So what’s a girl to do?

Sure, you could go to every single class, but that’s not really plausible, is it? You never know when your alarm clock will decide to stop behaving, or you will stop behaving, or an impromptu roadtrip will pop up and require you to skip Friday classes for the drive (and Monday classes for the recovery).

Are you supposed to sit back and accept defeat? Can I get a “hell no”? We’ve always been taught to find solutions to the problems that plague us, and I’ve got the perfect one for all of us:

I Slept Through Class.

It’s genius, really; people sign up with their school e-mail address (it has to end in .edu in order to prove that you’re actually a student) and from there can browse hundreds of notes uploaded by their peers. Yes, those peers of your who would never miss a class! You can just find the class you are looking for, grab the notes and still be prepared for the potential impromptu essay in section on Tuesday.

Right now they have over 400 universities represented on the site, so there’s a good chance yours is on there. If it isn’t you can get the ball rolling at your school by uploading your own notes.

Why would you ever share your notes? Well, for one, to be nice; it is better to give than to receive, remember? But if nice isn’t your thing, do it for the free shiz; they have a program that rewards users with Amazon.com gift cards.

It used to be that only the lucky few with access to test files and notes passed down from older siblings struck gold like this, but now everyone (with a .edu) can have a piece of the note-taking pie. And it tastes good.

I’m happy to share – after all, that is what this column is all about – so check them out!

1. Make a schedule for yourself.

This is really the most basic time-management tool. I use a daily planner and I write a new to-do list for each day. Then I cross things out as I finish them. For longer-term projects, I write down the due date and then I write down what I need to accomplish on the project on a daily or weekly basis. You can do whatever works for you—color-code your schedule, write it on a white board, use an electronic calendar, etc.

2. Consolidate activities.

I used to go to the bank every time I got a new check, which sometimes meant I’d be going several times per week. I wasn’t using that money immediately after depositing it, so there was no reason for me to go so often. Now, I only go to the bank once every two weeks. It saves me tons of time, and I just keep all my checks together until I go on my biweekly trip.

Think about the things you do often—run errands, cook, do homework—and then think about whether you can consolidate any of them. Maybe it would help you to cook several huge batches of food on weekends and then freeze them in meal-sized portions to use throughout the week. Can you do a quick math assignment while you’re riding the subway or waiting on the phone for a customer-service rep? If so, you’ll have more free time later.

3. Eliminate activities.

There are probably a few hobbies you have that you really enjoy doing, and a few things you do that you may consider a slight waste of time. I spend way too much time surfing the Internet, so if I’m going to write a big article or work on a portion of my book, I’ll disable my wireless connection. If you feel like you watch too much TV, you might want to drop a couple of shows from your repertoire and catch up on episodes online later (but only if you have extra time). Consider your biggest time-wasters (Bromance, anyone?), and get rid of them! You’ll be amazed at how your week opens up if you downgrade this way.

I know many of you guys are multitasking mavens, so please feel free to share more tips in the comments!

[Image courtesy of blogs.theage.com.]

Twin extra long sheets: Check.

Color coded notebooks/folders: Check

Sweatpants for every day of the week: Check

You have everything you could possibly need for college…or so you thought. Below is a list of 5 must-have items for every college student. You know; the things that you would never think of, but really can’t survive without.

Time to make one more shopping run. I know you never want to see the inside of a Target again, but suck it up; you are going to need these.

1. Rain Boots. I never wore rain boots at home because if it’s raining you just don’t go outside. Back in High School you drove to class and maybe an umbrella is all you needed. But in college you have to walk to every class and sometimes that can be quite a lot of walking. Investing in some wellies will definitely be worth it. There is nothing worse than arriving to class with water seeping through your shoes and waterlogged socks. The good news is rain boots are all the rage right now, so you can find them everywhere (and not get ridiculed for wearing them).

2. Baby Powder. I’m not sure if the rest of the world is aware of the wonders of baby powder, but I’m an avid fan. Baby powder has so many uses in college. First, you will be wearing some amazingly hot heels, which is great except your feet will get tired, sweaty and gross. But throw some baby powder in your shoes first and you won’t slip or stick. Not convinced baby powder is awesome? Let’s say you are too hung-over to shower before class, yet as you leave you notice your hair is less than attractive. Toss a small amount of baby powder in and, like magic, the grease will be gone. Bring a small thing of baby powder and you won’t regret it.

3. Tupperware. Living in a small school-run apartment I really grew to love my GladWare. I saved just about everything I cooked so, in turn, I could save time later. But even if you don’t have an apartment, Tupperware and GladWare are useful. If the cafeteria cooks something delicious, it could be a once in a life time opportunity worth reheating later! In addition to sniping and reheating caf food, it’s also worth saving restaurant food. And if you do take the time to cook something (some dorm floors have kitchens) you won’t want to throw it out.

4. A Clothes Drying Rack. You know how at home you have lots of space to hang your damp jeans and dresses? Well in your miniscule dorm room you won’t. You’re roommate probably won’t like walking in and finding your bras hanging over her desk to dry. A collapsible clothes drying rack will provide the space to dry all your stuff, so you don’t run the risk of shrinking anything in the dryer.

5. Quarters. Maybe it’s just me, but this is something I never thought of. Most dorms require you to pay to wash your clothes and it seems the change machines are on a constant vacation. Stock up on quarters before you go or get some rolls at the bank. When you have gone through every last pair of undies and are in desperate need of the washing machine you will be thankful you don’t have to waste time hunting for change. Bonus: extra quarters for playing speed quarters!