Transferring

So, sometimes the school that you're at isn't the best fit and there is no other option but transferring to another school. With this thought comes many other worries, like:

-Where will you go?

-Where will you live?

-Who do you know?

-Is this the right thing?

No need to fret, College Girl is here to help you through this, as I am going through this process as well.

For many of you, the first question doesn't post much of a threat. If you find yourself rejected by the college of your dreams, then you have another opportunity at getting accepted by attending another college, doing well the first few semesters, then transferring out. This technique shows that you have the capability to change and succeed if you really put your mind to something. For the other students who just have a hard time at the colleges they are attending, it is not so easy. The one tip I can give you is that when searching for the right "fit," don't just go for the comfortability. This is a mistake I made the first time around. Yes, it is true that you do need to feel some sort of comfort in the school you will be living at, but you also need to be pushed and prodded. College is a place where you learn, grow, and, eventually, become the adult you will be for the rest of your life. After college (and graduate school if you so choose to attend) you are in the "real world," making a family or holding a job, or just supporting yourself. Either way, college is really the last step in your adolescent life. So ending this rant, look for a college that you are happy to be in, but also forces you to grow.

On to the second question. Where will you live? Well, either contact the school for on-campus housing and chance the whole roommate situation, or get an appartment. Appartments could be fun and they also give you a little shock of living on your own. From a kitchen, bathroom, and a bedroom to clean, it is not all so easy to live in your own place, but, if you're into it, the house parties could be awesome.

Who do you know? Really, unless you're extremely lucky, you will probably know no one! Hello freshman year all over again. But don't worry my fellow transferees, there are many ways to make new friends. Join clubs or athletics, go to parties, participate in class, and just be yourself. There is no need to try and reinvent yourself because colleges pool from thousands of different kinds of people, so there's bound to be someone just like you.

Is this the right thing? I can't exactly tell you. Only you know the answer to your question, but don't throw away the idea of transferring if you feel like you can "deal" with the situation you're in. College contains the best years of your life, so enjoy where you are. If you don't, then maybe transferring is the right thing for you.

If you have any questions about the process, feel free to comment because I have loads of anwers. I am transferring mid-semester to SUNY New Paltz and I couldn't be happier! The campus is beautiful, the people are REAL, and there is so much to do on and off campus that doesn't include getting schwasted. So more sober stories will follow!

Good luck my fellow transferees!

~ College Girl

The Sweet Smell of Money

What is one thing that everyone needs, but can't always have? Candy? Fame? Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport? I wish! But the real answer here is money!! Okay, so money can't buy you love and a super family and all of that crap, but when you come down to it, money can buy almost everything and you can't really survive without it. Unless you're Bear Grylls and even he needs a little hard cash when he sleeps in a motel room instead of the woods like everyone thought. (To learn more about this, click here:http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3412744&page=1)

However, we tend to over use this necessity for money while at college and go out to eat, go shopping, buy gas for the car, and especially buy text books. When you come right down to it, college students spend up to thousands of dollars in addition to the tuition costs. For those of you who can afford it, power to you! Yet, most students and parents find it difficult to cut down these costs, so, here are a few tips to keep your college spendings to a minimum:

1. Limit going out to once a week. This includes: movies, dinner, shopping, etc. By doing this, you can cut your costs drastically and also utilize your time better. Instead of doing dinner with friends everyday of the week, you can work out a time that fits best for all of your schedules and use the time you would have been eating to go to the library with your friends. Let's face it, for most of us, going out is strictly a social thing. Well now, you can socialize and not have to waste good hard cash.

2. Carpool to school. Find someone who lives close by and, even if your parent needs to drive you twenty minutes to your friend's house, you won't have to use up your gas. This will even limit the time you go out when you're in school. However, always remember to slip your friend a few bucks if you're driven back and fourth often.

3. Share or buy used books. There are plenty of students that are either enrolled, or have already taken the class that you're in now. Just ask to borrow their books and arrange a way to share the time spent studying. Hey, maybe you even found yourself a study buddy. Also, there are plenty of websites that offer used books at half the price, but make sure it's the same book and version! That's super important.

4. Get a campus job. Do some research and see if you can find a campus job. There are so many that are offered and, although they don't pay much, they will work around your work schedule.

Peace, love, and money! Oh, and just because I love this car...

~ College Girl

Mocktails

While I've been busy preparing for finals, projects, and my mother's surprise 50th birthday party, I heard some pretty entertaining stories from my friends about their weekend.

As we all know, getting drunk can call for tripping, slurring, breaking your brand new high heels, fighting, getting slapped in the face, and worst of all, drunk texting. As if it isn't enough that you're blowing dirty diaper smelling breath all over this cute guy's face and hugging/suffocating him with your sweaty arms, you then

shoot him a text later that night that reads like a four-year old trying to speak swahili. On top of that, that four-year old swahili reading text is actually code for a booty call, which you will surely regret the next morning when that cute guy rolls in your bed and he is actually Shrek. It is at this moment that you think that maybe you had one too many drinks.

Don't worry, everyone! There is a solution! Instead of emptying your wallet at the local bar or liquor store you can spend a few bucks at the supermarket and use some of the following recipes for "mocktails." Not to worry, these drinks look, smell, and taste even better than the real deals. Just swap the six or seven cocktails for the mocktails and you're good to go for the night! If you prefer, you can get your buzz on with some real liquor and then delve into these recipes for a no-blackout night:

Margarita Mocktail

Pina Colada Mocktail

Strawberry Lemonade Mocktail

Shirley Temple Mocktail

Kamikaze Mocktail

For more recipes and mocktails, you can click on this link http://www.drink-recipes.org.uk/mocktails/.

Enjoy your drinks and have a safe weekend!

~College Girl

Registration (a.k.a. DEATH)

Hey guys! Sorry that I have been the worst blogger ever, but I've been overwhelmed in exams and registration for spring semester. However, now that the stress is over, I have some awesome new tips for everyone for staying away from the terrible week I was just in.

So as most of you know, every semester you choose new classes based on what you want to be in and what you need to take for your major or minor. For my school, each grade has a certain day to register and each student registers in alphabetical order. Therefore, for most of you freshman out there, be ready to change around your schedule a lot! In order to make this situation a little easier, I would suggest to look at classes early and make lots of different schedules, each containing a mix of classes. Then, during registration week, check everyday and choose a schedule according to the classes that are open and that are closed and, if needed, make a new schedule. If worse comes to worse, once you find out that a class has closed, email the teacher and explain to him your situation. A teacher can override you into the system, especially if you mention that it is towards a possible major or minor (even if it's not.)

As for tips with your exams, try and stay as organized as possible. Keeping a calandar and writing notes throughout the weeks before your exam keeps you ahead of the game. I have found that having a giant monthly calander above your desk that shows everything going on that month is extremely helpful. I like to study alone and in total silence, but I find that the library is a sad excuse for studying; it is best for pretending that you're doing work and really going on facebook. On the other hand, some of my friends love group studying and reserve a classroom to go with a bunch of friends and talk aloud as they study. Whichever way works for you, the most important thing is not to study all in one night. Try and get a good night's rest and eat healthy (see post below.)

My biggest suggestion, of all though, is to stay sober during these times of stress. Naturally, college kids love to drink for every and any day then can, however, drinking is actually proven to induce stress in most people. I will save everyone the science in this phenomenom, but if you're interested, here is a site to learn more about it: http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/alerts/l/blnaa32.htm. There are many better ways to deal with your stress, like going for a run, taking breaks to hang out with friends, leaving campus to see a movie or go for coffee, dancing to music at full blast in your room, or just listening to pump up music. Speaking of music, here is a new song featuring, of course, Chris Brown!

Stay sober and stress free!

~ College Girl

Food

One thing I really hate about college is the food. I'm so used to eating whatever my mom cooks at home that when I get to college, I feel like everything changes. Now, you actually have to watch how many times you eat pasta a day, or how many times a week you eat burgers. It gets to be a hassle to have to watch what you're eating all the time. The one advice I will give anyone who is going to be, or already is in college, is to take full advantage of your gym. If you make an attempt to go everyday, it will keep you in shape and make you feel better about eating that meatball parm earlier in the day.

On that note, I have found this awesome machine that works for people like me, who have knee problems. I can no longer use my knee problems as an excuse for going to the gym because this future looking contraption is an anti-gravity treadmill. Say goodbye to joint pains because this thing uses state of the art technology to make it pain-free! If only it fit in the dorm rooms...

~ College Girl

Halloween Weekend

So, I tried drinking again this weekend and it was alright. Again, I had the equivalence of about a shot in a mixed drink and it tasted terrible. I will say that I felt a little giddy soon after I chugged the last of my drink, but I'm not sure if it was the adrenaline from drinking for the 2nd time, or the alcohol actually taking effect on my body. Either way, I still don't see a great reason to drink.

On a side note, my girls and I dressed as playboy bunnies and my boyfriend was Hugh. I say we looked pretty hot...

~College Girl

Music

So, being the Chris Brown fanatic I am, I had to post this song as soon as I heard it. It's called Yeah 3x. Love it!

Enjoy!

~ College Girl

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