This guest post is written by Leon Harris who writes for Attract Women where you can find tips and advice on meeting, dating, and talking to women.

We all want to believe that college is going to be an amazing and revelatory experience that will help us to come out of our shell, grow up, and become the awesome adult we were meant to be. And of course, you hope that your new roommates will become your BFF. Unfortunately, most college students have only ever lived with people who love them (a family) and are willing to put up with their personality flaws. This means that they are ill-prepared to make the concessions necessary to make living with a stranger a workable situation. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up with a roommate who is gone most of the time. More likely, though, you’ll get stuck with someone who seems like the roommate from hell.

In this case, you really only have two options; you can either make every effort to get along with your new roommate or one of you can move out. The former option is probably the best course of action. Honing your interpersonal skills and learning to play nice with others is an important ability that will serve you well when you get out into the real world and have to deal with demanding bosses and incompetent coworkers. Plus, you will probably find that if you make an effort to interact with your roommate and get to know them, you have some interests in common that you can bond over (even if it turns out that the only thing you agree on is the fact that you are supremely annoyed by the loud and frequent activities of your neighbor and his girlfriend).

Of course, there’s always the other way. But you don’t want to be the one to leave. Finding a new dorm could be difficult and you will probably end up crammed in with even more people that you don’t get along with. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t, right? And while spending all day and night at the library or in the common room certainly allows you to get your homework done, you’d really rather have the comfort of your own room. This means you will have to find a way to get rid of your current roommate. To this end, you might be tempted to resort to a number of underhanded methods of getting your roomie from hell to jump ship, such as perpetuating habits that you know drive them crazy (snoring, playing loud music while they study, mimicking everything they say, etc.). You could also lay a tape line down the center of the room and then move it closer to their side every time they leave (so that your half of the room gradually gets bigger).

There are all kinds of devious ways to mess with your roommate’s head until you drive them crazy (and ultimately, drive them away). But this is pretty childish. Why not just ask them to leave? They’re probably just as fed up with you as you are with them. If you see them as the roommate from hell, they may see you the same way. In any case, you’re going to have to face your problem head on if you want to solve it in any kind of constructive way. By confronting your roommate with a list that details their many flaws, you might just open the door for a conversation that could lead to a positive outcome, one in which you reach an understanding so that neither party finds themselves looking for a different room.

My strategy is quite simple; do well in school, work at night and on the weekends, and try and squeeze a social life somewhere between. So here I am going to save you some time and give you tips on becoming financially sound while in college.

Step 1: Do well in school. I’m not your parents telling you that a good GPA is the goal to a good job after college, but I am saying that it’s always nice to have a strong understanding of the subjects you are taking to utilize those in the real world.

Step 2: Get a part-time job. If you are like me, you always are looking for something to do. A part-time job at night will not only occupy you when you’re not in class, but it also will keep you from going out every night and spending money. I make sure to save at least half of my paycheck each time I get paid, so that when I am on my own after college, I will sleep safe at night knowing I can pay for my rent.

Step 3: Look for a secondary/passive income. These can be anything from taking part in studies at your school to taking surveys online. College campuses are covered in flyers from the psychology department for studies where you answer a few questions and get paid $20 for a hour of your time. Now I know what you’re thinking, “$20? That’s nothing!” Although it is a small amount, that is easily 3 dinners you can spend that money on, instead of dipping into that money you made at your job. Along with that, if you don’t want to leave the house, online surveys are everywhere. These sites are free and easy to sign up for. You can easily make a quick couple of bucks from your couch taking surveys on anything from T.V. shows to Fast Food menus. However, you are going to want to read up on certain sites, to ensure that you are joining the right ones to maximize your earnings, and not waste your time talking useless surveys.

Step 4: Apply for scholarships. Although this technically isn’t money you can spend on everyday stuff, it is money that you can spend on school, saving you that money in the long run. It is always a good idea to save as much money as you can on college, because when you get out, you will be staring at a number that is at least 4-5 figures long of debt depending on where you go.

Step 5: Enjoy yourself. Now that you have a couple sources of money, you can go out and enjoy your 4 years of college. Don’t worry too much about your future finances, because if you save up while in college, you will have a good financial stepping stone for post-graduate life.

About the Author: My Name is Ben Nieds, and I am a senior at Florida State University majoring in English and Communications. When I am not studying my tail off, I am a contributing writer for surveyswonk.com. I love making money, and helping other makes money.

This guest post is contributed by Bailey Digger. She writes on the topic of web design degree. She welcomes your comments at her email id: baileydigger189(@)gmail(.)com.

The Internet has opened doors that we never even knew existed a few decades ago – today, it is easier to find a job because of the abundance of opportunities online. Job forums and portals allow both job-seekers and employers to post their resumes and jobs respectively, and it’s easy enough to find employees and employment if you offer the right salary and working conditions and possess the right qualifications respectively. However, there is a downside to this convenience, one that could ruin not just your reputation at your current job, but also your future prospects in the industry as well. What most people forget when it comes to the Internet is that there could be disastrous consequences when they don’t use it responsibly.

Today, almost everybody has an online presence – some stop with just an email address, others venture into the waters of social networks as well, and yet others open up their lives through their blogs. We give out so much information online, forgetting or not realizing that it could be used against us in various ways – identity theft, credit card fraud and a host of other scams are perpetrated on the Internet, simply because people seem to be more gullible online. To put it in a nutshell, we live in a glass bowl that offers little or no privacy at all, and unless we’re careful about the data we share online, we’re bound to be in a lot of trouble.

A survey by UK-based job site Career Builder shows that at least 53 percent of employers check Facebook and other social networks to verify the credibility and suitability of potential employees before they hire them. So if you have a Facebook profile or are active on any other social network, it pays to think twice before you put up pictures that you wouldn’t want your employers seeing or write status messages or comments that would be considered inappropriate in any workplace. You may believe it’s your private space, but when it’s the Internet, it’s as public as it gets, and unless you know how to enforce every privacy setting there is, you’re likely to land yourself in hot water.

Very often, the carefree and sometimes callous nature of youth eggs you on to extol your follies and indiscretions – you don’t realize that a random photo of you with a drink in your hand could be the reason a potential employer rejects your application; you’re not a drunkard, you just like your Saturday night fun, but then, you end up being judged by that one picture. You’re not aware that a stray comment or status message could be offensive to potential employers, especially in today’s world where you’re supposed to be racially and politically correct so as to avoid being accused of discrimination and abuse.

And so your words and actions come back to bite you in the butt when you least expect them to, and because of your past behavior, you lose out on a future job prospect. Very often, you don’t even realize that your application was rejected based on information that was gleaned from the Internet. It is because of this that you need to manage your online identity for potential employers – you don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not, just remember that your private life is private and does not need to be shared online with the world and sundry. It shows you in poor light with potential employers, and worse, it stays somewhere online forever, leaving you to worry about it popping up some time when you least expect it to.

So, you’ve finally made it out of college alive. Congratulations….Not!

As you walk out of the hallowed halls of your university, scroll in hand, remember that in order to make your mark and grab your destiny, you have to be ready to do what it takes. Get ready to get down and dirty, play rough and scratch out a few eyeballs in the process (and that’s all in a day’s work).

It’s a dog eat dog world out there (and if you haven’t figured that out by the time you graduate, your college education was for naught!)

Get ready because sometimes in the real world, you gotta play it big and crafty…think Frank Underwood from House of Cards big and crafty.

Play the game right and this could be the greatest moment of your life. You are a full-fledged money making drone/productive member of society and the sky’s the limit.

Unfortunately some little people may have to serve as your stepping stones/footstools as you climb higher and higher.
Tread lightly; this is a strange world you’ve ventured into.

Survival is key in the workplace and all is not as it seems.

You thought college was bad?

1. Internships

Freshie/fresher/freshman…whatever the hell they called it where you went to school? Yup, you’re back there again. Regardless of whether you got hazed during your orientation period, you can almost count on getting hazed while paying your dues as an intern.

These lowly paid (sometimes unpaid…Jeez!) new recruits are ripe for the picking with the sparkle and shine still in their eyes. You’ll be made to carry out ad-hoc tasks and assist with random stuff.

You see, out here in the real world, the traditional structures of business, with a giant ladder that can only be climbed by paying your dues, doing your time and learning to crawl before you can walk are alive and well.

Whether you were in a a tiny liberal arts pond or big state school pond, you are a little fish now (more like a tadpole) and you need time to gestate.

Nearly 70 percent of millennials across the globe say achieving a manager or leadership role in their careers is important, according to a global study on millennials by the INSEAD Emerging Markets Institute (EMI), the HEAD Foundation and Universum so we all know what your priorities probably are but teaching your goals will require you to develop a work ethic and keep your ego in check.

Take this time to learn, the structure of business has often been established over a very long time, learn the history of the company and the field you are in so you will be better equipped when it is your time to rise.

A big part of success is the waiting game and not about instant gratification.

Survival tip: Keep your head down and do what you’re told but establish clear lines of command and every once in awhile (just like lockdown), you have to bust some a$$ if some guy gets a little too out of line. Be nice to everyone but don’t let them push you around

Your motto: It’s better to be respected than liked

2. No heart

The workplace has a number of elements: your boss, your colleagues and oh yeah, your job.

It’s easy to get lost in the muck of people issues that lie just beneath the surface, festering like moss, everywhere in the workplace.

At the outset let’s get one thing straight, leave your emotions at the door as best as you can. This is war! And you have to be a heartless ba$tard and fight with your head not your heart if you are to survive (backstabbing is the norm here, as you shall soon see).

Therefore, do not engage in any form of workplace romance.
Statistically, the majority of relationships you start will not end in marriage, so you have to ask yourself whether you want to see a piece of (possibly angry baggage) every day at work if (or when) you break up.

Survival tip: Be emotionally distant

Your motto: Don’t $hit where you eat

3. Divide and conquer

What, you thought the fraternities, sororities, cliques and clans ended at college?

While the World Wars are waged in the boardrooms, uprisings are plotted around the water fountain/coffee machine, that town square of the corporate prison system.

The favor bank can often be the only bank that matters but even that can only get you so far…

Remember for all the outward civilities of the daily grind, it is the law of the jungle that reigns supreme.

Don’t even attempt to penetrate a well established clique. Instead, spot them and get to know each person individually.Think, ‘divide and conquer’.

Remember the age old adage, keep your friends close but your enemies closer?

Don’t get involved in petty politics, rivalries or fire fights, don’t add coworkers to your social networks and above all, do not share personal details of any kind at work, you have bigger fish to fry.

When it comes to co-workers, you have to play them like a finely tuned instrument. Never lower their morale.

Survival tip: People are pieces of a puzzle

Your motto: Divide and conquer

4. Prove yourself

This one is tricky. No one likes a ‘try hard’ but you can engineer opportunities to show your capabilities. Downsizing (or rightsizing) exercises, mergers, regime change, takeovers and even appraisals all present opportunities to expand your territory/circle and make your move to that coveted position.

Tread a delicate balance between getting noticed and being invisible. It’s good to take initiative but you have to take steps to make yourself indispensable as well.

That is how you gain bargaining power which will enable you to ascend up the ladder in no time.

Survival tip: Step up but do it wisely

Your motto: Slowly become indispensable

5. Exit strategy

Eugene O’Neil said “contentment is a warm sty, for the eaters and the sleepers.”

Think strategically and always be plotting. Maneuver yourself towards career movement (either externally or internally).

This part is very much like chess, requiring you to go through a number of what-if scenarios.

Above all, remember that (especially if this is your first job), this is just the beginning and all you are doing is building a runway.

Always be prepared for your next move. Be prepared to even leave the company if things get too hot.

Gather all the resume fodder you can get and partake in any new experiences you can find. Speak publicly, read voraciously, take online courses or home tuition to better yourself.

Your reward may not even be in this organization but stay strong and you’ll get there…

Survival tip: Stay sharp

Your motto: This is just the beginning

About the Author: Geraldine is an education technology writer, currently serving on the content team at Yodaa, a home tuition Singapore ed-tech startup. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business and Literary Studies. In her free time, she researches on parenting issues, education tips and technological trends.

This is a guest post by SpyTown.com. SpyTown’s Security Camera Systems make you feel safe knowing you’re armed with the camera equipment that will keep you as secure as possible!

College is one of the few times in your life when you’ll be surrounded with a large group of people all around your same age, in a similar life situation, and facing the same stresses and triumphs. It’s no wonder why college is a great time to embrace the social aspect of college and go on a few dates here and there, with an emphasis on dating within your comfort zone, and always feeling safe with your date. We’re not your parents, and we’re not here to preach to you, but all of us at SpyTown.com Home Security Cameras know a thing or two about safety and security, and we want your college days to be only safe, happy, and memorable!

Meet Up.

It’s always nice to have a date pick you up, but for the first and second dates where you’re just getting to know him, ask him to meet you for your date. This way, you’ll have your own car in case you need to make an early exit, or just simply don’t feel comfortable with your date. There’s no reason to feel “bad” if you aren’t comfortable – safety should always be your first concern, and your instincts are usually right on!

Keep It Public.

So that guy in your English class has finally asked you out, and after two months of sitting behind him every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you feel you know him pretty well. Still, it’s important to make those first few dates public to keep your comfort level up and feel safe knowing that you’re in the public eye. Go to a local coffee shop, restaurant, movie theater, museum, college sporting event, or local concert. This helps you feel secure, and allows you to get to know the other person in an environment with multiple stimulations, so you’ll (hopefully!) never be at a loss of words.

Spill The Details.

You might not want to tell your friends every detail of your dates, but you should definitely tell them where you’re headed. If he surprises you with a new location, send at least one friend a quick, discreet text message to let them know where you are. Taking a moment to keep them informed not only increases your connection with them, but also makes sure people you care about are aware of your
location. You can then simply enjoy your date and have fun!

Most college dates go off without too much of a hitch, but taking a few safety precautions keeps you in control of your own safety and helps prevent the unthinkable from happening. If you’re not comfortable with your date, make a polite exit – there’s nothing wrong with suddenly having a stomach ache!

Commentary by Cr1TiKaL.

[Thanks Menglu!]

The games are featured in this order:

• Pong
• Tetris
• Mortal Kombat
• Pokemon
• Zelda
• Super Mario

[Thanks to Ning for sending us the video.]

Leon Harris is a writer for Pick Up Artist where you can find great tips and advice on dating.

Working the love angle is part and parcel of going to college. You’re finally free of the many restrictions imposed by the parental units and you can spend the night with whomever you please, strike up a relationship with someone your folks would never approve of, or date any hottie that walks by your door. It is a time of experimentation in so many ways, and finding out whom and what you like by swimming in the dating pool often is pretty much par for the course. But what if you fall, and fall hard, for someone who lives in your dorm? Is it a good idea to pursue it, knowing that it most likely isn’t fated to last (and you’ll have to face that person for the rest of the year at the very least)? Should you just throw caution to the wind and give it a go, or hold back and risk losing out on what could be the love of your life?

Many people live by the mantra “it’s better to regret the things you do than the things you don’t do”. This is well and good for people who don’t mind getting their heart broken and then living with the repercussions. You may not know it yet, but most companies prohibit (or at least frown on) interoffice dating. Can you guess why? It’s because people who date and don’t stay together rarely want to see each other afterwards. Usually one party is spurned by the other and this inequality of emotions can lead to tension and other complications if the two are in forced proximity. In short, don’t mess your nest.

This sentiment also applies to dating people in proximity to your home, which your dorm room is for the next several months. Think about passing this person in the hall or bumping into them constantly after they have broken up with you (or you have unceremoniously dumped them). Is that really something you want to deal with? Will you end up learning their schedule just so you can avoid them? Will you be jealous when you see them with other dates after you? These are all valid concerns that should be addressed before you hop in the sack with your would-be BF or GF from down the hall.

On the other hand, you should never turn down a shot at love. If you’ve had the hots for this person for awhile, they seem to like you as well, and there is a fair amount of chemistry and compatibility (all good indicators that a few dates could blossom into a more long-term situation), then perhaps you should take the plunge. After all, you could always move to another floor (or dorm) if it doesn’t work out the way you hope. The truth is, you need to make an assessment on a case by case basis. If it feels right, go for it. If you harbor a lot of nagging doubts that you can’t seem to dispel (and your friends hate them), then it’s probably best to move onto Mr. (or Mrs.) Right and leave Mr. Right Now in the room down the hall.

This guest post is by GreekForMe. The friendly GreekForMe.com team is made up of Greeks, so they know a thing a two about what juggling Greek life and college life is like. You can express your Greek pride with Greek merchandise by visiting GreekForMe.com.

Joining a fraternity or sorority and dedicating yourself to being an active member of that Greek organization requires commitment and quite a bit of space on your college calendar. After all, you became a Greek so that you can be a part of the great brotherhood and sisterhood of that organization, and you want to spend as much time as possible with your fellow brothers and sisters and take part in all the activities that your organization plans. There’s a lot more to being a Greek than simply wearing your letters on Greek Hoodies, and you of course want to also take part in all the usual college experience has to offer – going to your classes and trying your best, taking part in academic clubs and clubs that reflect your interests, spending time with friends, and also being a member of college-level and intramural athletics.

But how exactly do you fit a college life and Greek life into your busy college schedule?!

1. Keep A Calendar. Organization doesn’t exactly sound like too much fun, but keeping a calendar, such as an online Google Calendar, and committing to updating it, goes a long way in making your college and Greek life manageable. Plan the month in advance – schedule when your athletic practices are, when clubs or extracurricular activities are meeting, as well as Greek events and planning meetings. Be sure to slot in study time each day, as well as time to relax with your Greek and non-Greek friends, and well, time just for you! It may seem silly to schedule your days out in such detail, but you’ll instantly feel more relaxed and organized knowing that you are in control of your schedule.

2. Join A Fraternity Or Sorority That Is Most Like You. Does your campus have multiple Greek organizations? Carefully choose the one that is right for you. If academic excellence is a major priority for you, look for an organization that also embodies this goal. Community service? There’s a Greek organization for that. This way, you’ll be able to embrace Greek life while also enjoying the everyday activities that you enjoy.

3. Be You. You’re so excited to be a part of a fraternity or sorority, but remember to also retain your own interests and hobbies. If you love to take violin lessons every Thursday night or tutor English 101 students on Saturday mornings, continue to do so! The organization chose you – it’s your unique personality and interests they want to get to know. By remaining true to your personality, you’re showing that you have a great personality inside and outside of Greek life, helping you feel more balanced and like yourself.

Balancing Greek life and a normal college life is possible. Commit yourself to keeping a calendar and scheduling your activities appropriately, join a fraternity or sorority that is right for you, and always be yourself. Above all, have fun – college only lasts four years, so enjoy the ride!

[Thanks Ning]

Step 1. Avoid Eye Contact

Never look a ninja directly in the eyes. You will become temporarily blinded. The best way to avoid eye contact while still winning the fight is to blindfold yourself. This way you will not be tempted to look into those dark, mysterious eyes of pure evil.

Step 2. Hidden Weapons

If you ever plan on surviving a ninja attack, you must be ready at all times of the day. You will need to hide katanas in the shower, throwing stars under your bed, guns inside your hemp protein boxes. You get the idea. You must always have at least two weapons within arms’ reach in case one gets compromised.

Step 3. Body Guards

Hiring your own personal body guards is a great way to distract ninjas. Ninjas have a need to kill and will be easily distracted by body guards you have hired to project you. While the ninjas are slashing their swords through you body guard, you should already be out the door. This brings me to my last point:

Step 3. When All Else Fails: Run For Your Life!

Most people will be unable to defeat a ninja in true hand-to-hand combat. If you do not have an advantage, you must run for your life. All ninjas will either be faster than you or have the ability to teleport. Also, do not hide in dark places because ninjas can see perfectly in the dark.

Good luck!

Share your own tips on how you managed to escape a ninja attack in the comments below. Others may benefit.