Books, beer and sex. Those are three near givens on any college campus. But what most college students don’t realize is that when it comes to beer and sex, there is a lot more at risk than just a hangover and a broken heart. College students are one of the most at-risk groups for sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).

But before panic sets in, here is what you need to know about protecting yourself, increasing your sex-ed knowledge, and lowering your risk for becoming just another statistic.

Risk Factors

There are two primary risk factors for STDs among students:

First, college students enjoy a remarkably easy access to alcohol, which significantly impairs judgment and in many cases, leads to sex.

Second, the lack of  practicing risk-reduction behaviors like safe-sex or getting tested regularly also amps up risk. This second risk factor can be intimately related to alcohol as the effects of booze contributes to whether or not someone is coherent enough to put on a condom or inquire about their partner’s sexual health. Read the rest of this entry »

Maybe you keep your dorm room cleaner than your room at home. Or maybe not. But chances are that your dorm room and the entire dormitory that you reside in are cesspools for infections and germs.

In order to stay healthy in college this year, follow these five key hygiene practices:

1) Kitchen Appliances: It is very convenient to have a microwave and mini fridge in your dorm. But these appliances are also vulnerable to bacteria growth which can send you or your roomie to the student medical center. Once a week, clean your microwave, mini fridge and/or hot-pot with kitchen soap and warm water. Also, get in the habit of tossing out leftovers within 24 hours and definitely do not leave opened containers around the dorm room or else you run the risk of opening up your living quarters to pests like rodents, cockroaches and other fun creatures. Read the rest of this entry »

For a college freshman, the myths that surround their new lifestyles seem to abound. You really do have to go to class, you don’t get to drink beer all day, and your parents will still know what’s going on.

One thing that is most definitely not a myth and will catch up with you faster than shower fungus is the Freshman 15, or the Freshmen 15. It’s very real, very unhealthy, and totally avoidable.

What is it? It’s this 15 or so pounds that college freshmen pack on. Their lifestyles completely change from their home environments. Their sleep habits are off, they’re probably not taking a gym class, and their diet consists of soda, pizza and whatever they can grab with their meal points while cruising through the student union. Read the rest of this entry »

“I’m bored” should never be a phrase uttered by a college student, especially one living on campus. Between classes and studying, dorm activities, intramural sports, Greek activities and the endless of other social and academic events taking place, every student can and will find a place to keep them occupied.

Here are some sure-fire places to find fellow coeds killing time and not being bored.

• Start in the dorm. Whether with your roommate or the girls across the hall, watch a movie, go shopping or just grab a snack and chat.
• Go clubbin’. And we don’t mean at the bar. Most larger colleges and universities have hundreds of clubs and organizations that suit nearly every possible interest and college major. Join one, or two. Read the rest of this entry »

This guest post comes from John Spiropoulos, B.A., a 3 time Emmy award winning TV news reporter whose website — www.collegefreshmansurvival.com — is devoted to the success of college freshmen.

Right now parents and students are focused on what to take to college. Now is also the time to think about what you want to keep in college, because without taking proper precautions, your valuables may be stolen. Here’s what to do:

Lock Your Room Doors in the Residence Hall

Break-ins are rare. Usually, items are stolen because doors are left open or unlocked. Unless your roommate is in the room, ALWAYS lock the door when you leave, even if it’s just going down the hall to the bathroom. Read the rest of this entry »

As you start packing, shopping and preparing to move to the dorms in the next few weeks, remember the size of your room.

The average dorm room is about 12′ x 9′ for a total of 108 square feet. This is shared with a roommate, desks, beds, and likely a counter top or chest of drawers. Split in half, you can call 54 square feet of that space your very own home sweet home. For reference, the average jail cell is about 96 square feet.

Living in the dorms, in what feels like cramped space, for 75 percent of a year can give you a chance to stretch your creative decorating and organizational muscles. And regardless of how much space you do or don’t have, it’s an experience worth having. Read the rest of this entry »

Graduation is over, you’re reaffirming to your parents everyday that you’re an adult now, and all you want to do is move in to the dorm. The summer prior to your freshman year of college can seem terribly long, as you’re wrought with anticipation of this new life outside of high school, curfews and younger siblings. The freedom can seem intoxicating, but it will be short-lived if you don’t prepare now.

Use these coming weeks to really prepare yourself for the college experience, especially if you’re planning to move away from home.

1. Drive the Distance. If you’re within driving distance, make at least one practice drive to campus from home, and vice versa. New territory can be hard for anyone to navigate, and if you’re not used to highway or interstate driving, it’s worth taking your college ride for a spin to familiarize yourself with the route.

2. Check-out Campus. While you’re there, familiarize yourself with campus. You likely took a guided campus tour, but this time you should do it on your own. Find your dorm, the cafeteria, the shopping district or mall and decent restaurants. Read the rest of this entry »

I read a recent article on Chattahbox.com that discussed how MTV plans on launching 25 new websites for 25 schools across the nation, MTVU, to serve as a College Campus guide for schools such as University of Texas at Austin, University of Central Florida, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, and University of Maryland College Park. Students from each of the schools will submit information on a daily basis that will keep their website viewers up to date with happenings such as parties, concerts, and much more; and that the idea behind these websites is for students to know what is going on at campus so they don’t miss a thing.

My main concern though is MTV may have the few students who post things on the website and be allowed to see into their lives, but what about other students who aren’t aware the things they attend are being posted online for anyone to see. I’m sure MTV will censor some things, but things that do not get censored can ultimately lead to bad consequences. It seems MTV may be encroaching on other peoples’ privacy while they keep others updated on campus happenings. It seems that MTV, before going any further, should at least alert students as to what will be happening with these websites before beginning them. Although if MTV has already done this, then my hat is off to them.

Of course on the flip side, these websites may prove beneficial to prospective students. Students who can’t pay the campus a visit before considering these schools may be able to get a feel of what campus life is like and whether or not its somewhere they feel they would belong. Allowing for students to see the campus life, and also their parents, could help students make final decisions on what colleges to attend, especially if they are torn between two colleges and do not want a ‘party’ college.

So as long as MTV properly warns students at each of the schools that their personal lives may potentially be placed online for all to see, I think what MTV may be a good thing for students to be able to view. Especially potential students that are unsure as to which college they want to attend.

A college education isn’t necessarily good for your health. Between stress, deadlines, easy access to junk food, and lots of alcohol, students don’t always take care of themselves. For a healthier lifestyle, here are some simple tips to incorporate into your everyday life on campus. Don’t worry—you don’t have to do all of these—but by mixing some of these ideas into your routine, you’ll improve your health little by little.

1. Walk or bike whenever possible. (This saves money on gas too!)
2. Avoid eating pizza and other goodies in the middle of the night.
3. Work in exercise by taking a physical education class.
4. Carry around a water bottle.
5. Eat breakfast every day, even if it’s just a piece of a fruit or a quick bowl of cereal.
6. Make time to schedule in regular doctor and dentist appointments.
7. Try to keep exams and other stress in perspective–the consequences of failure probably aren’t as dire as you think!
8. As much as possible, stick to a regular sleep schedule. Remember, sleep needs to be a priority, no matter what.
9. Carry healthy snacks in your backpack, like fruit or healthful snack bars.
10. If you eat at a campus dining hall, limit consumption of soda. Drink lots of water, along with moderate servings of milk and juice.
11. Keep in mind that binge drinking is as bad for your waistline as it is for the rest of your body.
12. Don’t use exams and other stressful academic times as an excuse to pig out– at least not too much!
13. Limit fast food consumption. It’s quick, easy, and cheap when you’re a student, but don’t overdo it.
14. Look for healthier fast food alternatives around campus, like a snack cart that sells hummus and pita, or a sub shop that sells healthier sandwiches.
15. Deal with stress with brisk walks or jogs.
16. As much as possible, try to stick to regular meal times.
17. Don’t be shy about using the campus mental health center if you need someone to talk to, or need more serious help.
18. Get a flu shot, as college campuses are full of people in close proximity and all of their germs.
19. If you use dorm showers, be sure to wear flip flops to protect your feet.
20. Never cut down on calories so you can consume more alcohol.

Official campus tours are terrific—but they shouldn’t be your only source of information about what life is like on a college campus. Remember, the tour is designed to make the school look as positive as possible. To find out if a college is a good fit for you, and to get a good feel for what everyday life is really like for students, here are ten places to check out on campus.

1. Classrooms– in session. Sit in on at least one class while you’re on campus. Professors usually don’t mind as long as you ask. Try sitting in on both a bigger class and a smaller one.
2. Dorms. See if you can get into a dorm and walk around. This is a great way to see where students live– and to ask them questions about what they think of the dorms and the school in general.
3. The dining hall. See what the food is like, and what the atmosphere is like in a place where students spend oodles of time. If you can, chat with some of the students. Some smaller colleges arrange for a “lunch with students” part of the official tour.
4. The bulletin boards. You can get a good feel for the politics of a campus– and the involvement level of students–be seeing what’s posted on public bulletin boards.
5. The advising office. Great advising is very important, especially if you’re on a larger campus where students can feel like numbers. Make an appointment with an academic advisor and discuss what services are available to students. Find out what a typical advising appointment is like.
6. The student center. What’s going on there? Is it pretty quiet? Are there lots of activities and student interactions going on? You can often get a good feel for the college community by checking out this space.
7. The lawns, and other common areas. Are students lounging around, chatting and doing their homework? Or does everyone go home or to their dorms after class? This is another good way to gauge community.
8. The library. Wander in and find out what services are available. If the library doesn’t have a big collection, find out how interlibrary loan works.
9. Parties. If you’re there on the weekend and staying with a friend, by all means go to a party of two. This is more than just fun—it’s a great way to see an important part of campus life.
10. The town. Don’t forget to spend some time checking out the area around campus as well.