driving is an actual concern.

22. You get really excited when Glee references Ohio…

23. …and you live for Graeter’s ice cream.

24. You’ve seen the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry tear families apart.

25. When you saw that Ohioans use more profanity than any other state in the U.S., you were all like,

26. You’ve had more than your fair share of snow days and even “cold days.”

27. But as much as you sometimes love to hate Ohio, it will always be home.

5 Times Jared Leto’s Hair Looked Better Than Ours Ever Will

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From making every girl with an ombré feel insecure (and discouraging others from even trying) to debuting the wonder that is his man braid at last weekend's Golden Globes, Jared pretty much has slayed us all with his hair game. He’s an actor, a musician and ambassador of the man buneffectively making him a triple threat in our books. The only thing we love more than this Oscar-winner and 30 Seconds to Mars member are his locks, which always steal the show.

While Jared has experimented with anything from blue hair to mohawks, let’s focus on the fact that Jared has been channeling our looks lately and easily outdoing us. And we just don’t think it’s fair. In celebration of this man’s glorious hair, we’ve rounded up 5 times Jared Leto’s hair was better that ours was, is, and ever will be.

The Ombré

Some may say this is a tired look, but it’s really because they believe no one else can do it better than Jared did. Face it, during his acceptance speech at the Oscars last year, we all couldn’t help but wonder if he was just born with it. Are you seeing those stunning curls, cascading over his shoulders? If we ever happened to run into Jared, we’d be sure to ask him who his colorist is.

The Man Bun

And the Golden Globe for Best Man Bun goes to… Jared Leto. Sure, men have been putting their hair into buns for centuries, but we’ve noticed a recent and newfound appreciation for a good man bun ever since this happened at the Golden Globes last year. And still, no one can ever compete.

The Blond Bob

Before Jared became crowned King of The Ombré, he actually went fully blond a few times. This is a throwback to New York Fashion Week 2009what would we call this 'do now? The man bob? Seriously, is there anything he can’t do? And if life wasn’t fair enough, it seems he frequently sports those effortless beach waves and his roots appear to be flawless. Teach us your ways, Jared.

Half Up, Half Down

Excuse us, but what is this? We imagine him to be the friend in the group who just likes to one-up everyone. He seemed to be experimenting late last year with his half-up, half-down ‘do, which easily makes this the best "I woke up like this" look we've ever seen. 

The Braid

Just when we thought he’d reached the prime of hairdos, Jared debuted the man braid at last weekend’s Golden Globes. Sorry, Elsa, but we think Jared may have outdone you on this on. We just can’t seem to let it go.

We’re still wondering where his Oscar for “Best Hair” is. What is your favorite look Jared Leto look?

7 Things You’re Not Doing to Get Your Dream Internship

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Just imagine it: learning from top professionals, getting to make a difference in your field and maybe even living in a new city. Scoring your dream internship would be so cool, and with a big picture that glamorous, it’s easy overlook the details of actually getting the internship in the first place.

Whether you’re not assertive enough, proactive enough or informed enough, you may overlook important steps when applying for internships. Sure, we know you’re the perfect candidate for the job, but recruiters don’t—yet. And making these mistakes can keep your potential employers from ever finding out just how fabulous you are!

1. You don’t reach out to your connections

It’s easy to type “Engineering internship + Boston” into the Google search bar and hope you find gold, but you’re unlikely to get your dream internship with a simple search alone.

You’ve got plenty of other options. Many collegiettes find opportunities onfantastic internship websites that make it super easy to find the perfect internship by listing top positions in one place.

Often, though, college students get so wrapped up in their internet searches that they forget their closest resources: the people around them.

Vicki Salemi, career expert and author of Big Career in the Big City, says that collegiettes shouldn’t neglect the people they’re already connected to during their internship searches. Sometimes the people you know— such as professors, former employers or even family and friends—will know of a position that you’d never find on your own.

“When searching for internships, [students] should tap into their networks,” Salemi says.  “Sometimes just searching online will end up with little to no results depending on timing. [For example], in bigger companies there are deadlines to be met, and if you miss it for the summer, you're out of luck.”

Joan Snyder Kuhl, author and founder of the speaking and consulting company Why Millennials Matter, also recommends contacting an HR employee or alumni at the company you’re interested in through LinkedIn.

LinkedIn can be an excellent resource for networking with your university’s alumni and others within specific companies. If you have your own LinkedIn profile already, an easy way to find alumni at a specific company is to search your university in the LinkedIn search bar. Once you’re on your university’s page, click on the Students & Alumni tab. Then you can search a company or organization within that section to find alumni who work there.

Although you may not be able to contact alumni directly through LinkedIn (unless you connect with them!), you may be able to use the information you find on their pages to look them up on Google. Some professionals provide their contact info on their own websites.

However, if you have a dream company in mind that isn’t offering an internship, sometimes it’s worth a shot to contact that company directly.

2. You don’t open your mind to different positions

You’re dead-set on public relations. You just know you’re going to be an epic PR guru someday. So why would you ever take a journalism internship?

For one, keeping your options open to multiple types of internships will help you cast a wider net. More applications mean that you’ll probably hear back from more places. You don’t want to have your heart set on only two or three perfect internships and then end up not hearing back at all.

Keeping an open mind can also help you figure out what kind of jobs are good fits for you. Internships are great opportunities to experiment, and your dream internship might end up being something you never expected!

“Definitely open your mind to different positions,” Salemi says. “Part of the fun about internships involves career exploration. Let's say you take an internship in marketing and absolutely hate it! Well, then you can literally cross marketing off your list of potential job paths.”

In your internship, you won’t just learn about what you want to do—you’ll also learn about the environment you’d like to work in.

“This is your opportunity to try on a company for size to see what fits,” Salemi says. “Even if you have your heart set on a large, global corporation, why not try a boutique firm to see how you like the vibe?”

You may realize that you actually adore your small company’s culture, or maybe you’ll realize it’s not for you. Either way, you’ll have a better idea of what you want after graduation by expanding your options.

3. Your company research only skims the surface

Just about anyone can spend 30 minutes scanning an organization’s website. If you really want to stand out, you need to understand the company, its products and services, its clients and its culture.

An outstanding candidate will be able to use this research to tailor her resume, cover letter and interviews to a company’s specific needs and values. Effective research can also let you know what kind of culture and environment you’ll be walking into if you get the internship.

“Research sometimes falls short in the area of companies in the news,” Salemi says. “Yes, you're looking for a stellar internship to gain skills, experiences and valuable connections, but what if the company recently went through a downsizing situation? What if they're being acquired?”

In other words, you need to know more than that the company is cool and that this internship would look stunning on your resume. What kinds of customers does the company serve? What are its top products? If it’s in the news, what big issues is it facing? You can even check stock prices and business performance. Form opinions about the company’s strengths and weaknesses, and get a feel for where you will fit in once you land your internship.

If you do this, you’ll be better able to address the company’s needs, something that will definitely set you apart from other applicants.

4.  You don’t tailor your resume to each application

Salemi says that many students make the mistake of assuming that recruiters will always read their resumes. “When I worked in recruiting, it wasn't uncommon to literally see hundreds—if not thousands—of resumes sitting in the applicant tracking system,” Salemi says.

That means that if you want to get hired, you need to get your resume past screening software. These applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters more efficiently select candidates by scanning resumes for relevant keywords.

A great way to get past these systems is to carefully read your internship description and mold your resume to include relevant keywords, or exact words and phrases that appear in the internship description in your resume. For example, if your internship requires “oral communication skills,” you should put those words on your resume rather than “public speaking experience.”

No matter how fantastic your experience it is, it won’t mean a thing to your potential employer unless he or she gets the chance to read it.

“There's not enough time in the day to read each and every [resume],” Salemi says. “And they're all similar after a while, so you need to make your resume tailored to the position you're pursuing and definitely try to wiggle your way in the door through any connection you have to actually get noticed.”

5. You don’t address the company’s needs in your cover letter

Maybe you’ve got hundreds of volunteer hours, killer work experience and top-notch academics. Even if you could write a novel-length cover letter detailing how perfect you are for your ideal internship, that doesn’t mean you should.

Many students go on and on about their successes and desires and end up with absolute disasters of cover letters. The worst part? Sometimes these lengthy essays don’t really address the company’s needs.

“Cover letters should be succinct and really pop as to why you're filling the company's need,” Salemi says. “They shouldn't be incredibly long; let your resume do the talking. Instead, just let the cover letter shine by being brief and addressing why you can immediately solve their problem.”

Pick no more than three or four qualifications listed in the internship’s description that you think the company particularly stresses, then provide a specific, concise example of how you meet those qualifications.

Like your resume, your cover letter should be tailored to each company. Research your company thoroughly and find its core values. What kind of culture do they have? Try to reflect this in your cover letter and save all your other great qualities for the interview.

6. You don’t do a mock interview

If you’ve got an interview lined up, that’s an accomplishment on its own. But it’s also the most nerve-wracking (and often trickiest) part of the application process.

“Students struggle with confidently articulating how their experiences translate into the work responsibilities of the role they are interviewing for,” Kuhl says. “This requires research about that company, its work, the demands in similar roles and, most importantly, a lot of practicing their own responses.”

A mock interview can help you gain the confidence you’ll need by getting you used to talking about yourself, your skills and the company you want to intern for. You can ask a friend or family member to ask you questions, or you can go over questions on your own in the mirror or in your computer’s webcam. Your university’s career center may even offer mock interviews during the school year.

Practicing for an interview might feel silly, especially if you’re just interviewing yourself in a mirror, but it’s extremely important. If don’t have another person to interview you, look up common interview questions online and write out answers to help you get a feel for how your experience is relevant to your desired job.

7. You don’t follow up after the interview

“When it comes to following up, just do it!” Salemi says. “Many students miss this key step. First, definitely send a thank-you email or snail-mail note within the first 48 hours. But then also follow up within a week to two weeks to inquire about the status and next steps.”

Following up after your interview leaves a good impression in your interviewer’s mind. Plus, it shows your potential employer that you are serious about the position.

But following up isn’t just for after interviews. After you send out your initial application, it’s a good idea to follow up with questions or comments after a week or two, as long as you do so in a professional, considerate manner. This kind of follow-up can be as simple as briefly restating your interest in the position, giving a sentence or two about your qualifications and asking about the status of your application.

Applying for internships can be stressful and, yes, even overwhelming. But if you take your time and put the effort into each one of your applications, something good is sure to turn up. And remember, even an internship you hadn’t originally considered could become the internship of your dreams!

How to Incorporate Activewear into Your Daily Outfit

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You know all those adorable athletic clothes you got in preparation for your New Year's resolution? The ones that have been sitting in your drawer since you got them? Well, not to worry, because we've figured out the perfect way to finally help you get some use out of them! Check out these three totally different and utterly amazing ways to incorporate activewear into your daily outfit so you can rock the sporty look this season... without having to step foot in a gym!

1. Pop of neon

Sneakers

If you happened to receive a pair of fabulous neon sneakers this holiday, like these Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 ($89.99 at 6pm.com), don't wait until you finally head to the gym to rock them! Since the shoes are so bright, keep the rest of your outfit neutral with a black Womens Ultra Light Down Hooded Coat ($59.90 at UNIQLO). To balance out the fullness of the coat, pair your sneaks with another athleticwear staple: Under Armour Authentic Leggings ($39.99 at bare necessities). Wear your leggings with an easy Loose Solid-Tone & Single-Pocket Tank ($15.99 at BlackFive) for a sporty yet comfy vibe. Finish off the look with a knit beanie to add a bit of texture and to stay warm!

2. Cute and comfy

NF Sweatshirt

Even the least athletic collegiette owns a sweatshirt, and we're obsessed with this North Face Women's Half Dome Hoodie ($45 at The North Face). Throw it on over the college girl staple of High Waist Ponte Treggings ($45 at Topshop) and Blank Ankle Boots ($59.95 at Yoins) in black to create a streamlined silhouette. Stay warm and add some interest by layering this Miss Kissy Detachable Fleece Lined Hooded Parka ($81.81 at YesStyle.com) over your outfit. Add one last sporty touch with a black athletic watch, like this Reebok Women's Warm Up Camo Black Strap Watch ($49.95 at Macy's). It gives you a bit of toughness and keeps you from being late to class!

3. Urban trendy

Top and Shorts

For the urbanite, this sporty outfit with metallic accents is perfect. Pair your on-trend workout sweats, like these Aerie Skinny Jogger in Silver Shadow ($34.95 at American Eagle), with a pastel sport top, like this Victoria's Secret Sport Crop Top ($32.50 at Victoria's Secret). Accent the crop top by tying a denim or chambray shirt, like this MANGO Denim Shirt ($39.99 at MANGO), around your waist, channeling your inner Kardashian! Add some gilded accents with these Keds Women's Champion Metallic Oxford Sneakers ($50 at Macy's) and turn up the tunes with the LMNT Adjustable Headphones ($32 at Lord & Taylor). Not only will you look impossibly trendy, but maybe the right playlist will even inspire you to hit the gym!

Even if your new activewear never sees the inside of a gym, you can still get your money's worth from your sporty new wardrobe. Happy styling, collegiettes!


5 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Relationship

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So your love life is starting to turn sour. Hey, it happens—don’t rely on Nicholas Sparks for an accurate depiction of romance. But although things may be going haywire, you don’t have to give up just yet. Here are five signs you’re damaging your own relationship as well as how to fix it!

1. You don’t trust him around other girls

Unless he’s given you a reason not to trust him around females (in which case, you’re probably better off without him anyways), you need to chill, girl. Jealousy is just a petty and unattractive emotion—it makes you look insecure, and who wants to be with someone who’s not comfortable with herself?

If you’re having trouble trusting your guy, it could be because you were hurt in a past relationship. “Many women carry baggage from previous relationships,” says Adam LoDolce, dating coach and founder of Sexy Confidence. “In other words, they've been cheated on in the past, so they assume it will happen again.”

Bringing your old relationship issues into this one isn’t fair to your current guy. “The hard part is not letting past grievances be heaped on someone who had nothing to do with your old stuff,” says dating coach Margie Burciaga. Try to let go of your past and give this relationship a chance. Not every guy has bad intentions.

2. You’re constantly on his case

“PLEASE don’t leave your toothbrush on the counter, how many times have I asked you?”
“Babe, you’ve worn that hoodie three days in a row now.”

“Can you not put your shoes in the middle of the floor? We’ve been over this.”
“Don’t you have homework you should be doing?”

OMG GIRL, STOP IT. Nobody likes to be nagged! “Nagging him doesn't enhance special feelings about you, it makes him feel inadequate,” says online dating expert Gina Stewart. “Who wants to be with someone who makes them feel bad about themselves?”

Remember when your mom used to bug you about cleaning your room or getting your homework done or picking up after yourself, and you felt annoyed? You’re being his mom now—and he doesn’t like it. He wants a girlfriend, not an extra mommy. So relax.

If something is really bugging you, bring it up nicely and with a smile. “State what you want and why it’s important, then give space for an answer and take what he says at face value, along with listening to what he says,” Burciaga says. “Men generally tell you exactly where they are coming from.”

3. You always want to hang out with him

When you find someone really cool, sometimes we ladies have a tendency to get—well, dependent, to put it nicely. If you find yourself getting furious when he turns down your near-frantic “Can we hang out?” inquiries, then you know you’ve crossed over to clingy.

“When a woman is too clingy and expecting to get all of her excitement and validation from constantly being with her man, it slowly chokes the life out of the relationship,” says Marla Martenson, a matchmaker, author and motivational speaker.

The truth is harsh, but it’s this: nothing will make a guy ditch you faster than your overbearingness. Who likes to feel smothered? That’s right—no one. So try to back off a little.

“Not giving him space—this is a result of not having your own friends and life,” LoDolce says. “He won't want a life with you unless you have a life without him. Pursue a passion, get a hobby, grab drinks with your girlfriends.”

4. You overanalyze everything

How many times have you read a text over and over, trying to decipher exactly what it meant? Or maybe you’ve replayed a scene in your head a thousand times, trying to break it down further and further. You worry and obsess about every little thing he says or does—and that’s not healthy.

“Guys are generally pretty straightforward–they tell it like it is,” says Laurie Davis, founder and CEO of eFlirt Expert. “There is no reading between the lines. But women overanalyze everything and often think there is a greater meaning to everything he says. Ultimately, overanalyzing can push him away entirely.”

So, what’s the solution? Actually talking to your guy rather than stressing over what you think he might have meant. “Open communication is always best, so if you’re ever unsure of what he means when he says something, ask!” Davis says.

5. Your expectations are too high

Are you one of those girls who have lengthy lists of every quality their ideal man must possess? “In budding relationships, I often observe women building up a guy or a relationship up before it’s really anything tangible,” says Davis. “But when you do this, he will never live up to your expectations. Fantasies are not reality.”

So take a breather and burn that list, because finding a man without flaws is impractical. Love isn’t always like your fave romance movie; in fact, it’s usually not.

Also, don’t get ahead of yourself (i.e., don’t start asking him about what kind of father he’d be on the fourth date). “Keep two feet planted on the ground,” Davis says. “It’s okay to think about him, but try to reminisce over something he said or did on your last date rather than imagining what it will feel like to walk down the aisle together.”

 

If you’re engaging in any of the above behaviors, your relationship could be in trouble. But listening to the advice of these experts should make fixing your problems relatively easy! Channel your inner superwoman and be proactive about your problems. After all, this relationship may just be worth saving.

Students Arrested After Protesting Discriminatory Practices

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Protestors believe that the Civil Rights Movement experienced a rebirth after a January 9th sit-in at the University of Georgia advocating integration of undocumented students into UGA resulted in the arrest of 9 students.  

Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina are the only three states that still forbid undocumented students from attending state institutions. Georgia specifically bars undocumented students from the top five public universities, which protestors argue is a deeply discriminatory and archaic practice. Georgia also has a statewide law that specifically bans undocumented students from having in-state tuition at state schools. Georgia is the only state in the country that specifically prohibits both in-state discounts and admission to specific universities.

Protest organizers specifically chose to hold the sit-in on the ninth because on January 9th, 1961, the University of Georgia became the first university to be desegregated in the Deep South. There is a distinct parallel being drawn between the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the push for undocumented students’ rights. Protestors invited Lonnie C. King, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and Loretta Ross, a leader in the push for reproductive rights, to attend and offer advice on how to advocate for civil rights in the South. Both came to speak at the protest, which was the first time in four years that documented and undocumented students shared a classroom in a public university in Georgia.

Protestors wore handmade butterfly wings in the classroom to symbolize the beauty of migration and used hashtags #54yearslater and #migrationisbeautiful on social media sites to demonstrate their unity. They posted signs outside their classroom stating "Desegregation in progress," a clear reference to classroom desegregation in the '60s.

At 7:45 p.m. police arrived to the scene, Moore College, in response to a call that protestors were refusing to leave the building after it closed. All but nine of the protestors evacuated the premises after the police arrived, but the remaining nine were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing. Of the nine, four were undocumented students and five were documented. Before the police arrived, the protestors were considering staying the weekend in Moore College. David Williams, the director of the honors college housed in Moore College, had expressed that he would stay with them over the weekend in support.

The push for integration of classrooms with both documented and undocumented students is eerily comparable to the Civil Rights Movement. Protestors used similar methods, inviting a speaker from the Civil Rights Movement, and protesting peacefully. Ross said to the protesters that in the push for equality in Georgia, “you’re the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

5 Things to Do if You’re a Mid-Year Transfer

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Okay, so things didn’t exactly work out at your first school.

Maybe the scholarship your original college promised you fell through, or you broke up with the significant other whom you ventured off to college with and you decided you need a fresh start. Maybe you realized you want to study a major that isn’t offered at your current school. Perhaps you simply decided that your university just wasn’t the right fit for you. No matter the reason, you knew it was time for a change and decided to transfer.

You might be anxious about what you’ll be walking into come spring semester. Transferring mid-year can seem daunting, but it’s no harder than anything you went throughyour first semester of college. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get acquainted with your new school!

1. Do some digging

If you’re transferring to this new college, chances are you already have some knowledge of the school and know a little about the area. Nonetheless, do a little more research! Dig around your school’s website for the latest news and updates. Did your new school win any major games last semester? Did the school have any interesting speakers come to campus?

Be sure to brush up on fun events happening around your new college town as well. Is there a 5K you want to participate in? What bands are playing close to campus in the spring? Is there a food tour downtown you might want to check out? These are some talking points that could come up in conversation with your new classmates!

2. Connect with someone on campus

If you’ll be living on campus, get to know your roommate and take the time to say hello to your neighbors.

“Living in the dorms made it a lot easier to meet new people and make friends,” says Joy, a junior who transferred from El Camino Community College in southern California to a school in Washington, D.C.  “I had almost automatic friends in my roommates, and their friends became my friends and vice versa.”

If you were in a sorority, see if the same organization is active on your new campus. If so, be sure to reach out to some of the sisters at your new school to see how you can get involved. If you don’t know anyone on campus, see if your school has a Facebook page or an on-campus meet-and-greet event for incoming transfer students.

“Try out some of the transfer activities that the school has planned,” says Farrin, who transferred in the middle of her sophomore year to American University. “[These events] might sound silly, but you never know who you'll meet along the way.”

3. Get involved

Join a few clubs!  Clubs are a great way to meet people, and there’s sure to be a club that will meet your interests (trust us on that one). Sure, the fall semester is over, but that doesn’t mean clubs are closed off to welcoming new members.

“Get involved in different activities,” Joy says. “It is hard to get involved and excited about a new school when you have spent a year or two at another college. Taking part in school activities... can really make a difference.”

If you’re not interested in clubs, spend some time volunteering for a philanthropy that has a chapter on campus, like Relay for Life. Don’t hesitate to approach the organization’s leaders and members if they put out a table on the quad.

Farrin researched clubs, organizations and different activities that her new school had to offer, and, although she says she didn’t fully intend to join a sorority at first, she went through recruitment to meet people along the way. She ending up joining Alpha Epsilon Phi and says she could not have asked for a better transfer experience.

“I was welcomed instantly by such an amazing group of women who have become my best friends and shaped my entire experience,” Farrin says. “I recommend trying out Greek life to any transfer student. Everyone is in the same boat as you, trying to find a comfortable place to have fun and make friends.”

4. Put down your cell phone

Instead of texting before class, chat with people around you. Don’t be afraid to tell a classmate that you’re a newcomer, collegiettes! See if he or she has had the professor before, what his or her major is and why he or she is taking the class. You just might find a friend and a study buddy at the same time!

“Meet as many people as possible, take opportunities you wouldn't necessarily do and be open-minded,” Farrin says.  “Do everything you can to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.”

5. Above all: don’t stress

Being a new face in a new place might seem overwhelming, but don’t forget that you’re not alone. Chances are there’s another mid-year transfer struggling to find his or her place at this new school as well. If you don’t find your niche in the first few weeks, don’t fret! College is all about letting things happen naturally and building relationships over time.

“It's not an easy thing to switch colleges,” says Taylor, a sophomore who transferred to Trinity Baptist College. “But it is really worth it in the end if you feel like it's the college you should be at. Don't let the little problems you will run into get to you... Once you get past the little problems, I promise it gets way easier.”

Instead of approaching your first semester at your new school worried about the transition, be excited about the fact that you’re starting fresh, making new friends and enjoying new experiences along the way! 

17 Signs You've Had it With Winter

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We all crave the idea of winter in the months leading up to it. Sipping hot cocoa, playing in the snow, buying cute hats, seeing your breath... it all sounds so magical. That is, until winter actually comes. The second the temperatures drop and you have to break out your heavy winter coat, the season loses its luster. We're only a few weeks into January, but we have a sense that some of you are over winter 2015 already. Here are some signs that you're ready for spring!

1. Hot chocolate no longer excites you.
Sadly, neither do any of Starbucks's seasonal drinks.

2. Each new day becomes the coldest day of your life.
At some point it must get better, right? Apparently not.

3. Nothing will get you out of your warm and cozy bed. You have to be forcefully removed.
You're seriously considering getting wall-to-wall carpeting on your bathroom floor and gluing yourself to your bathrobe.

4. You find joy in hearing that the high for the day is in the 30s.
Double digits - such a good sign!

5. Choosing new ChapStick flavor to buy is not at all fun anymore, mostly because you're buying a new tube every other day.
Can't remember the last time your lips weren't chapped? Neither can we.

6. You no longer bother to check or fix your static-filled hair when you get inside somewhere.
The look you're going for is "untamed beast."

7. When someone cheerfully points out that it's snowing, you wonder what's wrong with him or her.
Snow was fun... when you were five and you actually had snow days.

8. You don't want your classes to ever end because it means you have to go back outside again to travel to your next class.
When will underground tunnels become a thing on college campuses?

9. The mere thought of packing on layers of outerwear is enough to keep you inside for days.
Staying in and cleaning up sounds more appealing. So does math homework.

10. You daydream about scorching summer days when you do nothing but sweat.
You'd so rather be complaining about a heat wave than a polar vortex.

11. You've been excessively rude to your friends who live in warmer climates. 
You'd apologize for your overt sass, but you're simply too frozen to say the words "I'm sorry."

12. Slipping on ice has become a normal part of your daily life.
You know it's going to happen; there's (literally) no way around it.

13. Leaving your gloves at home is basically as bad as forgetting your phone.
Frostbite was not really what you wished for back in August when you were complaining about the heat.

14. You've watched every single movie and TV show on your Netflix list.
You never thought the day would come, but you actually want to do something outside, like frolic in the grass - except you can't.

15. You are absolutely out of moisturizer of any kind thanks to your constant dry skin.
What happened to that huge random assortment of lotions you once had a few months ago?!

16. You Googled the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, and now you're convinced that you have it.
Low energy, check. Oversleeping, definite check.

17. Hiring someone to start and warm up your car for you in the morning is not completely out of the question.
Any takers?

Should You Use a Toner?

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How many steps does it take to mimic the impeccable skin of a beaut like Kate Bosworth? One too many, making our skin regimen feel more like a chore. And with the array of multi-purpose products on shelves today, we tend to ignore the seemingly useless ones. Case in point: Toners. Remember those? Here, we’re giving you the skinny on the forgotten skincare product and whether or not you should add it to your routine.

What it is:

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, toner is defined as, “a liquid that is used to clean and tighten the skin.” Toners are often applied after cleansing to remove any residue your cleanser missed. Sounds beneficial, right? The answer is tricky. Toners, especially those with a high alcohol content, strip all traces of oil on your face—even the good kind—and can be too drying. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should disregard them altogether. Carla Watts, the lead esthetician at the Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie, says that cleansing interrupts the chemical balance of your skin and toners actually restore the skin’s natural pH level, thereby making it easier for your skin to absorb moisturizer. And in case you didn't already know, the ability of our skin to lock in moisture is key to a supple, glowing complexion.

Who should use it:

Because of its drying effects, toners are ideal for collegiettes with oily skin. But here’s the good news: Not every toner is created equal, which means that toners can benefit all skin types, as long as you use the right one. According to Dr. Nathan Newman, M.D., for those with oily and acne-prone skin, a toner with acids or alcohol can reduce shine and tighten pores. Dry and sensitive skin types should look for a water-based toner with soothing ingredients like rosewater, cucumber, or vitamin E that will simultaneously keep oils in check and satiate parched skin.

The verdict:

Yes, you should use a toner so as long as you choose one that’s compatible with your skin. Utilize a toner as a midday skin freshener or make it the step between cleansing and moisturizing. 

Keep scrolling to see our picks for the best toners according to skin type.

For Oily and Acne-Prone Skin:

Matis Paris Pure Lotion Toner ($38)

Murad Acne Complex Clarifying Toner ($22)

For Dry Skin:

Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner ($9.95)

Algenist Hydrating Essence Toner ($25)

For Sensitive Skin:

DeVita Cool Cucumber Facial Toner ($15.19)

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic Spray ($42)

Do you use a toner? If so, what's your favorite one?

How to Write a Professional Bio for Twitter, LinkedIn & More

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It’s that time of year again—summer job and internship application time. Though your interview and cover letters are essential in the job-hunting process, your bios on Twitter, LinkedIn and your personal website are important parts of how you’re represented on the Internet. You probably have accounts on a bunch of different social media, and you can use them to your advantage!

A great bio displays your personality and professionalism year-round, and it’s also a quick and easy way for you to garner interest from potential employers, bringing you one step closer to the job of your dreams. Here are the most important things you need to know when writing different types of professional bios.

LinkedIn Summary

Be professional

It might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how big an impact using a professional tone can make in your LinkedIn bio. LinkedIn is the perfect medium for getting your feet wet in the professional world, so be sure your bio fits the bill and doesn’t include sarcasm, witty comments, humor or quotes. Make your LinkedIn bio sharp and clean, not personal. 

Describe who you are

The purpose of a professional bio is to “showcase your strengths and what differentiates you from others,” says social media strategy consultant Neal Schaffer. He says that doing this can be challenging because as college students, we may not have a lot of prior experience. To differentiate yourself from other college students, Schaffer suggests you include what you’ve studied, what you excel at and any awards you’ve won or great academic successes you’ve achieved.

Use keywords

According to Schaffer, a keyword qualifies as “any word associated with your experience that would be valuable for the next job that you have.” Recruiters and hiring managers “search LinkedIn or they search word resumes looking for certain keywords.”

Keywords describe what experience you’ve had or what experience you’re looking to gain (e.g. journalism, graphic design, film production, business). Slip these into your LinkedIn bio to attract the attention of potential employers who use searches to find candidates who possess the qualities or skills they’re looking for.

LinkedIn bio example

Laura Reed

Junior majoring in marketing at New York University with an interest in business, PR and social media. Seeking a summer internship to apply my experience assisting a company’s branding needs through social media promotion, digital marketing and ad sales research.

Specialties include:

  • Social networking
  • Blogging
  • Journalism
  • Microsoft Office
  • Public speaking

Twitter Bio

Include the most relevant information

Marta Steele, partner at PeopleResults, a change and human resources consulting firm, says that the biggest difference between a LinkedIn bio and a Twitter bio is the length. She notes that because Twitter only gives us 160 characters, we need to “make it punchy and to the point.”

It’s also a smart idea to put your college name, your graduating year and any awards you’ve received into your bio. Schaffer says that occasionally recruiters will check out your Twitter profile, so it should be very clear “who you are, where you are in your career right now and what you’re looking for.”

Add some personality, but not too much

It’s okay to add a little tidbit at the end of your Twitter bio about your favorite sports team, your heritage or what have you (e.g. “Puerto Rican, Red Sox fan, chocoholic”). However, Andrew Hindes, president of The In-House Writer, an L.A.-based copywriting service, advises you not to get too cute when writing your bio.

“Try to be focused on really what you’re interested in in terms of your professional career,” Hindes says. The less fluff you include in your bio, the better.

Link to your blog and/or LinkedIn page

Because your Twitter bio is so short, it’s a good idea to link to your other social media websites (e.g. your blog, personal website or LinkedIn page) on your page. Dan Schawbel, author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success, notes that “people will use different networks to find you,” and the easier it is to do so, the better. This also allows job recruiters to get a quick taste of who you are in your Twitter bio and follow up on your personal website or LinkedIn page if they’d like to.

Twitter bio example

@nyuniversity ’15. Marketing major. @HerCampus contributing writer. Aspiring marketing consultant. Social media fiend. Lakers fan.

www.linkedin.com/samplebio.

Personal Website or Blog Bio

Keep it all consistent

You likely have accounts on many different social media sites, and it’s important to represent yourself similarly on all sites. Schawbel says you need to “make sure everything you do online is consistent.” Regardless of the varying tones and lengths of your other online bios, your personal website or blog bio should tie it all together and keep it uniform. This credits you as professional and reliable and is the easiest way to show what you know.

Stick to what you know best

You may know about a lot of different things, but don’t represent yourself as someone who knows everything. Hindes stresses that employers want to find people who know exactly what it is they want to do. If you do have multiple strong skills or desired career paths, Hindes suggests creating several different websites so you don’t clutter your bio with too much extra information.

Schawbel adds that it’s crucial to specify precisely what you are good at and interested in. “If you try to be all things to all people, you get ignored,” he says.

Show your passion

Your personal website or blog is the perfect place for you to mix the professional and the personal without a character limit. Steele urges students to promote their individuality; she suggests that your personal website bio should “tell an interesting, unique story with a few sentences, excellent grammar and concise language.”

In terms of appealing to job recruiters, Hindes recommends “[making] up for what you lack in experience with your passions and dedications.” This means adding a sentence or two about your favorite pastimes or hobbies, because although you may not have a great deal of experience, employers like seeing that you have motivation and passion for what you do in your everyday life.

Personal website/blog bio example

Laura Reed is a junior at New York University. She is working towards her earning her degree in marketing and hopes to find a job after graduation that will allow her to apply her knowledge of consumer behavior with her love of sports. She hails from Los Angeles, where she grew up a die-hard Lakers fan and subsisted solely on a diet of In-N-Out and Pinkberry. Last summer, Laura interned for XYZ, a marketing company in Brooklyn, and gained valuable experience in social media promotion and ad sales research. During the school year, Laura writes for Her Campus, the #1 online community for college women, and is an active member of NYU’s marketing society and drama therapy club. She can be contacted at sample.bio[at]gmail[dot]com.

For all Bios

Finally, remember to proofread! Little grammatical and spelling errors are the fastest way to be seen as unprofessional. You know what they say: you only have one chance to make a good first impression.

Your bio can be the key to getting where you want to be in your career, so it’s important that you do all you can to make it a succinct and professional display of your qualifications and your personality. Best of luck this internship season, collegiettes!

Galliano Has Returned to (Most of) Fashion's Good Graces

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After years out of the spotlight due to what has perhaps been one of the biggest scandals in the fashion industry to date, John Galliano has made a reentry into the fashion world with his first couture collection as the new creative director at Maison Martin Margiela, which has caused some mixed reactions. While much of the fashion world (including Anna Wintour, the queen of fashion herself) has publicly welcomed Galliano back with open arms, many are not quite so quick to allow his new position to overshadow his past mistakes.

Few scandals in the fashion industry are as widely known as John Galliano’s fall from the helm of Dior in 2011. After videos surfaced online of the designer drunkenly making anti-Semitic remarks, he was swiftly removed from his position as the creative head of Dior and of his own namesake company. Galliano subsequently stayed out of the limelight for several years, but in 2013, was invited by Oscar de la Renta to temporarily assist with his F/W 2013 collection. In October of last year, however, Galliano’s return to fashion was made seemingly permanent when it was announced he would take the reins as creative director at Margiela.

However, Galliano’s appointment at Margiela is significant for more than one reason—it is also the first time the label has had a creative director since Martin Margiela, the house’s notoriously private founder, left in 2009. Margiela was known for his eccentric and cutting-edge designs during the 1980s, which often disregarded many of the ‘rules’ set by the fashion world.  

Right away, Galliano has gone about making the brand his own—starting with the name itself, which he has officially changed to just Maison Margiela, doing away with the former inclusion of "Martin" in the brand name. Galliano has always been known for his flamboyant and intricate couture designs, and his first couture collection for Margiela was definitely no exception.

In the spirit of moving on from the past, however, fashion critics are noting that there was a new edge to Galliano’s new work at Margiela—after all, themes of decay and masks with pearls and gems protruding three-dimensionally are definitely not something we would have seen amongst the collections of beautiful, ladylike couture he created for Dior. Critics also noted the relatively stripped down (for Galliano) ensemble he wore to take his bows—the same plain lab coat all Margiela employees don. Galliano himself, at least, seems to be embracing the new beginnings.

The biggest question many in the fashion world seem to be divided over is whether or not this extravagant new collection is enough of a new beginning for him to be forgiven for his past mistakes. While many believe Galliano has done his time and paid his dues, so to speak, in order to earn forgiveness, many are not so sure, and are quick to point out that no amount of creative talent can overcome what were some pretty horrific statements. To what extent is Galliano being forgiven out of the generosity of the fashion industry, rather than simply because it needs his extraordinary talent?

Ultimately, I was personally wowed by the collection and may or may not have clicked through the entire thing four times in a row. The question is, was Galliano’s talent enough to merit a second chance? Has he really changed for the better? As he begins to return to the public eye, only time will tell.


The 6 Best Restaurants for Gluten-Free Diets

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When you’re a collegiette with celiac disease, finding a restaurant that’s understanding of your gluten-free needs can be tough. Many restaurants claim to have gluten-free options but don’t completely understand which foods have gluten in them. Since gluten-free diets have become a fad, some restaurants aren’t as nitpicky about gluten-free foods as is necessary for people who actually have an allergy. To make your lives easier, we surveyed some gluten-free collegiettes to find out their favorite restaurant spots that make their lifestyle not only easy, but also delicious!

1. Not Your Average Joe’s

Locations: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania

Gluten-free menu

This chain restaurant provides gluten-free meals from start to finish. Inform your server as soon as you’re seated, and you’ll receive a gluten-free version of their bread and dip and an entire menu of options. Start off with Thai chicken lettuce wraps or a spicy tuna sushi roll. You can also choose from entrees that range from salads and fish to a burger on a gluten-free caramelized onion roll. They even have a gluten-free menu for kids! According to several gluten-free collegiettes, there really is no place better.

“I love Not Your Average Joe’s because of the gluten-free bread and dip,” says Blair*, a junior at Syracuse University. “It truly makes me feel as though I have the same options as my not-gluten-free friends.”

2. Legal Sea Foods

Locations: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Georgia, Rhode Island and Virginia

Gluten-free menu

“If it isn’t fresh, it isn’t Legal” is the slogan of this chain, and they definitely live up to it. Legal Sea Foods’ gluten-free menu is particularly impressive since it’s equally as tasty as its regular items! Enjoy lite clam chowder, wood-grilled fish or crispy fried seafood that’s made entirely without gluten.

“I eat at Legal because almost every item on their menu can be prepared without gluten,” says Jenny*, a Northeastern University junior.  “The manager brings out the meals himself and reiterates that there was no cross-contamination in the preparation. It’s awesome!”

3. P.F. Chang’s

Locations: Over 200 locations around the U.S.

Gluten-free menu

P.F. Chang’s gives lovers of Asian food something worth celebrating. Ranked the second most allergy-friendly restaurant by AllergyEats, P.F. Chang’s provides gluten-free egg drop soup, fried rice, spicy chicken, beef with broccoli and more.

“I love Chinese food and I’ve never had a problem using the gluten-free menu at P.F. Chang’s,” says Juliet*, a Syracuse University junior. “I highly recommend [it]!”

4. Chipotle Mexican Grill

Locations:Locations all across the U.S. and abroad

Menu

At Chipotle, it’s easy to eat gluten free because there’s almost no gluten! Since the only item with gluten is their flour tortillas, you have your choice of any other meal and all of their toppings. With no boundaries in a burrito bowl, this makes Chipotle an ideal fast food chain for all gluten-free collegiettes.

“Chipotle is my favorite place to eat because I literally have no boundaries,” says Lily*, a Pennsylvania State University senior says. “I always get a burrito bowl, which means no tortilla. Once I tell the employees I have a gluten allergy, they always change their gloves so there’s no cross-contamination.”

5. Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Locations: Over 200 locations

Gluten-free menu

Carrabba’s Italian Grill prides themselves on honoring all dietary restrictions. Nationwide, their restaurants offer gluten-free takes on their most popular family recipes, such as Chicken Bryan and Chicken Marsala. Carrabba’s encourages its guests to call ahead so that restaurant employees can inform you of all their gluten-free options.

“I thoroughly enjoyed their gluten-free menu,” says Vanessa*, a Syracuse University senior. “I got the Chicken Marsala and loved it.”

6. Outback Steakhouse

Locations: Over 900 locations

Gluten-free menu

With the Outback Steakhouse gluten-free menu, you can choose from multiple appetizers, entrees and desserts that are all made without gluten. The Chocolate Thunder From Down Under, a classic Outback dessert, is also available gluten free. With over 900 locations in many different countries, you’re bound to always find an Outback for your gluten-free needs.

“My family always goes to Outback Steakhouses on vacation because it’s a reliable chain that has a great menu for me,” says Olivia*, a Syracuse University senior.

Having a gluten allergy can make going out to dinner tough. The next time your group of friends wants to go to dinner, suggest one of these restaurants—they’ll make everything a little bit easier.

 

*Names have been changed.

Here's What Happens When Women Agree with Men's Compliments

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What happens when you start agreeing with those “you’re so hot” messages you receive on dating sites and social media? One college student began agreeing with the compliments guys sent her online, and she received some shocking reactions.

Claire Boniface is the 20-year-old University of Winchester student behind the “agreeing with boys when they compliment you” social experiment. When she received a message from a guy telling her she was “hot” or “beautiful,” she began agreeing with the compliments instead of responding with thanks.

"I was curious to see how the people that messaged me would respond,"Boniface told The Huffington Post. "Often when I get messages on that site simply complimenting me I just ignore them because the compliments are never sincere and I see no reason to respond, so I thought I would try out a simple response of 'yes' and see what would happen"

As it turns out, guys do not like when women do this.

Boniface shared the reactions online and the experiment soon went viral. 

After seeing Boniface’s experiment, 18-year-old Gweneth Bateman followed suit with the messages she received. The responses she shared were just as hostile.

"Many responses state how 'vain' and 'conceited' I was for agreeing with their compliment which I found baffling," Bateman said. "Why give me the compliment in the first place if you didn't want me to believe it?”

 

What are we supposed to make of these messages? Are women expected to give thanks to men who throw them compliments, as if the acknowledgement of female beauty is something only men can give? If a woman is confident and proud of herself—whether it's in appearance, personality or any other trait or achievement—is it not acceptable for her to say so? 

5 Tips for Actually Getting Work Done in Your Dorm

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In college, your dorm room is your haven from the outside world. What little privacy you have in college is confined within those four walls that contain your bedroom, kitchen and living room all in one compact space. And most of the time, only half of this already small space is yours.

Unfortunately, your room often serves as your study space as well, and when the library’s hours don’t sympathize with your impending all-nighter, your cozy bedroom must suddenly become study central. If you’re easily drawn away from your studies by your inviting bed and the newest episode of Grey’s Anatomy, read on for five tips on how to avoid temptation and ace your next test from the comfort of your dorm room.

1. Study at your desk

If your organic chemistry notes weren’t already putting you to sleep, getting into your bed definitely will. As enticing as your down comforter and fluffy pillows may look after a long day in class, don’t fall to temptation! Nothing is worse than getting in bed with three chapters to read for class and waking up eight hours later with the unopened book in your lap.

Art Markman, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin, says that “the body’s habit when lying down is to relax and sleep,” so as you lay in bed flipping through your notes, your body actually takes a less active role in your studying. To fight your body’s natural desire to sleep, sit at your desk and mimic the feeling of sitting in class.

“I always find that if I’m studying in my dorm room I have to stay away from my bed; it’s too comfy and it puts me to sleep!” says Nadia, a senior at Rutgers University. As an alternative, Nadia suggests sitting at your desk and using a lot of light to keep you awake and focused on your studies. To make sure you accomplish everything on your to-do list, reserve your bed for sleeping and stick to your desk chair. Getting in bed when you’re done will be the perfect reward!

2. Keep your study space neat

If you’re looking to buckle down and memorize five chapters for your next test, organize your space and get rid of the makeup and snacks that seem to always be covering it. Limit your distractions by keeping your desk solely for studying! When you have such a small space to work in, organizing it can make you more focused, so gear your work space toward the type of homework you’re doing and check out some of HC’s favorite school supplies for a little desk inspiration.

3. Control your environment

When your entire hall seems to have no homework to do, silence can seem like a thing of the past. With noise-canceling headphones or quality earplugs, you can make the ruckus of college life fade away. Spotify, with the help of clinical psychologist Dr. Emma Gray, conducted a study that reveals the benefits of engaging your brain with music to complement your learning.

The music you choose and the beats per minute of that music should be based on the information you’re learning. For example, classical music with 60-70 beats per minute stimulates learning and enhances concentration for mathematicians, whereas pop music with 50-80 beats per minute allows the left side of your brain to take control, which is helpful for people studying the sciences, humanities and languages.

Try out noise-canceling headphones like the popular Beats by Dr. Dre headphones or this less expensive pair from Panasonic to silence dorm life.

If studying to music isn’t for you, try out some nice earplugs available at drugstores like CVS, Walgreens and Target to seclude yourself and hit the books. Most dorms have RA-enforced “quiet hours,” and your roommate would most likely be willing to hang out in another room if you’re looking for complete silence. Noise can be the biggest distraction from your studies, so try to get some quiet time while you review!

4. Limit your Internet usage

As college students, most of us fear missing a crucial tweet, Instagram or status update. In the hopes of staying constantly up to date, we leave tabs open for Facebook and Twitter for those “five-minute study breaks” that stretch into an hour.

Free Internet applications like SelfControl for Macs and Cold Turkey for PCs allow you to manually limit your access to various websites. You can set a list of sites you don’t want to access and both applications will block the addresses on your list for whatever time you choose. The beauty of social media is that all of those posts will still be there when you’re done, so you’re not really saying “goodbye,” but rather, “see you soon” to your digital friendships. A Facebook hiatus will keep you from complaining about your homework so that you have time to actually do it!

If you’ve downloaded every social media app on your phone like we have, try turning your phone off, or, if you have an iPhone, putting it on “do not disturb.” This setting on the iPhone silences calls, alerts and notifications so that you won’t be tempted to check your most recent texts. Your friends can also help keep you on track by safeguarding your phone or changing your social media passwords for you so you won’t even be able to log back on until they let you! They’ll be more than happy to save you from the temptation around you.

5. Take breaks

Research shows that taking scheduled breaks from your studies can make your brain more alert and productive. If you ever feel like you’ve been staring at a computer screen or book for too long, it’s probably because you have been! University of Illinois psychology professor Dr. Alejandro Lleras states that“constant stimulation is registered by our brains as unimportant, to the point that the brain erases it from our awareness.”

The Pomodoro Technique suggests taking breaks every 25 minutes to maximize your productivity during any given task. Breaking the material into chunks will make your homework feel much more manageable, and while taking a break may feel like a waste of time, the material will feel much fresher than before when you come back to it. Make your breaks productive by making yourself a cup of coffee or exercising. Both will wake your body up, making your next chunk of studying much more productive. You’ll be surprised how much more efficient you can be just by taking a few breaks!

 

These five easy tips will put your dorm room’s versatility to good use and save you from mind-numbing hours spent in the library. Maybe your own room will turn out to be the perfect study spot you’ve been searching for all year!

Mindy Kaling Doesn't 'Need Marriage'

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Being in college can often seem like the world’s worst time to be single. After all, some of your friends from high school are already married with kids while many of your college besties are dying for their ring by spring. But if the pressure to get married is officially stressing you out, our favorite gal pal Mindy Kaling will definitely put your mind to rest.

In a recent interview for the February issue of Good Housekeeping, Mindy was asked if she’s currently attached, to which she brilliantly replied: “When I was younger, I wanted so badly to be married and have kids in a rush. I loved my parents’ relationship. The way my father was with my mother when she was dying was so moving. It was such devotion. I don’t know that that will happen for me, but I like it.” But that wasn’t all that Mindy had to say on the matter: “I don’t need marriage. I don’t need anyone to take care of all my needs and desires. I can take care of them myself now.”

And that’s exactly why we love this woman! We wish we could say we were at this point of enlightenment when it comes to relationships, but authentic ladies like Mindy keep giving us the hope that we can get there. Mindy’s the first to declare her obsession with rom-coms, and there’s no doubt she believes in love (just look at Mindy and Danny if you require proof!). But man does she get our struggles. The day that we can realize we are enough for ourselves will be the same day we surpass the pressures to get married, and Mindy is quite the role model when it comes to this philosophy.

As any good interview with The Mindy Project star does, this one included the sweetest shout-out to her lifelong soupsnake, B.J. Novak: “I’m definitely not in the friends-with-my-exes camp. But B.J. has the stamp for life as a friend. My mom loved him. He feels like family.” Let’s say it all together now… aww! Even if Mindy is okay with not getting married, we’re still holding out hope that these two can make it work.

Do you agree with Mindy’s statements about marriage, collegiettes? Do you feel the pressure to get married or are you over it? 

A Year-by-Year Guide to Getting a Job After Graduation

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As we step onto our college campuses for the first time, the thought of our future careers may be the furthest thing from our minds. Some of us haven’t even decided on a major yet, let alone what we want to do for the rest of our lives. Still, even if you are unsure what kind of career you want to pursue, there are things you can do to prepare for it from the moment you walk onto campus. Here are key things to accomplish each year of college to help plan for your dream career – whatever it may be!

Freshman year

Talk to a career counselor

The best first step you can take is to visit your school’s career center and talk to a counselor. They offer a variety of resources to students to prepare them for the job search, including resume reviews, interview workshops and networking assistance.

Your counselor may also suggest you take a career assessment test. Suzanne Dagger, director of career services at Hofstra University, recommends taking a career assessment to “learn how your skills, values, interests and personality can lead you to a college major and career choice.” If you have no idea what kind of career you might be interested in, these tests can help you figure out what kinds of jobs would be best suited to your abilities.

Join campus organizations

Being active in student groups and activities looks great on any resume because it shows that you know how to balance work with fun. However, you have to be selective about which groups to join. While there are so many exciting options available, you don’t want to put too many things on your plate.

Temple University senior Lindsey Murray started out by joining just a few organizations, including Temple’s chapter of Her Campus. “It can be really tempting to join everything that interests you, but I tried to stick to just one or two things so that I could still balance schoolwork and friends without being overwhelmed,” she says.

On-campus activities count as experience, so if you have an idea of what kind of career you would like to pursue, focus on becoming involved with groups that are related to that field. Those interested in foreign affairs can participate in Model United Nations or join the international club to interact with students studying abroad at your school. If you’re majoring in a STEM field, there are academic and professional associations to connect students and promote your field of interest, from aeronautics to pharmacology. Aspiring journalists can join the school newspaper or even start your own Her Campus chapter at your university!

Start making a resume

Dagger’s final suggestion for freshmen is to begin drafting a resume. This is the foundation of your job search: Every employer will ask for one, and every job seeker must have one.

Even as a freshman, you may already have several things you can put on your first resume. Because you’re fresh out of high school, you can still include any high school achievements, awards and activities. Think back over those last four years and list any clubs you were involved in. If you worked or volunteered during the summers, include that as well. These count as experience that will be replaced with internship and work experience as you continue through college. You’ll also want to list your education, your GPA and any academic honors you received.

Remember, you’ll want to replace your high school information with relevant things from college once you gain more experience. But for now, a complete resume can be drafted with accomplishments you already have. As always, your career counselor is available to help you with the resume-writing process.

Bonus: Add to your resume

While it’s okay to stick to high school accomplishments at first, if you know what kind of career you would like, you can also start to look for new experiences to add to your resume. This can be an internship, a part-time job or even a temporary position at a company or business.

These positions will not only build your resume, but they will also give you insight into your potential career field. Lindsey learned this when she began to write for a health and fitness blog at the end of her freshman year. “It wasn’t the world’s most popular blog, but it really taught me a lot about the world of pitching, writing and reporting,” she says.

If you know your desired industry, then use these early experiences to help determine if this is the industry you really want to go into.

Sophomore year

Take on leadership roles

After you’ve settled into the college routine, you can get more involved on campus. Taking on leadership positions will help you learn valuable skills—such as communication, teamwork, management and problem-solving—that will be in high demand when you start applying to jobs.

During her sophomore year, Lindsey continued to stay involved with her school’s Her Campus chapter. Through her dedication, she was promoted to health and fitness editor her spring semester. The opportunity to manage other students and demonstrate her expertise was an invaluable highlight to her resume.

You can run for student government or take a leadership role in your favorite organization you joined as a freshman. If you’re finding it hard to get leadership roles as a sophomore, you can start out by taking on different roles, such as public outreach to help recruit new members for your group, or volunteering your time to help prepare for an upcoming event. You can even start your own student group if you didn’t find one you were interested in!

Begin making connections

As you get more involved on campus, you’ll start to meet new people, many of whom might share your career field of interest. It’s important to begin building a network of people you can reach out to when your job hunt really gets underway.

“Begin to make connections with faculty,” Dagger suggests. “Start to attend events where employers and alumni may be present and introduce yourself.”

Visit your favorite professors during office hours. Ask questions or discuss what you found interesting about a recent lecture—it shows an interest in what they teach and provides a good foundation for building a relationship.

You don’t have to limit yourself to just the people currently at your school! If you know of an alumni event happening, go. You can also ask for an introduction: If a professor knows a graduate who works in a field you’re interested in, ask if he or she would mind reaching out to the alumnus with a request to contact you. Let the alumnus know you are interested in that field and would love to ask for some advice or insight. Connecting with someone who is already established in your industry of interest is a huge plus. If your relationship develops enough, the alumnus's network may also become yours.

Create a LinkedIn profile

Once you begin to connect with so many people, it’s important to keep track of them. And what better way to do that than through a social networking service?

“Create a LinkedIn profile to stay connected with your growing network,” Dagger says. LinkedIn is a business- and career-oriented social network that lets you keep in touch with professionals in the field you are interested in. Remember when you sent friend requests to everyone you met during freshman orientation? It’s kind of like that: LinkedIn is the Facebook of the business world.

Having a complete and professional LinkedIn profile is going to be key in your job search, as most recruiters use the platform to find and screen applicants. However, it’s going to take a bit more work to set up than Facebook.

First, you’ll need a professional headshot – ideally against a white background – for your profile pic. (See if you can find a photography major on campus to do it for free. You get your headshot, and she can add your picture to her portfolio—networking at its finest!) Make sure to completely fill out your profile with any and all experience you have up to this point. Once everything is all set, you’re ready to go! Start by connecting with friends, classmates and others you know from your university. Then, branch out to professors and alumni. Once you’ve completed any internships or work, you may want to add your supervisors as well. Before you know it, you’ll have dozens of connections and a solid network under your belt.

Apply to internships

Internships don’t just look good on your resume; they may also be a requirement for some of the jobs you want to apply for. Companies want to see that you have experience in their field.

Therefore, it’s important to start looking for internships early! Take it from Lindsey, who scheduled all her classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays her sophomore year so that she could intern with Philadelphia Magazine. “Most people wait until their junior or senior year to start interning, but I really recommend starting as soon as possible,” she says. “Because I started out so early, I was more qualified for more competitive internships later down the road.”

Dagger agrees that sophomore year is a good time to start interning. Having internships under your belt will give you a leg up when you apply for more internships next year.

If you’re not sure what kind of internship you would want, ask your career counselor for help. He or she might advise you to look to your personal history and determine what you’re interested in. What clubs are you a part of? What leadership roles have you taken on? What do you do in your spare time? Do you like to read or write, design things or watch Food Network? Look to your hobbies; an internship with a fashion magazine or in the food services industry could be perfect for you.

Starting your internship search early will also give you more time to figure out what you want to do after graduation. If you turn out not to like an internship and decide not to pursue a career in that field, you can prepare yourself to start down a different path as soon as possible.

Reminder: Update your resume!

Remember how you started making your resume last year? It’s time to add to it! Take off some of the high school activities and replace them with the experience you gained this past year. List student groups you joined and any leadership roles you held. Add your college education information, including your declared major and your current GPA. If you managed to get any internship or work experience, be sure to list that, too!

Junior year

Study abroad

By junior year, most students are pretty settled into life at college. This is a good time to start getting involved off campus as well. Many students choose to study abroad their junior year, as they’ve already become established at school and the stresses of preparing to graduate haven’t hit yet.

Studying abroad can be a big resume booster because it offers global experience. Like on-campus leadership roles, studying abroad will provide you with skills that many companies are actively seeking out, such as fluently speaking a second language, feeling comfortable in a potentially strange place and being able to see things from a different point of view. Because we live in a diverse and globalized world, employers want to see applicants who are comfortable working with various people in a wide range of environments.

If your ideal career focuses on foreign languages and cultures—such as working as a translator with the United Nations, or even with outsourcing tech companies—then experience in your country of choice might be the deciding factor in your application.

Apply to internships

If you didn’t do an internship last year, junior year is when you really need to crack down on getting that internship experience.

“Active applications for internships should be happening,” Dagger says. Remember, you need this experience to build your resume, and it may even be required for the type of job you want to get once you graduate.

Summer is a popular time to intern for many college students. With this in mind, Lindsey took steps to prepare well in advance. “I took my hardest classes related to my major junior year so that I would be prepared for my internship in the summer,” she says.

Luckily, if summer doesn’t work for you, internships can be offered year-round. Spring and fall internships are popular, as well as “winternships” to cover the downtime between semesters. Decide when you want to gain this experience and be sure to make the deadline to apply.

If you had an internship experience last year and you didn’t enjoy it very much, use this year to go in a new direction. If you have several differing hobbies or are still unsure exactly what kind of job you want after graduation, choose an internship that’s vastly different from the one you had before. Hopefully you’ll be able to hit on something you love!

Practice your interviewing skills

Interviews can be one of the most stressful parts of the job hunt. Whether they’re over the phone or in person, answering those questions in such a high-pressure environment can be a daunting task. But because interviews are a staple of the job hunt, you’ll need to practice!

Dagger advises that juniors work on interviewing skills with their career counselors. It’s a good idea to have responses prepared for the most common questions that interviewers will ask and practice these with someone who can critique your performance. While there are typical answers, it’s important to remember that the interview is going to be tailored to you.

“An interview is a conversation,” says Paul J. Bailo, author of The Essential Phone Interview Handbook. “It is sort of like a tennis match. I hit the ball, you hit the ball.”

It’s important to practice having this conversation so that you’re comfortable when it’s time to perform. Many career centers offer mock interviews with career counselors—try one out!

Reminder: Update your resume!

Don’t forget to add any internship experience you gained during your junior year to your resume. If you’re planning on a career that’s related to your major, add your major GPA as well as your cumulative GPA to the education section. This shows that you are knowledgeable in your field of interest.

Senior year

Create a job-search action plan

You’ve already made many great strides towards that future dream job, but there’s still work left to do! One thing is to make a specific job-search plan.

Your job-search action plan details things like the kinds of jobs you’re interested in, the specific companies you want to target and the number of applications you’ll send out per week. Spreadsheets are a great way to stay organized. You can create two: one to plan your search, and another to track your progress. The first is your timeline, where you list out how many jobs you’ll apply to and when you’ll do so (For example, you apply to five jobs per week). Once you’ve targeted companies you’re interested in, put them on your timeline starting with application deadlines that are approaching fast.

Second, you’ll have a tracking spreadsheet that will help you keep track of who you’ve applied to and any follow-up information. On this spreadsheet, you’ll want columns for the job title; the date you applied; the company name, location and website; and the contact info of the hiring manager. Include a column for any notes, such as any other documents you sent and the date of your scheduled interview.

Update these spreadsheets as you start the job search. If you hit your milestones, such as applying to five jobs this week or scoring an interview, give yourself a reward! Vintage shopping spree, anyone?

Collect your references

Before you start applying for jobs, make sure you have all the necessary documents: transcripts, work samples and references. It’s also time to tap in to the network you’ve worked so hard to build up.

“Collect professional references or letters of recommendation,” Dagger suggests. “Network with alumni and stay in touch with internship supervisors.”

References are important because they’re going to back up what you say during the job hunt. Employers will contact your references to assess your character, learn about your personality and determine what you’re really like in a professional working environment.

Always ask before you list someone as a reference. At the very least, it’s courteous to notify people that they may be contacted to speak on your behalf. Notify your professors, mentors, advisors and supervisors that you are currently looking for your first job and that you would like to use them as a reference. If a recommendation letter is required, be sure to ask people well in advance to give them enough time to help you.

Attend career fairs

The last thing that you can take advantage of as a senior is to attend your campus career fairs. These events are specifically catered to graduating students looking for jobs. Career fairs are full of companies looking to recruit some of the best and brightest minds that your graduating class has to offer.

Make sure that you bring along a few copies of your resume and you dress professionally. Your school should provide a list of attending companies, so be sure to target businesses you are interested in before you go. Research the companies and be sure to ask relevant questions at the fair.

Networking with potential employers could make or break your job search. You want to appear personable and enthusiastic, because employers want to hire people they want to work with who are passionate about the job. Making a good first impression in person could open up opportunities for you.

Reminder: Finalize your resume!

It’s time to spruce up that resume to send out to potential employers! Make sure all of your experience from high school is removed—it should be replaced by newer, more recent experiences from college. Include relevant work, internship, volunteer and leadership experience gained during your four years of college. List the degrees you’ll graduate with as well as your GPA.

Remember to tailor your resume to the jobs you’re applying for. Your internship at that fashion boutique may not be that relevant if you’re applying to be a business analyst at a Fortune 500 company. Continue to see your career counselor for help with updating your resume for each job you apply to—he or she will be there for you through the end!

You don’t have to wait until your senior year to start planning for your future career. Whether you come into college knowing what you want to do or you have absolutely no idea what kind of job you might want, working to accomplish these steps each year can help put you on the path to getting that dream job.

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