Undeclared

Remember how depressed you were when Judd Apatow’s hilarious take on a gang of high school and middle school students in the 1980s (Freaks and Geeks) got cancelled after just one glorious season? Sadly, the exact same thing happened with his hilarious take on college life. According to Apatow, the only problem was that the show portrayed college life more or less truthfully, with sex, drugs, and drinking – a tough sell for network TV, but it sure made for one great show.

Felicity

This show was like Carrie Bradshaw before Sex in the City. The titular character talked to a friend by way of taped letters as a format for relating the events that were unfolding in her life (much like Bradshaw wrote columns about her personal life for her readers). Viewers got sucked into relationships, haircuts, and the vast uncertainty facing a group of college students as they tried to make heads or tails of love, life, and the prospect of a lifelong career choice. In short, it was just about as dramatic as actual college existence; with weird roommates, love triangles, and changing majors; which made it a perfect introduction for many teens just heading off to college themselves.

Greek

A lot of college students are not only excited about being away from home for the first time, but also about pledging a fraternity or sorority. In ABC Family’s take on the college sitcom, this is exactly the type of student we’ll see. You might not think this material sounds like a good fit for the family-friendly network that produced a show like squeaky-clean 7th Heaven, but when you consider that their current line-up includes more risqué fare like Pretty Little Liars and The Secret Life of the American Teenager (it’s no 16 and Pregnant, but it’s a big step for ABC Family), it makes more sense. And the network is certainly no stranger to melodrama, which this show embraces in spades. Also included, however, are gay-themed storylines, a daring and well-timed touch for the otherwise homogenous network.

Community

This has been described as the smartest, funniest show on the air right now, and anyone who has seen it would be hard-pressed to disagree. It’s 100% worth it for Joel McHale alone (although Chevy Chase and the rest of the cast are equally amazing). You’ll laugh out loud at some of the absolutely ludicrous stories, but overall, the fantastic acting and totally relatable characters will keep you coming back for more.

A Different World

This spinoff of the Cosby Show featured oldest daughter Denise (Lisa Bonet) heading off to college. Of course, she didn’t stay with the show (nor did costar Marisa Tomei), but the show still ran for six seasons. Although the laugh-track was a bit intrusive, the show managed to tackle some serious subject matter that is still relevant today (unlike the giant shoulder-pads and oversized blazers).

What is your favourite college-themed TV show?

This guest post was written by Leon Harris, a College Being contributor.

It’s a new day… You’re heading to college, high school and your hometown fading into the background. Women, classes, dorms, partying, and hijinks ensuing. You have a lot on your plate, from the lack of parents for the first time in your life to the course load you’ve decided to take.

This is it. This is the beginning of a new life. A new world opening up for you. This is going to be the greatest six years of your life – We’ll round it up to seven or eight. And then you get there…

The Reality

Did I commit a heinous crime? Is this my punishment? Your dorm room looks like a stand-in setting for the television series Prison Break. You can literally hold your hands out and touch both walls.

Is that a closet? I can probably fit about three shirts and one pair of pants in… That’s all I’m getting in.

There’s an explosion in the hallway – “Ah!” The Mayans were right – No, it’s your new neighbors cranking up the sound system and playing indoor, hallway football. A few others play online video gaming without their headsets, the bullets reverberating off your wall right about the exact spot you will be placing your head down on your pillow to rest.

There won’t be any rest. So things are a little different. Okay, a lot different.

But at least your roommate looks nice. Come to find out, he likes to wake up at five in the morning and type on his keyboard so loud you think the world really is ending. He is anti-social, he likes solitude, he’s not a big talker, and at certain points in the day (after anything containing lactose) he’s a little bit smelly.

As you sit amidst the imaginary bullets bouncing off you walls, the real threat of a 6’-4” linebacker blasting through your door for a touchdown celebration, and the uncertainty revolving around your roommate, you come to think… Should I have handled this whole dorm thing slash roommate situation better? Is there anything else I could’ve done?

What you Should’ve/Could’ve/Would’ve Done

While some colleges – very few actually – will let you choose your own roommate, most will offer up a system by which you will be paired with a like-minded individual.

So the question becomes “Do I want to try and find a friend from home – someone I know – to room with at college or am I going to bite the bullet and let the University decide on a random person for me to shack up with?” What are the pros and cons of each of these routes you could take?

Colleges will use different criteria in which to match two people to a room. Questions on smoking, cleanliness, and what time you go to sleep are but a few of the questions asked. If you were trying to be cool when you were filling out the questionnaire, you might be roomed with a Charlie Sheen look-a-like. If you were being smart and giving the answers you thought people wanted to hear, you might find yourself with an Al Gore type sleeping next to you. It is a random matching, but one that tries to find common likes and dislikes between new roommates, depending on your truthful answers to the questions.

Friend or Stranger..?

At the most basic level of a “con” for the random dorm mate… You don’t know them as well as you would a friend or someone you’ve known since elementary school. There isn’t trust there and this opens up other opportunities – that while small – are things to think about both in dorm life and beyond.

An increasing aspect of crime on campus relates to a spike in identity theft. An Impulse Research Study for Chubb Group Insurance found that 49 percent of college students receive frequent applications for credit and debit cards, and that 30 percent of those students discard those applications – Without tearing them up, thus leaving their personal information for thieves to easily access. To make a bad situation even worse, those same students – 30 percent of them – admitted to not checking their credit or debit accounts much, if at all.

Now I’m not saying your roommate is going to clean out your account or steal your identity – Although if he comes in looking like you, trying to mimic your movements, and asking about how you sign your name, take an immediate interest in his actions.

The identity theft is not meant to be a scare tactic. But it is meant to illustrate a point of living with a person whom you have just met. You don’t really know them. I guess the same can be said about Fred, your buddy from Kindergarten – That we really don’t know a person – But you know Fred a whole lot better than James, who you just met, and who may or may not be a serial killer. Hint: He is. The point is that with everything else going on in the nascent stages of your college career – Classes, girls/boys, parties, money issues, dorm life, etc. – maybe it’s better if the one constant in your life is a person that you can trust, that will be there for you if the going gets rough.

Maybe a Stranger is Not So Bad After All..?

But, it seems, the cons of a stranger as your roommate can actually end up being pros in certain instances. Will I have anything in common with him or her? Will we get along? Are we going to hang out outside of the dorm? All these questions are swirling around your head as you enter into college dorm life.

University of Michigan researchers found that things aren’t all bad with random roommates. 300 college freshmen were studied in an attempt to ascertain whether not knowing your new roommate was actually such a bad thing. In the first week, 32 percent of the students admitted to feeling lonely almost all the time. By week ten, with their new roommate by their side, only 17 percent said they were still lonely. The roomies got to know one another, came to an understanding of this new life they were sharing, and for the most part came to like the other.

It was a first chance at growth… Taking something scary – a new environment and roommate – and turning it into a positive. And isn’t that what college is all about when you get down to it..? Learning and growing as a person as you navigate the intricacies of life – The new roommate and living arrangements are just a first step in the whole process.

Friend Cons (And There are actually Quite a Few)

Cons with a person you know may include you find you two aren’t in fact compatible, you have a blow out, and your friendship that begun in Kindergarten is over faster than “Terriers” or “Lights Out” or any TV program starring Christian Slater. It may sound good to have that friend as your roommate – you know him or her – you can trust them… There is a comfort level. But, in many instances – for a whole variety of reasons – it may actually be better to jump into a situation with a stranger head first. You’ll learn more about yourself, you’ll realize you can handle (difficult) situations, and you may actually come to gain a new friend from the whole experience. College is about growing as a person, learning your limits, and (slowly, painfully) becoming an adult. You never know quite what will happen, but that’s part of the fun (terror) of it all.

Ending Thoughts

As with anything you do in life, there will be pluses and minuses no matter what the situation. In the end, it may be up to you and what you can control that helps to dictate whether the relationship – in both random instances and friend relations – will succeed. It’s college. Have fun. Be safe. Try new things. And most importantly, have a damn good time… Because after college, real life sets in – And as you know, not too many people are fans of that. So have fun while you can and live a little… ‘Cause in the end, that’s what college is all about.

Stephanie is a social media advocate at CreditDonkey. She contributes to CreditDonkey’s student credit card blog. She remembers her undergraduate days fondly – her roommate was her wing woman, every Thursday night until graduation.

Sadly, it’s time to get a job. But with class schedules that are all over the map, it can be difficult to nail down a schedule for work (why, oh why, do they always put lectures in the morning and labs in the afternoon instead of placing one right after the other?). Often, a part-time job is the only option, and that usually means working nights and weekends at some minimum wage slop.

Luckily, the modern college student, connected to the internet and savvy in the ways of communication technology, may have a lot more to offer than an upgrade to large fries and a drink. Here are a few part-time jobs that every student will want to get:

Freelance writer

You never thought learning the five-paragraph essay would pay off, but these days you can make up to $15 per article writing content for grind-house blogs like About.com or The Examiner (although rates for the latter vary based on page views and advertising dollars, so you could make more, or less). But if you’re a good writer, and especially if you are interested in technical or industry-related writing, you can sign up with freelance sites like ODesk and Elance to apply for jobs, get reviewed, and start making a name for yourself from the comfort of your dorm room.

Freelance graphic artist

This is virtually the same as freelance writing. If you have knowledge of common graphics programs and you are building a portfolio through class assignments, you can try to get work online through freelance sites (the same ones listed above). You may not be able to charge much at first, but you’ll your build your book or demo reel and you can start charging more as people become interested in your work.

Tutoring

While you can certainly get a job doing this through the campus (probably for minimum wage), you should think about signing on with an organization like The Princeton Review (which prepares high-school students for college entrance exams like the SATs, PSATs, and so on) or Sylvan Learning Center, which tutors younger students in a variety of subjects. You could even tutor K-12 students in-home by advertising with local schools, or help college students on your own campus to write essays, learn algebra, or discover the mysteries of science with tutoring sessions at the library or other public study centers on campus. Best of all, you can set your own hours.

Receptionist

A surprising number of students cite this type of job as ideal because it allows them to work a short shift (often switching with another part-time employee halfway through the day), earn decent pay for minimal responsibility (directing calls and incoming traffic), and even get some studying done during down time. Plus, it’s better than food service.

Bartender

This job is not glamorous, especially when you’re getting harassed by drunks. But it is the fallback for college students everywhere because it will allow you to make all your classes (since you’ll likely work nights and weekends) and the tips can be a godsend when you don’t have two nickels to rub together between paychecks. BTW – way better tips can be had at bars because people get careless with their money when they’re drunk. So if you’re going into the service industry, this is definitely the way to make a fast buck.

Leon Harris writes for Go College where you can find helpful information on Wells Fargo student loans and student grants by subject.

Going off to college provides young adults with the opportunity to try many new things that would probably be considered dangerous or stupid by their parents (even though they did exactly the same things when they were in college).

While your days are no doubt spent fueling your repository of knowledge within the vaunted halls of learning, any time not devoted to study is more likely spent filling your gullet with alcohol at a frat party. And now that you’re of age (and happily removed from the clutches of your over-protective parents) you can also buy cigarettes, stay out all night, and participate in that most adult of games: gambling. With the advent of online poker, you can even do it from the relative comfort of your dorm room. But how can you tell when your fun has turned into an addiction? And what can you do to stop it?

The first thing to be aware of is the warning signs to watch for if you think you’ve gone beyond the hobby stage with your gambling and wandered into more dangerous waters. So just for starters, you should monitor you money situation. College students are notoriously shy of funds; what with tuition, books, and food to worry about, you rarely have cash on hand for extras. So if you find that you’re putting every last dime into your online poker account, spending your leftover lunch money on lottery tickets, and taking pricy cash advances on your credit card to go to the casino every weekend, it’s a pretty good bet (no pun intended) that you’ve strayed into addiction territory.

You may also notice other, less quantifiable changes, such as anxiety, depression, or mood swings when you are unable to play; neglecting your studies or ditching class; lying to friends and family about the frequency of your gambling or how much you spend; avoiding your friends or engaging less in other activities that you used to enjoy; and of course, changes in health due to stress, insomnia, and other common side effects of addiction.

So what should you do if you find yourself (or someone else) embroiled in an addiction to gambling? The first step, as with all forms of addiction, is to admit that you have a problem. Most college students will be tempted to utter excuses like, “I can quit any time I want – I just don’t want to.” Well, it’s time to put that theory to the test. Set yourself a reasonable amount of time to stay away from any and all types of gambling (a semester, for example) and see how it goes. If you go the whole time without a second thought for gambling, you probably aren’t an addict. If you make it, but just by the skin of your teeth, or if you can’t get to the end of your time limit without hitting the tables or logging in to your online account, then it’s time to admit you have a problem.

Once you have taken this crucial first step, you need to seek some outside help, such as gamblers anonymous. It is very unlikely that you can kick the habit on your own; if anyone could do it, support groups wouldn’t exist. Like all addictions, it can be beat before it ruins your life (which has barely begun, by the way). But if you neglect to take the steps necessary to face and overcome your gambling addiction, don’t be surprised if you find yourself facing financial ruin before you even get your diploma.

Leon Harris writes for Online Poker, one of the best US poker sites on the web today.

While many young adults learn to effectively cope with their diabetes, the transition to college can make managing this disease more difficult. Many young adults are living away from home for the first time, leaving them to deal with their disease, without the help and support of their parents. Fortunately, when following a few simple tips, patients with type 1 diabetes can seamlessly make the transition to college life, without sacrificing their health.

Effectively Manage Type I Diabetes in College

While adjusting to college life can be difficult at first, it is important to maintain your daily routine as much as possible. If you have learned to manage your disease through regular exercise, healthy dietary choices, and insulin replacement therapy, then it is important to remain committed to your management plan.

The first thing that diabetic college students should do is to schedule a time to exercise that fits into their class schedule. Before classes begin, find where the school gym or recreational center is located in relation to your classes and determine a time slot that you can commit to exercise. Treating your exercise routine as an important part of your schedule, rather than an optional activity, will help you continue your fitness routine.

It is also important for students to maintain a healthy diet. While college cafeterias are often filled with pizza, ice cream, and other junk foods, most cafeterias also offer healthy options. For tips to help you choose what cafeteria foods to enjoy, browse the American Diabetes Association’s suggestions on dietary choices.

Things to Avoid While Managing Type I Diabetes

When many young adults think of college, they think of parties without parental supervision. While it may be difficult for young adults to avoid alcohol at college parties, it is important for students with type 1 diabetes to understand the effect that alcohol can have on their health. Alcohol can have a serious affect on a diabetic’s blood sugar and must be consumed responsibly, while keeping up with insulin replacement therapy and paying close attention to how you feel. For information on how to safely consume alcohol with type 1 diabetes, visit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International’s list of suggestions.

The transition to college life is difficult for every student. While having type 1 diabetes may make this transition a bit more difficult, students can successfully enjoy their college experience when making the effort to take care of themselves, and their bodies.

Louise Baker ranks online programs for Zen College Life. She most recently wrote about getting an online criminal justice degree.

How it Works

With SplitTheRent.org, you don’t have to worry about deciding who pays what. It will do all of the calculations for you. The calculator makes adjustments based on other factors of the room besides size. For example, if room #1 is small but has an awesome window and huge closet, then that roommate will pay more than the person in room #2 which is also small, but has no windows and a normal sized closet.

Entering Room Details

The calculator is very easy to follow and it should only take a few minutes to get your results. You’ll start by entering your total rent and then selecting the number of bedrooms in your place. Once you select the number of bedrooms you have, more options will appear below that. This is where you can go into more details about each room.

You’ll need to select the size of each room; sizes go from tiny all the way to enormous. You can then select the size of the windows and closet for each room. You can go as far as to name each room or just leave the default (room #1, room #2, etc). Lastly, it asks questions about private bathrooms, sound isolation, awkward layouts and doors. As you can see, the details are very specific in order to make proper adjustments to the rent prices.

Lastly it asks for the the size of your common area. This includes the living room, kitchen, bathrooms and dining room (anything outside of the bedrooms).

Final Result

The final result will show you the suggested amount of rent for each room, down the penny. If you need to make any adjustments, you can always recalculate. The calculator is very accurate and will definitely save you a lot of time and hassle; you won’t have to worry about arguing over rent with roommates anymore. All that’s left is to agree on the rent prices with your roommates and call it a day.

Lior is a student at the MA Israel political science studies program in tel aviv university and is also a blogger and a consultant.

Let’s face it: getting into the hottest clubs near campus can present a problem for even the most presentable of college students. Dressing to the nines, bringing a bushel of babes, and throwing around a little cash may help to get you in the door, but for the average college student on a budget, these time-honored tricks simply might not be an option.

The idea here is not to impress with your wallet, but to use your collegiate wit and wisdom to worm your way onto the guest list (hopefully with less alliteration than featured in that last sentence).

So if you’re looking to party it up at some city hotspots without having to produce a wad of Jacksons to jump the line, here are a few tips that could help to get your name on the guest list:

1. Bring girls…lots of them. Everybody knows that eye-candy is a big part of the set dressing for any club. So loading up your entourage with lovely ladies is a great way to bypass the line of unfortunate souls waiting for entry. Of course, this scenario will play out a lot better if you look money, so dress for the occasion and have your female companions do the same.

2. Frequent the same clubs. You may have to wait in line the first few times, but if you’re reasonably nice to look at, willing to pay the entrance fee, and you work to endear yourself to the staff (tip well, my friend, tip well), then you should have no problem eventually getting your name on the guest list and making your way swiftly through the velvet rope each time you visit your club of choice.

3. Call the promoter. Most promoters are keen to get a hip, young crowd into their club, especially if there’s money to be made. College kids are not necessarily known to have tons of money (although many are living on daddy’s dime), but they are prone to partying and imbibing lots of alcohol. Make sure everyone in your group is old enough to gain entrance and buy the bubbly (even stellar fake IDs won’t do the trick at most clubs these days), and let the promoter know that you’ll be bringing in plenty of business. This should be enough to secure placement on the guest list.

4. Get to know the bouncer. Ingratiating yourself to the man at the door is never a bad idea; he may as well be Saint Peter at the pearly gates, considering he has the power to allow you access or utterly deny you entry. So be nice, make him laugh, and give him a good tip. If he likes you, he can wave you in and even offer entry free of charge (and get your name on the guest list for next time).

5. Call ahead. Believe it or not, it could be as simple as calling ahead of time to get your name on the list. Not all clubs embrace this policy; some are aimed at exclusivity. But you might be surprised how far you can get with one easy phone call. Give it try; it couldn’t hurt.

Leon Harris writes for The Guestlist Club where you can find info on the hottest club in London, China White.

[Thanks Shigang!]

The above video was the winner for the America’s Smartest Slacker contest. Nice job everyone who entered!