A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a resume is worth so much more. Your resume is often your first introduction to a potential employer, and the difference between a stellar resume and a lackluster one could make or break your chances at landing that killer job or internship. Whether you’re putting together your first resume or trying to polish up one you already have, HC is here to help your resume land in the “yes” pile. We’ve talked to college career counselors who know what employers want from applicants’ resumes and gathered the best tips to make yours stand out from the crowd.

1. Make a different resume for each job or internship you apply for.

We know what you’re thinking—you already have to fill out separate applications and write separate cover letters for jobs and internships; do you really have to write separate resumes, too? Christy Walker, assistant director of University Career Services at UNC-Chapel Hill, says yes.

“The best resumes…are written specifically towards the job they are applying for,” Walker says. Your stint on the school newspaper isn’t going to look as impressive as your work in a lab if you’re applying for an engineering internship, so don’t include the newspaper experience just to fill up space—stick to related experiences and save the newspaper gig for if you decide to apply for a media internship, or at least put it further down on the page.

Tim Stiles, an associate director of University Career Services at UNC-Chapel Hill, suggests creating a master resume of everything you’ve done. Then, you can take a look at the description listed for each job or internship you’re applying for and copy and paste your most relevant experiences into a new resume specifically for that position. When you tailor your resume specifically towards one job, “you’re always going to grab someone’s attention that much more,” Stiles says.

2. Don’t get too fancy with the layout.

It seems impossible to stand out from the crowd when everyone’s resume looks exactly the same, but having too many complicated graphics or fonts could make your resume stand out in a bad way. Most employers just want to see a clean, readable summary of your experience.

If you’re majoring in a creative field such as graphic design, it’s okay to show a little bit of your creativity with your resume layout, but keep it simple—save displaying all your artistic skills for your portfolio.

“I’ve talked to people in the creative fields a lot of times and they said, ‘I still want that kind of one-page summary,’” Stiles says. “Most people want to size somebody up quickly, and then if they bring them in for an interview they say, ‘Bring your creative stuff. But I want to know what you did first before I can make a judgment on that.’”

Not to mention, many companies use a program to scan resumes into their computer system. Not all complicated fonts and graphics will translate into the program, which could potentially make your design look more jumbled and illegible than aesthetically pleasing. “It can be a bit of a mess,” Stiles says.

For collegiettes applying for positions in creative fields, Stiles suggests creating a website or online portfolio to show off your design skills and including a link or a QR code to that website on your resume. That way, you can keep your resume simple but still offer the employer a view of your artistic side.

3. Make it one page—that’s it.

Hiring managers are busy people; they don’t have time to read pages and pages about someone’s work experience, particularly if certain items in it aren’t relevant to the job description. “Don’t put your whole life story on your resume,” Walker says. “Keep it to one page on one side.”

Not sure what to cut out to make your resume fit on one page? Start by getting rid of information about what you did in high school, especially if you’re a junior or senior in college (that was three or four years ago—it’s time to move on). “Employers want to know: ‘What have you done since then?’” Stiles says. “There might be something so stellar [you] did in high school that we want to keep it on, but for the most part people are more interested in… what’s happened over the last two or three years.”

4. Include your jobs that “weren’t important” (if you need to).

Good news: that waitressing gig you had last summer could have been worth more than just some extra cash! If you don’t have enough related experience to make your resume last an entire page, start by looking back on the part-time jobs and other activities you’ve done that might not seem relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sure, maybe your summer as a barista didn’t lend itself to any hard skills relating to the public relations internship you’re applying for. But, for example, if you were so good at your job that you were sent to other cafes to train new employees, including that information will show the employer that you have a great work ethic, you rose above your standard responsibilities, and you’re good at communicating with others.

“Often I find when I start digging in with students, there’s always interesting stories like special projects people took on, things they do over and above just because they get bored and want some stimulation, some challenge,” Stiles says. “Showing that you can accomplish things and make things happen—people want to hire people like that. They want to know that somebody can run with something and get it done and do a good job at it.” Get brainstorming and remind yourself about how awesome you were that summer you worked at the mall!

5. Arrange descriptions into concise bullet points that still pack a punch.

Once upon a time, you may have taken a literature class that taught you about the power of lengthy, flowing descriptions. Now, take all of that information… and forget about it. When it comes to your resume, “complete sentences can go out the window,” Stiles says. Again, employers don’t have time to read through long paragraph descriptions in your resume, so use bullet points with short sentences to describe your experiences.

“The critical piece to remember is to be able to say what you want to say in those bullet points…in as few words as possible without losing syntax, the meaning, and without losing the power and relevancy to the reader,” he says.

Although you need to be concise with your bullet points, make sure you’re still thoroughly presenting what exactly you did in your jobs, internships, or leadership positions. “We like to see built into the bullet itself not only what the person did, but put it in context,” Stiles says. “Who were they doing it for? Why were they doing it? Whoever they handed it off to, how was it used? Did they produce any kind of results because of their actions they took?”

To make sure your sentences have the most impact, start them with action verbs, such as “managed” or “supervised,” instead of personal pronouns (e.g. “I managed” or “I supervised”). “(Action verbs) grab the reader’s attention,” Stiles says.  It’s also important to quantify things you did whenever possible.  For example, if you’re an engineering student who worked on a production line in a factory, including that you “increased line efficiency by 25 percent” is more impressive than just saying you “increased line efficiency.”

So instead of doing this for your descriptions:

• For my internship at Her Campus, I wrote interesting articles.  I also wrote posts for a few blogs.  I also helped out by working with social media.

Do this:

• Wrote two articles a week.
• Wrote “The Best Resume Ever: 8 Tips on How to Write It,” which was the most-read article in March 2013.
• Wrote three posts a week for Her Campus’s News Blog and Pop Campus blog.
• Managed the company’s Pinterest account (under the supervision of the Manager of Operations) in order to drive traffic to the site.

6. Don’t just write job descriptions; write about what you accomplished.

In the “Experience” section of your resume, it may seem like you should just list your daily tasks under each position you’ve held. However, Stiles says that “that’s what we don’t want.” Your daily tasks are important to include, but if you don’t write about what you specifically did, you’re just listing the same things that every other intern did… and definitely not standing out from the crowd.

Instead, concentrate on what you accomplished in those past positions that sets you apart from all of the other former interns, employees, or club officers. For example, Stiles says, if you talk about your position as treasurer for your sorority, don’t just talk about what a treasurer does; talk about what you did as treasurer. “What happened on your watch? How did you make life better for the next treasurer?” he says. “That’s really important: to say how I take something and run with it when someone gives me that opportunity.”

So instead of writing this:

Fundraising Chair, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority (Aug. 2012-present)

• Organized fundraisers throughout the school year.

Write this:

Fundraising Chair, Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority (Aug. 2012-present)

• Exceeded the chapter’s yearly fundraising goal by 50 percent.
• Organized the chapter’s first ever charity 5k, which raised $5,000.
• Managed a team of 10 committee members.

7. ALWAYS use correct spelling and grammar.

We don’t want to patronize you—you’re a smart, savvy collegiette, so of course you know how to spell and use correct grammar! But mistakes can happen to the best of us, so don’t get careless and forget to double check for language slip-ups—employers won’t be too impressed by a lack of attention to detail. “I still see spelling errors and grammatical errors on resumes much more than I’d like to see, especially even from some juniors and seniors,” Stiles stays.

Make sure your exceptional grammar compliments your exceptional experience. Did you catch the error in that sentence? Spell check didn’t. Don’t rely on spell check to correct every mistake in your resume (like using “compliment” instead of “complement”), because it doesn’t catch everything. And don’t rely on your own editing, either—enlist the help of a friend (or two, or three!) or a career counselor to double check your resume for errors. “You just get too close to the document sometimes that you can’t see [errors],” Stiles says. “That second set of eyes, third set of eyes are going to catch things like that.”

8. Stop by your school’s career center.

There’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” resume. A resume for someone applying to an internship at an art museum will look very different from one for someone applying to a chemical engineering job. Ultimately, what you put on your resume and how you format it depends on the job or internship you’re applying for. If you have a career counselor look over your resume, he or she will be able to offer more advice about resumes for your specific field, including which experiences to include and which to leave off. The career counselors know what they’re doing—they did get hired to offer career advice, after all!

Perfecting your resume may seem like a daunting task, but with HC’s tried-and-true resume tips, yours is sure to stand out from the pile. Be sure to check out our sample resume for even more tips! Happy job/internship hunting!

The college decision process isn’t over yet, pre-collegiettes! As the application period ends and the acceptances start rolling in, it’s time to make the final decision: which school will you attend?

One good way to help narrow down your list of potential colleges is to visit each school. College tours can help you gather a general idea of life at a university, including what the students are like, where the buildings are located and more.

While a leisurely stroll around campus seems simple, there are still a few rules for college tours. We talked to some student tour guides to learn what they expect from students on tours. Here are a few things you should NOT do when touring a college campus!

1. Let your parents take charge

It’s easy to trail behind the group and let your parents pester your tour guide with their questions, but do your best to take full advantage of your tour time. You’re there to experience the campus, and this may be your only chance to do so before you make your big decision. The tour guide is there to answer any of your questions, so take advantage of his or her help!

Nicole Knoebel, a junior and student tour guide at Marist College, says that one of her biggest pet peeves is when pre-collegiettes let their parents do all the talking. “On a college tour, you're preparing to make one of the biggest decisions of your life,” she says. “Take control and make sure you get the info that you need to make the right decision for you, not your parents.”

If you’re shy and a little too intimidated to ask questions in front of the whole group, approach your tour guide while you’re walking from one building to another. This way, you can have a quick one-on-one chat without interrupting the tour or putting yourself on the spot.

2. Interrupt the tour guide

On the other hand, you may be bursting with questions, but make sure you’re not overstepping your boundaries. Tour guides are there to help you, but they also have set schedules they need to stick to. Stephanie Tate, a senior and student tour guide at Arizona State University, recommends holding your questions until the end of the tour. “[Tour guides] will definitely ask for [them],” she says. “If you’re patient, they may answer your question [during the tour] without you having to ask.”

3. Dress inappropriately

You may want to impress your potential fellow students with your keen fashion sense, but trust us: you’ll want to trade in those heels for a comfy pair of sneakers. “You'll be walking outside, up stairs, over potentially muddy sidewalks and usually in weather less than tropical, so save the miniskirts and pumps for another time,” says Corinne Weaver, a sophomore and student tour guide at West Virginia Wesleyan College. “Dressing up or dressing scandalously can give those you meet on campus (like professors!) and other potential students a bad first impression.”

It’s not a crime to look cute, but make sure you’re comfortable (and professional!) so you can fully enjoy your tour and put your best foot forward.

4. Get distracted

Put your smartphone away when you’re on a tour! “One thing that rubs me… the wrong way is when people have their phones out on tour,” says Megan Galema, a junior and student ambassador at William Paterson University.

Looking at your phone or talking to your friend implies that you’re uninterested in the tour and probably the school itself. Tour guides have taken the time out of their days to share their advice and experiences with you, so give them your full attention out of respect. Plus, being attentive to the tour will help you make a more informed decision when you have to!

Our advice? Turn your phone on silent and catch up with your friends on the ride home instead.

5. Invade the tour guide’s privacy

Though you’re perfectly allowed—and even welcomed—to ask guides about their personal college experiences, there is a line, and you should be careful not to cross it. “Don’t ask for the tour guide’s GPA, or really for any academic information, like grades or SAT scores,” says Julia Kennedy, a senior and student ambassador at the University of Portland. “It makes [him or her] super uncomfortable, and honestly, it's not in their job description to tell you every little thing about how they got into the university or how well they are doing now.”

It’s perfectly fine to ask a guide about her own thoughts and feelings toward the school and her own experiences, but steer clear of asking about her grades, sex life and anything else that’s really personal.

6. Be shy

Sure, a college environment can be quite intimidating, but this is your chance to really experience the feel of a college campus. Do your best to avoid clinging to your family the whole time and try to meet new people. “Introduce yourself to other students in your tour group,” Stephanie suggests. “They're just as nervous as you are, and you might end up making a good friend!”

7. Argue with the tour guide

The tour guides have been specifically taught to give students certain (correct) information, so trust them on it! Jordan Sypek, a junior and student tour guide at the University of Tampa, says that a number of people have argued with the tour guides at her university about facts they didn’t think were correct. “As tour guides, we never tell false information because we are trained to know everything about the school,” Jordan says.

8. Talk the school down

No matter what your opinions are of the university before you visit, remember that you’re there to learn more about the school and its positive attributes.“Some things that rub me the wrong way are when prospective students say something like ‘Yeah, well, this is kinda a safety school for me anyway,’ or when people ask me for my specific SAT/ACT scores and then try to compare it with theirs,” says Devon Ziminski, a junior and ambassador at the College of New Jersey.

If you’re visiting a school, you must have some interest in it or some reason for taking a tour, so focus on those reasons. Even if the school you’re touring isn’t high up on your list of colleges, still give it a chance, or at least be polite to those who have chosen it.

9. Walk out in the middle of it

One of the rudest things you could do is walk out in the middle of your tour. Even if you decide that the college isn’t the right fit, the least you can do is stick it out for another half hour. “It's rude if you just drop off in the middle of the tour, and it shows that you don't care about the university or learning about it,” Julia says.

If you have something planned and have good reason to leave early, let your tour guide know in advance. Otherwise, stick it out and avoid being disrespectful.

Avoid these mistakes and your tour should go smoothly and successfully! Our advice for what to do? Go into the campus tour with an open mind and tons of questions. Tour guides will most likely to be eager to answer anything you ask about various majors, academics and just college life in general (just don’t get too personal!). Tours are a chance for you to learn the little details about the school that might influence your decision to attend, so make sure you take advantage of the opportunity! 

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 was at a frat party on Saturday, and I hooked up with the same guy all night. We danced and talked and made out for hours. At the end of the night, he gave me his number. I texted him the day after at 10 p.m., so about 24 hours after the party, and it took him an hour to respond. All he said was: "cool." Do you think I will ever hear from him again? I thought we connected... but now I think he wasn't serious about wanting to hear from me again. What do you think? – Frat Hook-up at Furman

Furman,

Your first mistake was going to a frat party, Bambi. If there’s a perfect hot spot for gross party activity, it’s the stereotypical college frat party. I’ve seen a lot of parents warn their daughters of the dangers of these parties, and I think their fears are warranted—at least, for the most part. Frat parties can foster bowls of who-knows-how-many types of alcohol mixed together, illicit substances and probably more than a few stained sheets. While not every party may be this way, movies and television shows don’t pull these stereotypes out of thin air.

You can’t turn back the clock now, though; you’ve made your bed, and now you have to lie in it (but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a long, hot shower and steam clean those memories away).

You got played, Furman—there’s no other way to put it. I’m not sure if you’re a freshman or not, but you made the classic freshman mistake of thinking a drunk guy at a party actually cared. I think this particular guy found someone he thought was an easy target, and he took the dive. When a guy you hook up with at a party takes a while to respond, and upon responding, replies with a simple, “cool,” I think it’s pretty clear that he has either forgotten your name or just wanted a one-night stand… or both. Either way, I don’t think he was serious about wanting to hear from you again. Men say the darndest things when they’re trying to hook up with someone…

It’s a rookie mistake, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of or be embarrassed about. If anything, Furman, it should be a learning experience. Now you know to avoid frat guys like the plague! Or at least consult with your girlfriends before hooking up with one, because more often than not, the guys you meet at parties (of many kinds) aren’t going to be the ones you want to date. Unless you go into these situations with the sole expectation of hooking up and heading out, I don’t think you should bother wasting your time on the jerks you’ll find at parties.  

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 

For breakfast yesterday, I made a healthy strawberry overnight oat parfait, and I can't wait to share the recipe because it was so delicious. It was like having strawberry shortcake for breakfast. It tasted so much like dessert that it's hard to believe it was actually acceptable to eat before my first class at 8:30 a.m. I have had a soft spot for parfaits ever since the original Shrek because I loved Donkey's line about parfaits and would quote it incessantly during a period of time in my youth when I was strangely good at impersonating Eddie Murphy's voice in that movie. 

Everybody likes parfaits - that is a fact. But parfaits have a questionable rep in terms of health. Your classic fruit-and-granola yogurt parfait seems harmless enough, but then it shows up on all of those "things you're eating that you think are healthy but actually aren't" lists. Like many foods, parfaits can be unhealthy, but they can be healthy, too; it depends on what's inside! The classic store-bought parfait that shows up on those lists is considered unhealthy because the yogurt is often flavored (more sugar), the fruit is often not fresh but rather a compote (more sugar) and the granola is packed with - you guessed it - lots of sugar. Since everybody likes parfaits, it would be a tragedy to deny ourselves this lovely treat and swear off parfaits for good. And it would be a mistake, because not all parfaits are created equal. 

This strawberry overnight oat parfait that I made for breakfast is one of the good guys. Made with oats (instead of sugary granola), fresh strawberries, Greek yogurt (more protein than its non-Greek counterparts), almond milk and chia seeds (high in omega-3s), this parfait is full of nutrients that will keep you full throughout the morning and still satisfy your sweet tooth. Added bonus: you prepare it the night before, so all you have to do when you wake up is layer it into a jar (or just mix it into a bowl if you don't want to fuss with layers) and it's ready to go! I loved this for breakfast, but it would also make for a satisfying snack or dessert. Check out the recipe below. 

Healthy Strawberry Oat Parfait Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup oats
• 1/3 cup almond milk 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chia seeds 
• 1 6-ounce container of strawberry Chobani Greek yogurt 
• 1/3 cup homemade stawberry chia seed jam
• 5-10 strawberries, chopped 

Directions

1. Mix oats, almond milk, chia seeds, chopped strawberries (as many as you want) and half of the container of yogurt together in a bowl or Tupperware; stir and store in fridge overnight.
2. In the morning, add additional almond milk if needed to get desired consistency.
3. Layer overnight oat mixture, jam and the rest of the container of yogurt in a Mason jar.
4. Dig in to your healthy parfait! 

Lunch

As you may have noticed, I enjoy having breakfast for lunch and I am a firm believer in the fact that eggs are not just a breakfast food. My parents were in town for a few days, so for lunch yesterday I met them at Cafe Zola, my favorite brunch spot in Ann Arbor, for some good, old-fashioned breakfast for lunch. I ordered the smoked salmon omelet, which was made with tarragon and scallions and stuffed with smoked salmon and a creamy mustard sauce. I also added goat cheese to the omelet because when the parents are in town, you have to live it up. It came with rosemary potatoes, which were phenomenal per usual thanks to all of the seasoning. 

Dinner

For dinner, I had leftovers from the dinner I had when I went out on Sunday night with my parents to Paesano, an Italian restaurant. The salad was called the winter arugula salad, and it came with beets, Gorgonzola, plums and a blood orange vinaigrette, to which I added grilled salmon for some protein. Thank you, leftovers, for letting me be lazy on a Monday night. 

Collegiettes are practically fluent in emoji, but sometimes we wish there was a better way to express ourselves via text. Thanks to an innovative new messaging app called Frankly, you can now personalize not only what you say, but how you say it, just like a real conversation. It’s like Snapchat for texting, without that annoying character limit! You can add colors, make your text bigger or smaller, put pictures right in the conversation and even un-send messages (seriously). Check out these awesome hacks that will take your texting game to a whole new level.

1. Un-send messages (really!)

That magical un-send button you’ve always dreamed of really exists! Embarrassing texts can be deleted with the swipe of a finger, and Frankly Chat alerts you if a screenshot is taken before you do. Now you can pretend that those regrettable drunk texts never happened.

2. Color your mood

Spice up your convos by changing the color of your messages to match how you’re feeling. Simply scroll across the screen to change the background color to whatever suits your mood, whether it’s a happy yellow or a sassy pink. Texting during class just became way more fun.

3. Make your messages disappear

Just like in real-life conversations, your messages will disappear after a few seconds unless you choose to keep them. They also show up scrambled, so the words don’t appear until you click on them! This way, you have more privacy, and you don’t have to worry about someone reading over your shoulder or going back to delete messages that you may not want a nosy friend to read.

4. Change the size of the text based on how you feel

When capital letters just aren’t enough to express your pre-spring-break excitement, you can resize the font to be as big and loud as you want. If you’re ecstatic, furious or somewhere in between, your personalized messages can reflect that. Don’t just say it—scream it!

5. Make pictures a part of your conversation

It’s Snapchat meets texting! Beautify your convos by putting photos right in the middle of them. Since the pics disappear after 10 seconds, you can send your friends silly faces or a creep shot of your crush during class without leaving any evidence behind. Plus, when you send multiple photos in a row, it looks like an Instagram-worthy collage. How cute is that?

6. Have anonymous conversations

Gossip-fests with your besties just became way easier, thanks to the anonymity of Frankly. In an anonymous Frankly chat, there are no names attached to the messages or pictures, so you can feel free to say exactly what’s on your mind! This is one group conversation you might actually enjoy.

7. Message anyone, anywhere in the world  

Studying abroad but still want to keep in touch with your friends from home? No problem! As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can message your friends anywhere in the world for free! It’s the next best thing to actually being there, and you won’t have to worry about racking up expensive international texting fees.

Download the Frankly app here (for free!). 

Throughout a relationship, tons of “should I or shouldn’t I” questions arise: should I give it up on the third date? Should I say “I love you” back? Should I eat that second piece of cake in front of him? They’re all equally important — at least in their own way, at their own time. But perhaps the most pressing question some ladies deal with is the one that comes after the end of a relationship: should I get back together with him?

Let’s recognize one thing. Her Campus loves love. We do. There’s no denying it. But we aren’t going to give you a flat out “yes” just for the sake of undying romance. We’re also not going to tell you the answer is an unequivocal “no.” Sometimes taking a second go at a relationship actually does work. So, here’s what we will say: this question isn’t easy. It takes a whole lot more analysis and introspection than debating whether or not to indulge in another slice of funfetti cake (you obviously should).

But with advice from one of our favorite experts, Dating and Relationship Coach Lisa Shield, and stories from real college girls across the nation, we’re about to make the process a whole lot easier for you.

Recognize the Reasons for Your Break-Up

He wasn’t good enough for you may have gotten you through the tough times following your split, but it’s not exactly a reason for your break-up. The quicker you can pinpoint exactly why you broke up, the quicker you can determine if getting back together is a good idea.

It can help to get your thoughts out of your head and onto some paper. Try making a list of the issues that plagued your last relationship, and think about how (or even if) they can be changed. Be careful that you don’t focus only on what you think your ex did wrong, though, Shield warns.

“When there’s a conflict in a relationship, there's a chance that both of you are doing something to cause it,” she says. “If you don't look at your part, you are sabotaging your relationship. So before you get back together, also take time to reflect on what you can do differently and less on what you think your ex needs to change.”

“I recognized the reasons and realized it wasn’t worth it,” says Nicole from Wake Forest University. “I recently broke up with someone because he cheated on me, and I would never get back together with him. I initially wanted to see if things would work out between us because I missed physically being with him. But I knew I would be much happier with the next person who treats me the way I deserve to be treated, rather than stay in a relationship full of problems and lose my self-respect. Realizing how little he cared taught me to wait for someone who will actually put effort into a relationship.”

Get an Outside Opinion

Depending on friends and family to make a decision for you isn’t what we’re suggesting. Ultimately, that’s up to you. But hearing their thoughts on a possible reconciliation between you and your ex can be helpful.

“Everyone has blind spots and it can be hard, especially when we are going through something as emotional as a break-up, to see things clearly,” says Shield.

While there’s a chance you won’t like what they have to say, getting input from a trusted friend or family member will bring a new perspective to your dilemma. Limit the number of people you seek help from to two or three, though.  Hearing too many opinions will muddle your thoughts even more than they were in the first place.

“If you’re too embarrassed or don't have anyone you feel you can talk to, you might seek the counsel of a good relationship coach,” adds Shield. Check your campus health center; many offer counseling services free of charge.

Take Things Slow

Though you have a history with your guy, you’re theoretically beginning an entirely new relationship. Let yourself experience all of the small relationship milestones as a new couple instead of going from zero to sixty.

Since you’re with the same person, it can be easy to strike up the same relationship — and that’s exactly what you’ve worked on not doing. “Give yourself space and time to get clear before you rush back in and fall into old patterns,” says Shield.

You also never know how you’ll feel once you get back into a relationship. “Every day your feelings about the situation could change,” says Shield. The only way you’ll be able to acknowledge those feelings, good or bad, is by slowly easing back into coupledom with your ex.

“We didn’t take things slow and ended up repeating the mistakes,” says Meagan* from Georgetown University. “I've gotten back together multiple times with the same guy. I always broke up with him because he kept cheating on me with the same girl. And because he always knew the right thing to say, I always took him back, thinking that it would be different. And it was different, at the beginning. He was sweet, witty, generous, adoring, charming; basically the guy I fell in love with. And then one bad fight about something random at the time, and he would resort back into his past habits of lying and cheating, and I would break up with him. This vicious cycle continued at least three other times before I finally wised up and broke it off for good.”

Understand It’s a Two-Way Street

Now what would relationship advice be without a little Sex and the City reference? Think back to the first movie, when Steve and Miranda agree to reconcile their issues by meeting on the bridge. For a moment, Miranda worries that Steve won’t come — but she goes anyway.

There is a chance your ex might resist or deny your efforts to get back together. But if it’s something you really want, you’ve got to take a chance and put your heart on the line.

“Sometimes our wounded pride can get in the way and make us push people away when we're hurt,” says Shield. “If you really believe in the relationship, you might have to make the first move to reconcile. The worst thing the other person can say is ‘no,’ but you'll never know until you try.”

Don’t Dwell on the Past

Because break-ups aren’t necessarily awful, hair-pulling, meltdown-inducing events, dwelling on the past isn’t an issue for every couple. But if you and your beau did end things on a semi-traumatic note (think: cheating, majorly divisive issues, etc.), you’ll need to let go of a lot of what previously happened if you want your revisited love to have any chance at surviving.

Getting over something is tough, but reliving it over and over again isn’t at all helpful. “Sometimes, you really do need to forgive and forget,” she says. “It’s important to understand that everyone makes mistakes. It's part of the process of growing and learning what does and doesn't work in a relationship.”

Hard as it may be, move forward in your new relationship. If issues from the past rear their ugly heads again, that’s the time to revisit them. But don’t hold back while waiting for that time to come.

“I let go of the past, and we’re stronger than ever,” says Courtney from Indiana University. “My boyfriend broke up with me last year, and I found out he started seeing another girl right after. When I confronted him, he almost broke down into tears. He did everything he could to prove that he was sorry until I agreed to speak to him again. When I finally did, he sat me down and told me that it took that girl for him to realize how much I meant to him. Almost nine months later we've never been happier. Sometimes I still think about what happened, but he reminds me every day how much he loves me. It may sound corny, but we love each other and that incident brought us closer.”

Every relationship is different, which makes the circumstances for getting back together completely unique to each couple. So, rather than take another’s experience and apply it to your own, put in some thinking time and come to your own decision.

What’s your opinion on rekindling a relationship with an ex? Have you ever done it?How did it work out?

*Name has been changed.

It seems as though everyone in Hollywood has a tattoo nowadays. Celebrity ink is only growing in popularity, especially among young starlets, but not all ink is created equal. Here are a few of the most odd and inexplicable tattoos out there.

1. Miley Cyrus's Cat Emoji Tattoo

Miley recently got this sad kitty emoji tattoo on her inner lip. If only she had thought to convey her message via text instead!

2. Lena Dunham's Eloise Tattoos

As a teen, Lena got these illustrations from children’s book Eloise by Kay Thompson permanently inked on her back.

3. Rihanna's Tribal Tattoo

It was hard to pick just one from Rihanna’s collection of more than 20 tattoos, but this tribal tattoo on her hand might just take the cake!

4. P!nk's Barcode Tattoo

We may love P!nk, but we're not sold on this barcode tattoo, which displays Pink’s lucky number, 13; her birthdate, September 8, 1979; and the release date of her album M!ssundazstood, November 20, 2001.

5. Megan Fox's Quote Tattoo

Megan’s back tattoo bearing the words “We will all laugh at gilded butterflies” has left more than a few people scratching their heads.

6. Scarlett Johansson's Sunrise Tattoo

Scarlett Johansson? Beautiful. Sunrises? Beautiful. This crayon-drawn sunrise tattoo on Scarlett’s arm? Not so lovely.

7. Cara Delevingne's Lion Tattoo

Like Rihanna, it was hard to pick just one among Cara’s many tattoos, but her tattoo of a lion on her finger might just be her strangest choice.

8. Audrina Patridge's Snake and Heart Tattoo

We’re not quite sure what made Audrina choose this snake and heart tattoo on her neck, but here’s hoping she wears her hair down a lot more often!

9. Christina Ricci's Lion Tattoo

Is it a lion? A cloud? A ghost? Whatever Christina got inked on her back, we have to imagine it wasn’t entirely thought out.

10. Rita Ora's Pinup Girl Tattoo

Rita made a tribute to Alberto Vargas with this topless pinup girl named Rosetta that she had inked on her ribcage.

11. Victoria Beckham's Spine Tattoo

We’re not sure what Victoria’s spine tattoo is supposed to signify, but we’re sure that it must have hurt!

12. Cheryl Cole's Rose Tattoo

Cheryl’s rose tattoo, which covers the entire lower half of her back and her derriere, took 15 hours to create.

13. Hayden Panettiere's Misspelled Tattoo

Hayden’s vertical back tattoo was intended to spell out “live without regrets” in Italian, but unfortunately for her, her tattoo artist added an extra “i” in “rimpianti,” making it "rimipianti." Talk about regret! But luckily, the starlet is getting it removed.

Most (if not all) of us collegiettes find ourselves dealing with totally awkward situations on a daily basis that make us want to jump into the nearest hole. Let’s face it: sometimes college is kind of just one big, awkward moment! Although there’s no way to avoid awkward encounters altogether (besides never leaving your dorm room, of course), there are ways to make the best of uncomfortable situations. Here are some common “awkward moments” that happen in college that we can all relate to, and how to deal with them!

1. You run into a one-night stand

You’re walking across campus or hanging out at a party when all of a sudden you recognize your one-night stand from afar. Or, even worse, you realize mid-conversation that the guy you’re talking to looks familiar… because the last time you saw him, you were in the midst of a very sloppy, very drunk hook-up with him.  Your heart begins to race, your palms start to sweat and you’re considering creating a diversion in order to escape from the awkwardness.

How to deal: Although you may be panicking on the inside, remain calm and try to play it off like nothing’s wrong. “The best way to handle it is just to play it cool and act like it was no big deal—or make your friends hide you. That works, too,” says Sophie Dodd, a junior at Middlebury College. As soon as you can, politely excuse yourself and make a quick getaway.

2. You walk in on your roommate mid-hook-up (or your roommate walks in on you)

You come back from a long day of class, only to open your dorm room door and find a whole lot more than you bargained for—a very embarrassed roommate and her SO in the middle of a compromising situation. Although this type of encounter is nearly inevitable in college, it can be pretty mortifying, to say the least! Accidentally walking in on a hook-up is awkward for everyone involved, especially if you and your roommate don’t have a close or open relationship.

How to deal: If you’re the one who got, ahem… interrupted, laugh it off and apologize to your guy for the situation (because he probably feels even more awkward than you do!). Whether you’re the interrupter or the interrupted, an apology to your roommate is also essential. To prevent accidental walk-ins in the future, set up a system with your roommate, such as texting her beforehand or writing a code word on a whiteboard on your door, so that you each know when to stay out of the room for a while. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you have alternative sleeping arrangements, just in case! 

3. You run into a high school acquaintance you never talk to anymore

You’re walking across campus when you see the girl whom you were kinda-sorta-not-really friends with in high school. It’s the most awkward of run-ins: you know her well enough that not saying anything would be weird, but you don’t know her well enough to actually have anything to talk about.

How to deal: Chances are you’re going to see this person around campus again, so ignoring her completely is a no-go. The best course of action is to acknowledge the person with a nod, a smile or even a “hey!” but to continue walking so that you can avoid a potentially awkward conversation. If you’re forced to engage in chit-chat, try to keep it short and sweet. Ask a few polite questions, but after pleasantries, you can say something along the lines of, “It was great seeing you, but I have to get to class!”

4. You have to do the walk of shame

It’s happened to the best of us. You got a little crazy on a Friday night and ended up in someone else’s bed, which forces you to make the long walk of shame back to your dorm or apartment in last night’s clothes. You have to totter back home in the ever-classy stilettos-and-bodycon-dress combo (or, even worse, still in theme-party attire) under the harsh light of day while enduring stares from bemused college-tour groups and elderly professors.

How to deal: In this situation, there’s not much else you can do but hold your head up high and make it back to your place as fast as possible (and hope that you don’t run into anyone you know!). If you can, try to take an out-of-the-way route to avoid walking by huge groups of people in the middle of campus. And hey, as awkward as it is at the time, your walk of shame will make a good story later on.

5. You’re talking to someone you’ve met before, but you can’t remember his or her name.

Considering how many new people the average collegiette meets from one weekend to the next, it’s safe to say that many of us have ended up in this awkward situation. “Before, I've met someone and forgotten about it and then felt really awkward when he approached me on campus, and vice versa,” says Susannah Hine, a senior at the University of California, Irvine.

How to deal: If you find yourself racking your brain for a name but coming up empty, try this sneaky trick. When one of your friends walks by, introduce her to the person you’re talking to. That person is likely to introduce herself back, which will save you the awkwardness of asking, “What was your name again?”

6. You drunk-texted someone last night

You wake up on a Sunday morning, check your phone and find out that Drunk You thought it would be a good idea to text your mom, your ex and an old friend from high school at 3 a.m.  You scroll through your texts with horror as you read the typo-ridden, emoji-filled and often all-too-honest messages you can’t even remember sending. Now what?

How to deal: Unfortunately, by the time you realize what you did, the damage is already done. All that you can do now is either apologize or pretend like those texts didn’t even happen. If you need a cover, you could say something like, “Oops, I accidentally texted all of my contacts last night!” and leave it at that. In the future, give your phone to a trusted friend so you can party to your heart’s content without regretting it the next day.

7. You end up at a party where you don’t know anyone

Somehow you end up at a house party all by your lonesome, and it feels like everyone else knows someone but you. You’re awkwardly standing in a corner, clutching your cup and debating whether or not to attempt to slip out unnoticed. In your mind, everyone else is zeroing in on your awkwardness, which just makes you feel even more self-conscious. This is a socially awkward person’s worst nightmare come to life.

How to deal: While it can be tempting to flee, remember the motto, “fake it until you make it!” College is all about stepping out of your comfort zone, and this situation is the perfect opportunity to branch out. “When you’re talking to someone you don’t know, start simple! Ask the person how they know the host of the party or what their major is,” says Olivia Kim, a sophomore at the University of Toledo. “Don’t sit in the corner refreshing Twitter on your phone! If you project a friendly, outgoing attitude, people will respond to that.”

Think of it this way: this worst thing that can happen is you get bored and leave, but on the other hand, you could end up making new friends or talking to a new cutie!  Embrace the awkwardness and give it a shot.

Although awkward moments are unavoidable, the best thing to do is always to try to make light of the situation (or just try to pretend it never happened). Remember, it’s only awkward if you make it awkward!

Oh, last semester of college... we just aren’t sure how to feel about you.

Actually, yes we are.

Graduation is approaching, and as you reminisce on your college career, you realize that you're showing every sign of being a second-semester senior on the verge of breaking free (or down) in the real world. You'll probably relate to all of these, but don't worry - you're not alone. 

1. You start to feel really old and creepy at house parties.

2. You're on a first-name basis with the bartenders and bouncers at every bar in your college town. 

3. When your friend suggests Chipotle instead of class for the third time this week, you're like:

4. You validate sleeping in until noon because when you have a real job, you’ll have to get up at 6 a.m. everyday. 

5. BSing research papers has turned into finding creative ways to make yourself sound hireable in your cover letters. 

6. You are determined to take advantage of every drink special and bar night, because those weekday nights out can’t (and don't) exist in the adult world.

7. You begin to openly accept that the real reason you have to pull all-nighters is not because you have a lot of homework, but because you put it off due to those weekday nights you spent out. You figure you have the rest of your life to work, so you have to make the most of what's left of your college career. 

8. "I really don’t care" has a whole new meaning. You really don’t care.

9. You spend as little time on campus as possible. Even if you only have 20 minutes between classes, that’s plenty of time to fit in a much-needed nap.

10. All of your classes are in the same building.

11. Cooking is a thing of the past: Jimmy John's has your number and address in their system.

12. You don’t even want to open emails about graduation or think about ordering your cap and gown.

13. You start to feel past your prime. Dancing with friends at clubs has turned from this…

…to this.

14. You pretend not to make eye contact with your roommates when they catch you having a drink in the middle of the day. They don't really care, anyways...

...because 10 minutes later, they join you.

15. Studying has turned into this...

16. You celebrate when you pass a test without even touching the textbook.

17. Every time someone mentions graduation at the bar...

18. You are starting to run out of costumes for theme parties.

19. When the bar begins to overflow with obnoxiously drunk underclassmen and their fake IDs, you're like:

20. Your class schedule does not involve anything before 11 a.m.

21. When midterms and finals roll around, you get extra dramatic about having to say goodbye to your social life.

22. On that note, your social life is sitting on the very fine line between wanting to go the bars every night and locking yourself away from society to watch endless amounts of Netflix. 

23. You feel entitled to a spring break vacation.

24. Your friends literally have to coach you through going to class every single day. 

25. You become emotionally unstable after seeing Facebook status updates about new internships, jobs, engagements, babies and promotions.

26. When people ask if you're excited to finally be graduating, you pretend to act ecstatic to hide your complete sense of panic.

27. When people in your classes talk about the three jobs they have to choose from after graduation, you freak out. You haven't applied anywhere, and you don't even know if you can go back to your hometown supermarket as your backup plan.

28. You start calling your parents panicking about not finding a job right after graduation.

29. You struggle to find the balance among finishing school, applying for jobs, having a social life and staying sane. 

30. When someone asks you about grad school, you're like:

31. Your drink of choice begins to change as graduation nears.

32. You want to punch the "this is the last time" person every time they talk. "You guys, this is the last time we will be college students at this very restaurant on this very day!"

33. But you know they’re right, so you soak up every single moment you have left. 

34.  After four job interviews, you realize that you'll probably have to live with your parents for the next six years due to the fact that every interview was for an internship that pays minimum wage. 

35. You begin to realize this whole second-semester senior year thing is a lot like being hungover.

36. So you learn to comfort yourself, because you are clearly not alone during this fragile time.

Remember, making it through your last semester is long and painful, but you're going to make it out alive. We promise. 

A Temple University student and his girlfriend are suing two Philadelphia police officers over a wrongful arrest in 2012.

Ian Van Kuyk was arrested on charges of obstructing justice, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct after he photographed officers performing a routine traffic stop near his apartment. Van Kuyk was taking photos for a photojournalism assignment. After the student refused to stop taking photos, the officers allegedly pushed Van Kuyk to the ground before handcuffing him. Meghan Feighan, Van Kuyk's girlfriend, was also charged with obstruction and disorderly conduct after she tried to rescue her boyfriend's camera.

In November 2012, Van Kuyk and Feighan were found not guilty of the charges. Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel to the National Press Photographers Association, wrote a letter to Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey in which he argues, "There is no excuse for your officers to intentionally disregard a citizen’s right to photograph an event occurring in a public place. Law enforcement agencies are established to uphold and enforce existing laws, not to use them as a pretext to punish someone exercising their free speech right to photograph in public." 

In September 2011, Ramsey issued a memo stating, “[P]olice personnel shall not interfere with any member of the general public or individuals temporarily detained from photographing, videotaping or audibly recording police personnel while conducting official business or while engaging in an official capacity in any public space."

Van Kuyk and Feighan have filed a lawsuit against the officers, seeking"compensatory and punitive damages for assault, battery, false arrest and imprisonment and malicious prosecution."

"The police, we don't think, should view someone who is photographing or videotaping their activity as an adversary,"says Van Kuyk and Feighan's attorney, Mark Tanner. "If you're a public servant and you're doing your job and doing it well, then video evidence or photographic evidence can only help you."

One of the best things about college is independence: you get to set your own rules, stay out as late as you want—and manage your own budget? Well, being independent isn’t always easy, especially when you have to worry about how much you’re spending on top of everything else. But some collegiettes find a way to live fabulous lives without breaking the bank, and luckily for you, Her Campus has tapped into their secrets. Read on to learn eight highly effective habits of money-saving collegiettes.

1. Motivate your savings.

Just got that weekly paycheck and ready to turn it into cash money? Not so fast, Lil’ Wayne. Set aside a reasonable portion of the money you earn for spending later. Truly effective money savers develop a system of doing this every time they earn. You’re never too old for a piggy bank, either: “Whenever I get change, I put it in my piggy bank,” says Tia Meyers from Quinnipiac University. “It ends up accumulating to a lot of money!”

Worried you won’t stick to the plan? Designate those savings for something leisure-related, like late-night takeout or bar money, so that you’ll want to save up. Same goes for the long-run: if your employer uses Direct Deposit, transfer some of your income from each pay period into your savings, and withdraw the rest for spending. Kelsey Damassa, a Boston College collegiette who works as a spin teacher and fitness assistant at the campus gym, splits it half-way: “I make sure to transfer half of my income each week into my savings. That way I still have some spending money, but save up a decent amount too!”

2. Keep receipts and keep track.

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but we don’t just mean making mental notes. Set a numerical budget and stick to it by keeping track of each transaction, either technologically or by old school pen-and-paper. “I have a document on my computer where I keep track of basically any money I spend that I’ve converted to an Excel spreadsheet,” shares Ohio University collegiette Jessica Salerno. “The big ones are bills and groceries, but it’s actually been helpful to make note of smaller things too.” For an even more convenient approach, try using an app like dgMoney for Android or Toshl for iPhone, both of which you can download for free. Then put all your diligent tracking to use by setting aside a time once a week to make sure your receipts match up with your bank account. As Jessica puts it, “[Keeping track] also helps me compare how well I’m doing with my monthly budget!” Not only will you catch any calculation errors in your account, but can also get a sense of your expenditure—whether you’re overspending or you could afford to spend a little more—and adjust accordingly.

3. Buy used books and sell them back.

Books are by far one of the largest investments college students have to make, and the most inconvenient thing is just that—you have to get them. You can, of course, try checking out books from the campus library, but if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of constantly renewing them, check out sites like Neebo, BookRenter, College Book Renter and Chegg. All offer a variety of ways to save money on your course load, including buying, renting or selling your textbooks. If you decide to buy your books, whether from a store or online, buy them used and buy them early—do not wait until quantity is low and prices are soaring. You’re only a few clicks away from getting excellent discounts on books that will arrive early, too.

Already bought your books for this semester? Don’t forget to get that money back when you’re done with them: at the end of the term, sell your books back to your campus bookstore, a buyback program, Amazon or a friend. Tap into your entrepreneurial skills if you need to by sending out an email, setting a Facebook status or tweeting about it—chances are, someone else has to take Psych 101 next semester and could use the discount.

4. Sale away!

Clothing stores know what they’re doing when they put the brand new clothes on display, but don’t ignore those messy sale racks on the side! What may seem like a pile of unwanted cargo next to that fashionably dressed mannequin is actually a treasure mine for your new outfits—just a little cheaper. Take the time to filter through racks of on-sale clothing or check out your local thrift store. It may take a little more effort to find what you want, but chances are it’ll pay off—literally. Being web-savvy helps in this respect as well: “I always go on RetailMeNot.com for discounts while online shopping,” says Nicole Echeverria, a student at Wake Forest University. “It’s been a lifesaver.” Nicole is on the right track; there are innumerable sites like Retail Me Not, including HauteLook, Rent the Runway, the eBay Fashion Vault, Rue LaLa, ideeli and Bluefly. Also be sure to check out the Sale sections of Far Fetch and Amazon’s ShopBop, both of which offer discounts of up to 70 percent off.

Most sites require that you create an account or provide a valid email address, but providing that information is imperative to finding awesome deals, so the registration is definitely worthwhile! Since there are so many options, it’s a good idea to get a feel for each before choosing which to register with—sites like Zappos and 6pm, for instance, are especially useful for finding shoes on sale—from semi-formal pumps to comfier options for strolling around campus.

5. “Coups, baby.”

Using coupons is no longer just a Dane Cook joke or a hobby for soccer moms—it’s another helpful resource on your laptop, too! The Internet is full of deal-of-the-day and savings websites, like: Groupon, Google Offers, Amazon, and Gilt Groupe .

Use it all to your full advantage and don’t be afraid to get creative—Amazon isn’t just for book-buying and Groupon isn’t just for use at local businesses. “Around Valentine's Day, my roommate and I (semi) splurged on some chocolate covered strawberries from Groupon,” says Kelsey Mulvey, a collegiette at Boston University. “We did the research and were amazed with how much money we saved!” Kelsey paired up with her roommate, but don’t forget that your options are limitless, Generation Millenials—if you get a unique link for a group deal, use social media to your advantage and tweet/post/email it! If your friends decide to buy, everyone in the group gets a bigger discount—plus, your friends will remember and return the favor later.

6. Get grub at the grocery.

No matter which meal plan you’ve chosen, you probably won’t be eating every single meal at school. Here’s where you should be careful about mixing it up, because while food chains are quick and convenient, they also have a tendency of racking up the bill. “A five dollar drink from Starbucks isn’t worth it when I would be just as happy with a tea from home,” says Jennifer Rogers from the University of Alberta, “but it’s very easy to justify when you need a caffeine boost and you have a few minutes to spare before class.” We’ve all been there, but there is a cheaper alternative—buying ground coffee at the supermarket, for example. While stocking up on groceries can still be expensive, it’s healthier and more efficient than going out all the time; the key is to be smart about it! Here’s how:

• Make a list. Before you leave home, make sure you’ve checked your fridge and pantry before you accidentally buy a second batch of eggs. Avoid wasting money on unnecessary purchases like bottled water, for example, which is both harmful to the environment and less efficient than sticking to a reusable bottle.
• Do your research.“It’s worth checking what deals are available at your local grocery store,” adds Jennifer. “Ours, for instance, gives 10 percent off your total purchase the first Tuesday of every month.”
• Never go grocery shopping hungry. You’ll end up with loads of tempting snacks in your cart instead of the essentials that you came for.
• Buy in bulk—but be careful about it. Buying huge containers of perishable items like fresh fruit, milk or eggs can turn out to be a waste if you know you won’t be consuming all of it before the expiration date. When it comes to bulk, stick to stuff like chips, canned soup, peanut butter and cereal, lest you throw out spoiled food and money, too. You can buy meat or vegetables in bulk, too—just make sure you stick it in the freezer after two days.

7.  Get around town for cheap.

If you have a car at school, you know how helpful it can be when you’re in a rush, but the costs of gas, maintenance and parking make driving everywhere a steep investment. Whether you go to school in a bustling city or in the middle of nowhere, keep your mind open to other options, like public transit, biking, and, oh yeah, walking. “Public transportation can often be useful if you’re a student,” says Lili Martinez, a grad of Kenyon College and a native of Providence, Rhode Island who has gained familiarity with different types of campuses as a professor’s daughter. “At Brown, they give free bus passes to students, so that knocks a big cost off your budget.” If you’re really unwilling to let go of that car you’ve loved dearly since your sweet sixteen, carpool with friends to save everyone some cash, and make sure your car is stocked with stuff like granola bars and water bottles so you won’t be tempted to take any costly and unnecessary detours.

8. Do It Yourself.

Don’t you miss art class? Rediscover your artistic abilities and save yourself money at the same time by trying out DIY projects. Obviously, some things are better left to the experts—building a fire on campus property instead of buying a mini-grill probably won’t end well—but the DIY strategy can apply to plenty of ventures that would otherwise cost a lot. Gifts, for example, are the perfect opportunity to get crafty; something handmade and personal is just as, if not more valuable than a gift card to a high-end retail store. “I used some old things from my parents’ basement to decorate my room this year,” adds Lili. “You’d be surprised how much cool stuff your parents keep downstairs and don’t use, and all of it is free!” Get together with friends and experiment with recipes for beauty products like exfoliants and hair dye, or cook a meal together instead of ordering takeout. “[My roommate and I] have turned learning how to bake and cook into our semester project,” says Jennifer. “It’s fun—despite our many failed attempts—and much cheaper and healthier.”

One last thing, collegiettes—the point of managing your budget is to make your life easier and your wallet fatter. Use these tips every day so that you can afford to splurge on a beach vacation, finally order that dress you’ve had your eye on or save up for grad school. Just remember that you’re penny-pinching for a purpose, so don’t forget to treat yourself once in a while!

“Oh, you’re an English major? So you’re going to be a teacher, right?”

Maybe you are an English major with the hopes of becoming a teacher, but maybe not! Wherever there is communication—whether it’s in the form of speeches, presentations, commercials, print ads, podcasts, broadcasts, instructions, brochures, press releases, newspapers, magazines or books—there is a need for people to create, edit and revise that content. And that’s where you come in, English majors!

To find out what opportunities are out there for collegiettes studying English, we spoke to Rochelle Sharit, a career planning manager at Northeastern University’s business school, and Deanna Rodin, associate director of Hofstra University’s career center. If your love of linguistics and literature has inspired you to choose an English major, here are a few careers available to you.

1. B2B content writer

What it is: B2B marketing, or business-to-business marketing, is used for one business to sell goods or services to another business (as opposed to businesses selling something to a consumer). A growing number of B2B clients are interacting with companies through social networking channels, such as Twitter, blogs and LinkedIn, and someone has to capture the interest of those customers through well-written content.

Why your English degree is valuable: With a little business and social media expertise, your English major can take you far in the world of B2B marketing. “As an English major, students can apply their writing skills to many business positions if they are motivated to learn the business or technical side of the role,” Sharit says. “For B2B content, [applicants should] understand the business benefits provided by the product to help make the sale.”

If you have a knack for strategizing and marketing, strong writing skills will help you flourish in B2B content writing.

2. Editor

What it is: Editors plan, coordinate and revise material for publication in books, newspapers, magazines or websites. They review story ideas and edit drafts, deciding what will appeal to readers the most.

Why your English degree is valuable: Editors must ensure that all written content is free of grammatical or spelling errors, so strong language skills are a must! As Rodin points out, “A major in English expands your vocabulary, enriches your ability to express ideas, teaches you to make complex material more palatable and trains you to become an efficient and effective communicator.” Writing skills are also important, as editors should be able to express ideas clearly and logically.

3. Paralegal or legal assistant

What it is: Paralegals do a variety of tasks in order to support lawyers, such as maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research and drafting documents. They may work in any field of law and may support a single lawyer or a large group of attorneys. TheAmerican Bar Association maintains a list of accredited paralegal programs.

Why your English degree is valuable: Paralegals must be able to document and present their research to their supervising attorneys, so speaking and writing skills are essential. Your English training will also have developed your critical thinking, research, citation and writing skills, which you’ll need in a legal profession. Your education will also need to include computer skills and the basics of American government and legal research, but your English degree is a great start!

4. Technical writer

What it is: Technical writers produce instruction manuals and other supporting documents to communicate complex information more easily. They also distribute technical information to customers, designers and manufacturers. Experience with a technical subject, such as computer science, Web design or engineering, can help.

Why your English degree is valuable: According to Sharit, technical writers must be able to “learn the product side to communicate to the reader of a technical manual.”  In order to take that difficult-to-understand information and translate it for colleagues and consumers who have nontechnical backgrounds, an English major’s communication skills are a must. Technical writers must be able to think about a product in a way a person without technical experience would think about it.

5. Journalist

What it is: Journalists inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally and locally. They can report the news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television or radio.

Why your English degree is valuable: Solid, effective communication skills cannot be overrated, especially in the field of journalism. “Yes, you might argue that all college students, despite their major, are taught communication skills,” Rodin says. “However, it is our English majors who perfect it.” Journalists need to be able to report news in writing, so strong writing skills are necessary!

6. SEO Content Writer

What it is: SEO (search engine optimization) content writing is a process of creating optimized web content to target specific audiences. Every website has a specific target audience and requires a different type and level of content, and it is the job of the SEO content writer to produce content that is relevant and searchable.

Why your English degree is valuable: Though social media skills are a must, “applicants need to learn strategies of using social media tools to draw customers to the company website,” Sharit says. To raise a page’s ranking and content relevancy for search engine hits, content has to be well written. SEO content writers are essentially professional bloggers who write with a specific client in mind, so great writing skills are necessary to create website content that will boost the company’s page rank.

7. Copywriter

What it is: Copywriting is essentially the bridge between creative writing and advertising. It involves proofreading and editing copy, creating ads, writing digital and print copy and taking part in social media campaigns.

Why your English degree is valuable: When it comes to sending a message, no one can do it better than an English major. “Every company or organization needs to communicate something to someone,” Rodin says. “An English major can help fill that role. There is more need than ever, with an increase in the use of social media and with an abundance of information available, to be clear and concise, yet interesting.”

Every business, big and small, utilizes a creative department, and your English major will give you the creativity you need to stand out from other applicants.

8. PR writer

What it is: PR, or public relations, is the strategic, marketing-based field that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and the public. PR writers create company newsletters, press releases and content for social media. The writer’s responsibilities include media relations, publicity and reputation management of an organization.

Why your English degree is valuable: Since PR requires you to be a mediator between the public and your organization, strong oral and communication skills are important. PR also requires a strong background in research, problem solving and reading comprehension—all skills you’ll have acquired from your English studies.

Lucky for you English majors, you’re able to utilize several skills that work well within today's demanding business world. “There are a plethora of job opportunities where writing is highly valued, but almost none are done in isolation,” Sharit says. “To make yourself a strong candidate, combine your writing skills with something more by either learning on your own or through courses. Otherwise, demonstrate your flexibility and curiosity in learning new skills.” Expand your repertoire, and the number of jobs available to you will open up as well.

While these positions may not lead to writing the next great American novel, combining your creative mind with an entrepreneurial spirit can give you a career you may have never imagined—and one that shock all those people who told you a liberal arts major wasn’t practical!

Between New Year’s resolutions and getting ready for Spring Break you might be ready to try just about anything to shed some pounds or tighten up those abs. But just like fashion fads come a go, so do diet and exercise fads. And it’s usually for the best when these trends do fade away, especially when they claim to make you “lose 15 pounds in 5 days!”—yeah, right.  

Getting into shape is more than just numbers on the scale. Instead, you want to find a stable diet and exercise routine that gives you energy and makes you feel good. It’s no easy task to find a diet and workout routine that works for you, but we’re here to help by busting popular exercise and diet myths that won’t deliver what they promise so you won’t waste your time or effort. Once you have the facts straight, you can finally get the results you want and deserve! 

“If I lift weights I will look like a man.”

It’s understandable that most of us don’t want to muscle up like the Incredible Hulk from our workouts. That’s why many women avoid the weights section of a gym. But it turns out that weight training could be just what you need to rev up your workout and tone up! 

“Many ladies fear that using weights will make them bulky or build muscle like men,” says David Gonzalez, a Labrada Nutrition Athlete. “Quite the contrary, it actually tones and assists with fat burning.” Another added bonus of lifting weights? You can build muscle (again, not Hulk-sized ones), which burns more calories than fat—so you can actually increase your calorie burn even after you’re done working out! 

Whether you want defined arms or a flatter stomach, there are plenty of weight lifting exercises you can do to tighten up your trouble zones. Check out this introduction to weight training to get started! 

You can start small, with 3-5 pound weights, and do as many repetitions of simple movements as you can, and then you can work your way up toward more complex exercises using heavier weights. If you’re scared of trying it on your own, you could try a class at your campus or local gym that incorporates weights, such as a barre, body pump, or circuit class. 

AnnaMarie Reinhofer, a collegiette at Boston University, has experienced the benefits of weight training firsthand. When she began college and couldn’t rely on sports practices for exercise, she found a new workout routine that focused more on weight training and high intensity interval training—cardio that alternates between a moderate pace and short bursts of intense activity. 

“My physique change and I dropped weight I didn’t know I had,” she says. “Lifting weights, light or heavy, has completely changed my physique in a positive way.”

 “Only eat low-fat and non-fat foods to lose weight.”

Although low-fat foods are sometimes a better option, it’s not a catch-all for dieting. The best option is to choose naturally low-fat foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These types of foods make you feel fuller faster because of the good kinds of nutrients that they provide, says Joan Salge-Blake, author of Nutrition & You. But when you opt for snacks like fat-free cookies or ice cream, sometimes they actually aren’t much better for you than the original food when it comes to losing weight.

Salge-Blake explains that even if a food is low-fat, it often still has the same amount of calories as the original. “And when it says ‘no fat’, sometimes that lets you think that you can eat more,” she says. Since losing weight comes from lowering your calorie intake, this “low-fat” effort is fruitless (pun intended).

Just like there are different kinds of carbs, there are different kinds of fats—some good, and some you should limit. Two healthy types of fats are called polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, which are found in energizing foods like nuts, avocado, natural peanut butter, and fish. On the other hand, the unhealthy fats that you want to avoid are trans fats and saturated fats. It’s recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that less than 10% of the calories that you consume come from these kinds of fat. Control your intake of these foods by being aware that they are found in foods like in ice cream, butter, and high fat cheese. So with these kinds of food, it might be better to opt for the low-fat option, or to limit your intake overall.

“Machines can tell you exactly how many calories you burn during a workout.”

In this amazing world of technology, you’ve probably learned that machines don’t always work correctly (I mean, how many times has your computer crashed?). Workout machines are no different. The way you calculate the number of “calories burned” during your workout is based on your physical make-up: your age, weight, height, gender, etc. Even though most machines give you the option to plug these numbers in, there is not always complete accuracy. Instead of getting caught up in how many calories you are burning, you should be listening to your body. 

“I have a heart rate monitor,” AnnaMarie says. “I go off of my max heart rate, so I can do medium or high rate activity.” 

Calculating a workout in terms of how high you’re getting your heart rate gives you a much better sense of how your workout is actually going. It also helps you learn more about your physical health. When you know your body, you can begin to make it the best it can possibly be. It is also good to not only keep track of individual workout sessions, but multiple sessions.

“Track your progress,” Gonzalez says. “Keep a journal of how you felt, and what you look like. It not only makes a great reference to look back on what worked, but it also serves as a motivation to see visually the progress you made from Day One.”

 “Cutting carbs will help you lose weight.”

Most people have heard of the Atkins diet, which links weight loss with cutting carbs out of your diet. But according Salge-Blake, the part of a diet that helps you lose weight (in terms of what you eat) has to do with shaving off calories. This means that no food is really “off-limits,” you just have to be careful how much you eat of certain things. 

“The problem is not carbs itself,” Salge-Blake says, “it’s where the carbs are coming from.”

Carbs are found in nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, which Salge-Blake promotes as great sources of healthy energy, so you don’t want to cut these out of your diet in fear of carbs. You want to find complex carbs, which will give you longer-lasting energy, as compared to simple carbs. Complex carbs are rich in fiber and help digestion, but simple carbs contain added sugars, so they don’t have as much nutrients. Snacks like bagels and pastries are examples of simple carbs that you’d be better off limiting. You can find good, complex carbs in foods like whole wheat pasta, quinoa, brown rice, beans, skim milk and even popcorn! According to the CDC, it is recommended that you get 14 grams of fiber in your diet for every 1,000 calories that you consume. 

And if you’re confused about whether or not butter is a carb, don’t trust Mean Girls (it’s actually a fat).

“This new juicing trend will help you drop weight so fast!” 

This liquid diet trend, which consists of extracting the juice from fruits and veggies, might not be the worst idea, but it’s definitely not a long-term solution for weight loss. It can be a great way to get fruits and vegetables into your diet (because it’s so much more fun to slurp them up through a straw!), but there are some important nutrients that you miss out on with juicing. When you take out all the juice from a fruit or vegetable you lose the fiber, which is what makes you feel full, Salge-Blake says. So although you intake all the good nutrients, it won’t make you feel as full as when you actually eat the full fruit or vegetable.

The big catch with juicing is that it can be a great cleanse for your body, but it is only a temporary diet plan. You can lose some water weight when you do this, but it usually comes back once you start eating solid foods again. 

Another aspect to be wary of with juicing is that it can be very expensive to do, especially for college students. If you follow a plan from a juicing company they often make you buy specific juices or produce, and that can rack up a large bill. But if you don’t think you can swing your budget for this, don’t worry. Good old-fashioned fruits and veggies are always a great option!

Rather than sticking to an all-juice diet for a few days, which can leave you with digestive issues and a headache that’ll distract you in class, try just incorporating fresh juices into your regular diet. Or, start your day off with a nutrient-rich smoothie. 

“I like to play around with fresh juice recipes and have them as a snack or if I crave something sweet,” says Melanie Burbules from Boston University. “I really needed a boost to propel and motivate me to be healthy,” she says. “I felt wonderful and it really was a kick start into a healthy diet. 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miss Me. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the polar vortex hopefully retiring for this half of 2014, spring is on our minds. All we can think about are all the things we want to do now that it’s not frostbite season! And to do all of those things, naturally, we need new clothes.

Shopping for spring clothes is probably my favorite thing to buy. There is so much hope now that the dark clothes can be moved to the back of the closet.

Miss Me has a huge amount of new clothes for Spring. Checking out their whole collection – before they were out, or it was even appropriate to be breaking out the florals, gave me an early bout of spring fever.

To kick off spring, I came up with my first warm weather-inspired outfit — one that was perfect for sunny days when you still need a sweater. So I got Miss Me’s simple rhinestone five pockets skinny jeans in medium wash ($89.50), a Miss Melace with scalloped hem top in off white ($54) and Miss Me’s floral cardigan in coral ($69) (in case you couldn’t tell, I was dying to add floral back into my wardrobe).

What do you think of the end result?

I loved the bright coral color of the cardigan. It kept me warm, but was still light, and had a really pretty flower-y embroidery on the front, not to mention a special panel of floral in the back. The lace top was so cute and feminine! And the jeans were casual, comfortable and cool. And my usual concern with pre-ripped jeans, that they’ll rip more, won’t be an issue with these jeans! The Miss Me jeans come with this panel on the inside to keep my holes from ripping more. First World solutions!

For more great ideas for Miss Me outfits, their Facebook page has plenty of inspiration – so like it. Same goes for their Twitter page!

What are your favorite new Miss Me pieces? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

So you put yourself out there, and the world slapped you in the face with a big, fat “no.”

We’ve all experienced it, yet in the moments following a rejection, you feel like you’ve taken the Downward Spiral Express to rock bottom and the population is you.

You want to direct your anger at everything else: the employer who didn’t hire you, the boy who didn’t like you…

...or maybe even a stranger on the street (or inanimate objects, if you're feeling really crazy).

But in the end, you only feel angry at yourself.

Your efforts were ultimately wasted, and you feel like the whole journey of "trying" and "believing" was actually just Big Brother's sick ploy to crush your hopes and dreams.

Whoever made up the saying “do your best” is seriously messed up, because now you realize that even your best was not good enough.

The worst part is that you have to face the reality of living without the thing you wanted so badly…

…which sucks, because you imagined a life in which things worked out in your favor.

You wallow in your sorrows while your friends try to comfort you and tell you everything is going to be okay (though you insist it won't be).

There are fleeting moments when you think you might be healing...

...but then you overanalyze the rejection and want to get away from everything.

For a while, your daily ritual consists of eating Nutella straight from the jar and curling up in your bed in the dark.

Your days are filled with spontaneous crying sessions and melodramatic declarations of your surrender, or, as you like to put it, how you "just can't anymore."

When you get over the constantly angry/mopey/crazy phase, you live your life as a newly hardened woman with a slight disregard for consequences.

You walk around under a rain cloud, confused by how anyone could be happy in a world like this.

And while you exude a bitter calmness, sometimes the littlest things set you off.

Though it's a slow process...

...you know time heals all wounds, and you'll bounce back from this rejection one way or another.

It usually happens when you set your eyes on your next conquest...

...and forget about the potential disappointment that comes with chasing something you want.

Because once you set your sights on your new target, there's no talking you out of it.

You aren't discouraged by an unsuccessful past and instead use it as motivation for the next challenge. It's a vicious cycle, really.

But you play along like it's what you were born to do...

...which annoys all your friends, because you were a sobbing mess one minute and now you're all smiles.

But what fun is life without the dreams and the chase?

So don't give up, collegiettes. Keep at it and you'll have your day.

Because everyone has to play in the mud a little before they strike gold.

It’s happened to all of us before. You walk into your favorite beauty product retailer, drooling over the many shelves of products, and after gasping over some of the high-end price tags, you notice something strange: you can’t seem to pronounce half of the brands you're looking at!

Thankfully, we're here to help you to decode some of the more sophisticated brand names, so you can shop with total confidence during your next trip to Sephora or Ulta.

Frederic Fekkai

Pronounced "Freh-deh-reek Feh-Kigh"

Caudalie

Pronounced "Kow-deh-lee"

L'Occitane

Pronounced "Lox-ee-tahn"

Guerlain

Pronounced "Gher-lahn"

Givenchy 

Pronounced "Gee-van-chee"

Cle de Peau

Pronounced "Clay-day-poe"

Illamasqua

Pronounced "Ill-ah-mass-ka"

Kerastase

Pronounced "Kerr-a-stass"

Shiseido

Pronounced "Sheh-say-doe"

Lorac

Pronounced "La-rock"

What beauty brands do you have a hard time pronouncing? Which do you want to learn more about? Sound off in the comments!

Are you as obsessed with the song #SELFIE as we are? Enter Campus Crasher Madness, a free competition (powered by SKYLLZONE in partnership with RECESS) among U.S. colleges to win a free concert by The Chainsmokers, the New York City-based DJ duo behind the hit! The contest ends April 7 at 11:59 p.m. EST, so enter now!

How do you win? Sign up for SKYLLZONE’s Fan vs. Machine: Fantasy Basketball. For every student or supporter who drafts a team, your school will win 100 points. The school with the most points at the end wins! The game is absolutely free to play AND offers cash prizes for beating The Machine.

RECESS and SKYLLZONE are also looking for student Campus Captains at each university to help promote the competition and organize the concert if that university wins.  Students can apply to be Campus Captains for their university here.

Enter here for a chance to win. Spread the word and help bring The Chainsmokers to your school (but first—let’s take a #selfie)!

Lucky you, collegiette – you have a great boyfriend who feels comfortable enough to have you hang out with him and his friends. The bad news? You HATE his friends! Whether they’re loud and annoying or they secretly hit on you when your guy’s not around, you just want them out. Unfortunately, these guys are a part of his life, and you have to handle being around them without making your boyfriend resent you. We talked to some collegiettes as well as Leslie Ackerman, a New Jersey couples therapy counselor, to help you out in this sticky situation.

Should I be worried that my boyfriend is friends with such jerks?

While it is a common assumption that we are the company that we keep, that’s not always the case. “Are all of your friends just like you? Most likely not, and his friend group is probably the same way,” Ackerman says.

Don’t let his friends change your opinion of your boyfriend—after all, you aren’t dating them! Kelly, a junior at Hofstra University, says, “It bothers me that my boyfriend doesn’t really see that some of the things his friend does is wrong, but I know that he wouldn’t do any of those things, so I just let it go.”

Try and get to know his friends. Ask his best friend what he thinks you should get your boyfriend for his birthday, or, if you’re in one of the same classes, talk to him about a recent assignment.

“I used to hate my boyfriends’ best friend, but one day I saw him running laps at the gym,” says Kelsey, a sophomore at the University of Michigan. “I challenged him and bet that I could beat him around the track, and even though he won, we bonded. It was something so small, but if you make the effort, you might realize his friends aren’t complete jerks after all!”

Should I make him choose between us? 

No matter what your personal opinion of your boyfriend’s friends is, you do not have the right to make your guy choose between you and his friends. If he told you not to hang out with yourgirlfriends just because he didn’t like them, you wouldn’t do it (right?), so it’s not fair to ask that of him. “He will resent you if you try to make him choose,” Ackerman says. “You don’t want to become the couple that loses all their friends, and then ends up alone.”

Kelly says that although she doesn’t like one of her boyfriend’s friends, “…I don’t have a right to tell him he can’t be friends with him because the friend has never done anything to me personally. I know I wouldn’t want my boyfriend to tell me who I can and can’t be friends with, so I have to give him the same respect.”

The next time you invite your guy over for a movie, invite his friends over, too! If you and his friends don’t get along, a little bonding session with all of you might be just what you need. You’re also taking the pressure off your guy to pick whom to hang out with.

Should my boyfriend stick up for me when his friends are rude to me?

“It depends on how extreme the situation is,” Ackerman says. “A little lighthearted banter from time to time could probably be excused; they may be trying to make you feel like one of them! But if it is a frequent act, your boyfriend should put an end to it. But no matter what, if it bothers you, you need to address it to your boyfriend.”  Your guy should be making sure that you are comfortable when you are with them.

If you find yourself getting insulted by his friends, bring it up to your boyfriend privately (don’t yell at him in front of all of his friends; being a drama queen won’t help the situation). When you have a moment alone with your guy, tell him that it hurts your feelings when he doesn’t defend you in front of his friends. We get that guys don’t want to defy their friends, but it’s not cool when it starts to hurt you!

Should I say something if they hit on me when he’s not around?

If your boyfriend’s friends make you feel uncomfortable in any way, such as touching you or saying something that crosses a line, you need to address it with your boyfriend immediately.

“You need to say something sooner rather than later, because if you wait, your word looks less authentic,” Ackerman says. “You don’t want it to become so delayed that by the time you speak up, he starts believing his friends over you.”

Tell your boyfriend! He needs to know. Make it clear that you aren’t trying to start drama and that his friends are making you uncomfortable.

We all know that guys can be jerks, and it’s definitely worse if they’re your boyfriends’ friends! Even if you’re not able to get along with them, if you make an effort to, your boyfriend will appreciate it.