Spring Break!!! Wait, I don't have money for this.

College Kids,

My roommate and I are planning to go to Spring Break, how do we find a decent place to stay without spending all of our money on a hotel room?

Alex
Central Michigan University

Alex,

Spring Break is right around the corner and the thing on everyone's mind is, "How am I going to pay for this?" When it comes to money, college students love finding ways to save it, especially if it means choosing a crappy tasting beer over over a Corona and lime. There are several websites out there that can help you find the right hotels for your budget.



Priceline.com helps you to obtain discount rates for travel-related items such as airline tickets and hotel stays. You offer them a rate and they will either accept or decline your offer.


Expedia.com books airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, and various attractions and services

Hotwire.com is another great site if your looking for some cheap hotel rooms.

I hope these help you find your dream spring break vacation.



You can ask the college kids questions by going here.

Cheers!

Help! I'm Failing

College Kids,

I am failing my environmental science class pretty bad. What should I do?

John
19 Years Old
Greenwich, CT

John,

The simplest answer would be to work really really hard for the rest of the semester. I would recommend talking to your professor and seeing if they will let you make anything up or do any kind of extra credit. Not all professors will do this, but a lot will especially if you show the initiative . Besides that you should try and find the reason(s) you are not doing good in the class (i.e. partying, missing class, girlfriend, ect.) and change your habits. Of course, if your school will still let you drop the class that may be a last resort too. Just remember if you do drop the class that is tuition money gone down the drain, so try and make it a last resort.

I hope this helped!

Cheers!

The College Kids

How to Throw the Perfect Kegger

College Kids,

What Do I need to throw the perfect kegger?

Ricky
21 Years
Old Sugarfield, CA

Ricky,

This is what you need:

• A Keg - Thank you captain obvious.
  
• A Cool Place for the Keg - We would recommend you put it in a bin/tub of ice.
• Cups - This is also obvious, but must be handled delicately; especially if you are charging at the door. If you are charging, someone trustworthy (preferably YOU) needs to hold on to the cups and give them to people when they pay.
• A Good Location - Make sure that your house/apartment is in a good location for a kegger. If your neighbors are not the nicest people in the world you may want to find a new spot.
• Good Music - Whether it is a band, DJ, or just an ipod, music is key. Make sure you have that situation set up well ahead of time. Also, depending on the type of party you want, you may want to get some dance lights.
  
• Drinking Games - While these are not mandatory, they are definitely recommended. Drinking games are fun and will make the night much more interesting. For popular games and rules go here.
• Good People - Although keggers are in many ways about quantity they are still about quality. Invite people that are going to be fun and respect your property.
  
• Know Your Laws - Different states have different laws on kegs. Whoever is buying the keg should know what their rights are if they were ever to get caught serving minors(not that were encouraging it). Some states are very strict so be careful!

We hope this helped.

Cheers!

The College Kids

Magic Trick: Bend a Spoon

College Kids,

How do I bend a spoon with my mind?

Fred
20 Years Old
Boston, MA


Ever wonder how people could magically bend a spoon using their "mind"? Well, we got the full explanation right here on how to do it.

Cheers,

The College Kids

Time to Relax

College Kids,

School is really stressful and I was wondering if you had any advice on how to relax?

Sam 19
Years Old
Machias, ME

Sam,

Stress is a very common thing for college students. Your ability to succeed will be in many way dependent on how you are able to deal with stress. There is no right or wrong way to relax so only you can find whats right.

Get Away

One of the most helpful ways to deal with stress is to get out of your environment. If you live in a dorm or apartment stress can build up between you and your roommate or just from being cramped in a small room. What you need to to is go outside and find a place where you can relax. If the weather is nice I would suggest going to a park or plot of grass. Here you can get away and get some fresh air.

Do Not Procrastinate

In college you can get caught behind in no time. If you want to stop stress then you need to make yourself do your work on time. This can be hard, but is worth it in the long run.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body. Exercising for a half hour can lower your stress and get you in shape. It also gives you time by yourself (or with friends) to get away. Another important factor is your sleep. We all know what a full night can do to your mood and your grades. So do what you can to give yourself the eight hours you need, or in some cases ten or twelve.

Avoid Draining Relationships

Lets face it, some people suck. Every college has those people who are mean, ignorant, and annoying. You want to stay away from them. You will not believe how much better it makes you feel when you surround yourself with people who pull you up instead of down.

Make Time For the Things You Enjoy

School is important, but it does not mean you should lose touch with yourself and what you like to do. I know a lot of people who came into college with hobbies that they loved only to stop doing them. Many people get busy and get so caught up in their lives that they forget how much they enjoyed playing the guitar or writing. Make sure you always take time for yourself when you need it.

I hope this gets you thinking.

Cheers!

The College Kids

Shout out to DBurke - Boston, MA

Is My School Right For Me?

College Kids,

I just started at my school this fall and am not sure if it is the right place for me. I like the atmosphere, but the major I choose is not what I thought it would be. I do not know what I should do.

Lilly
18 Years Old
Newton, MA

Lilly,

Before I say anything else, I must first say what is happening to you is fairly common. Unfortunately, most people do not realize they hate their major until it is about five years too late. So that already puts you ahead of the game.

The decision on whether or not you should stay is dependent on your school. You said that you like the school atmosphere, so that is a check. On the other hand, you do not like your major. What you should do is try and figure out the general area of where you want to go. If the school you are in has nothing even close to it, you may want to consider leaving. Otherwise it would probably be safer to stay.

Remember, you still have plenty of time. If in a year from now you discover your desired major is not available, then you can always transfer (I did). Of course, you may be surprised to find that the major of your choice is waiting for you right down the hall. All in all, the fact that you said that you like the atmosphere of the school makes me think you should definitely stay, at least for the short term.

Good Luck!

The College Kids

Girlfriends from High School

College Kids,

I'm a freshman in college but I still have my girlfriend from home. Is this a good idea?

Nick
19 Years Old
New Jersey


Nick,

This is one of the hardest questions that a college freshman can face. We can't give you an answer on whether or not you should stay together but we can give you some input based on our personal experiences.

Out of all the college kids, four of us had girlfriends going into college. Two of us had been in a relationship for almost a year, one for over 6 months, and one for only days. Now we are all in our junior years and only the couple that started dating just before leaving for school is still together. Out of the other three, two lasted all of freshman year and the other lasted through sophomore year. None broke up just because they were away at college, most actually happened during the summer.

Trust - If you haven't been dating a while or just don't have much trust yet it could be an issue. You are going to have more freedom than ever and will get to know many more people. If you can't trust each other, it will never work. Ironically, only the couple that started dating right before leaving to go to school is still together.

Visiting - Long distance relationships can work but they are extremely difficult. If you cannot see each other at least every few weeks it may be too difficult. The less you see each other the more you have to communicate.

Communication - In order to make a long distance relationship work you are going to have to communicate. Instant messenger and text messages are okay but if you don't talk on the phone for a while every day you're likely to drift apart and that will be the beginning of the end.

Being Spontaneous - When you're apart and in a long distance relationship it's easy to get stuck in a boring pattern where you say and do the same things all the time. Make sure you surprise each other, send some mail, gifts, or flowers, anything will help.

These are just some simple pieces of advice but the main thing is to never get discouraged and to never give up! If you really want the relationship to succeed you can make it happen. It will never be easy but remember, that's not what it's about.

Good luck!

The College Kids

Sharing Music And Files With Your Friends

College Kids,

Is there a way to share music and files with my friend across the country?

Danny
20 Years Old
Duke, TX

Danny,

The College Kids and I did a little investigating and found Hamachi. It is a great program that creates a secure private network that all your friends can join.

Once you and a friend are connected you can share music through itunes just like you can on a campus network. If your itunes is not set to share you can change it by going edit >preferences >sharing.

With Hamachi you can also share folders. To do this you must pick one and set it up by right clicking on it, clicking properties >sharing >then checking "share this folder on a network". Once you have done that your friends can right click on your name in Hamachi, click browse, then enter your computers user name/password, and connect! Just be careful who you invite as friends because anyone you share folders with has open access to those files.

Altogether Hamachi is secure, fast, and College Kid Tested & Approved.

Check it out!

Cheers!

The College Kids

How To Stay Organized In College

College Kids,

My classes are very demanding. Do you have any advice on how to stay organized?

Lee
19 Years Old
St. Thomas

Lee,

Staying organized in school is extremely important. It will make your classes and your life much easier. Here are some tips:

Have A Planner - This one should be a no brainier (especially because most schools give you one), but if you do not have one get one. A planner allows you to look at you whole week and see exactly what you need to do.
Make Separate Binders/Folders - Each class is unique and deserves its own separate binder/folder. I have seen many people use one notebook for all their classes. This is a really bad idea. Not only will your notes be mixed up, but so will every piece of paper you ever get.
Have A Designated School Area - Somewhere in you room you should create an area strictly for your school stuff. You should then get in the habit of putting all your books and notebooks there every day after class. This way you will never lose anything.
Have A To Do List - Preferably one on a dry erase board.
Set Timelines For Projects - If you are a procrastinator like me, you are going to want to do this.
Back Up Your Files - You should always back up you files on a flash drive or online. This can save your life, seriously.
Take Neat Notes - If you are not good at this you might want to try and rewrite some of your chicken scratch after class so when you are studying you can actually use it.
Check Your E-Mail Frequently - Many times professors will send you important information via e-mail. You do not want to miss it (especially if it is a class cancellation).

I hoped these helped!

The College Kids

Avoid The Freshman 15

College Kids,

I just started school and am afraid of gaining the "Freshman 15". Do you have any advice?

Tasha
18 Years Old
Clayton, CA

Tasha,

College life can be very demanding at times. With all your classes, social lives, and jobs, keeping healthy can sometimes take a back seat. To stay healthy you must remember to take a little time for your self and be smart. Here are some tips:

Exercise - This is the most obvious, and most important thing you can do to stay healthy. You should exercise several times a week. Remember, exercise does not always have to be going to the gym. It can be playing a sport, riding a bike, or anything that gets you outside and moving. If you do not play a sport for school you might want to join an intramural team, they are lots of fun.
Eat Healthy - This can be hard in college cafeterias, but most schools have healthy alternatives. If they do not, put in a request for healthier foods.
Eat Smaller Meals - When your busy you sometimes have to combine meals. This is very bad for you. If you know you have multiple classes in a row then you should at least bring a snack with you.
Reduce Your Stress - This is easier said than done and there is not one way to do it. Everyone has different things they do to reduce stress and you need to find what works for you. Once you do you will feel (and look) a lot better.
Stay Away From Fast Food - Sometimes it is late, you are hungry, and you need some quick food. So what do you do? You go to BK or call Dominoes. This is fine on occasion, but if done frequently, your might find yourself upgrading you pants size.
Drink Water Not Soda - When people talk about dieting they always talk about food and sometimes forget to talk about the beverage department. Sodas and energy drinks are commonly consumed in dorm rooms. These drinks are some of the most unhealthy drinks you can consume. My advice: drink water or juice instead.

Cheers!

The College Kids

Picking Your Major

College Kids,

I have no idea what I want to major in. How do I decide?

Lance
19 Years Old
Mildred, FL

Lance,

Deciding on a major can be a very difficult task. The urgency of this decision will depend on your school and your year. In our experience most colleges want you to pick a major by the time you are a Junior. Our best advice is that you should explore your options by taking a variety of classes. You should take classes that spark your interest. Do not be afraid to come out of your shell a little bit. If you think you might want to take a class then try it. You never know where it will lead you.

At the end of the day, choosing a major is a personal decision that should only be made by you. Remember that you are not the only one who is unsure. Many people still do not know what they want to do after they graduate. I do not say this to scare you, in fact it should encourage you. A lot of things can happen in 4 years and you can not always predict the future. Majors are important, but they do not lock you down for life. They just put you in a direction.

Good Luck!

The College Kids

Best Cheap College Foods

College Kids,

What cheap dorm foods do you guys usually eat?

Uriah
19 Years Old
Merrywood, GA

Uriah,

I have consulted the College Kid Brain Trust and come up with the Best Cheap College Foods:

Meals

Ramen Noodles

Ellio's Frozen Pizzas

Beans
Campbells Soup
Spaghetti
Annies Macaroni
Chef Boyardee
Oatmeal
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Snacks
Trail Mix
Popcorn
Goldfish
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Pretzels
French Bread

Drinks

Arizona Iced Tea
Cool Aid
Hot Tea
Generic Soda
64 Oz Gatorades
Water From a Brita Filter
4C Iced Tea

Also, Remember to clip coupons, wait for sales, and go to BJ's/Cosco's.

I hope this helped!

Cheers!

The College Kids

How College Will Change You (The Good, Bad, And In Between)

College Kids,

I've heard that a lot of people change after they go to college. Is this true?

Sam
18 Years Old
Sandusky, OH

Sam,

Absolutely. Moving out on your own is one of the biggest changes that will ever occur in your life. I have seen college change people in many ways, so the college kids and I came up with a few ways that many of us and our peers have changed. Some are good, some are bad, and some are in between. Just make sure you avoid the bad.

The Good

You Will Become More Mature

- This happens to almost everyone and is definitely a good thing. With in a few weeks you will have adjusted to life on your own and be totally comfortable being independent. That means doing what you want whenever you want to.

You Will Become More Open Minded

- One of my favorite things about being in college is all the different people and ideas you are exposed to. I grew up in a small town and it was refreshing to go to a school where there is at least one person from basically every country in the world. When you live in the dorms you will experience different ideas, cultures, and music.

You Will Appreciate The Small Things

-I do not quite know how or why, but college seems to make people more appreciative of the small things. Perhaps its the small dorms or crappy cafeteria food. Who knows. All I know is that I have never enjoyed playing Frisbee with my friends more than I have in college.

You Will Make TONS Of Friends

-Not to say that you do not have enough to begin with, but you will make all kinds of new friends once you move in. Of course, you might want to still hang on to your old friends, they could be your best.

The In Between

You Will Drink More Alcohol

- This is good or bad depending on your definition of "more". If "more" means only on the weekends, then "more" is good. If "more" means Monday through Sunday including all holidays then "more" is bad. You get the the point.

You Will Have More Hookups

- Most of the time this is a good thing. The only time this can be bad is if people start to know you as the girl/guy who hooks up with random people all the time. Then you might want to cool it a bit.

The Bad
Watch Your Weight

- I have seen this happen a thousand times. I even got out of shape my first year in college. All the bad food and lack of motivation to exercise can be a bad mix. My advice: go outside and get some fresh air. It will do the body (and mind) a lot of good.

You Will Have More Stress

- The college workload can put a lot of stress in your life. Added on to everything else this can be a real difficult challenge for college students. Everyone deals with stress differently. You should find ways that work for you. Whether it is exercise, reading a book, going out on the weekends, or meditation, you have to always take time for yourself.

You Will Get Bad Sleeping Habits

When you have to cram for a test sometimes you have to stay up late, very late. In fact, sometimes you have to stay up so late you never go to bed. Freshman, allow me to introduce you to the all-nighter. She is not fun and you want to avoid her at all cost. The best way to do this is by not procrastinating and scheduling your time.

The bottom line is that college will absolutely change you in some way. That is what makes it so great! The idea though, is to let it change you in a good way and not a bad way. It is also to let it change you in a way you want to be changed, and not in a way you do not want.


Cheers!

The College Kids

Commonly Forgotten Items

College Kids,

A few weeks back you had an article on common things students forget to bring to school with them. Do you have any more?

Cindy
18 Years Old
East Gardiner, OR

Cindy,

I consulted the College Kid Brain Trust and came up with a nice list of thing us or friends of ours have forgotten to bring.

Laundry Detergent - Never pay $1 for a loads worth of detergent, never.
Storage Bins - They are always handy to help you stay organized.
Alarm Clock - Because you do need to go to class at least sometimes.
Sandals - Because you do not want to be barefoot in those showers, trust me.
A Sports Related Item - For when you want to go outside and play Football or throw the Frisbee.
Towel - Duhhhhh.
Pictures From Home - They are always nice to have.
Toothbrush Case - So you wont have to worry about it falling on the floor.
Shower Caddy - Helps you keep all your shower stuff together.
Hangers - I seriously do not think anyone remembers these.
Swim Trunks - You never know when you might go swimming.
Finger Nail Clippers - Because your roommate is thinking the same thing you are :"I don't have to bring any, my roommate will".
Plastic Silverware - Very handy.
Fan - September can still be a very hot month.
Cellphone Charger - If you forget to bring this then your phone will die and you will not be able to call mom and have her send it to you.
A Hobby Related Item - You do not want to be stuck at school without your hobby. If you play guitar bring it!

I hope you liked our list! Please tell us if you think of anymore.

Cheers!

The College Kids

College Books Cheap

College Kids,

Last year I ended up spending around $500 a semester on books. Where can I go to get them for less?

Tom
19 Years Old
Hawaii

Tom

Books at school are a complete rip off and you should try and avoid the book store at all cost.

Here are some good alternate sources for textbooks:

Amazon.com - There are lots of good bookstores on the internet, but Amazon has a huge selection, sells both new and used, and is fairly cheap. Be careful of used ones though, shipping can sometimes take a while.
Facebook Marketplace - This one is new to a lot of us. Facebook Marketplace allows you to find people on your campus that want to sell you their book (or anything else for that matter). You then meet up with them and make the transaction happen.
Buy It From A Friend - That usually does not work during the first semester, but this winter you should check to see if someone you know has a book you need. Hell, they might just give it to you for free (or for a favor to be redeemed at any time).
Share It - My mother always said sharing is good. She was right unless, of course, it is for a book that you need to use every day. Remember, only share if it is a class that rarely uses the book.
eBay - You will always find great prices on eBay.

On a final note I must remind you all to make sure you know the right edition, make sure you actually need the book before you buy it, and of course, make sure you do indeed buy books. Sixty dollars for a book may be a lot, but it is nothing like the $800 you will spend retaking the course.

Remember, you are college educated adults and you do not have to let the bookstores screw you!

Cheers!

The College Kids

Homer Simpson

College kids,

Why is Homer Simpson gold?

Seth


Seth,

I can only answer your question with another. Why is the answer to life 42? Nobody knows.

Need Proof? Here it is.

Cheers,

The College Kids

How to Make the Perfect Grilled Cheese

College Kids,

I'm not good at cooking ANYTHING. How do I make the perfect grilled cheese?

Tom
19 years old
Montreal, Canada


Tom,

We found the perfect tutorial for you on how to create the most amazing grilled cheese. Enjoy!

Make a Grilled Cheese

Cheers,

The College Kids

Getting Lucky....

College Kids,

When you get lucky people say they go all the way to third base.What is first, second, and third base to you?

Jesse
Minnesota

Jesse,

Many people have different views on this subject, but seeing your asking me here how it goes:

1st Kissing

2nd Anything except Oral

3rd Oral

4th Sex
Hope this helps!

Cheers,

The College Kids