So you want to throw the end-all, be-all of college parties… way to go! This is college, right?! Now, there’s two ways you can go about this: 1. Buy a few cases of PBR and hope for the best. Or 2. Use a little foresight and give yourself the best possible chance of creating a college party worth talking about for weeks, or years to come. Here are some of pieces that go into the ‘killer’ college party equation:

1. Manage Your Expectations

Sorry, you’re not going to pull off a top college party with a bottle of Boones Farm and a cat that likes to scratch people. Why? Because all you’ll get is half way to a buzz, and the paranoia derived from an impending cat attack. What we’re saying is that you need to understand your situation. Decent alcohol, a good playlist, and the right set of friends will be more conducive to an awesome college party than dime store swill, internal computer speakers and random people.

2. Disregard Tip #1 And Think BIG

Not to completely contradict ourselves, but oftentimes big ideas are needed to foster big college parties. Our freshman year, we spent a random Saturday afternoon preparing our dorm room for what was the end-all, be-all of college parties. Our night started at 8pm and didn’t end until everyone was covered in black light markers with the smoke alarms going off (literally). Sometimes having a big, and slightly unrealistic vision is needed to produce a college party that’ll be talked about for the ages.

3. Prepare The Music “Situation”

We use the term “situation” because there are several factors that go into this crucial element of throwing the best college parties. First, you need to create a great playlist, keeping your audience in mind. Who’s going to be at this college party? What do they want to hear? What kind of atmosphere will these songs create? Pay attention to the order of the songs, too. Second, test your sound system in advance. Make sure you have reliable sources to play music from, and test the volume level in different rooms of the house. Lastly, figure out a way to prevent your friends from changing the song and volume every five minutes. Hint: Hide the ipod.

4. Prepare The Alcohol “Situation”

With a smaller college party you can get away with decent beer and a few nice bottles of liquor. For bigger college parties (which most tend to be) you need to put your economical college mind to work. This means, for better or worse, quantity over quality. The first option you should always consider is a keg. Kegs are hands down the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to top college parties. If that isn’t an option, cases are your next best bet. Try to take advantage of the 30-pack, and any sale on beers reaching their expiration date. Also, be sure to set up a few different areas throughout your place to keep beer cold.

5. Think Through Your Attendees

College parties can go sour surprisingly quick with segregated groups of random people that don’t know each other. There are a thousand different things that go into who shows up at your college party, and it would be pointless to consider all of them. Instead, focus on what you can control. Start with a solid group of friends. As the college party grows, make sure to introduce people whenever possible. Also, keep in mind that people show up with their friends, so when you invite your buddy Sam from class, you may also be inviting his shank-toting hooligan friends.

6. Party-Proof Your Place

There’s nothing worse than waking up the morning after a top college party and realizing someone spilled beer on your lap top, or stole your ipod. Wake up! Accidents happen and people do stupid things. The best way to prevent stuff like this is to eliminate the possibility of it happening. Hide valuables you don’t need that night, move your computer to a safe place, and lock doors to rooms you won’t need. In short, use a little common sense when preparing college parties to avoid potential problems.

7. Consider Having A Theme

These can be hit or miss, so do your homework. See what your friends would like to do, and more importantly, what they’d be willing to do. Having a toga party where you’re the only one in a toga makes for a pretty lame college party. Additionally, if you’re throwing one of these college parties, make sure your guests understand the theme. Promote the party at least a few days in advance. Evites and facebook invitations are good ways to send the message.

8. Be A Good Host

We’re not telling you to stay sober and act like an over-concerned, paranoid freak the whole time… just make sure you put the needs of your guests ahead of your own once in a while. Walk around often and see if anyone could use a drink, or needs a refill. Go out of your way to introduce people to each other. Swing by the beer pong table and drop off a fresh pitcher of beer for the game. Being a good host is a perfect example of something that costs you nothing, and can drastically improve your college party.

9. Pick The Right Time For The Party

Don’t be a salmon swimming against the current when it comes to picking a date for your college party. Make sure there aren’t any other big college parties, games, etc., already in place. Rather, use other events to your advantage. Put together pre-parties or after-parties and turn what would simply be a night of fun, into an entire day of it. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate less popular dates. Cinco de Mayo, Columbus day and celebrity birthday’s are great excuses to throw the best college parties.

10. Focus On The General Ambience

First impressions are important, and they will impact how guests ultimately perceive your college party. A couple things you can focus on are lighting, airflow, and cleanliness. Use lamps instead of overhead lights; open windows in the front and back of your place to create a cross breeze; pick everything up off the floor and use a vacuum. The temperature rises quickly once people start showing up at your college party, so you may want to have the air on and/or fans ready. And in case we haven’t emphasized it enough already, having a clean place is always a good thing when it comes to college parties.

Whether you’re going out on a questionable blind college date, or taking out your girlfriend/boyfriend of five years, thinking outside the box can save you money and prove to be more entertaining than an expensive dinner. The purpose of college dating is to get to know one another, or to simply spend quality time with one another. Why spend $50+ to do that? Here are some great ideas for dating in college that won’t break your budget:

1. Go To A Wine Tasting

You may not realize it, but all wine does not come in a box. Of course, we’re kidding; however, most of us have a lot to learn about wine, so why not have an educational college date? Wine tastings are great because they provide a casual atmosphere, and a continual topic of conversation. If you do your homework, you might even be able to impress your date with a few interesting facts. Plus, you can spend as much or as little as you want on this college date.

2. Attend Campus Events

The college living experience is a goldmine of interesting and talented people. College dating is the perfect time to take advantage of this. Go to a baseball game, see the drama club’s version of Romeo and Juliet, check out a student art show, or attend a talk on the Communist influence in Western Europe. There are plenty of opportunities, almost on a nightly basis, for fun and interesting events you can attend for a great college date. Check the student paper, the Union bulletin board, or the campus website.

3. Go Out For A Cup Of Coffee

This is one of the best ideas for college student dating, as well as one of the cheapest. How many times have you met someone, decided to go on a college date, and found yourself counting the seconds to the first appropriate moment to leave? Well, no more! Start things off with a cup of coffee at your local café. This gives you a chance to test the waters before diving in. Instead of being nailed down for an entire dinner, you can “spill” your coffee and say you have to run. Best part about this college dating idea? You can spend $5 instead of $50 to find out if you like the person.

4. Volunteer Together

You don’t have to join the Peace Corps to pull this college date off. Spend an afternoon mentoring a child, serving at a food kitchen, or making something for a charity event. This college date might even fulfill a class requirement, or an extra credit opportunity. Volunteering your time is a unique way to get to know someone on a very different level.

5. Go Out To Breakfast Or Brunch

This runs along the same lines as the coffee date. It’s a great, non-assuming idea for dating in college, and generally costs a lot less than going out to dinner. Because breakfast is typically more informal, it’s less intimidating than a dinner date as well. Have a plan in mind of something you can do afterward, if the date is going well.

6. Make Dinner

Making dinner is great for college dates. Before you freak out over the idea of creating a meal that doesn’t involve a microwave, realize that there are a ton of resources that can help. Ask a family member for a recipe, check the internet for simple ideas, or ask a local butcher for advice. If you lack confidence in your ability to follow a recipe, stick to the basics. Buy a bottle of wine, cook some pasta, light a few candles, and you’ve got yourself a cheap college date. If all else fails, admit to your date that you can’t cook and invite them over to help with the preparation.

7. Go To A Festival Or Street Fair

You may need to do a little digging to find them, but most communities host some sort of street festival every year. Filled with a plethora of original artwork, live music, and products of local agriculture, these events are great places college student dating. You’ll have a myriad of things to talk about, and you can stay for as long or short a time as you want.

8. Exercise

Why not kill two birds with one stone on college dates by getting workout in while getting to know your date. We’re not talking about running a marathon or lining up on the goal line for wind sprints. Keep it simple. Go on a jog through a nice neighborhood. Take a bike ride near a scenic river. Rollerblade through a paved trail in a nearby forest. This will cost you, at most, a minimal equipment rental fee and makes for a great college date.

9. Check Out A Museum In The Area

You keep saying you’re going to go, but never get around to it. Why not share the experience with someone, and create a cheap college date? Museums typically only cost a few bucks (using your college ID of course) and are usually pretty interesting. This is an especially good option if you don’t know your date very well and are worried about finding things to talk about while dating in college. Museums have lots of conversation starters down every hall.

10. Find A Good House Party

College parties aren’t just for exhibiting your questionable dance moves… they’re also great for getting to know someone. When dating in college, you should probably try to steer clear of a really wild party, in favor of something a little tamer; however, either one provides a good opportunity to get to know someone. It’s also a great way to meet each others friends, and may be less intimidating than going on a one-on-one college date.

You finally make it to the top of the food chain in high school, only to get dropped back to the bottom as a college freshman. This won’t be the last time you’ll go through this transition, either. It’ll happen again once you graduate, and throughout your life as you change jobs and career paths. The trick to college freshman year is learning how to quickly adapt to these changes and find your foothold in the whirlwind of change. Having already been freshman in college, here are a few tips we can offer you:

1. Start With A Clean Slate

You’re no longer a nerd, a jock, or anything in between. Your reputation isn’t going to follow you freshman year in college. For better or worse, you have a fresh start. Grab the opportunity to reinvent your character, by being the best possible version of yourself. Make good choices, make quality friends, and be the kind of person you’d admire.

2. Understand That You’re Not Alone

As a college freshman, it’s easy to forget that you’re surrounded by people in your exact situation. It’s easy to feel like everyone around you is falling perfectly into place while you’re still trying to figure out what’s going on. The fact of the matter is that all freshman in college are in the same boat. Everyone is at least a little nervous about living on their own, finding classes, making new friends, etc. Take solace in that fact and just relax.

3. Go Out Of Your Way To Meet People

The first rule of thumb is to get to know other college freshman on your floor, especially the people right around you. Keep your door open, say “hi” to people walking by, and introduce yourself. You wouldn’t think badly of someone introducing themselves to you, and they won’t think badly of you doing the same. College in general, and specifically college freshman year, is one of the easiest times in your life to make friends. Think about it… you’re surrounded by other college freshman your age, most of whom don’t know one another. Take advantage of this fact.

4. Deal With Being Homesick Positively

We had friends that got homesick at times being freshman at college, and we couldn’t blame them. A healthy way to fight this feeling is to find your niche on campus. Join clubs, make friends, and immerse yourself in campus life. Essentially, turn the campus into your home away from home. Don’t go home every weekend, or talk on the phone with your parents all night. Allow yourself to create a new life on campus freshman year of college. We’re not saying to forget about your parents or old friends, just allow yourself to get acclimated to college life.

5. Learn To Deal With New Pressures

It’s no secret that you’re going to deal with new levels of pressure as a college freshman. For some of you, fitting in with a new crowd may be your biggest pressure trigger. For others, it may be the GPA you have to maintain to keep your scholarship or get into grad school. Find healthy ways to deal with these new pressures. Everyone is different, and what might work for one person, may not work for another… so experiment. Exercise, listen to music, get your homework done early, etc. Find what works for you and stick with it.

6. Embrace The Culture Of Your Campus

Every college campus has a different culture… a distinct set of values, traditions, and rituals that make it unique. This is your new home, so embrace it. Some of the best times you’ll have as a freshman in college will be the direct result of these cultural nuances. If you go to a big sports school, go to the games and tailgate beforehand. If the students on your campus take a big spring break trip every year, go on it and be active while you’re there. Take pride in, and appreciate all the unique experiences your school has to offer your freshman year of college.

7. Seek Out The Right Major

Picking a major is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a college freshman, as it will directly affect your professional career. For that reason alone, your decision should be made carefully and methodically. Your faculty advisers, career resource advisers, and professors are great resources you have at your disposal during your experience in college. Even if you knew you wanted to be a lawyer since second grade, it’s still important to utilize professionals to fine tune your academic/career path.

8. Take Care Of Yourself

Exercise, eat right, visit the doctor when you’re sick, and get a good night sleep. Your parents aren’t there to make sure you’re doing all these things freshman year in college. For the first time in your life, you’re on your own to take care of yourself, so be deliberate about developing healthy habits. Don’t let yourself slip, or pick up any bad habits. You need a healthy body to have a productive mind.

9. Focus On Your Grades

Put in the effort to get the best grades you are capable of. We knew freshman in college who failed out immediately, and others who put themselves in a GPA hole from which they were unable to recover by graduation. As a college freshman, don’t get too caught up in college parties, bars, and extracurricular activities. That’s all secondary to why you’re there in the first place. Remember… the beer tastes better when your work is done.

10. Don’t Forget To Have Fun

College has a reputation of being one of the best times in a person’s life, mainly because it is. When all is said and done, your degree is only a fraction of what you’ll end up taking away from these four years. The experiences you have outside of the classroom are just as important as the work you do inside of the classroom. So enjoy being a college freshman… you’ll remember it the rest of your life.

One of the most common things students “gain” as college freshman, is weight known as the freshman 15. There are a number of reasons this tends to happen, most of which fall into 3 categories: 1. Lack of exercise. 2. Poor eating habits. And 3. Large intakes of “empty calories” known as “alcohol”. Simply put, the amount of calories consumed, is drastically exceeding the amount burned. Although Freshman year seems to be the most common time for freshman 15 weight gain, the following tips can and should be used throughout your college experience:

1. Workout 3-5 Days A Week

We don’t care how many credits you’re taking, how many hours you work, or how many naps you “need” to take during the day. You have nothing but time in college. Think about all the time you spend watching TV, sleeping, surfing the web, etc. Don’t convince yourself you’re too busy to walk to the gym and exercise for 30 minutes. If you have absolutely no idea how to exercise properly to avoid the freshman 15, you can find about a million resources on the web that provide you with picture and video tutorials. Most colleges even have inexpensive student trainers that can help you as well.

2. Exercise Without “Working Out”

When you really stop to think about it, there are tons of ways you can burn calories and avoid the freshman 15 without actually going to the gym. Live on the fourth floor of your dorm? Take the stairs (yes, up AND down). Live on a big campus and take a bus to class? Try walking. If you’re too far to walk, try a bike. Bottom line… you can burn a lot of calories and save yourself a considerable amount of money by walking, biking… hell, skipping around campus, instead of driving.

3. Get Involved In Intramurals

This is another great way to get consistent exercise without going to the gym, while also being a great way to meet new people and bypass the college freshman 15. If you have a hard time motivating yourself to go to the gym consistently, this is perfect for you. Getting involved in something that has a set schedule, and in which other people count on you to show up, is a great way to make sure you’re exercising regularly to avoid the freshman 15.

4. Avoid Late Night Food

We know, we know… it’s “impossible” to pass on a $9 pizza when you come home at 4am. We’ve fallen victim to this many times (and still do). The reality of the situation is that you’re probably minutes away from going to bed. Why consume an extra 1,000+ calories just to fall asleep 5 minutes later? Think about this… a light beer has around 100 calories. So, if you drink 10 beers throughout the night, that’s 1,000 empty calories your body cannot use for anything, so it gets stored as fat, contributing to freshman 15 weight. And now you want to consume another 1,000 before bed? You get the picture.

5. Avoid Late Night Food – Part 2

Okay, fine. So you’re absolutely starving because you haven’t eaten anything all day, and you literally feel like your stomach is turning inside out. If you have to eat something at 4am, at least make it reasonably healthy. One of our favorite late night meals to fight off the freshman 15 was Healthy Choice frozen French bread pizza. Pop it in the oven for 20 minutes (faster than delivery anyway), and you have a really good, and reasonably portioned snack to tide you over until the morning. It only has 360 calories compared to the 1,000+ calories from a regular pizza.

6. Eat Healthy In The Cafeteria

Yes, it actually can be done. You don’t need to be a nutritionist to know that things like pizza, chicken fingers and meatball subs contribute to freshman 15 weight gain. And we’re not saying you need to eat salads and egg whites for every meal. There are plenty of healthy meals you can buy in a cafeteria without sacrificing taste. Grilled chicken breast, turkey/tuna/roast beef sandwiches, chicken Caesar salads or wraps (light dressing), fruits, vegetables, etc., are all much better alternatives. General rule of thumb… if you’d like to lose freshman 15, stay away from the fried foods.

7. Eat Before Grocery Shopping

This is a tip we discovered in college and still use to this day. Basically, the hungrier you are, the more tempting it is to buy and eat unhealthy foods. Multiple this by several weeks or months, and it’s no wonder freshman 15 weight gain is so common. Think about it… when you’re absolutely starving, what are you more likely to eat – a frozen pizza or a salad? Exactly. Eat a good meal before making your trip to the grocery store, and it will be much easier to avoid stocking your cabinets with junk food, and packing on the freshman 15.

8. Eat Small, Frequent Meals

You’ve probably already heard that eating 5-6 small, healthy meals a day is better than eating 2-3 big meals. The hardest part about developing this habit is the inconvenience of having to prepare and eat 5-6 different meals every day… but if you want to lose freshman 15, it’ll be worth it. The good thing is that a lot of these meals are more like snacks, and don’t take much or any preparation time. Cut the portion size of your three basic meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) by a third, and add healthy snacks in between.

9. Keep Healthy Snacks Around

The main way to make sure you’re eating small, healthy meals, is to make them easily accessible. If you can get to a Sam’s Club or a Costco, buy things like granola bars, nuts, yogurt, etc., in bulk. You’ll save money, and you’ll always have healthy snacks around. Eating these snacks will keep your metabolism running and prevent that “starving” feeling that can promote unhealthy eating… leading to the freshman 15.

10. Drink Water Instead

One very simple way to reduce the amount of calories you take to combat freshman 15 weight gain is to drink water with your meals instead of pop, fruit juice, and beer. There are many health benefits that come from drinking lots of water; cutting a bunch of excess calories and carbs from your diet is just one of them… not to mention the fact that it’s FREE.

Bonus Tip

If mixed drinks are your thing, order diet pop instead of regular pop with them. You’ll save yourself a lot of calories without a noticeable taste difference. In that same vein, remember that there is approximately the same amount of calories in a shot as there are in a light beer… so drinking liquor instead of beer won’t prevent you from gaining the freshman 15 since it isn’t saving you any calories.

Can you serenade a sorority wearing nothing but a diaper and a Spiderman mask? Are you willing to do your sorority sister’s laundry for a week? These are questions that you have, or will have to consider before joining college greek life. Even if you’re a college freshman, you don’t have to decide right away. Most colleges have a policy of not letting students join college greek life during their first semester. In that time there are a lot of things that can and should go into your decision-making process. Here are some of the more important ones to get you started:

1. Understand Greek Life On Campus

A small Christian school is going to have a different greek campus than a Big Ten school. If greek college is a big part of the social life on your campus, it may be more advantageous for you to join. Those schools typically have parties and other events that require fraternity and sorority affiliation for participation. Smaller schools generally have a more relaxed and flexible greek life in college, where belonging to a house isn’t as important.

2. Think About Your Personality Type

If you know you have a hard time meeting people, fraternity life or sorority life could be perfect for you. It’s nearly impossible not to make friends when you belong to a house, whether you actually live in the house or not. If you’re the exact opposite and are really outgoing and sociable, you’re a great candidate as well. Either way, there are upsides and downsides to greek life in college, so it really just depends on what you’re hoping to get out of the experience.

3. Think About The Social Scene

If you’re not the type of person that enjoys large group activities such as college parties, volunteer events, and socials, greek campus life probably isn’t for you. Most of the things you do in college greek life are in groups, often times large groups. If you know you’d rather connect with a few close friends rather than a house of people, then that’s certainly something you need to consider.

4. Talk To Your Friends About Joining

Whether or not your friends want to join a fraternity or join a sorority shouldn’t make or break your decision, but it should be taken into consideration. Your friends can influence your overall college greek life experience in a number of ways. For example, while rushing a fraternity or sorority with friends may make the experience less intimidating and provide a “we’re all in this together” mentality, it may also prevent you from meeting new people and creating your own experiences.

5. Know Your Motivation For Joining

Make sure your motivation for joining a fraternity or sorority is something that will be fulfilled by becoming a member. For example, if your main goal is to use the greek campus experience as a way to bulk up your resume, make sure you’re not joining a house that’s only known for throwing college parties. Instead, consider joining a business fraternity or sorority, or something more specific to your major.

6. Decide If You Want The Commitment

Depending on your schedule, you need to decide if you want the extra commitment. College greek life is a time-consuming commitment. There’s generally at least one meeting or activity a week you’re expected to attend, and most of the time, many more. In other words, don’t join a fraternity house or sorority house just because you think it’s just a few big college parties throughout the year. There are mandatory meetings, volunteer events, fund raisers, and other obligations.

7. Understand The Financial Obligation

Pretty much all greek fraternities and greek sororities have some sort of dues, usually broken out by semester. Make sure you know the costs before committing to pay them, as they may be more than you think. If you’re pretty tight on cash, which most of you probably are, this should be a major consideration for you. On the other hand, if college greek life is really something you want to do, you may find that it’s well worth the costs.

8. Talk To Students Inside The House

You’ll get a much better sense of the greek college fraternity or sorority house is like by meeting the members of them. Here are a couple questions you should consider: What is the reputation of the house? What kind of events do they host or join? What kinds of obligations are required from members? What constitutes their initiation process for their college greek life? The only way to find the answers to these questions is to ask.

9. Talk To Students Outside The House

Another great way to get an idea of frat life or sorority life inside a particular house is to talk to people outside of the house. Assume that people in the college greek house will have a biased opinion. Their opinions are still valuable, but an outsider’s perspective is also very helpful. An older sibling, an older friend, or a professor, are perfect resources to tap.

10. Think About Long-Term Implications

Not to scare you, but there can be several long-lasting effects of joining greek life in college. Don’t worry… most of these are positive. On a personal level, you’re making friends for life… friends who will stop at the drop of a hat to help you out. On a professional level, relationships developed during college greek life can lead to job opportunities, business partnerships, and any number of career-oriented perks. On the other hand, joining a house that’s only known for throwing college parties, may reflect poorly on you, post college.

Selling away your possessions for beer money, begging your parents to put $50 more in your bank account, forcing yourself to eat Ramen noodles… If this sounds like a typical Wednesday afternoon, you need to some new college money saving ideas. Being broke all the time is common for college students. The upside is that the dollar is worth more in college than it is in the real world. $20 on campus is often times enough for the whole night. Off campus, you’re lucky if $20 can get you a cab ride home. Here are some tips for saving money in college:

1. Max Out Your Meal Plan

It may not always be the best or most well prepared food, but most colleges have programs where you prepay for a meal plan. If your parents are paying for this, the food to you is free. If you bought your own meal plan, it’s still a much cheaper route to go and is a good way for saving college money. Of course it’s tempting to eat at the restaurants and fast food chains that conveniently reside within walking distance; however, the cost of this lifestyle quickly adds up. With a typical take out dinner costing $7-$15, you are looking at $42-$105 a week, or $168-$420 a month just for dinner.

2. Buy Food In Bulk

While five pound buckets of mayo and jugs of pickles often find themselves as more of a punch line than of any practical use, they do highlight a smart way to save money in college. You can use this purchasing strategy at warehouse stores like Sam’s Club and Costco. Not only do you get more (in many cases much more) for your money than you would in a typical grocery store, it also cuts down on the number of trips you need to make to the store. Don’t forget to pick up items such as aspirin, toilet paper, soap, etc., at these places as well. All good things for college money saving.

3. Go To House Parties

One aspect of college we began to appreciate near graduation was the unique nature of house parties. You’ll never experience house parties like the ones you have in college at any other time in your life. The older people get, the more they gravitate towards bars and other public spots. Take advantage of the Animal House mentality that is so prevalent in college and don’t be hesitant to throw or attend house parties. Looking back, we have far more memories from house parties than any night out at the bars… not to mention they’re if you trying to figure out how to save money in college.

4. Cut Your Own Hair

At first this sounds like a joke, but for the majority of you that sport short hairstyles, it’s something you should seriously consider for college money saving. Some of our friends started doing this towards the end of college, and wished they’d been doing it all along. Go to Walgreens (or Sam’s or Costco), buy an electric razor with multiple size guards (about $20), and it’ll last you for years. The money you’ll save in college from cutting your hair one time will pay for the price of the razor.

5. Shop Online

Using sites like Amazon.com and eBay.com is a great way for saving money in college. To start with, scan these sites for your textbooks. You can buy almost any text book used for dramatically reduced prices… just make sure they’re the correct edition. You can also use these sites for things like DVD’s, Cliff Notes, birthday gifts, etc. Plus, you don’t even have to leave your place!

6. Check Out Local Thrift Stores

The reputation of thrift stores has dramatically changed in the past few years and are great for college money saving. Not only are they great for supplying ridiculous outfits for college theme parties, they’re great for everyday clothing as well. Stores like Urban Outfitters charge a fortune for the “vintage” look, which you can create yourself for a few bucks. If you have a thrift store near you, take a chance on it. If nothing else, you can pick up a sweater for your annual “Ugly Christmas Sweater” party.

7. Take Advantage Of Student Deals

Businesses that reside around college campuses know their clientele… broke college kids. Many of these businesses (e.g. restaurants, bars, barber shops, bowling alleys, golf courses, museums, etc.) will have deals on certain days of the week to save college money. 25 cent wings on Tuesdays, dollar beers on Wednesdays, free bowling on Thursdays, and 1/2 price movie matinees on the weekends. Whether you’re 18 or 80, these are awesome deals.

8. Use Public Transportation

Most college campuses have some form of public transportation, such as buses, rail systems and/or student cabs. These are extremely cost effective ways to get around campus saving college money, and often times the most reliable, too. No need to find a parking spot, pay for gas, or lock a bike. What’s more, is that students typically get a discounted rate for these services… so be sure to ask.

9. Never Bring Your Credit Card To Bars

This is something we had to learn the hard way during our college experience before finally grasping, but helped us save money in college when we finally did. And by “hard way” we mean waking up hungover, checking our online bank accounts, and contemplating reporting our cards stolen. Trust us… we know it all too well. Instead, use a little foresight, take a trip to the cash machine before you go out, and only take out as much money as you’re prepared to part with for the night.

10. Avoid Expenses For Pets & Cars

If you’re trying to figure out how to save money in college, pets and cars are two major concerns. Think about it this way… it’s not just a tank of gas every once in a while for your car – it’s insurance, maintenance, and tickets. It’s not just a bag of food every few weeks for your dog – it’s shots, medications, and toys. It’s your call if you want to deal with these expenses, just be sure you realize the recurring costs of these kinds of things before you make the commitment, especially when trying to save college money. On a side note, having pets in college is awesome. Dogs are great, but are the most expensive and the most work. Consider getting a cat, rabbit or fish (we had all three).

Bonus Tip

Whatever you do, don’t pay full price for textbooks. Borrow them from the library, split the cost with a friend in the class, or buy used books. Also, always wait until after the first week of class to buy your textbooks to make sure you actually need them to help save college money.

This  may come as a surprise, but you’re not going to get good grades in college by going college parties every night of the week. It’s easy to get caught up in extracurricular activities and forget the main reason you’re in college in the first place. Four years is a long time, and college costs serious money. All that time and money is a waste if you don’t get the grades in college you need. Whether you’re doing everything you can just to pass, or you’re trying to go from honors to high honors, here are some tips that will help you get college grades you’ll be proud of:

1. Go To Class

We know it’s unreasonable for anyone to expect you to attend all your classes since they take up a whole 15 hours a week (hopefully you’re picking up on the sarcasm). C’mon, that’s nothing! Missing a class here and there due to personal issues is unavoidable, but missing class because you’re too tired or hungover is pretty bad and will ultimately hurt your grades in college. We don’t want to come off as preachy, but you’re paying a lot of money for the privilege to go to those classes, so take advantage of it by getting the best college grades you can.

2. Grab The Extra Credit

It’s amazing how many times people let extra credit opportunities go to waste. Not only does extra credit boost your college grades, it shows professors you’re willing to put in the extra effort, which can pay dividends down the road. Not all teachers offer extra credit. The ones that do are giving you a gift… a chance to make up for a low test score or a late paper. Who cares if it’s on a Saturday morning? Staying in one Friday night won’t kill you, and the impact it will have on your college grade will be well worth it.

3. Make Review Guides

Go through your text book and write down all the major topics and appropriate sub-topics in a notebook. Then go through your notes and add as much in as you can. Put all the applicable information you can into this one concise document. Once you do that, study the heck out of it. Review it between classes, during lunch, during work, etc. You’ll absorb a lot of the information just making the review guide itself. This is a must for getting good grades in college.

4. Study In Groups

The benefit of studying in groups is being able to collaborate notes, study guides, and insights. You’re going to miss things no matter how much you pay attention. Collaborating with people from class will help ensure you pick up anything you may have missed to help you get good college grades. Groups are also helpful when preparing study guides. Find classmates who are serious students, and divide the chapters with them. The key here is picking people you know will carry their weight… just make sure to carry yours as well.

5. Pick Smart Times To Study

Something that helped us get good grades in college was studying in smaller, more frequent sessions. One hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon, two hours at night, for at least a week before the exam. You’ll be much less likely to get overwhelmed, annoyed, or bored by the content if you break it up into smaller pieces. For most people it’s a lot easier to focus for short amounts of time. Everyone is different though. If you’re a nine to fiver in the library, stick with what helps your grades in college.

6. Double Check All Your Scores

Teachers are only human. When grading stacks of papers, tests and projects, they’re going to make mistakes. It’s your job to make sure these mistakes do not affect your college grades. When you get something back, take the time to understand every point that was deducted. We’ve both had several instances of finding mistakes with our scores during our college experience. Sometimes it was only a point or two, but a few times it was more. Also, understanding your mistakes will help you understand the material better and prepare you for future tests which leads to good college grades.

7. Know What You’re Being Graded On

Check the class syllabus to see what composes your final college grades. For example, if your professor is placing a significant portion of your college grade on classroom participation, be sure to raise your hand. Also, make sure you’re clear on the attendance policy, and keep your own record of your days missed. Your professor will base your final grades in college on your overall performance. Don’t expect to get an “A” in a class just because you aced the tests and quizzes, when they only account for 70% of your grade.

8. Take Notes Effectively

Computers, note pads, highlighters, flags, short hand, long hand… There are several different ways to tackle this chore. This is something that comes with time. Through trial and error you’ll come up with your own system to help your college grades; however, there are three things about notes that we can say unequivocally: 1. They are, in fact, important. 2. They force you to be engaged in the lecture. And 3. Illegible notes are useless.

9. Ask Questions

Don’t be shy about stopping a teacher to ask a question… your college grades are at stake. They won’t know when something doesn’t make sense to you, unless you bring it to their attention. Also, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify, or expand on a point. You may understand the material, but not its practical application. Make sure you’re satisfied with the explanation… if not, ask more questions. The added benefit of asking questions is that it shows the teacher you’re paying attention and taking the class seriously which will help you get good grades in college.

10. Think Actively

For 40 minutes, or however long your class is, TURN YOUR BRAIN ON. Don’t sit there passively scribbling down notes, looking at the clock, or thinking about how hungry you are. Engage yourself in the content. Think about how things connect. Ask questions. Instead of going home and having to re-learn everything for yourself, you’ll have a great base of knowledge to start with. This will make your homework, papers, and exams, much easier… and will drastically improve your college grades.

When it comes to college decorating, just start small: clean the nacho sauce off the wall and un-glue your roommates head from the floor. For the rest of you, there are things you can do to make your place look nice without spending a bunch of money. We lived in a house Junior year that made Eddie’s trailer from Christmas Vacation look like Buckingham Palace, but by the time we finished it, you would never have known. We didn’t have to knock down walls, or re-drywall the place either. Take the time to try some or all of the following college decorating ideas:

1. Buy Dimmer Switches

Lighting is a key component to creating a great looking place, and is one of the simplest college decorating ideas. Whether you’re living in a dorm, apartment, or house, lighting plays a crucial role in the overall ambiance of each room. Nothing kills a party faster than bright fluorescent lighting. A cheap and simple way to improve the lighting of your place is to buy dimmer switches. You can find these almost anywhere. They’re very easy to install, and they allow you to use bright lighting for studying, and dim lighting for parties, movies, dinners, etc.

2. Buy Some Candles

For the guys… we don’t care how much you can bench press, or how many beers you can slam… no guy is too manly to buy candles. When it comes to college room decorating, candles can provide several benefits to a room that needs improvement. Simply put… they smell nice, they look nice, and they give off great lighting. A few key areas to place them are kitchen tables, coffee tables, night stands, and desks. And yes, candles smell much better than the Fabreeze you typically use.

3. Clean Up Your Cords

This is one of the college decorating ideas that won’t cost you a dime. Your desk is probably the best place to start, but try this for all the cords in your place, including the ones running down the walls. The simplest option when college apartment decorating is to strategically place your furniture so you can’t see all the random cords hanging everywhere. If you’re convinced this isn’t possible, you can drill a small hole in the wall, feed the cord through, and pull it out of another small hole you drill near the socket (but be careful). Another option is to buy white tape (or whatever color the wall is), condense all the cords into one, and tape over the pile.

4. Clear Off Flat Surfaces

While college room decorating, start with one surface at a time, and don’t feel like it all needs to happen at once. Begin with your desk, then move to your coffee table, and so on. The general process for making this work is simple: Throw away anything you don’t need (which is probably most of it), and put everything else in its’ correct place. If you don’t have a designated place for a particular item when college decorating, make one. Not only will your place look much nicer, you’ll probably enjoy being able to find things as well.

5. Frame Your Posters

Using scotch tape and thumb tacks to hang up posters of girls in bikinis isn’t “sweet” anymore, and is not a good way of college decorating. And we’re not saying you need to go out and buy a bunch of expensive artwork. In fact, you can even keep your poster of John Belushi chugging a bottle of Jack Daniels… just put it in a frame. You can buy nice, cheap, plastic frames from Target that will fit most poster sizes. If not, you can always cut the poster down a little to make it fit. Trust us… frames make a huge difference for college apartment decorating.

6. Build A Bar

A lot easier said than done, right? But if you’re decorating college apartment or house, having a cool bar for drinking, eating, and watching TV, is pretty awesome. We built a different bar each year we were in college, starting our sophomore year (after we were out of the dorms), for under $100 each time. Split between a few roommates, it’s well worth the cost. If you’re absolutely certain that you and your roommates are not capable of building a bar, see if one of your dads can help you with this college decorating ideas.

7. Display Alcohol Decorations Nicely

In other words, that pyramid of empty beer cans in the corner of the room is getting pretty lame. Why? Because girls don’t care how much you can drink, your parents are wondering what they’re paying for, and oh yeah… it smells bad. Try to be a little more original when college decorating. Go to amazon.com and buy a few nice tin beer signs. Fill up a glass vase with wine corks or beer caps. Make a cool lamp out of a liquor bottle. You get the point.

8. Focus On The Floor

Remember college decorating tip #4 about clearing off flat surfaces? Guess what… the floor is (or should be) a flat surface too. Start by picking things up off the floor, and put them where they belong. Next, get the vacuum out and use it. You’ve been watching your mother do it for 18+ years, so you must have some understanding of how they work. This college decorating tip literally takes 10 minutes, and will separate your place from about 98% of the places on campus. Be sure to keep the vacuum handy so you’ll be more likely to use it again.

9. Experiment With The General Layout

When college room decorating, take a look at the major pieces in each room and how they’re arranged. For example, in the living room the major pieces would be the couch, recliner, television, and coffee table. Try to focus on a layout that’s practical, but also aesthetically pleasing. Take the time to try different arrangements, and you’ll likely find one that works better than the others.

10. Invest In A Few Nice Accent Pieces

Spending a couple bucks on a few nice accent pieces such as plants, wall art, throw pillows, etc., can really bring some life into a room. These are exactly the kinds of college decorating ideas that make the difference between having a nice place and a great place during your college experience, and they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, ask your parents to buy them when they drop you off at the beginning of the year, or when they visit for parent’s weekend. They’ll probably be impressed that you’re actually taking pride in your place and want to encourage the college decorating habit.

Relationships are hard in general. College relationships are really hard, but not impossible. Both of us dealt with our share of short-term and long-term relationships in college, and we learned a lot about what makes them work and what makes them crumble. Here are some of the most important lessons we learned from our personal college relationships:

1. Be Sure This Is What You Want

When it comes to college and relationships it’s amazing how many students stick around with the wrong people and/or at the wrong time in their lives. You need to honestly and objectively look at your college relationship and decide if it’s something you want to continue. If so, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. A relationship in college passes through a gauntlet of trials and tribulations. Make sure you’re at the right place in your life for a relationship, and make sure you’re with the right person.

2. Gain Mutual Trust

This is the lynch pin to any successful college relationship. Without it, your relationship doesn’t stand a chance. You’re both going to encounter situations throughout your college experience in which you have to trust the other to act appropriately. You’re venturing into the unknown here. A lack of trust leads to paranoia, which leads to jealousy, which leads to rocky times. How do you build trust? Simple… honesty. When you start lying, even in seemingly insignificant ways, you start down a relationship-destroying path.

3. Don’t Play The Jealousy Card

Jealousy, typically spawned from a lack of trust, puts you in a position of continually wondering and questioning what your partner is doing… and more times than not, it has you assuming the worst. College relationships won’t last when there’s a current of jealousy running through them. Jealousy thrives on the assumption that your partner will act in a way that’s not conducive to the flourishing of your relationship. Trust eliminates this assumption.

4. Communicate Every Day

This may seem like a lot, but it really isn’t. You don’t need to have long, serious conversations every day, although you certainly should once in a while. Send a text, an email, or an e-card… all of which take less than a few minutes. When it comes down to it, a relationship in college is a connection between people. Communication keeps these connections alive. If this feels like too much of a chore, the college relationship may not be worth keeping.

5. Block Time Out For Each Other

Phone calls, text messages and video chatting can only take your college relationships so far. You have to be willing to put in the face time, even if it means leaving your friends behind for the weekend. We know how difficult that can be, but make the sacrifice. Your partner will appreciate that you’re putting in the effort to make the relationship in college work. Also, be sure some of this time is spent one-on-one… not just meeting at bars or college parties.

6. Introduce Them To Your Friends

You started a brand new life in college. You’re meeting tons of new people and making a lot of new friends. While this is new and exciting for you, it can be a big question mark for your partner when it comes to college and relationships. Invite them out with you and introduce them to your new friends, favorite hang-outs, etc. Giving your partner this perspective will bridge the gap between your different lives. It’ll also create new common ground from which you can share stories, and create new ones.

7. Discuss Expectations

If you expect your partner to swing by your place every day, but they’re content with stopping by just once a week, you have different expectations. Having a successful college relationship requires understanding these expectations. Every person is different and will have different ideas of what it takes to keep the relationship alive. It takes communication and compromise to find the balance within your relationship in college, but once you do, it’ll be worth it.

8. Keep The Right Attitude

When it comes to college relationships, approach things with an open mind. There will be fights, bickering, and annoyances. Sacrifices will have to be made and borders will have to be re-drawn. Realize that your partner is dealing with the same issues. Point being… don’t be stubborn or rigid in your ways. Approach college and relationships with the attitude that you’ll allow yourself to be fluid and adapt. Accept that there will be good times, bad times, and everything in between.

9. Have Your Own Lives

While it’s important to spend time together and great to have mutual friends, make sure you each have lives outside of your college relationship. Don’t feel like you need to be together 24/7, and don’t be afraid to meet new people and make new friends on your own. The college experience is a time to make a lot friends, get involved in things that interest you, and learn a ton in the process. Don’t miss out on these unique opportunities because you’re too focused on one person. You may not realize it right away, but this will ultimately strengthen your college relationships as well.

10. Let Each Other Have Fun

Don’t be the guy or girl that doesn’t go out and have a good time because their girlfriend or boyfriend isn’t there. We knew too many people who did that during their relationships in college, and we thought it was ridiculous. In most cases, this leads to resentment and a feeling that your partner is holding you back. At the same time, don’t try to make your partner feel bad or guilty when they want to go out and have a good time, either. When you’re in college relationships, you should be having the best time you possibly can and they should too.

The lights are turning on, the volume is turning down… it’s last call for college seniors. Senior year of college is a very bittersweet time with graduation looming. After graduation, there’s a lot to look forward to. At the same time, there’s a lot that’s being left behind. As a college senior, your faced the constant struggle of trying to make the most of the time they have left (at least we did). Looking back on that unique time, here are some of the things we recommend:

1. Take A Class You Always Wanted To Take

It doesn’t have to be related to your major, as long as it’s something that interests you in college senior year. Maybe it’s something just for fun like Guitar 101, or Wine Tasting. Maybe it’s a subject you had to forget about while trying to fulfill your major requirements, like Music in Film, or Domestic Terrorism. Some of you may have full schedules senior year in college, and some of you may not. Regardless, try to take a class in something that lights your fire.

2. Be Random In College Senior Year

Throw water balloons at your roommates when they get back from class. Wake up at 9am and start drinking. Pull an all-nighter for no reason. Go streaking. Get your friends to chip in for a limo one night. Take a road trip with no destination in mind. Throw a college party on a Wednesday night. These are the kind of memories you’ll be glad you have to look back on as a college senior.

3. Spend Time With Your Friends

As much as you possibly can. What’s interesting to us is that out of all the crazy college parties, competitive sporting events, and interesting classes, the most memorable times we had were spent lounging around with friends. Though your friends may get on your nerves from time to time, they’ve remained your friends through senior year of college for a reason. Appreciate them for that. Treat them as if senior year in college is the last time you’ll ever see them, because as much as you don’t want to admit it, for some it may be.

4. Take A Lot Of Pictures

Although it’s a cliche, a picture is worth a thousand words. The reason it’s a cliche, is because it’s true. Both of us wish we could go back and take more pictures as college seniors than we did. It’s one of those things you don’t feel like worrying about at the time, but you’ll be glad you did the very next morning, and in years to come. Bring a camera the next time you go out in college senior year, and always share pictures with your friends.

5. Create A DVD Picture Collage

At the end of college senior year, one of our buddies randomly put together a slide show of some of our favorite pictures. It included pictures of our campus, bars, parties, etc., and was all set to music. Out of all the things we have from our college experience, we both agree this DVD is, without a doubt, the most valuable thing we own.

6. Organize Group Outings Off Campus

There was always so much going on at our campus that we rarely ever left. During our senior year in college, however, we made a few trips to the city to check out different places. We also rented a cabin for a weekend, put together a canoe trip, and took a road trip to a baseball game. Point being… this is your last chance to create these kinds of experiences.

7. Take A Road Trip Senior Year Of College

Stop talking about taking a road trip to Vegas, and JUST DO IT. Don’t even plan it out. Throw some clothes in a backpack, grab a few other college seniors, and just start driving. Don’t worry about your paper that’s due on Monday, or where you’re going to sleep that night. You don’t even need a clear destination in mind… just figure it out as you go. This could be the trip you end up talking about for the rest of your lives, and as a college senior NOW is the time to do it.

8. Get Everyone’s Contact Info

With social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, this task has become a lot easier; however, there are still people, including classmates, professors, and administrators, that probably aren’t on one of these sites. Get their info and make sure it’s okay if you contact them post senior year in college. It’s much easier to add people to your social network while you’re on campus with them than it is to hunt them down a year or two later.

9. Be Active As A College Senior

Don’t waste your time slouched in front of the TV as a college senior. Join an intramural team for a sport you’ve never played. Join a club you always considered becoming a member of. Ask that girl or guy out you’ve had a crush on since freshman year. There’s no reason to hold back. Don’t leave college senior year wishing you had taken advantage of these opportunities.

10. When In Doubt, GO OUT

It’s a simple rule-of-thumb that all college seniors should follow. Whether you’re sick of college and ready to graduate, or contemplating failing your classes to stay another year, now is the time to soak up every last ounce of the college experience you can. We’re not saying your classes aren’t important as a college senior, because they are, but as Tom Petty once said, “The work never ends, but college does.”