The College Survival Handbook

Burner App -- Keep Your Personal Number Safe

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 18:16:00 +0000

Your cell phone number is your identity, the physical representation of how you contact the world. Though many of us rarely remember phone numbers, that still doesn’t diminish the value of the number or how hard life becomes when it is compromised.

Being harassed is something that none of us wants to deal with. However,

Click To Read More==>

Bills You Should Split With Your Roommates

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:13:00 +0000

Photo By: planetofsuccess.com

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online schools. She welcomes your comments at her email: lopezjemima562@gmail.com.

Moving from a college dorm to an on campus (or off campus) college apartment or house can be a pretty sweet upgrade for most students—you have a larger living space, your own room, you get to cook your own food and most importantly you get to split all the bills, which can potentially give you more money to do fun activities. While choosing to go fifty-fifty on all bills as well as living expenses such as groceries or even laundry detergent may initially seem like it will make everything cheaper in the end, unless you and your roommate(s) have the exact same "habits," you may just end up spending more money than you need to. In fact, disputing about finances can negatively affect the relationship you have with your roommate(s) so it's better to address that you may not want to spit all the bills from the beginning. But how do you know whether it's worth splitting or not? To get a better idea of which bills you may not want to split directly down the middle, continue reading below.....

Click To Read More==>

Meme Drinking Game ....You Heard Me

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 03:40:00 +0000

I've wrote my share of drinking game rules for you party animals out there, but this one takes the cake in the creativity. I really love memes, so when I heard about this game I was super exited.

It's pretty simple -- all you need is beer, a die, some friends and a print out of the Meme Drinking Game Board. Just roll the die, do whatever the meme says and whoever makes it to the end of the board wins. Click on the picture below or the link above to print out your game board and get to started!

Make a Sticker, OF YOUR FACE -- My Sticker Face Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Ever wanted to stick your face on everything? Well, at mystickerface.com, they're are making it a reality. In their own words, "My Sticker Face lets you create custom contour stickers of your face, your pets face, friends or family members faces."

The Opportunity
I was given a chance to test out mystickerface.com's sticker making process by making a sticker face of my own, and here's how it went....

Click To Read More==>

"The End Of Minutes": Full Vonage Mobile App Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:51:00 +0000

Click To Read More==>

How To Play Land Mines Drinking Game

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:28:00 +0000

What You Need
- A quarter
- Beer of the canned variety
- A reasonably large table.....

Click To Read More==>

Will Vonage's New Free Calling Mobile App Put an End to "Minutes" Once and for All?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:15:00 +0000

For Your Info: Just wanted to let you know that the two posts about this application were sponsored by Vonage. With that said, I will still be giving you my true and honest opinion about this application, expressing what I find, in as unbiased a manner, as I possibly can.

A recurring question always comes to mind every time I glance at my phone bill, "Why am I still paying for minutes on top of my unlimited data plan?" Though I supposedly have unlimited data, according to my wireless provider, "unlimited" does not appear to include the data I use when making phone calls. Well I say enough of that!

Vonage has recently released a Mobile Application for iPhone and Android that uses the data connection on your phone to free worldwide talk and text all other users of the app. Using your phone's 4G, 3G, or Wi-Fi connection, this application will allow you to make phone calls that circumvent the whole "minutes" idea completely. Just be sure to remember that the calls still use your data plan, which is something to think about if you have a cap.

Even though they were not the first to implement this idea of data calling or "voice-over IP" (for all you nerds out there), Vonage's Mobile App is said to boast several improvements in user experience over it's competitors.

These differences, as well as my complete opinion of the application as a whole, will be included in a review exactly one week from today. Between that time and now, I am going to be testing this new application by exclusively making phone calls with it throughout my daily life. I really feel like the only way to truly give my honest opinion about this app is to just jump head first into it and see how I feel about it when I come out the other side.

Below is a video explaining some of the features of the application........

Click To Read More==>

5 Cheap Gifts for Your Sweetheart on Valentine's

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Photo By: epSos.de

Well, in the words of the great Bender of Futurama, "I'm back Baby". What would bring me back from my two month long hiatus, you say? Well, love, of course! Paul McCartney's performance at the Grammy's stirred up all those Beatles' love juices inside me, and I just had to come back, groveling at your feet, begging you to take me back and listen to my advice once again.

So here I am, and I hope you can forgive me for leaving. I thought about you everyday, and brought you a gift to make up for it. Well…..gift ideas at least. Five Valentine's gifts to give your sweetheart that won't break your tiny little student sized bank.

So here it goes, and P.S. - ILU.

5. Love Scavenger Hunt
Leave clues all around on little pieces of heart-shaped paper -- one leading to the other, pointing to a final destination found by your Valentine. Use clues that are about something personal, that only a few people would know, if not just you and your lover. The final destination can be a small gift, or just you.

4. Coupon Booklet
One Valentine's Day Eve long, long ago -- I was strapped for cash and wanted to get my girlfriend something. What I ended up doing was using Microsoft Word and little bit of creativity to print a custom coupon booklet of "love" for my sweetheart. Settle down, settle down -- it wasn't what you're thinking (dirty minded college kid).

The coupons were innocent and could be redeemed for anything from a back rub to cooking dinner one night. You can go the other way if you like, just remember to make it something you don't usually do that he/she enjoys, and it should work just fine.

Extra Advice: Make sure to punch holes in the coupon when it's used or you'll be stuck doing the laundry for a month until you realize you only made three of those freaking coupons in the first place.

Click To Read More==>

How To Get Rid of a Hangover

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:10:00 +0000

Photo By: aerodesign

Ahh, the hangover -- dreaded reminder of a night devoted to forgetting. Though so-called "remedies" appear abundant at first glance, they always seem to do little in stopping its evil onset.

Well, I'm sorry to say that I won't be bringing you some ancient middle earth cure for the mistakes you made through others' encouragement last night, nor am I going to try and sell you some wonder pill that's supposed to soak up all those "Bad Booze Toxins" swimming around in your bloodstream. Instead, I will be sharing with you what has seemed to work for me -- so pay attention.......

Click To Read More==>

College Tuition Facts That Will Surely Piss You Off

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

I usually steer clear of these huge "info-graphs", but this one was just too relevant to pass up. Being that I am a recent graduate currently feeling the effects of the loan debt this graph is talking about, I really had no choice but to share it.

I also challenge anyone who is currently attending or has recently graduated college to try not getting upset while reading this. Trust me...it's hard.

Click To Read More==>

Make the Most of Your Internship

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

By Follett intern, Barron Biros

Figuring out your post-graduation career plans can be a daunting task, but one of the best ways to prepare for the real world is by having internship experience. Last fall, a friend told me about Follett’s Marketing Genius competition. I was immediately hooked when I heard about the grand prize: a paid summer internship with Follett’s integrated marketing department and free housing in Chicago.

I entered the competition with my best friend and we created a detailed marketing plan to promote Follett’s Rent-A-Text program, which allows students to rent textbooks instead of buy them full price, and CafeScribe, Follett’s digital textbook option. After pitching our campaign to company executives, we were awarded first place and named Follett’s first “Marketing Geniuses.”

My internship with Follett allowed me to work for a real-world marketing team and gave me the opportunity to put the skills I learned in college to the test. Whether you’re destined to be a Marketing Genius, or your career aspirations lie elsewhere, it’s important to remember that an internship can be a great stepping stone to full-time employment. Here are three tips for how to stand out during your internship and make a great impression on your employer.

Network: Everyone knows networking can be the key to finding a job, but it can also be helpful after your internship is complete. So take the time to get to know your co-workers whether you plan to continue your career there or move on somewhere else. And remember, networking doesn’t always have to be about business. I’ve made some great professional connections here at Follett, but I’ve also made friends with my colleagues. You never know where your connections may lead when your internship is over.

Click To Read More==>

Feeling Lonely? -- 5 Ways To Cure Those Freshman Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Photo By: Sara Björk

Moving away from your parents and friends for college can be kind of a shock, and unless you're some kind of "social butterfly" -- it might take a while for you to find interesting people you can connect with. So, here are a few ways to cure some of those in-between"home-town blues" while still meeting great new people.

Take a walk around campus (even if you don't have class)
I know this sounds a little obvious, but we've all had friends that, if they're not eating or going to class -- they're more than likely sitting in their dorm room alone. If I just described you, Get Out for God Sakes! Sitting around doing nothing is the leading cause of the dreaded Freshman Fifteen! Let me put it this way, I met the girl I've spent the last 5 years of my life with on a bus on the way back from "The Freshman Lot" (a place where Freshman have to park their cars if they live on campus). That moment was as random and coincidental as you can possibly get and it has shaped everything about my life ever since. You're never going to find what your looking for where you've already searched, so why not go out and have a look around somewhere else for once.

Leave your Hometown at Home
It's hard to leave people you care about and go on to something new, and I'm not saying you need to cut ties completely -- but if talking with your family and old friends consumes your life at college, you will never be able to form the new friendships and bonds your college years can create. It's alright to Skype a friend every once and a while, or even keep a long distance relationship working -- but you can't let it run your life. Make time for old friends as well as new ones. Being frank about it, if you loved home so much -- then why did you leave it to go to school in the first place? There is such a thing as online classes you know.

Join a club or organization
Joining a school club or organization is by far the easiest way to meet new people and make new friends (that is if you actually make time for it). You don't even need to sign up! When I was a Freshman living in the dorms, there was a Baptist Student Organization that always met at the bottom of College Hill and played Ultimate Frisbee every Wednesday afternoon. I never signed a paper or went to a single meeting with the group, but every Wednesday for a couple of months I would head down there and play a few games with them.

Click To Read More==>

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish" -- Thank You Steve

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Not many changed the world as you did -- Thank You.

Google+ You = "Your Social Rebirth"

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Have you ever logged onto Facebook and thought, "Who are you people and what have you done with my friends?" Me too! For some strange reason I have accumulated over 400 people that would consider themselves my "Friends", and all I ever see when I log on is them doing stuff without me. Because in truth -- we aren't really friends, we're "Facebook Friends".

Well, if you're tired of feeling this way, I think I may have found the solution....Google+! Google+ represents something of a Social Restart button. Instead of going through and slyly "de"-friending people (that honestly probably never was a friend in the first place), now you can just move onto to the fresh start and greener pastures that is Google+.

Not to mention Google+ has a simple and easy way to move people that aren't as close into a separate category called "Acquaintances". Because isn't that what 90% of Facebook friends are anyway......just Acquaintances.

So.....if your looking for a new Social Rebirth to go along with that degree your striving for,

Here's a invite link to get you started: https://plus.google.com/i/_IspoBj7YP4:nuJGxYj7G6k

P.S. - I know this kinda sounds like a commercial, but no one paid me or told me to say this. Facebook has just been making me mad lately.

Buff up Your Back-to-School Body

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:49:00 +0000

The Real College Guide: Health & Fitness

From the Editors of The Real College Guide

photo credit: ©iStockphoto.com/huaxiadragon

If you’ve spent your summer break lying by the pool -- instead of swimming laps in it -- chances are you’ve lost some of your all-star collegiate athlete muscle. Want to buff up your back-to-school bod? Meghan Hamacher, exercise instructor at the student recreation center at University of North Carolina Wilmington, stresses that you need both cardiovascular and strength training to really maximize body toning and fat burn.

“If you increase your muscle, you will increase your metabolism and maximize your fat-burning potential,” says Hamacher. So while cardio exercises are great for shedding fat, a muscular person burns more calories during rest than does a flabby person. “Ideally, you should work out at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, to lose weight and tone quickly.” For cardio, Hamacher says good choices are biking, swimming, running, skating or even walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes. Below are her instructions for strength-training exercises, along with a recommended fitness routine.

Exercises to Get Buff Now
If you’re a beginner or pretty much have been idle all summer, start by doing half the recommended repetitions the first week before gradually easing your way up to the suggested amount of reps. For maximum toning, the courageous can try working up to doing each day’s circuit twice.

V-ups: Lie on your back on the floor, arms at your sides, then lift your legs and chest at the same time to form a V shape with your body, extending arms in front of you for balance. Hold for a count of one before lowering yourself back to the floor. To make it harder, only lower your legs and chest about halfway (so your feet and shoulders never touch the floor). This will really challenge your legs and abs! Try four sets of 15 reps.

Click To Read More==>

DKNY Queen Bed Set Giveaway -- $199 Value

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

So, you've finally got settled in your new dorm/apartment. Everything feels like it's where it needs to be, except for those hideous hand-me-down bed sheets your mother gave you (probably from when she was in college).You want to buy some new sheets, but you just don't have the money. Well, today is your lucky day.....

I have a brand new Queen-Size DKNY Scribble Bed Set (pictured above) to give away to one lucky reader. Here's what DKNY has to say about this set...

Artsy with a feminine twist, DKNY Scribble Daisy is perfect for the DKNY girl with a creative mind. Covered in fun doodled flowers with a pop of hot pink, this collection bursts with a sense of imagination that is sure to inspire.

So -- you want it? Well it couldn't be simpler to enter for your chance to win (not to mention free). I'm using this great new service called rafflecopter (located at the bottom of this post), which makes the winner completely random and takes care of the entry processes.

There are fours ways you can enter (one of which you can do once a day).

Each option gives you a different amount of entries into the contest, so pay attention......

Click To Read More==>

9 Tips to Survive Dorm Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Photo By: Peter Alfred Hess

Sarah Fudin currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California's online Masters in teaching program, which provides the opportunity to earn a Master’s degree and learn how to become a teacher. Outside of work Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

Going off to college presents many new challenges students may have never faced before, but one of the most daunting is living on your own, away from home and, for most freshmen, in a college dorm. Coming from a tight-knit east coast family I was both excited and anxious when I received my roommate information via mail – she was from Beverly Hills, CA and yes, her zip code was 90210! These tips will help make living in a dorm a positive experience.

1. Explore your dorm early
When you get to campus, take some time in the first few days to familiarize yourself with your dorm. Find out where the laundry machines are, where the lounges and study spaces are and what they offer, and of course, where the closest bathroom to your room is. Knowing what’s available near you will be important when you feel like you need to...

2. Get out!
Living in a small dorm room can make anyone feel claustrophobic pretty quickly. It pays to get out of your room and go study or hang out elsewhere. It’s more than just a change of scene, you will meet more people this way.

3. Organize your room early
It can be tempting to put off setting up your room at the beginning of the year when it seems like so much is going on, but it only gets busier. Take the time to set up your room, making it organized and clean so at least you know it can be. Consider bunking or lofting your beds to make create more space, and find ways to pack away winter clothes and other things you don’t need under your bed or in a closet.

4. Give your room some personality
Just because your one room double is only slightly larger than some closets doesn’t mean it has to be depressing. Get creative with decorations. Put up posters and pictures of friends, hang your track medals from high school or put up Christmas lights. The sooner you make your room your own with fun decorations, the more you will enjoy living there.

Click To Read More==>

Are You Creative? -- Adobe Imagination Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:13:00 +0000

If you know me, then you know how much I love using Adobe Products. All of the logos, banners and even the paper background on this website were all created from scratch within Photoshop. Along with that, I also have this guilty pleasure of using Premiere Pro and After Effects to make little "pump-up" videos for my ECU Pirates (as seen below) -- don't judge me.

So naturally, when I heard that Adobe was putting on a contest that involved their products, college students and money -- I was instantly interested. From August 22nd through October 30th, Adobe is having a contest where students (like yourself) can create something using their suite of software's in order to win one of four $10000 cash prizes. You heard me right -- 10000 big ones!!

Now, unlike my poorly put together football video below, the content you create must be completely original (and actually interesting). It doesn't have to be a video -- it can be any digital creation of your choosing, as long as it was made using one (if not several) of Adobe's Suite of software's.

I know - I know...

Click To Read More==>

Get Ready East Coast....

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:17:00 +0000

Hey guys,

Because I am a North Carolinian and I live in Greenville (near the coast), I may not be able to write for the next couple of days due to power-outages and blocking debris. As soon as I can, I will continue with the site.

To all my North Carolinians (and everyone else who will be affected by this storm), stay strong and take shelter. This too, like those before it, shall pass.

Be safe and keep surviving (seriously),

-Ben

Hilarious "Back to School" Fails!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Check out these hilarious Back to School Fails put together by the Huffington Post from FailBlog. Some of them really make you wonder who's teaching these kids.

I personally like the "Back to School" sale on Trojan Condoms.

5 Move-in Mistakes That Rob You of Space

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Real College Guide: Campus Life

By Maria Moy for The Real College Guide

Losing sleep over the dimensions of your dorm room? Rest assured, you can survive -- and thrive -- in close living quarters. We tell you how.

Unless you were raised in a jail cell, your dorm room is going to seem way too small for storing all your stuff -- and yourself -- without frequent fits of claustrophobia. Upon moving in, you’ll inevitably find that your closet is too small and that you have to make hard decisions about what will actually fit in your room this semester (big-screen TV or roommate? Hmmm ...).

Here are the top five mistakes to avoid when stuffing your stuff into a small space:

1. Leaving furniture as is By far, the biggest mistake you can make on move-in day is to leave the furniture where it is. You are totally allowed -- with your roommate’s blessings, of course -- to move it! And don’t be shy about trying out a few different arrangements. Often, there is a better way to position your furniture to at least give the illusion of more space and even privacy. Typically, pushing your bed and desk against the walls leaves an open area in the center of the room. Pushing bureaus back to back can create private nooks for dressing or sleeping (so you never have to wake up to eye contact with your creepy roommate).

2. Not using vertical space The sky (OK, ceiling) is the limit when you are organizing your room. Even if your desk doesn’t come with shelves, you can pick up cost-effective shelving units at places like Kmart and Target. Be sure your shelves are durable enough to support the considerable weight of your textbooks or whatever else you plan to keep on them -- clothes, shoes or even people if the shelves are waist-high. If you have room, a full-out bookcase is great for storing groceries, cooking supplies and other dorm miscellanea. Or opt for wall shelves, which free up floor space but might not be as sturdy. Hint: Buildable cube shelving gives you sturdy flexibility and can be recycled for whatever space you find yourself living in next year. And you can shove a single cube at the bottom of your closet or on your desk for additional organization.

Click To Read More==>

What the New Facebook Privacy Overhaul Means for College Students

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:30:00 +0000

If you haven't noticed already, Facebook is going through some changes. It appears that Facebook is finally answering the privacy calls of the masses and straightening up their act.

So what does all this have to do with you? You're just an average college student using facebook to keep up with friends.

Well.....

Click To Read More==>

TCSH Back to School Collection!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:25:00 +0000

To start off this grand Back to School occasion, I thought it would be fitting to share with you a little round-up of previous posts already written on the matter.

- 5 Money Saving Tips For Buying Textbooks
- How To Avoid Those Freshman 15
- 5 Ways NOT To Be A Terrible Roommate
- 4 Questions You Must Answer Before Renting
- How To Do Laundry in 10 Easy Steps
- Top 5 Ways To Suck Up To Your Professor
- How To Make Proper Ramen Noodles
- How NOT to Get Overextended at College!
- 7 People You Should Socialize With In College
- Getting Back to the College Mindset

Make sure to check back in for some fresh-new-post-goodness later on!

Back to School Week!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:26:00 +0000

If you haven't done so already, then you probably will soon....it's time to go Back to School! Yeeeaaah!!!

Ok -- maybe not "yeah", but you still have to get ready to go and (lucky you) I'm here to help. This week is dedicated to aiding your Back to School woes -- so make sure to check in regularly for advice.

Keep Surviving,

-Ben

(P.S. - How do you like that sick banner I made?)
(P.P.S. - Did anyone else on the East Coast feel that?)

Hide Things From Your Roommate in Plain Site

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:37:00 +0000

Is your roommate eating up all your food? Are you tired of reaching for that bag of chips you bought, just to find that Fatty Mc. Fat Pants ate them while you were in class. If so -- then do I have some news for you.

With nothing but a few tools, some time when your roommates not around, and this free pdf book The Construction of Secret Hiding Places by Charles Robinson -- you can kiss those chip-less nights goodbye.

(Source Via Lifehacker)