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How to make the most out of our time here

College is more than just a place for obtaining a higher education. Yes, we’re all here for a degree, but this is our home. Our friends become our family, Bloomington becomes our second hometown and campus becomes our safe haven. We all have our favorite spots to study, eat, hangout, and party. But what if IU feels like just a place to obtain a higher education? If you want to get more involved and absorbed with the college life, there are many ways to do so. One of the greatest things about IU is the never-ending opportunities and ways to get involved. From sporting events to clubs to Btown’s diversity, there’s something for everybody to love.

Here are (in my opinion) 5 of the best ways to get the best college experience at IU

Go to sporting events. IU has some of the best teams in the nation. There is nothing like Assembly Hall during a close game, or Memorial Stadium after a day of tailgating. Even outside basketball and football, our school holds national titles in many other sports. If you’ve never been to a soccer or baseball game, I highly recommend it. The energy and turn out is always high, making the game just as exciting to watch as basketball or football. No matter the sport, our student section is bound to be impressive. Make it your goal to attend sporting events that you haven’t before.

Find clubs to join. IU offers an insane amount of clubs and organizations to get involved with. There are over 750 organizations available to students. Not to mention, your opportunity to create your own club! Some of the best ways to get involved and make our large school feel smaller is to become involved. Make it your goal to become active in at least 2 clubs this year.

Get to know your floormates/neighbors. Aside from your roommates, your floormates or neighbors could become some of your best friends. As a freshman, I was lucky enough to have an amazing floor that I became very close to. When else are you going to be living next door to dozens of people doing the same things as you? Get to know your floor, neighbors, or apartment neighbors! Make it your goal to socialize and befriend those who live near you.

Try the food in Btown. Kirkwood and 4th street have some of the best restaurants around. From local to chain, there are hundreds of diverse options. Bloomington was named one of the, “Top Food Towns in America” in 2012 (Best of the Road competition). Explore the different cultural foods Btown offers like Thai, Greek, Irish, Indian and many more. Instead of the typical Chipotle or Noodles Co. dinner date on Kirkwood try something you haven’t before. Make it your goal to try a new ethnic restaurant you haven’t this year.

Immerse yourself in Btown. Bloomington is a big part of our college experience. We often times forget that we live somewhere besides just IU’s campus. Besides restaurants to explore, try some of the Bloomington traditions. Go hiking at Griffy Lake , rent a boat on Lake Monroe with some friends, check out the Quarry’s, go on a tour at Oliver Winery, and discover all the hidden gems Bloomington has to offer. From entertainment to food to shopping, Btown is full of surprises. Make it your goal to try something you haven’t in Bloomington this year.

For more on Bloomington:

While most students would argue that December and April/May are the busiest months of the year [finals, prepping for a new semester, or getting ready for that summer job/internship], I would definitely argue that October is the busiest. So much happens in October -- one day it's the first of the month, and before you know it, it's November. Here's the laundry list of events in October:

1. October 3rd, National Mean Girls Day

Okay, this isn't actually an event that makes October busy, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to refer to Lindsay's oh-so-famous line.

2. Homecoming Week

Homecoming Week is a lot of fun, mainly because of the Nearly Naked Mile and, of course, the Homecoming football game! The Nearly Naked Mile is a one mile walk/run for United Way, a charity focused on donating clothing to the local Salvation Army in Bloomington. To participate in the run, you must donate two articles of clothing or ten dollars. You can run as nearly naked as you wish -- I saw several guys in banana hammocks, girls in bras and underwear, and many people in shorts (and sports bras for girls.) It's a lot of fun, and you get an awesome long sleeve when you sign up!

3. The Jill Behrman Color the Campus 5k Walk/Run

Every year on the third weekend in October, IU and Recreational Sports holds a Color Run in honor of Jill Behrman. Jill was a student at IU, and she worked for Rec Sports. She went out for a bike ride one day, and she never came back. Three years later, it was discovered that she was murdered. This was the sixteenth year for the JB5K, and IU hosts it to honor Jill and to promote violence awareness on campus.

A 5k is 3.1 miles, but don't let that discourage you if you're not a runner! You can walk, run, or do a combination of both. It's so much fun, and if you run it, it's a really great feeling to finish the whole thing and feel like part of a cause. This year was my very first [completely run] 5k, and I finished in just under 26 minutes! The run is through campus, and it's beautiful because the trees are turning colors at this time of year. At the finish, there is catered food, water, and extra color powder to throw on yourself and your friends! You also get a cool tee shirt when you sign up for the Color Run.

4. Halloween (also referred to as Halloweek/Halloweekend)

Halloween at IU is SO MUCH FUN. Halloweekend is definitely the second best weekend of the year (just behind Little 5 weekend.) It's the one time of year when it acceptable to walk to class in a giraffe costume [I saw many people in costume throughout the week], to eat way too much candy corn and pumpkin shaped Reese's, to go out in a risque costume and not be too judged, and to make all of the Hocus Pocus references that your little heart desires. Who doesn't love a month that includes ABC Family's 13 Days of Halloween (thank goodness for Halloween Town 1-4, A Nightmare Before Christmas, and Twitches), pumpkin shaped candy, pumpkin spice everything, and awesome costume parties?

5. Midterms

Midterm week is the second week in October, and it is a long week. The lack of sleep is made up for with immense amounts of your caffeine of choice. The presence of fear and panic is strong. By the end of the week, your brain is mush. In addition to midterms being in October, it's also the busiest month of the first semester. Each class is reaching it's most productive point, and in turn, you have the most homework/tests/group projects. Think of a semester as a bell curve: October is the climax of all educational matter.

So even though October is arguably the most fun month, it is also the busiest month. My advice is to work hard and reward yourself by playing hard! Participate in all of the fun activities on campus, and go to parties during Halloweekend! Just make sure you study until you feel brain dead and you're certain that your blood volume has been replaced by all of the coffee you've ingested. Channel your inner Fat Amy and slay the month.

For More Information on October Events:

Since my plan after graduating (May 2016 is pretty soon, yet so far, far away...) is going to grad school for History, I'm currently writing a 60-page thesis. Although it sounded like a great idea and it is very rewarding, it totally dominates your life. Here are ten ways in which it does, through my favorite app, Snapchat.

1. You feel guilty for doing anything but working on the thesis

Friends, housework, other school work... It will all make you feel bad, sorry.

2. You start getting some pretty creative health problems

Working so much you get a "muscular jaw problem" (what does that even mean?!). Oh, okay. That's normal, right?

3. Your faculty adviser makes you do a 7-page bibliography and tells you that "it's a good start"

"You'll have to read at least all of this". Oh great. No more friends, TV or video games. Or life, really.

4. You suddenly get excited about getting new and colorful supplies to help you work

"Whaaat, these rainbow colored things are only 10 bucks?! TOTALLY worth it, let's get a hundred!"

5. When your friends ask you a question, the answer is always "thesis"

"What are you doing lately?" Thesis. "How are you doing?" Y'know, writing my thesis. "What did you do last weekend?" Same answer. "Halloween?" Also same answer.

6. You've read your work so many times you cannot possibly proofread it

It's impossible. It could say anything, like "History is and then yes". Regardless, every time you read it you'll read that cleverly phrased sentence you thought of the last time you edited it. No, glasses do not help.

7. You know so much about the subject area that it seems absurd that others are not deeply knowledgeable about super specific things

"What do you mean you didn't know that Druze women were photographed wearing tanturs by French photographers in the latter half of the 19th century..?" So hard to have a conversation with people these days.

8. Your friends want to ban the word "thesis"

But what else am I supposed to talk about?! And no, I can't come to your party.

9. You will hate your subject passionately for at least 6 months after you complete it

"Can you tell us about the sample essay you submitted?" No, it's terrible and I hate it and I never wanna think about it ever again.

10. You know that after you're done, you're gonna have the best gap year ever

And then do more research. Because it's kinda fun. And interesting. And rewarding.

For More on Writing Papers:

Bloomington has a lot of great places to go to eat, with a large variety of cuisine that can shame any other small town. Undoubtedly, one of the more popular joints here is My Thai Café. In the two years I've been here, this place has become one of my favorite restaurants, and this is coming from someone who did not have taste for Thai food at all. Anyone who lives here has definitely been to My Thai at least once, and agrees that the food and service are always up to the mark.

The menu here is full of savory treats like Pad Kee Mow, a spicy rice noodle dish with vegetables and egg; Drunken Man Fried Rice, stir fried rice with egg, succulent vegetables, and Thai Basil; and Panaeng Curry, Panaeng paste in coconut milk and veggies! All these dishes come with a choice of chicken, pork, or tofu.

In fact this place is so popular that I have always had to wait for at least 15 minutes before getting a table, and that is on a good day. During games days, or special events at IU, My Thai is always packed and the wait time goes on for over an hour.

The food here is really truly amazing. I never thought I would enjoy eating Thai food so much. Being an Indian I love spicy food and used to really crave that in the beginning during freshman year. After eating at My Thai I can get that spicy flavor that I love and enjoy a very well cooked meal.

This is definitely one of my favorite foods here in Bloomington.

For More Dinning in Bloomington:

'Tis the Season

Welcome to my absolute FAVORITE time of the year! In the mist of finals, what's better than eating endless amounts of cookies, wearing ugly sweaters, and watching childhood movies?

Here are a few of my favorite ways to put the holidays in my busy schedule.

Friendsgiving

Have a big group dinner with all your friends right before you go home for Thanksgiving break!

Holiday Starbucks

They're back! Nothing says Holidays like a Gingerbread latte in a festive cup.

Build a Snowman!

Coming from California the closest thing I will have to a white Christmas is walking to class during finals week. If I'm lucky I will have the chance to play in the snow before break. Just one light snowfall would open up the door for endless winter activities like building a snowman or having an epic snowball fight.

Christmas Cookies

IU's colors are conveniently the same as Christmas. Coincidence, I think not! IU Cookies can be purchased in the IMU and serve as the perfect treat to bring home for the family.

Ugly Sweaters

This is a pre-Thanksgiving break MUST. During the holiday season the IU bookstore is filled with ugly IU holiday sweaters. It's the prefect way to rep IU during break.

IU Basketball

Basketball season is in full swing! If you haven't attended a game yet.. you're missing out! You wont feel the true magic of being a Hoosier until you attend a close game in Assembly Hall. This is also the perfect time to rock that new IU holiday sweater.

Christmas Music

Need I say more?

25 days of Christmas

The perfect study break! Trust me, there is no better stress reliever than a good Christmas movie.

Prepare yourself for endless questions when you go home...

What’s your major?
How were finals? How are your grades?
Did you make any new friends?
How is your dorm?
Do you have a lot of free time?
What do you and your friends do?
Have you met any nice girls/guys?
Why are you/why didn’t you join/rush a sorority/fraternity?
Are you getting enough to eat? You look sickly.
How's the freshman 15?
What do you want to do with your life?
Did you get that card I sent you two months ago? Did you like it?
Why don’t you have a boyfriend/girlfriend yet?
Now what are you majoring in again?
When I was in school…
I met a nice young man/woman at CVS the other day. I should’ve given them your number.
Who are you texting? Is it a new boy/girl?
What are you going to do when you graduate?
You should really find a nice young man/woman before you’re too old.

Consider yourself warned.... It's coming.

Attend the Nutcracker

IU has one of the best ballet programs in the nation. Take a few hours out of your day to attend Nutcracker right on campus! Who knows you might even recognize a few of the performers.

Deck the Halls (of your dorm)

The Target dollar section is currently stocked with festive decorations! This is the perfect time for you and your roomie to get creative.

Take a night Walk in Bloomington

Last but not least, take a night walk down Kirkwood to admire the Christmas decorations.

For more on how to get in the Holiday Spirit:

A minor is a certification that needs fewer credits compared with a major. Some of my friends have more than one minor instead of double majors. I asked them for the reason because a major seems more competitive in the job market. They answered that they want to have much more possibilities of building the career. If they cannot find the job that fits their major, they might find other jobs linked to their second, third, even fourth minors.

Different from many students who chose their minors based on the job market, I chose my minor based on my interest. I like traveling a lot, and I believe visiting city and country museums are the best way to know about both the culture and the history. When I went to Italy, I had difficulties understanding and enjoying the Renaissance Art, which is the most important period of their art history. Therefore, I decided to choose an Art History as my minor. Many people told me that this minor may not be helpful if compared with minor in fields such as marketing or accounting; however, that did not stop me from choosing a less popular minor. I think Art History not only helps expand my knowledge, but will also help build a career. I proved this in the past few months.

I attended an exhibition opening and a conference about contemporary ink art during the weekend. This is my first "business" trip. As a Journalism student, who also know some knowledge about ink art, I got a chance to expressed my opinions about contemporary ink art through a media perspective. I met several talented artists, and scholars from Art Institue of Chicago. If I have never chosen Art History as my minor, this opportunity would not have come to me. I have been offered a job as media director in an art agency, which promotes young artists from Asia and provides different services for both collectors and artists. This agency was started by one my the students I met in one of my art history classes. Without the minor, I might not have gotten the job.

Artist and scholars sit together and discuss the potential of contemporary ink art.

If you do not have enough elective credits left for a major, having several minors may be a good choice. Minor gives you one more choice. This choice will help you on the path to success.

Contemporary Ink Art by Chaohui Zhang

For More on Majors and Minors:

Autumn at IU is by far the most beautiful time of the year. The humidity of the summer is almost gone and the temperature is just perfect – not too cold but not too hot. Of course living in Indiana that means cold in the morning, warm throughout the day and cold again at night (but still who doesn’t like to switch outfits throughout the day?). With the perfect temperature, comes all the new fall collections; colors such as orange, red, and brown are all over the campus. Talking about colors, the leaves turn into breathtaking beautiful colors. Runs and walks become so delightful that you will never want to take the bus.

Fall also gives us the best treats! Pumpkins spice everything, from drinks to pies to cookies. What else can we do in fall? Put on a costume and go trick or treating! Halloween is the most exciting and entertaining time of the year. You can pretend to be anyone or anything you want and nobody can stop you. Last but not least: Thanksgiving. What other better way to spend the holiday than to gather the family/friends around the dining table and eat some turkey and pie?

For more on Autumn at IU:

For most of you that are wondering what you will do in Bloomington for the next 4 years (or more), I am here to say that options are not a problem. As a diverse university in the US, Indiana University has a very large community of international students. As a consequence, Bloomington has many ethnic restaurants such as Tibetan, Indian, Greek, Japanese, Turkish and (my favorite) Korean! And all located in the same street (4th street) so you can have lunch in one, dinner in the other, and maybe second round of dessert on the next one.

If you are more of a nature person, then Bloomington is exactly where you should be, hikes around Griffy Lake are beautiful and lunches along the Jordan River are pleasantly nice. If you are more of a homebody person, order Pizza X at almost any time of the day (don’t forget to ask for their brownies). Indiana University has many attractions as well: go to the IU Museum of Art at night, put your feet up and watch the light show (trust me it is so much more exciting that it seems), take a class at the SRSC (Kayla’s Cardio Hip Hop are my absolute favorite), read a book by the fireplace at the Union! The university also has many concerts and theater performances that are 100% worth your time! Although it made seem like 4 years in Bloomington may be too much, it is the opposite, 4 years in this beautiful city will NOT be enough!

For more on what to do in Bloomington:

Ever heard of IT Training? They are an amazing UITS department for Indiana University and offer great training. And the best part--IT Training is a free resource to all IU students, faculty, and staff.

With offices on the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses, IT Training offers instructor-led computing workshops and provides self-study training resources to the Indiana University community and beyond. They deliver training to more than 30,000 participants each year across all campuses through our instructor-led workshops and self-study training resources.

IT Training partners with many departments and individual faculty and staff members across all Indiana University campuses to provide broad support for the technology education needs of the entire university community. Beyond the university, they have won several national awards for their materials and services, and their staff members have chaired programs, judged competitions, and presented papers at national conferences. Additionally, universities and organizations from across the country are using their workshop materials in their own training programs.

The goal of IT Training is to provide you with excellent technology training and customer service. They continue to be dedicated first and foremost to meeting the training needs of all of our participants, from the true beginner to the more advanced user.

Have I won you over? You NEED to take advantage of this resource.

But what happens when an IT Training workshop doesn't fit into my schedule?

I hear ya--you want to take these amazing classes, but you just don't have a day that matches one of their schedules. Well guess what?! Whether you're a student, faculty, or staff, you can request that IT Training come to you almost any day or time. If you have a group (minimum 10) that would like some training, let them know here: https://ittraining.iu.edu/request

Do you and your friends need some help with Excel?

Are you working with a group on a capstone project and need some more training?

Do you want to bring IT Training to your classroom?

Request a specially scheduled session of one of IT Training's instructor-led, hands-on workshops for your academic class, department, group or business. They'll provide the expertise, award-winning step-by-step materials that members of your group can use in the classroom and access afterward for review, and the room (online or in-person). Special request workshops are great for anyone, and they let you take your technology skills to the next level. What are you waiting for?

Read more about IT Training here:

Do you know about IT Training at IU?

What is the EdCert Program at IU?

Browse IT Training Workshops and Webinars by Date

Artist and scholars sit together and discuss the potential of contemporary ink art.

If you do not have enough elective credits left for a major, having several minors may be a good choice. Minor gives you one more choice. This choice will help you on the path to success.

Contemporary Ink Art by Chaohui Zhang

For More on Majors and Minors:

“Gnome is where the home is”. That is something that will be heard within the halls of Collins. Our mascot, which is the gnome, was given because of this window.

Since it's fall, most of you that are reading this are thinking about residence halls for next year or are hoping to get that beautiful crimson envelope of admittance (Class of 2020!). I’ve come to tell y’all about my wonderful home that is Collins or also referred to as Hogwarts.

A little history is that Collins is one of the oldest residence halls and used to house the football players since the lawn across Collins was the football field. You will notice that it is an LLC and that means you will have to request it, write essays (they are real easy, don’t worry) and pay additional funds for the activities. These activities include using our ceramics building, clubhouse, and going on trips like Chicago.

Location:

Collins is located on 541 North College Ave and is literally 10 minutes or less away from your classes. The only buildings that take longer are the ones on the southeast side of campus, which take 15 to 20 minutes.

Buildings:

Collins has 3 buildings: Edmondson, Smith, and Cravens.

Edmondson:

This is the building that I am living in and it is the main building that you see when facing Collins. The front desk, mailboxes and duty office are housed here. The formal lounge or flounge is where people like to study or hang out with friends. It also contains a piano and anyone can come and play it. Upstairs are the dorms. Ed 2 is for males, Ed 3 and Ed 4 are for females. These are doubles, triples, and for upperclassmen, double singles. The top level is our library. The library has an amazing collection of movies and books and is also a great study spot. Our bottom floor houses our dining hall, which serves lunch and dinner on the weekdays. Dinner is what Collins is famous for since it is an all-you-can-eat buffet. We also have the Flamingo Grill open for breakfast and lunch and the Deli for sandwiches and paninis.

Night in the Chesh

During the evenings from 8 to 12, we have our Cheshire Café, or the Chesh. It is student run and they sell baked goods and of course, coffee at low prices starting from 50 cents to the most expensive being $2.50. The basement has a classroom which also serves as a music practice room (which includes a piano) and a laundry room.

Smith:

When facing Collins, Smith is located on the left. As you walk in, there is a flounge. There are 3 levels besides the ground floor and they are split by gender as well, two guys floors (2nd and 4th floor) and two girls floors (Ground and 3rd floor). These dorms are doubles and singles. The basement houses a kitchen, or smitchen as we like to call it, which students can rent out to bake cookies or make meals. All utilities are provided, just bring your ingredients! Also, there is another flounge, which has a TV for you to watch while you do homework and talk with friends. We have a computer lab, that contains both Macs and Pcs for students to choose, a few classrooms and of course, a laundry room.

Cravens:

This building is on the right side facing Collins. The first and second level house co-ed doubles and singles. Then the third and fourth floor house both double females and single rooms. They also have three flounges, and one contains a TV. The bottom floor has classrooms and a laundry room.

Rooms:

Collins is one of the oldest residence halls and so that makes for its character. Nice wooden doors and closets. They even have drawers so you have plenty of space for your clothes. Just like in any dorm, you have your own bed, desk, shelf, and drawers. A cool feature to Collins is that the rooms are all different sizes, but graciously spaced. I have never once felt cramped in my dorm. You can either bunk your beds like what did I or you can have them on the floor (these are my friends rooms since my room is pretty messy). This is a good representation of a typical room you'd find in all three buildings.

Cravens Room

Typical closet with 8 drawers on left and hanging space on doors

Living with the Gnomies:

Collins is said to house some of the "weird" people of IU, but I like to refer to it as having the most diverse group on campus. Everyone here is so nice and when you talk to someone of Collins or Collinsites, they will telling you some amazing stories about themselves or what how there day has been. This is a community that supports each other and is very much student run. We have our own student government and a board that runs programs. You can become involved here if you wish to do so. When you become part of Collins, you have to take a Q class, which is to get students to learn more about their new home and about what IU has to offer. Students also take a Collins seminar, which has a wide range of selections from yoga, to learning about edible plants, to discussions on death. If you wish to learn more about Collins, visit their web page here. You can also read Emmalie's post about Collins for anything I didn't mention above. (All photos were taken by me)

Have a **sparkling** day!

~MJ

With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to start stressing about finding the perfect gift. Have no fear! My finals procrastination has lead to the ultimate Hoosier wish list. Find the perfect IU gift for everyone on your list!

For the First Apartment

Industrial block letters, my personal favorite.This is one of a kind gift and would be really cool in any space such as dorm rooms, apartments, homes or man caves/sports rooms. Check it out on etsy.

For the Tailgater

Every great tailgate needs a game for cornhole. Check it out on etsy

For the Basketball Fan

A classic IU necessity for every fan. With Basketball season underway be sure to purchase a pair of candy striped pants.

For the Dog

Don't forget about your fuzzy friends! Every dog deserves to rep IU in style this holiday season.

For the male dogs, an IU bandanna

For the female dogs an original IU cheerleading outfit.

For the Star Wars Fanatic

May the force be with you. Start off your day right with a set of IU Star Wars mugs.

Purchase here

For the Family

Perfect for family game night.

Purchase here

For the Girls

Perfect stocking suffer, IU temporary tattoos.

(hint hint Santa or mom please put these in my stocking)

For the Guitarist

Have a guitarist in your family? Nothing says happy holidays like an IU guitar.

Purchase IU guitar picks here

Purchase an IU guitar here

For the Beach

How says you can't rep IU on the beach? Check out this one of a kind IU bikini.

For the Health Professional

IU scrubs? Why not.

Purchase here

For the Christmas Fanatic

Another necessity for every IU student.

Check it out here

For the Recently Engaged Couple

What better way to show your love than an IU wedding cake topper?

Check it out on Etsy

For the Baby

Don't leave the babies behind. Inspire the next generation of great Hoosiers.

Purchase here

For the House

A nutcracker is a classic holiday decoration! Throw in an IU symbol, it's a match made in Hoosier holiday heaven.

Purchase Here

IU door mat, perfect for scaring off your Purdue friends. Make sure your guest know the greatest school on earth before they even step inside.

Purchase here

For the Dinner Table

How cute are these?! IU football straight to the dinner table or a prefect addition to your tailgate!

Purchase here

For the Man Cave

Every man cave needs IU bar stool covers.

Purchase here

Perfect mat for the game room.

Purchase here

For More on IU and the Holidays Check Out:

I've always been a hard worker. I always strive to keep myself occupied with so many tasks that I hardly know how to function. I like having a to-do list filled with things I have to get done, and I especially love the feeling of ticking everything off every single day.

But, working while attending college can be a bit of a challenge. I had a job in high school, and while running straight from school, to track practice, to work at the local Dairy Queen was tiring, I didn't realize just how difficult it would be to create a balanced life in college.

I need to work to keep myself busy and occupied, but I also need to work in order to raise money for social outings, school debt, and life savings. On top of all that, I wanted to make sure that whatever job I chose would also help me get a full-time career in the future.

I've tried many jobs here in Bloomington. Over the past 4 years I've worked at the IU Foundation Telefund, Charlotte Russe in the College Mall, UITS TCC, and IT Training.

My two most long lasting jobs were Charlotte Russe, and my current job, IT Training. At Charlotte Russe I worked as a Key Holder/Manager. I was guaranteed plenty of hours and gained a lot of leadership skills because I was given the chance to take on a multitude of responsibilities. However, working while attending school was most difficult while working at Charlotte Russe.

At Charlotte Russe all of my attention had to be on the job. There was no down time to step away and read a chapter for my Psychology class, no time to draft ideas for a paper, and no time to do some quick coding problems. This is how it is with most college jobs, but this wasn't a right fit for me. In order to have a good balance of work and school I couldn't have a job that demanded me to cut out 6 hours of my day every single day and give me no room to study or even relax.

But on the positive side, I gained soooo much experience while working at Charlotte Russe. I was given the opportunity to be a leader and take charge when a situation went awry. These are the type of skills that will look good to a future employer, and I could never regret a moment of my time at Charlotte Russe because of it.

Working at TCC and Telefund gave me the opportunity to be a little more flexible, which was the complete opposite of Charlotte Russe. I was allowed a minor amount of freedom at TCC which kept me relaxed and sane. And was granted lots of time to spend on homework while working at Telefund. These jobs were a better fit for me at that time in my life--busy with school work in the middle of a long hard college career--but, they didn't last long. I needed something that needed me more.

And finally, I found IT Training--the best job ever!! I love working for IT Training as a workshop instructor and assistant, social media marketer, and administrative coordinator. I have gained so much experience and life knowledge that will make me marketable for any future job I go for. At IT Training, I have minor flexibility when it comes to my working hours. I don't have to come in every single day, but I could come in to the office and get stuff done if I wanted to. Having this freedom was the perfect balance of college and work for me.

That's what this journey was all about. Some people feel as though they can't work while attending school, and other's work their booties off. No matter who you are, just remember that everything is a journey. You don't have to find something that is the perfect fit right away. You can do whatever you put your mind to!!

Keep in mind that you always need a balance. Make sure the you have enough time to study, as well as have a social life, while working and gaining experience from a job. Check out these other posts about having a balanced life while attending school:

Being an out-of-state student, one question I got asked most frequently during Welcome Week was why? Why did I come to IU? Was it for the Kelley School of Business? Jacobs? Why come to Indiana? As a joke to myself, I would always tell the person that their question was great, creative even. Didn't hear this before. They would just look at me confused or wait for me to answer the question. So for all you out-of-state students that are looking at IU, I decided to to ask my freshman out-of-state hoosiers why they chose IU than have me just explain my reasoning. (Yes, the image for this post is a picture of pre-hoosier Marisa with Herman B(ae) Wells)

Audrey Wahl (Psychology, Illinois):

I wanted a university that had a good sports program, IU being in the Big 10 conference, and far way to be independent but still close to home. It is also a credible school for all that are from Indiana. I am a direct admit for the College of Arts and Science to study psychology.

Rak Malla (Finance, California):

My main reason for choosing Indiana was for the business school. Kelley is one of the top programs for business majors and I am a direct admit for it. I really didn't care about location, but I preferred for the school to have a great sports program.

Will Ganza (Biology, Maine):

Being from Maine and going to a small high school, I knew that I wanted to go out of state and to a big university. IU offered to me that big college feel with many majors. I chose biology as my major because I found it interesting in high school, but I am not a direct admit. I love IU and so far it is going great.

Tristan Britt (Physics, Ohio)

What first got me looking at schools like IU was when my parents bought a retirement home in Indiana. My guidance counselor was an IU alum and so she told me great things. What drew me towards attending IU was the size and being third in the nation for their physics program. I am loving my classes and IU is a perfect fit for me.

Libby Lambert (Human Biology, Georgia):

My mom is actually an alum of IU, and such a big hoosier fan that we would watch the basketball games in the winter. From when I was little, I found that IU was a beautiful campus and still do to this day. I also thought that it would be a great fit for me as a student. I didn't really think about coming to IU until senior year when I got accepted. I knew I didn't want to attend a school in Georgia and going to a big school offers me so many academic opportunities. IU is now my new home.

Hugh Dunbar (Visual Design, Florida)

Because I am a visual design major, I didn't want to go to an art school because I felt that I wouldn't be unique and being around art students wouldn't give me the chance to try new things. IU gives me that diversity. When I was visiting IU, I met with professors that were amazing in what they taught and who I could connect with. The students and faculty of IU are great and going here than an art school was the perfect choice for me.

Marisa Johnson (Exploratory, Connecticut):

I came to IU because it offered me a wide variety of majors. I never really had any idea of what major I wanted to explore even in high school. At first I thought that I wanted a small liberal arts school in New England or Pennsylvania. I went to a private day school in Connecticut and really liked the feel of small classes. I did go to public school for 9 years, kindergarten through 8th grade, so I have both the feel of an 8 student class to a 25 student class. It wasn't until October of my senior year that I visited UConn and found that I actually liked big schools. A school that has great athletics that I can attend and a plethora of majors for someone who is still figuring it out (which is totally okay to not know what you want to do in university) is the school for me. I learned about IU from my best friend who applied and got in as well (no she's not here, she found her home in one of the coldest places in America, Wisconsin-Madison). I applied to IU late and found out that I got in a few weeks later. IU was the only acceptance letter that I was actually excited to get and I knew when I first visited their website to when I visited IU for a tour that this was the school for me. And I'm ever so happy to be here!

(Me, second to the left, with my new friends at Collins. PC: Rebecca Stewart)

So is IU the place for you? To get an inside glance here is Alyssa's interpretation and Brook's of what makes IU amazing!

Have a **sparkling** day!

~MJ

In my household, growing up, college was not a realistic goal to set. Of course, my parents always wanted to me attend college, but when we looked at the cost of college we were like…

Let’s be honest, college is expensive. The average cost for an instate student per year at IU is $24,538. I don’t know about your parents, but that is more than my mom’s total year salary.

While sitting in one of my middle school classes my dream to go to college one day became a reality when I was handed a 21st Century Scholar application. The application process was not very strenuous at all and before I knew it I became a 21st Century Scholar myself. Now this scholarship does not cover everything, but it does cover all tuition, which is $10,388 a year at Indiana University. The crazy thing is, the 21st Century Scholars office on campus does not stop there. With their covenant scholarship program, that launched in 2007, their office offers additional scholarships based on what other scholarships you have received and your expected family contribution which is determined by the FASFA. Now I know we all like to hear about all the scholarships we can get, but after you are on campus you will want someone to go to when you have questions; the 21st Century Scholars office can do that for you. I have personally looked to the office for help, and the staff is always more than helpful.

On top of all that the office is constantly offering workshops covering all topics, academic help in math and science courses, and even an awesome mentoring program called FASE. I am a FASE protégé and my mentor is always there for me if I need help with absolutely anything. Coming onto campus not knowing anyone is always a scary thought, so by the 21st Century Scholars office providing me with my mentor they gave me such a sense of security with taking on campus.

Everyday when I walk across campus I am thankful to be a 21st Century Scholar. Without this program the dream of going to college would have be just that, a dream. I was overjoyed to become a scholar, but I never anticipated how vast being a part of this program would affect me. I never knew that by being a scholar I would have so many opportunities open up through the 21st Century Scholars office. I hope that by reading this you will start to appreciate the 21st Century Scholars for all that it is: a scholarship, an academic advisor, a mentor, and most importantly a support system.

If you want to learn more about the 21st Century Scholars office visit their website here or even stop in their office on your next visit!

If you want to read more about making college affordable look here: Going to College Without Breaking the Bank

The three weeks that rest between Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break are, as Clark Griswold would put it, "the threshold of hell." While it felt really great to have that all-too-short week of a break, you're now finding yourself having a meltdown every other hour. The reality has set in. The stress is higher than that guy down the hall. The anxiety is increasing, and so is your weight.

It's that time of year again: finals of here.

You're trying to be positive, but you have 3 exams, 5 papers, and 2 projects due the week before finals week. You're questioning what your professors went through to end up so cruel.

Some kid in your class mentions that, in the spirit of the Christmas season, the final should be take home. You immediately shoot this look at your professor.

Then you're like: "Fuck it - It's Over"

Your professor says no.

You've been studying so hard for so long that you no longer have the motivation to make yourself a decent meal.

It's Tuesday night. You thought your business final was on Thursday. You've just been informed that it's tomorrow morning.

You and your roommates are planning to drown your sorrows in pizza. The delivery guy forgot your cheese pizza.

Brain dead and pizza-less, you're now hangry. You take it out on the pizza man.

You've been studying for hours, yet you just failed the practice exam.

Tomorrow is your first final. You've been cramming for a week straight. You've accepted your fate, you've let go of the fear. You're leaving it in Herman B. Wells' spirit hands.

You've managed to wake up on time and make it to your first final. You're feeling pretty good about it. Your professor hands out the test and tells you to begin. You're suddenly feeling very afraid.

When you walk out of the examination room and people start asking How you did

Setting fear aside, you dive on in. You read the first question. You have no idea what the answer is.

When He Runs Around Like a Maniac

You finish. You realize you have to do this four more times before you're actually done.

When you walkout of the examination room and all the correct answers start coming back to you...

You've made it to the end of the week. You're handing in your last final to your professor. You're having merry and bright thoughts about him and your other professors.

You walk out of there, channeling your inner Kevin McCallister and thanking the Christmas gods that your nice, long winter break is finally here.

The minivan is all gassed up, all the bags and boxes are in the back, and off to college you go.

It's the moment you've been waiting for since you could remember. FREEDOM. NO RULES. NO SUPERVISION.

For a lot of students, this moment is the time where your feelings shift from excitement to anxiety. The summer before entering college is full of final memories with high school friends, Pinterest boards full of artsy things for dorm rooms, and lots (and lots, and LOTS) or shopping. As soon as August hits, you just can't wait to finally be in college.

When you walk into the white-walled cinder-block closet that is going to be the bane of your existence from that point forward, it's kind of terrifying.

How are you ever going to be able to fit all of that stuff from your car into half of this room? How are you going to meet new people you actually want to be around? What if you forgot something?

Essentially, you're Kristen Bell:

crying upset kristen bell laughing

That first day has a lot of people immediately feeling behind and out of place. That's normal. The thing that people forget is that literally everyone else feels exactly the same.

With IU's large campus and 40,000+ student base, it can be really intimidating. And unfortunately, no, that trek from McNutt to 3rd Street doesn't get any easier, and Fee Lane will always feel unbearable.

I personally came from a very tight community. I was born and raised in Indianapolis, so I wasn't from a small town, but I could count on one hand the people I knew who were not white, Catholic, and conservative.

IU is the exact opposite of that. People are from all over the world. People are all different races, religions, and orientations. Each student comes from a different background, and there is so much to learn. Staying in a bubble gets you nowhere.

Anyway, after my parents left and I was officially on my own as a college student, I felt a sudden urge to go meet everyone. I CAN'T LET ALL THE FRIENDS GET SNATCHED BEFORE I MEET SOME.

Go introduce yourself to people in your building, and on your floor especially. I know it seems weird but everyone does it at some point. If you meet friends who live with you, that's great. However, if you don't, that's perfectly fine too. With an enrollment base the size of a small city, surely you'll be able to find SOMEONE you get along with.

A misunderstanding that upsets a lot of students, especially girls, is not becoming instant best friends with your roommate.

I met my roommate online through the SchoolsApp (yes, that actually does happen). We met a few times before ultimately deciding to room together, and I was so excited when it was official. It took a huge weight off my shoulders to know who I was going to be living with.

Following the events of Welcome Week, my roommate anxiety returned. I quickly discovered that we had very different ideas of a good time. "And this is only Week 1..." I kept thinking.

I knew we weren't going to be the exact same person, but I didn't realize just how different we were.

Looking back, we laugh about that. As it turns out, we really aren't all that different. We aren't best friends, but we get along really well and enjoy each other's company. She asked for a shoutout, so here it is: LOVE YOU SARAH!

Honestly, I feel like it's a good thing to not be BFFs with your roommate, boys or girls. Spending too much time with the same people can lead to a downfall, so it really helps if you each have your own "thing." Don't limit yourself to just a few friends.

With regards to academics, I was like any other typical freshman. I bought my books, had a copy of my class schedule, and my desk was nice and tidy. (Warning: it will not stay that way).

You're probably going to feel a little anxious about the fact that you have to walk to different buildings that are a mile apart in 15 minutes, but you're also probably going to feel that, as long as your ducks are in a row in the beginning, they'll stay that way.

WELL. If you're like me, you're going to show up to your second class on Monday, have a panic attack and decide that it's going to be too hard. For me, it ended up actually being the better choice, but for the sake of you and your parents, DO NOT DO THAT.

The best advice I can give to incoming freshman is to cut yourself some slack. You just went from having to tell your parents where you are at all hours of the day to getting a solid 3.5 hours of sleep on nights you have 8am's. Also: if given literally any other options, do not take an 8 a.m. class. You don't think it will be that bad, but it really is that bad.

It's not the same as high school, and you need to give yourself time to adjust. The classes will be harder, but it's so worth it. You're finally taking classes geared toward what you actually want to do with your life.

The roadblock that most people run into is when their typical 4.0 fashion turns into just hoping they pass. To be frank, even if you were the valedictorian of your high school, you are not going to get a 4.0 in college, ESPECIALLY if you're in a competitive major (like Kelley).

The best way to go about academics is to over prepare in the beginning. It's much easier to keep your head above water if you don't dig a hole at first. Study more than you feel is necessary, and then based on your results, you'll be able to judge how much to study in the future.

Also: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. We all did it in high school and yes, it worked for us. But this is the big leagues now. Don't be the person who wants to go out on a Friday night but forgot they had homework due at midnight. Put in the time and you should be alright.

So, in conclusion, I leave you with this: don't forget to call your parents (it's still okay to talk to them), be the person you aspire to be, and have the time of your life.