Personally, it’s one of my biggest pet peeves. Sure, it may be comfortable, but come on! You can’t make the effort of throwing on a pair of jeans before you leave your room? If it’s a question of waking up, choose classes that are later in the day!

But hey, that’s just me. Many students seem to think that wearing pajamas to class is not a faux pas at all. Here are the pros and cons of donning your nightie to Biology 101:

Pros of Wearing Pajamas to Class:

• It’s comfortable. Of course, we sleep in pajamas for a reason — they’re comfortable! And who doesn’t want to be comfortable all the time? Wearing pajamas to class certainly takes care of that.

• It’s convenient. How often do you get up early enough to take a shower, comb you hair and get dressed to go to a class that’s in a building across the street from your dorm? Yeah, we thought so. If you instead want to wake up five minutes before that early morning class starts, wearing pajamas to class is certainly convenient.

• It’s accident proof. If you’re still waking up, you might not be terribly coordinated yet, and you’re more likely to be clumsy.  So if you knock over your mug of coffee or drop your donut on your favorite sweater, you start the day off annoyed.  But if you stain your pajamas, who cares? It’s a much less urgent trip to the laundromat.

• It’s fashion? As much as I don’t want to say that wearing pajama pants to class is a fashion statement, I guess it must be for some. But this begs the question — what exactly is the statement that you’re making? I’ll let you answer that one.

Cons of Wearing Pajamas to Class:

• It’s unprofessional. I’m not by any means saying that you should attend each of your classes like you’re dressing for a job interview but simply that you should make an effort to look presentable. Your professor took the extra time to get ready for class in the morning — you should be paying him or her the same courtesy.

• It screams: “I’m lazy!” Back to that fashion statement you were making. Ultimately the statement is none other than you’re too lazy and care too little about what you look like. While that might have been cool for a brief period in the ’90s, the edge has certainly worn off.

• It suggests bad things about your hygiene. If you’re presumably wearing the same thing you were last night, you probably didn’t shower in the morning. Classy!

• It’s unattractive. If you’re trying to impress that cutie in your economics lecture, wearing pajamas to class is probably not the way to go. Think about it — would you want to date someone that appears to care very little about his or her appearance?

In a nutshell — unless you’ve got a horrible cold and can’t bring yourself to exert the energy it takes to put on some clothes (in which case you probably shouldn’t be leaving your bed to begin with), I think wearing pajamas to class is one heck of a faux pas!

But what do you think?

The first week of college can be quite a shock to your system — you will finally come head to head with all your expectations and trepidations!

Here’s a list of 8 things you must do during the first week of college that will help keep you afloat and make the transition from high school into college a little smoother:

1. Get to Know Your Neighbors

The first week of college is when you’re likely to make the friends that will stick around for your entire college career (and perhaps long after that!). Take advantage of this opportunity to get friendly with your college roommate, as well as your neighbors. Keep your dorm room door open so that anyone can pop in and say hello, and do some meet & greets yourself!

2. Choose a Study Spot

As you’ll realize even more in college, being comfortable is an important study tip. College campuses have countless places that you can escape to for some uninterrupted study time. Whether that’s a nook in the stacks, a shady patch on the quad, or somewhere else entirely, it’s up to you to find it.

3. Go to Class!

Though this may seem like an obvious one, you’d be surprised how many students choose to skip the first few classes of college, thinking that the real lessons won’t begin until later. They’re wrong! College professors won’t wait for the full class to show up to begin teaching, and if you miss the introductory lessons (as well as all the important notes you should have been taking!), you’ll likely have a hard time keeping up.

4. Pick Up a Syllabus

It’s absolutely crucial to get your hands on your class syllabus during the first week of college — something that you obviously won’t be able to do if you skip tip #3!  The syllabus will have a list of the necessary texts for that class, the schedule of assignments and class requirements. If any component of the class is a deal breaker for you, it’s important to know it as early as possible so you can find something to replace it with.

5. Buy Your Books

As soon as you know what textbooks you need, go out and buy them during your first week of college. Not only is it a good idea because they sell out fast, but you’ll also be able to begin your reading assignments. Falling behind and not knowing what’s going on in class is not a great way to begin college!

6. Locate the Nearest (& Cheapest!) Grocery Store

Now that you’re living on your own (and don’t have a fridge that magically restocks itself every week), you’re going to have to learn some cheap and easy meals to make! In your first week of college, go out and find the nearest grocery store where you can shop inexpensively. Make sure you go on a regular basis — eating out can really rack up your debt!

7. Fill Out Your Calendar

Once you’ve gone to all your classes and learned about the requirements of each, put all the major deadlines on a calendar. Presentations? Term papers? Exams? It’s important to know when all of them are (particularly in relation to each other) so that you can organize your time to complete each of them.

8. Get Lost On Campus

Unless you paid incredibly close attention on your campus tour, chances are you’re still a little unsure where everything is on campus. In your first week of college, spend some time walking around and finding your way back to your dorm room, the buildings your classes are held in, and the library.

The first week of college may seem like it’s in the distant future, but it’s not! The last of the warm summer days will pass by in a flash. Get excited! You’re about to make new friends, learn new things, and explore new terrain. Follow these tips, and the first week of college will be the beginning of a great year!

Rules About Cars on Campus

Many schools simply don’t allow freshmen to bring cars to college, in which case you have your answer. For those that do allow cars on campus, there are usually restrictions on where you can drive and park them. For example, some universities allow you to bring your car but dictate that you have to “store” it in a large (and usually distant) parking lot.

The colleges assume that you won’t be using your car on campus, but rather storing it there in-between trips home. Campuses are generally designed for pedestrians, not drivers. Large campuses usually provide bus transportation for students to get around.

If You Decide to Bring Your Car on Campus

If you’re moving to college and decide that you absolutely must bring your car to campus, make sure you:

• Find your school’s parking regulations and read them carefully. Most importantly — follow them! Most colleges patrol the streets and parking areas, and they can issue hefty tickets for illegal parking.
• Verify that all the necessary documents you need for driving (such as your license and insurance) are up-to-date and won’t expire while you’re still in school. This will be particularly important when you venture off campus.
• Give your car a full check up before leaving: check the oil level, filters, and tire pressure. Invest in some jumper cables and an auto club membership.
• Don’t leave your valuables in the car (this is a good tip for anyone), and always lock it.
• Decide on a sharing policy before you bring your car on campus. It’s a good thing to think about so that when your roommate one day asks to borrow your car, you won’t be forced to make a hurried decision. Here’s a good white lie: saying “I promised my parents I’d never loan it out” gets you off the spot.

There are both advantages and disadvantages of having your car on campus — ultimately, it’s up to you to decide!

Taking advantage of college resources for students is not only a great way to get involved in your college community, but also a great way to save money, get medical attention, and get help with any studies you might be having trouble with.

Want to know how? Here’s a list of college resources with which you should be familiar:

Residential Services

Most college dorms have resident advisers that will help you address issues outside of your regular curriculum. Don’t be afraid to make friends and come to your RA for help! Having been a student at the college for longer than you have, your RA will likely have some helpful tips and advice for all your inquiries.

Counseling Services

If you’re having a hard time coping with homesickness, stress, pressure from home, problems in your personal relationships, or any other issues you feel you need to work through, you often can get confidential (and free!) counseling at your college. Mental health counselors are usually available on campus for a set number of sessions or semesters. If you need continued help, they will be able to refer you to off-campus counselors or psychologists that you can afford.

Health Services

Like the counseling services, health services are completely confidential on campuses. They usually include immunizations, diagnostic testing, and treatment of illnesses. Make sure you know what you’re covered for so you can take advantage of this college resource for students!

Financial Services

Are you thinking about taking out a loan? Having trouble filling out your FAFSA? Want to know what your financial options are? The financial aid office is a great college resource for students. You can get free guidance and advice about all your financial questions and get introduced to strategies for paying off college that you may not have even considered.  Questions about work-study? This is the place to go for that, too.

Want to succeed in college by making the best grades, saving a ton of money and making great friends? The secret to meeting all the challenges that college presents is being knowledgeable about — and taking advantage of — all of the college resources available for students.

Let’s be honest: most college kids are too busy enogh trying to keep up with school and maintain a social life to worry about their post-college career, especially during the first three years of school when post-grad life seems like its eons away. But it’s never too early to take advantage of your school’s career counseling services. Check out these five fantastic ways that career counseling for students can help you -– and discover why you should take advantage of these services now rather than waiting until your final semester when “the real world” is suddenly looming ahead of you.

Career counseling can help you …

1. Figure Out What You Want

When you’re starting college, choosing a major seems like a big enough challenge, let alone deciding on a potential career. While it’s not necessary to have your whole life planned by the end of your first semester, having some idea of what careers interest you can actually help with those other college choices, like what classes to take.

If you have absolutely no idea as to where your interests lie, career counseling for students can help. Most career offices have loads of literature about all kinds of jobs, and they can give you a test that assesses your skills and interests in order to pinpoint possible careers for you.

2. Find Opportunities

Career counseling services can help you find opportunities not only after you’ve donned the cap and gown but also while you’re still in school. Summer jobs and internships are a fantastic way to find out what areas interest you – and to gain valuable experience and contacts which help in finding a job after graduation.

Career counseling offices for students usually have job and internship postings, many of which are listed exclusively within the school’s system, meaning that competition is far less fierce. Instead of just perusing postings on your own, take the time to visit the office and talk to a counselor about what areas interest you.

3. Perfect Your Resume and Cover Letter

After you’ve found a position that interests you comes the pain of actually applying for the job. This can seem daunting … especially if it’s your first time going through the job application process. Trust me, I remember struggling for hours over my first resume and, to be honest, it ended up looking pretty amateurish.

Avoid that mistake and turn to your career counseling office for help. Most career centers offer workshops on US resume formatting and cover letter writing. Often you can even make an appointment for a one-on-one consultation to improve your job app documents. Or, a simpler (and often quicker) option is to turn to a professional resume writing service.

4. Practice Your Handshake

Many career counseling services for students also offer free student job interview practice . From perfecting your confidant “this-job-is-mine!” handshake to learning how to handle the toughest interview questions, this kind of interview practice is well worth the effort.

Even if you’re not applying to jobs while in school, take advantage of this opportunity while you can: this is your chance to get consultation from experts and it won’t cost you a cent.

5. Get Two Words: Moral Support!

While your future career may be the last thing on your mind while you’re busy pulling all-nighters and studying for exams, career counseling for students is still something you should take advantage of.

In addition to all the reasons listed above, career counseling can offer you some much-needed moral support when it comes to the job hunt. Talking to experts about your career options in advance of graduation will save you lots of stress down the line. So take some time between studying and partying to step into your school’s career counseling center – you’ll be glad you did.

The transition of moving from your parents’ house to a college dorm is often a tough one for students. Having your pet with you, a constant reminder of home and security, is the perfect stepping stone to being on your own. And pet friendly campuses make that possible.

Sure, there are rules. Stephens College, for example, maintains that your pet must not exceed six feet and cannot be venomous. Also, pets will only be allowed in designated wings. All rather reasonable parameters for pet friendly campuses, we think.

So here’s the list, folks. Keep in mind — each pet friendly campus has its own policy for what animals they do and don’t allow, so do your research before sending an application in for you and your slightly hairier best friend.

20 Pet Friendly Campuses Across the Nation

1. Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
3. State University of New York at Canton
4. Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
5. University of California, Los Angeles
6. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York
7. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
8. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
9. Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
10. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
11. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
12. Principa College, Elsah, Illinois
13. Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania
14. Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts
15. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
16. Sweet Briar College, Amherst, Virginia
17. University of Notre Dame, New York, New York
18. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
19. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
20. Principia College, Elsah, Illinois

Before deciding on whether or not you should apply to a pet friendly college, think about what you want out of your college experience. Also, think about what’s best for your pet, and whether or not you can afford an extra mouth to feed! If you decide that a pet friendly campus is the best choice for you, start applying!

Though that may seem like the better option, you may not have thought carefully about everything that coed college dorms entail. Before making your decision and choose your college, take a look at the pros and cons of coed college dorms:

Pros of Coed College Dorms:

• Socializing! Given the close quarters, you get to easily socialize with members of the opposite sex during the many on-campus activities your college provides.  For many students (at least the heterosexual ones), this alone is worth sharing a bathroom with the opposite sex.
• In the future, you’ll have to interact with men and women both professionally and personally. Student diversity, such as living with members of both sexes gives you the experience necessary to be better able to find a common ground.
• And of course, dating! When you’re in such close proximity with the opposite sex, it’s difficult not to meet someone you’re interested in. Even if you’re shy, living in a coed college dorm gives you plenty of chances to work up the nerve to ask out the cutie you have your eye on.

Cons of Coed College Dorms:

• Bathroom etiquette: It’s simple. Girls and guys typically have different grooming habits, use different products and often, have a different definition of “clean.” Sharing a living space, and especially a bathroom, can prove difficult for both genders that don’t want to come head to head with each others’ bathroom habits.
• Privacy: When searching for student housing, take this into account. If you’re easily flustered, living in a coed college dorm is not for you. You’re likely to see people of the opposite sex walking around in bathrobes and towels, and occasionally even less than that. Sharing a living space with the opposite sex requires minimal squeamishness.
• Distraction! Admit it — for many of you, living in a coed college dorm would make it close to impossible to concentrate on your school work and study for your exams. If your eyes (and mind!) wander at the sight of cute co-eds, coed college dorms aren’t the best choice for you.

Whether you’re living off campus or in the college dorm, it’s important to have the right social setting. Think carefully before you decide if a coed college dorm is the right choice for you!

It’s important not to panic! While having college student stress in your life is pretty much unavoidable, being stressed is something you can control.

Follow these tips when the pressure gets to be too much and you need to unwind:

1. Get Enough Sleep

When your body is deprived of sleep, it is much more sensitive to the negative effects of college student stress. Though those early morning classes do not allow for an ideal sleep schedule, you have to make the effort to get in at least 7 hours a night.

Getting more sleep can help your mind refocus, recharge, and rebalance; sometimes it’s all you need to relieve college student stress.

2. Eat Well

It’s likely that your eating habits have become far less healthy since you’ve started college. Do you eat nothing but cheap, greasy foods at odd hours of the day and night?

Not only do bad eating habits in your college meal plan contribute to college student stress levels, it also contributes to your waistline! Keep off the “freshman 15″ and de-stress by eating simple and healthy meals at appropriate intervals throughout the day.

3. Get Some Exercise

I know what you’re thinking — “I don’t have any time!” But you’re wrong. Being physically active does not mean spending hours at the gym. Getting your day’s worth of exercise can simply mean taking a 30-minute walk while listening to your ipod — it’s relaxing, and helps you stay healthy in college.

Your body needs some movement after a day’s worth of sitting in lecture halls or doing homework — and it’ll help relieve some college student stress!

4. Take Some Quiet Time

In the midst of your daily schedule, you probably don’t have much time to yourself. Living with a college roommate, and spending most of your time on a crowded campus doesn’t exactly scream “zen.”

To relieve some college student stress, go out of your way to spend some time alone. Enjoying some peace and quiet — with no cell phone, roommates, or crowds — might be just what you need.

5. Ask for Help

College student stress is not uncommon, and may occasionally need more attention than simply changing a few lifestyle habits. Sometimes you just need to vent! If you’re ever having a particularly tough time managing stress or dealing with homesickness, don’t be afraid to ask your friends or your student health center for help.

Dealing with college student stress doesn’t have to be stressful! Most students deal with it on a daily basis, so you’re not alone. The important thing to remember is that you can beat college student stress simply by making healthy lifestyle choices.

Though traditionally, Thanksgiving is a holiday spent with family, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun or memorable celebration on your college campus!

The top 4 ways to spend your college Thanksgiving break away from home are:

1. Throw a Dinner Party

Do you know other students who are spending college Thanksgiving break in the dorms? Get together! Assign each person to make his or her favorite home-cooked dish and decide on a kitchen or common room to have dinner in.

Get together to decorate the room with yellow and orange Christmas lights, or make “Hand Turkeys” with finger-paint and construction paper. You’ll enjoy the festive spirit of your college Thanksgiving break in the company of friends and work up an appetite for a delicious Thanksgiving feast!

Some easy-to-prepare Thanksgiving dishes are:

• Roast Turkey
• Stuffing (Boxed)
• Cranberry Sauce (Canned)
• Mashed Potatoes
• Gravy (Canned)

2. Explore the City

Are you new to your college town? College Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to explore it! Even if you’ve lived in your dorms for several months, you probably haven’t ventured very far from campus.

To start, pick up a travel booklet in your local bookstore. Are there museums you’ve yet to visit? Landmarks you’ve yet to see? Get acquainted with your new neighborhood over college Thanksgiving break.

3. Study for Finals

College Thanksgiving break falls almost immediately before college finals. If you spend all your days off lounging around eating turkey, you’ll be swamped with papers and forced to cram for your upcoming exams in December.

Why not use your college Thanksgiving break to begin your studies? That way, when all your friends are stressed and cramming away after college Thanksgiving break, you’ll be breathing easily.

4. Enjoy a Night on the Town

Get some friends together and go out on the town over your college Thanksgiving break.

Thanksgiving Eve is a very popular “party night” for local nightclubs and bars. They often host special events such as themed parties, live entertainment and discounted admission.

Most venues (especially in college towns) host 18+ events so check the web or your local newspaper for local listings and details.

College Thanksgiving break in the dorms can be just as fun, festive and delicious as it is at home. Don’t stay cooped up in your room all alone feeling homesick! With a little creativity and an open mind, you might just have the best college Thanksgiving break yet!

Often discussed among prospective college students, the Freshman 15 refers to the 15 pounds students supposedly gain in their first year of college. Stories about the Freshman 15 have been circulating for decades – even your parents might have talked about it when they were in college too.

But the Freshman 15 is more than just a myth. Researchers have found that new college students do tend to gain weight during their first year, although it’s usually around 5 to 10 pounds.

You can easily prevent gaining the fabled Freshman 15 by remembering these 8 ways to stay healthy and happy:

1. Eat breakfast.

The first meal of the day not only gives you energy for those early morning classes. It also keeps you satisfied throughout the day, so you can forget the Freshman 15 and avoid binging on candy when you get hungry before lunchtime.

2. Be an adventurous eater.

Colleges often have the same food choices night after night, and it’s tempting to return to the hamburgers and ice cream all year long. But trying new things – especially the vegetarian offerings – will not only expand your culinary tastes, but also often provide healthier food alternatives to keep off the Freshman 15.

3. Choose your beverages carefully.

They don’t seem like food, but many beverages, especially soda and alcoholic drinks, are loaded with sugar and calories that can be an easy way toward the Freshman 15. Try to cut back, and remember to drink lots of water throughout the day!

4. Watch the late-night snacks.

When you’re studying in the library or working on that term paper late at night, you might try to stay awake by chowing down. Especially with the early dining hours of many college cafeterias, your last meal can seem like ages ago when you’re up late.

When you need a late-night bite, remember the Freshman 15. Keep healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables in your room, rather than going on a midnight pizza run!

5. Try dining without a tray.

Many schools have unlimited meal plans for freshmen, and cafeteria trays can hold many, many plates of college food. This all-you-can-eat lifestyle change in college is one of the primary causes of the Freshman 15.

Leave the tray behind and only take what you can carry. Eating without a tray is ecological – it saves gallons of dishwashing water – and gives you time to think before getting up for seconds.

6. Join an intramural sports team.

You can avoid the Freshman 15 in other ways than just by watching what you eat. Exercise helps prevent the Freshman 15 – and can be a lot of fun!

Sports at college aren’t only for varsity athletes. You can play on an intramural sports team with your friends, or join student-led running or hiking clubs.

What’s more, college gym memberships are usually included in the cost of tuition and sometimes have courses for academic credit, so you can avoid the Freshman 15 just by going to class!

7. Skip the shuttle.

Your college might offer free transportation to class, but the majority of campuses are small enough to walk or bike to where you need to go. Take a few extra minutes to enjoy exploring your campus on foot, and you’ll keep off the Freshman 15 at the same time!

8. Get some sleep.

You’ve heard it before, but getting a good night’s sleep really does keep you healthy – and can prevent the Freshman 15.

You’ll probably experience a lot of changes during your first year of colleges – but your weight doesn’t have to be one of them! Avoiding the Freshman 15 can be as easy as trying new foods, walking to class, and taking time to relax and recharge for the next day!