As fall quarter draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the ups and downs of my first ten weeks of college. The thing I’m overwhelmingly glad I did was to get involved in student organizations here on campus. At OU, and at most other colleges, there are tons of student organizations to get involved with. I can say from firsthand ...

There are a few big decisions most college freshman must make after they’ve decided on the college they want to attend -- like where to live, when to schedule classes, and whether or not to join Greek life. Although it may seem unimportant, whether or not you join Greek life will greatly affect your college experience in many ways. Hopefully this ...

Everyone looks forward to the final couple of years of high school: you’re getting ready for college, looking forward to graduating, and enjoying all the perks of finally being at the top of the food chain. With all of the excitement of finally finishing high school comes a truckload of fun stuff that solidifies the rapidly approaching milestone of graduation: cap ...

We all know the group of people in our high school that everyone knows. Come on, don’t deny it. They are the select few that everyone turns to gaze at, if only slightly. So many of you would like to be friends with them or even become them, but stop and think about it: Is it really worth it?[gate] When you ...

I am five weeks into this semester, and let me tell you, this has been one of those weeks that I feel like I am just barely clinging to my sanity. It has been a truly insane few days, what with all the tests, papers and after-class commitments to attend to and, while it’s usually easy for me to relish the ...

I hate this time of the year, and it is not because taxes confuse me. For American students, it is time to register for classes again, which means lines, paperwork, and money. All three of those are problem areas, but no more! This year, I conquered registration. Advising The first step in choosing classes is meeting with an advisor, so I ...

In the age of the Internet, information is at our beck and call with the push of a button. Smartphones are no exception, making it easier to get up to the second news and information. It’s almost like carrying a laptop around in your pocket. Usually, high school graduates view purchasing a laptop a must before heading off to college. Now ...

With the new year comes new resolutions and a fresh start, and this is no different for high school seniors. Now that you have some idea of where you’ll be a year from now, it’s time to make sure you can afford it. While nearly everyone fills out the FAFSA and waits to hear back from schools on their financial aid, ...

In Overachievers Anonymous, I wrote about what to do and ways to help if you are taking on a lot of things to fill up that college résumé to the brim, but after taking some time to reflect, I realized that an overload of work isn't the only thing that we have to worry about and that stresses us out, it ...

As I was exploring topics to cover for my final story in my newswriting class, I came across the issue of whether or not liberal arts education affects the religious practices of college students. The issue really intrigued me because I attend a liberal arts university, and have been taught about many different perspectives since beginning classes in the fall. I’ve ...

It happens to the best of us. You start the semester with a game plan and every intention to avoid the mistakes of the past. Time drains such as the internet, partying, and anything else have been sorted out. Your finances are in order, you have your health, and your personal life is drama free. Then, it happens. Life, whether over ...

It’s finally March, and you’re totally pumped for a week off from classes to hit the warm weather. If college is anything like the Hollywood ideal, then it’s off to Mexico for some serious partying. Or it was, anyways, until you looked at your bank statement. Maybe you’re strapped for cash, or maybe cliché trips to the shore aren’t your style. ...

I have always wanted to have my own talk show, so I'm just going to pretend that I have one right now. Hello faithful audience and at-home viewers! Welcome to The Alison Show! Today we are going to be discussing a serious topic, one that will give you great life experiences, impressive things to put on your college application, wonderful essay ...

Tick tock. That’s all I hear as I push in my applications for college. Tick tock. The clock’s ticking as I type in yet again, my first name, last name, address, alternative address, birthdate and phone number. What am I going to do with my life? [gate] I have an idea, but the most terrifying thing, is that I won’t in ...

When deciding to purchase textbooks for next semester, you have a couple of options: [gate] 1. Buying books online For most students, purchasing textbooks online is their primary option at the start of a new semester. The most popular website to buy and sell textbooks is Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/ ). When searching for a book on sites such as Amazon, here are ...

From the vantage point of a high school desk, college can seem impossibly far off – a different, mythical world. It’s a quickly approaching leap from life at home to life in a college dorm, and in the scramble to prepare oneself academically for collegiate life, it’s easy to overlook the fact that in a few short months, you’ll be living ...

The day you graduate from college may be one of the happiest days of your life. The sense of accomplishment, the acknowledgement of a job well done, the pat on the back from your family and peers elates you. The future looks so bright, until you begin to search for a new job and are met with rejection after rejection. Then ...

I'm sitting in a computer lab, discreetly listening to two locals joke and tease one another in Spanish while it pours rain outside. If this were any other summer, I might be waiting in line for a ride at Whitewater or curled up on the recliner with my puppy, but it's not just any summer. This is the summer I study ...

Just one more, I thought, as I trudged up the steps and pulled open the deceivingly heavy wooden doors. Just one more flight of stairs and I would step into this classroom for the last time, submitting my exam and turning my back on what had developed into a very unsatisfying class over the course of the semester. But all of ...

The day of Big/Little Reveal was hot. I remember because we were all wearing dresses; it might have been the first day of the semester where no one had chosen to wear pants. I and five other newly initiated girls gathered outside of my freshman dorm to drive over to the venue together. For this occasion I had borrowed a friend’s ...