Your college essay is the only application item that gives you the opportunity to put your unique personality on display for your prospective college – something that your high school transcript, SAT scores and letters of recommendation can’t accomplish. It may not make or break your chances of getting into a particular college, but it can certainly raise or lower your standing in the admissions pecking order. So it’s important that you spend time carefully composing your essay. Avoid the common mistakes listed below, and you’ll be more likely to come across as an intelligent individual who’s worthy of an education from the school of your choice.

1. Selecting a weak topic
   Read through every topic and pick one that will best enable you to describe your past experiences and achievements, and how they’ve made you into the person you are today. Avoid commonly used anecdotes; writing about a volunteer trip you took in the past may indicate that you’re a selfless person with good perspective, but when almost every other applicant is writing about the same topic, you won’t stick out.
2. Not answering the question
   Don’t lose sight of the question as you attempt to knock their socks off by displaying your masterful writing skills. If it’s a two-part question, answer both parts. If they ask you about a personal experience, don’t use half of the essay to describe why you’d be a good fit at their school.
3. Poor structure
   Before composing your essay, make an outline detailing what you’ll write in each paragraph. It’ll prevent you from wandering off the beaten path and combining a series of random thoughts. The essay should include an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, a well-organized body and a strong closing paragraph.
4. Trying too hard to stand out
   Creative essays that break away from the norm are encouraged as long as you know what you’re doing. Inserting a funny anecdote or two can make it more enjoyable to read, and thus you’d be more likely to stand out from your competitors. However, don’t overdo it. If the question is lighthearted, don’t turn into Robin Williams. If the essay question solicits a serious response, avoid using humor altogether.
5. Making it another version of your resume
   You don’t need to list your academic accomplishments; the school already knows about them. In most cases, your essay should highlight personal characteristics – like leadership skills, motivation, curiosity and ability to overcome adversity – that indicate you would make an excellent student at their school. Write about unique personal experiences that admissions counselors otherwise wouldn’t already know.
6. Exceeding the maximum word limit
   As a high school student, you recognize the importance of following directions. The same rule applies in college. If admissions counselors request a 400-word essay, don’t write 500 words. Don’t even write 401 words. Adding additional content won’t impress them; it’ll likely cause them to ignore your essay and move on to the next one, hurting your chances for admission.
7. Not proofreading
   Thoroughly proofread your essay before you send it to your prospective school. Spelling and grammatical errors can overshadow the otherwise interesting content. Don’t rely on spell check programs. Ask multiple people to read it for you. Your parents, a smart friend or an English teacher might catch the mistakes you missed while looking it over.
8. Including an overabundance of big words
   Don’t fall in love with your thesaurus. Sure, varying your words makes your writing more enjoyable and easier to read. But misusing a word that you don’t fully understand can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Admissions counselors know when you’re trying too hard. Keep it simple and let the words flow naturally.
9. Lack of confidence
   Don’t downplay your accomplishments in an effort to appear humble. Don’t dwell on your weaknesses or anything that would indicate that you aren’t up for the challenge of college. Admissions counselors recognize that nobody is perfect. Your confidence and positive attitude should be apparent throughout the essay.
10. Being too boastful
    On the other hand, coming across as boastful and arrogant can be off-putting to admissions counselors. Don’t claim to be the next Stephen Hawking – even if you really are a genius. Find middle ground between the aforementioned mistake and this one.
11. Rushing
    Start writing your essays early in the application process. Waiting until the last moment will cause you to rush through your essay, resulting in a less-than-stellar final product. Because it’s an important part of the application process, you should invest enough time in your essay to make it perfect. How long that takes varies depending on the student.
12. Sending the same essay to every college
    Some topics can be repetitive, but that doesn’t mean you should take the opportunity to be lazy. Not every college to which you apply will be the same. For that reason, you should write a different essay for each one. Find out the characteristics they want their students to possess, and then tailor your essay to their preferences.

If you’re in college and you plan to graduate in a timely manner, you’ve undoubtedly endured all-night cram sessions, grueling make-or-break exam weeks and the inevitable disappointment of not quite receiving the grade you thought you had earned. The stakes are high because your future depends on what you do now. But in the quest for academic achievement, college students tend to lose sight of their health. Cases of severe stress and anxiety on campuses are more prevalent than they were decades ago when the college experience wasn’t as hypercompetitive. In order to walk the stage with your sanity intact, you must take proper care of your mental well-being. Here are a few ways to defeat stress and anxiety while in college.

1. Visit your school’s health center
   Put aside your negative perception of mental health counseling and make use of your school’s health clinic for which you likely pay in your fee bill. Many college clinics organize programs and workshops that promote mental health, and have trained counselors who are adept at treating students with problems just like yours. Nobody will have to know about your visit – all information pertaining to it is kept confidential.
2. Exercise regularly
   Colleges across the nation are building state-of-the-art recreation centers, and the cost is also typically reflected in students’ fee bills. Georgia Tech’s rec center, for example, offers martial arts and aerobic classes, a leisure pool, indoor rock climbing and a 15,000 sq. ft. fitness center equipped with free weights, weight machines, cardio equipment and even LCD TVs. Regular exercise will boost your energy level, improve your mood and enable you to sleep easier.
3. Adopt a consistent sleep routine
   Nobody values sleep in college. Late nights are supposed to be spent either at local bars and keggers, or cramming for the next exam. But it’s difficult to party or study to the best of your abilities when you’ve slept for just four hours during the previous two days. The solution is to better manage your time and allow seven or eight hours of sleep per night. Sleep improves your learning ability, memory, mood and cardiovascular health.
4. Eat healthy, balanced meals
   Late night Taco Bell runs and leftover pizza certainly do not constitute a healthy diet. Scrape up the money you would use on fast food and spend it on salad ingredients, cans of vegetables, fresh fruit, eggs, chicken and fish – the latter of which can help your brain work more efficiently. As a result, you’ll have more energy and a clear mind.
5. Eat chocolate
   Although it’s not exactly a healthy food item, dark chocolate has been shown to reduce blood pressure because it’s a powerful antioxidant. More specifically, cocoa phenols prevent plaque accumulation in the arteries.
6. Drink tea
   Green tea in particular is most recognized for its health benefits. Studies have shown that it burns fat and lowers cholesterol. It contains theanine, which reduces anxiety and enhances mood. A warm cup of tea after a day of work and study will calm your nerves and enable you to relax. Of course, green tea contains caffeine, so it’s best to drink moderate amounts.
7. Reduce your consumption of caffeine
   Caffeine is a stimulant that worsens your anxiety. That explains why drinking a couple of cups of coffee may cause you to become jittery and nervous when you should otherwise feel fine. If you drink caffeine during the evening hours, it likely disrupts your sleeping patterns. Reducing your consumption will enable you fall asleep earlier and remain calm during the day.
8. Focus on breathing
   Breathing in sufficient amounts of oxygen lowers blood pressure and helps brain function. Most people breathe shallowly, but it’s healthier to take long, slow and deep breaths. If you practice proper breathing techniques, you’ll immediately notice the difference.
9. Meditate
   Meditation gives you the opportunity to clear your mind of worries, relieving stress and anxiety. The change in brain activity causes an increase in happiness and positivity. The amount of time you meditate can range from a few minutes to a half-hour whenever you feel it’s necessary.
10. Find a hobby
    Taking up a hobby is another way to distract yourself from the stresses of college life. Active participation in an activity tailored to your individual strengths that makes you happy will improve your overall well-being. It can also present you with opportunities to make friends with people who share similar interests.
11. Spend more time with your friends
    Laugh it up. Have a beer. Watch the game. Gossip. Do whatever you and your friends do to have a good time, and do it more often. If you properly manage your time, you should be able to balance an active social life with an active study life without disrupting your sleeping patterns.
12. Adopt a pet
    A study undertaken during the ’90s by researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo indicated that pets reduce stress-related blood pressure problems. So when you’re enduring drama with your significant other or grief from classmates during a group project, you’ll always have your loyal dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig and/or parakeet to console you.
13. Listen to music
    Whether you’re driving, walking or just lying in bed, the sounds of your favorite tunes can turn a mundane and worry-laden moment into one of pleasure. Slower music can help slow the pace of your heart and breathing rate. In general, music has been shown to improve brain function.
14. Write about it
    By using a journal, diary or writing poetry, you can vent your emotions and thus cleanse yourself of negativity. It gives you the chance to collect your thoughts and self-reflect. Writing is therapeutic and you can do it at the spur of the moment. It’s the perfect activity for people who prefer not to wear their emotions on their sleeves.
15. Create a stress-free environment
    Living in an environment that’s conducive to easy-living will improve your attitude. Remove clutter in your dorm room or apartment and organize your belongings. Not being able to find your lone knife, for example, after you’ve brought home an expensive cut of meat is frustrating. Eliminating everyday annoyances will help you rid of stress and anxiety.

Life isn’t easy when you’re as sick as a dog. Not only do you lack the energy to partake in routine daily activities like work or school, but often times you can’t muster up enough strength to get out of bed. Regardless of your condition, you have to eat – it’s crucial to the healing and coping process. And food can help improve your mood drastically if you find the right dish or treat. Below are a handful of food items that will give your body the energy it needs to defeat whatever is causing it to suffer.

• Chicken noodle soup
  This is a sick-food staple and an obvious must-have for anyone who’s feeling under the weather. For generations, doctors have encouraged their patients to load up on chicken noodle soup because it contains an amino acid, cysteine, which thins mucus. These days, you just have to open up a can and let the soup cook on the stove for a several minutes, and you’ll be ready for relief.
• Skinless chicken breast
  In order to gain energy and keep your immune system fighting, it’s important that you load up on protein. Meat and poultry items are rich with the nutrient, and skinless chicken breast in particular is a healthy and easy-to-digest food item that supplies it.
• Nuts
  Nuts are also rich with protein and easy to eat. You can purchase a can of mixed nuts at your local drug store for a few bucks and munch on them while you lie in bed and watch your favorite daytime soap operas.
• Beans
  With a can of beans, you’ll get a healthy dosage of vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, folate and alpha-linolenic acid. It’s best to devour pinto beans, lima beans and kidney beans because they’re considered the healthiest.
• Carrots
  Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A; it helps fight off infections by giving your white blood cells a boost. This veggie can be especially useful when you have a sore throat. Boiling carrots in water will make them softer and thus easier to swallow.
• Eggs
  Who doesn’t like eggs? They’re tasty, easy to prepare and easy on the stomach. They possess varying amounts of Vitamins D, A, K and E as well as iron. A pack of a dozen eggs can last you from the onset of your illness to when you’re back to full-health.
• Fish
  Fish is packed with minerals like potassium, zinc, iron, magnesium and iodine. It includes vitamins D and B2, along with calcium and phosphorous. So when you’re as sick as a dog but would prefer to eat like a cat, take a couple of minutes to prepare some salmon, catfish or whichever gilled sea creature you prefer – or better yet, buy it after it has already been prepared.
• Pasta
  Whole wheat pasta specifically is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B3 and E, and iron, zinc and fiber. You can combine it with a sauce that won’t upset your stomach. If you add garlic, for example, it might help clear your sinuses.
• Oatmeal
  It takes just a couple of minutes to add water to a bowl of oatmeal and pop it into the microwave, and the end result is that you’ll be ingesting zinc, selenium and beta-glucan. Because oatmeal is soft and easily digestible, it has long been an excellent sick-food.
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
  Peanuts – which are obviously nuts – are filled with protein. And if you combine peanut butter with jelly and whole wheat bread, your sandwich will provide you with vitamin E, copper, calcium, magnesium, fiber, iron, zinc, niacin and calcium.
• Dark honey on toast
  Dark honey has been known to fight infections and colds, end coughs, clear sinuses and aid digestion. You can make a light meal out of it by spreading it onto some whole wheat toast, but it’s just as tasty when added to water and tea.
• Yogurt
  The sickly are advised to eat dairy foods when they don’t have stomach aches – dairy isn’t always easy to digest – because some milk-related products provide healthy bacteria that help protect your body. Yogurt specifically is soothing to eat when you have a sore throat and can’t swallow hard foods.
• Bananas
  A nice and soft banana is a good edible option when your throat is sore. The fruit is a provider of vitamin C and B6, potassium and fiber. Additionally, it can act as a mood enhancer because it contains the amino acid tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin – a sedative.
• Smoothies
  Although it’s technically a drink, a smoothie is made of fruits and vegetables. Just pile your favorites into the blender and you’ll have an easily-edible meal in a cup. Just be sure to cut down on the acidy fruits if you have a stomach ache.
• Ice Cream
  It’s the comfort food momma used to give you when your throat was sore. Ice Cream’s primary benefit is that it helps improve your mood. Even when you’re down in the dumps, it’s impossible to resist a cold bowl of Rocky Road, Mint Chocolate Chip or Cookies ‘n Cream.

College is the last time to truly enjoy the summers before entering the real world. The lack of a nine-to-five job and real responsibility enables you to stay out late, sleep late, take random road trips, and focus on fun. Your summer is what you make of it; however, not all colleges were created equally when it comes to summer fun. Below is a list – in no particular order – of 15 colleges where students experience the true leisure life between May and September.

• Pepperdine University
  Christian universities and be a blast too. It isn’t difficult for Pepperdine students to find a myriad of fun activities; the school is located in Malibu, California and its pristine campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Students can partake in ocean kayaking, which is organized by the campus recreation department.
• USC
  There’s never a shortage of things to do in Los Angeles. Trojans can visit the beach, mountains and desert all in the same day. They can attend venues for art, theater and live music, and attend daytime ballgames at Dodger Stadium or Angel Stadium of Anaheim. USC’s campus has been used during the filming of numerous movies, so it’s not uncommon for students to spot a celeb or two.
• UCLA
  According to the school’s website, 91 percent of UCLA students live on campus during their first year. Inevitably – given the aforementioned activities available in Los Angeles – a number of students will stay during the summer. Bruins who prefer to remain near campus can enjoy the art exhibits and concerts that take place during the summer at the Hammer and Fowler Museums.
• Flagler College
  Located in historic downtown St. Augustine, Florida, Flagler’s campus is considered one of the most beautiful on the East Coast. It’s just minutes from the beach, and students have close access to Florida’s most entertaining hotspots, including Daytona Beach and Walt Disney World.
• University of Miami
  Students from all over the nation attend the University of Miami in part to enjoy the best that South Florida has to offer. Palms fittingly decorate the campus of the school, which is located near some of the world’s finest beaches; it’s just miles from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. After a long day in the sun, students can experience the city’s vibrant nightlife.
• University of Florida
  Of course, Gainesville isn’t far from the beach, so students spend plenty of hot summer days in the clear bluish-green waters of the Gulf. Just eight miles south of campus is Lake Wauburg, where Gators can swim, sail, kayak and play volleyball.
• Florida State University
  Students at FSU know how to have a good time. When they aren’t partying near campus – and the baseball team isn’t competing in the College World Series –they can be spotted in Destin, Fort Walton and Pensacola during the summer months.
• University of Georgia
  Athens is widely considered one the best college towns in America, so why wouldn’t students want to stay year-round? It’s a mecca for music and arts, and numerous entertainment-related events are held during the summer. It’s also just an hour and a half away from the bustling city of Atlanta.
• Stanford University
  Northern California’s outdoor scenery is unmatched. Stanford is located in Santa Clara Valley – just fewer than 40 miles from San Francisco. Students who prefer to experience to outdoors can hike through Yosemite National Park or swim in Lake Tahoe.
• Arizona State University
  Routinely ranked as one of the country’s top party schools, ASU is a great place for students to enjoy the college life. Students are typically seen wearing flip-fops, shorts and t-shirts on campus, enjoying the perpetually sunny weather. After class, they cool off poolside with their fellow Sun Devils.
• University of Arizona
  Naturally, Arizona students don’t want to lose to Arizona State in anything, especially when it comes to the national party school rankings. So Wildcats rage on during the summer without missing a beat between the spring and fall.
• UCSB
  Its self-described “Campus Like No Other” sits atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Students are a stones-throw away from the beach and can easily participate in water-related activities. They can also hike the Santa Barbara foothills or take a sailboat cruise along the Santa Barbara coast.
• San Diego State University
  Sunny San Diego is a summertime paradise. Residents take advantage of the inviting weather by flocking to the coast – many prefer to soak in the cool Pacific water at Coronado Beach. SDSU is considered one the nation’s top party schools, and there’s no doubt that location is a factor. When students want to get really crazy, they can cross the border and party in Tijuana.
• LSU
  The Louisiana heat is made bearable on LSU’s campus because its towering century-old oak and magnolia trees provide sufficient amounts of shade to campus dwellers. When students aren’t invading Tigerland after summer school, they can take the hour-long trip to Bourbon Street to blow off steam. Or they can go fishing in one of the state’s many swamps, lakes or rivers.
• University of Texas
  Austin is considered the “Live Music Capital of the World,” which contributes to the city’s “weird” vibe. There are also an abundance of outdoor activities in which Longhorns can participate. The Colorado River flows through town, supporting three manmade lakes that are fun for swimming and boating. It has long been a popular summer pastime for students to float on the Guadalupe River.

The summertime is light, bright and full of opportunities to partake in the activities that you find fun and fulfilling. When we were kids it meant no school and no worries, and life-long memories were made. As we get older and gain more responsibility, it becomes more important to find ways to enjoy ourselves – our sanity depends on it. Keep the summer spirit alive by maximizing your free time.

1. Take a road trip with friends and family
   Road trips are low maintenance but high on fun. You’ll save money while bonding with your friends, family and/or significant other. Whether you travel across your state or across the country, you’ll be sure to encounter numerous sites that you’ve never seen before. Rand McNally can assist you in your planning, and so can Roadside America, which pinpoints the must-see attractions of towns across America.
2. Visit relatives you haven’t seen in a while
   This can occur during the road trip depending on your age. Obviously a 21-year-old who’s traveling with a group of college buddies probably won’t want to visit Nana in between his drunken debaucheries – if there is an “in between.” But if you’re with family, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with your cousins, aunts and uncles who you haven’t seen in ages.
3. Shed that winter weight you neglected over the spring
   Now that time is on your side, eliminate the clump of fat that clings to your side. You can sweat it off while running or biking around your neighborhood. If the weather is too hot to handle, join a gym and become too hot to handle. Or you can swim laps in a pool while staying cool.
4. Work on your tan
   When you’re finished swimming, complement your new look by lounging around by the pool and working on your tan. Nobody wants to be pale during the summer – only your clothing should be reflecting the sun.
5. Clean, clean and clean
   Have you been putting off removing that ancient furniture from your garage? Has your carpet been accumulating heaps dirt and pet dander since you’ve last vacuumed? Are your appliances covered with enough dust to cover the state of Oklahoma? Consider devoting several days to removing clutter and restoring the cleanliness of your home.
6. Win Yard of the Month
   Once you finished sprucing up the inside of your home, spruce up the outside. Climb up into that tree and remove those intrusive branches. Destroy those warm-month weeds, which include nimbleweed, crabgrass, spurge and wood sorrel. Because grass generally grows faster during the heat of summer, you’ll also need to mow more often.
7. Do something kind for a neighbor
   After you’re finished mowing your yard, perhaps you should mow the yard of the neighbor who has been out of town for a couple of weeks. Not only would you feel good about your deed, but you would build goodwill with them.
8. Volunteer
   When you’re finished giving to your neighbors, give to a stranger. There are numerous volunteer opportunities in your town at different organizations with varying missions. One of biggest is Volunteers of America, which operates all over the country. If you’re in it for the long-term, you could join the Peace Corps and assist in improving the living conditions of developing countries.
9. Read
   Curious about the inner workings of the Middle Eastern politics? Wondering if Isabella Swan will choose Edward or Jacob? Curl up on the couch and find out. After you finish one or two books, you’ll probably want more. Spend some time browsing your local bookstores for topics that pique your interests.
10. Learn how to cook
    Living on takeout and frozen dinners? That might be why you have that spare tire attached to your midsection. You’ll save money – and pounds – once you learn how to cook. Enroll in a cooking class or simply research recipes online and give it your best shot.
11. Take a summer class
    If you’re in college or high school, summer gives you the chance to get ahead by accumulating one or two additional credits. If you’re out of school, consider joining a dance class, cooking class (as previously mentioned) or a class that could supplement your work skills.
12. Cultivate a new hobby
    A fun hobby will occupy your time and keep you entertained well beyond the summer – they last for a lifetime. Discover a new passion by pursuing your different interests. Love music? Pick up a guitar. Want to get active and be social? Join a team sports club. The Discover a Hobby website can help you get started.
13. Catch up on the latest movies
    Summer is blockbuster season – some of Hollywood’s glitziest and priciest flicks hit the theaters starting in May. So don’t miss out on what could potentially become your next favorite movie. Designate a day or two per week to go to the movies with your friends, significant other or kids. This summer, AMC is offering $1 tickets to kids on Tuesday mornings.
14. Catch a ball at a baseball game
    There’s nothing quite like spending a summer evening with your friends at the ballpark. Grab a cold beer and a hotdog – which hopefully isn’t cold – and root for the home team. Major and minor league teams across the country offer affordable summer ticket deals, so you’ll be able to make several games, thus heightening your chances of coming away with a souvenir.
15. Do absolutely nothing
    The most underrated thing you can do over the summer is absolutely nothing. Vegetate on your couch in front of the TV while enjoying your cool AC. Watch your favorite soap operas and television judges. Sleep during the midday hours. Remember, it’s your time.

Now that graduation season is upon us, many new graduates will be interviewing for their first real full-time jobs. It’s undoubtedly a nerve-racking experience, and many simply don’t know what to expect. Finding employment opportunities these days isn’t easy thanks to the recent economic downturn, so each interview takes added significance. It might not be possible to deliver the perfect interview, but it helps to avoid some of the embarrassing behaviors often exhibited by novices of the real world.

1. Forgetting the name of your interviewer
   Often times, a company will give you the name of your interviewer when it contacts you to set up an interview. In these cases, not knowing their name as you set foot in their office is inexcusable. If first impressions are everything, then you’ve scored a zero before the process has even started. Be sure to memorize their name as soon as you get it, and if you forget, look for clues in their office – like a nameplate.
2. Succumbing to your nerves
   Remember that you aren’t facing a firing squad – your life isn’t at stake, so don’t act like it. What’s the worst that could happen? You won’t get the job you already didn’t have? Don’t work yourself into a panic. Vomiting on your interviewer’s desk, sweating like an NBA basketball player or shaking like you’re sitting in a 727 that’s hitting turbulence are way worse than a couple of stutters. Clear your mind beforehand and keep things in perspective.
3. Relaxing too much
   If you have too much perspective – or just nerves of steel – don’t make it apparent by propping your feet up on your interviewer’s desk, for example. Don’t make inappropriate jokes or inane comments. Unless instructed otherwise, you should act formally and business-like. Your behavior should be 100 percent professional. More likely than not, they’ll judge you based on how you act during that short period of time.
4. Divulging too much
   In the haste to appear as open as possible, many interviewees tend to give too much information. But honesty isn’t always the best policy. Your prospective employer doesn’t need to know about the three-month-long coke binder you went on after freshman year. They don’t want to hear about how your previous boss did his best to imitate Bill Lumbergh. Only disclose what they need to hear related to your performance as an employee.
5. Coming empty-handed and empty-minded
   Don’t give your interviewer the impression that you didn’t take any time to prepare before meeting with them. They’ve done their homework and they expect you to do yours. It’s essential that you study the company. How’s it performing? What’s its mission? How does the position for which you’re applying fit into the grand scheme of things? Be sure to bring additional copies of your resume, a list of your professional references, the job posting (if possible), and a pen and notepad.
6. Transforming into a phony salesman
   No interviewer likes a phony – unless of course your prospective job title is “phony salesman.” But in most cases, acting overly-enthusiastic can be off-putting. They know you really want the job. You don’t have to pretend it’s the best job in the history of jobs. And don’t exaggerate your abilities. If you try too hard to say what your interviewer wants to hear, they’ll know.
7. Cell interruption
   There’s nothing ruder than a noisy cell phone chiming in during an exchange with your interviewer. Silence your phone before entering the building. Mom’s “Good Luck <3" text message will still be there after the interview and the sentiment will remain the same.
8. Succumbing to your ADD
   The worst is when an interviewer gives a long-winded information-filled speech and you’ve only managed to absorb the first sentence. Take a deep breath, slow your racing mind and give them your full attention. You don’t want to respond with a blank stare when they ask if you have any questions.

The college movie is as much a staple of American life as, well, going to college. It’s not hard to see why. The university experience is a rite of passage for many people, and it’s also the last time you can legally get away with that much stupidity and questionable taste. From party flicks to coming-of-age dramas, there’s a movie for every type of student or situation. Stock your DVD shelves with these and enjoy:

Drama
1. Good Will Hunting
Even though they’d been acting for several years, this is the movie that put Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on the map, both for their performances in lead roles and for penning the original screenplay. Robin Williams won an Oscar for his supporting role as a therapist who helps Will break through and get in touch with people around him. A great movie about growing up and taking responsibility.

2. Rudy
I dare you not to cry in the final moments as Rudy realizes his lifelong dreams to play for Notre Dame. Not just one of the best sports movies ever made, Rudy is also a great movie for students struggling to deal with the major turning points in life that come with being in college.

3. The Paper Chase
Based on John Jay Osborn, Jr.’s novel, The Paper Chase follows a young man through his harrowing first year at Harvard Law School. John Houseman’s turn as the intimidating contracts professor — his first major film role, at age 71 — won him an Academy Award. The film spun off into a TV show, but the movie’s the one to watch.

4. Drumline
The film that made band geeks just a bit cooler, Drumline is about the competition between college bands who use halftime at football games to let their music shine. Even with a predictable story, it’s a fun look at college life, and the performance scenes are great.

5. Breaking Away
Taking a look at the flip side of college, Breaking Away is an inspirational drama about college-age kids trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Latching on to bicycle racing, they race in Indiana University’s Little 500.

6. We Are Marshall
Based on a true story, We Are Marshall deals with the tragedy of the 1970 plane crash that killed almost all of the players on Marshall University’s football team, the attempts to rebuild the program, and the local community’s slow process to come together again. A sad but moving tale.

7. Wonder Boys
More of a comedic drama, Wonder Boys is based on the novel by Michael Chabon and stars Michael Douglas as a middle-aged literature professor whose personal and professional lives are spinning out of control. Witty and warm, with great performances from Robert Downey, Jr. and Tobey Maguire.

8. School Daze
Spike Lee’s second film fuses music, politics, and class struggles to break down the battles between fraternity students and others during homecoming weekend at a black college. An incisive drama from an accomplished filmmaker.

9. The Rules of Attraction
Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, this pitch-black satire deals with a group of listless, lustful characters plagued with an apathy about their lives and sexual conquests. Not exactly a pick-me-up, but a brave college flick nonetheless.

Comedy
10. National Lampoon’s Animal House
The granddaddy of them all, and hands-down one of the best college comedies of all time. It invented the whole “loser students rebel against a tightwad dean by partying” genre that ran rampant throughout the 1980s. Wacky, hilarious, and a total must-see for all students.

11. Revenge of the Nerds
Despite a string of lackluster sequels, the original Revenge of the Nerds remains a goofball classic. Dig a young Anthony Edwards and Timothy Busfield as two of the losers at Lambda Lambda Lambda house.

12. Accepted
Justin Long, known for the “I’m a Mac” ads, stars in this catchy comedy about a group of misfits who don’t get accepted to college and wind up creating their own. It also features a younger Jonah Hill before he became known for movies like Superbad.

13. Slackers
Admittedly not the best film in the bunch, Slackers still has a lot going for it, especially Jason Schwartzman as a geek trying to blackmail his way into friendship with the cool kids, who include Jason Segel.

14. National Lampoon’s Van Wilder
Ryan Reynolds is perfectly cast as the smarmy but charming Van Wilder, an undergrad who refuses to grow up and who rules the campus as the party king. Van frequently breaks the fourth wall and looks directly into the camera, a la Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

15. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Most stoner comedies are, well, terrible, but Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is surprisingly fun. It traces the increasingly epic adventures of two college students on a road trip to find White Castle burgers, an act that turned the phrase “going to White Castle” into slang for getting high.

16. Real Genius
Starring a young Val Kilmer (in his second film ever), Real Genius is a quick-witted comedy about geniuses at a college modeled after Caltech and their conflict with a tough professor. It’s a cult classic.

17. PCU
Lampooning the political correctness craze of the early 1990s, PCU stars Jeremy Piven as the leader of a party fraternity that just wants everyone to stop getting in fights over various causes and learn to party together.

18. Old School
The film that kicked off Will Ferrell’s comedy streak, Old School is the spiritual descendant of Animal House. The story follows a trio of grown men who form a fraternity in order to inject some fun into their lives, and Ferrell and Vince Vaughn are hilarious.

19. Legally Blonde
A cute concept that works thanks to Reese Witherspoon’s personality, Legally Blonde is a winning comedy about a ditzy girl who enrolls in Harvard Law to win back an ex and winds up discovering herself in the process.

20. Dead Man on Campus
Dead Man on Campus is a wicked little comedy about the urban legend that says a student automatically gets straight As for the semester if their roommate commits suicide. A pair of roommates recruit guys they hope will off themselves in order to reap the benefits.

Pranks are a staple of college life, right up there with late-night diner trips and the trial and error of finding your own hangover cure. College is pretty much the last time in your life you can get away with pranks without risking divorce or firing, so enjoy it while you can. If you need a little inspiration, take a look at these pranks for the ages.

1. The Great Rose Bowl Hoax

The Rose Bowl is serious business in college football, which makes it a ripe setting for pranks. The 1961 game saw the Washington Huskies play the Minnesota Golden Gophers (actual name) at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium, not far from the California Institute of Technology. Annoyed at the fact that their school played games there but was typically ignored before and during the game, a group of Caltech students rigged a prank to gain attention for their school at halftime. The Huskies cheerleaders were leading the crowd in a series of card stunts, where everyone holds up a colored card to create a giant image. The Caltech students switched the instruction sheets for the people holding the cards, and during one of the stunts, they held up their cards to spell out “CALTECH” in dark letters on a white background. NBC cameras filming the game caught the prank and broadcast it 30 million viewers across the country. Score one for the geeks.

2. The Harvard-Yale Prank

Speaking of card stunts: The annual football game between Harvard and Yale is always fierce, but it got even hotter in 2004. A group Yale students distributed cards to Harvard fans and told them that raising them would spell out “GO HARVARD,” when it really spelled out “WE SUCK.” Nicely played, though Harvard had the last laugh: They won the game with a final score of 35-3. Ouch.

3. Veterans of Future Wars

In 1936, a group of Princeton students formed the Veterans of Future Wars as a way to satirize conflict and the government’s plan to allow early payment of bonuses due to veterans of World War I. The Veterans of Future Wars jokingly reasoned that they’d probably go to war eventually and could use the cash early. Although the large-scale prank spread across the country and gathered more than 50,000 paid members in 1936, it soon fell out of favor with the onset of a new presidential election and the growing threat of a new world war. Still, a smart idea, well-executed.

4. Caltech Sweepstakes Caper

You gotta hand it to the Caltech kids: They know how to have a good time. In 1975, McDonald’s restaurants in Southern California held a contest in which they planned to give away gift certificates, a new car, a year of groceries, and good old cash. However, the company made a mistake when it told people they could enter as often as they wished. Armed with the letter of the law, a group of students created a computer program that created 1.2 million (!) entry forms, and they entered them all. McDonald’s wasn’t happy at all, but they went ahead with the drawing. Caltech won 20 percent of the total prizes, and they donated the new car to the United Way.

5. The Frozen Statue of Liberty

In 1978, students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by jokers who had won their way into the student government, erected a partial head and arm modeled after the Statue of Liberty to make it appear as if the statue had been submerged in the icy Lake Mendota. Some protested the cost, but the student body president happily refunded the dime-per-person cost to anyone who wanted it.

6. Hugo N. Frye

A pair of Cornell University students in 1930 got the best of the Republican party by sending out invitations to GOP leaders to a celebration for little-known patriot Hugo N. Frye. Although none could make it, they all sent letters commending Frye’s service to his country. Frye was fictional, though, and his name was a play on the phrase, “You go and fry!” (Which in 1930 I’m guessing made sense to people.) The students read the letters aloud at the celebration and wound up shaming the politicians, though they were also made to apologize by Cornell.

7. Arm the Homeless

In 1993, a new organization in Columbus, Ohio, called Arm the Homeless made waves for its announcement that it planned to raise money to provide guns and ammunition to local homeless people. Citizens complained in the newspaper, and the group even gained national attention, but it was soon revealed that Arm the Homeless was a gag cooked up by three students at Ohio State University. They claimed they just wanted to shine a light on some serious problems as well as the dangers of media, but they weren’t prepared for the backlash. The group lived on a few years later in an April Fools gag in Phoenix.

8. The Great Pumpkin

In 1997, somebody pulled off the impossible at Cornell University: They placed a pumpkin atop the spire of McGraw Tower. The prank combined the best aspects of a good joke: simple, public, and impossible to avoid. A decade later, people were still in the dark about who’d put the pumpkin up there, though the story remains as popular as ever.

9. The Rooftop Drive

In 1958, a group of students at Cambridge University hoisted a car up to a seemingly inaccessible roof and left it there for the rest of the school to discover. Fifty years later, the alumni responsible revealed their identities as well as the methods they used to get the car up there. It took a team of 12 students and quick thinking to get it done, but it remains one of the greatest pranks ever.

10. Victoria Who?

Ah, Facebook. So helpful one minute, so dangerous the next. In 2006, USC basketball player Gabe Pruitt struck up an online relationship via Facebook with a UCLA student named Victoria, and he even agreed to meet her in person once he got back to Los Angeles after an away game against UC-Berkeley. Just one problem: Victoria was a creation of Berkeley students, who revealed the truth by shouting “Victoria!” at Pruitt on the floor and chanting his phone number (which he’d given to the fake girl online) at him relentlessly. The guy went 3 for 13 on the night, and USC lost. Ice cold, but good prank.

College is the last socially acceptable time in your life to stay up all night and sleep all day, which is why so many students wind up ending (or beginning) a night on the town with a stop at an all-night diner. Whether it’s a chain outpost that’s open all day or a mom-and-pop joint that stays open to catch people staggering out of last call, the late-night diner run is a staple of the college experience. The nationwide names are always great, but you might also consider taking a road trip to hit the rest. Check it out:

1. Denny’s (Nationwide)
One of the all-time classic diners, Denny’s is a global chain with more than 1,500 locations in the U.S., meaning you’re probably going to eat at one more than once during your school years. They serve all three meals around the clock, which means you can get pancakes at noon or a steak at 2 a.m. (though that’s probably a bad idea). A quintessential all-night spot.

2. IHOP (Nationwide)
The International House of Pancakes is probably mentioned in the same breath as Denny’s when people are looking for well-known late-night eateries. With close to 1,400 spots in the U.S. and Canada (and, believe it or not, Puerto Rico), IHOP is all about its pancakes and syups. Although the menu has items like burgers and sandwiches, the emphasis is on the breakfast foods, which makes it a great all-night stop for classic comfort food.

3. Canter’s Delicatessen (Los Angeles, California)
A famous deli in a city with plenty of famous places, Canter’s is located in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District, not too far from West Hollywood and the Grove shopping center. Its proximity to film and TV studios, as well as a variety of bars and clubs, makes it a prime spot to see stars as you’re chowing down on a Reuben at 1 in the morning. There’s also an attached bar called the Kibitz Room that’s open till 2 a.m. every night. One of the best delis in the city, and an ideal choice for all-night eaters.

4. Hollywood Grill (Chicago, Illinois)
Although it’s only been around since 1995, the Hollywood Grill has already become a favorite of locals looking to get their grub on after-hours. As is often the case with all-night diners, they serve breakfast around the clock, with a menu boasting “Chicago’s best” omelettes. Low prices and a relaxed atmosphere make it a solid choice for groups.

5. 59 Diner (Houston, Texas)
With a few locations in and around Houston, all open 24/7, the 59 Diner has become a classic for students and others in the fourth-largest city in the country. Offering their entire menu all day, 59 Diner also prepares meals to go, so if you’re driving home after a late night and want to eat but still get home at a somewhat reasonable hour, this is the place.

6. Cafe Coco (Nashville, Tennessee)
A rare healthy late-night alternative, Nashville’s Cafe Coco is a beloved bohemian joint with beer, coffee, and a nice spread of food available 24 hours a day. When you feel like taking a break from fried stuff, stop by Coco for a hummus platter, plate of pasta, or grilled sandwich.

7. Waffle House (Southern United States)
It’s probably not a coincidence that the bulk of this list is made up of Southern restaurants or those whose menus include traditionally Southern offerings like chicken fried steak or biscuits and gravy. There’s something about that kind of wildly unhealthy comfort food that’s appealing to everyone, especially late at night. Case in point: Waffle House, a regional chain that feels like a local shop. Don’t go looking for pancakes or French toast, though.

8. Steak ‘n Shake (Midwestern United States)
With 500 locations throughout the Midwest and South, Steak ‘n Shake is a chain version of mid-century diners that focuses on steak burgers and milkshakes. They’ve even lowered prices recently to compete with other restaurants in the same vein, making this a great choice for students looking to save a few bucks on a late-night meal.

9. Tick Tock Diner (New York City, New York)
Opened in 1948 and since drastically expanded to accomodate its success, this group of local diners is a New York favorite. Breakfast is of course served all day, as are a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and ethnic dishes including Mexican and Greek food. Don’t forget to order an egg cream.

10. Sesame Donuts (Portland, Oregon)
Like money and kittens, everyone loves donuts, which is why Portland’s Sesame Donuts has been drawing late-night crowds for years. Sure, they’ve got sandwiches, but when it’s the middle of the night, some sweet fried dough trumps a sandwich every time. The perfect stop after the bar or the next morning.

I should probably put a disclaimer at the top that this isn’t a dig at religious schools or institutions, but a list about the strictest and most absurd student policies in the country. It just happens to be the case that a lot of those — well, most of them; okay, all of them — come from private schools with church connections. Seriously, though, some of these are just bizarre. Every college and university is different, and sometimes the rules can help students, but for the most part, these guidelines are so restrictive that you can’t help but laugh. The list isn’t exhaustive by any means, and some schools have actually begun to remove copies of their student handbooks from the Internet to avoid appearing on lists like this one. Here are ten of the strictest college rules on the books:

1. “No extra studying during exams.” — Pensacola Christian College
Pensacola Christian College has a raft of strict rules for its students, including dress code edicts saying men must always wear dress pants and women must always wear skirts. But the conservative Christian school’s strangest rule is the prohibition against extra studying during exams. What does that even mean? How can there be extra studying before a test is given? The school is not accredited by any regional or national body, claiming that outside parties would compromise their philosophical stance.

2. “Entering the bedroom of the opposite sex on or off campus or allowing the same.” — Liberty University
Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the Baptist-affiliated Liberty University has a thick code of conduct called “The Liberty Way” that governs all manner of student behavior. Most of it is standard stuff that would make sense at any school, such as prohibitions against sexual harassment and on-campus drug use. But the most perplexing rule is one forbidding students to enter bedrooms of a member of the opposite sex, even if it takes place off-campus. How is something like that enforced? What if there’s a fire or something? The rule might have some good intentions, but it’s too strict to work in the real world.

3. “New Age, jazz, rock, and country music is not permitted.” — Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University has generated its share of controversy over the years — it didn’t admit black students until 1971, and even then forbid interracial dating until 2000 (!) — but one of the strictest rules still in effect is its ban against jazz, rock, and country music. This presumably leaves students free to bring LPs of the Kingston Trio and Beethoven.

4. “There is to be no physical contact between students of the opposite sex.” — Pensacola Christian College
Another stringent one from Pensacola Christian that was too good to pass up. Men and women aren’t allowed to touch or interact with each other outside of prescribed chaperoned areas.

5. “Every student is required to make satisfactory progress in health fitness.” — Oral Roberts University
This is a special one. Most student rules are designed to maintain order in the student body or guide students’ legal or even moral choices. But Oral Roberts University wants its kids to stay thin, too, so every student must enroll in a health and exercise program every semester. If a student doesn’t meet their semesterly requirements for fitness, he or she is placed on probation.

6. No raffles. — Oral Roberts University
The rule at ORU talks in part about gambling being prohibited on campus, which makes sense; it’s probably not in a university’s best interest to encourage high-stakes poker and horserace betting in its residence halls. But the rule gets too strict when it broadens to include raffles sponsored by student organizations, which eliminates a great way for student groups to raise money for worthy causes. Even if it’s just a CD or an afternoon of yard work, you can’t sell tickets and hold a raffle for it.

7. No coffee. — Brigham Young University
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints uses its Word of Wisdom to ban “hot drinks,” which it interprets as coffee and tea (except herbal tea). That’s all well and good for some, but try telling a college freshman they have to survive a week of 8 a.m. classes without making a Starbucks run and you’ll see how badly some students need their caffeine fix. Going four years without a mocha is too much to ask for some students.

8. No R-rated movies. — Asbury College
Asbury College, to its credit, admits that “external rating systems (e.g., PG, PG-13, TV-MA) are inadequate for developing discernment,” which means that they’re willing in theory to examine a movie’s content and worth instead of just its MPAA classification. However, the student guide says that R-rated movies are likely unworthy of student viewing and that students should talk with their residence director about any R-rated movies in their possession to see if they make the cut. This seems to be a bit of doubling back on their stance to examine content and not rating, and it’s also a weird line to draw in the sand for students of discerning age.

9. No legal purchase of alcohol. — Ozark Christian College
A lot of colleges, both private and public, ban the possession and purchase of alcohol by minors. That makes sense because it’s national law. But Ozark Christian College prohibits students of any age from purchasing alcohol or tobacco, even off-campus. It’s one thing to encourage responsibility, but it’s another to attempt to extend the sphere of influence around the world. Too strict by half.

10. Intense “dating regulations.” — Clearwater Christian College
Dating couples are only allowed to touch on campus by holding hands (and just one, not both). Couples are not allowed to stand near parked cars, lest they enter them and stay parked. Freshmen aren’t allowed to date off-campus. Even off-campus, no contact beyond hand-holding is allowed for couples. Men and women cannot swim together. If on a double date, the couples must stay as a group within “conversational distance at all times.” Etc., etc. These aren’t rules; these are fierce commands designed to limit interaction between people who love each other. Asking a couple in love to refrain from hugging is just ludicrous. After a while, it all starts to look like this: