On The View's Feb. 24^th episode, actress Gabrielle Union opened up about a traumatic incident she faced at age 19, when she was raped at gunpoint in the California shoe store where she worked.

 The Being Mary Jane star explained her feelings following the incident by telling hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd, “You're getting all of the attention and support and love that you've always wanted. But it's not for something positive, and I hated that."

"I hated feeling like the victim," she adds. "I hated the cloak of victimhood. I got sick of people letting me off the hook."

Union, who is engaged to basketball player Dwyane Wade, discussed her effort to move forward from the incident and "embrace being a survivor" by filing -- and winning -- a negligence lawsuit against Payless Shoes and graduating from UCLA with a degree in sociology.

Union’s attacker was later sentenced to 33 years in prison, according to Us Weekly. 

"I wasn't raised to be coddled," Union says. "I was raised to be an independent woman, standing on my own two feet, and that's the road I opted to take."

Midterms are right around the corner, collegiettes—as well as the potential loss of your sanity. Here are a few tips on how to keep your cool during midterms week.

1. Find the perfect study space

Whether you work best at the local café, in your dorm room desk blasting One Direction or hiding in a cubicle in the super-quiet library, find what environment works best for you and stick with it. Finding the spot that gets you into a groove best will really maximize your study time.

2. Figure out an effective study style

Maybe flash cards are your thing. Or maybe you like to rewrite out all your notes. Group study sessions work for some collegiettes, while others prefer working alone. Try out different tactics and see which study style works best for you.

3. Make a plan

Create a schedule and figure out just how much study time you think you’ll need for each exam. Spread out that time over a few days so you won’t be cramming for a midterm all at once. Most importantly, make each study sesh productive by divvying up the time you have to prepare for each midterm and sticking to that plan. Make sure you give yourself time for study breaks as well to grab a snack or hit the gym!

4. Get organized

Make an outline for yourself of what you need to know for each exam and how you plan on tackling the material. Mark important material with Post-its (Office Depot has convenient Post-it pop-up note dispensers, like this adorable Heart Dispenser) and fill up a planner, like this AT-A-GLANCE planner from Office Depot, with all the important dates that you need to keep in mind. Office Depot also has a ton of other school supplies to keep you organized during midterms, so be sure to shop online before you hunker down in the library!

5. Get plenty of sleep

It may be tempting to spend all night in the library with a coffee in hand, but when you end up too exhausted to work the next day, you don’t really end up benefitting from it at all. Take a tip from elementary school and set a designated bedtime each night to make sure you get those eight hours.

Good luck studying, collegiettes! 

Urban Outfitters: hip? Yes. Trendy? Of course. Conducive to fitness and outdoor activities? Not exactly.

Until now, that is. Urban Outfitters has just announced that it is launching an outdoor and fitness concept brand called Without Walls over the next few months. Without Walls will feature apparel that reflects the Urban Outfitters style you already love with colorful, street wear-inspired prints—except now you can rock them while training, hiking and cycling!

In addition to its own private line, Urban will also stock items from Asics, Vans, Patagonia, and more.

Get ready for new line's launch this March!

Whether we’re single and loving it or shopping for promise rings, we’re constantly giving off strong signals to the guys around us even if we don’t mean to do it. It’s nice to know that our bodies do most of the talking for us; this means that we collegiettes can have control over the way those wannabe-boy-toys (and all other guys in our vicinity) view us simply by being self-aware. We can’t help but worry, though: what if we’re unconsciously sending out the wrong messages? Whether you want to wink your way into a friends-with-benefits situation, catch your next serious boyfriend, or make it clear to the creepers that you’re already spoken for, check out these expert tips to mastering your signals to “come hither” or stay clear away.

“We are always communicating, even when we’re not talking,” explains Patrick Wanis, a human behavior and relationship expert. “The majority of our attitude, in other words our feeling and emotion, [is] expressed nonverbally. We do that through our body language and through our facial gestures.” What does this mean for those of us looking to catch a cutie’s eye at a party? For starters, we don’t need to blow kisses across the room in order to get noticed!

Step 1: Be approachable

This doesn’t mean sitting with your arms outstretched, prepping for a hug (though wouldn’t that make things simpler?). According to Arden Leigh, author of The New Rules of Attraction: How to Get Him, Keep Him, and Make Him Beg for More and co-founder of the Sirens Seduction Forum for Women, it’s all about the angles.

“You want to angle your body towards someone because the moment that you open up to them – I like to think of it as if you’re pointing at them with your collarbone – you’re inviting their approach,” says Leigh. If you’re leaning against a wall or a bar and are facing out to the crowd, arms uncrossed, you’re signaling that you’re open to communication, and more specifically, to a healthy dose of flirting with Mr. Right.

“Sometimes just by throwing off the right body language, you signal that you’re available to approach,” she explains. “Things like tossing your hair [and] arching your back a little bit are good signals.”

Even if you’re sitting with a friend, you can send out “I’m approachable” vibes just by angling yourself towards the rest of the room. As Wanis notes, if your legs are crossed towards your friend, you’re leaning in, and your back is facing most of the other partygoers, your body language is saying, “If you want to talk to me, you’re going to have to come and tap me on the shoulder.”

Not the most welcoming of messages. Instead, if you really are interested in meeting someone (and the friend you’re talking to is in fact your wingwoman), angle your collarbone and knees towards the rest of the crowd and look around every now and then to survey the room. That way, you’re indicating that you’re not so deep in conversation that you’d be peeved if a hottie came over to interrupt.

Step 2: Be accessible

According to our experts, where you place yourself in a room says just as much about your interest level as how you place yourself in a room. “Don’t sit in the corner,” warns Wanis. “Sit in a place where someone can easily approach you and [he] can easily sit across from you or next to you. Don’t put yourself in a position where someone has to reach over ten people or [has] to climb over three chairs just to get to you.”

A girl who wants to meet people isn’t waiting around in the corner away from everyone else. She’s right up near the doorway, near the bar, or wherever it is that’s getting the most amount of traffic. Be that girl! Wanis explains, “If you’re sitting at the bar and facing towards the crowd, the guys who just walked in and are heading for the bar are going to say [to themselves], ‘Oh, I’m going to talk to her, she’s easy to approach. I don’t have to go to the side, I don’t have to tap her on the shoulder, I don’t have to do anything difficult to get her attention because her attention is already on me.’” And isn’t that convenient? You get his attention because your body language suggests that he already has yours. Genius.

Step 3: Contact him

No, not on your phone (though fingers crossed that happens soon)! Your initial contact is all about (surprise, surprise) body language.

Mary Waldon, a dialectical behavior therapist and expert in effective communication, behavior modification, and female empowerment emphasizes the importance of eye contact. “If you’re not making a lot of eye contact, you’re not really engaged with the person in the moment,” she explains. On top of the approachable and accessible signals you’re already sending out, this direct contact (accompanied by a smile) is the push you need to turn an across-the-room crush into a conversation-starter.

Leigh also uses eye contact as an icebreaker by surveying the whole room, even when she’s set on a certain someone. “When I catch a guy looking at me, I’ll look back at him, and it’s almost like I caught him staring at me, when the truth is that I was kind of just waiting for him to do that so I could catch him,” she reveals. “But at the point, he knows that I’ve seen him looking at me, and usually he is going to come over and say something to me, or if not, it kind of gives me the invitation to go over and say something to him.”

Then comes time for even more direct contact: actual, physical contact. “If you’ve made eye contact, then you know that you can go into the next phase of talking to him,” advises Leigh. “If you’ve been talking for a little bit, you know you can touch him; you can reach out and touch his hand for emphasis on a particular word [that] you’re saying or what have you.”

Wanis suggests touching him briefly on the arm, the hand, or the shoulder while laughing. “The moment you start touching him, you’ve broken that personal space, you’ve broken that barrier,” he adds. “As soon as [you do that], he goes, ‘Oh! She’s interested.’ If you’re touching him on the side of his shoulder gently, you’re showing him that you are willing to get physical to some extent.”

Step 4: Show off

Unless the guy you’re into is insanely slow on the uptake – and therefore likely not worth your coveted collegiette time – he’ll have picked up on the signals that you’re interested. Duh. The most important question is, just how interested are you?

According to Wanis, “The more you lean forward and lean into someone, the more interest you’re showing in [him or her].” He specifies, however, that leaning in can mean any kind of interest, not necessarily romantic or sexual, so it doesn’t tell the whole story.

“If [you] want to let [a guy] know that [you’d] like to take things to the next level and make them more sensual, more sexual, [and] more physical,” Wanis explains, “for a woman, that could be twirling your hair or rubbing your hand down your arm or leg.” Nothing overtly sexual, of course – no Meg Ryan-style diner scenes please! “Drawing attention to your body parts, for instance just rubbing your collarbone, is a sexual gesture,” he continues.

Leigh says other sexual cues like hair-flipping, a way that you hold your body by sticking your chest out, or keeping your hands towards your back pockets, which draws attention to your butt are body language cues that communicate to the guy that you’re interested. So once you’re aware that you’re having that reaction to someone, take control of the behavior! Adjust your signals to fit what it is that you want from the guy. If you’re interested in something purely physical, make your interest obvious by leaning in, touching him, and sending other sexual cues; but if you want to take things slower, you don’t want to mislead him with overly strong body language. They key is being able to send the signals clearly when you want to and to rein them in when you don’t want to.

Step 5: Be direct

Knowing how your body communicates whether you’re interested or unattainable is one thing; having the confidence and savvy to take control is entirely another. What if you actually are interested in meeting someone but your bad habits (or plain old nerves) are getting in the way and sending the wrong signals? The trick is to keep your body language open, be direct, and above all, be a confident collegiette! As Leigh explains, “I think there are a lot of women who think that if a guy rejects them, it’s a personal reflection on them. That’s just not true, and life is really too short to not go after what you want.”

More importantly, college only lasts four years, and that’s way too short to not make moves on that campus cutie!

Let's face it: online dating is hard. Trying to craft the perfect profile can be frustrating, and having to judge potential dates based on a photo and a sentence or two often feels like a complete shot in the dark. After all, people are much more than a paragraph summary or a list of likes and dislikes... so shouldn't there be a dating site that reflects that?

Welcome to Dreamcliq, the Pinterest of dating sites! Dreamcliq is a new way to online date that allows you to create a profile made up of images, just like Pinterest! "It's a totally different dating experience when you have a profile that is based off the images you love, not just images of yourself," Dreamcliq creator Melissa Jones told Racked. "It's easier to get to know someone by looking at someone's Pinterest board and Facebook page than by reading some words and being judged off your headshot."

Whether you choose to add photos of things that inspire you, places you want to go or even pics from your Instagram feed, the profile you create on Dreamcliq is a more authentic representation of who you are compared to other popular dating sites. “We’re trying to replicate aspects of real life, like someone’s vibe. The vibe that you give off when you walk into a bar, you might be attracted to someone because of their physical looks, but you might also vibe off their aura and their energy," Jones told StyleCaster. "What we’re trying to do is offer people a place where they can connect a little bit more on that energy, be inspired by and connect with people on a different level.”

Another unique feature of Dreamcliq is that users are charged $2.50 to "cliq," or message, someone. If the sender doesn't get a response within seven days, they are credited half the amount back. This way, you won't end up with hundreds of potentially creepy or off-putting messages to filter through to find the guys you'd actually be interested in!

"We think if the messaging costs money, you'll think a little bit more about what you send," Jones told Racked. "Plus with so many spammers on dating sites, people don't even know how to reply to all the hundreds of messages they get, so they don't end up responding and it ends up being a bummer on both sides."

The best part about Dreamcliq is that it eliminates a lot of the awkwardness that comes from talking to someone for the first time without really knowing anything about him or her. "With the visual profiles on our site, you know right away if there is going to be stuff you connect on, it’s almost like the sneak peek that let’s you skip the 'getting-to-know-you' awkward first date, and allows you to cut to the I-know-I-already-kinda-like-you part,"Jones told BrightestYoungThings.com.

Forget filling out boxes and trying to upload the perfect selfie! Dreamcliq eliminates the stress of online dating and helps you find more meaningful connections - and it's also really, really fun to use. Give it a shot; your true love connection may be only a "cliq" away!

At first, you were thrilled about taking on such a huge project (even though you didn't have much of a plan).

But that enthusiasm quickly died when you realized how much work a thesis really entailed.

And even though you still have half a semester left, you're already like: 

Now, a typical day of working on your thesis involves questioning your entire academic career (and maybe even your existence).

You realize that working through your thesis is like traveling to a foreign country because you need to “find yourself” in the process.

But the only thing you've found is that you have a love/hate relationship with your thesis. One day, it’s like:

Then the next day, it’s like:

Similarly, you jump back and forth between thinking you're a genius...

...and the dumbest person in the world.

When people ask how your thesis is coming along, you're incredibly self-deprecating despite your good standing in the department...

...which is why you'd prefer if no one knew about your thesis. Plus, the phrase "working on a thesis" sound so pretentious and makes it seem like you’re part of a magical group of academics who roam abandoned libraries in top hats.

The only people who understand your pain are fellow thesis writers and your advisers...

...except when your adviser gives you negative feedback, which makes you cry a little on the inside.

And when your adviser gives you "constructive criticism," it feels more like: 

So you work harder in the library, doing research and revising drafts, until going home at the end of the day feels like winning the lottery.

Because you normally just tough out the exhaustion with a cup of joe. You’ve even formed an intimate relationship with caffeine through long, sleepless nights in the library.

You've invested so much time and effort into this thesis that you can't wait to graduate and be done with it forever.

But until then, you will be living the turbulent lifestyle of a senior thesis writer (and feeling all the relevant emotions, mainly despair).

But you are totally capable, so best of luck defending your thesis, you masochistic brainiacs!

“He broke up with you?! Jerk. Come on, let’s eat ice cream and watch The Notebook and cry.”

We’re all familiar with the girl-world methods of getting over a breakup, and we’ve used them over and over again. Unfortunately, these tactics only numb the hurt for a brief period of time instead of helping us get past the relationship for good. It’s time to introduce some new ways to cope (since we don’t think eating piles of junk food or finding a rebound right away are always the best ways to go)!

1. Make a List About What Went Wrong

Dr. D Ivan Young, a couples counselor and author of Break Up, Don’t Break Down, suggests that after you break up, you write a list about what went wrong in the relationship. “When you write it down… you have a chance to compare things without letting your feelings be a filter,” he says.

As opposed to getting caught up with the feelings inside your head, jotting them down will let you literally look at them and work through them.

2. Eat Healthier

Ice cream, chips, candy and fries all taste good when you’re eating them, but they’ll most likely make you feel pretty crappy afterwards. The day of a breakup may warrant some comfort food, but try not to make a habit out of it.

Jessie*, a junior at the University of Kansas, says that after a particularly horrible breakup she let herself fall into bad eating patterns because it was convenient. “I wasn’t eating healthy, because I honestly didn’t have the energy to make food for myself,” she says. “I would just get takeout from fast-food places all the time.”

Caroline*, a freshman at the University of Southern California, decided that post-breakup, she was going to make an effort to eat food that was good for her. “Not only did grocery shopping and going through the process of making food provide me with a distraction from the breakup, but in the long run it made me feel healthier and look better,” she says. So, collegiettes, instead of grabbing a burger for the sixth time this week, scrounge up some recipes and fine-tune your culinary skills!

3. Cut Off Your Hair

Okay, you don’t actually have to cut off all of your hair. But maybe you’ve wanted to for a while and haven’t found the time, or your ex loved your long hair or you’ve just been wondering what it would look like. The point is, if you’ve always wanted to change up your look but the relationship was holding you back, now’s the perfect opportunity to make that change.

Lindsay*, a sophomore at the University of Virginia, said that once she broke up with her boyfriend, she felt like she needed a change in her physical appearance. “I’d wanted to dye and cut my hair for a long time,” Lindsay says. “So the week after I broke up with him I went to the salon and came out looking like a totally different person, and it was awesome.”

Will just having a new haircut (or new makeup or a new wardrobe) magically make you get over someone? Probably not right away, but in the long run, it serves as a reminder of your independence!

4. Go on a Trip With Your Friends

It doesn’t have to be a trip across the globe or even across the country—it might even be a city a couple miles away from campus—but it’s one of the best ways to deal with a breakup. No one wants to be hanging out at all the same places they used to go to with their exes, so treat yourself to a change of scene.

“I’m planning on going on birthright this summer,” says Rachael, a sophomore at Cornell University who recently went through a breakup. Rachael thinks a change of scene and the new people she will meet will help her move past her ex. “Having that experience… will be a great way to come to terms with things,” she says.

The planning and the fun time you’ll have with your girls will momentarily put the relationship out of your mind and remind you of all the different, beautiful things left to discover in life (as cheesy as we know it sounds).

5. Be More Generous With Your Love

Showing love and compassion for someone is an incredibly gratifying feeling, so it can definitely be awful when you no longer have an outlet for those emotions.

“I’ve always been a nurturing person, and having a boyfriend was wonderful for me in that I could really express how I felt about him through nice things I did,” says Sarah*, a sophomore at McGill University. “It made me feel really lost right after the breakup, not having someone to dote on.”

Giving is always better than receiving, and one of the quickest ways to feel like yourself again after a breakup is to do nice things for others. Spreading generosity around in even very small ways—volunteering at a pet shelter, buying your friend her favorite candy bar after a long day, making sure to call your mom back, writing your sick friend a silly poem—can have a huge, positive effect on others and, in turn, on you.

6. Get Out Into Nature

Maybe taking walks is already a part of your daily routine (and we don’t mean walking to class—that doesn’t count), but if it’s not, we suggest adding it to your busy schedule. And while walks with friends might seem comforting, taking walks alone is what will really give you the catharsis you need.

Young urges us to remember that despite whatever sadness or anger is in our own lives, the world is a beautiful place and that we should be in touch with it. “If you sit in a room, what you’re doing is imprisoning yourself with negative thoughts,” he says. “When you take the time to get outside of yourself, you can appreciate the beauty around you… and think about all the things that are right with your life.”

7. Hang Out With a (Platonic) Guy Friend

A lot of us run to our girlfriends to bad-mouth our exes, but Young suggests that you hang out with a guy friend from time to time as well as with your girls.

Because we miss having that male energy around us after a guy breaks up with us, we should make an effort to connect with friends we have completely platonic feelings about. “[Nurture] a platonic relationship with someone you know has your best interests at heart,” he says. “[It] gives you the masculine relationship you are missing, but in a healthy way.”

Marissa*, a junior at the University of Maryland, didn’t realize how much hanging out with her closest guy friend would help her after her breakup. “I was with a bunch of my friends, and they all left except for Josh,” she says. “And we just chilled and talked about random things, and it was so lovely to have the male companionship.”

Be careful, though; this companionship shouldn’t end up in any sort of a rebound relationship. Not only would it make you feel even worse about your recent breakup, but it would also absolutely affect your friendship with your guy friend, something you might regret later.

Breakups suck—there’s no way around that. But there are ways to make them suck less, and they don’t all include heaps of junk food or jumping on the first guy you see! Taking care of yourself and the people you love will lay the fundamental groundwork to help you move past your relationship and get back on your feet again.

*Names have been changed.

By the time we’re in college, we all know the drill: we PMS, we get our period, most of us have mild to moderate cramping for a few days, the period ends. Repeat every month. For some girls, though, this pattern might suddenly change—and turn into a much more painful experience. A period accompanied by abnormally severe cramps might indicate something else is at play. Her Campus talked to Dr. Alain Joffe, medical director of the Johns Hopkins University Student Health and Wellness Center about what conditions appear to be just bad cramps, but are actually something else entirely. Read on to decipher if your cramps are normal or worthy of medical attention.

According to Dr. Joffe, normal menstrual cramps are cramps that last for a few days and respond well to painkillers, birth control or other self-care like heating pads. If you’ve suddenly got cramps that won’t go away, you need to seek out a doctor. Read on for the medical conditions that can make cramps worse for collegiettes.

1. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

“PID is an infection of the uterine lining, and [the infection] spreads out and involves the fallopian tubes,” Dr. Joffe says. PID is a disease that often can be a complication of STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea—but PID is not an STD itself because there are other ways to get it, such as pelvic surgery or a complication of an intrauterine device.  “What happens is the germs live in the cervix, [women] get their period, and germs gain access up into the uterus. Menstrual blood is a good culture for STDs. Germs go into uterus and the infection starts,” Dr. Joffe says. PID will cause increased menstrual cramping, as well as a fever, vaginal discharge and pelvic pain.

According to Dr. Joffe, any sexually active woman is at risk, especially if you have many sexual partners. “You can decrease your risk by using condoms and getting tested on a regular basis,” he says. The difference between PID and run-of-the-mill menstrual cramps? “The way that you’ll know: [periods are] usually the worst during the first day or two and then it gets better. With PID, exactly the opposite happens. The cramps get worse,” Dr. Joffe says. If your cramps follow this pattern, make an appointment with a gynecologist immediately as PID can lead to other serious risks like pelvic pain and infertility. PID can be treated with antibiotics or surgery, depending on the severity of the case.

2. Ectopic Pregnancy

Pregnancies usually develop in the uterus—but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, for reasons doctors aren’t exactly sure about, a pregnancy can occur outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. One of the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy is severe menstrual cramps—ones that require the immediate attention of a doctor.

You’ll be able to differentiate ectopic pregnancy from severe cramps because the ectopic pregnancies result in cramping on one side of the body. The cramps will also be accompanied by typical pregnancy symptoms like breast tenderness and nausea. If you’re unsure if you could be pregnant, and your period cramps are intense, go to an emergency room as ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening. Women are at risk if they have had pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or have had past surgeries or infections in the abdominal region. Although your body could be going through an ectopic pregnancy, you could still get vaginal bleeding and cramping. While not a “real” period, these symptoms can confuse girls into thinking they’re just having a bad period, instead of being pregnant.

3. Ovarian torsions and cysts

Your ovaries play an important role in your monthly cycle, so it’s no surprise that any sort of problem with them can cause major havoc. Though doctors don’t know why, occasionally ovaries can rotate out of their proper place—this is called an ovarian torsion. “Sometimes it just happens, sometimes there’s something wrong with the ovary,” says Dr. Joffe. One possibility? An ovarian cyst could cause the ovary to rotate out of alignment. Cysts are build-ups of tissue that are actually completely normal (you’ve probably had a few, just never known it!) but when they get big, they can rupture. When that happens, severe menstrual cramps happen.

You’ll be able to tell the difference between a normal period cramp and a cyst or torsion by assessing the location and severity of the pain. “[The pain is] much more intense. It’s more localized,” Dr. Joffe says. You’ll probably only feel it on one side and the cramps will be incredibly painful. Your doctor will likely recommend an ultrasound. Cysts and torsions are scary and painful, but there’s great treatment available: you might have to surgically remove the cyst or, if it hasn’t ruptured, birth control helps your body from forming them in the first place. “I've had severe menstrual cramps for a while and after a pelvic ultrasound, it turns out I have a cyst on my ovary,” Lauren, a collegiette from Duke, says. I also have personally have had an ovarian cyst the size of a lemon rupture! In high school, I had extremely intense lower abdominal pain that I incorrectly assumed was just cramps—an ultrasound later confirmed that I had an abnormally large ovarian cyst that had ruptured, causing severe pain. Though the experience was incredibly painful and scary, just a simple, noninvasive surgery instantly stopped the pain.

4. Endometriosis

Dr. Joffe says the top three causes for increased severity of cramps are PID, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian cysts—but that doesn’t mean other things can’t affect your cramps. Endometriosis, for instance, is a condition where uterine tissue grows outside the uterus—bad cramps often follow. However, this is a condition that typically appears earlier than college. You would likely have symptoms of this throughout your life—it’s not a condition that typically just happens after you’ve had your period for several years.

5. Less likely conditions: PCOS, cancer and organ abnormalities

Other possibilities include ovarian or cervical cancer, but Dr. Joffe says these are extremely rare in college students, so don’t assume you have a tumor if your cramps get worse! Additionally, polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause cramps, but Dr. Joffe says this condition will more likely present with irregular periods or no periods at all. Another possibility is that there is a problem with your cervix, uterus, or ovaries due to improper formation; this is especially likely if you only have one kidney since these organs develop at the same time. These conditions are less likely to just “pop up” in a college-aged woman, Dr. Joffe says, but if you’re concerned, a trip to the doctor can give you peace of mind.

The takeaway? There’s no foolproof way to know what’s making your cramps worse. Your best bet is to seek out a professional opinion at your student health center or a gynecologist who can figure out what’s really going on or at least point you in the right direction. When you go to your doctor, don’t let them just prescribe you painkillers if you think something is really wrong.  Demand an ultrasound or other testing—these conditions are too often not found because doctors might not take your cramps seriously But, as Dr. Joffe says, if you suddenly feel like you’re experiencing the worst cramps of your life, don’t delay medical attention—go to an emergency room immediately.

So, collegiettes, if your period cramps have started intensifying, get off WebMD and seek out a doctor! There’s probably an easy solution and you can go back to having (relatively) pain-free periods!

High school seniors everywhere are sitting next to their mailboxes, anxiously awaiting decisions from their respective colleges. But if you’re a high school junior, you might just be trying to survive your high school workload without even starting to think about college. But you don’t have to wait until September to get started on your college applications! There are plenty of things you can do now so you can be college-admissions-ready come fall.

1. Sign up for standardized tests (SAT, ACT, etc.) ASAP

If you haven’t taken a standardized test for your college applications yet, now is the time to sign up for one (or many) and take it! Having an idea of where your standardized test scores stand can really influence where you apply to college, and obviously, not having any idea where your numbers are can make for an extremely stressful application process.

Sarah Wiszniak, a freshman at the University of Connecticut, explains how waiting until senior year to take these tests can make your entire college application process much worse. “It is difficult to gauge your progress and recover from a bad score if you wait to take the SAT or ACT until the fall of your senior year,” she says. “There is no room to mess up if you only have a few months to get your dream score. That’s an insane amount of pressure to put on yourself.”

Jillian Feinstein, a college admissions consultant and founder of CollegeApp Chick, also points out that waiting could jeopardize your entire application process. “Students should begin taking their standardized tests as early as winter of junior year,” she says. “Because of the rise of the test prep book, it is not uncommon to see a student take the test two or three times, and this can often lead to a higher score.”

So, how do you get started registering for the SAT, ACT and/or SAT II (also called “Subject Tests”)? For the SAT and SAT II, check out the College Board’s list of test dates, then go to the College Board website to register. For the ACT, go to the official website, check out the ACT testing dates and follow the site’s directions.

Even more importantly, make sure you have a plan for which tests you’re going to take and when. Have a backup plan as well; if you don’t get the score you want the first time you take a standardized test, when is a good day for you to retake it, and what are you going to do differently to prepare for the test? Taking these steps now as a junior can save you a ton of frustration, stress and heartbreak come senior year.

2. Get the college experience through tours and admissions events

Want to really get ahead of the college admissions game? Become a college tour pro before senior year! Learning the art of touring a college is an extremely valuable skill for when you start creating your final college list senior year.

During your visits as a junior, start taking note of what’s important to you in a college. Did you notice that you always ask about a school’s dining hall food or dorm life? Find yourself really desiring a college with pretty architecture? Seeing what you gravitate towards on a college campus can help you narrow your college list before you even begin senior year.

Kate Masters, a sophomore at Wesleyan University, toured 15 colleges during just her junior year alone and found it to be an extremely helpful experience. “One thing I figured out during my early college tours was that I liked small campuses,” she says. “Making this realization totally changed how I approached my admissions process when I was a senior, and I ended up applying to mostly small liberal arts colleges. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to make this deduction had I not had that extra time during junior year to decide what I wanted.”

Additionally, touring schools as a junior gives you some experience navigating an admissions office. To sign up for a tour, check out the college’s admissions website. Many colleges will take anyone who shows up for the tour, but some schools require you to register, so make sure you sign up if a college requires it!

Also, if you want to show “demonstrated interest” (that’s the admissions term!) in a school, many colleges will ask you to sign a card or a form either ahead of time or in the admissions office to signify that you were there. Colleges will keep these contact cards so they can send you additional information, and they’ll also add it to your application if you end up applying to that school. Obviously, it never hurts to show that you like a school when you apply, so take the minute or two to make sure you write the correct information on these cards.

Another way you can show interest in a college is attending an admissions event. Many colleges open their doors to high school students to give them a special look at campus. For example, Wesleyan University hosts a special event for high school juniors whose parents are alumni of the school where they show these students what Wesleyan has to offer. Other colleges offer opportunities to see departments on campus, like the science laboratories or the journalism school on campus. Feel free to call up an admissions office for a school you’re interested in (or visit their website) to ask if they have any of these programs available in the future!

3. Create a draft of your college list

The idea of creating a college list can be daunting for anyone, so to avoid any last-minute stress or skepticism, it’s important to start thinking about yours now. Although you won’t have your list nailed down as a junior, it’s crucial to start thinking about what types of schools you want to go to and what their requirements are.

For example, colleges ask applicants have a certain GPA, particular test scores and varying numbers of classes in different subject areas, so the sooner you know what you need to have to get into your schools, the better.

Want some help with finding schools that fit your parameters? Check out the College Board’s College Search tool, or check out Admittedly, a website that seeks to “game-ify” the admissions process, where you can earn points for searching for colleges, creating a college list and completing other tasks.

Aida Guhlin, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, recommends you sign up to receive mail from various schools. “What helped me discover colleges was checking the little box on the PSAT freshman year that said, ‘Please send me college information,’ and I was inundated for years,” she says. Though it may seem tedious to be receiving dozens of college brochures every week, all of this mail caused Aida to look at a broader range of colleges that she didn’t look at before, and as a junior, it’s all about keeping your options open!

4. Get money on your mind

You won’t have to officially fill out the FAFSA (the free application you need to complete to receive federal financial aid) or start talking to collegiate financial aid offices for another year, but if never hurts to begin thinking about money now!

If you’re a junior and you really want to get on top of your financial aid, start looking at the FAFSA form now so you’ll know what you need to fill out a year from now. The FAFSA is considered one of the most frustrating and lengthy parts of the college process, so the sooner you know what information you’ll need, the easier it will be to fill out a year from now.

Another way you can start getting FAFSA-ready is by using a financial aid calculator to see how much money your family might have to contribute to your education. The FAFSA’s website has a cool tool you can use called the FAFSA4caster that you can try out to get your estimated family contribution (EFC), which is how much money your family is expected to pay for your education.

If you already know some of the schools you want to apply to, Aida recommends getting a feel for financial aid jargon. “What really helped me during my senior year was contacting the individual schools I was already considering and becoming familiar with the details of their financial aid policies,” she says. “For example, several schools don't have ‘stackable’ scholarships, meaning that you don't get to collect money from every scholarship they give you, instead receiving the largest scholarship. That was important to know, and so was the Ivy League rule of no merit-based scholarships.”

It’s also important to start thinking about the hefty price tag that comes with just applying to college. How are you going to pay for all of those fees for both your actual college apps and your standardized tests? Talk to your parents about how much money you can afford to spend on these fees, and start looking at fee waivers.

Another great financial area to start exploring? Scholarships! Though many scholarships are only open to seniors, there are in fact some scholarships and grants for high school juniors that you can apply for now. Many scholarship programs do open their applications as early as mid-summer, so it’s great to have an idea of which program applications you’ll be filling out beforehand. Keep a running list of which scholarships you’d like to apply for, any deadlines for these awards and what types of requirements they all have.

Need some places to start looking for scholarships? Check out websites like Cappex, Scholarships.com or Fastweb to get started. You can look at pages upon pages of scholarships or create your own profile to get scholarships matched to your particular extracurriculars, GPA and other factors.

5. Create an overall college application timeline

Now it’s time to put everything together! Junior year is a great time to create a master calendar of your entire college admissions process. Find a planner to input everything: standardized testing dates, scholarship deadlines, college application deadlines and anything you’ll need to turn in during your college process. Additionally, create a timeline of when you’ll be working on the various parts of these forms and applications.

Kate also suggests decorating this calendar to make it more fun to write in. “I’m into crafts, so I ended up coloring and doodling in my calendar to make it even cuter when I filled it out,” she says. “Planning out your admissions process may seem like a bore, but that pretty calendar saved me when I was applying to schools, filling out financial aid forms and deciding which college to attend.”

Again, the more preparation you put in now as a junior, the less stressed you’ll be next year. Do you really want to be one of those seniors scrambling to finish applications by the midnight deadlines on January 1? If not, it’s time to start planning everything out now!

Remember Spring Breakers—the movie that came out last spring that featured some of our favorite Disney girls (like Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens) all grown up and equipped with face masks and shotguns? While it perhaps wasn’t a recount of a typical college vacay, it actually did carry some worthwhile lessons, especially ones you can apply to your own spring break! Here are a few lessons and tips for your spring break, drawn from Spring Breakers.

1. You don’t have to be rich to have a great spring break.

Okay, that doesn’t mean you should rob a restaurant with your girlfriends… but not all spring break trips are too expensive for your college budget! In order to afford a great trip with your girlfriends, consider all your options. Sure, maybe a week in the Caribbean isn’t likely to happen, but a volunteer trip with Habitat for Humanity or to a less populated beach town may be more feasible!

2. Be careful with guys you don’t know.

Spring break flings can be tons of fun, but be careful whom you’re toying with! Really, just look at whom the girls in the movie ended up with…

If you’re away for break, you won’t be as familiar with the people surrounding you as you may be with the boys at your school. Never give out too much information about yourself, and always make sure you’re in a safe place or you have a friend nearby if you’re alone with a guy you don’t know very well. Taking these extra precautions will ensure that you’re not caught in a sticky (or even dangerous!) situation later on.

3. Have a good group of travel buddies.

Traveling can be a bit intimidating, but if you have a good, small group to go with, it’ll make the trek much less stressful. Don’t put yourself in a situation like Faith in Spring Breakers, who was hesitant to go with the other girls in the first place. Make sure you’re comfortable with whomever you’re going with (and make sure you won’t get sick of them!), because you’ll be relying on each other and spending tons of time together all week.

4. Always be wary of strangers.

We may sound like your parents here, but this little life lesson still rings true in college—especially on break, when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. Locals may recognize that you’re a tourist, particularly when you’re in another country, which will make you much more vulnerable to those trying to take advantage of you. Locals in touristy locations will know who’s an easy target to steal from and trick. No matter if you run into a grill-wearing, drug-selling rapper or not, you should always be careful when talking to and hanging around strangers; they don’t always have your best interests in mind! Make sure you’re always aware of your surroundings and belongings and you never go somewhere you’re not totally sure about.

5. Have an awesome playlist for the road.

The director of Spring Breakers was clearly a Britney Spears fan, judging by the multiple scenes where the girls are singing “Hit Me, Baby, One More Time” and the one particular random montage of the girls dancing around a piano with guns to Britney’s “Everytime.” Even if you’re not a Britney fan yourself, an awesome playlist for the road is a necessary addition to your break. If you’re spending a lot of time traveling or you just want a soundtrack for your spring break, a good playlist is a must!

6. It’s okay to get homesick.

If you’re like Faith from Spring Breakers, you probably haven’t explored much and are happiest in your comfort zone. Despite what others may think, that’s totally okay. Being on break in an unfamiliar setting can be a bit overwhelming and make you miss the comfort of your home. Make a quick call to your family or friends if you’re missing home, then go out and embrace the nice break you have!

7. It’s one thing to party, but it’s another to commit a crime.

When you think of spring break, bikinis, drinking and partying—a lot of the images we see in Spring Breakers—probably come to mind. But there’s a definitive difference between having a good time and getting out of control. Know your limits before you go out, and don’t exceed them. Tell yourself you’ll only have X amount of drinks, designate someone in your group to remain sober for the night to make sure everyone else is okay and make sure you know how to get back from where you’re going before you go there. We know spring break is supposed to be full of fun and games, but “YOLO” isn’t a good excuse if you wind up in trouble with your parents or the police!

8. Go with the flow of things.

If there’s one thing we learned from the movie, it’s that nothing ever goes as planned. Sure, the girls didn’t seem to start with a plan in the first place, but we think it’s safe to assume that meeting a drug-dealing rapper and robbing their fellow spring breakers wasn’t on their spring break bucket list.

Even if you have your whole trip planned out, it’s possible there’ll be changes to your schedule. Granted, the likelihood of getting in the middle of a drug-dealing feud is slim… but you might miss your flight, or the hotel could be late to check you in.  Just be prepared to have things go differently than anticipated, and be mentally ready to adjust! Make sure you have all your travel documents printed out, your phone charged and a full bank account in case you need to alter your plans.

9. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Needless to say, the girls in Spring Breakers (especially Faith) aren’t living the typical college life when they go on break. They deal with hard drugs, strip clubs, drug-dealing feuds, robberies and pretty much anything else you don’t imagine your spring break including. You might be better off withholding from these activities, but you should still push yourself out of your comfort zone if you can! Meet new people, try new activities (we recommend windsurfing or bungee jumping, not cocaine) and visit new places while you have the chance!

Though Spring Breakers was an entertaining movie, we’re hoping your spring break doesn’t follow the plotline. Keep these lessons we learned in mind when you’re jetting off to your dream destination. Moral of the story? Have fun, but be safe!

Sick of eating cereal and ramen for lunch and dinner? Want to spend less money eating out and finally start cooking for yourself? Put down that frozen pizza, because HC’s Health Editor, Sammie Levin, is here to share her daily eats so you can get ideas for healthy, satisfying meals that are easy enough for any time-strapped collegiette to make. After you read Collegiette Eats, your taste buds, wallet and waistline will thank you.

Breakfast

Yesterday, I had my last midterm exam - Michigan's academic calendar is a little out of whack. Cramming a lot of studying into way too few days meant I had little time to cook and I was starting to feel very run-down by yesterday morning. Those are the perfect conditions to make... a green smoothie! When you need something that's easy to make and quick to eat before rushing to the library, a smoothie is always a good pick. Since I haven't been eating as well as I would have liked to in the past few days, I wanted an extra dose of fruits and vegetables, so I packed them into this refreshing breakfast drink. 

I blended together the following ingredients: 

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 1 date
• 1/2 stick celery
• 1/2 banana
• 3 strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups spinach
• 1 handful kale 
• 1/4 avocado
• A few ice cubes

Lunch

I grabbed lunch on the go before my exam. I got a salad with spinach, avocado, tomato, garbanzo beans and sliced turkey at a cafe. I got balsamic vinegar and hummus on the side. I haven't had turkey on a salad in a while; I forgot how good it is! 

Dinner

Finally done with midterms, I was ready to cook a real meal after surviving off of frozen food and library cafe snacks for the past few days. I had time to go to the grocery store, so I decided to make a recipe for sole and mushroom rice that my mom sent me, which she found in The Boston Globe. Like other fish, sole is a good source of omega-3s, protein and vitamins B-12 and D. Sole is very light and mild, so if you're not into really fishy flavors, then it can be your gateway fish. The bread crumbs in the recipe give it a nice, crispy crunch (without taking away from the lightness of the fish), so overall this is a great dish for fish lovers and fish skeptics alike. The mushroom rice was also delicious and paired well with the fish. The recipe for the rice as posted below makes four servings, so you'll have enough to either share or save. 

For the sole (and the soul - 'cause wordplay is fun): 

Ingredients

• 1 filet Dover sole 
• Handful Panko bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon olive oil 
• 1/4 lemon 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sprinkle bread crumbs over sole, drizzle with olive oil and lemon and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bake sole on foil-lined baking sheet for about 12 minutes.
4. Broil for about 2-4 minutes until brown.
5. Top with chopped almonds (optional).

For the rice: 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups water (for the rice)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup long-grain brown rice 
• 1/2 cup red quinoa
• 1 cup water (for the quinoa)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds mixed mushrooms (shiitake, baby portobello or whatever you like), stemmed, caps thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water for the rice and pinch of salt to boil.
2. Add the rice, lower heat and cover.  Simmer for 40-45 minutes or until the rice is tender.
3. Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, toast the quinoa for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Transfer quinoa to bowl.
5. In another saucepan, bring 1 cup water and pinch of salt to boil and add the quinoa. Lower heat and cover; simmer for 20 minutes or until tender.
6. In the skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add half the mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms collapse.  Add the remaining mushrooms and cook, stirring often until they release their liquid and liquid evaporates.
7. Add the mushrooms to the rice with the quinoa.  Stir well.  Taste for seasoning.  Stir in half of the parsley.
8. Transfer to bowl and garnish with remaining parsley.
9. If desired, grate some Parmesan cheese on top! 

This is definitely a more time-consuming recipe than others, but it's totally worth it if you can find the time! So tasty. It would be a great meal to make for a few friends (sole sisters?) on a low-key night. 

“What the f*** happened last night?” Whether you’ve asked that question yourself after waking up on your bathroom floor wearing nothing but one sock and a sombrero, or your friends have texted it to you upon waking up at random guy’s house, or even if you’ve just seen The Hangover, then you know what a blackout is. Blacking out from drinking has become so prevalent and normalized on college campuses that it’s used casually in conversation (“yeah John was so blackout that he was yelling at people on the street in Spanish”) or as a motive for the night (“I’m trying to black out”). But should we really be so nonchalant about this drinking behavior? Why exactly do we blackout, and what are the implications?

We talked to collegiettes and psychiatrist Linda Smith to find out the real deal behind blacking out. You may regret that time you woke up cradling a bottle of tequila, an empty pizza box, and your broken iPhone—but you won’t regret learning about why it happened and how to prevent it in the future.

What is a blackout?  

“A blackout is alcohol-induced amnesia, wherein the person cannot recall some, or all of the events that occurred while she was intoxicated,” Dr. Smith says. “It is not the same as ‘passing out’, which is loss of consciousness due to excessive alcohol consumption. In a blackout, the individual is conscious and awake, and engaging in activities, but later has only partial or no recall for those activities.”

“Sometimes I will only black out part of the night, and not even realize it until someone mentions something that happened that I have no recollection of,” says Julia*, a junior at the University of Michigan. “Like last Saturday morning, I woke up and thought I knew everything I did the night before until my friend sent me a picture of me sitting in a shopping cart on the lawn of our friend’s house…then I had to have my friend explain the entire night to me. It’s a little scary when that happens just because it makes me wonder how many embarrassing things I’ve done and not remembered,” she says. “Blacking out an entire night is even scarier…if something dangerous happened I wouldn't be in control at all.”

The tricky part about blacking out—whether it’s happening to you or a friend—is that you can appear relatively fine (unlike when you’re completely passed out or throwing up), which may fool others into thinking you are aware of what you’re doing and don't need any help. 

“You can't really tell if someone is having a blackout until the next day when they can't recall what happened,” Dr. Smith says. “Because the short-term memory (of the past several minutes) is still intact, someone in a blackout can still engage in activities and look normal...well, drunk, but awake, and talking, moving about, and making decisions—but not necessarily good ones. People report having engaged in a variety of activities they have no memory of, which could be hazardous in their condition, for example driving, spending money, fighting, vandalism.”

Other risky or unwanted activities include going home with a stranger, wandering off somewhere by yourself, having unprotected sex, losing track of your belongings, saying things you don’t mean (or do mean but regret saying), and more.

Why do blackouts happen?

“Blackouts are associated with consumption of large amounts of alcohol; however, the cause appears to be more related to rapid consumption than to total amount, resulting in a rapid rise in Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC),” Dr. Smith says. “A large amount of alcohol quickly enters the brain, seriously disrupting the activities of several neurotransmitters in select areas of the brain.”

Scientifically speaking, as Dr. Smith goes on to explain, quickly drinking large amounts of alcohol can shut down your brain’s glutamate receptors. Those receptors are “primarily responsible for encoding and storing short-term memories and transitioning them into long-term (greater than 30 minutes old) memories, that are then sent for storage in other parts of the brain.” Therefore, when the receptors shut down, short-term memories fail to become long-term ones. “This [process] is thought to be the neurophysiological mechanism behind alcohol blackouts (and Rohypnol, or "roofies" as well),” Dr. Smith says.

Another complicated aspect of blackouts is that there is no exact number of drinks that causes them to occur; everyone’s limits are different and other factors, such as the speed of consumption and type of alcohol, have an impact. “I’ve blacked out after four or five shots before, but then other nights I have had more and remember everything,” Kristen*, a senior at the University of Michigan, says. “My friends and I have come to realize that it totally depends on what we’ve had to eat beforehand and how quickly we are taking shots…most of the times I’ve blacked out are when I was hurriedly pregaming before an event.”

According to the Student Health Services at the University of California, San Diego, blackouts tend to start to occur at a BAC of 0.14-0.17, and become increasingly likely as your BAC gets higher. You can use this BAC calculator to estimate what number of drinks in a given time period will result in that BAC range based on your gender and weight.

Yet another problematic fact about blacking out is that, as collegietes, we are most susceptible to them. “Adolescents and young adults appear to be more susceptible to blackouts than other adults, likely because their brains are still maturing and more vulnerable,” Dr. Smith says. “Women in this age group are more susceptible to blackouts than men, and more at risk for long term brain damage from them, with subtle impairments in learning and memory, spatial awareness, and decision-making. It takes less alcohol to produce a blackout, not only because women weigh less, but also because they have lower levels of the enzymes that help metabolize alcohol.”

What are the risks?

So you already know that blacking out puts you at risk of embarrassing yourself (tripping down the steps at a party, butchering karaoke at the bar, or crying for no reason in the corner), but what are the other possible consequences and concerns?

As previously discussed, you may unknowingly engage in unsafe activities that you would not normally do. This can result in more than just a sense of regret the next day.  In the case of unprotected sex, for example, you could end up contracting an STD or getting pregnant. And an unwanted reputation—because, unfortunately, gossip does spread about “that girl” at the party that drunkenly went upstairs with two different guys throughout the night.

We’ve all heard stories about college students going missing after a night out, or getting sexually assaulted or robbed. When you blackout, you put yourself at risk for getting into one of these extremely dangerous, life-threatening situations because you have no control over or recognition of what you are doing. “My friend blacked out at a date party and wandered off from the group,” collegiette Lauren* says. “She ended up passed out on a sidewalk a few blocks away from the venue…thankfully a nice woman found her and helped her get a cab home, but we were all shaken up the next day thinking about all of the horrible things that could have happened if someone else had found her first or if no one had found her at all.”

Since your BAC is elevated when you are blacked out, you are also more likely to get alcohol poisoning. “Individuals having blackouts are 70% more likely to end the night in the emergency room than someone who's had the same amount to drink, but is not having a blackout,” Dr. Smith says.

In addition to all of those risks, there are also long-term health concerns related to blacking out. “Blackouts are associated with the development of alcohol abuse and/or dependence, though they can also occur among social drinkers,” Dr. Smith says. “It is considered to be a sign of early brain damage from alcohol use.” Not to mention the damage done to your liver from frequent blackouts.

How can you prevent a blackout from happening in the first place?

“As blackouts are related to rapid consuming of alcohol, it follows that drinking more slowly would be helpful in avoiding them,” Dr. Smith says. “Your body can process about 1 drink per hour without a rapid rise in BAC.”

Dr. Smith compiled the following list of tips you can rely on when you go out to ensure that you don’t wake up with Mike Tyson’s tiger in your room like the dudes in The Hangover—or worse.

• Sip your drink, don't gulp.
• Stick to beer, wine, and/or mixed drinks with plenty of mixer. Shots are too easy to drink too fast; you can imbibe a dangerous amount of alcohol before you are even intoxicated. Drinking games tend to promote rapid drinking, so avoid them, or participate with great caution.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Eat before drinking, and continue to eat while drinking; food slows down the absorption rate of alcohol.
• Stay well hydrated.
• Don't drink when ill or sleep-deprived—it will take less alcohol to get you drunk, or in a blackout state.
• Don't mix alcohol with other drugs, or with medications: they may potentiate the effects of alcohol.
• Plan your night's drinking before you start. Set a drink limit for yourself and stick to it. Know your limits, and count your drinks accurately, allowing for extra large or extra strong drinks. Most blackouts occur when drinking hard liquor alone, or with beer.

What should you do if you or someone you are with blacks out? 

So you’ve learned about all the implications of blacking out and you know ways to prevent it—but, let’s not kid ourselves, you’ll likely encounter someone who is blacked out or experience a blackout yourself throughout the rest of your college career. What should you do if this happens?

If you wake up with a fuzzy recollection of last night (or no recollection at all), try to get as many details about your night as possible from people you were with. That way you can determine if there is anything you need to or can do in the light of day to fix any of your mistakes. For example, if you went home with a guy but don't remember what happened, you’re best off talking to him to figure out if you need to take action, such as getting Plan B. Or, if a friend took care of you all night then you’ll know you owe her a big thank you.

When you’re with someone who seems like they are blacked out or in the process of getting there, you should definitely keep on eye on him or her. “If your friend seems drunk but OK, and then you notice that she is having trouble remembering something that happened an hour ago, she may well be on her way to a blackout, and have a spotty memory for the evening tomorrow,” Dr. Smith says. “Dealing with this is much the same as dealing with any friend whose condition worries you. Try to dissuade her from drinking any further, or at least slowing down. Try to divert her away from risky behaviors, and steer her toward things that are safe and familiar. Make sure she doesn't pass out or require medical attention. Don't hesitate to call 911 if you can't wake her up, her breathing is shallow or irregular, or she has clammy skin, or her color is pale or unusual.”

Blacking out on a regular basis should not be ignored or brushed off as a casual part of drinking that results in funny stories the next morning. Due to all of the risks and dangers of blacking out, it’s important to get help from a professional (such as a doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist) to keep your drinking habits in check. Dr. Smith points out that, “most colleges have health services and counseling centers that offer information, advice, special programs, and /or treatment for substance use issues.”

Take advantage of the resources on your campus to make sure that you and your friends are safe. Because as funny as it may be to hear about that girl who woke up on the couch of the 24-hour Starbucks on campus in her dress from last night, blacking out is a serious matter that can have grave consequences—don’t risk it.

Sometimes, you can be having such a great night out that you never want it to end. Unfortunately, when you want a night to end and when it should end aren't always the same time. Here are a few signs that it might just be time to call it a night and go to bed.

1. Your heels hurt too bad to wear anymore, so you start carrying them around (or lose them completely).

2. You buy a round of shots for a group of strangers you just met at the bar.

3. You fall down a flight of stairs—or trip up them.

4. You make lunch plans with someone you don’t plan on ever talking to again.

5. You send more than three mass Snapchats.

6. You tell your deepest, darkest secret to a girl who lived on your hall freshman year… and your ex-hook-up’s roommate… and the bartender…

7. You hug your roommates and tell them how much you love them multiple times.

8. You accept an invitation to an “after-party” at some random guy’s apartment.

9. You request that the DJ play “Timber”… for the fifth time.

10. You find yourself strangely attracted to the geeky guy who sits next to you in your lit class.

11. You pick a fight with a girl whom you claim cut you in the bathroom line.

12. You text your ex to tell him how much you miss him.

13. You don’t know where any of your friends are—and it doesn’t really faze you.

14. You publicly make out with more than two people whose names you don’t know.

15. You have a sudden, overpowering desire for greasy, fried food.

The never-ending stream of TV shows and ads about losing more weight, getting smaller waists and achieving skinnier legs makes it seem as if you aren't beautiful until you've tried the latest fad diet and managed to squeeze into a size negative two dress. Let's admit it: the constant pressure for self-improvement can get a bit exhausting! What happened to appreciating your body just the way it is?

It's easy to forget about all the amazing things your body is doing every moment you talk, walk, think and breathe. It works hard around the clock to keep you functioning so you're able to attend all of your classes, go to sports practices and enjoy your favorite extracurricular activities. So instead of striving to make your body look impossibly perfect, show yourself some love by appreciating your body's strength, functionality and beauty. Take a look below at nine reasons why your body is truly amazing!

1. Your Eyes

Your eyes can process 36,000 bits of information every hour, distinguish about 10 million colors and also express your colorful personality—those are definitely some eye-catching qualities! Her Campus How She Got There Editor Kelsey Mulvey loves her eyes because they "look super brown one day, and oddly green the next,” she says. “Personally, I love it! I feel like you can't accurately describe my hair and eye color. Instead, I'm uniquely myself.”

2. Your Nose

Your nose lends character to your face and makes you recognizable. You wouldn't look your beautiful self without the one that you have right now! Your nose can also remember 50,000 different scents (an excuse to go perfume shopping), and it's a fact that women are born better smellers than men and stay better smellers for the rest of their lives. Let's also not forget that your nose makes it possible for you to experience all of those amazingly delicious flavors whenever you dig into a meal, since flavors result from a combination from both taste and smell. Loving your nose makes perfect scents (pun intended)!

3. Your Arms

Your strong arms allow you to do everything from hugging to playing sports, and they can even be used as a canvas for art. University of Rochester junior Katherine Varga says, "I really like my arms because they're covered with freckles. When I'm bored, I connect the dots on them to form constellations."

4. Your Chest

Has any other body part ever been so celebrated in art, literature, pop culture or life in general? From paintings of Greek goddesses and pictures of pin-up girls to modern-day lingerie ads, there’s a lot of hype about that region of our bodies. No matter which bra size you wear, be proud of your femininity. After all, who run the world? Girls!

5. Your Stomach/Waist

Women have a lot of guts—literally! The lower portion of the colon, called the sigmoid colon, tends to be longer in women than in men. Also, about 80 percent of your immune system resides in your gut, so you can thank your stomach for keeping you strong and healthy.

6. Your Hips

It's basically historically proven that curves are beautiful (think the original supermodels of the past and Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé of today). It's also scientifically proven that smart women have curvy hips, so embrace yours!

7. Your Butt

Your glutes are a powerful muscle group that represents both power and femininity. The gluteus maximus is the biggest muscle in your entire body and allows you to walk and run upright. It also doesn't hurt that your assets make your new pair of jeans look amazing! It's no wonder that both Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue have insured their backsides for millions.

8. Your Thighs/Legs

It takes 200 muscles to take just a single step, so your legs are a real powerhouse! Your thighbone is stronger than concrete and is the longest bone in your body, measuring about a quarter of your height. Bigger thighs have also been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Strong legs are so in! Just look at Beyoncé—she doesn't have a thigh gap, but she's considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her thighs even have their own Facebook fan page!

9. Your Skin

Your skin does so much more than make you look presentable—without it, you'd just evaporate! It also guards the body against extreme temperatures, sunlight, chemicals and infections. It's magically recuperative and elastic; humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin per hour, so your entire outer layer of skin replaces itself once a month like a waterproof, self-cleaning fortress (talk about a new you!).

So the next time that little negative voice in your head starts to say mean things about your body, remember all the wonderful things your body does for you. Admire all your body parts equally, because each is an extension of who you are. Love and respect your body, and it will love and respect you back!

Go ahead and treat yourself to some pizza, indulge in some chocolate or take a nice, long bubble bath (or all three!) —your body deserves it. Beauty comes in all sizes, shapes and forms; always remember that your body is already beautiful just the way it is.

Just in time for Women’s History Month, CoverGirl has released their latest commercial emphasizing the phrase, “Girls Can,” as part of the newest Girls Can movement that CoverGirl has become a part of.

Soledad O’Brien, an acclaimed journalist and documentarian, as well as her production company, Starfish Media Group, have partnered with the Brad Raymond Starfish Foundation to play a role in this new commercial movement. The Starfish Foundation's mission is to provide necessary resources and mentorship to young women who are hard at work chasing their dreams. All of the organizations have a common commitment: providing advocacy and awareness towards the empowerment of young women.

In addition to the newest CoverGirl commercial, O’Brien and her foundation are going to be creating a series of true stories that dig deep into the untold struggles that young women face. These include setbacks that girls face in the areas of higher education, working in their chosen field, or becoming an entrepreneur. The project will seek to turn every “can’t” into a “can” so that girls can achieve their dreams. For first-hand insight, the series will also include lessons from women that have had success through assistance from O’Brien’s foundation. The series plans on releasing within the next few months.

Additionally, the Starfish Foundation will be building mentor programs and expanding their educational opportunities to more women around the country. CoverGirl will be helping by making a commitment to support additional programming and will provide funds for scholarships that the Foundation uses to send the girls in the program to college every year.

To get involved with the movement, you’re invited to share the “can’t” that you’ve turned into a “can” in the comments section of the CoverGirl YouTube page and start using the hashtag #GirlsCan!

Tired of having to sort out the “nice guys” from the “bad boys”? Want to move up from one-night stand to full-time girlfriend, but unsure of how to do so? Stop worrying, because Real Live College Guy Dale is finally here to help with all of your collegiette love kerfuffles and help steer you clear of any unnecessary drama during your brief but ever-important time in college.

I've been friends with this one guy (let's call him "Jack") since I was little. I started liking him as more than just friends when I was in eighth grade, but I didn't tell him how I felt until I was a sophomore in high school. He told me that he didn't feel the same way and that he didn't want a girlfriend at the time. I spent the next few years trying to rid myself of my feelings for him.

Now, we're both a few years into college, and I'm starting to fall for him all over again. The most recent time we hung out, he paid for everything we did, but I'm not sure if he was just doing this as a kind gesture or if it was a date. He has lots of friends who are girls, and I'm not quite sure where I stand! – Confused at Central Michigan

Confused,

A lot of guys have gotten used to having to paying for everything (or at least offering to) when going out with a woman, regardless of whether or not there are romantic implications at all. Many of us are taught that paying for everything is chivalrous.

I’ve been in a situation not too different from yours. I met a girl in high school, and for years we were the school’s “will-they-won’t-they” duo. We went through periods of liking each other to actually and actively disliking each other, but we never actually dated because I could never get a proper read on her feelings (and I never got the guts to man up and ask her out, but that’s an issue for another article). Ultimately, this led to my decision to completely ignore her for a year after we graduated just so I could get rid of my feelings for her. It worked, and we have since resumed communication and are now better friends than before.

Even still, whenever we meet up at Starbucks, I almost always ask her if she wants something, even though I know she’ll turn me down. I don’t do this because I still have feelings for her; I do it because I was taught that when you go somewhere with someone, you offer to get something for that person. But this lesson goes for any of my friends (guys included), not just people I’m romantically interested in.

So unfortunately, Confused, I don’t think that his paying for everything means that he wants to start dating you. That said, a lot of time has passed between high school and now, so it’s entirely possible that he realized he does have feelings for you. I don’t want you to get your hopes up, though. Just because it’s a possibility doesn’t mean it’s a probability. You did say that he has lots of friends who are girls, after all.

Where do you go from here? Ask him if he wants to go out again. Call it “hanging out,” or call it an actual date, but see how he responds if he says yes. An enthusiastic agreement might mean you finally have a shot, whereas an answer like “let me check my schedule” (or something equally as apathetic) might mean that he’s just looking to be friends.

Be proactive. Take the bull by the horns and make an effort to really find out where you stand.

If you’ve been in college for at least a year, chances are somebody has spoken to you about the importance of networking, telling you that the most likely way you’ll land a job after graduation is through networking with alumni from your university, your professors, employers you meet at job fairs, etc. But what exactly is networking? The task itself seems both daunting and confusing.

So in order to help you out as you enter the world of “networking”—and to ease your fears a little bit—HC has spoken to Tom Dezell, author of Networking for the Novice, Nervous, or Naïve Job Seeker, and asked him to breakdown the process for collegiettes.

How to start the networkingprocess

You’ve been told you should start “networking with professionals,” so now what? First, make sure you’re taking advantage of the opportunities happening right on campus—events scheduled by your college or university’s career center and alumni office. This is often the easiest way to start because professionals are coming to your school specifically to talk to students like you. Therefore, people will be more than happy to speak to you. Just make sure you have an idea of what you’d like to say about yourself and any questions you’d like to ask these professionals.

Dezell says the next step you should take is researching any professional associations in your area (such as the Public Relations Society of America, if you’re a public relations major) and contacting somebody to ask if you can attend meetings or events. Some organizations might even have mentor programs for students or recent graduates.

“I love networking! It’s great to make connections with people in your field of interest,” says Erica Avesian, a Her Campus contributing writer and student at the University of Michigan. “I go to alumni networking events at my school and keep in contact with people I have interned for or worked with in the past. I also network with people my age who have the same career interests as me. It’s great to bounce ideas off of each other and share valuable connections.”

If you’re a senior, you can take networking a step further. Chances are you’ve already come into contact with a number of professors and working professionals that have expressed their desire to give you advice. “Keep a record of all these people, because you will want to contact them to take them up on their offer,” Dezell says.

The best way to keep a record of these people is to create a Google spreadsheet. Include the person’s name, contact information, professional title/organization, Twitter handle, when/where you met them and anything else you remember about your interaction—following this example:

Lauren Feinstein
ABC Company
Senior Account Executive
Lauren@abcco.com
555-555-5555
Located in Los Angeles
Met at job fair (January 2012), discussed ways I should improve my resume

In order to keep yourself from getting all of this information jumbled, add a final column where you can update the information. If you send the person a follow-up email after meeting them (which you should!), note this in your spreadsheet.

Heather Rinder, a Her Campus contributing writer and recent grad of Syracuse University, is using her most helpful contacts—previous bosses from her internships—for the post-grad job search. “I emailed them around December or January to remind them that I will be graduating this May,” Heather says. “I asked them to please let me know if they knew of any openings that they would be willing to recommend me for.”

Conquering the fear of putting yourself out there

If you’ve never been to a networking event, you might be a little fearful. Who should you try to speak to? What should you say? How can you get past awkward silences? However, like most things, networking becomes easier with practice.

“When attending your first events, ask friends in your same major to attend as well,” Dezell says. “This will not only help with anxieties, but make you less likely to bail out. Just avoid the temptation to become wallflowers and only speak with each other. Split up for 30 minutes to meet people, then get back together to compare notes.”

Once you’ve gotten brave enough to approach people, what should you say? Well, the worst thing you could do is to shake hands and stare at the person blankly for a couple minutes. Luckily, this can be avoided by a little preparation beforehand. First, you should walk up with confidence, being timid won’t help you out! Then, shake the person’s hand firmly and say, “Hi I’m Rebecca, how are you doing today?” Dezell suggests preparing a 30-second introduction about yourself, which should include what you’re studying, what information you’re looking for and any other pertinent information you think the person should know about you.

It’s also important that you come prepared with questions for the person, which can often help the conversation flow. Some standard questions include asking how they got started in the industry, what types of things they work on during an average day and what they suggest you do as a student looking to break into that industry.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that any situation could turn into networking, beyond just job fairs and school events. Therefore, it’s important to always be prepared. “Whenever I go out, I have my business cards at all times,” says Elyssa Goodman, Her Campus style editor. “I went to one event where I met the editor of a new magazine and she said she’d love to take a look at my work. I gave her my card with my website, she checked it out, and contacted me the next day to write for her!”

How to use informational interviews

At times, people will tell you that they’re not hiring, but would love to meet with you for an informational interview—which is yet another opportunity for you to meet with people in the industry and expand your contacts. So what exactly is an informational interview? The concept is actually pretty basic. The interviewer wants to learn a little about you, just as you want to learn a little about the interviewer and the company that he or she represents. Essentially, it is the same as a real interview, except without the possibility of an immediate job opening within the company.

The best source for finding people to have informational interviews is to contact those who have already offered to help you and ask them to go out for coffee because you have a few questions. While at these meetings with people you already know, ask them for any referrals of other people they might know in your desired industry. Send an email to these referrals requesting an informational interview. Before you know it, you’ll have a number of these informational interviews lined up.

“In preparing for these informational interviews, develop an introduction that outlines your degree/major, along with why you chose this and what you seek,” Dezell says. “It will be more longer and more detailed than the introduction you give at a networking event. Add that you’re also exploring what other opportunities may be out there that you haven’t considered. The focus of these meetings is to seek advice. DON’T ask for job referrals. Trust that you make a favorable impression, the referrals will follow.”

Using social media as a networking tool

If you don’t have a LinkedIn or a Twitter account, you’re missing out on a great resource for both networking and job searching.

Dezell recommends that students create a LinkedIn profile and begin to explore the site’s potential. “Check out the sites of desired companies and see what connections you may have that could provide information/contacts on the company,” he says. “Associations will have pages and groups, so join these as well. Look out for announcements of events you can attend.”

With Twitter being one of the primary social media tools currently used, you can connect with people all over the world who have similar interests as you. For example, if you’re interested in advertising, you can follow people who work at advertising agencies. Chances are, they will follow you back and you might even engage in some advertising-related conversations.

“Another way to use Twitter is to follow the thought leaders in your desired fields, as well as those at desired companies,” Dezell says. “This will keep you abreast of industry trends as well as help prepare for job interviews. By seeing what type of information a hiring manager sends out on Twitter, you can gauge what he or she believes is most important. This can be great preparation for a successful job interview.”

Still scared? Don’t worry, it might take a while for you to get a hang of the whole networking thing. But pretty soon you might even find yourself liking it.

So get started networking now collegiettes, you’ll be glad you did. Good luck!

Your long-awaited spring break trip is almost here, and you have no idea what to pack. You only have a carry-on, but you’re expected to be prepared for every occasion while also embracing the spontaneity of collegiate spring break. Packing multipurpose items and ones that take up little space in your suitcase can maximize your wardrobe and ensure you will have an outfit for every crazy night on the town or day of shopping with your girlfriends. Read on for the 13 wardrobe essentials you won’t want to forget when you pack for your spring break trip!

1. A Swimsuit

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the warm weather this spring break, pack a few bathing suits to show off the beach body you’ve been slaving over all winter. Packing more than one suit will give you variety and will ensure that you won’t be stuck throwing on a cold, damp bikini for your second beach trip of the day. Bathing suits take up virtually no room in your suitcase, so this is one clothing item you can definitely load up on!

Victoria’s Secret Bandeau Top and Bottoms, $43 - $57

Bandeau tops are a great way to avoid those pesky tan lines, and with the variety of affordable options provided by Victoria’s Secret, you can easily mix and match your bikini colors and patterns for a unique swimsuit.

Billabong Color Triangle Bikini Top, $40

If traditional triangle bikinis are more your style, try a fun, patterned one like this swimsuit from Billabong. The color-blocked print will be sure to turn heads at the beach, and the neon colors will perfectly accent your tan. 

2. Rubber Flip-Flops

The salt and sand at the beach can weather your favorite shoes quickly, so for a more resilient option, pack some rubber sandals. Rubber flip-flops will protect the soles of your feet from the hot sand, but they can be easily rinsed with water and restored like new.

Havaianas Slim Sandals, $26

Havaianas offers hundreds of rubber flip-flops in a range of colors and styles to suit your tastes. These flip-flops are both durable and comfortable, and with their slim fit, they lack the bulkiness of a lot of other flip-flops, so they’ll be easy to pack.

Old Navy Classic Rubber Flip-Flops, $2.50

Yes, you read the price correctly! Old Navy is famous for offering amazing deals on their Classic Flip-Flops, so buy a few of these essential items!

3. A Beach Cover-Up

You’ll be probably be running back and forth to the hotel, the beach and the pool during your trip, and while it might not always be appropriate to only wear a bikini in public, throwing a cover-up over your suit can make it perfectly acceptable. These dress cover-ups are cute and practical, transforming your swimsuit into an outfit instantly.  

Victoria’s Secret Tie-Waist Cover-Up, $59.50

This tie-waist cover-up from Victoria’s Secret is the perfect dress to wear over your swimsuit while you run out to lunch. It’s great to throw over your suit on a chilly day and save you from having to put together an entire outfit that you have to change in and out of.

Free People Lace Trapeze Slip, $88

This cute Free People dress doubles as a cover-up but can be worn on its own or with leggings. The versatile piece comes in a variety of colors, so choose one you love in order to show off your personal style.

4. A Hat

Prevent sun damage while you’re lying in the sand with high-SPF sunscreen and a hat to shield your face. While baseball caps are cute and practical, try one of these hats for a more stylish option. Your skin will thank you, and your new UV protection doubles as the perfect accessory.

J.Crew Summer Straw Hat, $34.50

A large straw hat goes above and beyond the call of duty as both a stylish and practical summer accessory. No need to limit its use just to the beach, because it can dress up an outfit instantly and shade your face during an outdoor lunch.

American Apparel Floppy Summer Hat, $38

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, try one of the colorful, floppy summer hats from American Apparel. This accessory can be matched to your outfit and will surely turn heads as you strut around the beach.

5. Sunglasses

Shield your eyes from the sun’s harsh glare with some stylish shades. Pack a few pairs in case you lose one. With a couple of styles to choose from, you’ll be able to customize your look completely. 

American Apparel Delta Sunglasses, $45

This rounded pair of sunglasses is a new twist on the classic aviator style. Few things feel as glamorous as wearing some big shades and a large hat while you lay in the sun. Indulge your inner celebrity status with this pair from American Apparel.

6. Shorts

Shorts are a staple in any spring or summer wardrobe. Pack some denim shorts for everyday wear and a chino or linen pair that you can dress up or down.

American Eagle Dark Denim Shortie, $39.95

These classic dark-wash jean shorts can be thrown over some bathing suit bottoms or worn for a day out on the town.

J.Crew 3” Chino Short, $45

A pair of colored chino shorts will add variety to your wardrobe and can be dressed up or down for a day or night look.

7. Tank Tops

“Suns out, guns out” isn’t just for the boys! Show some shoulder this spring break with fun and flirty tank tops. Tank tops will take up very little room in your suitcase and can easily be thrown on over a bathing suit or worn with some shorts. 

American Eagle Crocheted Crinkle Tank, $34.95

The perfect daytime top, this detailed white tank goes perfectly with denim shorts for a shopping trip or lunch with friends.

Tobi Eyes On Me Top, $36

This floral top is feminine, fun and perfect for your spring break trip. Pair it with shorts or dress it up with a cute miniskirt for a going-out look.

8. A Sundress

Show some leg with a short, summery sundress. Sundresses provide a whole outfit in just one simple clothing item, fitting into your suitcase perfectly and leaving room for fun accessories like a large hat and wedges.

Pacsun LA Hearts Babydoll Dress, $34.95

A fit-and-flare floral dress is girly without being too dressy. The cotton material makes this dress a little more casual; it’s great for a daytime look for brunch with the girls.

9. A Going-Out Dress

While on break, you’ll be spending your days at the beach your nights out on the town. It can be difficult to pack for both, but with nicer dresses, you can pack a variety of options without weighing down your suitcase.

Tobi Sailing Barbados Dress, $52

This low-back option comes in bright, summery colors to show off the glow you’ve been baking in the sun for. Paired with some wedges or heels, it’s a great option for a bar night or dinner with friends. The ruffled edging along the front and back give the dress and especially girly look.

Forever 21 Sweet Side Bodycon Dress, $12.80

The lace detailing on the top of the dress shows a more feminine side, while the dark color and form-fitting shape adds edge.

10. A Cross-body Bag

Especially while traveling somewhere unfamiliar, it’s important to keep the essentials on you at all times: your cell phone, money, credit cards, ID, gum, lip gloss and room key, to name a few. Bring a cross-body bag with you to hold all of your essentials when you go out. If you wear it all night, you won’t have to worry about putting your bag down and forgetting it while you’re out.

Urban Outfitters Cooperative Sage Tassel Cross-body Bag, $42

The light coloring of this Urban Outfitters cross-body bag is perfect for the summer, while the tassel gives it a little extra personality and fun. This small bag is compact and light but has enough room to hold your phone and other essentials when you go out.

11. Wedges

While flip-flops are practical footwear options for the beach, you’ll want to wear other shoes for dressier occasions. Wedges are a summery option that are often much more comfortable than standard heels. They provide stability and comfort while giving you height. Elongate your legs and show off your bikini body with a pair of cute wedges that can be worn day or night.

Steve Madden Roperr Wedges, $79.95

Steve Madden has a variety of options for strappy wedges, but these Roperr sandals come in a beige and camel design that makes them versatile. Pair these with a sundress during the day or your going-out dress at night.

Nordstrom BP. ‘Springs Wedge’ Sandal, $59.95

Taupe wedges are a great neutral option, which means you can pack just one pair of shoes for virtually any outfit. The heel is high enough to be very flattering but low enough to be comfortable and easy to walk in.

12. A Beach Bag

We always bring our bulkiest items to the beach. Whether it’s our towel or our book that’s taking up the most space, it’s annoying to have all of our beach essentials in one arm and a beach chair in the other. A large canvas bag will be able to withstand the sand while holding the five magazines that you just had to bring.

Pacsun Billabong Seashell Fad Tote Bag, $59.95

A large tote bag like this one by Billabong is both a cute accessory and a practical way to carry all of your spring break essentials. The material will hold up against the sun and sand at the beach. The bag can double as a carry-on as you travel to and from your spring break destination. Just swap out your computer and sweater for a towel and your favorite book, and you’ll be ready to hit the beach!

13. A Light Jacket

The whole point of your spring break trip may be to escape the cold, but don’t expect your destination to be warm all the time. Even in Florida, the nights can still get pretty chilly, so pack a sweater or light jacket for the cooler days of your vacation.

Gap 1969 denim jacket, $69.95

A denim jacket is a light and stylish option to throw over your sundress or tank tops. This is a timeless choice that is great for transitioning between seasons, so keep it on hand for every occasion!

Urban Outfitters Kimchi Blue Open Stitch Cardigan, $49

Open-knit sweaters like the Open Stitch Cardigan from Urban Outfitters can be thrown over an outfit as a stylish accessory. Pack this light sweater in your beach bag for windier days by the water.

So pull your shorts and tank tops out from storage and dust off your flip-flops, because spring break will be here before you know it. If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the beach, be sure to pack more than just a swimsuit with our list of spring break wardrobe essentials. Stay cool, enjoy the sun and be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen!