What Every College Girl Should Know

A few pieces of advice I've collected, for college girls, throughout my time spent in college. 

1. You may not like your roommate, which is fine.  All you need to do is learn how to live with her.
2. Nobody really cares where you went to high school, what clique you were in, or how many awards you won.
3. Chances are high that you will change your major. I promise you it won't destroy your college experience.
4. It's okay to not get straight A's.
5. Sometimes that paper you think deserves and A+ will get a B, and it's okay life will go on.
6. Tutoring is something that everyone uses, even the smart kids on campus.
7. Your first semester is one of the most difficult adjustment periods you will experience, in college.
8. You're definitely not going to stay in touch with all of your friends from high school.
9. Speaking of high school, you might miss it sometimes and that's okay.  It's all part of the transition process. However, don't let yourself dwell on the pass and miss out on the here and now.
10. There's a lot more to college than frat parties and football games.
11. You don't have to drink to be social.
12. First impressions are important, but your first thoughts about people aren't always correct.
13. It doesn't how well you know "that girl at the party", if she's too drunk help her! After all,  if by chance that was you, your friend, or your sibling you would want someone to help you.
14. Always charge your phone before going out. 
15. Never go out alone.
16. Create a budget, it's easy to spend too much.
17. Don't send a snapchat that you wouldn't want someone to screen shot.
18. Don't post anything on social media that you wouldn't want your grandmother to see.
19. Sometimes you have to cry to feel better.
20. 95% of the time crop tops are not a good look. 
21. Have self respect.
22. Don't change your morals because they don't match someone else's.
23. Get dressed for class. It makes you more alert and leaves a good impression on your peers and professor.
24. Talk to your parents! They can provide great advice and support.
25. Take lots of pictures (You don't need to post every picture you take)!
26. Unless you are 21, don't post pictures with alcohol in them. 
27. Red cups are not a good look for social media posts.
28. Get involved! 
29. Use an agenda. They help a lot.
30. Go to class. 
31. Spark Notes is not going to get you too far in college. Shocker, you have to actually do your own work!
32. Take advantage of all the opportunities your campus has.
33. Failure is a part of life, but remember to learn from it.
34. Try something new.
35. It's okay to have a late night snack every once in awhile just don't make it a habit.
36. Add the number for your campus public safety into your phone.
37. Leggings can be worn as pants, but not for every single occasion.
38. Pinterest is a great resource for just about everything!
39. Stand up for what you believe in. It's okay if you have to stand alone sometimes.
40. Splurge on something for yourself every once in awhile.
41. A little retail therapy won't kill you.
42. Be sure to eat a balanced diet.
43. Be active, it's good for your physical and mental health.
44. Balance work and play.
45. Don't go home every weekend.
46. Step outside your comfort zone.
47. Take time for yourself. Your mental health is important.
48. Take some time for reflection. It is important to realize what is and is not working for you.
49. Be kind to everyone without letting them walk all over you.
50. Have fun!

XOXO

-Michaela

My Monday Morning Ritual

Happy Monday! I've decided it's time everyone stops beating up on Monday - just because it's the first day of the week and the end of the weekend doesn't mean it's all bad! It also means a fresh start and an opportunity to get ahead of all your work for the week!

In order to show you how awesome Monday's can be, I'm going to share my Monday Morning Ritual with you (:

Step 1: Wake Up! Every Monday I try to wake up around 8 AM. I know it sounds early but rarely do I go to bed super late on Sunday and if I wake up early, I feel less rushed getting ready.

Step 2: Caffinate! I get up and make myself a cup of coffee. Another perk of my 8 AM wake up call is that I can actually sit down and enjoy my cup of coffee in a real mug and listen to Spotify's Morning Acoustic. There is no better way to start your week! 

Check out the playlist here!

Step 3: Get ready! By 8:45, I try to be up and in the shower. I always put together a decent outfit for Mondays. Ditch the yoga pants (or running shorts) and put on a pair of jeans if nothing else! You'll feel so much more productive. 

Step 4: Plan your week! After I'm ready (and usually while on my second cup of coffee), I sit down and look at my planner and map out my week. What nights do I have meetings? When am I going to the gym? What tests do I have? Once I know the big things I have to get done in the week, I make a list of all the little things that have to be done by Friday. Then I know what to work on when I have some free time. 

Step 5: Make lunch! Shame on me but I'm not a breakfast eater but I always take my lunch to campus on Mondays. I have a long (3 and a half hour) break between my classes and I try to always go to the library to get started on the small tasks that I have to do. When I take my lunch, I don't feel tempted to procrastinate and go find food else where in places I know I'll run into sisters. 

Step 6: Go to class! Your first class on Monday is always the hardest class to get to because it marks the official end to the weekend but once you make it, your other ones are easier to get to. 

How do you do Monday mornings? We'd love to hear in the comments! 

The Midsemester Revival

Spring Break is over and you are back to having a test and a project due every week. Congratulations. For a lucky few, you are only a few weeks from being done with the rest of your education! By now, I'm sure you all have calculated exactly what grades you need to get on the remainder of your assignments to pass all of your classes to walk in May. I'm so jealous. 

I've officially hit the point where I don't care about random assignments so long as I maintain my grades enough to make it into Law School (my newest post-grade plan - god help me). I have reached out to some of my friends in order to find some advice on getting back on track (and over the midsemester slump).

One guy friend suggested that exercise is the best way to regain focus. Endorphins aren't just to make people happy so they don't commit homicide (please tell me you got the reference). 

Eating well was another suggestion. Fish is relatively easy to cook and with a side of broccoli or spinach and pasta you have a perfect meal! 

One of my sisters suggested that I get some sunshine! I have to admit that this is probably the best suggestion I got for me. I thrive after a little bit of sun and I love reading outside!

If all else fails, take a break and grab a cup of tea and a good book to settle into proper procrastination mode. Sometimes taking a little bit of time for yourself is the best way to clear your mind. 

I hope you can get over your Midsemester Slump and please send your suggestions my way! I can use all the help I can get! 

YIPS

Sonia 

Sisters Helping Sisters: Academics

“Which professor is better?” “Did you enjoy this class?” Ah, yes. It’s registration time on college campuses all across the country. This is one of those times that makes me glad I joined a sorority. If it wasn’t for the advice of one of my sisters I never would have taken the economics class that made me declare a double major. Registration advice is just one of the many ways we can help our sisters succeed academically.

Setting up a mentor/mentee program within the house can help younger members connect to older members as well as help everyone with school. This can be a formal system or just informal pairings that people make themselves. My chapter assigns each new member to an upperclassman who has the same major as them. That way you have a go to person for academic help.

Listening to your sisters talk about their work load can help you find out if someone is struggling. Most people have a hard time admitting when they are in over their head. If you notice that a sister is constantly stressed and disappointed when she gets assignments back, it might be time to talk to her. You don’t want to make her feel attacked or reprimanded. Make sure she knows you care about her and that you just want the best for her. Suggest some on-campus resources or study dates to let her know you support her. And if you are the one in over your head, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from a sister or your teacher.

As college women, we are here first and foremost to get an education. There’s a delicate balance between work and play that even many seniors still haven’t quite mastered. When you notice that you or one of yours sisters is dabbling a little too much in the play realm and not enough in the library, it might be time to intervene. Some people might just need a little warning to get back on track. Occasionally, though, you’ll come across a sister that needs a little more help. Some suggested ways to help are to increase their required study hours or to ban them from certain sorority social events until they can figure out their academic life.  

Academics can be a very personal issue for some people, so tread with respect and love when confronting someone you think is struggling. Every sorority values academics. Let your sisters know you do too by preforming to your fullest potential and helping your sisters to do the same. 

Power Through the Mid-Semester Slump

I don’t know about you, but I’ve already had two midterms. School is finally in full swing. The excitement of bid day and seeing old friends has been replaced with the stress of midterms and the anxiety of turning in parts of my thesis. Usually at this point in the school year I find myself in a slump, though. The work is piling up with no break in sight. If you’re going through something similar, here are some tips to help you power through your mid-semester slump.

Give yourself and your sisters a boost out of the mid-semester slump. (photo)

• Talk to your professors: Mid-semester is the perfect time to check in with each of your professors to see how you’re progressing in the class. You don’t want to get all the way to finals before you realize that your grades just aren’t where you want them. If you are struggling in a class, the professor can provide some tips on how to succeed in their class that might completely change how you are doing in the class.
• Form study groups: If you read my last article (find it here) you hopefully made a few friends in each of your classes. Now is the perfect time to get these people together for study parties. If you tend to be a lone wolf when it comes to studying, mixing it up with a group study session every now and then can really help your grades improve. Even classes that involve a lot of papers can benefit from group work. When you have a group of people to work with, you will all hold each other accountable to actually getting the work done.
• Realize that there is still time: If you’re grades aren’t where you want them to be, you still have an entire half of a semester. But make sure you are proactive about improving your grades. As don’t just fall out of the air. Meet with your professors, tutors, classmates, etc  or mix up your study routine. Don’t regret not working hard now when you’re struggling to get a passing grade at finals time.

How to Cope with a Terrible Schedule

It happens to the best of us...

We get excited to register for class and have the perfect schedule and then... Bam! The class is full before you even get a chance to sign up.

You wind up with 8 AM Chemistry followed by 9 AM Calculus and so on.

You have a terrible schedule and you just do not know how you will deal with it! Take it from us, it is do-able! [after 3 semesters of 8 AMs, I know what I am talking about] With these few tips you can survive the "semester schedule from Hell"

Tip 1: Take a deep breath and tell yourself it is going to be fine!

Tip 2: Create a rewards program for yourself! Each week you survive, treat yourself to a mini shopping spree or nice dinner!

Tip 3: Write out all your classes in an agenda and take note of all the free time you have! Take advantage of this free time by working out, meeting friends, or even catching up on some reading. You will soon feel grateful for the free time you have!

Tip 4: Find a person, notebook, wall that will listen to you complain. Then, take a few moments to just get all your complaints out. Having a few minutes of "pity-me" time can do wonders. Just make sure to limit your self pity to one thirty minute session a week and then follow with a self motivating session!

Tip 5: Remember, it is only 5 months and then you have a whole new schedule!

We promise that following these steps will help you cope with your schedule and if you need a little more help, just refer yourself to Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream!

A Girl in a Boys' World

One of my favorite things about being in a sorority is the sisterhood among all the women in the house. It’s not often that you can put 100 girls in one room and see so much happiness and love. In school, however, I face a very different reality. As a mathematics and economics double major I am surrounded mostly by boys. Sure, there are some other girls in my classes, but the majority of my classmates are boys. In my Econometrics class of 17 students, only 4 of them were girls. Going from a house of 100% girls to a class of less than 25% girls is quite the switch for me. Sometimes this is a struggle, but being in a sorority has prepared me to excel in the classroom.

Every day, my sisters remind me of my true worth and value through their words and actions. From compliments on my outfit to choosing me for leadership positions, my sisters have helped me to build up my confidence. This strong confidence enables me to speak up in class even when I fear looking stupid as one of only a handful of girls in a classroom full of boys. I get so much more out of my classes when I actively participate, so having the confidence to raise my hand has invaluable long-term effects for me.

Have you ever tried to make 100 unique and strong-headed girls agree on something? I bet you have if you’ve ever been in a sorority. Working in groups is not always easy, but it is often essential. Group projects have come up in many of my classes, but I feel better able to tackle the hurdles as a member of a sorority. I know when to take charge and when to step back. I also know how to listen to a variety of options as well as how to delegate tasks. These skills are preparing me for a very successful future where I will most definitely have to work in more groups.

When freshman year rolled around I was beyond nervous about going through sorority recruitment, but I have never regretted it since day one. Similarly, I am extremely nervous about entering the male-dominated economics field. But I now have the courage to take the leap. I don’t know where my career will lead, but I do know that I would regret never at least trying. Who knows, I could even be the first female economist to win the Nobel Prize in economics. Being a member of a sorority has helped me to realize my true potential. I’m not about to limit myself just because there’s a few more boys in the room.

Does anyone else plan on entering a male-dominated field after college? Do you ever get nervous?

Transition from Summer to School Smoothly

Summer is winding down and it’s (unfortunately) time to get back into the academic flow. It’s beyond exciting to get back to campus and see all of my friends who have scattered across the US this summer, but it can be especially difficult to transition if you’re like me and spent the summer babysitting one of the world’s cutest families instead of a 9-5 internship or job like I have every other summer. When it comes time to transition from summer fun to school drudgery, I need a definite system to keep myself on track.

Probably my favorite back-to-school organizational tool is my dry erase calendar. It’s perfect for my very Type A personality and without it I absolutely would be a disorganized mess. At the beginning of each semester, I grudgingly print out the last page of every syllabus: the assignment list. I set up my month by using my vast array of markers to assign each class, work, DZ, and other things like university events (aka football games, Go Bucks!) a color and mark the assignments accordingly. If I have an extra important assignment like a midterm, I border the entire box so that date is heavily outlined and when I look at my calendar from afar I can clearly see when it’s appropriate to start panicking.

It's actually become infamous among my friends 

Another great way to stay organized is to hang each assignment list somewhere in your room. As the weeks go on highlight the assignments you’ve already completed. I think highlighting is a better alternative than crossing out assignments because you can still read what the assignment was in case you need the dates or anything later on. It’s a really easy way to look at your month week by week to ensure you don’t miss anything important.

I do carry a planner around but since my assignments are pretty spread out, the week-to-week setup of a planner isn’t very helpful and the monthly calendar is so small it would be impossible to fit five or six classes worth of info in those tiny boxes. While I depended on my planner in high school to get by, four years later it’s not such a helpful utensil for me. But my roommate lives by her planner, so it can also be used as a really helpful tool to keep you organized and have a monthly assignment list with a week-by-week breakdown. The same way I use different colored markers on my calendar, I’d suggest different colored pens for your planner just so every assignment doesn’t blend together.

This is probably the most I ended up using my planner… #priorities

One last really easy trick I use to keep my life organized? Since I always have my computer with me (most of my classes run on PowerPoint presentations) I saved my syllabi to my desktop and keep them all in the same place. Next to them I have the document outlining my graduation requirements for quick reference. So when I’m on campus and far from my insane calendar, I have an easy way to find my assignments, even when the wifi decides to kick everyone off the network.

I hope this helps keep your life in order as you switch from summer to school mode, good luck!