As if entering college wasn’t nerve-wrecking enough, many incoming college students fear what they probably hear about the most – the freshman fifteen. Rumor has it that the average student will gain fifteen pounds during their first year in college. Some say it’s just a legend, while others believe it is inevitable. It may by perplexing to some as to how an individual could gain so much weight in the course of one year, but the freshman fifteen can be caused by a variety of factors. The two main factors that contribute to weight gain are the lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. Whether you believe in it or not, there are definitely ways to help you avoid the legendary freshman fifteen.

It is extremely important to stay active while in school. Students often get overwhelmed with the amount of studying that is involved in college that they forget to set time aside for exercise. Even the most athletic students in high school may neglect to stay fit once they begin college. Keep in mind that “staying active” does not necessary mean devoting hours each day at the gym. You can easily stay active at school by taking advantage of your campus. Walk wherever you can, taking the long way if possible. If you live nearby, walk or bike to school instead of driving. Choose to take the stairs to class instead of the elevator. Exploring your campus is a simple, yet efficient way of ensuring that you are active on a daily basis.

In addition, many universities include the campus’ student gym fees in their tuition. Take advantage of what you are paying for! Dress up in work out clothing to class to give you incentive to hit the gym right afterwards. As a student, it may be difficult to cut time out of your studying to go to the gym, but you can definitely treat it as a study break. Plan ahead! Decide how much time you are going to spend studying, and then include a 30-minute to one-hour gym break in between. Alternatively, if the gym just isn’t for you, your school may have some fitness classes available to fulfill credit requirements. These classes can range from basketball, to weight lifting, to yoga. This way, you can burn calories while earning credits! Finding the right way to efficiently manage your time between studying and exercising will help you stay fit and healthy.

Another method of avoiding weight gain is to maintain healthy eating habits, which students may struggle with the most. Especially for students that live on campus, the almost endless amount of food at the campus’ dining hall offers many temptations. It is important to establish a regular eating routine – meaning breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Keeping your body fueled throughout the day will help you keep focused on your studies. When choosing a meal, watch the size of your portions and only take what you can finish. After finishing your meal, it is recommended to wait 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it’s full before deciding to have seconds. It is also ideal to eat your last meal three hours before bed and avoid those “midnight snack” temptations. Your metabolic rate tends to slow while you sleep, causing your body to store more calories. Knowing how much to eat and when it is appropriate to will help you maintain a healthy eating schedule.

It is also important to be aware of what you consume to help you avoid eating unhealthy foods. Yes, it is possible to have “too much” of a good thing! Avoid eating fast food when going out. Choose to stock up on healthy snacks such as fruits, yogurt, or veggies. You won’t have the temptation of cookies or chips if they aren’t in your reach! In addition, it is important to be aware of the amount of calories or grams of fat you are consuming. For students that dorm, many universities post their dining hall’s menus with nutritional information online for your reference. Avoid liquid calories! Those that consume coffee, soda, or alcohol often are more susceptible to weight gain. Instead, substitute these high-calorie drinks with water or unsweetened ice tea. Choosing what you eat wisely will help you avoid food that is bad for you.

The freshman fifteen is widely spoken about between college students, and incoming students often fear about it the most. However, it is ultimately your choice whether to be affected by it or not. Staying active and being aware of what you consume will lead to a happy, healthy body. With these healthy habits in mind, anyone can easily conquer the freshman fifteen and prove that it is just a rumor.

Author Biography: My name is Cindy Do and I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I am Chinese and Vietnamese and my native language is Cantonese. I graduated from Mira Mesa High School in 2012, where I was a member of the dance/drill team for four years. I am currently a second year at California State University, Fullerton, with a major in Business Administration. When I am not at school or dance rehearsal, I like to try new foods and find new places to explore. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in marketing or finance.

You’ve been accepted into college. Congratulation! Now, you need to decide where you will live. Do you want to live off campus in an apartment or on campus in a dorm? Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. But as a new college student, I would highly recommend choosing to live in a dorm for at least your first year of school. Here are five top reasons why:

1. Make New Friends – College is nothing without new friends. Living in a dorm provides numerous opportunities to meet all kinds of people. As a freshman, you will have a roommate (or maybe even three roommates!), in addition other students on your floor. From walking down the hallway, to showering in the bathroom, to doing laundry, you are bound to run into students who may become your study buddy or lunch date. In addition, meeting people provides a great way to make connections, which can benefit you during your college career or later on in life.

2. Easier to get involved – You don’t have to study 24/7. You come to college to not only get an education, but to make lasting memories. So join a club or two—and living in a dorm makes it easier to get involve. All student organizations meet on campus (with a lot of events and socials taking place around the school) so you do not have to worry about driving from afar to get to campus. Most dorms have a bulletin board with a list of activities happening around school so you can be sure you always have something fun to do.

3. Convenience – In college, proximity is key to making students’ life easier and less stressful. Living in a dorm provides easy commute to classes, libraries, dining halls, and other campus resources. No need to worry about public transportation (who wants to wait for a bus?). If you have a car, you will save lots of money on gas!

4. Cheaper in a dorm – College is expensive and no doubt every student and parent wants to save money. Choosing to live in a dorm will be a lot cheaper than living in an apartment. In an apartment, you have to pay for maintenance fees, electric and water bill, cable, Internet etc. But living in a dorm provides all that services, and much more, at a lower, lump sum rate! You even get daily cleaning services at no cost! So go ahead and pull that all-nighter for your exams, as you do not have to worry about overages.

5. The Experience – Hands down, this is the number one reason why you should consider living in a dorm. You will create fond memories of your life as an on-campus resident. You will make life-long friends, stay up late with your roommate(s) gossiping, enjoy all kinds of school activities, and so much more. You will have crazy stories to reminisce on. Whether you like living in a dorm, you will nonetheless had the experience of living in one.

Not everyone can have the chance to say they lived in a dorm while in college. Even if you decide to live in a dorm for one year or one semester, it is worth it. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and live in a dorm for the full college experience.

Author Bio: My name is Quang Ly and I am a second year law student at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Tampa Bay, Florida. I graduated from the University of Florida with my B.A. in English (cum laude). During my spare time, I write non-fiction stories; I recently finished my first manuscript and I am working on the sequel. My hobbies include (a) reading books/textbooks on writing and composition and (b) spending time with family and friends.

The SAT also has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary. If someone feels that they are well-versed in their literature and diction, then the SAT would be a good choice.

Author Biography: Kalmina Wu is a poet, photographer, musician, carbon copy, cartographer, bicyclist, endangered species, writer, and human being. She will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall as a freshman. She plans to double major in business and economics. Her passions lie in music and the arts, and she periodically rotates her focus on the drums, piano, saxophone, and guitar. She also enjoys literature, and her work has appeared in some online publications and magazines. She has played golf for six years, and has competed as varsity captain of the school team, and as an individual nationally. In what little spare time she manages to find, she can be found hiding under the pier docks looking for bottles, hiking through the forest, or asleep in a café somewhere. You can find her quiet insights on life at http://www.kawky.tumblr.com.

One of the main factors colleges consider when accepting applicants is the SAT score. Unlike high school transcripts, SAT scores provide a universal way of assessing a student’s academic ability. Because some high schools are more rigorous than others, it is often difficult to truly evaluate a student’s academic performance based purely on school grades. Thus, colleges will often use the SAT score as a basis of comparison for students from different high schools.

The SAT is typically subdivided into two main categories – the SAT reasoning test and the SAT subject tests. The SAT reasoning test is an assessment of general knowledge that requires no factual memorization. ­­The total score is 2400 and it has three components – writing, reading, and math. The SAT subject test, on the other hand, is a more specialized test that assesses a student’s knowledge in a specific field of knowledge. For example, there are SAT subject tests for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Literature, etc. Although the SAT reasoning test has a greater weight, it is also important to excel in as many SAT subject tests as possible to be competitive for the top colleges.

Improving your scores on your SAT tests is largely a process of hard work and gradual improvement. For the SAT reasoning test, you will need consistent and intensive practice to raise your score. Carefully analyze your mistakes from practice tests and make sure you learn from them when you take your next test. Building a stronger vocabulary will also improve your score on the SAT reasoning test. Your best bet is to buy practice SAT books from a local bookstore or to enroll in SAT classes.

Your knowledge for your SAT subject tests will come largely through the material that you learn in school. For example, if you are prepping for the SAT II Biology exam, then make sure to pay attention in your school’s biology course and refresh your knowledge from time to time. An SAT II prep book, complemented with the material you learn at school, should be enough to prepare you for the subject test.