College. Sigh. It’s unlike any other time in your life. It has its own set of rules, its own unique circumstances. And it’s not always easy to navigate. Enter…me! Every week I’ll be tackling your questions about college. From classes to keggers, I’ll do my best to respond and be your Pez dispenser of collegiate wisdom.

Got questions? Hit me up in the comments or shoot me an email at melanie@collegecandy.com

Here’s a question: How do I pick my Major? So many options its ridiculous. – Kate
Very true, and I’ve tried them all. Business. English. Human Services. Journalism. True story, I’ve changed my major four times. Trying everything is my recommendation. I personally had a difficult time in the business program because I was unable to explore all the different classes my school had to offer. Switching to Arts and Sciences let me try out sociology, psychology, communications and still pick up some business classes.

You have to do what feels right for you and don’t sweat your career too much along the way. Some of the smartest people I know have the most obscure undergrad degrees. It’s why we have graduate school. Talk to people who have careers that interest you, find out what they majored in and settle into a track that feels best for you. If you do what you love, money and success will follow.

How do I meet cool friends without getting involved in Greek Life?
Yes, some schools are crazy about being Greek (and announcing their affiliation via letters plastered across their boobs and butts).  It’s not for everyone, though. If you’re on a college campus chances are there are tons of activities and outlets to meet people. Love to draw? Join the art club to find others who share your passion for Crayola crayons. Want to meet people and get sweaty? Club and intramural sports. Political science major? Student government. Get involved and you’ll meet people who share your passions. Even if it’s for Rock Paper Scissors.

OH. MY. GOD. My roommate is a SLOB. What do I do?!
Pick your battles with your roomie. If it’s something minor that you can get over, maybe make a joke about it. If it’s something big, have a conversation with her. The best thing you can do is keep open communication with your roommate, even if it’s sparingly. Chances are, she has no idea that her weird behavior even annoys you. If you gently tell her to refrain from singing while she does her homework, clean up her shiz and don’t mack it with her boyfriend while you’re sleeping mere feet away – if she’s a good roommate, she’ll respect you. If it gets out of hand, have a chat with someone in Res Life.

My teacher doesn’t take attendance! Nice! That means I can skip, right?
No. Unless it’s really important. Or you’re really hungover. Which brings me to…

It’s okay to drink during the week, right?
If you get your work done, by all means. Booze it up on a Monday if you must. If alch starts to interfere with your academics, relationships and health? Re-evaluate. College life should be fun and full of ridiculous nights captured only in blurry iPhone pictures, but that doesn’t have to be every night. And it most definitely should not get in the way of your academic success.

The Good:

Free parking! - I was pumped about this, since parking at my last college (NC State) was about 200 bucks. This is also a bad thing because everyone can afford to park, so I have to leave my house 40 minutes before class (and I live 15 minutes away) to beat traffic and find a spot next to my building

The Fests - Back to School Fest, Fall Fest, Latin Fest, Halloween Fest….there’s always some type of “fest” going on….and they all involve a DJ, a moon bounce and loads of free food!

Online classes with NO extra fees - Most colleges label online classes as Distance Education and slap a few extra fees on the courses so that you’ll actually come to campus and not sit in your dorm/apartment/parent’s house watching your lecture via laptop wearing your your favorite tee and a pair of sweats (heaven!). Well, because so many people go to good ol’ community college (mine has 4 campuses total and is 40,000 strong), they actually prefer if you take a class or two online. But be warned: most online classes don’t have deadlines and it can be tempting to slack off. I’ve been taking Ethics since August and haven’t taken any tests just because I don’t feel like it!

Cute guys - I saw more cute guys on the first day of class than I did my whole first year at State. And not only are some of these guys hot, most of then can actually carry on an intelligent conversation… and still look hot doing it.

The Price - Year of tuition at State = $16,800. Semester at CC (14 credits) = $1,480, and that’s without financial aid.

Awesome Teachers/Lax Classes - Community College has some of the most laid back professors I’ve ever seen. In my Sociology class, my professor talks about how circumcision affects a guy’s sex life (he even quoted Sex and the City!), and my Public Speaking class is filled with debates about government corruption and interracial dating. I’ve actually started to enjoy going to class.

The Bad/Ugly

The People - Between the immature post-high schoolers who try to look cool by skipping class and sitting in the hallway/lounge, to the overabundance of soccer moms who always try to assert themselves as top dog in class, going to school here can be a bit of a drag.

No Sporting Events/Homecoming – I jealously watched State’s homecoming game on TV this year, and even more jealously saw my friend’s pictures from the NERD/Common homecoming concert. Did I mention CC has intramural sports?

Even with the few minor downsides, community college really is a win/win. If you’re thinking about transferring schools or coming home for the summer, I would definitely recommend looking into community college. You could end up in an cool Bio Lab with a hot lab partner like myself (without taking out a billion dollars in student loans!).

Even for the biggest social butterflies, there is always going to be some slight apprehension when faced with the prospect of making a completely new set of buddies, leaving the comfort zone of the high school social circle.

Typically, the transition for most students is from a smaller high school to an often much larger college. This leaves an opportunity to meet people, but don’t rely solely on “mass-friending” people in your incoming class on Facebook to start connecting with others (that leaves for the always slightly awkward meeting which is guided by a mutual search for the person who matches the default profile picture). Also, don’t rely solely on meeting new people on your floor of the dorm where you are living, either. Just because you live in the same general area, there is definitely no guarantee that you’ll share common interests or have agreeing personalities.

Here are a few ideas to get connected with other students on campus, and hopefully make some new friends:

Join a special interest or volunteer club.

Are you into scrapbooking, animal rights, or “green” initiatives? There are so many clubs dedicated to everything (from Salsa dancing to barbequing) that finding one that captures a passion or hobby is usually fairly easy, and if not, you can request to create a new club! By connecting with others that have similar interests and passions, you create an instant common ground. Also, many college campuses have clubs dedicated to those who share the same cultural heritage or religious background.

Try out for a club/intermural sport.

Whether you are very athletic or not coordinated in the least, trying a new sport (e.g. golf, ultimate Frisbee, judo, triathalon, Guitar Hero training… seriously) that sounds interesting and fun to you is a great way to build friendships and get into shape! Many club sports welcome inexperienced members, and will often have trainers, uniforms, and other benefits available to you without having to pay hefty dues. Plus, if you get good, you might place and be able to compete in a larger competition. It’s a great way to build some team spirit.

Audition for or join a performing arts group.

If acting, singing, playing an instrument or dancing is of interest to you, I highly encourage getting involved in the performing arts on campus. Like the sports, performing arts groups are like teams, bringing people close together, whether they are rehearsing for a musical, practicing together for a showcase, or even preparing for a gig at the student union. Though I am a finance and marketing major, I auditioned and made it into the top chorale group at my university. We performed in amazing places and even got to go on an all-expenses paid trip to Ecuador, where we went to and performed in workshops, met international students, and toured volcanoes and other gorgeous landscapes.

Go Greek or join a major academic or professional organization.

Even if you feel that Greek life is “all Greek to you” (haha, yeah…), definitely check out Greek life, as well as the other major academic and professional organizations on campus (which may or may not have Greek letters, as well). While the social Greek scene was not for me, I joined a professional business fraternity (co-ed, yay!) that focused on building business skills and networking, while also promoting a sense of brotherhood and connection between the members. While rushing/pledging a major organization may seem daunting, if you are dedicated, the entire experience is worth it, and you make great friendships along the way.

Take a class that you are interested in, even if it is not in your major.

Elective classes (and even classes in general that you enjoy) are a good way to meet people, especially if they are discussion-based. Sharing opinions, working together, and studying together are always a surefire way to bond.

College is the best time to try new things and meet new friends. So get involved (especially if you are commuting)! I promise you will not regret it.

So, it’s been about a month into the semester and you’re suddenly feeling like there’s no light at the end of the social tunnel: no cute boys on your floor or in the apartment next door, no cool new chicks to chat with in your classes.

Now what? Will your whole year end up dull, boring, and steamy romance-free? It’s college lovey, such a thing cannot be!

Sure the guy next door spends more time on his Star Wars video games than he does on his personal hygiene, and yeah, maybe the girls down the hall blast Enrique during your Monday night Bachelor viewing (so not your scene) but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a sucky semester.

There are plenty other places on campus to scope out the cute boys and the fun girls.

The Football Tailgate.

Only the most dedicated party people make it out on a Saturday morning to begin the boozy blur of “School Spirit Maaaaaan”. This is where you will find those looking to have a little (or a lot) of good ol’ F-U-N. Get out there (set your alarm if you have to) and get social. Soon enough you’ll be that hammered girl on the fence with her stomach painted. YES!

Intramural Sports.

Not only do you get to simultaneously battle the bulge that is the dreaded Frosh (or Soph, Junior, Senior) Fifteen but you’ll also get the opportunity to meet some incredible girls via teamwork. With time, practices and games will turn into nights out clubbing and Sunday morning recaps. Plus, you’ll get to watch cute sweaty boys run around pulling flags and making goals. Who doesn’t enjoy that?

There’s plenty of other places to find cool people: join clubs, (I know, cliche, but I swear it’s true), at the gym (yes, you’re allowed to go to pick up boys), an on-campus job (kill two birds with one stone making moola at the same time), or anywhere else that seems promising.

You can do it, don’t lose hope!

However, if you’re smart enough to check up on CC before heading off to the most fabulous four years of your life, there’s still hope!

Just follow these guidelines and you’ll be happy to return home next summer with your washboard abs (or, you know, minimal love handles) still in tact.

1. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Don’t deem your shiny new meal card a free-for-all twenty-four hour all you can eat buffet. It’s NOT. Yeah you’re in the mood for pizza but ooh a burger might be nice and holy mother of Mary unlimited soft-serve? Before you know it your quick lunch between classes could feed an entire third-world country.

It’s okay. Focus. Eat what you’d eat at home. A sandwich on wheat bread. Some chicken breast and salad? Keep it healthy, the binge drinking will make up for the slice of chocolate cake you so wisely skipped.

2. Stay active you fat lard! Not only are you no longer working out five days a week for your high school cheerleading squad, but you’ll likely be lounging and snacking a lot more (I’ll get to that later, you’re not off the hook.) so it’s important to exercise! Not only do you probably have free membership to an on campus gym (take advantage of all that tuition you’re paying for mama’s sake!) but it’s a great way to meet all the cute muscley boys. Yummy!

Besides, you’re a scared confused freshman who finds yourself in a lecture hall with four-hundred other kids, none of whom you know. Staying fit is an awesome way to meet people. Set up an intramural soccer team with some of the kids on your floor or ask your cute RA if he wants to join you on a run to the campus pond (Scandalous!). What other excuse will you have to put on those spandex booty shorts?

3. Avoid midnight snacks. College on the late-night offers a plethora of ridiculously greasy food right at your fingertips, and a ton of places deliver til the wee hours on party nights. Don’t do it. Put DOWN the phone. Stock your minifridge with healthy (but still quite delectable!) snacks like chips and organic salsa or my personal favorite, mini pizzas with wheat crackers, cheese slices and pepperoni. Mmmmm.

I promise you, it’s never a good feeling to wake up hungover with a half-eaten calzone next to you in bed.

4. I’d tell you to cut down on drinking but I might as well get run over by a bus. Keep to light beer, and uh, yeah that’s all I got.

5. Beware the winter slump. Take it from someone who goes to school in a state where winter makes up the majority of both semesters, just because you’re in two sweaters a hoodie and a big furry coat doesn’t mean you’re not gaining weight underneath it all. Keep to your workout schedule and good eating habits.

Duh, don’t you know the best way to keep warm in those cold dark winter months is body heat? It’d be a shame to find yourself too insecure (or slightly horrified) to strip down and shack up with your favorite call boy.

Because trust me, he’s been working out.

One problem that I would rather not encounter is seeking into depression, or what some may call the quarterlife crisis. And after doing extensive research on this topic for a previous blog called My Impending Quarterlife Crisis, I am realizing that it’s only a matter of time until I sink fully into the blues.

Therefore, I am attempting to be proactive and launching a pre-emptive strike on becoming depressed. Who’s with me?

My first tactic: reincorporate exracurriculars into my adult life. No, I don’t think that “joining a club” is the key to social issues such as obesity and body image as Leah rightfully points out. But, I was the QUEEN of being busy and involved in everything throughout high school and college. Why should the rest of my life be any different? Because of my activities, I met so many interesting people, learned all kinds of new things, and kept myself from boredom.

Here are some of the options that I am exploring now that I am no longer on a college campus:

1. Intramural Sports: Big cities tend to have adult pick-up leagues. For example, in NYC, Chelsea Piers offers all kinds of options for those no longer eligible for little league to get in on some sports action. And plus, sports leagues are a great way to meet some eligible bachelors…wink wink.

2. Childhood hobbies: Okay, let me explain, I’m not suggesting you start playing with Barbies or Legos again. But, when I was younger I used to make jewelry. Given, I don’t think there is as much of a market for friendship bracelets as there was when I was ten. Regardless, I’m just saying that there are a number of creative hobbies that can be transferred into adulthood. I stopped by a bead and jewelry store the other day while strolling through the Fashion District and realized I still had those creative juices flowing for elegant or funky jewelry pieces. Why not spend some time seeing what I can create? Also, I’ve always been interested in learning to knit or create pottery. Look into local classes wherever you are to divulge your artistic side now that you have no paper or midterm exam deadlines weighting you down.

3. Book Clubs: I know, what are we, like 40? Seriously, I just found a book club in my area that reads a book related to the career I am hoping to get into…and then meets to discuss it…over BEER! Sounds like a pretty great deal to me. If there is not one available, then think of starting your own. I am sure there are at least a few recent grads near you that would love an excuse to get together and dish over booze.

4. Church/Spiritual Groups: Okay, I’m definitely not suggesting joining a crazy religious cult type thing, but I do think that it can be refreshing to keep our mental or spiritual sides healthy and in check during this crazy time. Get involved with a group in whatever religion or denomination you might believe in. I feel that it’s always a safe bet to at least meet some nice (hopefully) people. Totally not into the religion thing? Try some yoga or meditation classes at least where you are able to relax.

Those are just some of the options I am looking into. My feeling is that if I can have at least one or two of these activities/events in my weekly schedule, it will keep me busy and help avoid the quarterlife crisis boredom, as well as enable me to meet some new people along the way. Anyone have any other great suggestions?