Choosing The Right College

by In Uncategorized Tagged ASU, choosing a college, choosing the right college, , , college blog, college blogging, college decision, , FSU, picking a college, picking a collegecollege, USC

choosingtherightcollege

Wowzers, where has the time gone? You’re finally applying to colleges or maybe you’ve finished your applications and now it’s finally time to make one of your biggest decisions to date. What college will you attend for the next four years? Maybe you want a small school, maybe you want to go to the same school as your friend/sibling/parents? Wherever you decide, make sure you take a step back and look at all the things the school has to offer and decide for yourself if it will be the right college for you. Here are a few things you’ll want to look at when making your final decision.

  1. Location. Where are the schools located that you’re looking at? Big cities, rural areas, states away from home or just down the road? Make sure to discuss this with your parents to make sure they are okay with your decision.
  2. Cost of Attendance. If you’ll be paying for college yourself  you’ll definitely want to take this into consideration when choosing. A private school may be more on the expensive side or even an out of state school, so make sure to pay close attention.
  3. Campus Size. Are you someone who wants the big school feel? Than maybe look towards larger state schools like FSU, ASU, USC, etc. If you’re not quite into that many people than smaller schools are a better fit.
  4. Athletics. Are you interested in playing sports in college? Maybe you want to go to a big basketball and football school because you like the whole school spirit atmosphere.
  5. What is there to do around the school? Is it in a city with good food, shopping, and concerts? Maybe it’s in the mountain with trails, hiking, and sight seeing.
  6. Does it have your major? Make sure it has 1-3 majors you might be interested in choosing that way if one fails you always have a backup plan.
  7. Are the professors good? Using ratemyprofessor.com is a great way to find this out. You don’t want a school with teachers that just plain suck, otherwise your classes will be ten times harder than need be.
  8. Resources on campus. Does your school offer numerous resources from counseling, career advice, writing help centers, tutoring, and more? Make sure you’re choosing schools that are clear that they want their students to succeed.
  9. Living Situations. Will you be living on or off campus? Either way make sure the living situations are up to your par. You want to feel as comfortable and at home at school as possible.
  10. Campus Safety. Does your school put safety of it’s students first? Make sure that you feel safe attending the school.
  11. Organizations and getting involved. Are there several ways and options for getting involved in things on campus? Are there organizations you’re interested in joining? Are you interested in greek life? Make sure your school has it!

 

Hopefully these 11 points will help make your college decision making a little easier. Make sure to visit schools you’re hoping to attend several times to really get a feel for the campus and it’s students. You want to make sure you’re choosing a school you can see yourself flourishing, growing, and excelling in.

Make sure to check out my channel on YouTube for more college advice!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Surviving Your First College Party

by In Advice Tagged , , college and drinking, college party, drinking, drinking in college, party, surviving a college party

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So you’ve been invited to your first ever college party. You’re at a lost, you’ve never been to one and all you have to go off of is your friends stories or those awful movies that portray college parties in the worst way. Well I’m here to say it probably won’t be just like the movies. It’ll more than likely be in a house, dorm, or apartment with lots of other students your age and most but not all will be consuming alcohol. No not everyone will be so drunk they can’t function, most people know their limits. So back to how to prepare, I’m going to share with you how to survive your first college party with 9 simple tips.

  1. BUDDY SYSTEM. Don’t go anywhere alone, it’s not safe, it’s not fun, and frankly it’s just weird. Take a big group of friends, that way you’ve always got someone around in case something does happen to go wrong.
  2. Charge Your Phone. I always charge my phone before going out for the night. It’s great for emergencies or just snap chatting your friends or taking cute pics.
  3. Plan Your Rides. Before going out sit down with your group of friends that you’re going out with and plan your rides out. Have a set designated driver to and from the party, this person SHOULD NEVER DRINK under any circumstances, it’s not safe please don’t do it.
  4. Bring Your ID and Cash. You’ll want you ID on you for typical reasons and for emergencies, carry cash for things like parking fees, party charges, drinks, cookout afterwards, anything! Cash is best because if it’s lost you won’t have to worry about canceling a credit card, etc.
  5. Set Limits For Yourself. If you know you don’t want to drink a lot of alcohol set a limit! If you only want to be out for 2 hours, plan for that! You know yourself better than anyone else so think smart about what you want to do.
  6. Don’t Mix Alcohol. Chances are if you mix your alcohol you’ll end up with an upset stomach and a hangover the next day. So save your self the headache and just choose one.
  7. Don’t Take Drinks From Strangers. If someone tries to give you a drink that you didn’t see them pour, don’t take it. Make yourself a drink so you know exactly how much alcohol is in it and know that nothing else is going in. Be weary of things like drugs being slipped into drinks. It’s always a safe idea to keep your drink near by and never out of your sight. You can never be too safe.
  8. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. NEVER under ANY circumstances drink and drive or drive under the influence not only are you putting yourself at risk, but also everyone else on the roads. Be smart and don’t do it.
  9. HAVE FUN! Yes that’s right go have fun! Don’t worry so much. Let loose, dance a little, socialize and meet new  people. Play some games, sing a song at the top of your lungs and take some cute pictures to remember the awesome night you will have had.

College parties don’t have to be these huge daunting things. They are a great way to meet new people and let out some stress. Just remember to keep these tips in mind when going out and to use your common sense and stay safe! Have a fun time!

Have more questions about college parties or college in general? Let me know in the comments or e-mail me at [email protected]

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

How Not To Look Like A Freshman

by In Advice Tagged advice for freshmen, , , , freshman, how not to look like a freshman, tips for college, tips for freshmen

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They’re easy to spot, they are scared, nervous, running around with campus maps pressed to their noses and their backpacks are stuffed to the brim with fresh school supplies and over priced textbooks. That’s right it’s the freshmen. Nothing is worse than looking like the new kid on the block, you want everyone to think you’ve been doing this for years and you know exactly how this college thing works. Well have no fear, I have the perfect tips and tricks so that you know how not to look like a freshman.

  1. Get rid of the lanyard. The easiest way to spot a freshman is a lanyard, yes they may be easy to keep your dorm keys and student ID on, but trust me it’s just as easy to keep these things in a pocket on your backpack.
  2. Walking around with a campus map. I get it your campus is new and seems HUGE compared to your high school, but don’t fret. Switch to using an online map on your phone, it’s more discrete. Also, walk around a few days before your classes to figure out where they are and how to get there the quickest.
  3. Don’t wear shirts from high school. We know you loved your high school years and you have tons of t-shirts and gear to show for it. Ditch em’. Head to the school bookstore and pick up a few school spirit items and wear those instead, it’s your new school after all!
  4. Don’t go over board at parties. Know your limits when it comes to things like parties. Don’t do something just to look “cool” or old, because trust me it’ll just make you look silly. Stick to your morals and don’t get too crazy!

Transitioning from high school to college and be pretty tough, trust me I’ve been there! So take these four simple tips and you’ll be on your way to looking like a skilled upperclassman. Don’t forget to check out my youtube channel for more college related videos every week!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Time Management Tips for College Students

by In Advice Tagged , , college girl, , , , doing well in college, doing well in school, , , school advice, school tips, , , , , , , time management, time management tips

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Classes, organizations, work, friends, sleep, and working out?! How does one balance all of these things, it seems almost impossible to get everything done in a day with so much going on. Take it from me when I say time management is essential to any college student. It will help you manage your time efficiently by getting the most done in one day.

Here are my tips I use to keep myself organized and hopefully will help you as well.

 

  1. Actually use your planner. Anyone can have a planner and write down dates and times for events but unless you’re looking back at it and editing things and referring to it, then it won’t be of any use. I live for my planner and without it lord knows how many things I’d miss.
  2. Use an efficiency calendar. Something new I’ve been using to keep myself on track and getting the most out of my days is my efficiency calendar. I do this weekly and sit down and plan out my week hour by hour. Of course some things change, but for the most part it remains. This is a great way to see when you have extra hours in your day where you could fit in extra studying, working out, catching up with a friend, etc. Here is a peek at my week.

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As you can see I schedule every hour of my day to include something important. There are days where I don’t have as much to do, which is fine because I do like to have some free time to do things that make me happy like Netflix, pampering nights, etc.

I also schedule in everything from blogging, classes, studying, meals, sorority events, etc.

3. Color Code. Even if you don’t use an efficiency calendar I suggest color coding your planner so that you know what events are for what class, organization, etc.

4. Sync your calendars on all mobile devices. It’s great to have you calendar updated on your computer and your phone so that at a glance you can see and remind yourself of any events that are coming up that may be very important to you.

 

Time management doesn’t have to be some huge task to get yourself organized, but choosing one or two of these tips and implementing them into your life could help organize yourself and your time. Then you’ll be on your way to being a more productive and time efficient person.

Make sure to check out my YouTube for frequent videos!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

How To Survive Early Classes In College

by In Advice Tagged 8am class, , , , , , having a positive morning, morning classes, morning routine, , , surviving 8am college classes

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So you’ve been blessed with an early morning class while you’re at college, but let me guess you aren’t a morning person by any means? Yeah I thought so, because I’m the same way! Since coming to college I’ve gotten into the routine of staying up late and sleeping in until noon. However I have this dreaded 8 am class twice a week which requires me to be up bright and early, and be ready to pay attention! So, I’ve managed to collect a few tips along the way to help y’all have a smooth sailing morning that’ll have you wide and awake for your morning class!

  1. Wake up at least an hour before you have to leave. You’ll want to give yourself time to get ready and time to do a few extra things to get you awake and ready for class.
  2. Set your phone just out of reach so it requires you to get out of bed to turn your alarm off. Once you’re up you’ll start to feel more awake.
  3. Take 5-10 to just stretch out all of your muscles, doesn’t have to be yoga or anything to intense I just like to stretch out my legs and arms and neck to really loosen up my body.
  4. Rinse your face with cold water. This should help your eyes and face feel more awake and it’ll get any excess oil and dirt off that was collected from your pillows! (Wash those frequently)
  5. Have your clothes laid out the night before so no thinking has to go into what you’re wearing!
  6. Head to the kitchen for some breakfast! This is incredibly important to staying awake and having energy. I usually eat instant oatmeal because it’s quick, yummy, and filling!
  7. Don’t forget to brush your teeth!
  8. Have your bag ready and packed the night before so the rest of your morning you’re not running around like a chicken with their head cut off.
  9. Enjoy your morning! Do what you like to do whether it be watching your favorite netflix show, reading the news, meditating, reviewing last nights homework, or catching up on Instagram.

Welcome to the world of morning people! You can now wake up feeling refreshed, positive, and productive because you’ve taken that extra step in the morning to feel ready and calm for your day. Having an easy morning routine like this makes you ready for your day ahead and you’ll be on your A-game in your morning class! Don’t forget to pack a big bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated and focused during your class!

Have you checked out my Youtube channel yet? NO?! Head on over there today for new videos every week!

Have another tip that might be helpful for early mornings? Leave it in the comments below!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

How To Make Good grades In College

by In Uncategorized Tagged , , how to do well in school, how to make good grades, making a's in college, school advice, , , study advice, studying, studying tips

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Going into college I had the mind set that I would be able to get by without studying for tests, doing assignments last minute, and not reading my assignments. WRONG. High school was easy for me and I’m sure it’s like that for most of you, but I’m here to say college is not like that! YOU NEED TO STUDY, READ, AND DO YOUR WORK! College is not the time to goof off and forget quizzes, class, readings, and tests. These next four years will decide what career and life you will have so it’s time to get serious! So, let’s jump into some tips for making those 4.0s.

  1. GO TO CLASS. I can not stress this enough. Class is optional for most in college, but that does not mean you just skip. You will likely miss important notes, questions, pop quizzes, or hints for questions on the test.
  2. You don’t have to read. LIES. Read your textbooks before class, it’ll help you get a head start on the material and you’ll be able to soak everything in during class time.
  3. Review your notes right after class. Reviewing them directly after class will increase your likely hood of remembering the information. It’s a great way to get ahead on studying.
  4. Create study groups. The classes I’ve done the best in have been the ones where I have a group that I study with. We are able to help teach each other topics we don’t understand and we get more work done because we can break it down.
  5. Attend study sessions provided by your school. These are a great time to get in some extra practice for homework or discuss topics you’re having a hard time understanding.
  6. Don’t be afraid of your professor. Attend office hours and ask those questions you’ve been wondering about. Review information with them. Look over your tests with them and really get to know them. At the end of the semester it could mean the difference between an A and a B.
  7. Sit in the front of the class. There are less distractions, you won’t be tempted to play on your phone and you’ll stay focused on the subject at hand.
  8. Study at least a week in advance for tests. This gives you ample time to go over each chapter, subject, and topic in depth and review them all several times.
  9. Make study time fun! Grab your friends, a pizza, and your books and head to the library. You’ll have a little fun and get work done. Just don’t get too distracted.
  10. Write your notes versus typing them. It’ll be more likely to stick in your head and is one step to remembering the information better.

Welcome to college, where you actually have to work for that A and not just sit back and hope you do well. Hopefully with all my tips from the post y’all will be on your way to making those 4.0s and on your way to an awesome career you love.

Have more tips you want to share? Leave in the comments below!

Make sure to check out my Youtube channel where I’m posting every week!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

10 Things No One Told Me About College

by In Advice Tagged 10 things no one told me about college, , college freshmen, , , college parties, , , freshman advice, freshman college advice,

10thingsnoonetoldmeaboutcollege

College can be a rough time for anyone and if you don’t have any family members that went college before you, you might not know what to expect once you get there. And if you’re anything like me you probably are reading this blog post because you want to be prepared and you’re excited for college! So let’s jump into 10 things no one told me about college.

 

1. People dress up for tailgates (at least in the south): Now I live in the south and have my whole life and one thing I failed to realize was that everyone dresses up, I’m talking rompers and dresses, for football games! Lord knows why we do this, but it’s something I’ve grown to love!

2. EVERYONE drinks coffee, well except me: Coffee seems to be the only thing that really keeps a college student sane. Coming from someone who doesn’t like coffee there are times I really wish I did so that I could manage to stay up late and write a paper or finish a project!

3. Pulling all-nighters are a thing and they happen at least 2-3 times a semester: Chances are even if you are a planner and don’t procrastinate you’ll still pull an all nighter at some point in your college career. Just the sheer fact that you are taking so many classes with each there long list of tasks and assignments sometimes things all pile up at once and your only decision is to stay up all night and do it! If this happens at least take the time to watch the sunrise, it’s gorgeous.
4. Not everyone parties/drinks: Yeah there are those stereotypical frat parties and house parties that people go to, but not everyone does! Freshman year it’s fun to go to just for the simple reason of meeting people, but beyond freshman year a lot of people crack down and don’t party as much.
5. You need to maintain a good GPA even your freshman year: Don’t fool yourself into thinking this one semester of bad grades won’t hurt you because it can have an impact on your overall GPA.
6. You actually have to go to classes: Even if your teacher doesn’t take attendance you still need to go. You’ll miss out on valuable information or even a pop quiz.
7. You’ll have endless opportunities to make friends: From sporting events, parties, organizations, free campus events, classes, work and more there are numerous ways in which you can meet people and make friends, so don’t worry!
8. It’s normal to sit alone during lunch, it’s not like high school: No one will care that you’re sitting alone at lunch because you’re in between classes and no one else could meet up with you. Don’t worry, it’s normal.
9. Freshmen boys suck: For the most part, they are immature and not looking for relationships. They want to get out and have some fun and meet some people. Don’t get me wrong there are some who are interested in relationships and nice guys just beware of the bad boys.
10. You’ll have more acquaintances than friends: Yes you’ll make plenty of friends, but not all of them will stay that way. You’ll find your close knit group of people and then have plenty of other acquaintances. It’s also normal so don’t worry.
I hope these 10 things no one told me about college can help you all become prepared for your time at college. Just remember to keep an open mind about anything and everything and ignore the stereotypes and you’ll find that by the time you’ve graduated you’ve had the best four years of your life.
P.S If you aren’t already make sure you head on over to YouTube and subscribe to my main channel where I put out new videos every week!
Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

Getting Along With Your Roommate

by In Advice Tagged , college dorm, , , college roommate, , fighting with your roommate, getting along with your roommate, roommate advice, roommate help, roommate tips

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So you’re in college and you’ve been faced with living with another human who you may or may not know for a whole year. That might be a little daunting to some or exciting to others. Not only are you living with this person for so long, but you’re also stuck in a tiny dorm room and sharing all of your personal space. So how do you deal with that? Well here are my tips to help you get along with your roommate this year or any year!

 

Step 1: Greet your roommate, get to know the basic facts about her. Where is she from? What’s she majoring in, etc.

Step 2: Talk about rules and expectations for your shared space. Are guests allowed? Do things need to be kept clean? Do you need to ask to borrow something? Depending on how close or not close your relationship is with roommate will depend on how strict your rules are.

Step 3: Talk about your class schedules. Does she have an 8am class and you only have afternoon classes? Will you need to respect that fact that she needs to sleep early and vice versa?

Step 4: Invite your roomie anywhere and everywhere. Grab lunch, go shopping, get groceries, see a movie, join a club, go to the gym. The list of things are endless and there are so many great ways to get to know your roomie and really make that special connection.

Step 5: Be respectful. You really can’t go wrong here. Respect your roommates space, time, guests, things, and pretty much anything and this will hopefully keep you from any problems.

 

So what happens if you do have a fight?

Step 1: CONFRONT them. Don’t talk behind their back and ignore them, ask them upfront what’s wrong apologize and own up to any mistakes. It can’t get fixed until someone apologizes.

Step 2: Forgive and forget. If you truly want to remain friends and not have an awkward time as a roomie just learn to forgive and move on. Things will happen and now is the time to be the big person!

 

Having to share a room with a stranger can be tough, and even sharing a room with someone you know can really test your friendship. Just remember these simple steps and you and roommate will be on the way to the picture perfect relationship and hopefully no issues the whole year!

 

Have more specific questions? Comment them down below!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

College Necessities

by In Uncategorized Tagged accessories, , , college blog, college go to, , college must haves, college necessities, , , monogrammed, monogrammed cut out, monogrammed pillow, perfect bed, , , ,

As most of you know I’m heading into my third year of college and if there is one thing I’ve learned over my 2 full years of college it’s what things truly are necessities. So I’ve decided to share with y’all my must have things for a college kid. Ranging from accessories, clothes, and even room decor!

 

 

  1. IMG_9483_2A comfy and stylish bed. There is nothing I love more than coming home from a long day of classes and jumping up onto my comfy bed and taking a nap. As you can see I love having an array of pillows to decorate. My bedding is first from Target and it is part of the Shabby Chic collection. The first pillow on the left is from Daisy Do Designs and it’s monogrammed, doesn’t get much better than that does it?! It’s cute to add a pop of color to your bed and it’s so chic. Next I had an Ikea pillow with a leaf design which is so soft! As you can see above my bed I have this adorable monogrammed wooden cut out. You can find one just like it at SarasCuts. It’s an awesome accent piece to add to your wall and it’s just plain adorable.

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2. Tumbler. I need to have a tumbler with me at all times. I love me some water and I have to drink it constantly. So having a cute cup to carry it around in is essential. And if you’re a coffee drinker it’s even better because it will keep your drink warm during class! You can find the one I have at Properly Southern  it’s the cutest thing ever!

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3. Notepads galore. I use notepads and sticky notes every day. From writing to do list to jotting down a few quick lots. It’s easy to have a few on hand to write anything at quick notice.

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4. Comfy Shorts. If you’ve been going to college for a while you’ll understand when I say everyone wears shorts and a t-shirt to class. Not many people dress up. So I found these adorable monogrammed running shorts from Properly Southern. They are my school’s colors too so they are perfect for game days or just wearing around campus.

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5. Cork boards. Having these little cork boards has been a great way to post things above my desk where I can see them to when I’m doing homework or working on a test. I have a few upcoming class dates and assignments and even a few sorority tasks I had to get done. Mine are from Target!

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6. Something fun! I love theses new Marble stickers for computers, there is something so sleek and exciting about them. You can find some from Marble Decals which is where mine is from. I get so many compliments on this all the time because of how original it is! Adding something exciting like this to your laptop could be a great incentive to study or go to the library to show it off!

 

 

Although these things may seem slightly random, all of them are my personal college necessities that I think are important to surviving college. College can be tough if you don’t equip yourself with the right tools and tricks to get by which is why I had to share my necessities with you all!

What are some of your must have things for college? Let me know in the comments!

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle

My Morning Routine: School Edition

by In Uncategorized Tagged being a morning person, , , college morning routine, , girl morning routine, morning person, morning routine, productive morning, routine, school tips, , , 2 Comments

That’s right college has finally come back to town and it’s time to get myself into a routine schedule and start off my mornings productive. With a hectic schedule and numerous classes piled with work and sorority life, and even my blog I have to make my mornings early and productive so I get the most out of my days! So I thought what better than to share with you all my morning routine and what it consists of.

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I start my morning off by first really waking my self up. I spend time stretching out my muscles and doing a few quick workouts like crunches and squats. This is a great way to get my blood flowing and myself truly awake!

I then move to the basics of getting ready. I start with a clean face and clean teeth so I’m fresh faced and ready to go.

Next I start with my hair, I typically curl it with a 1 1/4 in. curling wand for loose curls that are casual and cute!

I then proceed to my makeup where I typically do the same thing every day. Starting with BB cream, concealer, powder, blush, eyeliner, and mascara to top it off!

I then of course pick out my outfit or put on what I chose the night before and then throw all my stuff in my backpack and head downstairs!

When I have early classes I like to grab my breakfast and take it on the go and eat it as I walk to class or in class. I also make sure to pack a water bottle so I’m staying hydrated throughout my classes!

My normal morning has 2 classes and then I can walk back to my room and relax for a while or do homework until it’s work later at 3pm!

 

 

School rolling around really made me realize the importance of organization, consistency, and a routine so I decided last week to implement this structured morning routine and so far I’ve found myself being more productive throughout my whole day and just in a better mood overall.

 

What’s your favorite part of your morning routine? Let me know in the comments!

 

Lauren | Simple Southern Belle