Let’s face it – having a roommate in college is sometimes unavoidable. While others don’t seem to have a problem co-habitating, others seem to think that roommates are nothing but an invasion of privacy.

Regardless, living with another person is the best way to cut the cost of rent, and it doesn’t have to be unbearable. However, a happy living situation starts with being a good roommate. Read these tips to make your lives pleasant.

Lease: Make sure that everyone signs it. Your John Hancock means that you’re responsible for paying rent and other obligations that the lease may state. With everyone’s signature, the burden is spread out, and everyone has an equal incentive to adhere to the landlord’s wishes. Read the rest of this entry »

Sally studied pre-medicine during her four undergraduate years at a local university. She really enjoyed her classes, especially the zoology and anatomy ones. However, after graduating, Sally interned at a local hospital and discovered that she couldn’t stand the sight of blood. She realized that she did not want to pursue a career in medicine after all, but would rather teach anatomy to high school students. But wait a second, how in the world can she do that when her degree is in pre-medicine?

It’s a more common situation than you might think: What do you do if you graduate college, enter the work force in the field that you have studied, and realize that you picked the wrong field for you? Well, you could suck it up, decide to stay in your chosen field, and forever wonder if there was another field that might have been better for you. Or you can take action and change your future, without having to go back to school for another four years of schooling. Here are some ways you can change your career path without having to go back to school full-time.

1. Look for alternative certification. There are many fields that require a bachelor’s degree. However, many of these same fields also accept alternative certification. For example, in Oklahoma, if you want to become a teacher but do not have a bachelor’s in education, you can take several ACT-style tests, go before a board of educators, and eventually receive a certificate that says you are qualified to teach. Usually, this process is much less time-consuming and less expensive than going back to school for another bachelor’s degree. Read the rest of this entry »

The stress of finals has probably made you want to pull out your hair, but now that’s all over and you’re ready to unwind. If a road trip is on your mind, you’re likely looking for ways to cut costs for the trip.

Road trips are an awesome way to avoid pricey airfare. Read these tips on how to save even more money on your getaway.

Take the most fuel efficient car: Spend a week tracking gas mileage to see who truly has the best car to take on a trip. Then, make sure the car is up-to-date on its oil change. You may think that taking an SUV will make for a comfortable ride, but with gas prices often nearing $5 a gallon, you could be saving tons of cash by taking a smaller vehicle.

Plan to stay with relatives along the way: Staying with aunts and uncles makes for a good (and free) bed and breakfast. Call your family members and ask them if it would be OK for you and your buds to spend the night. Get a free, home-cooked dinner and make it a small family reunion. Read the rest of this entry »

One year ago, I was like many other college seniors. I was facing my last semester of college and knew that I had to get a job soon, but I had no idea about what I wanted to do with my college degree. I could have done what my parents suggested and gotten an entry-level position at a company near my hometown, but instead I did something a little more extreme. I applied for a teaching position in Spain and was accepted. Eight months later, I was on a trans-Atlantic flight to start my “gap-year” as an English teacher.

So far, this year abroad has been a life-changing opportunity and I am very glad that I am doing it. I have learned more about a culture and a language than I could ever have done if I had stayed in the USA, and my time abroad will make me more desirable to future employers.

If you are a college student and want to live and work abroad after graduation, you have several options. You can secure an internship or job with a company that has an overseas office and ask to be transferred to that office. However, this can be difficult and many companies are not willing to do this. If you want a surefire guaranteed way to live abroad, here are some good options for you.

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One of my friends recently told his parents that he is gay and has been in a same-sex relationship for the past year. His parents are very conservative and were less than thrilled to learn this information about their son. At first, there was a big fight and my friend stormed out of his parents house. However, he recently had another discussion with his family and things went much more smoothly.

Coming out to family and friends is a really important step for homosexuals, but it can also be very difficult. Things usually go one of two ways: your friends and family react positively and accept you, or they react the way my friend’s parents did. Of course you hope that the important people in your life will accept you, no matter what, but that is not always the case. However, there are some steps teens and young adults can take to ensuring that when they do come out to their parents, it will go smoothly and not end up causing World War III.

1. Pick a good time. It’s not a good idea to come out to your friends or family when either you or they are stressed, frustrated, or upset about something else. For example, you should never come out during an argument or in order to hurt the person you are telling. Instead, wait for a time when you can sit down together and calmly discuss the matter. You might even want to tell them ahead of time that you have something important that you need to tell them and ask that they prepare themselves for the conversation.

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Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and has a population of more than 1,600,000 people. Barcelona is a leading tourist city (the fourth most visited city in Europe) and is famous for its influence in entertainment, media, fashion, and the arts. It is very well known for the vast amount of architecture by Antoni Gaudi, including what is possibly his most famous work, La Sagrada Familia church.

Barcelona is a great place to study abroad if you are interested in international relations, business, fashion, art, or architecture. However, if you want to study Spanish, you should not study abroad in Barcelona because they speak Catalan here. Instead, consider studying in Madrid, Granada, or Sevilla.

Here are EDUinReview’s tips for some cheap and interesting things you can do while studying abroad in Barcelona without breaking the bank.

1. Walk along La Rambla. This is a really lively street and is famous worldwide. Spend some time walking down this street and you will see many street performers, including dancers, artists, and human statues. You can also buy flowers from street vendors or get coffee in one of the numerous street cafés. These cafés are somewhat overpriced, but the people-watching opportunities are priceless.

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Verona, Italy, is  a beautiful city in northern Italy, that is rich with historic value. It is a great place for architecture and art history majors to study abroad, and of course if you want to learn to speak Italian, this is a great place for you too. The city has a population of around 715,000 people and is a main tourist attraction in Italy. Also, if you are a Shakespeare fan, you know that Romeo and Juliet was set in this city and you can still go see Juliet’s balcony.

So what else can you do while in Verona to really get the most out of your study abroad experience in this city? Here are EDUinReview’s tips for how to study abroad in Verona, Italy.

1. Go back in time at the Museo di Castelvecchio. This ancient castle was built in the 14 century. if you visit this castle, you will get a better understanding for what Verona was like before and during the Renaissance, when the city enjoyed it’s heyday as a cultural hub. There is also a museum in the castle which features many original works of art which are absolutely wonderful. You can also enjoy fantastic views of the city from the castle. I’d plan to be here for at least half the day; it really is a great place to spend a day.

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Most recently, Cape Town received internationally recognition when it hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, this city in South Africa has a lot more going for it than just the fact that it is a major event city. Founded in 1652 as an Dutch supply station, Cape Town is now the second-most populous city in South Africa and is home to more than 3.5 million people. The city has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, which means it has mild, wet winters and hot, warm summers.

Have you decided that you want to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa? Here are some of the things that we recommend you do in Cape Town when you are not attending classes in order to really experience the best that this city has to offer for study abroad students.

1. Take a walk up Table Mountain. The first time that you go to Table Mountain, you should probably bring a friend or tour guide with you who knows the way. It is easy to get lost here, which could be dangerous. However, it is definitely worth the expense to join a hiking club or hire a private tour guide in order to explore more of this mountain. You can get some great views of the ocean from the mountain, which is 350 meters above sea level at it’s highest point. Make sure you wear hiking shoes and bring water bottles.

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Florence has been the capital of Italy since 1865 and has a metropolitan population of 1.5 million people. Florence is famous for its historical and cultural significance in Europe since the Middle Ages. Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is a great place to study abroad if you are interested in  art history, classics, Italian, or history.

Have you decide that you want to study abroad in Florence? Here are EDUinReview’s tips for how to get the most out of your study abroad experience in Florence.

1. Go back in time at the Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio. The Piazza della Signoria has been an important political center in Florence since the Middle Ages. The Palazzo Vecchio is the medieval town hall, which is located on the piazza. This is the most famous piazza in Italy and is a great place to soak up the culture. You can visit several public rooms and private apartments in the piazza, which have been decorated to appeal to tourists. Another great thing to do here is grab a cup of coffee at a café and read a book or watch people going about their daily lives.

2. Look up in Il Duomo. This Duomo is often overlooked when people think of cathedrals to visit in Italy. However, it is absolutely beautiful and you should definitely visit it if you are studying abroad in Florence. The dome of the Duomo is what is so amazing. When you walk into Il Duomo, look up so you can really appreciate the wonder of this dome. Designed by Brunelleschi, the dome is nearly 142 feet tall, making it taller than the domes at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., St. Peters in Vatican City, and the Pantheon in Rome.  I recommend taking the tour which allows you to climb to the top of the dome to get a better look at the “Last Judgement” fresco painting and to better understand how Brunelleschi built the dome itself.

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For many of us, Christmas and the holiday season is a time that we like to be at home with our families and loved ones. However, if you are studying abroad, taking December intersession courses, or simply can’t get home for the holidays, this time of year can be a little disappointing for you.

If you are finding yourself away from home this holiday season, we have a few tips to help you survive Winter Break away from home.

1. Celebrate the holidays in an unique way. There’s no way to recreate the atmosphere and events that take place at your traditional holiday celebrations. So instead of trying, why not create a new celebration? Find some friends who are also spending the Winter Break away from home and think of something fun that you can all do together. Maybe it’s volunteering at a local charity, going ice skating together, or having a marathon of your favorite Christmas movies with plenty of puppy chow and hot chocolate. The more creative and festive you are, the more fun it will be.

2. Call back home when everyone will be there. Arrange a time with your family and friends back home when you can talk to each other. This will give you an opportunity to catch up with everyone from back home and tell them what you have been up to as well. You could also open gifts over the phone while you are talking if you have sent them by mail. If you have Skype, this can be even more fun because you will get to see everyone.

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