We’ve all heard that we should try to avoid the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen” (which is actually more like the “Freshman Seven”), but there are other important benefits to maintaining a good nutrition and exercise routine. The better you treat your body, the better you will feel. The better you feel, the more successful you’ll be in school and the more energy you’ll have for the really fun stuff. Read on to learn how you can use the latest discoveries in health and fitness to stay healthy, happy, and motivated this school year.

1.     Cut down on time at the gym with interval workouts.

Intervals have long been an important part of many exercise routines. But a new study has shown that intense interval workouts may be just as effective as time-consuming endurance training. The study divided its subjects, healthy college students, into two groups. One group rode a stationary bike at a sustained pace for 90 to 120 minutes three times per week. The other group pedaled as hard as they could for 20 to 30 seconds, with short breaks in between, for a total of about six minutes of intense riding per day. The result? The students who rode intervals showed just a much of an increase in their endurance as the students who did sustained training, and showed the same molecular indicators of increased fitness in their muscles.

So if you don’t hours to spend at the gym, you can still get a great workout with a series of short, intense intervals. In order for this to work, you really have to push yourself, so give those intervals all you’ve got.

2.     Exercise to reduce stress and feel more focused.

In the unforgettable words of Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” While you probably don’t have a husband, a good workout may keep you from freaking out on your roommate. It will also help you pay more attention and concentrate in class. So don’t say you’re too stressed to go to the gym! Working out or even just taking a walk will help you feel better and complete that mountain of homework more efficiently.

3.     Stock up on healthy snacks.

Busy schedules and late nights can lead to lots of snacking, which doesn’t have to be a bad thing. A recently published study, the most comprehensive look so far at the causes of weight gain, showed that what you eat makes a big difference. Some results were expected – the participants who gained the most weight over a 20-year period ate large amounts of french fries, potato chips, sugar-sweetened drinks, red meats and desserts. Most people who maintained their weight or lost weight ate lots of standard healthy foods – fruits, vegetables and whole grains. But, surprisingly, consumption of dairy had a neutral effect on weight gain and weight loss was greatest among the subjects who ate lots of peanut butter and yogurt.

So, you can replace fried and processed snacks with food that tastes good, but is still healthy. Try some peanut butter on a whole grain cracker, or naturally sweet fruit yogurt instead of potato chips and soda from the vending machine. Fueling your body properly will give you more energy and prevent weight gain.

4.     Fidget!

In my favorite study of the summer, researchers found that performing more “incidental movement” each day – from tapping a toe while sitting to walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator – helps improve cardiovascular fitness. This is great news for college students, since we spend so much time sitting. The study also found that some people are naturally more inclined to fidget throughout the day. If you’re one of those people (I definitely am), then keep it up! If not, start fidgeting! It’s possible to improve your health with the simplest, smallest movements, as well as larger changes like walking short distances instead of driving. Just try not to annoy your classmates by making noise or kicking their desks.

Well, their great advice has inspired me to give a little advice of my own. Less about choosing a college, and more about the things you should remember once you get there, about how to bridge that gap between college and the real world, and how to make the most of your opportunities while you still have them.

I mean it’s not all boys, beer, and parties (even though those are important too), so here are a few things I wish I knew when I was a mere freshman.

1. You’ll change your major at least once. Everyone always told me this, but I would just shake my head at them and laugh. Not me, I knew what I wanted to major in. I loved to read and to write. I was going to be an English major. But even I eventually had a moment of doubt. The entire second semester of my freshman year into the summer before my sophomore I was convinced I would be changing my major to information systems. That seemed like a far more practical choice with better options for post-grad jobs. Granted I eventually realized I was not made to be an information systems major and found my way back to English (and later, Philosophy) but I was so concerned with trying to pick a major that I didn’t even realize that…

2. What you get your degree in may not necessarily be the field you work in. It’s the truth. Your major does not necessarily have to dictate what you do with your life so much as it explains what you enjoy and what skill sets you will have post graduation.  Granted, pre-med students more often than not will probably go on to become doctors and psychology majors will probably continue their research in graduate schools, but history majors can become politicians or writers or lawyers. I mean, philosophy majors don’t necessarily become…philosophers, right? No, trust me, they don’t. 

3. The humanities are actually pretty applicable to real life. The humanities (English, Philosophy, History) tend to get a bad reputation these days. Because there’s no set post-college career path humanities majors are accused of being lazy, impractical, and unwilling to grow up. Sure, we spend our time reading and discussing and analyzing and researching about things that have already happened, things that have only happened in books, and thinks that will never happen, but all that reading and discussing, all those skills we develop actually come in handy later on in life. It took me a while, but eventually I learned how to spin the skills of an English and Philosophy major to work for just about any job. I mean, what job description these days doesn’t ask for excellent analytical skills, great communication skills, and the ability to work well with others, right?

4. Your advisor can help you. This one may seem like a no brainer, but not nearly enough people utilize their college advisors, and I certainly didn’t during my first few years. These people are there to do more than tell you what classes you need to take in order to graduate on time. They’re there to help you figure out what you want to do with your life. Have something in mind? Ask for their opinions? If they can’t help you, they’ll probably be able to tell you who can, and tell you what you need to do to make it happen. They have connections, and they want to use them to help you, so let them.

5. Get as many internships as possible. The best way to determine whether or not a certain job is right for you is to do that job, and an internship is the perfect way to try it out while you’re still in college. Internships are great because they give you some real life experience, allow you to put all those skills (directly related or not) to good use, and sometimes (if you’re lucky enough to intern for CollegeCandy) they’re actually a lot of fun. Internships allow you to further develop your skills, build up your resume, and test drive a few post-grad options. So do one, do four, do forty, and make the most of all the options available to you as a college girl.

OK, now it’s your turn: Looking back on your college experience, what are some things you wish you knew way back when?

Dear Tuffy Luv,
I’m pretty sure you already answered a question like mine but I couldn’t find the answer, so here goes. I’m a high school senior applying to college and I’m having a bit of a problem with my safety school. It’s brilliant: great nightlife, safe area, amazing dorms and has a course that I love. One bad thing though: it’s my hometown. The dorms are down the road. The campus is a 10 minute drive from home. Not that I don’t love my hometown and my folks, but isn’t college my one chance to become independent and get a little space? When it comes down to it, I want to be able to stumble home drunk at 2 a.m and not have to worry about seeing people I know on every street corner.

Would staying in town for college be a waste of an experience? [Ed. Note: No! Just ask our commuter student!]

Should I apply to a worse school just because I don’t want to stay in my town? I mean, my folks think I should stay in dorms (and I will) but still. Any advice would be lovely

- Confused about College

Dear Confused about College,

Well, I’m more of a relationship columnist, but…well, I really like your question. So, okay, I’ll come at this from the angle of forming new (and dealing with old) relationships via college, yes?

Yes, a major function of college is to have new experiences. You may indeed feel the need to “stumble home drunk at 2am” (although, if you do, and this goes for ALL OF YOU, please NEVER NEVER do it alone!!! Stumbling in any condition at 2am anywhere is not safe enough to go it alone!!!), and certainly that is harder if you’re worried about running into people.

But, look, you’re certainly not gonna bump into your parents on campus. So that’s a plus. And I think it’s really great and supportive of them that they want you to live in a dorm even though the school’s so nearby. It’s cool that they want you to have new experiences without them.

This leads me to believe they’ll probably kinda leave you alone. So you can check that off your list of worries.

As for running into people you know from, say, high school–well, they’ll all be busy having their own new experiences. I doubt they’re gonna care what you’re doing, just as you probably could give a shoop about what they’re doing out at 2am.

Who knows? You might even find that, outside the context of high school, someone you’ve known for years and never connected with could be really cool. Old associates often become new friends.

And, honey–if it’s a good school, that, honestly, is more important. Don’t go to a worse school just to avoid old neighbors! Seriously, girl. You got a good head on your shoulders. Go to a good school and use it!!! Besides, it’s your safety school, yes? You may not even end up there.

Here’s to hoping you get into your first choice and have all the exciting, brand-new, branching-out experiences you crave and deserve! (WHILE, of course, maintaining your GPA!!!!!!!!)

Hearts & Skulls,
Tuffy Luv

Need more Tuffy Luv? Check it all out here!

This is boring.

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like soul mates!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

Schools all over have been experimenting with social media lately – some of them getting into it and some of them encouraging their students to stay out of it. Now Harrisburg University of Science and Tech are blocking all social media from the school’s network including Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and AIM for a week. They’re not the first school to try a move like this, but my question is, is it right?

I think we’re all willing to admit that we’re maybe a little over-connected, maybe a little obsessed with our social media and it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world not to check our Twitter feeds every two minutes. I’m not striking out against the school not supporting social media – it’s their network and if they don’t want students using it that way, it’s their prerogative to block those sites. My problem is that this is an experiment. That’s right, a guy at Harrisburg saw his teen daughter juggling a lot of social media and decided to see what would happen if he took it away. Except, instead of conducting this little experiment in his home, he chose to use his position at the college to pull a social media blackout for a week. And then proceeded to tell virtually no one about it. My qualms about the experiment’s ethics aside (hello, consent?) the bigger question is, is this something the school should really be policing?

I talked a while back about school’s trying to force community policy to curb student binge drinking, and I feel much the same on this issue. Sure, we all know that we overdo it a little on the Facebook updates – just as we all know that if you can’t remember where you live when you leave the bar, it’s probably not fun party time for your liver – but is it actually our school’s business to step in and dictate this stuff for us?

OK, in this case, it’s not that the school is against social media (it is a tech school, after all) they just wanted to study the effects, so maybe that’s not so bad. And as I said, the schools should have a right to police the things that students use their network for, since they are the ones providing it. I just can’t help but get a little squirmy at the Orwellian-ness of it all; just making rules and taking things away without warning and then we all just have to live with it.

And not even have a chance to Tweet about it. Gah.

What do you say? Am I overreacting to a harmless little experiment? Or is this a much bigger issue about how school’s get involved in our lives? Duke it out!

So after a few weeks abroad, I just landed back in the U.S. of A. from Europe! I can’t believe my trip went by so quickly; I had the best time I’ve ever had in my entire life, and, being a college kid, that’s saying something. I did so many things that I’m grateful I got to experience, from walking down streets I’ve read about in Sherlock Holmes books to trekking miles to see the Eiffel Tower. And the food. The food. Never in my life have I eaten as well as I did in Paris. If you’re a foodie, make sure you get over and sample as many heavenly pastries as you can stomach.

Or do as I did and take down well more than you can stomach and end up totally uncomfortable for days on end….

Now that my trip is over, I (and you lucky kids who are also on the quarter system) still have about a month left before I go back to school. I’m sure the time will pass quickly, since it always does when there are no classes to wake up for or papers to write, and I’m determined to make the most of it.

So that got me thinking (since I got nothing else going on…):

Would You Rather win an insane shopping spree for a totally brand new back-to-school wardrobe OR get to sit down and chat with your favorite celebrity (dead or alive) for five minutes?

Things to Consider: these, this, touching Justin Bieber’s hair (!!!!) or, you know, talking to someone you love.

Vote now and give us the dirty deets below!

College: a time of growing up, trying new things, and, of course, meeting new people. From the bitchy girl in Chem class to the hot guy from a frat party, freshman year brings a slew of different characters. While no two people share quite the same college experience, there are a few archetypal personalities that, without a doubt, can be found on a freshman floor.

The mom
Armed with maturity to boot, the mom is a super-nurturer. Her room is always clean and she looks out for everyone on the floor as if they were, well, her kids. She suggests the healthy foods from the dining hall, has a fully stocked First Aid kit, and is always there to hold hair back when a friend drank a little too much (but how often does that happen in college anyway?)

The study freak
It’s 4.0 or bust for this super studier. Weekends come and go as she is holed up in her room preparing for her next exam, group presentation, you name it. You getting the hall together for a movie night? Count her out – she’s got reading due next Thursday. Want to throw a little pre-party in your room? Keep it down, because this girl’s in bed by 10 p.m. to prepare for the rigorous study day ahead.

The trust fund kid
He’s used to getting everything handed to him on a silver platter, and has no problem letting people know it. This guy’s “subtlety” involves mentioning the trips he’s taken on his yacht and boasting about his entirely Brooks Brothers wardrobe. His sense of entitlement often means his self-presumed right to get with any girl on the floor.

The guy with the guitar
Convinced he’s the next John Mayer, this guy carries his guitar around and is ready to rock anytime. From the common room to a crowded frat party (to alone in his room at 3pm on a Wednesday), he doesn’t see any limitation on when or where to bust out a jam sesh. No, everyone doesn’t always want to hear your Dispatch cover songs, bro.

The party animal
Always up for a good time, this girl has her mini-fridge stocked with cheap vodka and beer at all times. She’s what you’d call the life of the party. That is, until she passes out on a couch, floor, or lawn by 11:30. Even after a rough night, though, no hangover will keep this gal from getting her party on the next night. And the night after that. And the morning after that night.

Yet, with more and more scientific studies rolling through (each one conflicting with the one before it), many are starting to wonder if coffee is really helping or hurting the mind and body. So, before you pick up another pot cup of java, consider these pros and cons cited from the Pacific Northwest Foundation.

PROS

1. “Caffeine speeds up fat metabolism during exercise while conserving glycogen and glucose thereby maintaining brain activity and reducing hunger.”

Wait, coffee actually makes your workouts more efficient, allowing you to burn more calories and kick those hunger pangs? Jackelyn says: Hollaaaa! Although, be careful – too much caffeine and exercise can make you feel jittery and result in poor performance. But a nice cup of coffee before hitting the gym could be just the boost your body needs.

2. “Coffee may reduce the incidence of kidney stones by increasing the flow of urine and decreasing its concentration.”

Even if you haven’t had one, anyone who knows anything understands that kidney stones can hurt. A lot. If coffee can help prevent the pain I say, “bring on the lattes!”

3. “Coffee has four times the anti-oxidants of Green Tea, makes an excellent anti-depressant, and enhances performance and memory.”

Take that, tea drinkers! (Just kidding – tea has great benefits as well). But this is great news. We all often turn to coffee in moments of serious stress (think: midterms, before a giant presentation, on a Friday morning after Thirsty Thursday….) so an anti-depressant and a little memory enhancement is exactly what we need. And the whole “not passing out on a stack of books at 3am” doesn’t hurt either. Straight A’s, here we come.

CONS

1. “Cortisol levels are raised which, in turn, results in constriction of the blood vessels, harder pumping of the heart and higher blood pressure.”

While it differs by age, high blood pressure is never good for anyone. Do you really want to put your body through that much stress just for a little extra energy?

2. “Coffee stimulates more frequent urination and subsequent loss of various vitamins and minerals such as B, C, calcium, iron and zinc. “

Because coffee runs out of our bodies so quickly (which explains the whole “prevent kidney stones” thing), it takes a lot of stuff with it. Important stuff that our bodies need.

3. “Caffeine may aggravate osteoporosis by leaching calcium from the bones.”

Osteoporosis is a real issue in women and drinking coffee can leave you more at risk? Scary stuff. No one wants weak bones.

So what does all this mean?

Considering there are conflicting stories about coffee coming out every day, it means you gotta take it all with a grain of salt (or a pack of Splenda?). None of these studies factor in how many times you drink coffee a day, how many ounces you drink at a time, or how much sugar/cream you put in. And all those things matter.

At the end of the day, internalize these findings – they all contain some truths – but remember that one or two cups of coffee a day isn’t going to hurt you. In fact, one cup of coffee before the gym or during a big exam is only going to help.

You’ve read the facts – coffee or no coffee?

Let’s face it: we all make stupid decisions. Like choosing a fifth over a review session, or bringing that guy home…who stole our iPod in the morning. That’s part of college life… and a big part of what makes it so memorable. But there are some choices that have longer lasting repercussions; things we do now that will haunt us later.

So here are the 11 things from your 20’s you will most definitely regret when you’re 40.

11. Risque Internet Photos: What’s the point of having technology if you can’t use it to send a naughty pre-shower photo to your BF? Nothing will turn him on quite like a naked photo popping up in his inbox while he’s brushing up on his Stats knowledge. You trust him, so what’s the worst that could happen? How about a break up? Or the “forward” button? No matter what you think, those photos are going to come back and bite you in the (naked-with-a-spot-of-cellulite) ass. Just show him the real thing and let him turn to his imagination (or internet porn) for a mid-class pick me up.

10. Trendy Tats: You totally love butterflies/stars/unicorns now, but I can bet money that you won’t want them plastered on the top of your foot or your lower back forever. No one wants to see a mom with a rose tattoo on her left shoulder, so think before you ink.

9. Choosing guys over your girls: You get caught up in your relationship sometimes and blow off the girls. Fine, we get it. But when sometimes turns into “What the hell ever happened to Mary?” there is a problem. Especially when Mr. Douche Bag finally breaks up with you and you come crawling back to the girls with a tub of Edy’s and a box of tissues and they aren’t there to wipe the snot from your cheek. Do you really want to spend the rest of your days holed up in a dirty apartment watching your man play Rock Band and chug Natty Light? Learn the balance, honey.

8. Getting married too young: I’ve seen it too many times – people graduate, freak out and hold onto whatever they can of their youth. And they get married.  And become super lame married people. It may be pure bliss now (and lots and lots of kitchen-ware), but just think about all the awesome stuff you will miss by being tied down in your twenties, all that freedom: to travel when you want, to take a job wherever you want, to sleep with whomever you want, to party as late as you want, to discover yourself, to sleep with whomever you want…. Plus, do you really want pictures of your friends doing keg stands in your wedding album? I thought not.

7. Smoking: Mmmm tobacco. It feels so good when it hits (and consequently blackens) your lungs. Especially after you’ve had a few Rum and Diets. And you look so cool doing it. But you know what doesn’t feel good? Chemo. And you know what doesn’t look cool? Your wrinkley face or your kids stealing the pack from your tobacco stained purse and trying it for the first time. When they are 6. This sh*t will kill you, so stop it. Right now! Seriously, put down that Marlboro Light, sister.

6. Not traveling enough: Trust me on this one – you will never have the time, money or freedom to travel like you do now.  Pretty soon you’ll be working late nights and counting down the minutes until the that will be chock full of grocery runs and Bed, Bath and Beyond trips. Try finding time in that busy schedule to jet-set to Europe and “find yourself.” Pack your bags and see the world now, before you’re too old to experiment with drugs in Amsterdam and enjoy a ping pong show in Bangkok.  Pick up a travel book and start planning!

5. Bad Credit: You can’t live without that Coach bag right now. You just have to have that DVF dress for the date party. Everyone else has an iPhone and you want one too. You’ll just charge it and worry about it later, right? Wrong, bitches. Ruining your credit now on stupid stuff (yes, I am telling you that bag is a stupid investment) will totally eff things up for you in the future. Things like getting a house, a car, a boyfriend (bad credit is a total turn-off) and sometimes even a job. Spend wisely, ladies. That bag is going to be out of style in .25 seconds anyway.

4. Not finishing school: Do we really even need to mention this one? Could you think of anything you’d regret more when you are 40 and working the checkout lane at your neighborhood Wal-mart? That is, assuming, you can even get that job in this economy.

3. Pre-vacation tanning: You tell yourself that you just want to get a base tan before Spring Break in Cabo. Sure, you will look fiiiine in that white shift dress for the 6 days after you return, but that wrinkley, skin cancer-ed mess is not going to look so hot when you’re 40 and you look like a Sharpei.

2. Stilettos: Part of becoming a woman is rockin’ the hottest pair of the highest heels. They make your legs look sick (that’s a good thing), make the men beg, and your jeans are too long to wear with anything lower. Why wouldn’t you wear them? I’ve got one hyphenated word for you: hammer-toes. You want to spend the later part of your life looking at that in a sandal?  Make your Feet Happy with these ultra comfy and cute socks..

(Editor’s note: I was going to put a picture of a gross foot here, but you Google “gross feet in sandals” and tell me how it makes you feel.)

1. “It feels better without condoms” sex: You’ll probably regret this one right off the bat as you spend your senior year chasing a kid around the dorms, but you’ll seriously regret it later when you look back at your life and realize how much you missed out on because you were busy changing diapers and bouncing a kid on your knee. Oh, and no one likes a woman with a bumpy vagina. I’m just sayin’; those genital warts will never go away.

Questionpantses for Tuffaleh?! Email her at TuffyLuv@collegecandy.com for possible answerpantses.

Dear Tuffy Luv,

I recently broke up with my boyfriend of one and a half years, and I’ve been beating myself up ever since. The first half of our relationship was blissful – we were like best friends, had tons of fun together and he treated me like a queen. Even though it was a long-distance relationship, we made it work with frequent visits, and having him in my life eased my transition into college.

But about halfway through our relationship, I began to think about my long-term desires, and realized I was unhappy. I consider myself to be very fortunate to have had access to private education for most of my life, but my boyfriend was not so fortunate. He dropped out of high school (but got his GED) and failed out of college, and hasn’t been able to find a job for months (he is 22). Furthermore, I felt as though he could not hold a conversation on the intellectual level that I would like, and to top it off, his persistent erectile dysfunction (which has plagued us since the first time we had sex) was giving us intimacy problems.

I chalked all these issues up to class differences, thinking that maybe we were just too different as a result of our backgrounds. However, since we broke up, I keep asking myself if I just let “the one” walk away. Although he is lazy (or maybe he can’t find a job because of the recession) and unmotivated (or maybe he just cracks under pressure in school), he has always treated me like a queen, and loved me like no other. He was always there as my therapist, protector, confidante and lover, and I wonder if I’m crazy for not thinking he is good enough for me. I also worry that I will regret my decision or change my mind if he gets a job and goes back to school, but I don’t know if he will ever do these things. Is it too much to ask for an educated man with a job/ prospects? He is definitely one of the few “good guys” left in my city and I feel stupid to let him go. Should I just settle and learn to appreciate the little things? Or maintain my high standards and run the risk of never finding the man of my dreams?

Sincerely,
Lonely Ever After

Dear Lonely,

Giiiiiiirl.

This is a really tricky question, because–well, is class an issue? Yes. Is it comfortable to discuss? About as comfortable as a colonoscopy.

Okay, well, first of all, erectile dysfunction is not an issue of class. But it is an issue in your relationship. However, sexual dysfunction is not necessarily a reason to break up. If you do end up getting back together, I highly recommend that you get your boy to a doctor and find out what the problem is. Chances are, it’s easily fixed.

The problem, then, is that you want to know if you should deal with this guy despite his socioeconomic situation. Okay. Well, I’m going to be honest: my initial gut impulse was to chew you out for being so messed up and dated.

But then I got to thinking, Lonely, and, I gotta be honest, you have a point. Well, look, you want certain things, right? You want a guy who can support himself (and hold his own financial weight if the relationship becomes long-term). You want a guy who is smart and motivated, and, although it’s not terribly PC, it’s true that the culture in which he was raised may (or may not) be a contributing factor.

However, you also want someone who is kind and loving, which you say he is, and that’s really much harder to find. Jerks with six figures are easy to find but hard to swallow (ew). Guys who love you genuinely and generously are gems and shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

On top of it all, it sounds like maybe he’s suffering some kind of depression or anxiety or something equally treatable. The lack of motivation, the sexual problems–maybe he just needs a trip to a therapist or perhaps a psychiatrist.

So here’s my advice, girl. Follow your heart. If he really, truly is the gentle and giving soul you say he is, give him another chance. But tell him that, because you’re considering a long-term relationship with him, you need him to get his life together. Tell him you want to be with him, but he needs to either get a job or go back to school, and he definitely has to see a doctor (or doctors) about his erectile dysfunction.

And then be happy. Because loving a good person is a privilege most people never get to enjoy.

Hearts & Skulls,
Tuffy Luv

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. Everyone needs a little guidance now and then (or always) so we’ve pulled together a variety of perspectives (the does-it-all girl, the party girl and Ms. Study Lounge) to weigh in on your life conundrums and give you the best advice we can.

Every week they’ll be tackling your questions about college. From classes to keggers to keggers before classes, they’ll do their best to respond and be your Pez dispenser of collegiate wisdom. Got questions? Unsure of a decision? Not sure about class scheduling? Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics?

Hit them up in the comments or shoot them an email with the subject “College Q&A”!

Question:
I started going out with a guy right before I left for college. I really like him, but he goes to school in a different state and I feel like I’m missing out on a lot with my friends when I’m on the phone with him every night. He totally trusts me so it’s not like he’s annoying or anything, but this whole LDR thing is really taking up a lot of time. What do you guys think of long distance in college? Good idea or bad?

GPA Girl:
LDRs suck no matter how you slice it or where you’re at in life. If you really love someone, it’s awful to be far away from him or her. However, it’s sometimes worth it, especially if there’s an end in sight. I suspect this question is not really about long distance in college but about your relationship in particular. What I’m reading in between the lines is that you’re not head over heels for this guy and you kind of feel as if he’s limiting your options, whether those options be hanging with your friends or smooching other dudes. Is that true? Be honest with yourself. If so, I’d cut your losses and move on. If that’s not the case, you’ll know it and the idea of breaking up with this guy will seem ludicrous to you. Trust me–I’m in an LDR right now, and the guy I’m with is so amazing that I wouldn’t blink at dating him long-distance for years if I had to because it’s more than worth it just to have him in my life. Which situation is your relationship? You make the call.

Party Girl:
First of all, you shouldn’t have to miss out on any time with your girls just because of an LDR! Change your phone calls to morning or afternoon and maybe just go every other day. Night time is for friends and partying (and sometimes studying…but mostly drinking). If you feel burdened by this guy, just let him go. Maybe after college you guys can pick it up again, but now is the time to have fun! If you can’t see yourself breaking it off, then make the phone calls convenient for you and always make time for your friends. Some of the biggest benefits of long distance relationships is that you don’t have to worry about your boyfriend seeing you come home all sloppy from a frat party (unless someone posts Facebook pics…) and you can have girl time whenever you want it. If this LDR is impeding on those things, it’s time to switch things up. In the end, it’s your decision whether you stay with this guy or not, but this relationship should be making you happy, not stressed.

Busy Bee:
Unless you think that there is really good chance that you two will last for a while, then this LDR is a no go. I strongly believe that college is all about the experience – guys are just an accessory to it. You say that the LDR is taking up a lot of time, and that’s time out of your job, friends, late night fun, and crazy memories. You don’t want to look back on this year wishing you had ditched the phone for random dorm adventures, do you? I say, don’t cut him off completely, but keep it light and just as friends. If you guys still have a strong chemistry throughout the year, then try it out again in the summer. For now, I think you should focus on school, enjoying all the things your school has to offer (student groups, field trips, IM sports….), and, most importantly, what you can and experience see in front of you.

What do you all think?