College Life

Every summer, incoming freshmen agonize over where to live during college as if every option were on the table. For a lot of them, none of the options are. Many schools require first-year students to… Read More »Chapter 1: Choosing Where to Live During College

I have sat on the employer side of the interview table. I have read the resumes, made the calls, and been the person deciding which student to hire. And the resume that got the call… Read More »Chapter 5: Working in College

There are no affiliate links in this post. Nobody paid to be on this list and nothing here is sponsored. That is the whole reason the list is short. Most lists of the best apps… Read More »Chapter 9: Using Digital Helpers

Most college budgeting tips are written for a student who does not exist. She has no September, no surprise fees, and no credit card table waiting at the activities fair. I spent years as an… Read More »Chapter 4: Taking Care of Your Finances

Three weeks in, your roommate is a polite stranger, the instant friend group everyone promised has not materialized, and the person you talk to most is still your mom. If that is you, exhale. You… Read More »Chapter 7: Managing Relationships

The second night of my freshman year, I stood at the edge of the dining hall holding a tray with nowhere to sit. Hundreds of people, all of them apparently mid-conversation, none of them mine… Read More »Chapter 2: Adjusting to Campus Life

High school never made you learn how to study. Classes met every day, teachers chased the homework, and a decent memory covered the rest. College pulls all three supports in the same month. These college… Read More »Chapter 6: Acing Academics

My first year as a Resident Advisor, I ran the safety meeting for the 40 women on my wing. I opened with the usual list. Lock your door, walk with a friend, watch your drink.… Read More »Chapter 3: Staying Safe and Healthy

The Sunday after graduation, I sat on the floor of a half-packed apartment and listened to nothing. No chapter meeting to get to. No one down the hall borrowing shoes. Just boxes and tape. If… Read More »Chapter 10: Transitioning Into Post-Collegiate Life