Forget everything you’ve heard about life at college – you are there now, which means that you are almost ‘all grown up’ so it’s time that you learned the truth.  This is the stuff that nobody wants to be upfront about when it comes to life at college.  So here it is, 7 secrets of campus life, learned from the best training ground ever: the school of hard knocks.

• Marks don’t matter.  Now we tell you!  We’re not telling you to forget about grades, we’re just saying that they matter so little out there in the real world, that it’s almost a disconnect spending the first twenty years of your life striving for them, and the next sixty wondering what that was all about.
• Don’t marry your college sweetheart.  Sure you love them (or think you do) but while many of your stakeholders may want to see you buckle into security as soon as possible, they may neglect to tell you this.  Most people change significantly in their late twenties and early thirties.  Really, how will you feel when that organic shift happens and you’re stuck with someone from your past?
• It does matter what college you attend.  Get out there into the big bad word and start throwing the words “Yale” or “Oxford” around and see how fast doors open for you.  Admit that you spent four years at (fill in the blank) and watch the doors slam shut.
• These are some of the best years of your life.  Sure you want to party and why not?  Enjoy your youth and freedom while you have it.  It is shockingly fleeting.  One day soon you will look in the mirror and ask yourself what happened…
• Choose your new friends carefully. Some of these people may be in your circle for the rest of your life.  Allow the beer, smoke and pheromones to clear before consciously selecting who to bond with.
• Be gentle with yourself.  College is a big step, not only in your education and future, but in your socialization and maturity.  Be nice to yourself, even when you are a puking jackass.
• Don’t waste too much time.  Everyone will tell you that you have lots of time!  Spoiler alert: you don’t.  None of us have a lot of time.  Every phase of our life whizzes by in the blink of an eye.  So enjoy the r and r, and do your best in your courses, just stay aware of the bigger picture: life is short.

When it comes to deciding whether to pursue your degree in a traditional four year institution or with an accredited online program, there are countless factors to consider. In most cases, prices are a concern, and will greatly influence potential students. In addition, scheduling is a big factor. Having the ability to study and learn on your own schedule can be a benefit to those working full or part time, or those with families. However, one of the biggest differences is the way in which students will learn.

Ultimately, students need to determine whether they learn best in a large lecture setting or in through online classes in the comfort of their own home. This guide can help you to understand the pros and cons to each method of learning.

PROS of Online Classes
The largest benefit to have online classes is that you can do them anytime, anywhere, as long as you have internet connection and a computer. It can be easier to teach more complicated subjects whether it’s engineering class about commercial modular buildings or a math class dealing with some complicated issues. In some cases, online classes are at set times, which means you will have to be available at the right moment. You can save on transportation costs and the time of your commute, by staying home and attending classes all at the same time.

CONS of Online Classes
If you have an online class with audio but no visual content; it can be easy to get distracted during the class. In addition, online classes that can be done on your own schedule mean you have to have the discipline to log on and begin each one. Without self-discipline, you may find yourself falling behind on the class schedule.

PROS of Mass Lectures
Mass lectures are often associated with attending large schools such as some of the bigger universities. The benefits are generally that a very educated and qualified professor is teaching the class, and that the budget is large enough to cover great displays and even experiments.

CONS of Mass Lectures
One drawback to these mass lectures is that they can become impersonal. If you are just one student among a lecture hall of 500, you may not feel as if you get any personalized attention, and in fact you may not even be recognized by the professor at all.

While online classes and mass lectures both have benefits and drawbacks, they are wonderful educational tools. Students simply need to decide which is best for their personality and style of learning.

Karen White likes to write about education. When not doing this, she is working on her screenplay.

Oh, you may think that you cannot keep pets in your dorm, but we beg to differ.  Pets, after all, offer us comfort, companionship, soothing relaxation, an always-ready ear, and an excuse to stay in when we need to.   Maybe you miss the big dopey Labrador you grew up with, or maybe you hanker for the warm purring of a cat happy in your lap.

Well, the fur-bearing creatures may be off limits to you right here and now, but there are still some options in the pet arena. You may want to double check with your house-master, prefect, or whoever it is that holds the reins of power in your dormitory to double check our suggestions below.

#1 – Beta fish.

These guys are Siamese fighting fish and they have to be alone in their bowl, a fine parallel to your life in that weensy dorm room.  Put with another Beta fish, they will fight to the death, or at least until a lot of fins are torn and the battle is broken up.  Try holding up a mirror to the Beta’s tank and watch it try to attack…

#2 – Gold fish.

A plainer fish choice, but don’t underestimate these guys for companionship.  Goldfish are a great throwback to childhood and that can be comforting.  Easy to care for, these fishies are happiest in pairs, as are many species.

#3 – Sea Monkeys.

If you never had these when you were a kid, go for it now.  Water-bound, these guys do not need trees to swing from and are unlikely to steal your bananas.

#4 – Stick Insects.

These fascinating leggy things can teach you an amazing lesson in how to hide in plain sight: they were in ‘camo’ gear long before it was fashionable.

#5 – Pet Rock.

You and your pretty stone can rock out together.  These things are solid, strong and reliable: they will always obediently stay exactly where you tell them to stay.

#6 – Chia Pet.

George Michael has even written and sung an ode to these (“I shoulda known better than to Chia pet…”) because he knew how fascinating they were.  Available in a range of sizes and styles, it will be easy to find the one to suit your personality.

#7 – A Mouse.

Chances are you have one already, if not in your room then close by.  Why not adopt one and take it under your purview?  Feeding it scraps, and offering soft old socks and sweaters for bedding will make that campus mouse one lucky adoptee.

People think decisions come to an end once they choose their college. The reality is that the decisions are only beginning. One of the next big decisions is which type of dorm to stay in? Should it be a separate one or a coed one? Whether you are going to one of the Texas Colleges or one on the East Coast, this is a choice that you have to make.

There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. There is no right or wrong answer as it depends on the individual. Regardless of which one you choose, it will result in a radically different college experience.

Separate Dorms

When guys and girls are kept apart and not in the same dorm, things can be a bit more relaxed. That is because the presence of one distracts the other and vice versa. That is just a reality of life, especially when you are talking about young adults in the college environment. In separate dorms, it can be easier to concentrate on studying and classes as opposed to wondering about issues that pertain to the opposite sex.

For those who have strong religious beliefs, they may feel that a coed dorm isn’t even an option. They don’t want to live with the other gender until they are married.

Likewise if a guy or girl is a bit awkward and doesn’t feel comfortable in the presence of the other sex, they would prefer a separate dorm arrangement. This extends to not wanting to have to share showers and other such things.

Coed Dorms

While it very easy to think that coed dorms mean that things of a promiscuous nature are going to happen, it doesn’t have to. Instead of thinking of labeling people as guys or girls, coed dorms offer opportunities for students to meet more people. They can make friends in a relaxed environment.

Speaking of the environment, coed dorms are a way to be exposed to many different ways of life. You may meet someone who is really into the environment. They are into reusable shopping bags and separating the garbage. You could learn from this and adopt some of their habits.
Many relationships and even marriages have stemmed from people living in a coed dorm and getting to know each other in this location. It could also be said that living together with members of the other sex can be greatly beneficial for relationships.

The reason for that is that people get used to living with the other gender. If marriage is their first instance of doing so, they may find it a bit of a culture shock.

Ultimately it should be up to the individual to make the choice they are most comfortable with. They shouldn’t be pressured to make a decision one way or another. What may be a bigger issue isn’t the gender of the roommate, but the personality type.

David Wise writes about education. When not trying to finish his Masters, he likes to do jigsaw puzzles

Starting college isn’t always easy. It’s your first step towards adulthood and independence. This may be the first time you’ve ever been away from home, or even out-of-state! Amid all of the anxiety during your first move to college, the presence of some familiar (and useful) items can be extremely helpful when getting accustomed to your new dorm room. Here are seven small and often overlooked essentials that students like yourself should bring for your first move to college.

1. Alarm clock – You can afford to miss only so many classes before your professors put you on their personal blacklist. An alarm clock is a must for all of those 8am classes you ended up registering for back when you were an enthusiastic high school senior.
2. Bathrobe and Flip Flops – Save yourself from any awkward shower moments with a bathrobe, and don’t forget your flip flops or shower sandals because you never know who (or what) has been hanging out in those mysterious community shower stalls in your dorm.
3. Desk lamp and extension cords – A lamp for your desk is essential for those late-night study sessions as your roommate is sound asleep. Bring extra extension cords for all of your electronics since dorm rooms typically don’t have sufficient plugs for both you and your roommate to share.
4. Laundry basket – Don’t forget your laundry detergent, bleach, fabric softener and stain remover. You don’t want the reputation throughout your freshman year of being that smelly, new kid from down the hall!
5. Decorations such as posters, framed pictures and wall tapestries – Every room should have its own style and personality, and a picture or two of your friends and family from home will help – and perhaps even help prevent a potential case of homesickness.
6. Storage boxes, containers and crates – Organized storage may become your best friend once you move into your first dorm room, especially since it will most likely be smaller than your bathroom at home. Crates and boxes (found at most retailers like Ikea, Wal-Mart and Target) are great for keeping all of your random items neatly organized under the bed or in the closet you may end up sharing with that roommate of yours.
7. DVD player, speakers, television, small refrigerator and microwave – Make sure to first check your dorm’s rules and regulations for what electronics are allowed in your room. Also, try to contact your roommate(s) before you both move in to split up who’ll be bringing which appliance or electronic device (and maybe even split the cost for something neither of you both have yet).

This post is brought to you by Kevin Hagan of Transit Systems, Inc., one of the nation’s top residential and commercial moving and freight companies. For more information about TSI’s long distance moving rates for your college move, please visit their website or follow TSI on Twitter @TransitSystems.

It can be really difficult to keep healthy at university especially when your main food group becomes pizza and the only exercise you get is on the dance floor. But we’re here to help! Here are 3 simple, one-pot 30 minute meals!

We all know how difficult it is to eat well when you’re at uni – there are way too many other things going on between lectures to even think about cooking.

But next time you stumble in at 6pm after a full day at uni with only an hour to get ready before you meet your mates at the local… instead of giving in and calling the pizza delivery place for the third time that week, just think. Do you really want to go back home at Christmas to whispers of “Wow… Freshman 15 much?”

Healthy meals can actually be really simple. Even if you have the bare minimum of cooking skills, you can make a healthy, hearty meal in less than 30 minutes with just one pot to wash up. I promise.

Here’s a rundown of my favorite 3 one-pot 30 minute meals…

One-Pot BBQ Chilli and Rice

Half a pepper
Half a small pack of mince/70g veggie mince
50g rice
Tin of chopped tomatoes
Half a beef/veggie stock cube
Frozen sweetcorn
BBQ spice
Ketchup

• Chop your pepper in half and wrap one half in clingfilm and pop it in the fridge. With the other half cut it into smallish pieces.
• Pop a little oil in your pan, heat it up, and fry your pepper over a medium heat for about 3 minutes.
• Add your mince, turn the heat up a little and cook until its all brown.
• Add in your rice, tomatoes and a good shake of BBQ spice.
• Dissolve your half a stock cube in half a cup of boiling water, and add to the pan.
• Simmer it for 10ish minutes, stirring occasionally (add a little more water if it gets too dry), and then add a handful of sweetcorn and a good squirt of ketchup.
• Simmer for five more minutes, and pop in a bowl to serve.

One-Pot Thai Curry

A chicken breast/half a block of tofu
Half a pepper
Thai curry paste (red or green)
Half a can of light coconut milk
Frozen sweetcorn
Straight-to-wok Thai noodles
Lime (if you like)

• Heat up a little oil in a frying pan, chop your chicken breast or tofu into bite size pieces, and fry over a medium heat until golden brown and fully cooked.
• Meanwhile, chop your pepper half lengthwise into thin strips, and add to the pan when your chicken/tofu is done.
• Cook for about 5 minutes, and then stir in a teaspoonful of your Thai curry paste.
• Fry for a couple of minutes, and add your half a can of coconut milk (use the rest to make pina coladas!) and add half a cup of water.
• Simmer for about 10 minutes, and then add a handful of frozen sweetcorn and 1 packet of ready cooked Thai noodles.
• Cook for 3 minutes, roughly until the noodles are done, and serve.
• If you like, squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice in for some extra zing.

Sausage and Bean One-Pot Hotpot

2 sausages/veggie sausages
Half a pepper
Half an onion
1 can mixed pulses, drained and rinsed
1 can chopped tomatoes
Half a beef/veggie stock cube
Herbs and spices of your choice (Mediterranean, Cajun or BBQ blends work well)

• Chop your sausages up into bite sized pieces, heat a little oil in a pan, and fry the sausages over a high heat until golden brown all over.
• Chop your onion half and pepper half into small pieces and throw in the pan, turning the heat down a little.
• Fry for about 7 minutes until fully cooked.
• Add in your chopped tomatoes, mixed pulses and a good shake of spice.
• Dissolve your half a stock cube in a little boiling water, and add to the pan.
• Simmer for about 5 minutes, and you’re ready to serve!

TOP TIPS

1) Don’t be afraid to add extra veg to any of these recipes – kidney beans and onion work well in the chilli, sugar snap peas go great with the Thai Curry, and sweetcorn in the hotpot is a great combination!

2) You can get shaker pots of spice blends in the supermarket for not very much cash, and they really add an extra dimension to whatever you’re cooking (even if it is beans on toast).

See didn’t I tell you they were simple and easy recipes – now there’s no excuse not to eat well and with minimal washing up – BONUS!

Louise is fresh from university and keen to share how she managed to survive purely on a student loan! She blogs for Kids Island, a stockist of electric scooters for kids and cheap bouncy castles for sale.

Get excited!  College campuses are where the real social networks began with a high concentration of motivated, ambitious, and diverse students all around your age.  As a freshman, you are probably either required or advised to live in a dorm for you first year which is a great opportunity to experience all that college has to offer.  Most campuses are designed for walking making a car unnecessary to get to classes. In fact, a number of colleges do not allow freshmen to park cars on campus. Don’t forget you’ll most likely have to pay for parking and you’ve still got insurance to pay for even though you won’t be driving your car that often.

According to Ralph Flom, an analyst for GoAuto.ca, the average person from ages 18-24 pays $2,000-$3,000 per year for auto insurance. There can be a lot of advantages to bringing your car to college, but there are also some things you need to consider to make sure it is the right decision for you.

Pros

• Off campus living: While many colleges require freshman to live on campus, many either don’t or have ways around it if you already lived in the city of the college or university.  If you don’t live on campus, having a car is a must to get to class and around town.
• Rainy days: Unless you have a big umbrella and a very short walk, rainy days can be a hassle that makes you want to stay at home.  Especially for spread out campuses, having a car can make a rainy day more tolerable.
• Travel on weekends and holidays: For all the major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and spring break, you are going to find one way or another to travel.  But for the holidays that just mean “no class today”, having a car makes traveling and entertainment much more convenient since most car rental companies won’t rent out unless you are 21 or even 25.
• Learn your way around town:  If you go to a college or university that is not in your home town, you are likely to be there at least 4 years.  Many people even decide to live in the city of their alma mater.  Having a car as a freshman will give you a head start with how to get around town.
• Grocery shopping: If you plan on grocery shopping, it can be quite difficult without a car for transportation.  If you walk or ride your bike, you are limited to the amount of groceries you can buy because you can only carry so much.  Having a car makes grocery shopping much easier.
• Never ask favors: You might think that you will never have to leave campus for anything, and you may not for weeks at a time.  However, sooner or later you are going to find a reason that having a car would be nice and need to ask a favor.  If you have your own car, whenever you need that miscellaneous trip you won’t have to inconvenience someone else.
• Road Trip: A rite of passage every college student should partake in a road trip, and last time I checked a car was a necessity.

Cons

• Parking inconvenience and costs: College parking is expensive just like everything else in college and there is nothing you can do about it.  It can cost as much or more than your semester’s books alone.
• Car responsibilities: Parking is not the only expense with a car; you have to consider oil changes and other maintenance.  If your car breaks down, you need to make sure that you have the financial plan in place to take care of it.  Your parents might help some, but college is a great time to learn independence and take financial responsibility for your life.
• Can’t see the trees for the forest: Convenience is nice, but sometimes it can cause us to overlook certain perspectives of the world.  Colleges go to great lengths to make their campuses some of the most beautiful campuses around, and you will miss out on a lot of that if you drive everywhere.  Walking to your destination is usually under 20 minutes and gives you a chance to slow down and enjoy the moment.
• Could I get a ride?:  Say that questions to yourself three times and you will understand how irritating it can be, especially on a bad day.  If you do bring a car, set the standards up front and don’t let people take advantage of you.
• Not allowed: Many campuses won’t allow cars for freshmen or even at all.  Usually these campuses have everything you could need while in school within close proximity.

Less exercise: Having a car makes it tempting to drive short distances when you could easily walk in 5-20 minutes.  Walking is great exercise and will help you avoid that dreaded freshman 15 everyone keeps talking about.

James Daugherty is a car blogger who works with GoAuto.ca. You can follow his tweets – @jimmydaugherty. Thank you to BigStock for providing the stock photography for this article.

You surely know how to survive the pub.  You’ve had lots of practice, right?  Well, don’t be ashamed if you haven’t.  After all, by the time you head off to college, you may or may not have passed the magic age that allows you entrance into the hallowed halls of liquid libations.  Not to worry.  We have a primer to pump you up before you hit the keg pumps…

• Warning Numero Uno :  An Empty Stomach will Have You Running on Empty

Never head out to the pub on an empty tum-tum.  First of all, you will get hungry and want to eat and pub food is expensive and you are on a budget.  Besides, you (or more likely your parents) have probably already paid for a greasy meal plan, so you may use it as well.  Secondly, a fully stomach will give the alcohol something else to burn through besides the lining of the stomach wall.  Thirdly, your stomach will not rumble and grumble when you sidle up to a hottie at the bar.

• Warning Numero Dos:  Alone Equals Lonely and Lost

Never head out to the pub on your own.  First of all, you will appear to the masses as a person without friends.  People like people who have friends as this seems to prove that there are at least a few likeable and / or trustworthy things about you.  Secondly, if you do find some people that spike your romantic interest, you’ll need a couple of trusted wing-men (or wing-women.)  Thirdly, if by some remote and unthinkable means you get rip-snorting drunk, there will be a posse of people who will be able to make sure that you get home with some measure of safety and dignity.

• Warning NumeroTres:  Body Knows Best

Never ignore your body signals.  For example, if your body starts feeling sick, pay very close attention.  Do you have the urge to swallow a lot?  Have you been wracked with hiccups?  Do you feel a queasy, churning sensation in your gut?  Do you have a burning sensation rising in your throat?  Never argue with these symptoms.  Run (don’t walk) to the closest bathroom or sink or bush: the more private, the better.

• Warning Numero Cuarto:  Big Brother Is Watching

Do everything in your limited and youthful power to prevent yourself from acting or looking like a jackass.  Pretty much everyone has cameras in their cellphones today and the Uni crowd is not afraid to use them. Don’t end up on Facebook or YouTube as the next idiot sensation.  Social media tends to spread far and wide with lightning speed and a very long-term memory.

Every college student regularly faces the temptation: whether to go out or to study.  This is not very different from the temptations face by everyone, whether to work or to play.  However, college students have a greater temptation to party than most people.  They live with their friends, and there is always some fun activity going on at a college campus.  Here are five ways college students can stay focused on their future goals.  Using these techniques will help undergraduates hit the books, instead of the bars.

#1 – Write Them Down

Vague goals are much more difficult to focus on than specific goals.  The best way to create a specific goal is to write it down.  A commonly used acronym to help people with this is SMART, which was first coined by Paul J. Meyer.

Goals should be:

• Specific – this is the overall criteria; they need to be identified and concise.

• Measurable – people have to be able to measure their progress toward a goal, and to know when they have achieved it.

• Attainable – goals must be attainable, or else people will not be motivated to stay focused on them.

• Relevant – there must be a reason for the goal; they must serve a purpose.

• Timely – there must be a time-oriented aspect, even for future dreams; in other words, there has to be a deadline; this helps people stop procrastinating.

#2 – Post

Once goals are identified and written down, they should be posted in a visible place.  Everyone has experienced discovering an old treasure they forgot about, because it was buried at the bottom of a drawer.  If goals are not visible, they can easily be forgotten.  In some cases, people are embarrassed about their dreams.  If this is true, then the list of goals can be posted in a private place, but one that is seen daily.  Perhaps on the inside of an armoire’s door would be a good location.

#3 – Recite Daily

Most college students will find this step silly and perhaps embarrassing, but it is immensely important.  Reciting one’s goals to oneself daily helps one keep them in mind and focus on them.  It is easy to lose track of future aspirations during the day.  They become vague or escape people’s minds.  To help keep one’s focus, they should be said out loud (not just in one’s head) three times each day.

#4 – Imagine Success

While writing down and saying one’s goals, they should be phrased positively.  They should be said as if they are a certainty.  “I hope to graduate,” or, “I want to graduate” permits failure.  A better phrasing of the same aspiration would be, “I will graduate by [date] with a Bachelor’s degree in [major].”  This goal meets all of the criteria of the SMART acronym, and “I will” does not allow one to fail.  It will be true.

#5 – Tell Others

Once the above steps have been enacted, college students will be ready to tell their friends and peers about their goals.  They will be able to identify the goals and assert them positively.  Undoubtedly, friends will offer a rebuttal, “Aww, C’mon….”  However, these strategies should provide the focus necessary to avoid the temptation and remain on track to achieve future goals.  Eventually, friends will understand these are important and hold their determined friend accountable.

These five principles are simple steps.  Every college student can easily enact them, and by doing so every college student can begin to achieve their future goals.

Wayne Page helps people achieve their goals of becoming a certified CNA in Nevada and other states, by writing for CNA Training Center.

College! Freedom! Independence! The beginning of a fresh start, a platform from which to launch the rest of your life and the chance to meet life long friends and have a lot of fun at the same time. I think your conscience has a lot to do with those first few years after school where you attend college and start to wrest management of your own life for the first time. Staying true to your conscience isn’t always easy but Vincent van Gogh famously said, “Conscience is a man’s compass”. I’m sure he meant women too!

So here are 7 tips for helping to graduate college with a clear conscience:

1. Get involved with college life

Don’t regret not making the most of the life that is the College Campus. Whether you decide to try the Greek life and plan to join a sorority or fraternity in rush week, join a club that interests you or attend any of events, activities and parties that each college and Dorm holds, you will I’m sure connect with many people in the same boat as you and go on to be life long friends. Rarely again in your life are you placed somewhere where you can meet so many people all at once like that, particularly once you start in the workforce. Making the most of what’s on offer and getting involved is one thing your conscience won’t regret.

2. Choose a course/major that motivates you

We all have different motivations for the career path we take and each is unique and specific to us and our circumstances. We can’t all be Fireman or Ballerinas like we may have wanted when we were young but if we can strike a balance between what is practical as a career choice for us as well as something that genuinely interests or inspires us our conscience will be light.

3. Stay informed about the plight of the world

I read a quote somewhere once that said, “One half of the world’s people live on less than two dollars a day”. This should concern our national security policy as well as our conscience. At the end of studying at college we will be (hopefully) educated, well-rounded people that are concerned about the world. After all what is an education if we can’t put it to use at least in some small way to help better the world? It goes without saying that our conscience would approve.

4. Keep your grades up

It makes your life both at college and after you graduate easier especially if you are going onto grad school, law school, med school or looking for an internship — and it lets your conscience rest a little easier too. Use time management and balance to get the work done that you need to, to a standard you are going to be happy with in years to come.

5. Look after yourself

Balancing your busy social life, having a good time and burning the midnight oil with all- nighters before papers are due with eating well and exercising is an artform in itself. Heath and sports facilities are now well established at most colleges though which helps to make this possible.

6. Try not to get into debt

Be realistic about your budget while you are at college. Getting into debt and overspending is one thing that your conscience can keep you up at night over. There is a lot of good advice out there on ways to save money at while you’re at college, and to help you graduate college with not only a clear conscience about your funds but with some money in your pocket too.

7. Okay this final tip is obvious but: Try not to do anything really unsafe or stupid

This last tip is a very obvious one for graduating with a clear conscience in tact. Have fun but avoid doing anything you will regret later or could harm your chances of a good career prospect after all your hard work. This is perhaps where listening to your conscience can be most significant. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

My advice is don’t try to be too cool, be yourself and enjoy it all. A website I wish I’d known about while at college which discusses important topics like Men & Women, What is Love, How can we save the world: World Transformation Movement — check it out!