So, I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you: there’s really only about a month left before summer vacation. Whether you’re super excited because you’ve got an exciting break ahead of you, or totally bummed because you’re going to miss your BFFs, one thing is certain — you need to ring out the semester properly with all your favorite friends! Lucky for you, the ladies of CollegeCandy have quite a bit of experience throwing bashes to remember (or forget, depending on how you look at it).

ReadyU, an awesome resource to help you conquer all those moments the classroom doesn’t quite prepare you for, offers some great tips for guys and gals on everything from preparing your feet for the summer season ahead to the art of male yoga. Think of ReadyU as an important tool to prepare for all those daily life conundrums a cap and gown can’t – things like asking out that cute guy who lives across the hall, or making sure your pad is spic and span when hosting that girl in your history class at a party. You know, the things you really care about, but that school administrators might find less educational.

As you gear up for the end of the semester, we wanted to offer you some exclusive advice on how to be the “hostess with the mostess” for your next get together. Check out our DIY party tips below that are sure to dazzle all your guests!

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Now that we’ve shown you some amazing and unique ways to close off another fabulous year, we want to make sure you have all the springtime essentials to complete the semester, so we are giving away prize packs (valued at $200 – that’s like gold to us college kids) with all the products you need to make it through the season. One lucky reader will win by entering in the comments below. Tell us what you think makes a party great for a chance to win!

It’s safe to say that costume and theme parties are one of the biggest parts of college life. After all, college is one of the few times in life where you can get away with dressing in crazy costumes, and convincing your friends to do the same, on a regular basis. I mean, how often do your parents talk about going to an ABC party?

If you think you’re had/been to every kind of themed costume party there is, think again. Click here to see the list of the top ten best college dress-up party themes.

PARTY FOUL!

Don’t act like you haven’t heard it before. According to Urban Dictionary, it’s “something socially unacceptable done in a social gathering.” For those of us who have been in the presence of a party foul or may have accidentally committed one ourselves, we know that they’re much more than that.

Thanks to digital cameras, your unfortunate lack of judgment will probably be plastered all over the Internet before you even have the chance to pull your head out of the toilet the next morning. But no matter how bad things get for you, just thank your lucky stars that you’ve never committed any of these…

You haven’t, right?

Tossing Your Cookies. This is quite possibly the most commonly seen party foul. If you really have to throw up, try making it to the bathroom. When your pre-drinking meal ends up on a fellow partier or in a potted plant— major party foul.

Bed Hog. “Getting jiggy with it” is not a party foul itself, but when you’re doing whatever you do in someone else’s bed— not so cool. Especially if you don’t know whose bed it is. Extra bonus points if you wake up next to the biggest creep at the party. He may have looked like Rupert Grint last night, but this morning your Harry Potter hottie looks a lot like a steroid-induced Carrot Top. Yummy.

Dancing Queen. The next time you get the urge to clear the dance floor and whip your hair back and forth, don’t. Only one person on the planet can actually look cute flinging their head around like a crazy person and that’s Miss Willow Smith herself. Anyone else who feels like attempting this dance move should resort to doing so in the privacy of their own home…doors locked, curtains closed.

The Hot Mess. You might have your way with the fellas sober, but if you’ve been pounding down the spiked punch all night you may want to back off a little. When you start hitting on every guy at the party with fake eyelashes dangling off your face and your breath reeking of the soggy chips you just found on the floor, it’s time to call it quits for the night.

American Idol. So, you think your voice is God’s gift to the world? Well once your favorite song comes on and you start belting out the lyrics to “The Climb” at top of your lungs, you’ll have people running for the door. Stay off the furniture, it’s not a stage. And when your audience is throwing beer cans at you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Somebody’s Trippin’. Blame it on the a-a-alcohol all you want, but no one is going to care why you just belly-flopped into the middle of the floor. Whatever the reason, it was hilarious and certainly party foul-worthy. And possibly a candidate for America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Duel it Out. There’s nothing like watching fights get broken out over the most ridiculous things. Girls pull each other’s hair, guys punch walls— it’s lots of fun. Usually the fights conclude with the girls “hugging it out” and apologizing for hitting on each other’s boyfriends and the guys making up for lost drinking time by doing multiple keg stands.

In the end, a party isn’t a party without a few drunken messes stumbling around, breaking things and wondering why they’re never invited back again. No one wants to be “that girl,” but for the sake of everyone’s entertainment, we might as well get those referee’s whistles blowin’.

[This story was originally posted by Tehrene - University of Northern Iowa]

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A presentation by the American Psychological Association on college drinking recently released some statistics that may make you spit our your beer: 1. College students intend to drink to get drunk, and 2. College students use alcohol as an excuse for hooking up. Yeah. When I said you were going to spit out your beer, I meant because you’d be laughing with me.

If you ask any frat boy at a party he’d probably have told you these shocking findings, while saving money on the research. He might also then go and give one of his bros a big hug, saying “I love you man,” behaviour if questioned on, he would likely blame on the alcohol. Because, as Jamie Foxx has figured out, it’s pretty easy to blame it on the alcohol. Which college students inevitably do. So, in case the American Psychological Association wants to save some money next time, here’s eight more things college students blame on the alcohol.

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You know that feeling in your gut when you read about your friend’s amazing night? Well you obviously aren’t alone, researchers have even coined a term for it, FOMO, the fear of missing out. It’s that annoying nagging feeling that tells you what you are doing isn’t fun enough, that you need to be doing whatever it is that your 5 class friends just tweeted about.

FOMO has been around for years, but due to the increase in social media it’s become worse. Not only are you seeing those brag-tastic status updates, but then you are putting them up, which makes someone else put another one up…and the vicious cycle continues. Although the instantaneous connection to friends all over the world is pretty great, I could totally deal with missing out on FOMO.

So in order to help combat that utterly horrible feeling, I’ve put together a little “what to do if” guide to help you take back your days/nights:

What to do if you get a text about an amazing party while you are studying: First off, in my 3 (basically 4) years of college I’ve learned one major thing with cell phones and studying…they do not go together. So unless you are waiting on a really important text (like the well-being of a loved one, not a text from the boy you like), then turn off your phone! If you did leave it on, and are feeling a little FOMOish, respond back with “Let me know about the next one.” This way you can stick to your study sesh knowing you’ll go out next time. And let’s be real, it will probably be the next night.

What to do if you see a status that makes your weekend look like crap: “OMG the party was so awesome!! You should’ve been there.” It’s at that point my gut starts sinking and I start regretting my weekend spent with Meg Ryan and Betty Crocker. The key to defeating it is to rationalize, you didn’t go out for a reason, right? You were tired, didn’t want to be near people, etc. And if you had gone out while feeling like that chances are you wouldn’t have had the super time you are imagining. Oh and if someone is constantly bragging about their fab life, hide their updates. You’ll thank me later.

What to do if you are getting updates of what friends are doing while you are sitting on your couch: It’s Wednesday night and you opted for Modern Family and Cougar Town, while 10 people you follow and 20 facebook friends opted for the new bar opening down the street. Not only do you have to deal with the annoying noises the notifications make, but that sinking feeling you made the wrong choice is back again. Turn off your notifications, I repeat, if you are staying home alone just turn them off. I’ll repeat what I’ve already said: You made this choice for a reason, you needed some quality time with a family that’s more dysfunctional than yours, and it’s okay to stay in!

What to do if the party invite you rejected ended up being better than the bar you opted for: Obviously if someone is taking pictures at a party, for the most part, it will seem like a better time. I mean why wouldn’t someone document a good time! But, you’re forgetting it’s college — all we do is take pictures and make bad decisions. Just because the bar wasn’t as packed as the party doesn’t mean you didn’t have fun, and just because the party seems fun in the pictures does not mean you would’ve had fun there.

Regardless of the situation, just remember why you made your decision in the first place, and that no one else has to know what you did. So if you are feeling super fomo-ey than just post an obnoxious update, i.e. “Last night was amazing! Can’t wait to see Zac E again!!” …They don’t need to know you saw him in a movie, and plan on watching another one tonight.

So gather round and listen up as I go through the essential ingredients to have the ultimate (and by ultimate, I mean typical) frat party. (Get more Greek life right here!)

1. Jungle juice in bright, possibly neon, colors. Every great party has a Gatorade cooler filled with Everclear,  a package of Kool-Aid,  and some mystery brew. Ladies beware, this concoction will be high in sugar (to mask the alcohol), and high in regret potential. It will also stain the sh*t out of your favorite dress and turn even the quietest of girls into life (or mess) of the party. Get a few recipes right here.

2. Frat stars in polos/jerseys with pit stains a mile long. Basement parties get really super sweaty from the body heat of 100 people jammed into one room, grinding one another into the wall. So guys in hats and polos dripping in sweat is a frat party necessity. By the end of the night, it might even be sexy.

3. Pledges at the door. They’re checking names and chain smoking and trying so hard to look cool. Throw them a bone and act like you actually care if you’re on their little list.

4. Beer pong. No matter how soon you arrive, there’s a list a mile long to get on the table. And by the time your name is finally called, you’re already upstairs making out with the cute guy from your stats class. Or you’re home, changing out of your jungle-juice-stained dress.

5. The best playlist ever. If there’s something we can give frat boys credit for, it’s music. Someone will have the best mash-up mix that you’ve never heard before (“OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS SONG!!”)…and sometimes, if you’re lucky, even a live DJ. And a smoke machine.

6. Black lights. Don’t wear a white bra, okay?

7. A homemade bar stocked with the finest of bottom shelf liquor. Don’t scrounge around for a clean Solo cup, because they’re aren’t any. And the Mohawk Vodka doesn’t deserve a clean cup, anyway. Just rip that shot straight from the bottle and chase it with a swig of Natty Light, frat boys’ beer of choice.

8. Drunk Freshmen. The frat boy’s biggest fear is a sausage fest, which is why any good bro will text everyone in his contact list, including the random girls who get sloppy after one drink. Maneuvering through these herds can be tricky…so watch your shoes and don’t be scared to walk with your elbows out.

9. A bathroom with no toilet paper and lots of people waiting. Jungle juice (see above) seems to break the seal like no other. Enter the drunk girl bathroom move: expect to share a stall with 3 other girls you’ve never met. You have approximately 5 minutes to bond over each others’ cute shirts and crushes at the party before someone comes knocking on the door to kick you out.

Mix it all together, add a little drunk texting and the occasional drunken sob fest on the lawn and you have yourself a college frat party. Now wipe the sweat out of your cleavage and get in there and dance!

Needless to say, the first days of college have been treating me well.

After a month of worrying over whether my roommates and I would get along, I now believe that whoever does rooming assignments has some sort of magical touch because while we 4 are not best friends (does anyone really have a best friend after 5 days?) we do get along curiously well and sometimes I feel myself falling into Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or Sex and the City mode… especially after we all bonded over some fro yo last night.

The question is: am I in a college-themed chick flick?

Possibly. The floor below and above us is dotted with various cute boys with whom we flirt and our dorm room kinda looks like PBTeen threw up in it… in a good way. Lax bros chill on campus in lax pennies and backwards lax caps in lawn chairs (can we just call them lax chairs?). Growing up in a lax-bro-less suburb, I really thought that they were a myth, but I am now a firm believer. And lax bros (despite being majorly douchey) are hot.

But all that aside, campus is incredibly gorgeous and full of like-minded people sunbathing in the grass while others Frisbee about. And the birds are chirping and I never have breakouts and my hair looks like The Little Mermaid’s lux locks every day. OK, that last part is a lie – my hair still hasn’t gotten used to the water in these showers yet. If only, right?

At times, life isn’t exactly the land of Elle Woods here (which, until I got here, was totally what I expected). For example, I’ve learned to not expect too much out of frat parties that are advertised via a college-wide emailing. They will inevitably be so crowded that you have no room to dance nor can you find alcohol, and unless you actually know people in the frat (which I feel like most freshmen here don’t), you just feel out of place. Also the people there are generally other people who got the email and had nothing better to go to—aka freshman who are trying hard to get their social lives on track. Desperate people are no fun.

But I mean, it is only the first week of college and everyone is kinda desperate to make friends, and I’m sure parties will get better as time comes. (And as consolation, the suite parties that I’ve been to are much smaller and much more fun.)

Meanwhile, the other question on my mind is the whole hooking up side of life. I mean, we’re not in high school anymore; condoms are in the hallways for a reason, right? In high school, hooking up meant making out, but in college does it automatically transfer to having sex? I feel like so much more is expected out of hooking up here. Do I just go with the flow or do I do the Oprah-style “right” thing and listen to my heart? The answer should be obvious, but it’s not.

In fact, nothing about this new college life is.

My first week of college has been jam-packed with new people, new experiences and a whole slew of new questions. It’s been exciting and exhilarating, but I just can’t wait to really settle in to the college life and have everything figured out.

Tell me about your first few days of college!

Costumes make everything better.

Every week you can count on a couple things: Drama on the Real Housewives, Mondays being a painful necessity of life and of course, the Weekly Ten.

Everyone gets stuck in the same routine on the weekends. Drink, drank, drunk. From frat parties to the bar, the whole thing can get a little tiresome. Here’s the bottom line: Parties are great. Parties with a theme? Even better. Here are the top ten party themes to throw or participate in.

10. Jungle
Any excuse to get some use out of those zebra pumps and leopard push up bra. Oh and to make some deathly jungle juice to feed the zoo of drunken college animals.

9. ABC (anything but clothes)
From duct tape to bubble wrap, this one is a sure winner and a great way to get creative with all those US Weekly mags that are piling up on your coffee table.

8. Stoplight
Simple and gets to the point that everyone wants to know: wear red for taken (or boring), yellow for “confused” or “it’s complicated” (really?), and green for good to go.

7. Hollywood
Dress up like your celeb doppelganger or that Hollywood trainwreck that you want to be for just one night. Yeah, I’ve rocked this as Miley Cyrus before. It’s amazing how many dudes wanna get with that girl…

6. Hipster
As everyone may know, this is my favorite trend. Break out your neon flannel, Nike dunks, skinny jeans and Ray-Bans and stock up with PBR. Make sure your iTouch is fully loaded with Cut Copy and Girl Talk and slap on your ironic accessories (swatch watch, visor, etc) for a good time.

5. CEOs & Office Hos
You wanna play secretary and the boss tonight? Here’s the perfect excuse to hike up that pencil skirt and snag that hottie who just looks so damn good out of his hockey jersey and suaved up in a suit and tie.

4. Top Gun
Bring your bestie wingman and your aviators.

3. Jersey Shore
Jagerbombs, Red Bull and vodka, Heineken and Muscle Milk are all a must. Finally get some use out of that nasty Ed Hardy shirt that you bought when it was trendy for 2 seconds (maybe). Who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself a Ronnie? Or at least get to lick some Situation-worthy abs. Beat up the beat and grab your banana clip.

2. Tea Partay
Based on my favorite lifestyle of all time, perfected in the YouTube. Seriously, no one is harder than a New England gangster. Slip into your topsiders and argyle and party til your pearls fall off.

1. Vegas
Gambling, drinking and being scantily clad? Nothing like Vegas, but bring the next best thing to your party. Get the games really going and get to the point with Vegas Spin the Bottle. Guaranteed to snag you that hottie.

Here come the bad decisions!

As 2009 was coming to a close I vowed that I’d make some big changes for the year to come, namely to act like the adult that I am and not like the rockstar college girl I once was. I told myself I’d drink more responsibly, that I didn’t need to get drunk to have fun, and that I might finally be at the age when dancing on stages is no longer socially acceptable.

And then I found myself making out with my really close guy friend a mere 45 minutes into the new year.

(Well, there’s always next year I guess!)

After we both came to our senses and realized what was going on (aided by another friend walking in, laughing, and taking pictures) we went our separate ways. And by “separate ways,” I mean “to get more booze.”  Word spread that we had gotten a little gropey on his bed and my girlfriends started accosting me. “I’m drunk!” I explained. “It’s not a big deal.”

And they totally understood.

The truth is, we all do dumb things when we’re drinking. It’s part of what makes drinking so much fun! No? Just me? Well, at least the dumb things we do are more understandable. Just ask Jamie Fox. So instead of hiding that ish and pretending you can’t remember it (we’re onto you) why not share it with your friends here at CollegeCandy? Below, the CC writers share their fondest (if not haziest) dumb-drunk moments. Share your own (you know you’ve got plenty!) in the comments section below.

Rosie – Duke: I was at a Passover Seder at the student Jewish center on campus, which I had, of course, pregamed. Throughout the meal I consumed much more Manischewitz, as any good Jew would do. When the rabbi commenced the closing prayers, I kept up my conversation with my giant 6’4″ baseball friend. I said to him “your nose is so big and Jewish” then reached out and grabbed it. I guess I squeezed a bit too hard because it began to bleed everywhere. I started laughing hysterically and was asked to leave the service since I couldn’t control myself. I was receiving weekly emails from the Jewish center prior to that but have not received one since.

Ness – Sheridan: Two words: topless Twister.

Kiki – University of Missouri: Three days after Party in the USA became a sorority girl anthem, I managed to break a ceiling fan while rocking out mid-chorus. Rather than pausing to recognize the electrical carnage, I continued to keep my hands up, since they were playing my song. Nodding my head like yeah, moving my hips like yeah, avoiding light bulb shards like yeah.

Alex – Lakehead University: Last Halloween me and my friend got hammered and ended up puking behind a gas station at 11pm. Here’s the kicker: my very new boyfriend (as in two weeks new!) had to get me home and give me Gravol to stop the hurling. But, he’s still with me!

Arielle – Quinnipiac University: I stuck my entire body out of my friend’s car window while waiting in line at the drive-through and sang (read: screamed) the 7th Heaven theme song for all of the cars waiting in line. I’m still waiting to be signed by a record label …

Kelly – University of Iowa: I told all of my friends that my boyfriend proposed to me (he did, jokingly with an onion ring at the dining hall), and we planned my whole wedding. Not creepy at all.

Thu – USC: I insisted that I wasn’t drunk, but failed miserably at convincing people to believe so. At least that’s how they saw it.

Lauren – University of Michigan: I tried to squat and pee behind a bush and didn’t realize how big of a hill I was on. Needless to say, I lost my balance (heels+skinny jeans+beer pong = disaster) and rolled down the hill…with my pants around my ankles….towards the busy sidewalk where people were en route to parties.

Brithny- Duke: Keggerskating. Sooo fun, but let’s just say it’s not as easy as it seems. Eight wheels and a keg of beer do not mesh well.

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: I missed my last home football game because I was dancing with some guy wearing a giant watermelon suit.

Noa – CU Boulder: I once came home from a lingerie party and attempted to seduce my R.A. Only when I busted in his room at 1 a.m. he was already in there….with his boyfriend.

Nina – Michigan State University: Apparently I pulled a hotel’s fire alarm while in another country. But when my friends asked me about it right after, I legitimately did not remember pulling the fire alarm, seeing the fire truck outside, nor the firefighters swarming into the hotel as we walked to the nightclubs….

Elise – Stanford: I told one of my best friend’s sisters about her tattoo, which she didn’t know about!

Cristina – Michigan State: I just consider this dumb, not particularly badass, but I was drunk and forced my friend take me to Meijer to return a book. I seriously would not leave her alone until she drove me there. They gave me a few looks but I GOT MY MONEY BACK. EPIC WIN.

Jill – University of Wisconsin: Dropped my phone in a sewer during the biggest block party of the year. Everyone was around me cheering me on trying to get it, the fire department refused to help, and when I FINALLY got it out, the school news paper took my photo. At the moment, I was proud. Now, not so much.