Do You Eat Ramen?

I am sure some college kids or post grads read this blog. We don't have a lot of money right? I bet you have eaten Ramen at least once or twice. Check out this fun infographic from Hack College!


Created by: Hack College

Don't Waste Time, Post Grad

Fall is quickly approaching. While some of us twenty somethings are preparing for new classes, homework, studying, and college life, the majority of us are dealing with the real world. The first fall semester after graduation can be difficult. You look back and start to regret. You think about that class you should have taken, the parties you should have attended, or those extra curricular activities you should have joined.

But now is not the time for regrets. It is time for growth! You are probably in that terrible transition time of leaving college and looking for a job. You can sit and rot on your couch or you can take action.

If you're currently looking for a job, make sure you're networking like crazy. Join Linkedin and get recommendations from your previous bosses or colleagues from jobs or internships. If you're only job searching on the Internet and on social networks, that is a great start, but you can do more!

Find out about clubs or groups that meet in your area pertaining to the job you desire. Meeting with people who work in the field can get your foot in the door just about anywhere. Attend job fairs at local colleges and pass out your resume. You never know who you may meet!

If you feel like you're job hunting constantly and getting nowhere, take a break and do something beneficial for yourself. Regret not taking that web design class in college? Find one in your area and go for it. Finding hobbies or classes that relate to your potential career can give you an edge on the competition.

Lastly, enjoy this time! Many post grads can get into a funk feeling as if the fun of college is over and the real world is one big downer. Use your newly acquired free time to see friends and family, take care of yourself, and enjoy life before you're busy with your new job.

The Dreaded Textbook Problem

I started this blog when I was in college and I bet a lot of my readers are still chugging along with their school work. Honestly one of the most frustrating things about college were the dreaded textbooks. They cost a ton of money, were heavy, often I barely used them, and then I didn't get any money back for them!

Waiting in that line to have the college buy back your books and having them say they no longer use that edition and "Oh, we can give you $1.00 for this book you paid $50 for!" Ugh!

Luckily there are websites like Valorebooks, that sell used books for a good price and offer rentals and sell back programs. Click here to buy used college textbooks (or better yet - rent 'em!)

Now tell me, what is the most frustrating part of college? Do you agree with the textbook problem? How do you buy or rent your textbooks?

Guest Post on The High Cost of College Textbooks

Yesterday I got my wisdom teeth out so today you'll find a guest post! Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon and be able to post normally by Monday! Enjoy!

College students aren’t the richest people you can find, but those who are responsible for the prices of college textbooks don’t seem to think so. College students only just manage to get money to quench their hunger with fast foods but their textbook prices almost always exceed the hundred-dollar mark. Why is this?

If you wanted to buy a novel to read in your free time, what you are likely to do is either go to a local bookstore or get on Amazon.com and explore the selection. There would be many books from many authors, written on many subjects within an affordable price range. If you run into a book carrying a multi-hundred dollar price tag, you obviously won’t buy it. It would be such an extraordinary thing that you would show the abomination to others in the store and wonder whether somebody wrote an extra zero on it! But this kind of situation is just typical to college students. Most, scratch that - all the college textbooks they have to buy every semester are priced well in the hundred-dollar range.

What causes this? It’s just simple economics; in the above example, if you ran into such a book, you wouldn’t buy it and just go on for another cheaper book. Everybody else would do the same and the publishers would go bankrupt. In other words, you have a choice. But this isn’t so in the case of college students. The student has to buy the college textbooks mentioned in their syllabus or they can’t enter the course. Period. So the textbook makers freely price-away whatever amount they feel like and release the college textbooks. In their perspective, "the same number of college students would buy a textbook no matter whether it’s priced at $20 or $200. So why drop prices and lose all that profit?"

There is yet another reason that further augments this problem. Aiming to get a commission out of the sales, some professors who were involved in the making of some college textbooks would add this book to the syllabus of the class he’s teaching to. And the publishers, knowing this, will set the prices of the college textbooks at very high levels; they know that those professors will make students buy their college textbooks and therefore there will be no lack of demand! The prices of college textbooks are at unbearable levels and we, as students can’t do anything about it other than look for alternatives like renting, buying second hand or using an e-textbook. These alternatives can really cut down on textbook prices though!

Guest post by Amit Sehgal blogging about college textbooks on Bookase.com! Thank you Amit!

What Can You Do With A Creative Major? A Lot!

Guest Post by GreekForMe!

“You’re an English major? What are you going to do with that major?”
If I had a $1 for every time I heard that question, I’d be a millionaire able to buy six Starbucks grande lattes. It’s a question that plagues every English, Journalism, and Communications major, and just about any degree in the creative arts. Can creativity really sprout off into a viable career, or will we be sentenced to ramen for life?

Put that business suit on. As an English, Journalism, or Communications major, you’re taught to perform research and thoroughly investigate a topic, plan out your ideas in a logical manner, and clearly and professionally shed light on the topic via your writing. Isn’t this what the business world is? Researching what needs to be done and all the pros, cons, possible hurdles and expected successes, developing a plan for it, and proposing this plan to influencers?

Is there room in the business world for your creative mind? Oh yes! The businesses that survive today are led by influencers who are more likely to think outside the box and look for creative solutions and creative people to hone in on those areas of opportunity. Instead of being stalled by a barrier, they identify methods to leap over it. Your creative and unique thinking is an asset to the business world.
It’s not going to be easy. You’re going to need to start at the bottom and work your way up through dedication, creative thinking, and positively contributing to the company’s goal, just as every person in your college graduating class will need to do. Yet, your creative thinking and professional writing expertise allow you to apply for a wide range of internships and jobs – traditional marketing jobs, as well as online marketing careers, advertising, journalism, research assistants, public relations, and a myriad of business-related jobs. Instead of being fenced in to one major and area of experience, you have the freedom to test different fields and decide where your future will ultimately lead.
So the next time you hear “What are you going to do with that major?”, your response should be “Quite a lot, thanks!”

Written by the GreekForMe.com team, who continue to write creatively on their GreekForMe Blog, and are the go-to source when you need Sorority Apparel, Fraternity Apparel, and Greek Merchandise.

I wanna do this!

I think I've found my calling! Or rather, the job I want to do when I graduate.

I just got an internship where I am working with their website, writing, doing PR, and handling their social media. And I really realized I want a job where I can do all of these things. Where I can have my own office.

So fingers crossed that I can do just that in a few months when I'm no longer a college girl, but a big working girl!

Guest Post by Alexis Montgomery: Tips for College Grads

Post-Grad Planning In Uncertain Times

College has been going great, but you feel like you’ve barely settled in before the threat of graduation reared its ugly head. You’re supposed to be excited about sloughing off the bonds of institutionalized living, but if you’re being honest, you’re just not sure you’re ready to be out in the big, bad world. You need to establish a plan for after you graduate, but all you’ve come up with so far is “get a job” and “find an apartment”, neither of which seems to be magically materializing for you. So how can you form a real plan to get you through the coming days of life in the real world?

Well, unfortunately, you do have to find a job, and fast. The first and most important part of being an adult is paying your way, and it’s pretty hard to do without some form of gainful employment. But if you’re one of the many students who find yourself facing graduation with nary a job offer in sight, don’t despair. The outlook is not as bleak as you might think. Although our country is facing a recession, making new jobs scarce and the market competitive, there are still jobs to be had, if you’re willing to compromise. Having trouble finding an editing position despite the fact that you won an award with your senior film project? Well, you can always do what so many in the entertainment industry have done before you and opt for a night job as a waiter or bartender. But you just got out of college, you need a serious job! What these jobs can offer you is neither prestige nor good pay, but rather, free time to find another job. Since many offer flexible schedules, it leaves you open to go to job interviews during the day (when most of the real world does business) or try your hand at freelancing. There is a wealth of contract work available for those with the drive to seek it out. You can also look into internships, which could lead to more lucrative employment. The point is, it’s better to have a job for now and keep looking for something better than to end up living in your parent’s basement. And never underestimate the possible benefits of staying in contact with colleagues and friends. This network can become your best resource for finding a job in the future.

Another thing you will have to plan for, once you’ve got a job, is your finances. Those student loans you took out will soon return to bite you, so start budgeting immediately for what is sure to take a rather large chunk of your paycheck each month. Some careful planning in this area could save you a lot of aggravation in the future. If you’re not sure where to start with planning a budget, ask your career counselor. They can direct you to a service on campus to help you out or recommend outside financial planning firms that cater to college students. There are many resources at your disposal, especially while you’re still on campus, so find them and use them to your advantage.

Alexis Montgomery is a content writer for Online Degrees, where you can browse through various online degree programs to find a college that suits your needs.

Change is good...and scary.

I came across this article on CollegeCandy.com about change and graduating college. Luckily I am not graduating until December and don't really have to worry too much about what I am doing after, yet. But still, people are always bugging me about what I plan to do after college and what job I will have.

I don't plan on doing Grad school since I'd have to pay for it myself. I actually recently found an online program that is something I wanted to major in for undergrad, so maybe one day I can do that to get my Masters, just not now. So I will be going out in the job hunt. It is definitely scary, but I think I have the right plan. People keep asking me specifically what I want to do...but I think it is a good thing that I am open to more than one specific job. I am not picky about what I'll be starting out as. I figure I can do any job I want as long as I love it and I'm doing some sort of writing.

So luckily, I don't have to worry too much about that type of change right now but another change is looming. I officially move out of my apartment and back in with my parents the weekend of May 21. I hope I'm not boring you with posts about this...but blogging about the positive things are helping me stay positive about it and not miss this apartment. So here's my favorite thing to do: a list of positives about my move.

1. Cable...ah I miss cable! Haha! And I get a new much bigger TV for my room.
2. Getting to re-do my room. I bought a new desk...here's a picture.
3. Being next door to a wonderful pool for the summer and next door to my fun neighbors again.
4. Living with people who are neat and clean up after themselves again. Also, being appreciated when I clean things up and do things around the house.
5. Being closer to my job, my boyfriend, most of my friends, etc.
6. Never feeling too lonely because people are around more.

So tell me, friends, what changes are looming in your near future?

Far Away Friends

I've written about this subject a few times since it is something that hits home for me and often makes me a bit sad. The fact that a majority of my girl friends go away to college and I have to string together a friendship with phone calls, texts, chatting online, Facebook stalking, and those visits only a few times a year.

Sometimes this is okay. I think to myself...at least I have good friends, right? At least I have those people I can call any time of the day and they will make me feel better. But sometimes, it just isn't enough for me. Call me selfish...but sometimes I just really want my best friends here with me when I need them, not just available to text with. And for a lot of my friends and myself included, we all get so busy that even keeping in touch gets hard to do. So, we see each other once during Christmas break, once during spring break, and I long for the summer when everyone is around.

Even the summer isn't so reassuring anymore, as some opt to stay up at school to take summer classes or keep their job or simply stay where they have more fun. So for now, I am waiting for the summer and hoping my friends come home and have time for me. Part of me kicks myself for feeling sorry for myself and knows that everyone has their own lives, but there will always be that part of me longing for more of my best girl friends to be around.

What I'm Lovin' Today!

One word: CollegeCandy.com

So ever since I discovered this website by looking at what the people in my class were doing on the computers before we actually started class... I've been hooked. I was first intrigued by the name, College Candy? And the trademark kiss. 

And when I started looking I loved it more. Specifically for the college girl, it gives articles and tips on boys, fashion, beauty, pop culture... pretty much anything your average college girl wants to hear about or wants to know more on. I really like the "Candy Dish" which features links to random news that's going on that day. Another reason I love it... most articles are funny. Being a girl addicted to the latest Judd Apatow film, I can't get enough humor in my life! Especially if it throws in a few hints on how to unlock the male psyche. ;)

Another big plus, I threw them a comment and the actual managing editor e-mailed me back within about a half an hour. Sweet!

And fingers crossed, I might be featured on there for a college blogger shout-out! So keep lookin' for me... :)

XOXO.

I'm Still Learning

Gossip needn't be false to be evil - there's a lot of truth that shouldn't be passed around. ~Frank A. Clark

So, I've always known I have a bit of a gossip problem. Now, no one freak out... if we are friends and I have promised to keep something important a secret, don't doubt my word. But for lots of trivial information about people.. I sure as hell pass it on. If you are one of my close friends... you may just hear the words, "I have some gossip for you!" out of my mouth frequently.

I am definitely not proud of all of it.

I have been feeling especially terrible about it lately. It was something Kevin told me.. God love him he keeps me in check... I can't remember the exact words, but it basically said in a nice way to "stop blabbing your mouth about it already". Which is exactly what I needed to hear. The moment I hear something juicy, all of my close friends know about it. Looking back, all the drama I have had in my life has either stemmed or gotten worse from my big mouth. My need to tell everyone I know about everything that is going on in my life seems to have gotten out of control. I know it is essentially human nature... because how boring would life be without any pointless drama and what would you talk about with your friends all the time? But when it comes to a certain point, I just realize I should learn to keep my mouth shut. 

While I know I will never stop gossiping completely... because let's face it. We all do it. We always will. But I am going to make a conscious effort to take it down a notch. I hope this note doesn't cause any of the people I care about to never tell me anything again, because I do keep secrets and I do treat the people I care about with the upmost respect. I'm just here to admit my slip-ups. I'm here to apologize to anyone who remembers a time where I told someone else something about them I shouldn't have or made drama worse because of something I said.

Another thing I have realized is that life is too short to be upset at someone for trivial things. Another thing I am not too proud of is that I can be very judgmental. I find myself having a very good head on my shoulders and when I think one of my friends does not have the same opinions toward something I feel very strongly about, it pisses me off. It shouldn't. Everyone has different opinions. Everyone lives their lives differently. Everyone has to make mistakes and what is a mistake to one person may not be to another. All you can do in life is accept people for who they are, help them to change IF THEY WANT THE HELP, and if they don't; leave it be and still love them. A lot of the times, I find I get angry at someone because I just care for them... but when does caring become smothering? Just because I care for someone and want the best for them doesn't mean I should try to control their life and disagree with the decisions they make that affects THEM... not necessarily ME. I know I just need to look at the bigger picture and figure out what affects me and what I have authority to actually be angry at. And then just let go of the other small stuff.

So okay, I have learned my strengths... I have learned my weaknesses. I am still learning. I just feel so blessed in my life to be still learning and to have people who love and accept me for just who I am. Because in this life, that's really all that matters.

Keeping that Strong Mentality

I have been thinking a lot lately about the pressures of college. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong there. It seems I have been pushed into a world where my naivety and innocence make me feel like an outsider. People I meet apologize to me if they swear and I feel as if people look at me as if I will never do anything in my life or something. While certain things it's true I will never do... other parts of growing up will happen for me. Just not right now. I am trying to learn that the standards I set for myself are the only things that matter and that I should surround myself with people who have the same understandings and standards as I do. I should also be around people who are different from me and not let what they do affect this amount of pressure I often put on myself. I guess because I skipped that peer pressure of High School it might be finally catching up to me... the worst part is, no one is really pressuring me to do anything. It's all me. Society teaches us sometimes if we don't wear the same clothes as everyone else, do the same things, and act the same way; we are different. And different means weird. Well I'm just here to say I accept the fact I'm weird, I do and learn things at my own pace, and no one is going to change my mind. I am so grateful for certain people (they know who they are I would guess) who help me to keep this strong feeling I am building. I love the people who understand me and help me to stay the person I pride myself to be. 

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."-Dr. Suess

"To be nobody-but-yourself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."-e.e. cummings

Real Beauty is Within

WATCH THESE:
http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx%5Bcp-documentid=7049578%5D/

We watched these videos in my Journalism Ethics class and discussed the ideas shown in those videos. It really made me think about beauty and what our world programs into us from an early age. We are taught from the media and our peers to think that our hair is only pretty if it is pin straight or perfectly done, we are only accepted if we are a size 2, and that as far as makeup goes.... the more the better. I especially liked the "Amy" video... which I know is true for myself as well as many girls out there. We dress up for boys and worry about every little thing about our appearance because surely if our boyfriends see us in our glasses or sweaty at the gym, they won't like us anymore. Is this the kind of world we want to live in? Ask these same boys we worry about and aside from the jerks out there, most will reply that we are beautiful no matter what and they like us for who we are and think we are gorgeous with or without makeup. Why is this idea so hard for girls and women to accept? The beauty industry has long trained us to deem ourselves unworthy unless we live up to the unrealistic perfect standards that God-knows who set up in the first place. I also know how girls can be, always judging others based on what they look like. I know I'm definitely guilty of this. I find myself thinking... "what the hell is she wearing?" or "wow that person is goofy looking" or whatever. We all do it whether we want to admit it or not. I'd like to sit here and tell you I am perfectly nice all the time, but it's a lie. No matter how much we change, everyone will always judge everyone else. It's time to make a conscience effort about it though. When you see someone dressed different, relish in it... don't make fun of it. As over-used as it is, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. What one person thinks is beautiful, someone else may not. But this doesn't mean the person is ugly. Everyone is beautiful in their own unique way... the thing you hate about yourself may just be something someone else admires about you. So I challenge all you girls out there to shun the media, to turn away as a new "fat blaster medicine" or "beauty enhancing creme" comes on the market, and take a good look at yourself in the mirror. If you can stare and point out things you hate about yourself... STOP. Start counting the things you love. And as for judging, make an effort to decrease it. How boring would the world be if everyone was a stick-thin, 6 foot, blonde model? However, I'm not saying to run to your room and throw away all your lotions, potions, and makeup... just understand that it is not what defines you. Most girls love getting ready and looking pretty, just make sure you are doing it for yourself and that you are still beautiful in sweatpants and makeup-less. :)

Complainers Never Prosper

"If you don't like something change it. 
If you can't change it, change your attitude. 
Don't complain." 
-Maya Angelou

I read this quote and it reminded me a lot about myself. I know I have a habit of whining and complaining about anything and everything. I come home and complain about my classes and how boring they are without really giving them a chance. I complain about how much I hate my work but I haven't done a whole heck of a lot to find another one or try to fix anything at my job. When you really think of it, when you complain to someone it only makes them see you as an ungrateful person with a constant black cloud over their head. Would you rather be seen always drenched or shining brightly? And while sometimes I try to turn complaining into jokes which doesn't seem so bad.... only a few of those are necessary. Life brings all kinds of challenges but in my experience they only open your eyes to good things in your life or make you stronger. How boring would life be without drama filled weekends or classroom problems? Wouldn't you be bored to tears if everything in your life was always amazing? How would you ever change or grow into a better person? While something might seem like it is the end of the world and nothing can get better.... it will. Maybe you had to fail a test to make yourself realize how to study better or to meet a study partner that will soon become your treasured friend. Maybe people have to break up so their soul mates can come along. Maybe death of a loved one creeps in to make you thankful for all the wonderful people in your life still. We never really know. In my own life, I had to go through the death of an uncle, the controversial new marriage and birth of my cousin, and dealing with a not so nice new family member to receive two cousins that have changed my life. To me, it is the hardest thing in the world.... to see joy in sadness, beauty in pain, happiness in sorrow... but we all must try. When you are going through a hard time, dig deep to find out how you can grow from it and realize who are the people who help you through it and keep you sane. We all have those we love... be that person for someone as well. So as I challenge myself, I challenge all of you. Find something in your life you routinely complain or feel sad about, think of how you can change it or fix it and if you can't understand why it's there and how it will change you for the better. If everything still feels hopeless and without purpose, go hug someone who loves you and wants you to feel better, because I assure you... they are out there. :)

"The bad things in life open your eyes to the good things you weren't noticing before."