The 2016 Sundance Film Festival is carrying on this week, full of inspiration and art. It'll run from January 21st through the 31st in Park City, Utah, and we're beyond excited for some of the upcoming films being shown at the festival. 

1. Certain Women

This female-dominant film tells the complex stories of three women in a small town in Montana, each facing different struggles. The women are portrayed as a night-school teacher being pursued by a student, a wife in a struggling marriage, and a lawyer negotiating a hostage situation. Lots of heavy material to work with—but we love that it's showing how much stress a woman can work under.

2. Equity

Sundance features more empowering women with this film, which highlights a female investment banker working harder than ever to score a promotion at her firm on Wall Street. She tries to make moves in a post-financial crisis world, and the stakes are high.

3. Swiss Army Man 

Daniel Radcliffe makes an intriguing appearance as a dead man who washes up on the shore of the island Hank, played by Paul Dano, who has been living alone. This provides a connection to civilization for Hank, and the two new friends embark on a journey to reunite Hank with his love interest. Definitely not your average desert-island movie.

4. Goat

Hazing in fraternities is discussed at Sundance via this film featuring Nick Jonas as a 19-year-old attempting to prove his manhood. When he pledges his brother's frat, he has no idea what brutal situations he and the others will face. It's about time a film covering such an important issue got the attention that this one is.

5. Lovesong

When Sarah, played by Jena Malone, isn't connecting with her husband, she chooses to go on a road trip with her daughter and her best friend, Mindy. The friendship between Sarah and Mindy does not survive the road trip, but, years later, Sarah tries to rekindle things days before Mindy's wedding. We love the promotion of healthy female friendships that this movie shows.

6. Weiner-Dog

Who couldn't love a movie with a title like that? This movie is about exactly what it sounds like—a Weiner dog. It follows a dachshund, and the effects the dog can have on many people. However, don't let the simplicity fool you—it has some dark humor to it.

7. Love & Friendship

This film, set in 18th-century England, shows the dramatic relationship between a widow and her daughter—one where the mother is playing matchmaker for her daughter, and herself. We love the idea of another movie set in the 1700s, and are especially excited to see the wardrobe!

8. Newtown

A new documentary comes to Sundance, showing us the effects that the Sandy Hook shooting has had on the community. It discusses dealing with the grief of the 26 deaths, as well as the debate on gun control. It's definitely an important and relevant-as-ever issue that we need to continue talking about.

9. Life, Animated

This touching film shows us the magic that Disney movies truly hold when Owen Suskind, an autistic boy, slowly learns how to interact with the people around him, after fully immersing himself in the kind-hearted movies. This coming-of-age story will definitely bring the waterworks in the best way.

Which film are you most excited to see? Let us know!

Valentine's Day gives many of us mixed feelings. For those who have a signficant other, it can be a night of fairytale and romance. For those of us who haven't found our perfect match just yet, it's very likely we'll finish a whole bottle of wine and that box of chocolates we bought for ourselves by 9 o'clock. It happens.

Despite our relationship status, we can all get swept up in the V-day spirit. That's why we've rounded up seven Valentine's Day crafts you'll want to hold onto way past February 14.

1. Heart-Shaped Tea Bags

We could definitely use these tea bags, brought you by DIY Enthusiasts, every day of the year! Super simple and super fun, fill these with all different types of tea and stay warm for the remainder of winter.

2. Initial Candle

Keep the spark lit long past Febuaury 14. Literally. This adorable DIY carved candle from Hello Glow is a piece of cake to make and definitely one-of-a-kind.

3. Burlap Heart Wreath

We are ALL about DIY burlap wreaths. So naturally, when we saw this heart-shaped burlap wreath, we couldn't resist. Thank you, Where the Smiles Have Been for creating this masterpiece.

4. Strawberry Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrubs are a year-round necessity! Check out The Gunny Sack for this delightful pink scrub you can use over and over again.

5. Rustic Wood Letters

No one said Valentine's had to be flashy, pink and red, and in your face. We absolutely love these rustic wood letters brought to you by Finding Home. They act as lovely neutral decor that can stay up all year.

6. Valentine's Cork Coasters

Cute, fun and keeping your coffee table protected! These simple painted cork coasters are super trendy, too. Keep things colorful with View From the Fridge's DIY coasters.

7. Fabric Envelopes

These adorable (and durable, for that matter) envelopes can be used for delivering Valentines or any type of letter! Check out the tutorial on Craft-O-Maniac.

A lot of you are thinking...

1. Galentine’s Day is the one day of the year that your friends can celebrate each other and shower each other in ~*love*~. 

Well, a little more than you do every other day. 

2. On February 13th, all of your friends, single and taken, can get together for a magical evening of fun! 

And celebrate with waffles, ideally.

3. Why? First, because your friends have been there for you through the Valentine’s Days that you spent crying into a box of chocolate you bought for yourself. 

It was for your own good. 

4. And second, because your friends always give the best advice. About crushes, about wardrobe, and about attitude in general.

5. You’ll all sit around and talk about all of the fun times you've all had. 

And you will love every second. 

6. You'll also chat about your ex who tried to hit you up last night. 

But you might have answered because you were feeling lonely…

7. Which will make more than a few of your friends look like this:

They really didn’t like him. 

8. In that moment, it is oddly comforting to know that any one of them could throw a punch for you.

…And you would help them get away with it. 

9. Because you know they’ve got your back. 

Even when they’re not exactly sure what the situation is. 

10. You’ll also start telling your most horrendous hook-up stories. Duh.

And spend a good amount of time laughing. 

11. At least one of your friends will say something like this, 

And you all secretly admire her. 

12. Let’s face it, you’re so close with your best friend and Galentine's Day partner in crime that people have asked if you were a couple.

And you’ll always model your friendship after Ann and Leslie’s. 

13. She and your other besties will try to pull you out of your Valentine’s sugar coma (which, of course, started well before the holiday)…

Key word here is try. 

14. …And shower you in compliments…

No matter how oddly specific. 

15. There will be a lot of compliments. 

You’ll bask in the compliments. 

16. Because you all know…

Always. 

17. And that’s what Galentine’s Day is all about.  

Hint: You are. 

Welcome to election season 2016! As the race heats up, it’s important to know exactly how and when to vote so your voice can be heard.

Round One: Primaries and Caucuses

A quick primer: Americans choose their candidates for the general election first, in the primaries. Before you shrug them off, the primaries are often more important than the general election. In one guaranteed to be as tight as this, every vote counts. The right (or wrong) candidate can determine the fate of the final outcome (that’s why a lot of candidates are talking about “electability” right now—they have to prove that they can beat the other side once they get there!) This round is basically training camp before the big game: It’s where you prove your worth, and let people know what you stand for.

The primaries can take two forms: a caucus, or a vote. You’ll need to register for either method, though they operate in practice differently. 

• A caucus (like the Iowa caucus) is a group of people gathered, typically in someone’s home or school, to pledge their support for their favorite candidate. This awards each candidate a certain number of delegates to that candidate. Elected delegates then vote for their candidate at the nominating conventions that occur in July.
• A primary is a preliminary election, generally held separately by party, in order to choose the candidates that become nominated for the general election at the nominating convention. The amount of votes cast (vs. pledges from a caucus) determine the number of delegates in favor of one candidate or another.

Related: How College Women Feel About the 2016 Presidential Election

Registering To Vote

Generally, to be eligible to vote in a primary, you must be registered as either one party or the other. Some states do have open primaries (where it doesn’t matter what party you are), but most are closed. What this means is when you vote, you’re only able to vote for the candidates of your party. If you're a registered Democrat, when you go to the polls, you'll only be able to vote for Hillary or Bernie, not for Trump or Cruz.

If you’re not sure where you stand, this comparison chart from Diffen goes through where each party usually falls on the major issues. You can also take a detailed quiz that will assign you a specific candidate at ISideWith.com.

As a college student, you may be wondering: Where do I register, if I go to school outside my home state? The answer is actually up to you. If you’re passionate about what’s happening at a local level near you, or there are big issues up on the ballot, register at school. Think about where your vote will make the most impact based on what you care about.

Registering to vote, and voting in the primaries, varies by state. Two great resources to use are the Campus Vote Project or Rock the Vote, which walk you through exactly what to do regardless of what state you live. This includes what proof of ID you need, deadlines to register and when to vote. All the good stuff. 

Getting Your Absentee Ballot

If you’re looking to vote back in your home state, or you’re currently studying abroad, you’ll need an absentee ballot (unless you're willing to make the trek home). Absentee ballots allow all U.S. citizens at home and abroad to cast their vote. Websites like Long Distance Voter can help you figure out how to get an absentee ballot for your state. This is complely separate from registering (you'll have to do that first!). After you're registered, you can apply for your absentee ballot. Then, the government will send you a ballot you can fill out. You'll need to apply for an absentee ballot separately for the primaries and for the general election, so keep that in mind.

If you’re abroad or serving overseas, Overseas Vote Foundation helps you register and get your ballot all in one shot.

Some states have made it to the 21st century, but others still use “mail-in” ballots—meaning snail mail, so make sure you leave extra time once you know the deadline. This isn't something you can leave until the last minute.

Get Informed!

Most importantly, know your candidates. The Skimm has a great roundup to peruse or you can check out what real college women think about Hillary. If you want a particular candidate to win, you have to get out and vote. Your vote does matter—Typically two-thirds of eligible voters don’t vote! In the primaries, that number drops even further. 

If you care about the issues and where our country is going in the next four (and potentially eight) years, get out there and vote in the primaries!

This post shares results from our Complete College Life Survey Series where we collected over 10,000 responses from women at 300+ colleges.  Check out even more of the results here.

There’s no reason for stigma around seeking mental health help—a full half of college women have visited a therapist, and a quarter see one regularly.

And if you feel anxious or depressed, you’re not alone. Seven out of 10 college women have felt depressed, and half of college women suffer from anxiety.  Not surprisingly, 99 percent of college women feel stressed, with stress coming from a variety of sources including academics, money and friends among other sources. Three out of four college women report feeling pressure to be “perfect,” with most reporting that that pressure comes from themselves.

Infographic by Natasha Bonfield

Don't miss the rest of our survey results - check them out here! 

Donald Trump is pulling another, very Trump-ish move. He declared that he is skipping the last Republican debate before the primaries begin, which airs on Fox News Thursday night.

This comes as a reaction to a showdown with Fox News over the moderator of the debate, Megyn Kelly. On Tuesday, Trump demanded that Fox News remove Kelly from moderating the event, referring to Kelly as biased in an Instagram video. Fox News didn’t listen, so Trump walked out of the debate lineup.

“Let’s see how much money Fox is going to make on the debate without me,” said Trump at a news conference in Iowa, according to the New York Times. His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, claimed that Fox’s ratings for Thursday’s debate could drop from 20-25 million views to as little as 1 million or 2 million viewers.

Fox News issued a statement in response to Trump’s announcement, writing “Capitulating to politicians’ ultimatums about a debate moderator violates all journalistic standards, as do threats, including the one leveled by Trump’s campaign manager...Lewandowski stated that Megyn had a ‘rough couple of days after that last debate’ and he ‘would hate to have her go through that again.’” Fox News promised not to give into any “terrorizations” toward their employees.

The previous debate Lewandowski referred to took place in August, when Kelly asked Donald Trump if some of his remarks were a “part of the war on women.” Since then, Trump has often attacked Kelly, calling her a “third-rate” reporter and saying flat-out that he didn’t like her. Fox News accused Trump of being afraid of Kelly’s questioning again.

Fellow GOP candidate Ted Cruz agreed, saying, “If Donald is afraid to defend his record, that speaks volumes…I promise you, [Vladimir] Putin is a lot scarier than Megyn Kelly.”

Trump went on to say, “It’s time somebody plays grown up.” However, politicians don’t get to pick and choose the journalists who cover them. Boycotting the debate over disliking a moderator doesn’t sound very “grown-up” to me, Mr. Trump.

Whether you have a significant other you’re excited to cuddle up with this year or you’re planning on binge-watching rom-coms with your besties, make the most of a fun holiday and get yourself all dolled up. But don’t stress too much—despite its reputation, Valentine’s Day should be carefree and dreamy, so try out one of these easy, breezy hairstyles specifically designed for us curly-haired girls.

1. Bodacious Braids

We all love a classic high ponytail, and it’s also a style that’s easy to dress up for a festive occasion. Braids on each side of your head create a face-framing crown and add instant drama to the otherwise casual look. And thanks to Katy Perry (who brought the “bump it” back in full force at this year’s Golden Globes) you can also tease out some hair at the top of your head for dramatic volume—no plastic needed. 

Related: Anti-Valentine’s Day: 5 Ways to Not Celebrate February 14

2. Side-Swept Away

If you’ve been dying to try out the Hollywood glam look that’s been taking over the red carpet for the past several years, this is the time to do it. And if you already have naturally wavy locks, you’re halfway there! A dramatic side part and lots of smoothing cream will create a sculpted yet natural style that reads confidence, glamour and, of course, romance. If you want to make the look full-on red carpet, add a bold red lip and some dangly earrings. 

3. Tucked and Knotted 

Valentine’s Day is all about romance, so try channeling that sentiment through a tousled up-do that looks effortless in the best way possible. Let your curls shine simply by twisting and tucking the lower layers into a loose bun at the nape of your neck, and then spiraling the top layers into a crown that gets pinned into place around the bun. You’ll have instantly created an ornate 'do that looks sophisticated but totally unfussy.

4. Piled High

When your curls seem unmanageable and uncooperative, a sleek bun is always an easy option. Pile those curls at the top of your head and tease out some strands for a loose-yet-polished date night look. A little hairspray and smoothing cream is all you need to look as pulled together as Beyoncé—and you’ll have done it without her glam squad. 

5. Modern Princess

Whether you’ve found a Prince Charming to sweep you away this Valentine’s Day or plan on indulging in some much-needed time with your single ladies, you deserve to let your inner princess shine. Keep those curls soft and feathery, then pull the locks around your face back into a loose twist or ponytail. It’s an easy look that will take you no time at all, yet it’s reminiscent of those storybook heroines we all admire. Of course, a princess is never without her tiara, so tuck a sparkly headband into your hair for the ultimate fairytale come alive.

6. The Faux Bob

One of the most emblematic red carpet hairstyles these days is the faux bob, a super sophisticated way to tame bouncy curls. Long strands of hair get tucked and pinned at the nape of the neck, instantly creating a vintage-inspired and super-soft style that frames the face. Use some styling cream and hairspray for a sculpted effect around the face, or keep things loose and effortless by letting a few strands hang free on each side of the face.

This Valentine’s Day, show your curls a little love and treat them to an extra special 'do. Who says ringlets aren't romantic? Ladies, they so are.

As sophomores, we are no longer the babies of college to either be coddled due to the very hard transition of high school to college but neither are we picked on for being completely inexperienced. Sophomores are calm, cool and collected and we live by the motto: "Been at the library for an all nighter, done a 10 page essay hours before it was due and wore the T-Shirt we got on orientation day." While we are not at all ready to go out into *gulp* the real world, we are still excited to be able to teach the freshmen what we wish we knew just one year ago, while also making sure that we still learn from the upperclassmen!

1. Instead of asking for directions on campus, you're giving them

2. College romance isn't always for everybody

3. You know the best food places both off and on-campus

4. We don't always have time to read every text -- that's why skimming was invented

5. Wearing a flannel is an easy way to appear dressed up

6. Netflix is your best friend

7. Hulu is your replacement BFF when you and Netflix are fighting 

8. You know that not going to EVERY party on campus is okay

9. The messy bun is a way of life

10. Accidentally oversleeping is bound to happen at least once per semester

11. Getting sleep is a luxury

12. Registering for classes is as easy as A-B-C!

13. You learn your schedule as fast as you learn song lyrics

14. Going to bed around two in the morning is normal for you

15. You know that your school email inbox is always overflowing

16. When you go back home for break, you appreciate your family and the food

17. There's not one day that goes by without you hearing, saying or seeing coffee

Sophomores forever (or until next year).

If you’ve been Netflix and chilling recently, you’ve more than likely watched the gripping docu-series, Making a Murderer. And if you’ve watched it, you have an opinion about Steven Avery’s murder conviction which led to his life sentence without parole for the murder of Teresa Halbach.

Do you think Avery is guilty? Not guilty? Entirely innocent? We asked 12 college women to share their opinion on the prisoner.

“I honestly have no idea. I think he could be, but to me the show is about so much more than that — it showcases the way justice is often miscarried, how the presumption of innocence can be violated, and how poor and uneducated people are severely disadvantaged within the criminal justice system. So while I think there's a chance Steven did it, I firmly believe that both he and Brendan Dassey deserve new, fair trials.”

-Sarah, Boston College Class of 2019

“After recently finishing the series, I went through many periods where I thought ‘He's definitely innocent’ followed by ‘No, he so did it!’. It seems like that's exactly what the jury went through as well, since they began voting majority not guilty. In this case, I would have said Steven Avery was not guilty simply because I don't think the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he was responsible. One thing is for sure, if I'm ever in trouble I want Dean Strang and Jerome Buting on my case.”

-Logan, Virginia Commonwealth University Class of 2019

“Steven Avery is guilty. The paternal side of my family is from Wisconsin and my roommate is from Manitowoc, because of this they know the actual reports, not the documentary that was made which focused on the Avery family. They left out so many details, that the jury knew, that were crucial. For example, they mention that Avery burned a cat, but they neglected to mention that they tied it up, beat it, dosed it in gasoline, and when it tried to escape the fire he and his friends stepped on it. Clearly, this proves that the Avery's are not men that are brought up to respect the sanctity of life, so why would Halbach be any different?”

-Chelle, DePaul University Class of 2018

RELATED: 4 Things 'Making a Murderer' Didn't Tell Us

“He's innocent! There’s no way the Sheriff's department could have paid the $36 million that Avery was suing them for, so they framed him to get out of paying reparations. The vial of Steven's blood was found open and tampered with!!”

-Paige, Tufts University Class of 2019

“I honestly have no idea whether or not Steven Avery is guilty of murder. I think that there is pretty solid evidence for both sides. I don't think that there is a clear-cut answer but Steven Avery definitely should not have been convicted when there was such a clear reasonable doubt.”

-Rachel, SUNY New Paltz Class of 2016

“I don't think that I currently have a stance on Avery. While I think it is questionable that a man who spent 18 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted would enter into a lawsuit and then murder a woman, I suppose anything is possible. I have not done enough research to have a properly formed opinion, but my preliminary opinion seems to be that it sounds like a case of law enforcement needing a scapegoat for a case going cold and this man happened to have lower than average intelligence and be from an impoverished family that would not have the money to fight a case of this magnitude adequately.”

-Cieara, Boise State University Class of 2018

RELATED: Gigi Hadid is Just Like Us, Has Thoughts On 'Making a Murderer'

“I don't think he's guilty because of his full intent to continue research and learn law to prove that he isn't. I don't think a guilty man would take that initiative. I also don't think the stories add up in any chronological order. I haven't done outside research too much, but I don't think the evidence was strong enough to put him or Brendan away.”

-Brook, Ohio University Class of 2017

“I don't think he is guilty. Yes, he might have had aggression issues, but there was a severe lack of evidence involving him in the case. What really convinced me was the lack of blood and any DNA in the bedroom, bed and garage. I am just so shocked at the jury, justice system and police officers of Manitowoc. My best bet is that the brother did it. He seemed super suspicious and way too gung-ho to accuse Avery. Plus how did he just ‘guess’ Teresa's voicemail password? And for exactly what purpose other than to erase messages?”

-Alani, Northwestern University Class of 2018

“It was actually the case of his nephew, Brendan Dassey that shocked and saddened me the most. He was clearly manipulated and didn't have the mental capacity to understand the seriousness of the situation — he thought he'd be home in time for Wrestlemania — it just makes me so sad that not enough is done to protect people who, at the hands of the police, have little power to defend themselves in cases that are as complex as this one.”

-Naomi, Nottingham University Class of 2016

RELATED: 'Making a Murderer' Family Member Releases a Rap Song

“I do not think Steven Avery is guilty. However, I do believe he knows more than he says he does. There was much evidence that was not featured in the Netflix documentary, which was critical to the overall investigation and trial. I think Steven is cognitively impaired, as well as his nephew. They have little to no sense of how to defend themselves in a proper manner, which did not help them in their cases.”

­-Margaret, Fordham University Class of 2016

“After watching all of the Making of a Murderer episodes, I think Steven Avery is not guilty. I think the Manitowoc County Police performed an inadequate investigation where they completely missed other suspects that could be guilty. I think an investigation of the boyfriend, roommate, and other family members that live on the property was essential and they failed to do that. I also think there is more than enough incentive for the Manitowoc police to plant evidence at Steven Avery's home. They should not have been allowed to be on his property for several days at a time and they also should not have allowed for the same officers who were on his last case to be working the new case.”

-Mariana, Wake Forest University Class of 2016

“Despite the verdict, one thing is clear: there is doubt. According to our judicial system, a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. This means jurors had to be convinced ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that Avery was guilty in order to convict him. I think this was a mistake. There is too much evidence suggesting the Sheriffs department planted evidence against Avery. There is too much evidence suggesting Avery may not have done it. This might not prove Avery's innocence, but it should have certainly been enough to convince jurors that there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict Avery of murder.”

-Patricia, Northeastern University Class of 2016

It may seem hard to get a hook-up to commit, but no one said it was impossible! It may not even be that the person you want doesn’t want to be to be in a relationship—they may just be waiting for the right one. Now, there are plenty of rules that people may give you in order to make your crush commit, but we’ve simplified it for you! So stay engaged and take all of this in!

1. Make them earn it

How often do you see a person stick around if they get everything they want upfront? Not too often. Sometimes we have to make them know that we are the cream of the crop. We are looking for someone who is worth it and so are they. That means going for someone who is not necessarily the hardest person to stamp as yours, but also not the easiest person to get. When you can really wow someone and have them come back wanting more and more, you’ve reached the major key to relationship success. 

Jay Hurt, author of The 9 Tenets of a Successful Relationship, was in complete agreement with this tip. "Commitment requires dedication," he says. "If you share your body, soul and mind but he's not dedicated to you, you have given all of your value with no dedication required. A [person] can take everything you have to offer if you give yourself with no commitment." People can easily give everything they have to offer away, but those that can hold onto something for a little longer may be the ones who you want to keep around and settle down with. 

What about a woman's perspective? “Now, I know a lot of people think that guys want something that is so hard to get. I just don’t think that,” says Jasmine Coleman, a junior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “I do think that guys don’t want to waste their time, though. If he is putting in the work to get to know you and trying to unpeel those layers, that’s funny, but he clearly wants you girl.” Don't let them play games with you!

2. Make time with them fun

The journey on this quest to commitment can actually be one of the best parts. We know you may think that you have to go above and beyond to get the one you want, but the best way to keep them around is when the fun is effortless. You can tell when certain people just click and can have fun with each other, no matter what. Be adventurous, be daring and make memories that they won’t want to live without. We all love a great movie and dinner night, but you can also be the type to love go-karting, a crazy karaoke night or overlooking the city at its highest point. "Life has to be fun," Hurt says. "None of us want a woman who doesn't have a sense of humor and know how to enjoy life!" There are plenty of fun things you can do that will keep the one you want guessing. Get creative!

Jasmine mentions that when the thrill is present, you know they are meant to be yours. “I want to do some crazy things with this person," she says. "Not saying I want to give all my secret adventures away, but if you have fun with me, I promise that you’ll never want to stop." Once you show what you can offer, they may be too addicted to stop seeing you.

Related: When They Won't Commit: How to Survive a 'Not-Relationship'

3. Say you want them outright

At this point, there is no use in holding back how you truly feel about someone. Just spill the beans and tell him that you want him. Can you imagine all of the anxiety that you’ll get rid of when you tell him? Say goodbye to your conscience eating you away! While you are taking a while to tell them how you really feel, another person may be scheming to add your crush to their “future bae” list. Now, we clearly don’t want that. "Be open and honest and require that he be open and honest with you," Hurt says. Plenty of us are looking for someone who isn't afraid to be upfront and honest. If someone shares that they really want you, plenty of people may find that to be sexier than you think. 

“You should just make the first move, honestly,” Jasmine says. “You need to do the things to get what you want. Guys aren’t great at taking hints some times. They are black and white and need to see it very clearly. Just lay it out there,” she says. Sometimes you just have to scream how you feel. Well, not scream, but just get it off of your chest!

4. Build a bond with their friends

Some people think you can build a strong relationship with just you and the person you want to be with. A major key here is that it’s a deal breaker for many relationships if their friends don’t like you. By no means should you change your personality to match those of their friends, but if you all become cool, things can really take off with the one you’re pursuing. "When a guy's male friends like you, he respects their opinion and therefore will hold you in high esteem," Hurt says. And this goes for anyone. We listen to our friends and definitely care what they think of our crush. Fitting in well with the friends is always a good idea!

Jasmine values her friendships and what they think, and she hopes that the guy she wants does as well. “It should never be forced, but when the vibe is great, you can really benefit in getting your guy to commit. It is absolutely imperative that my friends like him and his like mine, or this may not work. It’s not worth the stress,” she says. This just creates a more stress-free environment and more fun for everyone. 

5. Be their stress reliever

Drop anything negative and show them that a long-term relationship with you is even better than just dating here and there! After a stressful day of school or work, they may want to hang out with you because you bring passion and excitement. If they feel like they’ll lose out, they won’t want to go anywhere else. "If class was long and boring or work was especially difficult, [someone won't] want to entertain a woman who is nagging or has an attitude daily." Hurt says. "Be someone your [SO] looks forward to talking to and seeing each and every day." We don't know about you, but whoever we want to be with we would hope is an upbeat, funny and exciting person who can take our mind off of all the negative things in life.

“I think it is amazing to have a stressful day, but when you see that person you want, it was like your entire day doesn’t even matter," Jasmine says. "Someone who can make you laugh and clear your mind, they’re magical." When you have the craziest day and one person can make it seem like it never happened, they are definitely a keeper.

Ultimately, we are sure no one wants to waste her time on someone who won’t commit. Take your time, follow these tips and see if you have what it takes to move your dream relationship from a casual fling to the person on your arm.

Out of all 365 days in a year, Valentine’s Day is the one where you really don’t want to screw up. Your girlfriend has anxiously been waiting to nail down a Prince Charming (or at least a guy, in general) to wine and dine her on that special Hallmark day since basically forever. She wants that ah-mazing date planned that she can go back and brag about to her single friends. But just how do you make all that magic possible? Well, you can start by totally, definitely avoiding everything on oureight things not do for your girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. After that, the ball’s in your court—good luck, boys!

Plan a boys’ night and invite her to tag along

We get it; you like to bro out—eat wings, watch the big game, and scratch yourself, the usual. But, it’s Valentine’s Day, and you could have literally picked any other day to plan a guys’ night. Rearrange your schedule so that your girlfriend is your number one choice for the day. Once the clock strikes midnight, then you can go off and frolic with your boys. But for 24 hours, you’re all hers. Because let’s be honest, nothing says love and romance quite like an evening spent in front of the big screen with a couple of beers, some poker chips, and an endless trays of nachos. Joke.

Pass out

Whatever you do, please (seriously, we’re begging you) don’t fall asleep. Whether she makes you watch The Notebook for the hundredth time or you’ve had one too many champagne flutes (if you’re 21, of course), make it your ultimate V-Day goal to stay wide awake. Not only will your girlfriend be totally pissed that you couldn’t manage to remain conscious for the entirety of your date, but she may also take a lesson from the books and seek her revenge—a.k.a, looks like the 15th may be filled with a movie marathon of the world’s sappiest love stories and a full body wax… for you.

Dump her or cheat on her

Can’t it wait for another day? You’ll literally scar her for life, and forever be known as the guy who stomped on her heart on Hallmark’s most romantic day, ever. Either get it done beforehand, or wait it out until after V-Day to call it quits. It’s just common courtesy.

Surprise her with… nothing!

Girls are complicated, to say the least. They’ll tell you they’re fine when in actuality they want to scream at you for hours on end. But what makes them even trickier? They’ll tell you no gifts, no presents, no surprises: “There’s nothing I really want. Don’t waste your time finding me the perfect present!” Although you may think you’re all clear, news flash, she’s lying. Show your girlfriend that even though she “begged” and “pleaded” for nothing on V-Day, you still made the effort to get her something.

Buy her lingerie without consulting her

Don’t do it because it lands you in an awkward situation. If you get a piece too big, she’ll take it the wrong way—does she look fatter than she thought? And if you get it too small? Well, talk about an uncomfortable situation while she tries to struggle and squeeze her way into it. If you want to spice things up, mention it to her, and hopefully, she’ll come sauntering into the bedroom wearing something hot that also totally fits—or give you pointers on what to get her.

Complain

All the lovey-dovey couples, romantic roses, and heart-warming acts of kindness are bound to get a little old come the end of the night. But, despite all the sappiness surrounding you, don’t complain about it. Don’t gag at the grand gestures, or roll your eyes at the sentimental gifts. You’re not the only one to be annoyed and overwhelmed by it, but don’t let your girlfriend see you sweat. She’s most likely jealous of all those other girls.

Bring her to your usual restaurant

Plan something special, hello! Make your date something out of the ordinary and sweep her off her feet—she won’t know what’s coming and she’ll absolutely love it. But just a little hint: don’t bring her to a place where you have to eat with your hands. We’re all a fan of Medieval Times, crab joints and barbecue restaurants, but save those for a post V-Day celebration. A date that includes licking your hands or having to use a wet-nap? Yeah, no…

Bring along a third wheel

Just because your BFF may be flying solo for the night, doesn’t mean you should invite him to tag along. Not only will it totally crush the evening, but everyone will feel awkward, especially your girlfriend while you obsess over your best friend and his singleness.

We're loving that 2016 is continuing to give us great messages from amazing female feminist celebrities. Young women in Hollywood—like Zendaya, Willow Smith, Rowan Blanchard and now Amandla Stenberg—have spoken out about important issues of today like women's rights, equality and sexuality. Amandla, who we still sometimes think of as sweet Rue in The Hunger Games, is speaking about these heavy issues at 17 and totally killing it!

Amandla has been leading what we'd like to think of as an up-and-coming activist movement in young Hollywood. She made a video on cultural appropriation that went viral last spring and announced that she's working on a comic book starring a black heroine. 

Most recently, however, the progressive teen came out at bisexual on Twitter, but is reminding us all that, although she made the statement, she doesn't want to be restricted by a label. 

"I’m still kind of wary about specifically labeling myself. I don’t really see sexuality in boxes…I see myself on a scale," Amandla stated at the Sundance Film Festival this past week. (She was there to promote her upcoming film, As You Are—this girl is on fire!) However, she realizes that she can't help what people think, especially since she posted her news on social media. 

Related: 4 Reasons Why Amandla Stenberg is The Ultimate Role Model

Unfortunately, with an announcement as powerful and insightful as Amandla's comes some ignorant backlash. People believe that Amandla is too young to speak about such topics, the same reason that Rowan Blanchard received hate for coming out as queer on Twitter earlier this month. It's all part of the fame, but these girls handled it with grace. "I feel like there’s no such thing as being too young to know how you identify," Amandla said about the issue.

Yet another powerful piece of wisdom from Amandla—who has gained a role in pop culture as an educator on topics like appropriation, black hairstyles and equality in the arts. We anticipate a lot more from Amandla and the rest of these intelligent young women.

What do you think about the issues Amandla has raised, collegiettes? 

It's been nearly 12 years since The Princess Diaries 2 was released in theaters (does anybody else feel really old right now?) and we fell in love with Chris Pine. Despite Disney crushing our dreams of a third film, we're still hoping for a follow-up—and apparently we're not the only ones. In a recent Tumblr Q&A to promote his upcoming film (The Finest Hours), Chris spilled his thoughts on the possibility of Princess Diaries 3.

During the Q&A, a fan asked him, "Don't you pray every night for a Princess Diaries 3??? BECAUSE I DO" and his response was too cute.

So basically, Chris is totally on board for a third movie, and we would love to see him reprise his role as Nicholas Devereaux. Can somebody get started on a Princess Diaries 3 script ASAP? Until that day comes, we'll just be over here appreciating Chris Pine in an apron and fantasizing about how wonderful it would be to stare into his blue eyes.

You rise and don't shine at an unreasonable hour because, as a single girl, there's not much to look forward to on Valentine's Day.

On the bright side, you don't have to slave away in the kitchen cooking breakfast in bed for anyone.

But that also means you don't have anyone to cook you a fancy breakfast. Packaged food it is.

Things could be worse. Pop-Tarts still taste pretty darn good at 11 a.m., so you tell yourself that you don’t need a man to enjoy the day.

You walk to your afternoon class seeing people with heart-shaped balloons and bouquets of roses, but you act completely unfazed.

Sure, it’s sad that you aren’t receiving any gifts, but it also means you're not spending a bunch of money on a significant other.

Even when you seclude yourself in your room, you can't seem to escape the onslaught of public displays of affection. Facebook is the worst culprit, with its never-ending feed of lovey-dovey relationship statuses.

But as much as you try to play the "happily single" role, there is a part of you that's like:

And your loneliness hits you like a ton of bricks.

But your bitterness toward the couple-centric holiday eases up when one of your best friends surprises you with a Valentine's gift.

Because as much as you wanted to hate today, her kind gesture gives you a tornado of mixed emotions.

The twisted look on your face makes her say,

To which you reply,

The two of you decide to make the best of things by planning a girls' night later with your other single friends.

But really, the occasion is just an excuse to consume an unhealthy amount of chocolate…

…as well as gossip and vent about your respective boy problems…

…and drink wine from a box, like the classy ladies you are.

It sounds like a winning game plan to everyone in attendance.

After an evening with great company and indulgent food, you decide that spending Valentine's Day as a single woman isn't all that bad.

But you warn your friends that your opinion may change when the chocolate runs out.

What did Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard do before they became parents? You know, besides stealing scenes in hit TV shows and films. Apparently, they made tribute videos for songs based on their vacation spots.

The couple traveled to Africa before their two daughters, Lincoln and Delta, were born, and man, did they do it right. Because if you’re going to travel all the way to another continent—that continent being Africa—you better honor Toto’s classic ‘80s hit of the same name.

Shepard shared the “Africa” video on his YouTube channel: “This was our last trip before having kids. Our sole objective was to rage hard and honor Toto properly. Hope you enjoy.”

Warning: you’re probably going to have this on loop for the rest of your day. You’re welcome.

The wait for Selena Gomez to return to the acting business is over, but instead of being the one doing the acting, she'll be producing. The series was picked up by Netflix, and is based off of Jay Asher's young adult novel 13 Reasons Why, released back in 2007. Selena will be working on alongside her mother on the project.

Selena spoke about the project at Sundance this past week, saying, "Four or five years ago, I found this book end fell in love with it. I think I was still in high school. Now we’re here. We took our time with it.”

Actually, many people got to read Asher's novel in high school, as it deals with high school issues. It follows a boy in high school who is given cassette tapes made by a girl named Hannah Baker, who recently committed suicide. The tapes list the reasons why Hannah killed herself, and they instruct the listener to pass them on to his peers.

We think it's great that Selena has gotten behind a series with such a powerful theme that many people struggle with today. It takes guts to explore a project covering this heavy of an issue. 

Although Selena can't confirm that she'll make any sort of cameo appearance in this series, she will be on screen in the upcoming movies Neighbors 2 and The Fundamentals of Caring. We love that she's killing it so far in 2016, don't you, collegiettes?

Contrary to popular belief, there are ways to be involved in Greek life without joining the typical fraternity or sorority. Co-ed Greek organizations are a great way to meet other people who share an interest in either service or even a particular career. If you're in a co-ed Greek group, there's no doubt you can relate to the following!

1. You constantly have to explain that you’re not in a sorority

2. Your little might not be a sister

3. You count the semester by how many hours of service you have

4. There’s always someone to be your wingman

5. You’ve probably been an officer at some point

6. Formal is the best night of your semester

7. Everyone has heard the story of your most embarrassing moment...

...and still loves you

8. You own enough Greek t-shirts to last you the whole week

9. You’ve worked at more parties than you can count

10. You probably met some of your best friends through your society

11. You have inside jokes with 50-100 other people

12. You’re always recruiting freshman to join

13. You always list your group in your bio

14. No one remembers you’re actually part of Greek life

15. But you wouldn’t trade it for anything

People's reactions to your religion can range anywhere from accepting to outright offensive. If you meet some who is half-Jewish, please don't even bother saying any of the following:

1. You can't be half a religion.

2. Can't you only be Jewish if your mom is Jewish?

3. So, which religion are you more of?

4. It's so not fair that you celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas.

5. So you get, like, double the presents right?

6. Do you have to go to temple and church?

7. Which religion is more fun?

8. You're just saying that because you want to celebrate more holidays.

9. How much money did you get from your Bat Mitzvah?

10. You're not a real Jew unless you're a full Jew.

11. If you're only half Jewish, why is your hair so curly?

12. Shouldn't your nose be bigger?

13. You don't even look Jewish.

14. You're so lucky!

15. What religion are your kids going to be?

Whatever religion you are, remember to be mindful of everyone around you. Religion is a personal choice!

I used to be quite candid, but over the past year I’ve noticed that I try much harder to not step on toes. This has resulted in more stress, more gossiping to friends instead of addressing issues, and less of seeing what should happen, happen. I jumped at the chance to try being radically honest for a week, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!

To start, I set some parameters for myself:

No saying anything mean. Things that may not be what the listener wants to hear are fine, but nothing that will hurt feelings or constitute as teasing. Also, when talking to someone about another person, don’t say anything that I wouldn’t say to that person’s face.

Complete honesty. No “little white lies,” no stretching the truth.

Related: 22 Lies College Girls Tell Their Parents

When appropriate (no interrupting people or using this as an excuse to break the first parameter), say exactly what’s on my mind and make sure to voice my own opinions. This means standing up for myself or others, or otherwise saying what I think even if I’m not asked (again, as long as it’s an appropriate situation).

After testing this out for a week, here are the three main things I figured out this week!

We tell more white lies than we realize.

It wasn’t until this week that I realized that saying “I don’t know,” “I’m fine,” or “It doesn’t matter” can quite often be teeny tiny white lies. Of course they aren’t lies most of the time, but how many times have we said we’re okay when we’re really falling apart? I really noticed this when a friend asked me why I like LinkedIn so much, and I almost replied with “Idk.” I didn’t go into crazy details, but I did give a few sentences on why it’s one of my favorite social sites.

What I learned is that saying something doesn’t matter to you when it does or that you don’t know when you do leads to a lot of self-doubt and lowering of your self-esteem. You don’t have to give someone an hour-long lecture when they ask you a question, but actually saying what you’re thinking is really very freeing!

Asking for what you want works sometimes!

Lately, I’ve been the kind of person that meekly says something, and then complains when it doesn’t work out how I want it to. At a work meeting, I did the opposite. When a Twitter strategy was being implemented, I chimed in that I didn’t think it worked for the company and that I thought it was too click-baity. It worked, and we all ended up compromising on a new strategy that’s worked out great!

Related: 6 Ways to Get What You Want at Work

What I learned is that one of us will always get what we want, but politely chiming in that you don’t like the color T-shirt your service group wants to order can never hurt!

Standing up feels absolutely incredible.

There were several incidents where I essentially told people that they needed to get off their high horses. Actually, I literally told them to do that!

Three instances occurred when three girls (all over 17) tried to shame other girls for cursing—specifically saying “damn.” Yep, a word allowed on any radio station in the U.S.—meaning you could walk into a Target and hear it. In every case, I reminded them of just that—and that in the real world, if it’s not around kids or in a professional situation, you can’t tell someone what to say. And it felt great! In none of those situations were the girls that were “cursing” being inappropriate, and I was tired of people deeming themselves morally superior for choosing to say “dang” instead. There’s nothing wrong with choosing not to curse, just like there’s nothing wrong with saying “damn” when you drop your car keys.

Another moment like this came when a girl was ranting about how ugly she thinks stretched ears are and how her body is a temple—right in front of someone with stretched ears. No one said anything until I pointed out that no one with stretched ears cares if hers aren’t—why does she care if other people choose to make their piercings a few sizes bigger?

What I learned through this is that issues like this can be tricky, but if someone else is voicing their opinion on something, don’t be scared to say something you feel needs to be said—or to stand up for someone or something you believe in.

Related: 14 Secrets All College Women Are Hiding

At the end of the week, I felt great being more candid! I subconsciously reminded myself that I am worth being heard—and I think I avoided stepping on toes as much as possible! It can be difficult to know when it’s the right time to say what you’re thinking, but overall it’s worth it to figure it out. I may fall back into my habit of saying “I’m fine” when I’m really not—but overall I’m going to try to keep up with this honesty thing because it truly is the best policy!

Ahh, Valentine’s Day, every hopeless romantic's favorite holiday. Well, err, then again, maybe not if you are single like yours truly.

In fact, and perhaps to some readers’ disbelief, I have never gone on a Valentine’s Day date. Of the few girlfriends/flings in my dating career none of them were in action on February 14.

But please don't feel sorry for me, think of the money I've saved on chocolate and flowers!

And speaking of those cliched Valentine’s items, I would suggest staying away from the old boring date ideas. Save dinner and a drive-in movie for another night. If it's Valentine’s Day, do something that you rarely or never get to do together. Without further ado, here are five creative dates that would surely win over any guy.

1. A ride in a horse-drawn carriage

Yeah I know it isn't super creative in the sense we've seen it in tons of romantic films, but how many people have actually gotten to do it? How many boyfriends out there have actually set it up for their girlfriend?

A horse-drawn carriage is only one of the most romantic outings ever. Cuddling up together in the warm seat while looking up at the stars and taking a ride around the park? Storybook!

2. Go out on the lake in a paddle boat

Again, it's been seen in the movies but how many of us have gotten a chance to go out on one of those pedal boats? It's a fun activity to share with your significant other and relax on a beautiful portion of open water. Heck, you can even make it a picnic out on the lake and bring some sandwiches. Depending on where you call home, you may want to make this a lunch date so you aren't too cold!

3. Outdoor skating

Okay, I may be biased on this one being a hockey player and all, but skating is awesome fun and incredibly romantic. That said, anyone can go to the local rink and skate, but to change things up, hopefully there is an outdoor rink from the holiday season still up and running. And for those in the far north, you can go out on a natural frozen pond! I would be so jealous because I have never gotten to skate on a real frozen body of water!

4. Hockey game

Speaking of the fastest game in the world, it would only be the most awesome thing ever if I had a girlfriend take me to see my favorite hockey team! While it is a date that may not be overly creative (who hasn't thought about a sports venue date), having the girl treat the guy is a nice Sadie-Hawkins-esque change of pace!

You know your man will appreciate being taken to one of his favorite places on the planet! And it's V-Day! Maybe just maybe you will get on the "Kiss-cam"! How romantic!

5. Skiing/Log Cabin snuggle fest

For us college students, a day on the slopes may not be the easiest on our wallets but there is just something about the snow and romance. Take a day off of school and head up to the mountains for a nice day of exercise with your special someone. And when it's late afternoon and the skiing is winding down, nothing is better than returning to a good old-fashioned mountain cabin. Take off that ski, girl, get a nice (two person perhaps) shower in and then snuggle up by the fire and put on a movie? Priceless.