So, you’re in the process of transferring to a new school. You’ve already been accepted, you're moving in and you've just gotten your new class schedule! But just when you thought you could breathe a sigh of relief, you now have to make new friends, adjust to a new environment and get back into your groove. It’s all enough to make you feel like you’re a freshman all over again, which can be a little overwhelming.

But when it comes to heading off to college, you’ve been there, done that (you did transfer from somewhere after all!). You already have all of the knowledge and tools you need to make your first semester as a transfer student a success, we promise. As you read through this guide to making the best of your transition, you’ll realize being a transfer student is no biggie at all!

1. Attend orientation activities

Orientation sessions aren’t just for freshmen! If you plan on navigating your new school like a pro, taking part in orientation activities will help make transferring schools easier. It provides the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: learning about your new school and making new friends. You’ll have a chance to ask any remaining questions you have in person, and it’s likely that you’ll meet other transfers who are having a similar experience. Plus, you may get the opportunity to hear from current students who can give you the inside scoop on the dos and don’ts at your new school.

2. Go to activity fairs

You’ve probably heard a thousand times that getting involved is a crucial step in acclimating to college life and figuring out where you fit in on campus. That’s because it’s true! Finding a club or two to join that piques your interests will not only be a gateway to your school’s social scene, but doing so will also help you feel like a part of your new college community.

Lucy Holmes-Higgin, who transferred from LIM College to St. John’s University, got involved in her school’s Panhellenic council and student government after her transition. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Lucy says. “My biggest tip is to get involved as fast as possible.”

If you’re seeking a completely different scene and experience from your last school, consider joining groups that may be a little outside of your comfort zone. It’s important to take risks and get active as a transfer student if you plan on having a better experience at your new school.

3. Ask for help 

No one particularly enjoys being labeled as the “new girl” (unless you’re Zooey Deschanel). You may feel embarrassed to ask for help out of fear that you’ll seem like a newbie who’s out of place. However, there’s no reason to be ashamed!

Marcela Alvarez, who transferred from the University of Puerto Rico to Carlos Albizu University, says it’s important to always look for opportunities to learn. “Ask questions, even if people treat you rudely when you do so,” says Marcela. “Don’t let that make you lose your cheerfulness.”

No one can expect you to know everything about your new campus right away, so don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help when you need it. It’ll make your experience a little less stressful when you don’t have to roam around aimlessly looking for the library while trying to figure out where your professor posts lecture notes. And as an added bonus, asking a peer for help could blossom into a friendship!

4. Take opportunities to meet new people

There are plenty of opportunities for you to meet new people so that you don’t have to feel alone after transferring to a new school. From the student you chatted with during orientation, to someone you’ve met in a new club, to the person standing in front of you at the local coffee shop, there are always ways to find other students to connect with on campus.

Kendall Jackson, a senior who transferred from College of the Canyons to the University of California met her closest friends in the transfer housing her school offered. “Just keeping an open door the first couple of days and then going to the other apartments to introduce myself really worked for me,” says Kendall.

Making new friends can start long before you arrive on campus. Marissa Campbell spent her freshman year at Salem State University before transferring to Framingham State University. She used the power of social media to get a head start on connecting with her peers. “I looked forward to meeting new people,” says Marissa. “I was able to start finding friends before I even went to the school.”

Most colleges have Facebook groups and pages for individual class years, so it’s easier than ever to connect with students who already attend your new school. You may be able to make a friend or two before transferring, making the transition a little smoother and less lonely.

5. Take charge on campus

To get the most out of your transition, consider taking on a leadership position on campus. Having an important role may help you feel like you’re taking control and actively shaping your experience at your new school. Lucy credits much of her success as a transfer student to her decision to get involved in student government. Similarly, Marcela improved her experience by founding a new club.

“Do something to be acknowledged. Do something that makes people want to know you later on,” Marcela says. “I started the Her Campus chapter at my school and it has brought me some sort of acknowledgement from the students, the professors and school officials such as the dean.”

Starting your own club may help you fit in better on campus if you feel your new school lacks something that would help you feel more at home. It will also give you the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. Participating in student government may aid your transition by getting you involved directly with student life. You may be able to draw from your previous experience to influence student life at your new school in a positive way that improves your transition while benefiting others.

6. Learn from your previous choices

Students often transfer because they were unhappy with their previous institution for a variety of reasons. It’s important not to make the same choices that you made before if you plan on having a better experience at your new university. Marissa says she initially started aligning herself with the same crowd as before, but once she stopped making the same mistakes, it changed everything.

“I used transferring as a way to become the type of student and person I wanted to be. I found a great group of friends, reached out and made connections with faculty, joined clubs and got involved,” she says.

Remember that you can use this new beginning at a new school to start fresh and have the college experience you always wanted. Try making a list of all of the things you liked and disliked about your previous experience. Continue doing what improved your time at your old school, and try to avoid all of the things that led to a negative experience. As long as you remain positive and you’re proactive in making for a better situation, you’re sure to see improvement!

Transferring from one college to another will probably not be a walk in the park all of the time, but having a smooth transition isn’t impossible! With an open mind and a little effort, you’ll be well on your way to making that first semester a breeze. Soon, you’ll be effortlessly blending in on your new campus, ready to show the next transfer the ropes!

Taylor Swift has come a long way since Kanye West famously interrupted her at the VMAs in 2009, a moment that's since been immortalized in memes.

In one of the most memorable moments in pop culture history, Kanye invited himself up on stage as Taylor was accepting the Best Female Video award for her song "You Belong With Me." It was Kanye's opinion that Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" should've taken that top spot, so he decided to make his opinion known: "Imma let you finish," he said, grabbing the mic from Tay, "but Beyoncé had one of the best music videos of all time."

Six years later, Taylor has proven him wrong—not only are her girl power songsevery collegiette's personal anthem, she's also got the most enviable girl squad, is in the perfect relationship (any guy who'll catsit your cats is a keeper) and will be unveiling a new music video at this weekend's VMAs.

Taylor recently covered Vanity Fair's September issue, and revealed in her interview that she and Kanye have built up a relationship since that incident. "I feel like I wasn’t ready to be friends with him until I felt like he had some sort of respect for me, and he wasn’t ready to be friends with me until he had some sort of respect for me—so it was the same issue, and we both reached the same place at the same time," she explained to the magazine. Though Taylor did say that there's no collaboration in the works (though she "wouldn't rule it out"), it seems like it might not be long before we see these two on the same stage.

According to Billboard, there's a chance Taylor could be presenting Kanye's award—the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award, which recognizes his contributions to the music industry. When asked about that possibility, executive producer Van Toffler was coy. "There’s a chance for anything," he told Billboard. "She’ll be here, so you never know."

We're gonna let you finish, but we think this would be the BEST moment in pop culture history.

I'll start with a confession: I don't often splurge on beauty products. I've been endlessly content with my affordable Pantene, Garnier and Vaseline products—drugstores are my Sephora. Until now, my small tastes of beauty luxury came from an olive oil night cream I found at T.J. Maxx and my Moroccan Oil hair cream—two accessible products I've been swooning over. So when my editor asked me to embark on a month-long beauty routine revamp, I was admittedly skeptical. And when that revamp involved switching over to exclusively all-natural skincare and haircare products? I was embarrassingly terror-struck. I had just recently (and finally) nailed a solid routine, boasting the healthiest hair and most hydrated skin I'd ever had. And with naturally sensitive skin highly reactive to unfamiliar formulas, I wasn't sure what to expect. What would these products change? And would products composed of solely natural ingredients actually work?

Nonetheless, there's never been a challenge I haven't accepted, and the thought of a covetable beauty haul arriving at my doorstep was too good to pass up. Thus, my all-natural journey began. Here's what I used:

• Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind™ Green Tea Shampoo ($19, Sephora)

• Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask ($26, Sephora)

• Briogeo Rosarco Milk™ Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray ($20, Sephora)

• Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil ($32, indielee.com)

• Indie Lee Rosehip Cleanser ($32, indielee.com)

• Indie Lee Calendula Eye Balm ($42, indielee.com)

• Soul Sunday Gentle Toner Facial Mist ($26, soul-sunday.com)

• Soul Sunday Positive Seeds Lip + Skin Balm ($16, soul-sunday.com)

The Routine

The range and quantity of samples I received allowed me to completely replace my usual routine, meaning that other than makeup, my hair and facial skincare products were entirely all-natural. And to ensure consistency, I followed the exact instructions supplied on each product for use.

I start my mornings with a shower, and so first up to the plate was Indie Lee's cleanser. Next came Briogeo's shampoo, followed by their conditioning mask.

Post-shower, I spritzed in Briogeo's leave-in spray and combed through. After misting on my Soul Sunday toner and allowing time to dry, I rubbed the Indie Lee balm under my eyes. Next came a few droplets of Indie Lee's facial oil, spread smoothly across my face. And last but not least, a nourishing swipe of Soul Sunday lip balm before beginning my makeup routine.

Each night began with makeup removal via the cleanser, another spritz of toner and a second swipe of eye and lip balms, as well as another round of Squalane hydration.

First Impressions

Morning number one brought nerves—I knew that the skin products wouldn't pose any immediate side effects, but the possibility of wearing greasy hair to my internship was understandably unappealing. I'd never used leave-in conditioner, and especially not combined with a hair mask. 

But as I began my shower, I was immediately soothed. The green tea shampoo left a calming, blissful scent—the perfect start to an early morning. And while the hair mask admittedly didn't smell as great as I'd have wanted it to, the leftover scent of the shampoo masked it well.

The rosehip cleanser was equally impressive, removing last night's makeup (yes, I slept with makeup on—forgive me, Beauty gods) with incredibly gentle ease. So far, so good!

The witch hazel in my post-shower spritz of toner unleashed an overwhelming scent—not necessarily unpleasant, but incredibly strong regardless. I fell instantly in love with the smell of the leave-in conditioner, though, which left my hair smelling (and feeling) straight out of a salon.

And after being so skeptical, I was pleasantly surprised when my under eyes appeared to be instantly brightened by the new balm. Coupled with the deliciously unexpected coffee scent of the lip balm (and smooth, hydrating feel), I definitely wasn't complaining. 

Maybe it was the placebo effect, but I swear my makeup glided on smoother following the new skincare routine. And as soon as I put a blow dryer to my hair, I noticed a notable shine (and a mysterious quick-drying ability) to my hair. One thing I will note is that my hair felt dryer than it normally does after blow drying—something I hoped wouldn't progress. But as soon as my mom saw me that morning, she asked me why my hair looked so good—I could live with that!

Product Patterns

Early on, I began to notice some consistent patterns. For one, my hair never regained the super hydrated texture it had prior to my product switch—but while a bit of a bummer, this wasn't a total deal breaker. Unfortunately, however, that wasn't the only downside. While my hair began each morning looking fabulous—full of shine and silky smooth—it grew greasier as the day progressed. By mid-day I would consistently notice an oily finish, and there's absolutely no way I could've gone multiple days without shampooing. The oiliness made my hair appear a lot thinner, although my hair did remain pretty healthy otherwise (I had no split ends throughout the entire month). This wasn't too surprising, given the fact that I was no longer using chemical-laden products that were scrubbing all the natural oils from my hair, which has probably been causing my scalp to overproduce oil. Sticking with the all-natural routine would likely reset that oil production to a more standard level, but the thought of dealing with greasy hair until that happened (if it did!) wasn't something I looked forward to doing.

As for skincare, I had similarly mixed reviews. I quickly grew to love the spicy witch hazel scent of the toner, but noticed that my pores were looking a whole lot larger than usual. The facial oil actually didn't seem to moisturize as well as my go-to gel creams, and felt a bit weighty on my skin, as if the product was clogging my pores—maybe it just wasn't a good fit for my skin type. On the other hand, I was happy to discover that the lip balm worked just as well as my favorite Vaseline formula, and the eye balm was my absolute favorite of the bunch—I noticed a smoother, brighter finish beneath my eyes after every application. 

Prior to the switch, I maintained relatively clear skin. While I faced the occasional red dot when menstrual hormones kicked in, I was lucky enough to never face acne I couldn't quickly conceal. That all changed when I went all-natural. Suddenly, I was noticing new breakouts, and especially along my cheeks—an area I'd never had issues with before. I quickly wrote it off as my skin acclimating to new products, as it's not uncommon for a short breakout spree when switching facial formulas. But weeks passed, and my cheeks weren't improving. Be it from ingredients in the products or my hair's newfound oiliness coming in frequent contact with my face, throughout the month my skin never cleared.

The Verdict

All in all, I was neither amazed nor entirely turned off by all-natural haircare and skincare. To be quite honest, none of the samples were particularly life-changing, and when compared to the relatively equal efficacy of my cheaper drugstore buys, I don't think I could justify splurging on them. Overall, I was happy to discover that natural products did in fact work, but I can't definitively say that they worked any better than other products on the market.

From my (admittedly short-lived) experience, there are both positives and negatives to going natural. First and foremost, you'll be exposing yourself to cleaner, purer ingredients, so if this is important to you, I highly recommend trying these products for yourself. Just keep in mind that natural products are gentler on your hair and skin than products formulated with potentially harsh chemicals, meaning your body will need time to adjust—and that transition might not be pretty. This is probably why I immediately noticed a shorter timeframe of efficacy when switching to natural hair products—I was liberating my hair from harsh, oil-fighting chemicals, but at the cost of having clean hair for shorter periods of time. I would've never gotten away with shampooing every other day, which fit my lifestyle perfectly well, but might not appeal to everyone. And aside from personal lifestyle needs, usage frequency is also necessary to consider when assessing finances—a product used every few days will last a whole lot longer than a product used daily, and may save you more cash in the long run!

Of course, when all's said and done, it's important to remember that beauty products produce different results for different individuals. So if you're looking for a bit of unprocessed (and I'll say it again, delicious smelling) luxury, Briogeo, Soul Sunday and Indie Lee may pleasantly surprise you.

With so many different food options to choose from in the dining hall, you'd think that it'd be easy to find some healthy choices. But finding food that will make your body happy is actually trickier that it may seem! Some foods have hidden fat and calories, others have unexpected ingredients and others are consistently served in disproportionately large serving sizes. Get ready to be surprised by these nine dining hall foods that aren't as healthy as they sound! 

1. Fat-Free Salad Dressing  

What's the first thing that comes to mind when the word "healthy" is mentioned? Probably salad. And what could be healthier than a bowl of leafy greens with your favorite dressing, minus the fat? Seems like a win-win, but fat-free dressings can actually do damage to what you thought was a healthy salad.

According to a Purdue University study, in order to get the most vitamins, minerals and carotenes from salad, you need to pair it with some oil or fat so the nutrients can be fully absorbed and utilized by the body. This means that if you don't have any fat in your salad, you might not be getting the full benefits of many of the nutrients in the salad. Fat-free dressings also tend to replace the fat with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, which is linked to liver problems and weight gain.

So next time you're having a salad, try using a teaspoon to half a tablespoon of dressing containing olive oil or vinegar, squeeze on some lemon juice as natural dressing or get a small scoop of hummus on your salad so both your health and your taste buds will thank you!

2. Multigrain and Wheat Bread

Multigrain and wheat bread may sound extremely healthy, but they may not actually contain whole grains! A lot of the time these breads are made with refined grains, which means that you're not getting the full benefit of whole grains. "Refined grains are hard to stay away from in the dining hall–but if you know what to look for, you will be set," says Rachel Paul, a registered dietitian and food expert for college students. "Look for whole-grain options, like brown rice, whole-wheat pasta and bread, oatmeal, quinoa, barley, etc."

To make sure you're getting whole grains and not refined grains, it's a good idea to check the nutrition labels first. If the first flour on the ingredient list says "bleached" or "unbleached enriched wheat flour," the bread is made with refined flour. On the other hand, if the first ingredient listed contains the word "whole," as in "whole wheat flour" or "whole oats," the product is probably predominantly whole grain. Not only will these whole-grain options give you more fiber, vitamins and minerals than refined grains, they’ll keep you fuller for longer and aid with digestion.

3. Smoothies

These delicious blends of fruits and vegetables are a great way to start the morning off or keep you going through the day. If you're getting your smoothies from the dining hall or coffee bars on campus, however, watch out for disproportionately large serving sizes, as well as added sugar and ice cream to make them taste better. The Fit 'N Fruitful Smoothies at Jamba Juice, for example, contain about 300 calories and 40 grams of sugar for a small size.

"Remember that portions served are often bigger than what you need, so pay attention while eating and stop when [you’re] full," says Mary Hartley, a registered dietitian from New York. Even the smallest size at most smoothie shops is often double the amount you should be drinking! While the standard size for a smoothie is 22 ounces, 8 ounces is actually what you should be aiming for.

To avoid all the extra sugar, calories and fat, you can also try ones made from just fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and yogurt instead of from sweetened fruit juices, frozen yogurt, syrups and ice cream. The simpler, the better!

4. Turkey Sandwiches

When all else fails, sandwiches are usually the answer in the dining hall. But while a sandwich is an easy go-to meal, you still have to choose carefully. While turkey is a great source of lean protein, many packaged turkey slices are actually loaded with sodium. A single serving of some brands can contain almost a third of the maximum recommended daily sodium intake! So if you can, go for the low-sodium kinds or for fresh turkey slices.

Sandwiches are also usually made on white bread, which is lacking in nutrients. "White carbohydrates in general lack many nutrients whole grains naturally contain, like fiber, which keeps food moving through your body," Paul says. "A good alternative is to ask your chef to use whole-wheat bread and even add some veggies if he’s feeling up to it. Bring him the a few slices of tomato and cucumber from the sandwich station to ease the process."

Your condiments influence the nutritional value of your sandwich, too. Avoid mayonnaise and other creamy condiments like dressings, or at least go easy on them. A tablespoon of mayo packs in about 94 calories and 10 grams of fat, and the average tablespoon of ranch dressing has about 70 calories and 8 grams of fat. Your best bet is mustard or something with healthier fats, like avocado spread or hummus.

5. Premade Salads

What, the salads are striking out again? Unfortunately, you can't automatically assume that all things with the word "salad" in it are healthy, especially when it comes to mayo-based salads. While a lot depends on ingredients and portion size, prepared lettuce-based salads along with premade mayo-based salads (like tuna, egg and potato salads) can have hidden fat and calories.

"These salads are not inherently ‘bad’ if made well, but often they are full of mayonnaise, which is usually high in fat and calories," Paul says. "A better alternative would be to have plain tuna, hard-boiled eggs or a baked potato. Spice it up with one tablespoon of a creamy dressing like Caesar."

Or, make your own salad at the dining hall salad bar and then take it to go in a Tupperware if your dining hall allows it. That way, you can have a say in what goes in your body!

6. Breaded Fish and Chicken

When most of us see "breaded cod," we get tunnel vision and see only the fish part. As innocent-sounding as "breaded" is, though, anything breaded or fried adds extra fat, calories, refined grains and sodium.

"Ask for grilled or baked options instead, like grilled chicken or a baked potato," Paul says. "You’ll thank yourself later!"

Not only do grilled foods have fewer calories, they also have a higher nutritional content and a reduced fat content, which helps lower bad cholesterol levels in your blood.

7. Pesto

Pesto is green, like most vegetables, so you'd think it would be great for your health. However, pesto is surprisingly high in fat and calories because of all the oil and pine nuts, which contain healthy fats but are very caloric. So if you're concerned with watching your weight, try some tomato sauce on your pasta instead.

And while you're on a roll, try switching out white pasta for whole-wheat pasta. "Whole-wheat pasta contains more fiber and naturally more B vitamins than refined grains, keeping your digestion moving along and your energy level high," Paul says.

8. Yogurt Parfaits

Yogurt, fruit and granola sound harmless enough... right?

Paul says otherwise. "Sweetened yogurt (any yogurt that is not plain) is actually very high in added sugar," she says. "Granola on the top of parfaits is also high in added sugar and calories."

In fact, half a cup of granola at University of Michigan dining halls contains a whopping 287 calories, 16 grams of fat and 12 grams of sugar! The fruit that you find in fruit-flavored yogurt is also made with a lot of preservatives and sugar, so you're not actually getting all the health benefits of fresh fruit.

Luckily, there's a super easy alternative to this yummy snack. Just mix plain Greek yogurt with fruit and sprinkle on some whole-grain cereal on top if you’re craving a crunch!

9. Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter

There's really nothing like a good, old-fashioned peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. You may think that you're doing yourself a favor by replacing regular peanut butter with the reduced-fat variety, but it might not necessarily be healthier. Both contain around the same amount of calories, but reduced-fat peanut butter typically has more sugar. Regular peanut butter is also a great source of good monounsaturated fats, which the reduced-fat variety has less of. Look for a natural peanut butter with no added oils, and you'll be all set to go!

Although hidden calories, sugar, salt and fat are good things to look out for, it's always important to remember that all foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation. "When eating in the dining hall, it is always a good idea to eat the foods you enjoy, but eat less," says Marissa Garcia, a registered dietitian at the University of Connecticut. "Try taking smaller portions or using smaller plates. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables to make your meals more nutritious and flavorful." 

Paul also stresses reaching a balance in the foods that you eat. "Look for WHOLE foods—not the store, I mean actual foods in their whole form," Paul says. "At meal times, your plate should comprise of equal amounts of whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables. Complete your meal with a side of low- or non-fat dairy. If you follow these guidelines, your body will be full and you will have the right nutrients to work hard and play hard."

Many colleges list the menu information on their dining halls' websites, so it's a great idea to plan out a healthy, balanced meal before you step foot in the dining halls. "Planning ahead is a great way to make smarter eating decisions," Garcia says.

So while some dining hall foods may not be as healthy as you think they are, don't be too alarmed! There are a lot of great alternatives, and they're still perfectly okay to eat as long as you stick to the "everything in moderation" rule.

My freshman year of school, a stroke of unfortunate luck landed me with a roommate who was—for lack of a better word—an addict. The substance in question? Pure, unadulterated sex.

Though I'm usually not one to judge a book by its cover, the first time I met Beth, her sturdy frame, bushy hair and nondescript garb didn't exactly do much to scream "seductress." In fact, as she unloaded her boxes of physics and calculus textbooks the first day of move-in, "sex-addict" was possibly the last label I would have ever branded her with.

Though Beth and I were paired together courtesy of our school's blind housing system, a bit of Facebook research revealed us to actually have a few things in common—namely, that we were both Texas natives, musicians and aspiring scientists—so I had high hopes that the match would be a good one. As she was my first ever roommate, I wanted to do my best to ensure that we had a smooth and perhaps even amicable relationship. And for the first few weeks of classes, we succeeded. That is, until she met Rafi.

That day, she came home late, smiling coyly as she glided into the room and collapsed on her bed. I didn't have to ask what happened because at once, she turned to me eyes alight with satisfaction and said simply, “I met someone.” At the time, I thought this news was spectacular. And it was. I considered Beth a friend and was happy to see her succeed in the shark pool that is the college dating world.

But to say their relationship progressed quickly is an understatement. That very next day, Beth came home even later than she had the night before. And this time, she stumbled into the room giggling. I took this to be a positive sign and smiling, I prompted, “So I assume you talked to Rafi again today?”

“We didn't do much talking,” she responded as she dissolved into a fit of laughter. I chuckled nervously, not really registering the connotation. Then, she dropped the bomb: “But the police did give us a citation for doing it in the park.”

I stared at Beth in utter astonishment as she continued laughing. And I was still staring in shock when, a few minutes later, she spilled the contents of her large backpack bag onto her bed to reveal upwards of about 80 condoms. My draw dropped to the floor. “Are those…?” I gasped, pointing at the gleaming pile on her mattress.

“Yes!” She responded, excitement animating her plain features. “They had the flavored ones in the Student Center today! But there were barely any left when I got there...” She added, clearly disappointed. I balked, taking in the condom pedestal that was once her bed. Then, with an expert sweep of her arm, she pushed the mound into her nightstand drawer (where dwelt her burgeoning dildo collection) and clicked off the light.

It stunned me how she could take her situation so lightly. I admit I'm somewhat of a Chicken Little when it comes to anticipating worst possible scenarios, but I was imagining Beth's impending expulsion, housing eviction, eventual career failure, and angry children who grow up to become drug-lords or strippers—or even worse—drug-lord strippers... Needless to say, my mind was racing. But hers... wasn't. She was fast asleep. And for the first time, I began to wonder what kind of person my roommate really was.

A couple days later, she came to me with a request. It was close to midnight as I was walking back to the dorm from my late volleyball practice when she called to ambiguously ask me if she could “have the room” for a few hours. The circumstances were beyond inconvenient (seeing as it was very late and I had heaps of work due the next morning), but I hesitantly agreed under the naïve guise that this was a “one-time” thing. I figured Beth and I had our differences, but I would still try to do her the courtesy of compromising to accommodate both of our room needs.

However, the next morning, as I was yawning through my chemistry test, I reflected back on the night before and how bold it was of Beth to make such a difficult request of me. I was bothered that she could be so inconsiderate, but additionally, I was shocked at how soon she had taken to “bedding” Rafi. Coming from my relatively sheltered background (cue Catholic upbringing, close-knit family and a non-existent social life), I was amongst the few girls over 15 who still believed kissing was a big deal. But that discrepancy wasn't enough to compel my bad judgment. The issue wasn't that she was sexually active; it was how her sexual appetite eventually grew to take over and impede my life.

That first night of sexilement was the first in a string of many over the course of the next few months. Beth took complete advantage of my compliancy and began ousting me multiple nights per week—always between the hours of 11pm and 2 o'clock in the morning. Regardless of what tests or papers I had to complete, she never failed to message me for "room time."

By late October, Rafi had all but moved into our dorm. Because he wasn't a student and only had a part-time job at the halal food cart on the corner, he was always around. He had clothes stashed under her bed, a toothbrush in the drawer and on the few occasions he wasn't in the room itself, he was staked out in front of the floor elevator, watching for when I would leave. Almost every time I returned to my room, I would either be walking in on them in the act, having to step over condom wrappers to get to my desk, or I would be shooed away at the door by a naked Rafi waving a slimy dildo in his outstretched hand. 

At one low point, I walked in to find him sitting bare-bottomed on my desk chair. And at an even lower point—towards the end of the year—I found out from Beth's closest friend that she and Rafi had apparently regularly pushed our beds together when I went home for breaks so that they could have an “increased surface area” for their sexual escapades.

To say life was miserable would be an understatement. I felt like I wasn't welcome in my own room. Beth's sex addiction drove my life into the ground and no amount of mediation or housing-transfer requests was able to stop it.

In retrospect, though this experience isn't one I look upon fondly, I can say that it taught me a lot about not only myself, but also other people. Living with someone who led such a profoundly different lifestyle than my own was challenging, but at the same time, it forced me to really face the reality of the world we live in—that, contrary to what we all learn in Kindergarten, not everyone is going to get along. At the end of the day, you just have to know who you are and what you are comfortable living with. So, in closing, even though Beth's sex addiction made my room feel like a part-time brothel, it was ultimately thanks to her that I discovered a deep passion and appreciation for single rooms.

As you packed up your old college dorm room and got ready to kiss the campus life goodbye, you stopped to imagine yourself unpacking these same boxes into a brand new real-person apartment. You probably didn't picture yourself crying over your rent check, or yelling at the furniture assembly manual, but good for you for thinking optimistically!

As the graduettes who came before you can attest, there are a few stages you can expect to go through on your journey (read: emotional rollercoaster) from dorm room to adult apartment. Just think, if Kimmy Schmidt can find somewhere to live, so can you!

1. The last hurrah

This first stage consists of tearful goodbyes with anyone and anything you ever encountered on your college campus. From the last supper at your favorite restaurant, to your last time studying in your beloved cubicle in the library stacks, and your last moments shared with your college besties, this final period is hella depressing. But don't worry, that was so not your last late night food run (trust us)!

2. The move back home

Luckily, your parents (read: your pets' snuggles and your mom's cooking) are there to ease the post-college depression. You sleep in your childhood bed, eat all of your favorite foods and maybe (if you're lucky), you even get your laundry done for you. Suddenly, living at home doesn't seem so bad.

3. The "I cannot live at home one day longer" panic attack

The appeal of living back under your parents’ roof wares off real fast. With your mom all up in your grill 24/7, and your dad trying to implement a midnight curfew (is he for real?!), you're planning an escape route at every chance you get. The pressure’s on to find a job and an apartment ASAP.

4. The apartment search

It's a new season of "House Hunters"...starring you! What could be better?! You love exploring different neighborhoods, buildings and units. "I could totally live here," you think to yourself, until you hear the rent price. Time to adjust your search parameters.

5. The apartment application

You find a place you like at a price that doesn't make you nauseous. But don't rejoice just yet, you've got to get approved. It's like college admissions or sorority rush all over again, with double the paperwork! Where's the RA when you need her?

6. The signing of the lease

YASSSS QUEEN! You're on top of the world! You're a strong, competent adult, ready to take the real world by storm.

7. The bills

By the way, you also have to pay for electric, utilities, cable and wifi, to name a few. Well, if you want to actually live in the apartment, that is. This real world thing is expensive!

8. The day trip to Ikea

Too many options! Too much walking! Too many letters in the product names!

9. The attempt at being handy

Why wasn't there a college course entitled "assembling furniture"? Whatever, furniture is overrated. Who needs a dresser anyway?

10. The grocery store run

If stocking your mini fridge in the dorm was exciting, just wait until you get your hands on a full-sized refrigerator. You go a little overboard at the grocery store, but that's okay, because you're totally going to eat every meal at home in your new adult kitchen!

11. The cooking endeavor

OMG you're so domestic. You can't wait to Instagram your homemade #noms, that is until you give a new meaning to "smoked chicken" and the fire department shows up. Oh well, nothing a Domino's delivery and a Netflix binge can't fix!

12. The first night in your new room

On second thought, maybe the Law and Order SVU marathon was a bad idea. The real world is a big, scary place. Where are your friends? Why aren't they right down the hall?

13. The housewarming party

Thank God! Your friends are here!! It feels like you're back in college. Except that apartment parties are way classier than frat parties. Cheers to adulthood!

14. The new weeknight routine

You really start to love your new place once you realize it will NOT be the scene of endless studying and stressing. You no longer feel guilty about spending quality time with your couch and your TV at the end of a long day. Nights in have never looked so good!

15. The "It feels like home" revelation

Welcome home, graduettes! The real world is happy to have you!

Clearly, there's no bad blood between Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, despite that brief incident on Twitter when the VMA nominees were first announced—at the beginning of the show, Taylor joined Nicki on stage to sing "The Night is Still Young," before the duo launched into "Bad Blood," making it clear there's no drama between the two.

The same can't quite be said of Nicki and VMA host Miley Cyrus, though. After accepting "Best Hip Hop Video" for "Anaconda," Nicki took the opportunity to call Miley out for an interview she gave earlier this week. "If you do things with an open heart and you come at things with love, you would be heard and I would respect your statement. But I don't respect your statement because of the anger that came with it," Miley said in the interview, criticizing Nicki for her statements on Twitter. "And it's not anger like, 'Guys, I'm frustrated about some things that are a bigger issue.' You made it about you. Not to sound like a bitch, but that's like, 'Eh, I didn't get my VMA.'" She then added that Nicki "is not too kind." Ouch.

When Nicki passed the mic back to Miley during the show, she quipped, "Back to this b*tch who had a lot to say about me the other day in the press." Miley, clearly caught off guard, tried to play it cool. "Hey—we're all in this industry, we all do interviews, we all know how they manipulate," Miley said, going on to congratulate Nicki for her win. Nicki wasn't having any of it—though we didn't hear her response, the camera captured her reaction as we watched her mouth some choice words that looked suspiciously along the lines of, "Don't f*ck with me, b*tch."

Of course, Nicki has already responded via Twitter... in a pretty cryptic message.

Check out the video of the entire encounter above—given how the VMAs have been going so far, though, we wouldn't be surprised if Nicki and Miley ended up performing on stage together before the end of the show.

Well, there go 10+ minutes of our lives that we'll never get back. Not that we don't think Kanye deserved the Video Vanguard Award at this year's VMAs—but when we're still struggling to decipher exactly what was said during that very lengthy acceptance speech, we're starting to really appreciate those quick thank yous.

The musical genius started off humbly, which had us wondering what exactly he was on... something he later revealed. He acknowledged that he (maybe) would have done something differently back in 2009 when he grabbed the mic from Taylor Swift to protest her win. It got weird from there, though. Here are 9 things Kanye said in his speech at the VMAs—and what we think he actually meant.

1. "Bro. Brooooo."

"I don't really know what to say right now."

2. "And I think, if I had to do it all again. What would I have done? Would I have worn a leather shirt? Would I have drank a half a bottle of Hennessey and gave the rest of it to the audience? I know y'all drank that bottle too."

"I definitely made the right call in wearing a leather shirt."

3. "Justin, I ain't trying to put you on blast, but I saw that man in tears, bro, and I was thinking like, he deserved to win album of the year."

"Now that Taylor and I have reconciled our differences, it's on to the next."

4. "I'm not no politician, bro."

"LOL JK they have no idea what's coming."

5. "I still don't understand award shows. I don't understand how they get five people who work their entire life... To come, stand on the carpet, and for the first time in their life be judged on the chopping block, and have the opportunity to be considered a loser."

"I still think Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time."

6. "Y'all might be thinking right now, I wonder, did he smoke something before he came out here? The answer is: yes. I rolled up a little somethin'."

"I'm making NO sense right now, so I need an excuse for this ASAP."

7. "Just worry how you feel at the time, man. Just worry about how you feel and don't never... you know what I'm saying?"

[Editor's note: We don't really know what he's saying, so...]

8. "We not gonna control our kids with brands. We not gonna teach low self-esteem and hate to our kids. We gonna teach our kids that they can be something. We gonna teach our kids that they can stand up for themselves."

"I should really be getting the award for 'Best Parent.'"

9. "And yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment... I have decided in 2020 to run for president."

"BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS WHAT THIS ENTIRE SPEECH WAS ABOUT."

College visits play a huge role in your decision when it comes time to choose a school. A lot of people simply say, “I fell in love with the campus,” but there’s more to it than that. If you end up just rushing through your visit to move onto the next one, you’re only wasting your time. To get the most out of your time on campus, we’ve got you covered with these extremely important tips!

1. Start planning and researching now

Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, it’s never too early (or late) to visit a potential school. Colleges even have specific days and programs tailored to each grade level. Not only can you begin scheduling tours, but you can also start the research process. Summer Ford, a senior at Boston University, looked into a variety of schools throughout high school. “I researched and planned well beforehand which schools I wanted to apply to,” she says. “Because they were all somewhat in the same vicinity, I was able to plan out a week long college visit road trip with my mom!” Like Summer, you should be prepared before even scheduling a visit. According to Judi Robinovitz, Certified Education Planner and Founder of Score At The Top, students who visit schools without doing research beforehand are at an extreme disadvantage for a variety of reasons.

“You need to be in the position to ask questions that can’t be found online,” Robinovitz says. “That means already being well versed on what the university is about both academically and socially.” For example, rather than asking if the school offers double majors, find out beforehand and then ask something along the lines of, “I recognized on your website that having a double major is an option, what are some examples of popular combinations?” Doing so will not only make for a better visit, but it will make you stand out and show that you’re really interested in what they have to offer.

2.  Set up additional arrangements

Rather than just doing the minimum by attending information sessions and going on a campus tour, look into the other opportunities the school offers. Robinovitz says that many colleges provide student hosts that take in high schoolers for an overnight in the dorms, and then go to class with them the next day. “Doing something like this, or even staying with a friend who might go there, gives students a much better perspective,” she says.

Whether or not a school offers overnights can usually be found on their website, according to Mark Montgomery, admissions consultant at Great College Advice. If you can’t find anything, though, the admissions office will be a big help. If that college provides hosts, the office will be able to set you up with one.

You can also reach out to any campus groups you might be interested in joining. If they’re not meeting while you’re there, ask to sit down and talk to any available group members! Additionally, you can arrange to meet with an advisor that’s specific to your major to discuss what you can do to start preparing for college. Rachel Petty, a junior at James Madison University, definitely stresses this one. “They can help you see if what they have to offer is right for you!” she says. If you’re really set on that major, you might be able to talk to a junior or senior who’s studying the same thing. There are plenty of opportunities; you just have to reach out to the college!

3. Pay close attention to the details on campus

When you’re with a big group exploring a giant campus, it can be easy to miss out on a lot of the important details. While learning the basics is important, it’s also important to get a feel for the campus and its students. According to Robinovitz, one of the best things you can do is gauge your tour guide’s enthusiasm for the university. Summer did exactly this by staying behind and talking to the tour guides afterwards. Additionally, she got their contact information so she could ask more questions later one. “Making that connection with the guide can just help give you that inside scoop on the school from a student that actually attends the university,” she says. “You can look at them as being more than just a tour guide. They can be a personal connection at your potential school.” Take advantage of these people who are already willing to help in the first place!

It’s also important to determine the overall feel for the campus. “Admissions at every college will claim that their campus is friendly, but you have to see and observe it yourself,” she says. Ask yourself the following: are kids walking alone or in groups? When you pass students, do they say hello or smile? Does everyone generally look happy? How is your tour guide interacting with students you pass by? Another suggestion is to find the campus newspaper office and pick up multiple editions. This way, you can get a better idea of what’s going on, rather than just reading the current day’s paper. Robinovitz says these are just some of the factors to determine whether or not you can see yourself fitting in at the school.

4. Take lots of notes

This one is extremely necessary. After you’ve visited four or five schools, you’re not only going to forget things, but you’re going to mix them up. Be sure to bring a notebook and a pen or pencil with you to take notes throughout the day, especially during the information sessions. Also, Robinovitz says to write down the name of the speakers so you can refer to them when asking questions afterwards. “This is an easy way to show that you were paying attention, and reiterate your interest in the school,” she says.

You should also make sure your parents, or whoever is with you on the tour, is also taking notes throughout the day. Have them write down the names of different statues and buildings, that way you can refer to them specifically later on in your admissions essay about how the school is a good match for you. It’s much more personal to say “I can see myself walking through the famous Lucas Park,” rather than, “I can see myself walking through the park.” Clarissa Montgomery, a sophomore at the University of Central Florida, did something similar when writing her admissions essay. “I went back through my notes from my visit, and I ended up referencing one of the speakers by name and explaining how what she said really convinced me UCF was right for me,” she says. Anything that can improve your chances of getting in is worth doing!

5. Bring a camera

Yes, an actual camera — not just your smart phone. Robinovitz says that if you’re snapping pictures on your phone, you’ll be tempted to be on it the whole time whether you’re texting or scrolling through social media. Then, you’ll not only miss out on everything, but you’ll come off as rude to your tour guide who’s taking time out of their day to help you get to know the school. You can even pass the camera off to your mom and dad. “Generally, I tell students to employ their parents to do that so they can let the experience wash over them,” Montgomery says.

While you shouldn’t be on your phone the whole time, Robinovitz says that tweeting or uploading an Instagram picture and tagging the school is a great idea. “[The school] will definitely see it because they look for things like that,” she says. “It’s a great way to demonstrate your interest.” Time to put your IG skills to the test!

6. Eat in the dining hall

Opting for a dining hall meal over the fast food options on campus is good for a variety of reasons. The best and most obvious is that you’ll be able to decide whether or not you like the food and what type of meal plan you’ll need. Do you like it to where you’ll be able to eat there three times a day? Or maybe just three times a week? Determining this early on can save you some money in the long run. Bailey Howard, a junior at Iowa State University, had to learn this the hard way. “I wish I would’ve taken the time to look into the cafeteria food beforehand, because I ended up only eating cereal every time I went there,” she says. “It was too late to switch my meal plan, so I had to wait until semester to change.” It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

While testing out the food, you can also talk to some of the students there. Talk to the people in line, at the drink station and those sitting down. Most of them will be welcoming and happy to talk to you, but that doesn’t mean you should march up to someone who has headphones in and is doing homework. Montgomery says that if you’re talking to a student, it’s better to ask the specific questions. Kyra Tyler, Director at College Coach, suggests some of the following: What would you like to see changed? Do you feel challenged? Are you able to connect with faculty easily? What's your favorite campus tradition? This is better than just asking someone if they like the school. However, this tactic requires talking to a variety of students so you can take in different answers and opinions. It might be scary, but it will be well worth it!

7. Tour the area off-campus

It’s not enough to get a feel for the college. You’re not going to be on campus 24/7, so it’s important that you take the time to explore the town or surrounding area. Montgomery recommends venturing around the town in the evening, because most students are done with class for the day and out doing things. “Be sure to talk to people like baristas in popular coffee shops and ask them about the town and the college students,” he says. “This way, you’ll get an outside perspective from someone who’s still in the loop.” Also, Tyler says that you're better off by exploring by walking. "I think getting out there on foot is best but if you're rushing to the next school, by car is better than nothing," she says. When it comes to looking around town, some of what you’ll want to find depends on your personal interests, like a movie theatre, mall or sushi bar; however, you should make sure that there’s a nearby grocery store, gas station and other amenities. Also make note of how close the nearest airport is if you’re going to be far from home.

Another important factor has to do with jobs and internships. Make sure there are companies or businesses nearby that fit with what you’re interested in. The smaller the town, the harder this will be. If this is the case, try to check out some of the surrounding towns or cities. Many colleges are not in big places themselves, but near larger cities.

8. Go back for a second visit during the weekend

After you’ve learned as much as possible about the actual school, try to go back at some point on a weekend. This will be easier if you know someone who attends the university, but it’s still worth it if you don’t. You’ll be able to figure out a variety of things; for example, Robinovitz says that if all of the parking lots are nearly empty, it’s probably a commuter school. This was the exact case for Alexa Harvey, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky. “Before I decided on UK, I had been set on a school that was closer to home,” she says. “My whole view changed after I stayed with one of my friends that went there. It was a Friday night, and hardly anyone was out doing anything! She ended up telling me that it wasn’t uncommon for that to happen, so I knew I had to look at my other options.” It’s always better to find something like this out beforehand!

If that’s not the case, you’ll be able to find some of the popular hangout spots. After some observation, it will become pretty clear whether the students spend their time partying or studying.

Whether you utilize these tips or not could determine how much you get out of your campus visit. It’s not worth it to plan an entire day with your parents and end up leaving with as much information as you came with! Do everything that you can to find out if that school is right for you, because it’s better to find out beforehand that it’s not rather than a semester in. 

There are countless academic differences between high school and college, like the rigor of your courses and a different scheduling style. But one of the changes that could take the most getting used to is your class size and dynamic, especially at a larger school. 

In high school, your classes hovered between 20 and 35 students, but now you find yourself stepping into lecture halls that look more like athletic arenas and sitting in class next to 300 of your peers. The professor might lecture using a podium or microphone, and when you raise your hand to speak, you just get pointed at instead of named. You wonder how you’re ever going to get to know any of your professors, not to mention how you’re going to get to know one well enough to ask for a recommendation from them down the road—seniors in college, we’re talking to you!

Sound like you? You’re not completely out of luck. One of the big myths of college is that you’ll never get to know your professors in large classes. Though it may require more effort on your part, there are some ways you can get to know your professors, even in a class of hundreds of students, who will write you a killer recommendation down the road. Check out these tips from Desiree Griffin, lecturer in the Department of Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Don’t rush out the door after class ends

If you’re not in a hurry to make it to another class, those few minutes after your lecture is over are a great time to introduce yourself to your professor or chat with him or her briefly. “It is important for students to take the initiative and introduce themselves to their professor, preferably sooner rather than later,” Griffin says. 

The lecture will be fresh in both of your minds, so you could easily ask him or her a question about something you didn’t understand or talk about your opinion on an issue he or she mentioned. This not only puts a face to your name for the professor, but it also shows her that you were actively paying attention to the lecture and that you cared enough about what she taught to talk about it even after class is over. Can someone say, “brownie points?” 

“These interactions stood out to me because it demonstrated a genuine interest in what they were learning, which I found refreshing, and I wanted to reciprocate that interest by discussing topics with them before or after class,” Griffin says. 

Go to office hours, even if you don’t need help

A common misconception about office hours is that they’re only there for students struggling in the class who need extra help. And while office hours are a great resource for getting your questions and concerns dealt with one-on-one, they’re also a great way to get to know your professor. 

“By going to instructors’ office hours, you can take the time to tell them about yourself and your interests and also get the opportunity to get their insights into their respective fields (most instructors like to talk about what they do/study),” Griffin says. “Having this meeting will likely set you apart from most of your classmates and make you more memorable. You will also have established a working relationship with your instructors, which will make it easier to reach out to them during the semester if you are struggling with any of the material.” 

Lucy Julian, a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, says she tries to go to office hours at the beginning of each semester to get to know her professors. “At first it seemed weird to go to office hours with no real question or issue, but I realized quickly that my professors really appreciated me just introducing myself, and I usually had awesome conversations with them,” Lucy says. “They were great resources for everything from study abroad program recommendations to recommendations for future courses to take in the department.”

Take advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom

Many schools both large and small urge students to build relationships with their professors and are developing programs and events to facilitate these relationships. The University of Michigan, American University, Dartmouth College, UNC-Chapel Hill, Brandeis University and countless others have “Take Your Professor to Lunch” programs where students can sign up for free meal vouchers to treat their professors to on-campus meals. The idea of the program is to push students to spend time outside of class getting to know their professors, and with a free meal on the table, it’s no surprise that these programs are catching on with schools across the country. 

Griffin says that another great way to get to know your professor is to ask whether he or she is accepting any students to research programs, especially if they’re a professor in the sciences. Private research is a great way to build a relationship with your professor, and it’s also a great way for your professor to get a closer look at your work and interest in the subject matter, which could turn into great material for a recommendation in the future. 

Lots of professors either conduct school-sponsored research projects during the semester or conduct their own research privately in concentrations of their own interest. Many schools have listings for research opportunities online, but approaching your professor and just asking is an easy way to find out exactly what you want to know!

Stay in touch!

Even if you’re not currently enrolled in that professor’s class, it could still be beneficial to you in the long run to maintain your relationship with him or her and check back in every so often. Your professors will appreciate that you took the time to think about them and shoot them a quick email, which will not only keep you in their good graces if you ever need a recommendation, but it will also keep you fresh in their minds! A professor will have a hard time writing a thoughtful and accurate recommendation for a student they haven’t taught or even spoken to in a few semesters. 

Isabel Elson, a junior at Harvard University, says she keeps up with her old professors via email and with quick coffee or lunch dates.

“It’s super easy to shoot your old teachers an email every once in a while—I do it and I can tell it really means a lot to them,” Isabel says. “I usually just tell them what I’ve been up to in or outside of school, or sometimes I’ll email them a link to an article or page that made me think of them. Your professors are a lot more interested in what you’re up to than you might think, and many of mine frequently say how happy they are when they see a message from me in their inbox.”

Isabel says keeping in touch with her professors also made it easier for her to ask for internship and job recommendations. “I didn’t feel like I was using my professors or only contacting them because I needed something, and the fact that I kept in touch made it easier for them to write a rec for me because they knew what I’ve been up to and what work I’ve recently done,” she says. 

Other good ways to keep in touch with your professors are to attend a lecture, talk or presentation that they might be giving at school. The end of the program is a great chance to stop and talk to them—tell them how much you enjoyed their presentation and how you’d love to grab coffee sometime.

Another super easy tip? Take a class with them again! Professors love seeing students who come back for more of their teaching, and the fact that they’ve already taught you gives you a head start on material for a rec because they’ve already seen how you work!

With these tips, you’re bound to build great relationships with your professors. When you do ask for a recommendation, don’t forget to ask politely—in-person beats email any day, and be sure to give your teachers enough of a heads up on the deadline so that they’re not overwhelmed or scrambling to piece a recommendation together. And once you score that rec and land a killer job or internship, don’t forget to send a thank-you note!

How do you build strong relationships with your professors, collegiettes?

Face oil has been taking the beauty industry by storm as a multi-use product. While it's commonly known to be used as an effective makeup remover, it has recently earned praise for being a healthy moisturizer as well as a gentle cleanser. Everyone from celebrities and dermatologists to average collegiettes uses this beauty hack, but how do you know when (or how) you should use face oil? We're here to break down the benefits, costs and uses for all types of face oils—even the ones you may not have known existed.

Why should you use face oils?

According to Dr. Debra Jaliman , assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and author of Skin Rules, “the benefits of using facial oils are that they are moisturizing and many contain antioxidants. If you’re using anti-aging products, they can prevent some of the irritation caused by these products.”

Face oils are able to absorb into the skin faster and more effectively than a cream or gel moisturizer. While over-the-counter moisturizers typically contain a mixture of oil and water, face oils are more pure and are able to penetrate the surface of the skin in a quicker and gentler way.

How much do face oils cost?

“Coconut oil is probably the least expensive oil to take out of the jar and use on your skin,” says Jaliman.  “It’s when these oils are made into a skin product that they become more expensive.”

Jaliman says that many oils that can be used on your face can be found at the grocery store. One example is olive oil, an inexpensive product that can be used as an effective makeup remover, as it's able to cling to oil-based products, like eye makeup, on your skin. And if you're looking to find a face oil with extra health benefits and are willing to spend more money, try an oil chock-full of antioxidants (to repair and protect skin cells while maintaining your youthful glow) like grape seed oil. “Grape seed oils are more expensive because they contain a high concentration of antioxidants,” Jaliman notes.

Some well-known brands also offer face oils for those who are willing to invest in more high-end beauty products. Bridget Higgins, a sophomore at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, picked up a pricier oil to use as a moisturizer.“I use Tarte Maracuja Oil ($48, tartecosmetics.com) for my face and it’s so much more moisturizing and nonirritating than lotion in my opinion,” she says. “It makes your face look so much brighter!”

So, there are a wide variety of options for every collegiette’s budget, meaning face oil doesn’t have to be just for the rich and famous; you can try it yourself by spending anywhere from $5 to $50 and still get great results!

How can you use face oils?

As a moisturizer:

You know that gross, sticky feeling that comes with using a thick cream moisturizer on your face when you are experiencing super dry skin? Well, oil may just be your new best friend. While many people think that oil can turn dry skin into greasy skin, it can actually leave you with a moisturized, healthy glow! By using an oil (such as olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, or vitamin E oil) on your face, you can eliminate that feeling of dryness while also avoiding rubbing a thick and sticky moisturizer all over.  

Courtney Klauber, a graduate of Rowan University, says she uses vitamin E oil to moisturize her skin. “It's great because it's lightweight, prevents and heals any discoloration or scars from acne or any other marks, it never makes me break out and it helps with my dry skin,” she says. “I've also used organic Moroccan oil as well on my face and it made my skin really smooth and evens out my pores.” 

To use an oil as a moisturizer, simply soak a cotton round in the oil and apply a desired amount to your face as needed.

As a makeup remover or cleanser:

When you think of oil, you probably imagine the type you are trying to get rid of, like that pesky variety that shows up on your skin midday. But believe it or not, oils such as jojoba oil and coconut oil are wonderful makeup removers and cleansers that can be used to effectively and easily get rid of that unwanted oil, while also removing dirt and makeup! 

Dani Kluss, a sophomore at California Lutheran University, describes why coconut oil works the best for her. “The organic coconut oil naturally [combated] the oil that my skin produced, which solved a lot of my problems,” she says. But how does it work? Apparently, face oil can be used to combat naturally occurring oil by restoring the balance of your skin in order to slow down oil production. However, Jaliman cautions that she does not recommend using too much oil on oily skin, as overuse may clog pores or even make acne worse in cases of excessive use.

Nonetheless, “using coconut oil as a makeup remover has many perks,” says Kluss. “It softens and moisturizes skin, doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, is super effective and easy to use. Organic Coconut Oil works fantastically as a natural makeup remover to remove makeup instantly and effectively.”

Coconut oil often comes in a solid form, and the way it is used varies by personal preference. If you prefer to use your hands when moisturizing or removing makeup, use a spoon to scoop a small amount of coconut oil onto your hands and slowly warm the product with your fingers before gently applying it to your skin or eye area. You can also use coconut oil on a cotton round by scooping a small amount into a bowl and microwaving it for a few seconds until it adopts a liquid form. Let it cool before soaking a cotton round in the oil and then use as desired!

As an antioxidant booster:

Sometimes, your skin is just begging for nutrients, and one way to provide your skin with what it needs is through using an antioxidant-rich oil. Argan oil, borage seed oil, cranberry seed oil, rosehip oil and seaberry (or Sea Buckthorn) oil are all rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial for your skin. Why? Antioxidants form a complex with free radicals in order to prevent damage to the collagen and elastic tissues in your skin, causing you to appear more youthful and radiant, says Jaliman. 

Sydney Brodie, a senior at the University of Florida, uses antioxidant-rich rosehip oil habitually. “It's totally changed my skin!” she says. “My skin tone has really evened out and I definitely wake up every morning with a glow. It's also helped the hormonal breakouts I used to get on my chin.” 

And because rosehip oil is so rich with beneficial antioxidants, it can help with anti-aging by improving the overall appearance of the skin, including reducing fine lines. Rosehip oil also contains fatty acids that are essential to skin health and can be used as a healthy addition to your skincare routine in order to prevent blemishes from emerging and reduce the appearance of acne scars. Let it be known, however, that if you choose to use rosehip oil, you may have to adapt to the distinct and sometimes off-putting scent.

To use an antioxidant-rich oil, simply apply the oil to the face as needed, using a cotton round or cotton swab for larger or smaller affected areas, respectively. 

So, whether you're trying to improve the appearance of your skin, moisturize or simply effectively remove makeup, oil may be the best decision you've ever made. Select a budget and a desired result and try any of these oils to supplement your skincare routine—it's about time you took advantage of this incredible beauty obsession!

As if women didn’t already have a hard enough time in our culture today, now they face scrutiny for what they wear to work. And not by men—but by other WOMEN. Is this real life Mean Girls? 

According to a new study in the scientific journal Sex Roles, if a woman dressed in a way that is considered sexy and held a leadership position, she was more likely to be seen as less competent by her female peers. If a woman who dressed sexy didn’t hold a leadership position, she was not seen as less competent whatsoever. 

As noted in Allure, women participating in the study were shown photos of other women in work attire who had their faces blurred out. The participants were asked to rate their perceived competence of the women in the photos. When told that women in some photos were receptionists or held lower positions, the participants did not view them as less competent, even if they wore slightly provocative clothing. But, when told women in the photos held leadership positions, participants viewed them as less competent when wearing sexier clothes. 

It’s sad that women in the workforce are judged on how high their skirts are, rather than by their work abilities. It’s even worse to know that the more powerful working women were judged even more harshly, especially by fellow women! The girl world can be a cruel place, even in the workforce. Where is the love, ladies!?

As fall continues to draw closer, so do the amount of season-related snacks that seem to also distract people (AKA students) from the fact that summer is officially over. And with that, breakfast time seems like it will become a bit more enjoyable!

Refinery29 reports that on August 31, Dunkin’ Donuts is welcoming two new flavors of donuts to their menu: Reese’s Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Cheesecake, to only be available until October!

Inspired by the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Dunkin’ Donuts worked with the Hershey Company to create the square-shaped donut full of Reese’s peanut butter filling, iced with chocolate and topped with an orange drizzle.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake donut is also square-shaped, but filled with a pumpkin cheesecake cream and covered with an orange topping, crushed graham crackers and a drizzle of white icing.

Now what could be in store for winter?

When you went on vacation during college, your parents probably planned the whole thing from start to finish. Unfortunately, you don’t get a spring break in the real world, and you’re lucky to get Christmas Eve off. Oftentimes, work life gets so busy that it can feel like you don’t have time for a getaway, so when you do decide to take a break from work, it’s important to make sure that you do it right. From asking your boss for time off to finding places to stay, these are the six most important things to consider when planning your first real world vacation. 

1. Asking for time off

Before you plan your vacation, whether it be for a few days or two weeks, it’s important that you tell your boss in advance. Many post-collegiettes don’t realize how much time you really should give an employer, and telling your boss a week before you leave is not the smartest idea—you won’t have time to finish everything that needs to be done before you go out of the office. Make sure you give at least two weeks of notice, preferably three to four, so your boss has time to figure out what needs to be done before you leave.

2. Deciding where to go

You probably have multiple dream vacations planned in your head already, from lounging on the beach in the Caribbean to backpacking through Asia. Take time to think about what kind of vacation you really want and ask yourself a few important questions. First, who will you go with? Are you going to go on a solo trip or with a group of friends? Second, do you you want to visit cities or go somewhere more rural? Finally, do you want a restful, relaxing vacation? Or do you want to make it as adventurous as possible? Make a list of the places you would like to go to, and divide your list into pros and cons. For example, a pro for the Caribbean (depending on your personality) would be getting to lounge on the beach and a con could be not having as many opportunities to check out museums. After you're finished with that list, start eliminating the options with the most cons and go forward from there. If you are traveling with others, they should lists as well—that way, you can find a place that you mutually agree upon. Once you do decide on a place, sites such as Mygola can help you create a custom itinerary so you don’t have to feel stressed about creating your own from scratch.

3. Creating a budget

What are you willing to spend? You need to take into account all that goes into planning and budgeting for a vacation, including flights, lodging, food and transportation. It adds up! Look into your destination before you book anything to try and gauge how much money you will need. The price to take a roadtrip with friends will likely be much different than what it would be to go to Europe, so do your research! You should prioritize where you'll be spending and where you can save. For example, if you're a big foodie, you'll want to spend on nice restaurants and save on housing.

4. Booking your flight

Would you rather spend less money and leave really early in the morning, or depart at a more reasonable time but end up paying more? Figuring out when you want to travel is crucial to the planning process, so it’s important to ask yourself such questions. No matter what you decide, you'll want to take advantage of the best deal possible. Websites like GetGoing can score you 40 percent discounts on fights—perfect for budget travelers. Other sites like Expedia and Kayak are great because they let you to compare flights across all airlines, allowing you to find the cheapest route.

5. Choosing where to stay

If you're vacationing on a budget, it’s probably best to stay in a hostel or rent an apartment. Hotels can get very expensive and it’s not worth the money if you can stay somewhere that is just as clean, but cheaper. For hostels, check out both Hostelworld and Hostel.com. These sites allow you to read reviews and descriptions about different hostels your desired area. Remember to think about what kind of hostel you would like to stay in and do your research—some are popular with traveling college students (so there's likely to be more of a nightlife), where others are known for being quiet places with many traveling families. If you'd like to have your own space, try renting an apartment instead of a hostel. Take a look at Airbnb or HomeAway for some great options. Both list reviews, photos and detailed information about the places available for rent. 

6. Making a packing list

Make a list of what you need to pack, grouping similar items into categories. Keeping toiletries, clothing, shoes, etc. separated in this way will help you stay organized and you'll feel less stressed both while packing and unpacking. Packing really depends on your preferences and you'll need to pack for the specific type of vacation you’ll be taking. If you’re going to several different locations abroad, it’s probably a good idea to bring a hiking backpack—it would be a hassle to drag along your suitcase on trains and busses. If you are going to backpack, it’s wise to bring a few versatile outfits instead of several weeks' worth (that would get heavy)—you can use a Laundromat or a washer/dryer in your hostel. Also, don’t forget to bring First Aid necessities—Band-aids, Neosporin, bug spray, sunscreen, Advil and Tylenol—you never know when you might get hurt or sick, and it's always best to have something on hand.

Now that you know how to start planning your first real world vacation, you’re ready to tackle your itinerary! Get to scheduling, graduette! 

Name: Rebekah Iliff

Age: 36

Job Title and Description: Chief Strategy Officer and founding team of AirPR. AirPR is a PR tech software company that provides analytics, insights, and measurement solutions rooted in big data to Fortune 5000 and fast-growing technology companies.

College Name/Major: Loyola University Chicago/B.A. in Philosophy and Antioch University at Los Angeles/M.A. in Organizational Management and Applied Community Psychology

Website: www.airpr.com/

Twitter Handle: @rebekahiliff and @airpr

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

Rebekah Iliff: Essentially, my job straddles between a Chief Operating Officer role and a Chief Marketing Officer role. Here is how I would break it down:

CEO support: I work closely with my CEO (Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer) on ensuring the trains are running on time, the vision of the company is materialzing and that he has support in everything from hiring to fundraising. I’m kind of like his “wing woman.”

Engineering Liaison: I work closely with my Chief Technology Officer (Raj Sathyamurthi) and Chief Architect (Patrick Liang) to ensure that marketing, sales and engineering are aligned. It’s an important aspect of my job because as a rapidly growing and expanding company, we need a tremendous amount of communication between “silos.” Things are moving too quickly to have things fall through the cracks.

HR/Culture: I spend time ensuring that our culture is conducive to hiring the best talent and that we are building a company that aligns with our core values. This is a really important aspect early on in the life cycle of an early-stage organization. Culture can make or break a company. My duties here include everything from onboarding new hires to making sure we have birthday cake for our employees on their special day. I also make an effort to meet with employees regularly to “check in,” see how they are doing, if they are having any struggles or want to voice an opinion they may not feel comfortable talking about with colleagues. It’s a lot of “mama bear” type stuff…which I love. I really enjoy this part of my job, because it has to do with human relationships.

Brand Advocacy: This could be considered marketing and PR, but I spend a tremendous amount of my time producing thought leadership content, speaking and moderating panels. I travel around the world advocating on behalf of not only AirPR, but the entire PR industry in terms of PR measurement and how we can use technology to move the industry forward. I also write columns for Mashable, Inc. and Entrepreneur and contribute content to countless other publications…I’m passionate about educating those who are interested in learning about the “state of affairs” of the PR industry as well as entrepreneurship and startups.

What is the best part of your job?

RI: Honestly, I think it’s the fact that I get to do a variety of things where I get to meet interesting people, build relationships and talk about innovation and entrepreneurship. I really feel like AirPR is having a huge impact not only on the PR industry, but also on the entire business world because we are revealing things (using big data) that no one has ever seen before. It’s making their jobs easier and showing the value they (PR and comms professionals) bring to the table.

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

RI: My first “job” was as a professional ballerina. I know, weird. And I got there by working my butt off and focusing day in and day out on that one thing for years. That experience taught me an extreme amount of self-discipline and understanding of what it takes to go from nothing to something of the highest level.

I literally “fell into” marketing and PR after I “retired” at 22. I was in school the entire time I had a dance career, so I graduated only a year and a half after I would have had I gone the traditional route.

While I was finishing school, I needed a job (I was broke!), so a friend of mine introduced me to a Chicago entrepreneur (Billy Dec) who ran nightclubs and restaurants. I started working at the door of a couple of his clubs at night, because I was in school during the day and did modeling gigs on the side to pay rent. Before I knew it, I had met thousands of people and was having so much fun watching Dec build his empire and being a part of it all. I was hosting events and producing fashion shows and running around taking care of celebrities. I learned a tremendous amount about people and running and building a business in a very condensed time frame. When he launched a company (Rockit Ranch Productions), along with partners Brad Young and Arturo Gomez, he asked me to join as marketing and PR director at age 24. I said yes and the rest was history!

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

RI: I had no idea how difficult it would be to measure success and prove one’s value to a business. PR pros are tasked to make sense of a variety of data points and disparate pieces of information, not to mention personality types – it’s a hard, hard gig – often with very little glory.  This is exactly why I decided to join AirPR, because we are making sense of all that and providing data to prove just how valuable PR pros are to a business.

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

RI: I co-founded a tech PR firm, talkTECH, in 2007 with my long-time friend Kristen Tischhauser. She was the executor to my vision, and we have a unique partnership and relationship that expands beyond business. We made very conscious decisions about how we were going to run the business, the types of projects and clients would take on and combined it with our personal life goals – to create something that we could be proud of on every level. She has taught me so much about friendship, business relationships and ultimately how life will take you up and it will take you down – but when you have a strong support system, you can take it all in stride.

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

RI: Well, I’ve made so many it’s hard to just choose one! A general mistake that can apply to many of the failures is being impatient, [like] wanting to force things to happen, which ultimately just means I was trying to control things that were ultimately out of my control. I’m much, much more patient now…but I still know how to light a fire when need be. The difference now is “the wisdom to know the difference” of what I can and cannot change.

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

RI: I recently had a meeting with Cherie Blair (wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair) in Berlin, Germany to discuss the projects she’s doing with the Cherie Blair Foundation in conjunction with Qualcomm in Malaysia. I was on 38 minutes of sleep in two days, having flown in the day of the meeting on a red eye from New York, so I kept pinching myself thinking, “Is this really happening?”

I’ve hung with celebrities, rockstars, pro athletes and the “tech elite,” but in my book, she is the queen of all of it in terms of her career, what she’s accomplished and what she continues to do with her power and knowledge.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

RI: The first thing is whether or not they are a culture fit with the company. Particularly early on in the life cycle of an organization, someone who doesn’t mesh well can be extremely toxic and can actually derail other team members.

Other important qualities/aspects include level of expertise (i.e. are they the best or really good in their area), willingness to collaborate and be a “team player,” lack of ego and more interested in solving the problem rather than flexing their proverbial muscles and general positivity and easy to work with along with a great sense of humor.

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

RI: First, figure out sooner than later what you are really good at combined with what you enjoy doing, then pursue that fully and commit to it.

Second, know that failure and making mistakes is just part of the gig. It’s part of life. If you take huge risks, you will have huge falls, too. And that’s okay. You’ll have ups and downs and people will disappoint you and say brutal things. The most important thing is to surround yourself with a supportive group of friends, family and colleagues who believe in you.

Third, give back always. Don’t wait until you’ve reached “X” status, age or career title. We are on a journey, and there really isn’t a point where you will feel like you’ve arrived. Ever. So just know that the time to be loving and kind and giving and compassionate is now. It is the thing that keeps us going through all the muck.

Majors. Dorms. Roommates. Campuses. Internships. College will probably be one of the most exciting times of your life, but when you're a high school student, the prospect of choosing the college that is right for you (and getting in!) can be beyond nerve-wracking. How do college experiences vary between big state schools, Ivy Leagues, small liberal arts colleges and technical schools? How will college be different from high school? What tricks of the trade can help you make the most out of these next four years?

Fear not, pre-collegiettes! Her Campus has teamed up with McDonald's to answer all of your burning questions during a two-session live “College Confessionals” webcast series featuring undergraduates from 4 different campuses and moderated by Her Campus co-founder Annie Wang (that’s me)!

During each of our two one-hour long webcasts, you’ll hear from real students who currently attend Harvard University, University of California Los Angeles, Stony Brook University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They’ll share their experiences and demystify what college is all about. We’ll cover topics including the application process, campus life, academics and how college compares to high school.

Our two webcasts are scheduled for 8-9 PM EST on September 13, 2015and7-8 PM EST on September 23, 2015. We’ll be using Google Hangouts to stream the webcasts, which means YOU can submit your own questions in advance for our collegiette panelists to answer! Simply create a Google+ account and send your questions through the broadcast pages, located here for our September 13 webcast, and here for our September 23 webcast. Here’s how:

• Once you’ve created your account, navigate to either of the event pages (September 13, September 23)
• Click “Q&A” in the top right corner of the webcast screen
• Click “Ask a new question” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up screen
• Type in your question!
• If you see that someone else has already asked your question in the question feed, simply click the plus sign (+) within the question box to indicate that you also want this question answered. The number next to the (+) sign indicates how many people have liked it. The higher that number is, the more likely it is that I (Annie) will select that question to ask during the webcast! 

Then, sign in to the webcast at 8 PM EST on September 13, 2015 and 7 PM EST on September 23, 2015 and hear your questions answered live! We’ll be covering the same topics during both webcasts, so feel free to attend whichever session fits your schedule better!

Her Campus is proud to be partnering with McDonald’s, a company that has demonstrated its support for high school students pursuing higher education through programs like the McDonald’s Education Workshops for Asian-American students and now, Her Campus’s College Confessionals! In addition, McDonald’s has awarded over $56 million in scholarship funds since 1985 for pre-collegiettes everywhere through the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) scholarship program. These scholarships are offered to students with financial need who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and community involvement, which means ambitious pre-collegiettes like you are just who they’re looking for! Plus, several of the scholarships are also specifically catered toward minority applicants. Think you might be eligible? Learn more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarships.

Excited about our College Confessionals webcast series? We are, too! Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #MyInspirasian and tagging @McDonalds and @HerCampus.

Lastly, don’t forget to submit your questions to our College Confessionals Google Hangout event pages anytime leading up to each webcast, and we’ll see you there!

Imagine you’re grabbing lunch with some friends in the cafeteria. The food actually tastes good for a change, and the conversation is going great. And then one of your guy friends cracks a joke about you making him a sandwich. Not only is the joke totally unoriginal, it’s offensive. You’ve got a choice — you can call him out on his sexist comment or say nothing.

Unfortunately, this is a situation that way too many of us have experienced. It can be difficult to stand up to your friends, and it doesn’t help that feminists have a (usually unjust) reputation of being uptight buzzkills. At the same time, it’s important to stand up for yourself and, in effect, other women.

The good news: Standing up for yourself doesn’t mean you have to alienate your friends! Here are some tips for dealing with everyday sexist comments that’ll turn that awkward moment into a win-win situation.

Speak up

First things first: Resist the temptation to keep quiet. It definitely makes things easier in the short term to resist calling your friends out, especially if you’re shy or like to avoid conflict. However, in these situations, it’s important to rally your confidence and speak up. Julie Zeilinger, author of College 101: A Girl's Guide to Freshman Year, says that you should call out any comment that offends you.

Zeilinger, founder of feminist blog theFbomb.org, says that many sexist comments, such as ones perpetuating double standards, often go under the radar.  

“For example,” Zeilinger says, “the double standard that men should be allowed to (and even congratulated for) being promiscuous, whereas girls are labeled ‘sluts’ and looked down upon for the same behavior, is so ingrained in men and women in our culture that many people don’t even register how problematic comments about it are.”

That’s why when you recognize someone making a comment that reflects this double standard and you call it out, you’re interrupting a harmful, sexist cycle. And that’s a really, really cool thing to do.

Be an educator

Okay, so once you decide to call someone out on an everyday sexist comment, it’s not the best tactic to call him a pig and walk away, especially if he’s one of your good friends. If you do that (or something similarly dismissive), you’re probably not going to get many people on your side. More importantly, though, you’re missing a huge opportunity to teach your friend about the implications of his comment. 

“I think it’s important to note that ‘calling out’ a sexist comment doesn’t have to be hostile or initiate a fight,” Zeilinger says. “It’s possible to push back on people’s comments in a thoughtful way and as an attempt to start a conversation rather than initiate a hostile, accusatory argument. Especially if the person is a good guy and your friend, you can approach the situation as an opportunity to educate him.”

For example, you may be walking near campus on a Friday night with a guy friend when a girl in a short skirt passes you. Imagine he says something like: “She’s practically naked. She must really be asking for it!”

In this situation, your friend is expressing a common sentiment, so it’s possible he never stopped to think about what he’s really implying. You could use this moment to explain that only literally asking for sex is “asking for it” and that even if a woman was walking down the street naked, it wouldn’t be okay to sexually assault her.

Here’s another example: Say you’re talking with a group of friends and someone implies that women who want birth control coverage just want to have tons of sex without having to spend money on contraceptives (a la Rush Limbaugh’s controversial statements on the matter).  Although you might be a little uncomfortable talking about it, this is a great opportunity to educate guys about howfemale contraceptives actually offer lots of benefits beyond preventing pregnancy!

When explaining your point of view calmly and considerately, you’re more likely to create a dialogue. If the guy is actually your friend, there’s a good chance he’ll listen and even start making changes to his behavior.

Ask questions

If you don’t have the energy to pull out your soapbox, one great way to address sexist comments is to ask the speaker questions about his comment.

“If somebody makes a sexist assumption, even just simply asking why they believe that can be really effective,” Zeilinger says. “Most people don’t stop and really think about why they parrot sexist ideas, and it might really change the way they think about things.”

You could simply ask, “Why do you say that?” Or, if your friend tells a sexist joke, you could try asking, “I don’t get it. Could you explain why that’s funny?”

Much like using everyday sexist comments to educate, asking questions can get people who normally don’t think much about these kinds of assumptions or jokes to analyze what they’ve said.

Hopefully, they’ll realize how they really sound once they’re forced to repeat their comments. If not, you can always go back to dusting off your mental chalkboard and educating.

Use humor

Humor is a really effective way to get to the heart of an issue without coming off as preachy. It’s also a great way to address a sexist comment if you’re worried about embarrassing your friend when you’re with a group.

“I think that humor is a great way to handle offensive comments in a group setting,” Zeilinger says. “Accusing somebody of sexism in front of their friends is not only awkward and embarrassing, but ineffective: They’ll only focus on the fact that you made them feel that way and not the real point you’re trying to make about their comments.”

Often people will get defensive when they’re embarrassed or feel singled out. Humor and sarcasm can disarm people and maybe even make them crack a smile. You’ll get your point across without sacrificing the lighthearted mood.

For example, the Everyday Sexism Project asks women on Twitter to share how they’ve responded to everyday sexist remarks. Though not always dealing with friends, these women had some hilarious comebacks to sexism.

Finding herself in a way-too-common situation, Twitter user @AlternateRowan responded to one coworker saying, “Don’t mind her, she’s on her period,” with, "If I had to bleed to find you annoying, I'd be anemic."

Although this comeback isn’t quite lighthearted, it does get to the point without totally derailing the conversation. It quickly counters the idea that a woman’s bad moods come from menstruation rather than legitimate annoyance. You and your friends can laugh about this burn later, and your guy friend will probably think twice about dismissing your feelings again.

However you decide to address your guy friends’ sexist comments, remember that you’ll always run the risk of being called a buzzkill, but that doesn’t matter.

“[Calling someone a buzzkill is] a really lazy way to demean and silence an opponent rather than critically engage with them,” Zeilinger says. “At the same time, being conscious of not attacking people and trying instead to educate and start conversations will not only help combat this perception, but is a more effective way to engage with people generally.”

As long as you’re working on educating people rather embarrassing them, you can just let the haters hate hate hate hate hate. 

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

My boyfriend and I have been dating for a year and I noticed he has a big thing with lies of omission. He commits lies of omission more often than I thought. I realize people tell “white lies” in relationships to keep the peace, but the issue here is that I don't think we are in agreement about what a 'white lie' encompasses. I believe white lies should only go so far as “Yes honey, you look great in that (terrible) dress” or the occasional “No, I'm just stuck in traffic (not just running out the door).”

He believes it should go so far as lying about going to a strip club if he knew it would upset me - as in, he just wouldn't mention that he is at a strip club but would be honest if I asked.

I love this man and he tends to be very candid with me sometimes so I don't know if he was just saying this since it was a hypothetical conversation. I clarified that I didn't want him doing that (going to a strip club or going and then not being transparent about it). He disagreed that going to a strip club is an “issue” but agreed to make the concession for me to respect my opinion—he went to a strip club one time before we dated. He also agreed to not commit lies of omission about such things that maybe could be “gray area” in the future.

I've caught him in lies of omission before. I never labeled those things as such but they mattered to me and now my trust has been shaken.

What should I do? I don't want to end things with him but I am hurt and confused about why he thinks lies of omission are okay on such a level. - Omitting at Oberlin

Omitting,

As far as I can tell your problem is not with his omitting of events but rather what the omission means about your relationship.  By omitting events that you feel are important he is affecting your view of the relationships’ level of trust.  Trust is to me the most important part of a relationship. 

It seems the major omission to consider is that he went to the strip club.You said he previously went, but it surprised you that he went again. Without clearly outlining that the strip club was a place you did not feel comfortable that he visit, he may have just been doing as he had before.  He may not see the strip club as anything more than a regular form of entertainment. Media commonly glorifies these clubs and sadly some guys don’t fail to notice it may not be the venue for a sophisticated adult male.

I don’t think this should ruin your relationship. If this one trip to a strip club omission is the biggest issue of lying you have had in a year-long relationship you should give him more credit. Going to a strip club and thinking it better not to tell your girlfriend is a pretty easy mistake to make.

What should you do?

Tell him you don’t like him going to the strip club. Also that you trust each other enough to tell one another happenings even if the other may not be happy to hear them.  With a conversation like that you will be able to regain some of that trust and clearly outline the boundaries for him in the future. 

- Jon 

As you start a new year, you’re slowly getting used to your new living quarters—and your new roommate. But what is it really like living with you? Take our quiz to find out what kind of roommate you actually are.

2. I’m sure I will fit in sporting my Class of 2019 T-shirt to go along with my student ID lanyard around my neck. I am the definition of school spirit.

3. Mom, after eating in the cafeteria, I swear I will never again neglect the love you have poured into my marinara smothered lasagna and sautéed veggies.

4. Do all four of these picture collages ensure people really do like me from home?

5. What in the world am I going to say for my annoying ice breaker fun fact? I’m positive no will care that my father’s cousin’s child’s stepmom is the creator of fried pickles.

6. Does this Instagram scream that I am definitely having the time of my life?

7. Someone please tell me how my high school wake up call was 6 AM, but I cannot even manage to move from bed for my 10 AM class.

8. Is it possible I’ll prevent the Freshman 15 by staring at my stomach in the mirror 15 times a day?

9. Hopefully my roommate won’t judge my snoring skills and chewed-up baby blanket.

10. How can a single book cost more than prom, my dress and prom weekend combined?

11. Is it safe to poop in this bathroom?

12. I better be so missed that my dog pees of excitement once I walk through the door Thanksgiving break.

13. Hmm, it is 5 o’clock somewhere right?

14. I finally don’t have to hide my Cosmo magazine. My mom’s eyes would burn if she knew I read 15 New Summer Sex Moves.

15. Eating at the pizza place is definitely a social event. What a great atmosphere to make true friends. 

16. Does going to the gym require looking cute?

17. Four years is definitely an ideal amount of time to meet my future husband/wife.