All posts in: Back to School Series

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16 Sep 2011

Don’t Laugh

I don’t know why I happen to stumble upon more inappropriate posts in the evening, but these things happen sometimes. I’m a huge fan of internet memes and a couple of weeks ago, Cyril, Stephen and I went off on this tangent to which we all reacted with an assortment of internet memes that seemed relevant to the content shared. Ones that we would repeat after every few sentences can be found below, however, the one above is from a recent Buzzfeed post I read tonight called The Best of the “Sheltered College Freshman” Meme and it is just as good as it sounds. The one featured is one of the more tame ones because I know certain people that read my blog, but the rest can be found here.

Oh yeah. My friends are the best.

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13 Sep 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 9

I’ve pretty much finished writing all of my Back to School Series posts especially since that last one was a chapter, but I thought I would muster up one more for you guys. Instead of contributing my own experiences to this one, I’m just going to send you directly to College Humor’s “20 Things You’ll Regret Doing in College.” It’s worth the read and for the most part, it’s true.

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11 Sep 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 8

Unlike most of my friends, I chose my college pretty late. How’s that for starting off a freshman advice post? Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life so don’t take it lightly, but don’t over think it either. You should do your research, take a tour, but ultimately – just go with your gut. Before I toured Seattle University, I toured another university out of state that I fell in love with. It was absolutely gorgeous – the architecture, the weather, the people. I initially chose that university because of its reputation. It seemed like a dream for me to even be there, but I loved it. I unofficially sealed the deal by buying one of their over-sized sweatshirts. Then I toured Seattle University and when I first stepped foot on campus, I just knew. It was an awful rainy and cold day, but the question I kept asking myself was “Can I see myself here?” I did. I envisioned future Katie rushing to class on the mall and dining on campus. I saw myself studying in the library for ten minutes until people watching took over and I had to find a new spot staring at a corner for the rest of the evening.

Like every new freshman, I was thrilled to have a fresh start! Entering college is a complete learning experience both in and out of the classroom. You could read all the books in the world to prepare yourself or seek out all the advice from your educated college friends, but what you learn on your own will be the most valuable. You’re going to make mistakes. Awful mistakes. Mistakes that you probably wouldn’t want your parents to know about. And that’s okay. Just remember to not regret any of it unless…

a) you contracted an STD of some sort because you didn’t listen to your friends when they told you that guy/girl was distributing chlamydia and all of the above.

b) you failed your classes because you spent all day in your dorm getting high. Yeah – seriously don’t do that. There’s a time and a place for everything and if you don’t know your limit (for anything) then you’re not gonna make it through college.

Those should be no-brainers though so let’s get to the real advice:

Note: nothing mentioned in this post has ever happened to me unless I stated so.

Read more “Back to School Series Pt. 8”

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30 Aug 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 6

The “Goes Home Every Weekend” Guy

“Don’t let your dorm look like this every Friday night. There’s nothing more obnoxious than having a roommate who doesn’t seem to want to be at college. It totally brings down the vibe of the room. But if there’s something worse, it’s the guy who just goes home to party with his high school friends each weekend. It’s just sad. Don’t make your roommates pity you. Come on.”

I’m not sure if I necessarily agree with all of the content from this BuzzFeed post on “The 12 Most Annoying Types of College Students,” but I do find it to be a funny read. Maybe you’ll find it useful. When in doubt, always just listen to BuzzFeed.

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29 Aug 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 5

What would I do without The Frisky? Like Yow Yow! many blogs right now are currently writing back-to-school themed posts and while I’ve seen quite a few great posts from the blogs I read daily, The Frisky is my absolute favorite. Last year, they wrote an incredible piece called “30 Things Every College Student Should Have,” so I thought I would use some of their tips and refine it with some of my own.

  1. A good study buddy.
  2. A favorite quiet spot to study.
  3. Extra change for bus fare or laundry.
  4. One treat from the dining hall once a week whether it is a cookie (or two) or three pumpkin tartlets in one day (like I do.)
  5. A retreat home during those long holiday weekends.
  6. A four-year plan.
  7. Someone to talk to when you’re feeling completely overwhelmed.
  8. Condoms, if you’re sexually active.
  9. Open communication with your roommate(s.)
  10. A wardrobe that includes clothes for the day, comfy clothes, going-out clothes, and the outfits for your presentations and job interviews.
  11. Shower shoes for communal bathrooms.
  12. A spot that will always hold the key to your room so you never forget it.
  13. Snacks for your dorm room, but with some willpower of your own.
  14. New friends at school.
  15. A designated driver (or walker.)
  16. A best friend from home you can always call and vent to.
  17. A vacuum cleaner.
  18. Good judgement.
  19. A decent professor plea email for when you fail a test…or two.
  20. Your own checking account.
  21. A bathrobe.
  22. An organization or club to belong to.
  23. At least one friend who will tell you when your outfit or behavior is inappropriate.
  24. A part time or work study job.
  25. At least a few experiences you wouldn’t want your parents to know about.
  26. A friend who will push you to try new experiences that won’t get you in trouble with the law.
  27. Friends that will have womp-womp breakfasts with you the morning after an outrageous night.
  28. A late night restaurant for all of your drunchie needs.
  29. A major that you actually care about.
  30. A camera for EVERYTHING.
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28 Aug 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 4

One of the most exciting things about going to college for the first time is meeting new people, having a new group of friends, and of course – dating. Let’s pretend that doesn’t happen, parents. I know this subject may make some people uncomfortable, but would you rather learn through Yow Yow! or …the hard way? Earlier this week, The Frisky wrote two posts about the types of guys you should be spending your time with and the guys you should avoid in college – 11 Guys You Should Hook Up With in College and 10 Guys You Shouldn’t Hook Up With in College respectively.

The Frisky has brought up some great points, but not every college is the same. While some bros may be douchy at state schools, a private school might house some pretty smart bros. It all differs.

Now before we start, I’d like to say that this post isn’t to encourage you to become a little ho-ho. Take this advice lightly, have fun, be safe and generally the best bet is developing friendships FIRST.

Read more “Back to School Series Pt. 4”

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26 Aug 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 3

I know I promised some original posts for the Back to School Series, but don’t worry – those are coming soon. Today, I noticed that there were more visits to my January interview with Chris Smith then there usually were. Turns out someone posted the interview to the Dorm Life Tumblr! You may be eight months too late, but better late than never.

In my interview w/ Chris, we discussed the show and its future, but I also managed to sneak in several questions about Chris’s own experiences at UCLA – for which he has some advice for college students as well! He may have starred in a fictional web show about college life, but the guy actually went through it in real life. To read the whole interview, click here.

I spent a large chunk of my summer last year catching up on every single Dorm Life episode. It was quite possibly one of the best decisions that I have EVER made. The best part is that every single episode is available online at their official site and it’s free.

You’re welcome new freshman and non-new freshman.

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25 Aug 2011

Back to School Series Pt. 1

18. Breaking Up By Text Or Social Media Is A Standard Practice

New freshmen, I know you think you’re old now that you’re entering your first year of college and all that – but I’m here to put you in your place. You’re not the old ones. We are.

BuzzFeed’s “20 Ways This Year’s Freshmen Will Make You Feel Old.”

Okay this is enough BuzzFeed for one day.