Because of high school educations that aren’t up to par, new college students are often made to take“developmental” courses to round out their schooling in preparation for college, according to NPR. These classes are required for graduation, but don't usually count for college credit. Students do, however, have to pay for the cost of these courses.

According to Education Reform Now, a non-profit organization, students who are forced to take remedial courses are “74 percent more likely to drop out of college.” This could be due to the addition of costs, stigma surrounding remedial courses, or the added stress of more work, among other reasons.

The fact is that high schools, public and private, should be preparing students enough for college that no one has to face additional schooling—and the fees that come with it. All the extra classes and extra time ramps up costs for everybody.

We know that student debt is paralyzing and affects more individuals than ever, so the fact that high schools aren’t doing their jobs simply isn’t acceptable. This is a problem for students of all class backgrounds, and “students from families in the top income quintile” end up paying the most for remedial courses. These students might traditionally go to more rigorous private high schools, but clearly there are issues there as well.

"Imagine how much more affordable college could be if we could get more students to graduate and graduate on time," Michael Dannenberg, a co-author of the report, said in a press release. "You used to get a four-year degree in four years. Today, the typical student takes five years to complete a bachelor’s degree."

If we are all supposed to graduate from college and be contributing members of society, that possibility is bleak given the reality of student debt. Compounding it with remedial courses that high school should have covered is going to make college a possibility for fewer and fewer individuals.

Caitlyn Jenner's long-awaited MAC Cosmetics lipstick, Finally Free, is now available online and in stores today. In addition, the cosmetics powerhouse also released the photos from the 66-year-old reality star's campaign.

Jenner's collaboration with the company was first announced in February. She explained to MAC in an interview that she wanted give the lipstick a name that was representative of herself and the transgender community as a whole. 

"This is who I am: Finally Free," she said.

She also explained earlier this year that working on a project with a beauty was a dream come true for her. 

"My ultimate fantasy—I never thought in a million years that it would ever happen—was to get involved with a makeup company," she said. "When you're going through all of this, that's just, like, never going to happen, but wouldn't it be something to be involved in a project like that? Boy, watch out what you wish for, because it came true."

The lipstick is a rosy color and will sell at $17 per tube. All of the proceeds will benefit the MAC AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative.

It seems that petty fighting between presidential candidates might not be limited to just the Republican side of the race. On Wednesday in Philadelphia, Bernie Sanders outright stated “that he does not believe Hillary Clinton is qualified to be president," according to The Washington Post.

After Sanders won the Wisconsin primary at 56.6 percent on Tuesday, things seem to be heating up between the two candidates. Hillary Clinton herself has been attacking Sanders, criticizing his stance on gun legislation and his allegiance to the Democratic party, as well as the viability of his ideas. In an interview with MSNBC, Clinton said that Sanders hasn’t “done his homework” and has spent most of his campaign talking about policies and implementations “that he obviously [hasn’t] really studied or understood.”

This is largely politics as usual, as each candidate wants to attack the other’s vulnerabilities if it means they’ll come out on top. No matter who you’re voting for, it’s hard to say that any of this election cycle’s frontrunners have remained above lowball insults aimed at their opponents.

Clinton might currently have more delegates (1,749 to Sanders’s 1,061—though the gap is smaller without superdelegates), her remarks on Wednesday demonstrate that this race is going to be fought until the very end, and it’s likely to be a close one. As the we get closer and closer to November, candidates on both sides are likely to get even more feisty.

Where do you land? Should these candidates stop criticizing one another and actually talk about issues at hand, or is this kind of behavior just inherent to American politics? Do you like the drama of it all? Let us know!

Columbia University students are losing their chill over a new sculpture being installed on campus, the Huffington Post reports.

Reclining Figure, by the late artist Henry Moore, is set to be installed on Columbia's central lawn, but students are concerned that the work will tarnish the beauty of their historic campus. A pleading but witty editorial written by an alumni and three students, published in the Columbia Daily Spectator and cleverly titled "Statue of Limitations," reads:

"As both inheritors and wards of our beautiful campus, we object to this desecration of our home. We also condemn the administration’s surreptitious launch of this offensive project."

Columbia is home to several famous sculptures, including their most distinguished, Alma Mater, which sits in front of the Low Memorial Library—directly across from Butler Library, the area in front of which has been chosen to house Reclining Figure.

"Moore’s monstrosity besmirches our library, our athenaeum, with its arrogant middle finger to the world," the editorial reads.

The protests have even grown to include a popular online petition, and some students are calling for the statue to be sold to pay for a 24-hour rape crisis center (a worthy cause at any college), according to the Huffington Post.

The students finished their editorial with a message of optimism, writing:

"We cling to some hope that it’s not too late—and that Alma Mater won’t have to stare at that ugly hunk of metal for the rest of goddamn time."

A Gap Kids ad was pulled recently after gaining attention on Twitter for being racially insensitive, Refinery29 reports.

The ad, which is part of the Gap Kids x ED campaign (a collaboration with Ellen Degeneres), is under fire for the body language of the girls in the photo—a white girl leaning on a young black girl, while two other white girls pose theatrically.

The two girls in the middle are actually sisters, Business Insider reported Thursday. In a recent tweet, the girls' mother fought back against the backlash.

A spokeswoman for the girls in the photo, Nathalie Yves Gaulthier, responded to the controversy, saying, "The child in the ad is not an 'armrest,' she's the other girl's little sister, they are a very close family," Refinery29 reports. The spokeswoman even stated that she and Le Petit Cirque (the organization affiliated with the young models), stand by Gap and Degeneres, according to Business Insider.

Despite the company's explanation, the ad was pulled Monday, and will be replaced in the campaign, Refinery29 reports. This is just the latest in a long line of racially insensitive issues that have snuck past many media professionals.

With warm weather just around the corner, most of us have “bikini bodies” on the brain. But what does that mean, exactly? It seems a little bit ridiculous that mainstream culture would have us believe that only one really specific type of body actually qualifies as a beach body. Here are 7 women who prove that every body is a bikini body!

1. Michelle Elman

Body confidence coach Michelle Elman is all about self-love and the body positivity movement. After undergoing over 15 different surgeries by the time she was 20, Elman started the “Scarred not Scared” campaign to help women become more comfortable with their bodies and gain the confidence they deserve. She is a huge advocate for her cause, frequently speaking out about it both on television and on social media. Michelle doesn’t let negativity get to her head, showing nothing but love for her detractors. “My response to most of these [negative comments] are ones of kindness; I thank them for taking the time to read the article and sharing their opinion,” Michelle says. “The intention of the blog post and my campaign is to talk about scars and bring awareness to surgery scars, the conversation of my weight is irrelevant and is my business.” We love that, just like we love Michelle!

2. Becky Freeman

On her blog Fashion Food Fotos, Becky Freeman writes about—well, fashion, food and photography! She’s also a firm believer in setting your own standards, and not comparing yourself to celebrities or Instagram models. “It would be better to just try to be the healthiest, happiest version of yourself year-round than to let yourself fluctuate in a cycle of spin classes, pizza, and self-hatred," Becky says. "Secondly, we need to stop comparing ourselves to celebrities. We are not them. When you have millions of dollars, no 9 to 5, and it's literally your job to look that flawless, trust me, you can and you will. The focus should be on finding swimwear that fits your body, not the other way around.” This seems so obvious when we think about it!

3. Tiffany Gonzales 

Tiffany Gonzales is currently at work writing the Bible—the Fashion Bible, that is. The Miami-based fashion blogger and publicist keeps her readers up to date on her favorite products and outfits, and wants every one of her readers to feel comfortable in her own skin. “We don't know the struggles each woman may face with her body,” Tiffany says. “Instead of judging her for being too big or too small or too fit, we should encourage her beauty, because at the end of the day, we never know what that person may be going through and rude comments can really damage someone.” We couldn’t agree more!

Related: Women's Health Bans the Term 'Bikini Body'

4. Veronica Grey

It seems like there’s nothing that surfer, author, activist, supermodel and documentary-filmmaker Veronica Grey can’t do. She definitely spends a lot of time on the beach, surfing and educating people about the sharks she works hard to protect. She thinks anybody who wants to wear a bikini should totally go for it. “Who wants to spend all summer indoors, or even worse, wearing too much coverage with unforgiving tan lines?" Veronica asks. "It is a known statistic that the #1 fear in America is public speaking or public appearances. The #2 fear is death. People would rather die than make a bad impression." With all the work she’s been doing lately, Veronica has focused on bigger things than worrying about what other people think of her. Her fearlessness and go-getting attitude are majorly inspiring. You go, Veronica!

5. Christina Mendez

Plus-size model Christina Mendez is proud of her curves, and with good reason! The New York fashionista has modeled for Baby Phat, House of Dereon and BET, among many others. She rocks every outfit she puts on, and the companies she works for think so, too, which is something that she finds a major motivation. “As a professional plus-size model, I am not immune to criticism regarding my body,” Christina says. When she gets negative comments, she says they’re ”hurtful for about 30 seconds. But then I remember that I was hired by the company because they thought I looked good the way I am without losing any weight.” This year, and in 2014 and 2013, she walked the runway at New York Fashion Week. She has some advice for young women who might be struggling with their body image: “Know that you are beautiful and embrace the beauty within you! I've struggled with body issues all my life but once I decided to embrace my given curves everything became clearer,” she says. “I keep myself surrounded with positive people and I make sure to say at least 3 things I love about myself.” We think she’s an awesome model and an awesome role model. You rock, Christina!

6. Mari Draughon

The Goofy Mermaid, aka fashion blogger Mari Draughon, is dedicated to living a green, organic lifestyle. After being diagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis in 2014, she wanted to reach out on a larger platform and speak about issues of health and beauty, among other things. Her diagnoses really changed the way she looked at the choices she was making. “I became more mindful of my choices and adopted a more organic way of living—which not only includes what I put into my body, but what I put onto it as well," Mari says. That mindfulness resulted in a deeper connection with my body and a better understanding of what exactly it does for me each day." She believes that self-care is super important, and that it isn’t worth it to try out diet fads or perform extreme amounts of excercise. “Love and nurture your body and it will love and nurture you in return,” Mari says. “You don’t have to put it through dangerous diets and strenuous exercise in order to feel good, instead nurture it with wholesome foods and positive thoughts and I promise your body image will change. You may still have cellulite, but you’ll be healthy and a healthy body is a beautiful body.” Thanks for the advice, Mari!

7. Aniesia Williams

Brand executive, journalist and digital strategist Aniesia Williams is big on helping people with communicating. The North Carolina native and LA transplant is a huge proponent of confidence, and finds it to be a really important aspect of living a full life. “As plus-size ladies, we want to look and feel like our 'faux bikinis' are cute on the beach too!" Aniesia says. "If you aren't confident in who you are and your body, it can mess with your head and affect the way you live your life.” With her new contracts with major car companies and her recent trip to Hong Kong for Business of Design Week, Aniesia’s got a lot to be proud of. She was even named the Social Media Influencer of the Year in 2013. “I am so comfortable in my skin,” Aniesia says. “It's all about being healthy, confident, and sexy at any size.” It sure is! Aniesia’s book is totally one we’re going to be taking a page or two from.

Bikini bodies are all about confidence. And the weather’s getting warmer, so head down to the beach—you look great already!

If your mom is as obsessed with food as you are (she taught you everything you know), she'll love a foodie-themed present this Mother's Day. From next-level kitchen essentials to DIY gifts that will turn her into a pro chef, these gift ideas are sure to please. 

UNDER $25 

Travel Tumbler, $16, available at Vera Bradley

For the mom that’s always on-the-go, this tumbler includes a screw-on lid, is BPA-free and has a flexible straw. 

Off to the Market Notepad, $9.50, available at Rifle Paper Co.

She'll love to jot down her grocery list on this pretty notepad.

Cat Study Pot Holder, $12, available at Anthropologie

For cat-lady moms who also love to bake, there's no better gift than this.

Glass Tea Bottle, $25, available at Food52

Substitute her boring thermos for an elegant glass bottle that will let her take her cup of tea on the road.

UNDER $50

Daffodils Nesting Meauring Cups, $32, available at West Elm

Brighten up her spring with these ceramic, flower-inspired measuring cups.

Try the World Gift Box, $39, available at Try the World

We're obsessed with this new subscription service and your foodie mom will be too. Each box has 7-8 delicacies from a certain country.

Capri Recipe Box, $34, available at Rifle Paper Co.

If your mom is old school with her treasured recipes, she'll appreciate this dainty tin, which includes cards inside.

Eco Seed Starter Kit Tea Series, $30, available at Fab.com

DIY tea! Sprout seeds in jars and then transfer to pots with soil. By summertime, she'll be sipping on fresh-brewed tea.

Mobile Foodie Survival Kit, $26, available at Plant Brooklyn

All true foodies carry spices in their bags in case of emergencies.

DIY Goat Cheese Kit, $28, available at Food52

It's not as hard to make your own cheese as you think. She can whip up some delicious homemade cheese with only 10 minutes kitchen time and a few hours wait.

Notions Apron, $28, available at Anthropologie

Perfect for the whimsical baker who doesn't mind getting a bit dirty in the kitchen.

OVER $50

Red-Handed Italian Kitchen Knives, starting at $185, available at Food52

By no means cheap, but if you and your siblings want to go in on an epic foodie present, let us recommend these next-level knives. No hardcore chef is complete without them.

Copper French Press, $50, available at Crate & Barrel

Beautiful AND functional, this French press is a gorgeous accent to any coffee connisseur's tabletop.

Marble & Wood Serving Board, $68, available at Terrain

This serving board is perfect for the mom who can't get enough of cheese plates. Not to mention it serves as a pretty Instagram backdrop ;)

We couldn't be happier that darty season in full swing. After all, who doesn't love having fun in the sunshine with their friends all day? Although drinking beer and listening to live music seems rather straight forward, there are other things that always happen during darty season. We've decided to lay them out for you:

1. You look forward to Saturday all week.

2. You already have the perfect outfit planned out.

3. Despite planning ahead, someone always wakes up too hungover.

4. You frantically run to the grocery store to pick up items for brunch (mimosas included, of course).

5. Only half your squad is awake in time to start drinking early.

6. Your attempt to be classy is ruined by taking shots before noon.

7. You have one friend who's in charge of calling a sober driver.

8. Once you're finally ready to go and the ride gets there, you pile in like it's a clown car.

9. One of your friends is drunkenly hitting on the driver, of course.

10. You get there and immediately locate the keg.

11. The next few hours are spent in a drunk, happy haze.

12. An attempt to ride the mechanical bull ends poorly.

13. You lose at least one of your friends.

14. You find your lost friend on stage with the band.

15. You start to realize that the last meal you had isn't holding you over anymore.

16. So naturally, you stumble into the nearest dining hall for some drunchies.

17. Despite every best effort, at least one of your friends isn't going to make it out that night.

Enjoy darty season and be safe, collegiettes!

Best friends aren't really best friends until they become part of the family. Your brothers and sisters are practically her's too, just like your parents think she's their extra daughter. You're also convinced you might actually be sisters who were seperated at birth. Regardless, if you and your best friend are close AF, you can definitely relate to the following: 

1. You bicker like sisters.

2. Your extended family is completely aware of your best friend and always ask how they are at family functions.

Most of the time, your BFF is at the family function. Sometimes your aunt invites her before you do. Oops.

3. You two text each other’s moms all the time.

She’s also friends on Facebook and following your mom on Instagram and Snapchat.

4. You never really knock or ring the bell.

Somehow, the door is always open for you.

5. You sense when something is wrong from miles away and call immediately.

Turns out, her cat is sick.

6. She starts eating all the food in your house.

My fridge, is your fridge… I guess.

7. You two are definitely telepathic.

You always seem to know what you two are thinking.

8. She’s the only person that can deal with all sides of you the way family does.

9. You’ve planned the next 5 years together.

Even 10 years.

10. She knows all the family secrets.

You guys know everything about each other.

12. Your texts are usually a bunch of screenshots of crap you think is funny.

“OMG, did you see that baby laugh?”

13. Your mom knows that if you’re hanging out with her that day, to set up dinner for her as well.

14. Your siblings even text her trying to get ahold of you.

15. You know for a fact that you’re stuck with each other forever.

It’s okay though, because you love each other like family!

The powers that be have finally heard and answered our anguished prayers. After months of speculation and plenty of back and forth in the media, TVLine can finally confirm that Melissa McCarthy is officially joining the highly anticipated Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix. The news comes just hours after McCarthy booked her return with series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. 

McCarthy is set to make the official announcement on tomorrow's Ellen, but thanks to the gloriousness of the Internet, you can watch the clip now!

McCarthy will reportedly film her scenes in the coming days.

How excited are you that Sookie is making her way back to Stars Hollow? 

These days, it seems like beauty enthusiasts are proponents of trying just about anything on your face. With your face being among the most gentle skin on your body, it's a pretty good idea to treat it well—and to do some major research before applying anything, DIY or otherwise, to your face.

So that you don't have to, I'm going to try one of the hottest beauty claims for a week: washing my face... with honey. Why is this supposed to work? Well, honey has antibacterial properties, is full of antioxidants and is totally natural, which means you know exactly what you're putting on your skin, unlike many of the chemical-filled products you'll find in the beauty aisle. So here's how my little experiment went:

Day 1

I began by putting my hair in a tight ponytail with a headband and wetting my face with warm water to loosen up any dirt that might be clinging to my face.

Squirting the honey into my hand gave me an uneasy feeling because it's crazy thick and all I could imagine was it getting stuck in my hair. Gross. Rubbing the honey into my face felt strange at first but after working it in a little bit, it became easier to spread. 

Washing it off was SO much harder than it is to wash off normal face wash. You have to make sure to get all of it, otherwise you might be left with some sticky residue. Yep, I learned that one the hard way.

My skin is normally really, really dry—so usually, as soon as I wash my face, I literally make a mad dash to my moisturizer. But with the honey, though I still moisturized afterwards, my skin didn't feel stripped of all moisture, which was definitely a bonus.

Now, cue all the lovely photos of me fresh out of bed in the morning!

Day 2

Today I decided to wash my face with the honey in the morning and at night. I found washing your face with a sticky substance is much more of a hassle. I also found myself not wanting to wash my face and actually dreading the process—and it was only the second day.

Besides me being lazy, I didn’t see any changes from the day before. My skin still felt pretty soft and hydrated. I did originally try to remove my makeup with the honey and it did not work at all, so I would stick to your makeup wipes for that.

Day 3

I woke up and washed my face before I started my makeup which seemed like such a chore. My life is so hard, I know. I still didn't see much of a difference in my skin but the skin on my chin felt rougher than usual which usually happens before I break out so, I am not too thrilled about that discovery. 

Day 4

I had suspected this was going to happen.

I woke up to find that I'd broken out not only on my chin—but on my forehead and jawline, too! I now had two pimples on my chin, one in between my brows and one on my jawline. I was not happy to see this (I don't think anyone would be). I should mention, my stress levels aren't especially high throughout this week and I was eating pretty much the same diet as I have always been, so there weren't any other factors that could have affected my breakouts. It was interesting to see my skin go from clear to suddenly breaking out in just a few days. 

I also got some honey stuck in my eyebrows and didn’t realize until I had already done most of my makeup and was going to fill in my brows. Talk about setting your brows, am I right ladies?

Day 5

I didn’t see many changes today in my skin. The little monsters on my face were not going away—they actually looked almost exactly the same.

Current thoughts: Honey as a facial cleanser? Probably not.

Day 6

Today the worst thing that could possibly happen, happened. I got honey stuck in my hair! Not my eyebrow this time—the hair on my head. It was partially my fault because I couldn’t find a headband and was too lazy to look for one but it was also 8 a.m. so can you really blame me? If I’m going to be honest, I don’t even know what my skin looked like on this day, I was way to focused on how to remove honey from hair without shaving my head because I really don't think I can pull off Britney circa 2007 if you know what I mean. 

Day 7

Today is the final day of this trial week and I’m really happy about that. I went full force and washed my face in the morning and at night to try to get the most of my honey-filled week. At night, I also tried to use the honey as a face mask by simply leaving it on longer and kept getting pieces of hair stuck in it and was just too annoyed to keep it on for so long, so I gave up and washed it out. The main thing I noticed today was that the pimples I had gotten during this week were not going down in size whatsoever. The honey seemed to bring pimples to the surface and then only help them maintain their status on my skin from there on out. 

Final Verdict

Overall, washing my face with pure honey for a week was an interesting experiment. I don't think it's the best face wash for someone with dry skin. While it did leave my skin feeling surprisingly soft and hydrated, it also did cause me to break out. But not only that, the breakouts did not subside; that being said, I only tried this experiment for a week and to be fair, it takes longer than a week for your skin to react to a new product. Aside from the acne, it also seemed my face was getting a bit more blotchy as the week went on. I didn't notice at first because sometimes when you wake up your face looks naturally blotchy but a couple days out of the week I didn't wear makeup at all to classes and I noticed I was still blotchy throughout the day. Following this experiment, I would be interested in looking into mixing honey with other things to make a hydrating mask because I can see that working well. 

For me, the biggest downside to washing your face with a sticky substance such as honey is how much of a hassle it turns out to be. You have to ensure you are extremely careful when using it as to not get it in your hair or on your clothes. Also, the process of washing it off is much more work than just splashing water on your face and calling it a night as you would normally. 

This all being said, I cannot speak for people with other skin types so if you think your skin might be able to handle it, give it a try! It has also been said that using different types of honey such as Manuka honey may give better results. Do your research but make sure to take all skincare advice you find on the internet with a grain of salt—nobody's skin is exactly the same.

Also, if you do decide to give this a go, prepare yourself for everyone who uses your bathroom to ask why you have a jar of honey at the sink. 

The time leading up to college is nothing if not suffocating, and sometimes, it is easy to feel completely isolated. After all, much of the decision-making is completely up to you––what schools you look at, whether or not you put in the work to apply to those schools, and where you ultimately end up choosing to go.

This makes it easy to forget about all of the people that helped you along your senior year and even earlier in your life. Advisers, teachers, employers and tutors are just a few of the people that likely had a huge impact on your life leading up to and during your college process. Her Campus is here to help you show them a little appreciation with 11 gifts for anyone who helped you in your college process!

1. Baggu Bag

These cute totes ($5.50-$36) are super durable and come in various colors, patterns, sizes and fabrics. They’re also trendy and good for the environment, and can be put to tons of different uses, like book and grocery carrying.

2. Cute and geeky mugs

Why not make a statement with your drink container? These trendy mugs ($12-$16) are perfect for any tutor or English teacher (or anyone who loves coffee or tea). You could even use mugs for small plants or as pen and pencil holders––the possibilities are endless!

3. Rifle Paper Co. stationery

Stationery is adorable to begin with. So, personalized stationery just adds a sweet touch. This is a great gift for college guidance counselors who are writing notes all the time. Rifle Paper Co. has tons of different pre-made designs for stationery ($15-$22) and other office items, as well as the option to add monograms and names!

Related: The Truth About Counselor Recommendation Letters

4. Writer’s journal

Full of prompts and ideas for new and veteran writers, 642 Things to Write About ($16.95) is bound to appeal to teachers, tutors and advisers alike! There’s also 642 Tiny Things to Write About or 642 Tiny Things to Draw, both for $9.95! Any of these will provide teachers and tutors with a fun, creative break from the droves of papers (and college essays) they are constantly correcting!

5. Counselor lunch bag

This little canvas lunch pail ($16.99) is practical and darling. Better yet, it is machine washable and can replace plastic bags or other waste someone might use for his or her lunch—good for the environment! This is the perfect gift for anyone you know who is trying to be more eco-friendly.

6. Zen garden

Somehow, playing in this little Zen garden ($21.99) while on the brink of a college-related mental breakdown in your guidance counselor’s office always manages to calm you down. This gift is beneficial for you, the gift receiver and future students!

7. Mason jar organizers

These desk organizers ($26) are well suited for the alternative, hippy teacher we have all had at some point. They work for pencils, pens, flowers and other office supplies. This would even be a fun craft to do on your own!

8. Wine-scented candles

While alcohol is generally looked down upon in work settings (and where there are individuals under the drinking age), these wine-scented candles ($28-29) might not be! Candles don’t necessarily need to be lit to emit their fragrances, so the potential fire hazard can be avoided altogether!

9. Math formulas tie

While it is a little on the pricey side, this awesome tie ($49) will give your favorite math teacher a story to tell each time he or she wears it. Additionally, as stated in the description, “putting on this tie might just make you smarter!” Alternatively, try this math mug, which is much cheaper at $15.95.

10. Bulletin board organizer

This awesome bulletin board is expensive at $75, so it might either have to be for a super special adviser or teacher, or perhaps something you split up with a few friends and gift as a group! This bulletin board is not only practical, but also customizable and just generally cool looking.

11. Flowers or baked goods

If these don’t float your boat, flowers, plants and baked goods are reliably great gifts for anyone. Orchids or succulents work perfectly—they’re very low maintenance and, if taken care of, can last a really long time! These are easy to find at your local grocery store, and if you’d like to go for the fancier flowers and plant arrangements, hit up your nearest florist. Baked goods are easy, fun to make and a great alternative to some of these pricier options. Try to figure out your teacher’s favorite dessert for that extra bit of thoughtfulness!

Don’t forget to add a personal note to each of these gifts to add an extra touch of gratitude. Just like the adults in your life likely say all the time, everyone loves a handwritten note!

As long as your gift is heartfelt, the size or price of the gift itself likely matters little (but keep in mind it might be a little awkward to get a teacher a particularly expensive or extravagant gift). Graduate knowing that you’ve expressed your appreciation for all those who helped you along the way and take comfort knowing they’ll be there for you if ever you need them again in the future.

If you’ve ever been in a situation where your best friend liked you and you didn’t like him or her back, you know how awkward things can get. There are a lot of ways turning down your friend could go wrong, especially if you consider him or her a close companion. You don’t want to ruin the friendship, but can you really turn down a friend and stay close? It’s a tricky situation, but these tips can help!

Dr. Geoffrey Greif, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and author of The Buddy System, weighs in on how to maintain your friendship.

1. Give hints

If you’re worried about having “the talk” you can first try dropping hints. “Don’t respond too quickly to phone calls, emails, and tweets,” says Greif. “This way there is no confusion about whether or not you’re leading your friend on.” You don’t want him or her thinking you are eagerly waiting to talk to them 24/7.

“I first tried to get the message across by giving him some not-so-subtle hints that I'm glad he is such a good friend to me,” says Taylor Augustin, a junior at University of San Diego. “Try saying things like, ‘I'm glad you have never tried anything on me,’ and hopefully he’ll pick up on your hints and not act on his feelings.” If you’re nervous about telling him up front that you’re not romantically interested, try giving him more subtle  verbal cues first to see if he catches on.

2. Avoid clichés

Saying, “It’s not you, it’s me,” probably isn’t the best idea in this particular situation. When you’re trying to be sensitive to a friend’s feelings you should speak from a more personal level. “You should do it in a private place as opposed to during a class break (but not too private if you have any concerns about his reaction),” says Greif. You shouldn’t make a big scene at a party, but instead go to a coffee shop or your dorm room, somewhere you can have a real conversation.

“I tried to tell him I wasn’t interested but struggled to find the right way,” says Kristen Williams, a sophomore at Florida State University. “Once I really opened up and told him why I didn’t return the feeling, I felt like he really understood better. If you’re close friends you should be able to have a deeper conversation out of respect for one another.” Don’t approach the situation based on what you’ve seen in movies or TV and instead, speak from the heart­—they’ll appreciate it.

3. Be honest

The most important thing to consider when turning down a friend is his or her feelings—especially since they probably spent forever trying to figure out exactly how to tell you (and whether or not to tell you at all). “A certain amount of honesty is always necessary, if not is it really a friendship? But being specific—I don’t find you sexually attractive/you aren’t smart enough for me is being too honest,” says Greif. “Find that balance that will maintain the friendship.” Being honest is the best way to break the news while also showing that you care.

“When my best friend confessed his feelings for me I was flattered, but I didn’t feel the same way,” says Kelly Lawler, a senior at Kentucky State University. “Since we were so close I felt comfortable enough and decided it was best to tell him up front that I didn’t feel the same way. He was hurt, but happy that I didn’t try to play any games.” You don’t want to lead your friend on or give him or her the wrong idea. If the situation were reversed, you’d want someone to be honest with you.

4. Give your friend some space

No one likes being rejected, especially if you have to be around the person who rejected you all the time. After explaining that you don’t share the same feelings, your friend might need some space to process everything.

“It’s important to give a friend space, such as not inviting them to hang out every day,” says Greif. “But keep checking in with them once in awhile to see how they are until they are ready to be around you normally again.” It may seem like your friend is giving you the cold shoulder, but remember that he or she just got turned down and their feelings might be hurt.

“After I told him I didn’t have romantic feelings for him, he needed some time away from me,” says Lawler. “It’s hard not to take it personally, but you have to understand their side of things as well.” It might be hard to suppress the urge to invite your friend out to a party or send him or her a funny video you find, but it’s important to give him or her time and let them come to you.

If you’ve ever been rejected, you know how tough it is. Keep that in mind when turning someone else down. Just remember to be honest and understanding. Sure, things will be weird for a while, but if you care about one another enough, you can bounce back to the friendship you had once before! 

Serena Williams proved how multi-talented she is when she decided to take a pretty hands-on approach to teaching a fellow human how to twerk. 

Earlier this week, a video emerged showing the tennis champ mocking the tone of a fitness instructor and giving twerking lessons in the middle of a sidewalk. 

"Squeeze the glutes, engage the quads, take a wide stance," she says. "The palms slowly slide down. And twerk." She then proceeds to shake what the good Lord gave her. 

According to Williams, twerking is more an art and what matters most is your ~performance~. 

"It's not really about the action. It's really about the face," she says. 

Whether you like to twerk or not, you have to admit that Serena has some serious skills. 

Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson recently opened up about her weight and her experiences with body shaming in the film industry during an interview with Health magazine. 

"I get told all the time to lose weight," the 26-year-old revealed. "I got that a month ago. It's just weird. With my stuff recently, it's been, 'You have to be skin and bones or you're not getting it.'"

Just when we think the body positivity movement is getting us somewhere, it's clear that Hollywood is still pushing impossible ideals of beauty on women. "It's come up a few times in the last few years, like, 'You're too fat for this,'" she explained. "And I'm just sitting here like, Wait, what? Do you want a skeleton?'"

This definitely isn't the actress's first time being shamed for her weight, as she revealed to Ocean Drive magazine earlier this year that she had once been told she was too fat for a role. 

"I'm a size 2!" she said in that interview. "I cried for 30 minutes, but then you have to let it roll of your shoulders or it could cause a serious eating disorder."

Benson then explained her outlook on the situation and how people in the industry should avoid letting impossible beauty standards discourage them. 

"I don't want to lose 20 lbs because I don't need to. I'm a size 2, but I think that a size 4 is healthy. I think that all of these sizes are healthy."

It's so disheartening to think that society considers a size 2 "too fat"—but we're glad Ashley is choosing to love herself, and that she's spreading the message of positivity.

If your mom needs a little R&R this Mother's Day, we know she'll love one of these gifts made to pamper. Even if she doesn't have time to go to the spa, these presents might just be the next best thing. 

UNDER $25

Mini Notebook with Pen, $12, available at Vera Bradley

For the mom that’s always coming up with brilliant ideas, this mini notebook is a must-have. 

Blooming Beautiful, $17, available at Lush Cosmetics

Treat your mom to a luxurious bath with this bath bomb set. She'll absolutely love the cherry blossom and lemon rose scents.

Swear Word Coloring Book, $12, available at Etsy

Adult coloring books are having a moment. Choose one that's very, uh, adult to help relieve some of her stress.

Binchotan Charcoal Eye Mask, $23, available at Peach & Lily

This wonder mask will relieve tension and pressure with activated charcoal. Trust us, she needs this.

Coconut Bath Soak, $18, available at Catbird NYC

Your mom will become obsessed with this deliciously coconut bath soak that will both soften her skin and leave her feeling utterly pampered.

Great Retreats: Yoga, $19.99, available at Anthropologie

She may not be able to swing a casual trip to India, but she can live vicariously through this gorgeous book.

UNDER $50

Tocca Mini Candle Gift Set, $45, available at Anthropologie

This candle set will make any room in her house smell decadent and cozy.

Fresh Life Body Oil, $48, available at Fresh

This luxe body oil will keep her skin super nourished for 24 hours—not to mention, it smells totally divine.

Body Butter, $35, available at Oy-l

Hand-crafted in small batches in Ohio, this all-natural body butter comes in sandalwood lime, lavender, pink grapefruit and orange rose. They smell delicious, and will leave your skin more moisturized than ever.

Earl Grey Pop Candle, $38, available at Jonathan Adler

There's nothing better than a cup of tea on a rainy day, and this candle will fill the entire room with earl grey goodness.

Yoga for Beginners Kit, $29.98, available at Gaiam

If your mom has always wanted to give yoga go, she'll appreciate this beginner set that comes with a mat, block, strap and an instructional DVD.

OVER $50

CozyChic® Robe, $99, available at Nordstrom

Your mom deserves a spa day, and this cozy robe will make for the perfect uniform.

Amazing Grace Jumbo Gift Set, $77, available at Sephora

Amaze your mom with this Amazing Grace jumbo set, which includes perfume, body emulsion and a shampoo/shower gel.

Classic Night Shirt in Striped Vintage End-on-End Cotton, $68, available at J.Crew

Upgrade your mom's pajamas with this classic menswear-inspired night shirt.

Melissa McCarthy has a message for all the body shamers out there. On Thursday, the comedian posted a photo to her Instagram of a sign that read, "Warning: Reflections in this mirror may be distorted by socially constructed ideas of 'beauty.'"

The picture was accompanied by a caption that was equally powerful. "We have to stop categorizing and judging women based on their bodies," she wrote. "We are teaching young girls to strive for unattainable perfection instead of feeling healthy and happy in their own skin."

She even included a quote from Gloria Steinem, "Imagine we are linked not ranked."

McCarthy is no stranger to discussing the importance of teaching young girls to be comfortable in their own skin. During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last year, she opened up about the time she shut down a reporter who told her that she was "only a good actress when she looks attractive."

"I said, 'Just know that every time you write stuff, every young girl in this country reads that and they just get a little bit chipped away,'" she told the talk show host.

She also revealed to Refinery29 that she's aware her size 14 frame is not considered "the norm," even though the norm is a social construct: "I know I am not the 'norm.' It never occurs to me in terms of being a role model, though, because I don't know any perfect women. If I, off the top of my head, name 20 of the most amazing women in my life, it's all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, jobs. I can only go off my reality. What people pass off as 'normal,' I just have to keep in my head that it's bullshit. It's all fictitious, made-up stuff."

If you want to make sure your dorm room has the right vibe, why not decorate based on your zodiac sign? Your room will fit perfectly with what you need, whether you're organized, creative, girly or all three. Your zodiac sign hints at exactly what you need in your living space! 

Check out your zodiac sign below to see how you should decorate your dorm room. 

1. Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

Aquarius likes colors like blue, green, black and grey. You are original and independent, and like to help other people. This is an air sign, so make sure you have plants around to keep the air clean. Use a fun rug to add a splash of color since you can't paint your walls! 

2. Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Pisces is all about those purple shades. Pisces is also compassionate and artistic. Sound like you? Deck out your dorm room in purple and hang pretty banners above your bed. Use washi tape to create picture frames around your photos. Pisces is a water sign, so think about getting a mini fountain—the sound of flowing water will be very relaxing when you're trying to study. 

3. Aries (March 21-April 19)

Red is the color for Aries! Since too much red in one room can be overwhelming, use red as an accent color with black and white or black and grey as your base colors. Aries is very couregeous, passionate and optimistic. You're a fire sign, so if your dorm allows, keep a candle by your bedside or burn some incense. 

4. Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Taurus is all about the pinks, greens and blues. A Taurus is reliable, stable and responsible; you're also a fan of music, gardening and working with your hands, so these bins are perfect for storing all of your craft supplies! Another Earth sign—let the light in and use your window as the perfect planter box. 

5. Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Yellow is a color that can get overwhelming fast, but the Gemini loves it! Keep this warm color cool by using it as an accent, rather than as a main focal point. This dorm setup uses brown as the main color, which is perfect if the furniture in your dorm room is also brown. Gemini is very adaptable and curious, so you can make any dingy dorm room feel like home! You are also an air sign, so keep a fan handy; consider using a Himalyan Salt lamp, which ionizes the air in your room. 

6. Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Cancer loves orange! Keep your bedding crisp white, which is very calming and refreshing, and hang an orange tapestry above your bed. Add some dreamy string lights, and you have the perfet Cancer room. You are empathetic and loyal, and this room makes for the perfect hangout spot. The moon rules Cancer, so be aware of changes in your mood around a full moon. Cancer is also a water sign, so consider getting a filtered water bottle so that you can always have fresh water on hand. 

7. Leo (July 23-August 22)

Leo is all about red, gold and white. Go for a deeper red as an accent; it will compliment the gold hue much better than a bright red. This room has a fun gold lamp and uses wall decals to spice up any boring white dorm room wall. Put your photos in gold frames or make gold washi tape frames, and get a dark red throw blanket for the end of your bed. Leos are creative, passionate and generous, and these colors display those traits so well! You're a fire sign, so hang some string lights above your bed or get flameless candles. 

8. Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Virgo likes brown, white and forest greens. Virgo is loyal, hardworking and practical, and these colors clearly show that! We love the burlap banner, and we would add some more green pillows and potentially a green rug for cozy toes. Unsurprisingly, Virgo is an Earth sign, so add tons of plants (maybe a leafy money tree?) to help yourself reconnect with the earth. 

9. Libra (September 23-October 22) 

Libra prefers navy blue with shades of green. We love these navy patterned pillows with a patterned bed skirt—a variety of shades of green look so good with navy blue. Libras are cooperative, diplomatic and social, and the colors in this room make it the perfect social hub. Libra is an air sign, so make sure you get a Himalyan Salt lamp to ionize the air in your room. 

10. Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Scorpio is all about the red shades. If the pink and orange combo is too much for you, try using shades of red as your accent colors. These colors are perfect for the passionate and brave Scorpio, who also happens to make a really good friend. Scorpio is a water sign, so think about getting a mini fountain in your room to keep you calm during exam season. 

11. Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Sagittarius adores pinks and purples! If bright pink and purple are too much for you, go with baby pink and a plum purple—so mature and pretty. Sagittarius has a good sense of humor and is very generous. They love traveling and the outdoors. Sagittarius is a fire sign, which means you should consider getting flameless candles or string lights. 

12. Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Capricorn prefers neutral colors, such as shades of brown and white. This room is classy and grown up, and the beige rug really pulls the whole room together. Use different colored throw pillows to make the room look more cohesive. Capricorn—who is known for being very responsible with a lot of self-control—is an Earth sign, so hang some macrame planters if you can. 

Does your sign fit your dorm style, collegiettes? 

Move over, Mojo Jojo. Townsville has a new, more dangerous villain to fend off and he goes by the name of Manboy.

In a recently released clip from the show's revival, which premiered April 4, the Powerpuff Girls are shown strolling through the city carnival—soon to be interrupted by a misogynistic character who claims he has "all the power of a man in the body of a boy." Manboy believes that Townsville needs to get back to its manly roots. The pint-sized, disturbingly buff man then goes on to shave off his lumberjack beard only for it to grow back when he squeezes a few muscles. 

This episode has yet to air, but we know for a fact that with the Powerpuff Girls taking on a feminist attitude in the series reboot Manboy doesn't stand a chance. 

The only thing better than regular shopping is shopping in the comfort of your own PJs—aka online shopping. Not only are there websites that sell items for insanely cheap prices, there are special websites just for coupons or discounts on your favorite items. What could be better than that?

These websites have deals and discounts on everything from dorm décor to cute shoes.  Try some of the sites below for serious savings!

1. Best for clothing: Zulily

Zulily is a wholesale site with huge discounts on clothing, home décor and more. Each item is handpicked from the staff at Zulily and is only available for 24 to 72 hours. Zulily carries over 100 different brands, including Kenneth Cole, Betsey Johnson and French Connection, and there are new brands added all the time. This site is great for anything from boots to dresses and everything else in between!

To access all the discounts that Zulily offers, you need to create an account using your email address and password. Once your account is created, you can pick what emails you would like to receive and scout for deals using both the tailored emails and the website itself.

2. Best for décor: One Kings Lane

One Kings Lane is the best place to get dorm and apartment décor as well as lasting, quality furniture for up to 70 percent off. For the best deals of the already super savings site, check out the Downstairs clearance section.

“I used One Kings Lane for my whole apartment, and I was able to give it a theme while not spending a ton of money,” says Lisa Heston, a sophomore at Villanova University.

To see all the deals on One Kings Lane, you need to create an account. It only takes a few seconds, and once you are registered in the system, you can pick and save all the items you want using the Favorites option.

3. Best for adventures: LivingSocial

LivingSocial is a site that gives you big discounts on adventures, clothing, outings and more. When you sign up, the website asks for your location and finds deals in your area. The Escapessection has amazing deals on travel options that are perfect for spring break!

4. Best for food: Restaurant.com

Resturant.com has over 50,000 deals on restaurant discounts and gift cards. The deals can be found by searching what you are in the mood for, like Chinese food or pizza, and your location. The next time you’re heading to dinner with your BFFs, check out the deals on this website first!

5. Best for travel: HotelCoupons.com

Whether you are planning a friends’ weekend at the beach or a trip to visit family, HotelCoupons.com can help you find affordable deals on open hotel rooms across the country. By entering the zip code of your destination, HotelCoupons.com will show you all the available rooms in the area, and you can filter your results depending on the price range and brand name of the hotel you are looking for.

The site provides you with coupons for rooms that are either being sold at a flat discounted rate or a percentage off of the original price. Either way, it’ll be a good deal for you!

6. Best for everything: Overstock

Overstock has over 1 million products for sale. This site has everything you could possibly want for home, clothing, books, décor and more.  They even have a fresh produce section!

“Usually when I shop online, I will shop for art because I love how a painting or a photo each [has] its own story,” says Alexa Carmona, a junior at Rutgers University. “Some of the best stuff I find is on Overstock.com.”

7. Best for coupons: RetailMeNot

While Overstock has discounts on specific items, RetailMeNot has coupons that you can use on a variety of items in a certain store. This site has coupons from 50,000 stores and covers everything from clothes and home décor to restaurants.

After making an account, you can use the coupons by clicking the advertisement to receive a promotional code and copying it. Then, when ordering off of the retailer’s website, paste the code in the designated box and instantly get your savings. RetailMeNot also displays storewide sales that don’t require a code at all, so you’ll always know which stores are giving away the best deals!

With all of these discount and coupon websites, your dream vacation or wardrobe just got a lot more affordable. Have fun shopping!