Go back a few years to eighth grade, I was one  hell of a nerd with two nerdier friends by my side and we all planned on going to Ivy League universities. In fact, I was sure I was going to my mother's alma mater, Cornell University. I was determined to get excellent grades in junior high, because high grades in junior high meant I could get into advanced courses in high school which meant getting into an Ivy. Yes I was that obsessed with college.

Freshman Sam thinking she knows where she wants to go and won't get the freshman 15

Move ahead a few years, and sophomore year of high school I still thought I was going to Cornell, until I went to a three week intensive there where I took a course on medicine and found out I didn't actually like the school (or medicine, I mean I can barely take a needle who knows what I was doing there). I don't know if it was the lack of city life or it was just too much pressure to be in an Ivy League for me, but I just knew it wasn't the right fit. For the first time in my life I didn't have a clue where I was going to college; I just knew one thing, I would go to a top 25 ranked school.

By junior year I had moved from my hometown in upstate New York to Arizona, and pushed myself into an angry depression. I hated the place, I hated moving from my home I loved, I hated the weather, I hated the slowness of the west coast... let me repeat it, I. HATED. IT. Over 75% of my high school went to an instate institution (all of which were not even in the top  100 college rankings to my disgust) and a lot went to a 2 year school, or didn't even go to school at all. For me, that was never an option, and I didn't even know it could be one that worked out or was the best option for many. I felt like the I was the only one who cared about where I went to school and began driving myself to do more to get myself into a good school and not end up like the majority of my class. I visited over 10 schools across the country that year and applied to about 12. But one school stuck out more than any of them, The University of California: Los Angeles, aka, UCLA. I was obsessed with the environment, the city life, the big sports, its high ranking; it was a dream come true until of course, I was rejected admission. I had a great shot at it too, my scores were right in the middle of accepted applicants, I was a varsity captain, second chair flute in band, and did my fair share of volunteering, but it was still a resounding no. I of course, didn't give up and appealed the decision, but with an appeal acceptance rate of about 3% it was still a no.

I looked at my back up options and realized I never applied to another school I really liked. I was stuck with some great options; University of Maryland, University of California: San Diego, California State: Long Beach, University of Miami, and Northeastern University, where I ultimately decided to go simply because they were the second highest ranked on my list and had an outstanding career services department along with a unique internship program that went along with the curriculum. There was never a point senior year where I felt like saying "hey everyone I'm going to an amazing school that I love!" I didn't ever feel 100% with my decision but thought it was just freshman jitters and would grow to love this school I had hardly looked at before even applying.

It was this first year at a school I found out I hated and was not right for me whatsoever that I really realized the stupidity of caring about college rankings. Those high school friends who went to the big in-state schools were having a great time, while getting an affordable education at a well-known institution. Although Northeastern University was highly ranked and regarded by those who knew it, no one I knew had even heard of it. It's "big name" didn't even make a difference, and I wasn't getting the type of college experience I wanted.

(A much happier) Me with my dad after transferring to THE Ohio State University

This is why I urge you to stop looking at those Forbes.com and US News college rankings, because there's so many other factors that matter 1000% more! Is it in a location you like, do you want Greek life, how big do you want the sports to be, etc. Think of someone who goes to MIT to get a journalism degree; it may be an amazing school (recently ranked #1 by Business Insider), but why would someone who wants to do journalism go to a school with emphasis on technology? I doubt you're going to find a school that fits what you want to a T, but at the end of the day, getting a job comes down a lot more about experience and skill than where you went. Sure, going to Harvard might put your application at the top of the pile, but after that entry level it's about making your company better, be it more sales or more viewers. My father works for a Fortune 10 (yes top 10!) and went to Florida International University...ever heard of it? Probably not since it's not even ranked in any of those top rankings. He's managing people who went to Harvard and Georgia Tech, and at one point, another person who went to a state school was chosen for a position over the person who went to Harvard.

Strive to go somewhere that will challenge you, but don't let that challenge be simply an academic one. Let it be academics, social life, political ideas, culture and more.

Xo, S.



(like content like this? leave me a comment and let me know!)

Winter can be fun, it gets pretty with the snow, and there's a hint of the holidays in the air, everyone seems to be in a better mood...for about the first week of winter, and then we all realize how much we despise shoveling and slipping on ice. In college it can be especially difficult to motivate yourself to even get out of your warm twin XL bed, and the hardest part can be just figuring out how to go out to a party looking cute when it's below freezing.

My three steps would be to:

• get up
• wrap up
• store it

Get up
Text friends and make them feel the FOMO, encourage each other to all meet up somewhere at a specific time so you're forced to get out of bed. Take a shower, it's proven that showering prepares you mentally to do something and thus makes you more productive. Be sure you dry your hair before going out on a cold night though!

Wrap up
This is probably the most important part, don't go out wearing next to nothing because you know it's going to be warm when you get to the party. It's unhealthy to expose yourself to that cold, and we all already get sick too much in college. Find an old jacket, or even go to somewhere like Goodwill or Salvation Army to pick up a really cheap one. It has to be something you'd be ok with losing or getting ruined. Once you establish that you won't mind if you never see this jacket in the same condition as before you leave the house, it takes a lot of pressure off of you for the next step.

Store it
So you get to the party and it's hot, probably there's too many people stuffed into a small basement, and you immediately want to take off your jacket. Find a room or corner to store your jacket that it won't be taken. I usually like to put mine behind a chair or even ask someone I know at the party if I can put it in their room. Remember where you put your jacket and say a little prayer that someone doesn't mistake it for theirs! Just keep in mind it was a cheap jacket, and like I said, accept it might get ruined or taken.

If I could put a fourth step I would say take an uber home, haha, I love to use uber when I need it, but also utilize campus or city buses or walk if you can to cut down costs. Use the code "samd213" if you've never used an uber to get your first ride free! Stay safe and alert and have a good time.

Having just completed my freshman year, I think I know a thing or two about what you need to bring. Combine that with going to school 3,000+ miles away from home and having to pack for end of summer, fall and beginning of winter, I needed to learn to bring a lot of variety that could fit in two small dresser drawers and a notch in the wall my school called a closet.
This is your one and only guide to what you actually need in college your first semester.

Some tips to keep in mind:

Remember that you're going to go home at some point, or at the very least, your parents can ship some of your stuff to you.

Prioritize your bag space, shipping clothes is easier than shoes or bedding, so start off by packing the essentials. Also try to not buy bulky stuff like your toiletries, school supplies, bedding or decorations, buy those when you get to campus (Target is never too far away)!

You will wear less than you think. Yes you may need one pair of heels, but I promise you won't be wearing them to any average Thursday night party you go to every week as much as you may think you will. Most likely, you will have just a few go-to outfits for school, lounge, and parties.

Be sure you clean out and stock up. Meaning, clean out what you don't really wear and get anything you think you seriously need.

You're going to take too much. Everyone told me this and I'm sure you've heard it too, but yes you will take too much of at least one thing. My thing was heels and shorts. I hate heels and I lived in the freezing temps of Boston last year, but I still thought I would get enough use out of them. I didn't. Seriously think about your geography and what you really wear right now.

If you don't have it, someone does...and at the very least, you'll live. If you're going away to college, most likely you're living in a dorm or shared apartment. If you don't have the right shade of red nail polish there's surely someone else on your floor who will (not to mention great excuse to friend flirt -- my name to the awkward small talk you make all first semester to try and find your friends), and if not, you're going to live. Seriously, it won't be a huge deal.

Most stores will let you ship to a local store, where you can then pick it up. Bed Bath & Beyond even gives you a tag gun and you can make a list as you walk around the store.




I made this list a little bit skimpy on purpose, because we all know you're going to stuff an extra shirt in there or pair of shoes, but try to stick to this as much as you can and you won't be kicking yourself come winter break for wasting so much space. Plus this is a list just for first semester!

I don't suggest bringing all of this stuff with you, a lot of it, especially toiletries and room items, can be bought when you get to your campus. Now since I'm no Wikipedia, I won't know every little thing every person needs, so I recommend this list from HerCampus that gives a ton of ideas of what you might need.

There's a * next to items you may not need, you should see how much space you have and talk with your roommate(s) about just one person bringing it.

First of all, sorry for being MIA for a few weeks, I was on vacation! It inspired some traveling posts though so be prepared to see these soon.

"Ebates" is a third party site through which you connect to online stores. The site gives coupons and cash back for buying what you were going to buy anyways! It's been raved about by bloggers and YouTubers, so I thought I would share it with you. You enter your email and address, then search where you want to shop (it can be one of hundreds of registered sites). Ebates will connect you to the site, you do an online purchase as you usually would, then go back to Ebates to see if you earned any coupons or cash back. The amount (or sometimes lack of) coupons or cash back just depends on the registered status of the site with Ebates. On your first purchase you can also choose a $10 gift card from a few select stores!
I just started using Ebates, and have only gotten my first $10 gift card as any cash back, but I've only bought twice through the site. I've also not experienced any technical or security problems with the site, and have NOT heard any bad experiences from other bloggers or YouTubers when using the site. Ebates has also been featured on CNN, ABC, Wall Street Journal, and other credited sources.
To try out Ebates and get your first $10 gift card, sign up with this link! *I was not contacted or sponsored by Ebates, I made this post on my own to spread my positive experience and explain the site.