These people are pretty serious about making sure their election day runs smoothly, but here are some ideas to make sure your election day is overall AWESOME!

They say… “Vote early if you can.”

We say… Smoke pot early if you can.

They say… “Do not wear T-Shirts or other paraphernalia in support of your candidate. In most states, “political activity” is not allowed within 50 feet of a building used for voting.”

We say… Be proud of your candidate! Rock that ‘Barack My World‘ or ‘McCain Is My Homeboy‘ T-Shirts! Are they REALLY gonna arrest you for showin’ some U.S.A pride?! I think not. Just don’t rally or anything, they might arrest you for that.

They say… “Make sure you’re registered, before you vote. There are reports that thousands of names have been purged from voter polls.”

We say... They’ve got a point. You don’t wanna show up all pumped to make your mark on history only to find that your name has been PURGED. Check out www.canivote.org to make sure you’re still legit to vote.

They say…”Plan ahead. Locate your polling place with this map finder in advance so getting there will be a snap.”

We say… Get lost! It’s a legit reason to miss class, or work: “I’m sorry, professor, I was on my way to vote and couldn’t find my polling place!”

They say…”Take family and friends with you. Carpool to avoid parking and traffic, and make sure all your loved ones get to be a part of this important event in history.”

We say… Ok, I totally support carpooling cuz it saves the environment, but the REAL reason to bring people with you is so you don’t die of boredom in line (and so when you take tequila shots – you know, to pass the time – you aren’t drinking alone). So bring buddies with you to collectively make fun of the extreme righties or lefties you see roaming around…and to share a few celebratory shots with.

Chicago, Illinois

Kanye West‘s hometown is clean and pretty, giving Midwestern culture a big city to call their own. This is where about eighty percent of my college friends moved after graduation.

Yea!

It’s right on the beach for summertime. You also have tons of grad schools to choose from if you don’t want to work just yet, and a great laid-back vibe. It’s a driving city, too, so you’re not obligated to give up your car. Go to Cubs or Sox games, or start supporting the ‘da Bears!

Nay?

Ever heard of lake-effect snow? The Chi can get bitterly cold in the winter. Traffic is rough, so you may want to study up on your public transportation. Also, it has the potential to feel like undergrad relocated.

Washington, DC

DC is pretty and is a great place to job-search if you’re going into politics or environmental-type work. Plus it’s the setting for Wedding Crashers and where our country is run from.

Yea!

You live so close to other cool cities that you can go on weekend jaunts by way of the Chinatown Bus. The Metro is genius, even allowing cell phone service underground. Lots of history, and of course, the weather is better as it’s south-ish.

Nay?

If you like more hustle-and-bustle, it may be a little too slow-paced. Rent tends to be pricier, and the murder and HIV rates are known to be high, so have fun but be careful. Sports teams, not fantastic…

New York, NY

When you say “the city,” there’s no questioning which one you mean. I tried very hard not to add “It’s not New York” to the “Nay” column for all the others. This is where it’s at if you’re in finance, media, or the arts.

Yea!

Whatever you want, whenever you want it, it’s here. Cultural center of the nation. Black-and-white cookies, great baseball rivalry (Yankees/Mets), Central Park, a phenomenal public transportation system, and a neighborhood for everything. Also very simple to navigate… north of the Village, anyway.

Nay?

The cost of living is ridic if you want to live in money-makin’ Manhattan. Inflation is kind of a bitch. You might get overwhelmed by all the people and the go-go-go mentality.

Los Angeles, CA

Like living in paradise with the potential for earthquakes. You’ve got the ocean, the beach, and city all relatively close to one another. And the people all seem to be really, really pretty…

Yea!

Laiiiiid-back. It’s a phenomenal climate and you’re equidistant from skiing or surfing, year-round. Great for those who love celebrity gossip, the Lakers, or want to work in movies/TV. It’ll be like The Hills!

Nay?

Also pricey, and also a tendency toward the plastic. As in plastic surgery. There are several different downtown areas which you’ve got to drive between, basically, and the traffic is horrendous, all the time.

Mostly, you want to move where you’ll be happy. Don’t decline a job offer you’d love or not go to the grad school with your specialty just because it’s not where your ideal location is. Worst-case scenario, you can always try someplace new later on, right?

Are your bff’s moving elsewhere else, or are you planning to move abroad after college? Tell us some other post-grad hotspots you’ve heard of!

Not long ago, 1 p.m. was an acceptable hour for me to drag myself out of bed. My roommate would often upstage my extreme sleeping habits by dozing into the late afternoon. We would shudder collectively at the thought of waking up at the extreme early morning hour of 10 a.m.

However, as soon as the summer began and I moved back to a land free of all nighters in the study lounge, loud parties across the hall, and most importantly, the incessant overbearing stress of school, I began to wake up at 7 a.m. on a daily basis for my internship and job.

I’m not going to pretend it was easy. The first few days the morning sun burned my eyes and I had to physically throw myself out of bed. I cursed myself for having responsibilities and stumbled around my house like a wounded animal. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

Despite this rocky start, it wasn’t long before I began to recognize the many benefits of rising at a decent hour:

Breakfast: Let’s get real. Breakfast food is some of the best stuff out there. Bagels, pancakes, cereal, fruit- it doesn’t get much better than that. Having time to actually eat it is a precious opportunity. Not only is breakfast food delicious, it’s part of a nutritionally balanced diet.

Beating Traffic: If you’ve ever commuted anywhere between the hours of 8 and 10 a.m. you know that driving on any major highway near your house is equivalent to being in the fiery pits of hell. If you’re not lucky enough to be jetting to work at the alarming speed of 5 mph, you’re vehicle is probably in “Park”. Leaving a bit earlier will give you a head start, allowing you to avoid some of the disgruntled commuters who are willing to maneuver their vehicles in any way possible to make it to work on time.

Making Use of Public Transportation: Taking public transportation is a pain in the ass. You need to find a place to park at the bus/train stop, make sure you have tickets, and get to the stop/station in time to do all of this nonsense. Waking up early ensures that you’ll have a parking space, and most likely one of the best seats on the bus or train. Who wants to sit next to that overweight businessman who falls asleep on your shoulder anyway?

Not Looking Like a Mess: You know that girl who runs into the office with her clothes falling off and unkempt hair, looking like she slept in an alleyway last night? That was me. Sadly, I always had slept at home the night before, I just never had enough time to get myself together in the morning. An extra fifteen minutes can do wonders for one’s appearance. Go ahead- straighten your hair, pick out matching shoes- you have enough time!

Avoiding “Haste Makes Waste” Mistakes: You know they’ve happened. Your mind is consumed with getting out of the house, so you forget to walk the dog or leave your cell phone in its charger. They’re not a big deal, but when Spike leaves a few presents on your bed or your car breaks down and you desperately need a tow truck, they can leave a damper on your day. When your mind is clear mistakes like these happen less often.

Decreasing Stress: It’s summer. Seriously, who wants to deal with even a minuscule dose of avoidable stress? Rushing in the morning makes you sweaty. It makes your heart beat fast. It makes you lose things, break things, forget things, and feel tense. Give yourself time. Reserve these feelings for when they are absolutely unavoidable.