Has post-college life got you down? Well, you're not alone. If there's anyone else who gets it, it's Mindy Kaling. After all, Mindy braved the real world while she worked her way from graduate to small screen star. Here are 10 problems that keep you on the alumni struggle bus, as told by your favorite leading lady.

1. Sending out your resume only to get the dreaded “We regret to inform you” email or worse, silence.

2. Sometimes you feel like the wake up/work/go to sleep/repeat schedule is not working for you.

3. Now that you've graduated, you can’t put off grown-up duties like jury duty, paying bills and the like.

4. In college you had a wide array of potential SOs on campus. In the real world, dating is limited to the few cuties in your neighborhood, in the office and... on Tinder.

5. You have to fight the feeling of wanting to go out, go shopping or travel because your bank account does not agree. 

6. You settle for Snapchat convos and Skype dates because you don't live with your college besties anymore.

7. You constantly crave the fast food you binged on in college. 

8. You get creative with exercising because gym memberships aren't cheap.

9. You spend time strategically dodging your family’s questions about what you are going to do with your life.

10. On your bad days, you give yourself multiple pep talks because you know it has to get better! Right…?

Don't worry. You've got this. Yeah, you may have to give yourself the type of daily pep talk that Mindy is famous for... and if that doesn't work? There's no shame in (sometimes) being a hot mess.

When you’re walking through the quad on your way to class, do your classmates stop and say hi? Do you make small talk with people in line at the local coffee shop? If so, your college town may be one of the friendliest in America.

This super cool app, Skout, which helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, recently reviewed 12 months of data among 18-24 year olds using its app to uncover the country’s friendliest college towns. Skout looked at the average number of connections its users made with friends on a daily basis to assemble this list of the friendliest college towns in America. Did your town make the list?

10. Dallas, TX

9. Philadelphia, PA

8. Phoenix, AZ

7. Boulder, CO

Oh, and FYI: Skout found that the friendliest college-age guys are in Boulder!

6. San Francisco, CA

5. Chicago, IL

4. Ann Arbor, MI

3. New York. NY

2. Los Angeles, CA

The most generous college-age adults in the U.S. are in Los Angeles. Young adults in LA share more virtual gifts with friends within the Skout app than all the college-age adults in Boston, Miami, Chicago and Dallas combined.

1. Madison, WI

Skout also found that the friendliest college-age women are in Madison!

In case you’re wondering—Boston, the ultimate college town with over 100 colleges and universities within its metro area, came in 12th on Skout’s list.

We can all agree that friends easily make or break your college experience—way before classes or exam grades. Make college count with Skout, the app that allows you to meet people and expand your squad. If you’re looking for your people, this app makes it easy. Sign us up! 

Now that Jon Stewart has left The Daily Show, it looks like we'll actually have to start thinking about getting our news from new sources. Though we're still mourning the end of an era, there's a bright side! Sometimes we don't have a whole half hour we can devote to sitting down and watching a show (however glorious it is), so maybe there's something out there a little better suited to our ever-packed schedules. These 5 email newsletters bring short and sweet summaries of the stories of the day straight to your inbox--so there's no excuse not to stay informed!

1. The Skimm

The Skimm is pretty much the quintessential roundup of the day’s news. Founded by two 20-something women from New York and Chicago, the site takes the top stories of the day and condenses them into a quick summary that’s perfect for busy collegiettes to skim during their commute or their morning cup of coffee. Whether it’s sports, international news, or politics, the Skimm has probably got it covered, with a unique flair young women are likely to appreciate.

2. Morning Brew

Morning Brew is a start-up by University of Michigan students, written by Millennials, for Millennials. If you’re a business student or interested in economics for finance, this newsletter is for you! Using a conversation tone and featuring a daily snapshot of the US markets, business terms, and helpful summaries of the latest stories in the corporate world, Morning Brew is a must for any future entrepreneur. Check out the latest issue here!

3. Science of Us

Sponsored by New York Magazine, this daily newsletter features fascinating stories from a psychological and sociological perspective--meaning it covers everything from physical and mental health studies to controversial social issues of today. By gathering brief articles from around the web as well as producing original content, this daily e-mail can tell you everything from how to have a more positive attitude at work to how you can prevent getting another cold.

4. The Daily Beast

This site offers a few options for daily emails, depending on what your interests are. The “Cheat Sheet” and “Daily Digest” are delivered to your inbox every weekday morning and afternoon--you’ll be twice as informed! These give a quick summary of the top stories in politics and entertainment (and more!) but if you’re looking for something a little more specific, “Politics Beast,” which comes out every morning, will help you stay on top of all things in the politics world.

5. Lenny

Our search for the news wouldn’t be complete without a little feminist action. Lucky for us, Lena Dunham announced earlier this summer that starting this month, she and Girls executive producer Jenni Konner will be teaming up to produce a biweekly newsletter that addresses politics, popular culture, current events, health, and lifestyle, all from a feminist perspective. We’re so excited we’ve already signed up--and you can, too!

After a few years away at college, we’ve all grown to love (or loathe) certain student meals. These are the dishes that you’ve made so many times by the time graduation comes around, you could probably whip them up in your sleep—and no doubt you did at some point!

Jumping into a busy work life so soon after graduation can make it difficult to break the dietary habits that we acquire as students. If a bowl of mac and cheese is satisfactory after a day full of lectures, it’s good enough after a full day at the office, right? But the step from student life to real life can also require a similar shift in your diet. A working lifestyle can mean greater stress on your body, which also increases the need for healthier and more filling meals. At the same time, learning to make these healthy and filling meals from scratch can be very time-consuming. So why not just enhance what you already know?

If you’re not ready to move on from dorm-room cuisine just yet, here’s how to spice up some of your favorite student meals to match your life in the real world!

1. Grilled cheese sandwich

Ah, the humble grilled cheese sandwich. Nothing can really beat the ease and simplicity of melted cheese in bread after a long day slaving away at that essay. Surprisingly, it’s also pretty easy to upgrade your sandwich to post-college standards. Plus, grilled cheese version 2.0 also includes protein, veggies and healthy fats, which help to balance out the carbs and provide a nutritious spin on the college staple.

Grown-up Grilled Cheese 

Ingredients

• 2 slices of multigrain, seeded bread
• ½ cup cooked chicken, sliced or cut up into small chunks
• 3-4 slices fresh avocado
• 3-4 slices beefsteak tomato
• 2-3 slices of any hard cheese (such as Parmesan) – this can also be grated over the top
• Margarine

Directions

1. Spread some margarine on the inside and outside of both slices of bread.
2. Layer all the ingredients in any way you want, leaving the cheese until last.
3. Top it with some ground black pepper or red pepper flakes for added flavor, if desired.
4. Pop your creation into a panini press for 3 to 4 minutes on either side, or until the bread is crispy and golden brown.
5. Serve with a side salad.

Other great combos include turkey, cranberry and Brie, or feel free to switch up your cheese, the bread or the veggies – grilled eggplant and zucchini with mozzarella is a winner! Grilled cheese sandwiches are the most versatile student staple—you can basically add whatever you want, so get creative!

2. Cereal

Who can forget the days where you’d come home from a study session in the library only to end up eating Cheerios for dinner? While that may have been the height of simplicity and sustenance as a student, as an adult it’s time to get a little upgrade. Making soup is just one of many adventurous ways to use up that bran cereal that you’re still buying out of habit!

Tomato, Lentil & Bran Cereal Soup

Ingredients

• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup lentils
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 8-10 medium-sized tomatoes, skinned and chopped
• ¼ teaspoon dried mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ cup all-bran cereal or regular bran flakes

Directions

1. Put the vegetable stock in a pan and bring to a boil.
2. Fry the onion in a little oil until soft.
3. Add onions to the stock, and gradually stir in all the other ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until lentils are soft.
5. Top with cilantro leaves and serve with bread.

As you can see, the versatility of cereal knows no bounds. Try sprinkling honey-flavored cereal on a salad for some extra crunch or using cornflakes to bread chicken. The list is basically endless—cereal can be best friends with a lot more than just milk!

3. Omelettes

Omelets are great because they feel like serious cooking—you have to actually turn the stove on!—yet you can still make them even when your brain is frazzled after an intense day. Transforming the humble omelet into a dish more appropriate for your sophisticated post-college lifestyle isn’t that tricky, either. This dish with a Mexican twist creates a tasty, filling evening meal and is perfect if you’re looking to maintain a healthy diet since it’s crammed with protein!

Omelette-wrapped Fajitas

Ingredients

• 2 medium eggs
• 1 tablespoon of milk
• ¼ cup chicken pieces
• 3-4 iceberg lettuce leaves
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• ½ medium onion, sliced
• ½ avocado
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
• ½ teaspoon dried garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Brown the chicken with a little oil in a frying pan on high heat.
2. Once browned, lower the heat and add the bell pepper and onion. Cook until soft and chicken is cooked before adding the chipotle and garlic powders and seasoning. Take off the heat and set aside.
3. Make fresh guacamole by mashing up the avocado and mixing with the chopped tomato and lime juice.
4. Whisk the eggs with the milk in a small bowl. Pour into a large hot frying pan, ensuring the mix spreads out thinly.
5. Cook as you would a normal omelette, making sure it does not break or collapse.
6. Once cooked, empty onto a plate. Fill with the cooked chicken mixture, the guacamole and the lettuce leaves. Roll up and serve as a normal fajita with sour cream and salsa.

Not into spicy food? Don't worry! Just make your favorite omelette and wrap it up in a tortilla. It makes it feel a lot more adult to be eating one of your college favorites for dinner that way!

4. Ramen noodles

This list would not be complete without mentioning ramen. The instant packs are so cheap and student-friendly; they are a MUST for college. Understandably, it can be difficult to let go of such a staple! But it turns out you can make ramen more suitable for your real life.

Upgraded Ramen Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2-3 carrots, chopped
• 2 cups lamb mince (or another ground meat of your choice)
• ½ mixed herbs (optional)
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup water
• 1-2 packets of Ramen (the meat flavors would work best, but feel free to experiment!)
• Grated Parmesan (for topping)

Directions

1. Cook the onions and carrots in a large pan with a tablespoon of sunflower oil until soft.
2. Turn up the heat and then add the mince, stirring until browned. Add the herbs if desired, and season to taste.
3. Pour over the tomatoes and water, then bring mixture to a simmer. Cover pan and leave for around 35-40 minutes, or until meat is cooked through.
4. Cook the ramen according to packet instructions.
5. Top cooked ramen with meat and veggies.

Not only does this Ramen upgrade offer you all of the necessary vitamins from the meat and vegetables, but it will also fill you with nostalgia for those 2 a.m. Ramen-cooking stints you had a few times a week when you were still an undergrad! 

5. Mac and cheese

Last but certainly not least comes a campus favorite: macaroni and cheese. Chances are that microwavable mac and cheese got you through more than one night in college, and maybe you haven't found a suitable substitute for that creamy, cheesy, noodly taste you're craving. However, as a new member of the real world, it's also important to get proteins and other vitamins from your diet—so we thought, why not just toss them into your mac and cheese? 

Real World Mac and Cheese 

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of pasta shells 
• 3 cups of broccoli florets 
• 3/4 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of grape tomatoes (chopped) 
• 6 ounces of your favorite cheese (we suggest cheddar) 
• 2 cups of cooked chicken breast slices 
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. 
2. Add the broccoli florets about three minutes before the pasta is finished cooking.
3. Drain water from the pot using a colander.
4. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add milk, tomatoes and cheese. Whisk until smooth (about a minute and a half).
5. Add pasta, broccoli and chicken. 
6. Toss to combine, and you're ready to eat!

You don’t need to abandon these meals once you graduate! Similarly, all of these student staples—and many others besides—can be jazzed up with just a bit of creativity and only a slight stretch of your budget. In doing so, you’ll make the transition from collegiette to graduette in no time. Happy munching!

As busy collegiettes with crazy schedules and endless meetings, we’ll do anything to save a little time in the morning, especially when it comes to our beauty routine. Multi-tasking products are definitely bae.

For the times when we need our hair to feel clean and volumized, dry shampoo has always been clutch. You may think you’re doing your hair a favor by not sudsing up every day, but is dry shampoo actually bad for your hair? Say it isn’t so!

Fortunately, we don’t have to toss aside the Batiste just yet. As long as you’re washing your hair somewhat regularly in between using dry shampoo, you have nothing to worry about. This helps to remove product buildup, dirt and oil that could keep your hair from achieving the volume and shine you crave. So, using dry shampoo on second day hair in between washes is totally cool.

The major issue is only when you choose to use dry shampoo exclusively, rather than adding it to your overall hair care regimen. When you finally end up washing your hair after waiting for too many days too long, you’ll experience what seems like an excess of hair loss in the shower. This is because the normal amount of shedding you might have every day through regular washing accumulates, so the dry shampoo itself doesn’t cause the hair loss.

To prevent this from occurring, try to wash your hair a couple times a week and use dry shampoo on the opposite days. In order to enhance your overall regimen, we also recommend using a clarifying or purifying shampoo once a week to remove buildup and unclog your hair follicles for optimal hair health and additional growth.

It's that time of year, collegiettes. The summer is over, the excitement of back-to-school season is over and the real college stress is setting in. And what's the one thing you don't have time to worry about? That pesky little monthly visitor—your period. 

While we all know that surfing the crimson wave wouldn't be complete without a full stock of tampons, pads, chocolate and good chick flicks to sob over, those constant trips to the store can be time consuming. We want to know what would make your personal time-of-the-month easier—and we will even reward you for enlightening us!

Just for answering a few questions about that time of the month, 10 lucky collegiettes will win a $50 Sephora gift card and one grand prize winner will get an iPad! Enter for your chance to win now by taking our survey below.

10 Sephora Giftcards and an IPAD from Monthly Gift!

Leslie Knope is the most beautiful and brilliant feminist role model to ever grace our televisions. And the best part is her portrayer, Amy Poehler, is basically the living, breathing real world iteration of the government diva. So we couldn’t let Amy’s 44th birthday go by without celebrating Parks and Recreation’s leading lady. Without further ado, here are 44 words of wisdom Leslie Knope has inspired us with.

1. There’s always room for improvement

2. And breakfast!

3. Especially waffles

4. It’s okay to be your own role model

5. Ladies first… sorry, fellas!

6. Binge-watching is downright educational

7. Sleep is for the weak

8. Haters gonna hate

9. If you don’t like it, don’t eat it

10. You are untouchable

11. When all else fails, quote Friday Night Lights

12. Don't even try to relate to today’s youth

13. Be the Eleanor Roosevelt you want to see in the world

14. Break the rules if need be

15. Math, a pointless waste of time

16. Girl code at its finest

17. Own up to your actions

18. Lean on your friends for support

19. PREACH

20. You’re worth it

21. Recognize the real issues

22. We all make mistakes

23. Always jump to the most dramatic of conclusions

24. Hold on as long as possible

25. Inventing holidays that celebrate women is, like, the most feminist thing you can do

26. Yelling = love

27. Go big when you’re insulting a foe

28. You’re someone’s inspiration—even if everyone else thinks you’re just annoying

29. Know your level of chill

30. Reach for the stars

31. Find someone you love and like

32. Believe you can be as unstoppable as a centaur

33. Never doubt yourself

34. Don’t be afraid to show off

35. Self-encouragement is the key to success

36. Life’s short; eat dessert ALWAYS

37. Pies and your career are equally important

38. Make your feelings known before it’s too late

39. Patriotism is important

40. The library is the worst

41. Don’t mess with milkshakes

42. Compliment your friends often

43. Just do it

44. Dancing speaks louder than words

Picture the situation: you meet a hot guy at a bar, or a local cafe or maybe even Tinder. He asks you out on a date, you hit it off at dinner and then head back to his place...where he promptly calls 7-Eleven.

We cannot believe it, but the popular American convenience store chain is now offering to deliver special "packs" to your home, guaranteed to help you with just about any situtation: even getting laid.

According to the New York Daily News, the "Date Night Pack" includes "a tub of Ben & Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, a Hershey’s chocolate bar, a can of Red Bull, an 18-piece pack of Trident gum" and of course, the icing on the cake: a three-pack of Trojan Ultra Thin condoms. Talk about being prepared! 

For just $20 and a $2 service fee, you can have this sent to you if you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Chicago or L.A. But don't fret, Harvard and Georgetown kids -- Washington D.C. and Boston are to be included soon enough.

In addition to aiding the sexual healing process, these packs can also help with hangovers, game day, workouts and even the sniffles. Now if you're craving a signature 7-Eleven slurpee or some booze, you're out of luck. Yet with the variety of packs, and a feature which lets you make your own delivery order, we doubt you'll be that broken up.

The deliveries have already begun in specific locations, so you'll be all set for date night! Even if it looks like this:

Discussion of social justice and women’s rights might not necessarily be what first comes to mind when we think of a stereotypical beauty pageant. But something glorious happened earlier this week at this year’s Miss America competition, when Miss Tennessee Hannah Robison was asked about controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood.

Host Vanessa Williams asked the 21-year-old: “Some legislators are threatening to shut down the government over federal contributions to Planned Parenthood, even though no federal funds can be used for abortions. Should Planned Parenthood funding be cut off?” Robison responded: "I don’t think Planned Parenthood funding should be cut off. The $500 million that gets given to Planned Parenthood every single year goes to female…care. It goes for scanning for cancers, it goes for mammograms…and if we don’t give that funding to Planned Parenthood, those women will be out of health care for reproductive causes.” Totally nailed it—without going over the 20-second time limit for answering questions, might we add.

More and more women are taking mainstream platforms and using their voices to address important issues, which is the crucial first step in effecting actual change. Robison is right—without Planned Parenthood, many women would have nowhere else to turn to for proper healthcare for financial reasons, and that’s why it shouldn’t ever be defunded. Even though she didn't go on to win the Miss America crown (the title went to Miss Georgia), we applaud Robison for crushing the stereotype that beauty queens are shallow--she’s always been smart and socially conscious as she is talented and beautiful. It’s just a matter of more and more people needing to hear stories like these and being prompted to look past appearances.

Under the username “Kill Feminists,”an anonymous person posted death threats on the internet against feminists at the University of Toronto. The Daily Dot reports that screenshots of the threats, posted on the local site blogTO.com, were taken and immediately reported to police. There are multiple disturbing comments, the first of which reads: “Next week when a feminist at the University of Toronto tries to ruin your life with false sex rape allegations, rent a gun from a gang and start firing bullets into these feminists at your nearest Women's Studies classroom” (the comments are posted in their entirety on Reddit--read at your own risk).

Toronto police are investigating the matter, but believe there is “no credible threat” at hand. As a precaution, some women and gender studies classes were cancelled on Monday. The University of Toronto Education Workers Women's Caucus issued the following statement on their website: “Violence that seeks to silence feminist voices cannot and will not succeed in its goals. Though some of us may choose to cancel classes to ensure the safety of our students and colleagues, these ideas will continue to be taught, debated, and theorized by some of the greatest minds at UofT.”

We couldn’t agree more with their statement--anti-feminists can threaten us all they want. We know what we stand for, and that what we stand for is right. And it’ll take a lot more than this to get feminists to back down from what they believe in.

We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you're stressed about a fling gone wrong, a 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!

A month or so ago I started talking to a guy over text message who goes to my college. After days of tweeting at each other and Snapchatting, he asked me for my number. We share mutual friends and have been in the same places at the same time (i.e. parties, get-togethers), but we've never actually met in person. I've never actually seen him and I'm really not sure if he's seen me either. We text each other 24/7--literally every day since he originally texted me--and the conversation ranges from flirty to deep and serious to humorous and sarcastic. We have great flirting chemistry over text and the conversation flows really well, and I really see potential for us to date. We've talked about hanging out, but I'm nervous about meeting him. I have low self-esteem that is easy to conceal over text. I'm worried that when I meet him he's going to think, "Oh, she's not as pretty/attractive/funny/cool as I thought," because I am a little overweight/not-stick thin and a little more shy in person. Could I totally be overthinking this and psyching myself out? I don't want to be crushed over a crush (not to mention I could be completely mistaken in him liking me). How do I overcome the anxiety of actually meeting him in person? - Not Down with this Weird Twist on Virtual Romance

Not Down with this Weird Twist on Virtual Romance,

You are overthinking it! Both of you are engaging in a good repartee over text. Each of you is sharing details and by partaking in deeper conversation, you are demonstrating a great deal of trust. The texting exchange is not sporadic and appears mutually appealing to both parties. That’s as good as it gets when it comes to texting--better than most.

Forget about caring what he thinks because it honestly doesn’t matter. A good man will never go on a date and judge you. When you go out, he will look at you as an individual, someone who is different than any of the other almost four billion females in the world, and he will know that he will never find another version of you again.

Everything you seem worried about is a comparison of yourself to a perceived societal norm. Well I have NEVER met a man who wanted a perfectly “normal” woman. What makes us who we are is what makes us different. These differences are what attract us to each other.

If for some reason he is a superficial boy who never grew up, don’t worry, I am sure he will find a nice superficial girl one day and they will both drive each other insane and never be happy.

Embrace how no one else in the world is the same awesome person you are and meet this guy. I am not guaranteeing you will fall in love with him or him with you, but I guarantee it’s worth a shot. Go into it with a relaxed attitude as best you can. Show him who you are but don’t worry about trying to be someone you’re not. I always take an opportunity to meet with someone I might connect with because you never know if they are the one. Your situation sounds like the perfect time to do just that! 

Best of luck,

Jon

If you’re reading this you definitely can’t relate to Drake because he’s got a small circle, he’s not with different crews. Your extensive list of best friends probably consists of labels like the college best friend, the work best friend, the met- on-vacation- eight- years – ago best friend, the guy best friend, the high school best friend, the study abroad best friend, the best friend who happens to double as your cousin. Whether all your best friends associate in the same social circle or not, the more the merrier, right?

Most people believe that out of all their friends, there can only be one best. But for you, each of your best friends has earned the exclusive best in front of friend for an important reason. Your explanation for having several best friends isn’t because you cannot chose a single person to fulfill that role. Your explanation for having several best friends is because each best friend has played a significant and different irreplaceable role. You would simply not be you without each best friend.

So, please read on and celebrate these 10 things everyone with several best friends will understand!

1. You strategically schedule your nights out so you see each of your best friends at least once.

2. A shopping spree is better known as raiding all every single best friend’s closets.

3. Others always interrupt you when you talk about your “best friend” because they will never know which one you’re actually referencing. 

4. Each best friend is guaranteed to throw you an Instagram like. Fearing less than 11 likes would never be a thing. 

5. You’re always exhausted because you must repeat the same exact stories to each of your best friends. 

But, ultimately you know each of your best friend’s reactions are totally worth your breath.

6. You either already have anxiety about your ginormous bridal party or anxiety about becoming the real-life star of 27 Dresses.

7. For meal plans you’ve determined it is only fair if put yourself on a first-come/first-serve asking basis, instead of picking and choosing which best friend to dine with. 

8. When it comes to asking for advice, if you do not approve of one best friend’s answer, you will continue to ask your other best friends until you can justify with another answer.

9. That entire list of people Snapchat categorizes as your “best friends” really are your best friends.

10. When all your best friends bond your heart automatically smiles. 

Bid Day –– a.k.a. the paramount of sorority recruitment, a.k.a. the best day ever! As a new member, expect this day to be fun and exciting; it is often topped with treats, chatter, cute shirts and letters, and LOTS of singing and dancing. Plus, a bunch of new BFFS! Facing some nerves leading up to the big day? Don't fret. This is totally normal! Bid Day is one-of-a-kind, so expect the unexpected.

Read below for a list of 55 feelings that are certain to pulse through your body at Bid Day from start to finish:

Pre-Bid Day

1. The anticipation is killing me!

2. Really, I think I might throw up…

3. Should I feel like this?

4. OMG –– time is going so slow.

5. I better start getting ready…

6. …Cause I need to look amaze!

7. I hope I made it into my top choice *sighs*

8. *Fear pulses through body*

9. I hope I stood out enough!

10. Today is going to be the best day of my life!! I hope…

Bid Day

11. This is intimidating.

12. Everyone is jumping and screaming, I guess I should start jumping and screaming.

13. I am so awkward, wow I am so awkward.

14. I have no clue what to do, so I’m just gonna wing it…

15. What am I doing?

16. What am I getting myself into?

17. What if I made the wrong choice at Pref Night…

18. YES! I got my top choice! I knew it was meant to be!!!!!

19. I don’t even know what’s happening right now!!!!

20. So. Many. Girls.

21. So. Many. Screams.

22. So. Many. Hugs.

23. Okay –– I need to get it together.

24. How am I ever going to remember everyone’s name?!

25. I've never been surrounded by more girls in my life.

26. Oh my god –– the letters are SO CUTE!

27. Seriously, I need to get a picture with them, like, now.

28. I wanna wear a cute shirt!!

29. Asldkfjkds-these-shirts-are-so-cute-I’m-never-taking-mine-off

30. I think my eardrums are completely destroyed…

31. …And I think my voice is completely lost.

32. I don’t really know where to look.

33. Or where to stand.

34. Or who to talk to.

35. I don’t know the name of whoever I just talked to…

36. …But she was SO SWEET!

37. For real, everyone is so nice!

38. This was the best decision I ever made!

39. I’m obsessed with my sorority already.

40. I knew I made the right choice!!!!

41. How am I ever going to focus on my schoolwork again?!

42. Now I get what everyone loves about sororities!

43. I feel… it’s just unexplainable.

44. Is it possible to love people you barely know?

45. Okay, I’m being weird again.

46. Asdfghjklasdfghjkl

47. I have never felt so excited in my life!

48. Ahhhh, my friend from recruitment is here!

49. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

50. I need to document every second of this.

51. *Takes 5000 pictures*

52. Am I tearing up?

53. I. Am. So. Happy.

54. My life is officially changed forever!

55. Is a sorority-high a thing?

No matter how you feel on Bid Day, don’t worry–– it is totally normal! Rest assured knowing that you are about to embark on an amazing journey. It will easily be one of the best decisions of your life!

This past August, Her Campus earned the humbling opportunity of serving as a global media partner for the 7th Annual Millennium Campus Conference, hosted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. 

The Millennium Campus Conference (MCC) is the brainchild of the Millennium Campus Network (MCN)—a progressive, collaborative and innovative national non-profit with a commitment to supporting global development initiatives imagined by astonishing student leaders making change on their college campuses and throughout the global atmosphere. Each year, collegiettes (and collegents) convene to "learn, challenge, grow, and connect with a global community of changemakers." And in the midst of forums, workshops, campaign launches and networking, these student game-changers are granted the opportunity to gain wisdom and inspiration from the world's top voices for equality and international development. Already regretting the missed opportunity? Read on for a taste of the most inspiring words uttered at the conference's final keynote and VIP luncheon—words with a special focus on something any collegiette can appreciate: powerful women, and men empowering women.  

Vanessa Kerry, MD, MSc: Founder and CEO, Seed Global Health

"So do not lose that idealism, do not lose that optimism. Change will happen because you know it is possible and because you will demand nothing less."

Dr. Vanessa Kerry may be the daughter of current Secretary of State John Kerry, but to equate her only to her political roots would do her work an incredibly unjust disservice. At the sprightly age of 14, Kerry took a life-changing trip to Vietnam, where she witnessed devastating malnourishment, substandard housing and economic inequality—an experience that inspired her to become the game-changing physician she is today. Kerry founded Seed Global Health with the intention of providing health education, health services and overall manpower to countries with major healthcare shortages.  "At the heart of every mother who is dying every hour from a complication of pregnancy or childbirth in Tanzania is the need for people. People are at the heart of the health system," she stated. And so, by sending volunteers overseas to resource-limited regions, Seed Global Health capitalizes on the inherent power of people. 

In her keynote speech, Kerry spoke of our generation's empowering positivity and idealistic attention towards global change. And while Kerry serves as an especially important female role model for any collegiette pursuing a medical degree, her slice of advice can serve anyone. "You all provide encouragement that there is a rising generation determined to demand something different," she encouraged the MCC delegates, and we couldn't agree more. Kerry recognizes the power of our generation—and it's about time we did too.

Lakshmi Puri: Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women 

"Be the active force for a new, just and gender equal and sustainable world order in every way, and lead from the front—yes, you can lead."

Lakshmi Puri knows exactly what it means to lead from the front. As a woman holding a top title for the United Nations, she embodies uncompromised strength and dedication. And as a major influence to the recently developed UN Women, she is an awe-inspiring expert on female empowerment who has accomplished incredibly progressive feats during her time with the UN. Taking charge on the implementation of Sustainable Development—a major focus of the United Nations, MCN and MCC—Puri proves that women can and do hold extraordinary influence in the political, governmental and leadership spheres.

In an interview with Her Campus, Puri described feminism as "the empowerment of women in the home, in the community, in society, in the economy and in politics and governance.""So feminism is both a personal belief system," she noted in regards to UN Women's work, "but we want to see that transformed into a larger global commitment, which is what the gender goal is about." Based on those statements, we can officially name Puri as an incredible force who truly walks the walk, putting a face to the feminist movement and personifying it relentlessly. 

Annie Griffiths: Photographer, National Geographic and Founder and Executive Director, Ripple Effect Images

"...women and girls are the best investment we can make in our shared future. It's just a fact. Any country that disenfranchises half of its population is going nowhere."

Annie Griffiths is a champion for female empowerment, famous for representing the success stories of talented, independent and creative women around the globe. As one of the first women to photograph for National Geographic, Griffiths provided game-changing perspective for the magazine. From her travels around the world, Griffiths soon developed a passion for changing the media's focus on devastation and their frequent portrayal of impoverished women as helpless, weak and hopeless. "...frankly, it is much easier to cover disaster than success," she noted in her keynote speech, and this is what inspired her to take charge and make change. Throughout her journeys, Griffiths was consistently inspired by the resiliency, innovation and overall vitality of women—and especially those facing circumstances in which many would lose hope. In light of her discoveries, Griffiths launched Ripple Effect Images, a team of photojournalists who document the lives of women and girls in developing countries (and especially those facing the drastic negative effects of climate change), as well as the work of aid programs designed to show these women their full potentional in educational, resourceful and empowering ways. 

"...women in the developing world are heroes and survivors, and that's how we should see them and that's how we should portray them, and they are more than their sexual vulnerability," stated Griffith in the same speech. We're thoroughly inspired by her attentiveness to female success, and especially in countries where female triumph is stereotypically and problematically unexpected. Griffiths gets real in this quote, and we couldn't appreciate it more. And with an incredibly unique eye for photography and utmost affection and skill, Griffiths portrays her message both powerfully and beautifully.

Terry Crews: Actor, Author and Former NFL Player

"And if you don't do what you, individually, are supposed to do, the world is going to miss what you have."

You may know funny man Terry Crews for his Old Spice stints, his various loveable characters on television and the big screen (Blended, anyone?), or as handsome host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Sports fans, on the other hand, may remember him from his former NFL career. A husband, a father and a college art major with a knack for painting, Crews has done it all. But this go-getter is more than a modern day renaissance man—he's a renowned feminist. 

At the conference keynote, Crews gave an emotional speech from the perspective of a man responsible for once falling prey to what he called "the cult of masculinity." Eventually recognizing that he had wronged those he loved by adopting stereotypial views of male superiority, he committed to restoration and set out to make ammends. His book, Manhood, discusses themes of male pride and what it means to rethink gender roles.

Crews holds irreplaceable value as a promoter of the feminist movement—in a society where men consistently feel pressure to conform to outdated and dangerous ideals of manliness, the voice of a sympathetic and relatable fellow male can powerfully dispel misinformation about the feminist movement, helping men to feel less intimidated and more empowered to evoke change.

And while feminism applies to everyone, his speech ended on an even more generalized, empowering note. "You are priceless," Crews heartfully whispered. And you know what? We instantly believed it. Collegiettes, you are priceless. 

Abigail Kelble: Director of Programs, Millenium Campus Network

"How are you all sidekicks?"

Our final quote selection may seem too simple, too mundane, to be inspiring. But a deeper dive into Abigail Kelble's VIP luncheon speech defies that notion—to be a sidekick may just be the most empowering thing you can aspire toward. 

MCN prides itself on its collaborative focus, adopting the slogan #sidekicksUNite to fully emphasize the power of numbers, the power of shared passions and the power of working together for the greater good. Kelble highlighted the need for "authentic partnerships," the need to "listen before [we] offer advice," and the need to remember that "we're not uniting as heroes to save the world." True leadership isn't about having all of the answers, or about individual successess and heroism. True change can only be make as sidekicks—individuals on equal ground with one another, determined to fight towards a better life for all, together. So in your daily endeavors—be it your participation in a service organization, your charitable commitment to Greek life, or whatever else you're involved in—remember to act through the lens of a sidekick. We know you'll be an extraordinary one. 

And now that you're adequately energized off of unsurpassed motivation, make a note to apply for next years conference—as Terry Crews so passionately stated, we can't afford missing out on what you have to offer. Go get 'em, collegiettes!

At one point or another, you’ve probably been offered a drink at a party. If you’re not really into drinking, this has the potential to be a bit of an awkward situation. While you can always just accept the offer and do nothing but hold the drink in your hand all night, pretending to go along with the whole drinking thing can get annoying after a while.

Even though it might seem like “everyone is doing it,” trust us: not every single person in college drinks alcohol! You’re not alone in your choice not to drink. It’s totally normal, and there’s no reason you should feel weird about explaining to people that it’s just not your thing.

However, if you’re still unsure about how to say no when someone asks “Do you want a drink?” or if your peers are convinced they can change your habits, here are some serious (and sarcastic) ways to respond to that question like the clever girl we know you are.

1. “I can’t tonight; I have to be up early tomorrow for [work/class/something else important].”

Probably one of the most common excuses used at parties today, saying that you have an early start the next day is a great way to refuse a drink. Whether you really do have to get up early the next morning or if you’re telling a little white lie, everyone can relate to the dread of having to be up and alert at a time when he or she would rather be sleeping.

2. (When offered a beer) “No, thanks; I’m more of a whiskey drinker.”

Like all Parks and Recreation fans, we love a good Ron Swanson reference. Establish your classiness by making it clear that you have very high standards in terms of the alcohol that you choose to consume. People will be impressed by your level of elegance, and, from that point on, associate you with Ron Swanson. It’s a win-win.

3. “I already have one, thanks.” (Then point to your cup that’s secretly filled with Diet Coke)

The decoy cup is a classic move to avoid drinking at a party. If someone sees that you already have a drink, the chances of you being offered another is very unlikely. The best part is that you can drink whatever you feel like! If you’re feeling chocolate milk one night or Mountain Dew the next, no one can stop you. It’s your cup, and you can fill it with whatever you want.

4. “I really wanna lose three pounds.”

Channel your inner Regina George and simply explain your goal to lose three pounds. It’s not a secret that drinking does not help at all in the way of losing weight, so this’ll seem like a pretty legit excuse. Also, everyone loves a good Mean Girls reference. Hopefully this will lead the conversation to the topic of the movie and off the topic of alcohol. You go, Glen Coco!

5. “I’m the designated driver, so I have to be Sober Sally tonight.”

People always respect the designated driver (DD) excuse. Who in his or her right mind is going to try to get the DD to drink? That would involve consciously putting your peers in serious danger and putting random people on the roads’ lives at risk as well. Pulling the DD card is always a safe bet when you want people to lay off about trying to get you to drink, no questions asked.

6. “I’m on a cleanse right now. If it’s not hot water with maple syrup, lemon and cayenne pepper in it, I can’t drink it.”

If you’ve always wanted to be that really cool, hippie-dippie girl in your friend group, now’s your chance! You might get some weird looks from those people who think pizza is its own food group, but most people should understand how a cleanse works and that one slipup can ruin the entire thing. If you really want to sell your new “lifestyle” to people, mention the delicious kale salad you had for lunch or the amazing new yoga place you went to downtown.

7. “I’m on some serious antibiotics right now, so my doctor said I’m not allowed to drink.”

Of course, there are only a certain number of times you can use this excuse before people start to think that you have some crazy illness, but for the short-term, this excuse is bulletproof. Much like the DD excuse, mentioning a doctor or medication of any kind is usually a red flag in people’s minds to not push you any further. If you really want to keep up the charade, carry around some tissues and sanitize your hands every ten minutes.

8. “I went too hard last night; I think I should lay low tonight.”

Most college students who drink have experienced a hangover at one point or another. Those who fall under this category know how unpleasant a hangover can be and will have sympathy for your not feeling up to drinking again. Some might say that the best cure for a hangover is more alcohol, but we can promise you that is not the answer, no matter how many times someone tries to pull that one on you. So lay low tonight!

9. “I’m playing babysitter for the night; I have to make sure all of my friends get home safe.”

Although this is a solid excuse, you should actually do this! If you’re not drinking and all of your friends are, you can be their go-to girl for the night if they need some water, if they need to be walked home or when they inevitably lose their keys at some point over the course of the night. Playing sober sitter doesn’t mean you can’t party with your friends; You’ll just act as your friends’ rock and a non-judgmental helper for the night.

Believe it or not, people don’t really care that much if you don’t drink. The movies make it seem as though college kids’ number one priority when going out is drinking and that if you don’t drink, you aren’t cool. However, from a lot of collegiettes’ experiences, people are pretty understanding when they say they don’t drink.

Sara Heath, a senior at Assumption College, recommends acting relaxed about the whole situation. “If you’re just relaxed about it, you’ll be fine—there were some people who never even knew I didn’t drink because I was so nonchalant,” she says.                                                                                

Everyone knows at least one person who doesn’t drink, so they’ll know where you’re coming from and that you can still have a good time without drinking alcohol!

One of the first things I thought of when I saw Michelle Smith's pieces backstage for her Milly Spring/Summer 2016 collection was how much the textures of the fabrics and the tones of the colors she used reminded me of the beach. I thought of beach houses specifically, long summer days spent watching the sun going down in an explosion of oranges and yellows over a cerulean ocean from a clean white porch. I thought about the architectural elements of the porch, the solid white wood banisters, next to the amorphous, beautifully shapeless chaos of the ocean. Because really, this season Smith has given us the clothing embodiment of these experiences.

She uses crisp poplin and twill to form loose but cleanly lined shapes and denim linen for more fluid constructions. The collection is peppered with stripes and scribbles that evoke not just nautical elements (a gorgeous gown made of various diagonal stripes of white and blue with a plunging neckline) but the setting sun (another gown, midi length, of ochre chevron jacquard with a similar plunging v shape).

Called "Modern Love," Smith was inspired by "the raw beauty of midsummer romance," both "sleek and undone." This collection is reminiscent of the way summer undoes us a little bit—loosens our boundaries and increases our desire for exploration of ourselves and one another. We reveal parts of ourselves we might not normally, and Smith tells this story through her clothes (a bare stomach on a deconstructed shirtdress, or a navy linen dress whose neckline drops to the navel in a perfect V, for example).

The beauty looks for the collection reflected Smith's desire for a "sensual juxtaposition of soft and structured," with hair in a slicked-back wet look held together by a small gathering of hair in the back, by Recine for Beauty.com using PHYTO products. Mousse was slicked into the hair with gel, hairspray and protective sun oil for a just-stepped-out-of-the-ocean appearance. Makeup, by Romy Soleimani for Beauty.com using Kevyn Aucoin products, had a similar feel, with just a touch of glow on the cheeks, brow pencil, and tinted balm for a tanned, post-beach look. Nails by Nonie Creme using Colour Prevails were a shiny ballerina pink on the fingertips and matte on the toenails. The look evokes that feeling of spending all day in the sun then taking a shower and cuddling up for the evening on the same porch that inspired your dress.

It's sad that it's September already; this collection makes me want to rewind a few months to the summer and live it as elegantly as one would in a Milly ensemble.

Any runway that begins with a Missy Elliott remix is going to get my attention, especially when the designer is one known for his timeless, modern elegance like two-time CFDA award winner Narciso Rodriguez. But when I heard that thunderous, animalistic bass over the loudspeaker, I knew what he was after.

The woman who wears Narciso Rodriguez's Spring/Summer 2016 collection might adorn herself in silk crepe, linen tweed and silk chiffon, but she is not to be trifled with. She is a woman of power and powerful sensuality, a woman who knows and understands her body. She is not afraid of deviating from the norm, choosing to wear colors and shades like plum, amber, black, alabaster, blush, white and more in the warmer months where others might simply fall into step. She can take care of herself and she doesn't need anybody on her arm to look good.

And how could one not look good in wide-legged, onyx polished sateen and amber crepe arch trousers or a one-shouldered alabaster crepe jumpsuit that simply slinks along the body offering the faintest suggestion of a curve? What about a pearl silk crepe and twill bias cut dress that leaves the shoulders deliciously bare for those summer months when the less one's clothes touch the body the happier one is? Or an asymmetrical onyx polished sateen dress that exposes just enough leg? What's smart about this collection is that it brings all the things we love about fall--leather, dark colors, pants--into spring and summer in a way that allows the wearer to stay cool while looking hot. Leather translates into onyx sateen, dark colored dresses and pants become wearable in light fabrics. Rodriguez proves you don't have to be wearing a ton of patterns or ruffles or bright colors to look chic in the summertime.

The same goes for beauty backstage, where Dick Page created a softly darkened eye and contoured cheek with just a light coating of balm on the lip. Hair was lightly and individually tousled for a natural, undone look. Nails, by Deborah Lippmann, were a muted nude with a slight shimmer. The "less is more" trend for beauty is alive and well this season, as is a natural look for hair. As Rodriguez and his beauty team prove, sometimes the most stunning look is just a product of good design, no frills necessary.

A new Mockingjay: Part 2 trailer was just released, and we can guarantee that you'll be a sobbing mess after watching it. Focusing on the powerful relationship between Katniss and Prim, the trailer consists of a series of clips from the previous three movies. Think of it as a recap, in case you forgot how emotional and intense the series has been thus far. Although there isn't any new footage, the reel's emotional impact is definitely present. For those of you who have already read the book and know how it ends, you can certainly understand why this trailer is significant. In case you haven't had a chance to read it, all we can do is warn you, because you're in for an emotional rollercoaster.

Don't miss the epic conclusion of The Hunger Games, in theaters November 20th!

At a town hall appearance Monday in Des Moines, Iowa, President Obama gave college students some wise advice: don't be afraid to debate!

Recently, a trend has appeared in college campuses that some have called intense political correctness. Schools have canceled or uninvited guest speakers who say controversial things or don't align perfectly with the universities' way of thinking (this includes colleges typically considered liberal).

Obama said of the issue, "I've heard some college campuses where they don't want to have a guest speaker who is too conservative or they don't want to read a book if it has language that is offensive to African-Americans or somehow sends a demeaning signal towards women. I gotta tell you I don't agree with that either. I don't agree that you, when you become students at colleges, have to be coddled and protected from different points of view." 

He also explained that for him, college was a place where a free exchange of ideas took place. Some of them he agreed with, some he didn't, but he always appreciated hearing all sides as it usually made him more informed and well-rounded.

"Sometimes I realized maybe I've been too narrow-minded, maybe I didn't take this into account, maybe I should see this person's perspective," Obama said. "That's what college, in part, is all about."

After all, if you can't speak your mind and debate your views on a college campus, where people specifically pay thousands of dollars to learn, where can you? 

What do you think, collegiettes? Does Obama understand what's happening on college campuses?

As a collegiette, you understand the struggle of walking down endless sets of stairs, busy sidewalks and packed hallways on a daily basis. This becomes even more difficult if you live on a big campus and have long walks from your dorm to class. While you want to stroll through campus looking stylish, the wedges that you splurged on this summer just aren’t going to work this semester. But you’re not alone in this struggle: we talked to collegiettes just like you, and made a list of their recommendations for the cutest (and comfiest) shoes for walking on campus.

1. Converse

An overwhelming number of collegiettes agree that there’s nothing better than a classic pair of Converse ($55.00 at Converse). “They look cute with pretty much any outfit I would wear to class on a typical day, and are so comfortable to walk around campus in,” says Emma Koch, a junior at the State University of New York at New Paltz. White, gray and black styles are versatile and will go with almost anything.

2. Birkenstocks

There's nothing as comfortable as a pair of these classic sandals. “Birkenstocks ($99.95 at Birkenstock) are easy and quick to slip on, plus they’re super comfortable for walking around campus,” says Allison Crist, a sophomore at the University of Kansas. “I have a pair in black so they match everything.” While Birks haven't always been considered super stylish, fashion girls everywhere are embracing the look.

3. Oxfords & loafers

It's no secret that the menswear-inspired trend is everywhere. If you're looking to work this vibe into an everyday outfit, look no further than a pair of oxfords or loafers, like these ones from Forever 21 ($19.90). Not only are these shoes stylish, but they're comfortable enough to walk around campus in. Complete the menswear look with a button-up white blouse and a pair of dark jeans or black pants.

4. Mid-calf boots

As fall sets in and you make the transition to jeans, leggings and chunky knit sweaters, you'll definitely want to have a pair of mid-calf boots ($89 at Macy's) on hand. Not only are they great for long walks on campus, but they'll last you well into the winter months as well (extra important if you live on a cold and snowy campus!).

5. Combat boots

There’s no better way to make a statement this fall than with a pair of combat boots ($79.99 at Century 21). “When I’m walking around campus in the fall, my go-to pair of shoes are my Steve Madden combat boots,” says Malone Ryan, a junior at John Carroll University. “They go with any outfit, whether it’s a dress with tights and a cardigan or skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. Plus, you can wear them laced up or buckled down for two completely different looks.” Both black and brown styles of boots add a touch of edginess to any look.

What are you waiting for, collegiettes? There’s no better time than a new school year to invest in a go-to pair of shoes that will carry you across campus—and through the semester.