Category Archives: College

College

April 12, 2012

Graduation & College Tips for First Generation College Students

Earlier this week TIME published an interesting article that goes into discussing the challenges that first-generation college students face. The article discusses in concern some less than stellar statistics inculding

“More than a quarter of low-income first-generation college students leave after their first year, and 89 percent fail to graduate within six years.”

Luckily, the article does go into providing some tips. One of the tips that struck a cord with me was the second one.
Second: Figure out the unwritten rules. First-generation college students don’t simply lack the learning of their more privileged peers.

I couldn’t agree with this more. Part of learning the unwritten rules for me during undergrad was to join like minded student organizations. There upperclassmen merged with freshmen and helped them. Some organizations also have mentorship programs where seniors take freshmen under their wings and try to help them out.

For the full article, visit Time.com or click this link here.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tabor-roeder/6108541885/

April 4, 2012

Saving Money On Printing – Student Tips!

Printing group papers, thesis rough drafts, and powerpoint presentations can get costly. Unless you’re lucky enough to get free printing or printing credits at school, it’s likely that you often have to restock on ink.

So where can you get the best deals on ink and save money for graduation? PC World recently ran an article on these deals and some o fthe numbers may surprise you.

Check out the full article on deals for printer ink. http://www.pcworld.com/article/252967/the_best_deals_on_printer_ink.html

On another note, have you seen the Instgram Printer? This looks amazing!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/listener42/3662484077/

April 3, 2012

Organizing Your Google Docs for Studying & Group Projects

We just had to share a quick tip with you today. If you’re like most college students, you probably use Google Documents to facilitate your group projects.

Today Google announced that they’re now making it even easier to organize your files in Google Docs. That means if you’re organizing research for your paper, or collecting order information for your graduation sashes or other design options, keeping them nice and tidy just got much easier.

Check out the full post here for more information about this update: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2012/04/its-easier-to-organize-files-in-google.html

March 31, 2012

Stress Can Be A Bitch

Let’s admit it, stress can be a bitch. Whether you’re graduating high school or graduating college, or finishing up grad school this year, with change comes a lot of transition and planning for the next step in your journey.

In these times, it’s even often harder to find those moments where you can be at one with yourself when it feels like there are 1,000 things on your to do list to tackle before graduation.

Today’s post features an article on the PickThebrain.com blog. The best tip we came across was:

“When stress emerges it is often from time-pressure and being overworked. We all forget, or want to ignore the fact that we can’t do it all! We want to take on more without giving something up. Doing so will ultimately come back to burry us.
If we’re constantly on the go we need to eventually take a break for some R&R.”

We couldn’t have said this better. In the final year of your graduation, be sure not to bite off more than you can chew and over commit yourself. Go for quality and not quantity in the things and activities you pursue.

For more fantastic tips, you can check out the full post here. See you at graduation!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33909700@N02/3159761620/

March 30, 2012

Tips To Get Back To Exercising

Finding time to exercise can be tough. Let’s admit it, often times trips to the gym get pushed to the bottom of the priority list when homework, fraternity events or sorority events come up.

So how do you find time to exercise?

I remember in our fraternity, we had biggest loser challenges to see who would get the most fit and healthy in a month’s time. Often this motivated everyone in the house and instead of all lounging around playing video games, people went to the gym, played competitive sports together, and most importantly bonded more (and got healthier).

One of the tips featured on a recent article on Lifehacker.com recommends to
“Find a work out partner – a friend can remind (or guilt) you into getting fit. Also, there’s nothing like a little friendly competition to push yourself past your comfort (boredom) zone.”

We couldn’t agree with this more.

Another great way to get fit and bond with your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters is to pick up a competitive sport such as racketball, basketball or volleyball. Personally I found racketball one of the most fun to go at.

Check out the full post here for more tips and a few apps to help you get moving:

http://lifehacker.com/5893953/how-can-i-make-exercising-more-interesting

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flem007_uk/3180760192/

March 26, 2012

Budgeting for Graduation

Budgeting for the graduating senior can be a tricky thing. With senior year comes a bunch of extra expenses. From end of the year banquets, to graduation parties, graduation stoles, moving expenses and more… it all adds up.

Another cost of senior year that often isn’t always factored in is food and entertainment. If you’re one who goes out with friends often, it’s very possible that you end up spending more than you want to when at bars.

Today’s post highlights a better post from wisebread.com on budgeting tips.

“Every good budget should have a section for entertainment and fun purchases (or else, what are you earning all of that money for?) but building a little splurge fund that rolls over from month to month gives you a way to treat yourself occasionally without wrecking the rest of your financial health.”

Read the full post here. (Wisebread)

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/5474168441/

March 23, 2012

A cool new site, HackCollege.com

So we just stumbled upon HackCollege.com and we wish we had seen it earlier! The cool thing about HackCollege is it’s sort of like LifeHacker.com, but more geared towards students. Have lots of things you want to accomplish before graduation? Short on cash, time or ideas? HackCollege has a bunch of different posts, everything from “3 Reasons Why I Love My Slow Cooker” to Viewing Craigslist with Pictures (super helpful if you’re on the market for a car).

Go check them out, and of course this post too for the 2013 graduates!

http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2012/3/20/eight-things-to-stop-doing-by-junior-year.html

Note: We’re currently running our sale on graduation stoles. If you order 6 or more, it’s 10% off your entire order!

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06/6485695085/

March 22, 2012

Splitting Utility Bills & Roommates



If you’re like most college students you probably live with a roommate and possibly a few housemates. Living with others definitely has its advantages. Outside of the non-economical ones such as a sounding board for ideas, someone to hang out with, and a buddy to watch TV with, there’s financial ones. You share utility bills, generally have a lower cost of rent than if you rented a single or studio, and you can split grocery bills.

So how else can one living with roommates save money before graduation? You’ll want to check out this new post from ApartmentTherapy.com that talks about how to be more energy efficient and save on utility bills.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/breezyjay/131127686/

March 21, 2012

The Joys of Reading & Graduation


“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
- Dr. Seuss

So true are the words of Dr. Seuss, especially during this time of year when 4th or 5th year seniors are getting ready for finals, their last semester at school and most importantly graduation!

For me, one of the things that helped me transition from undergrad life to moving home, and then the working world was reading. As strange as it might sound, I remember growing up and actively reading Goosebumps and Choose Your Own Adventure paperbacks, but then somewhere along that path to college, reading became uncool for me. I’m not sure if it was peer pressure to watch TV and sports, but I just didn’t pick up a book, unless it was assigned to me by a teacher.

In college, my thirst for knowledge returned, but in blog format. Often scouring the internet and Google to find tips on how to use a dslr camera, or recipes to cook to impress that one girl. But at the end, it was when I finished undergrad, and the thirst for knowledge, that brought me to Amazon and Starbucks to spend Saturday afternoons.

A few books I’d recommend?

Leaving Microsoft to Change The World
Delivering Happiness

And these ones recommended by the LiveYourLegend.com web site. I have yet to read The Alchemist, but it’s on my list!

http://liveyourlegend.net/the-5-books-i-reread-every-year/

So what are you waiting for to pick up a book?

Plug:
Lastly if you have not already, make sure to order your graduation sashes before it’s too late!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aheram/449353221/

March 16, 2012

Unclogging Toilets & College?

Let’s admit it, a clogged toilet is one of the most non fun things to deal with. Combine this with living with roommates, and well… when apartment chores come up it can be a real pain and cause disagreements and even fights in some situations. Today’s post highlights a unique tip covered by Lifehacker. In the post they highlight a way to unclog toilets that you may not have thought of before.

“Add a few cups of hot water to the toilet bowl before you start plunging. After you pour the hot water in, let it sit for a few minutes. To put it mildly, the heat helps break the, um, stuff up. This will make unclogging the toilet with the plunger much, much easier. The heat from the hot water can sometimes break up the clog without plunging, so this could be a good tactic to use if you a clog a toilet at a friends house and you don’t want to face the embarrassment of asking for a plunger.

Also, try adding some dishwasher detergent to the mix. The soap can help break the clog up, as well.”

This is great knowledge any senior should learn before graduation!

The original post: http://lifehacker.com/5893723/unclog-a-toilet-with-warm-water-and-dishwasher-soap
A few more cleaning tips: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/150-tips-and-tricks-on-cleaning.html