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 ...

One of my favorite things about language is that no two people have exactly the same arsenal of diction and syntax from which they can pull and construct their writing and everyday conversations. There are words I do not know but that other people use on a daily basis, and there are words that, to me, have a slightly different connotation ...

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 ...

You’ve made it. You’ve graduated high school. You’ve proven your tenacity, or at least your ability to stay awake for 6-8 hours a day, and now it’s time to take the first steps into adult life… with parental consent of course. Unfortunately, you’re still 17 (or 16, or whatever young age you are you genius, you), and you’re already begun college, ...

With the reelection of President Barack Obama--to the ire of many, and the rejoice of others--he has promised to roll back tuition at many colleges, by working with congress, increase funding for federal student aid, and strengthen community colleges. Obama has declared higher education a “necessity”, and plans to work to make it a reality for everyone. He also declared that ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Chances are, you’re not going to be best friends with your roommate. Throw together two randomly assigned young adults who’ve likely never shared a room in their lives and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – or at least a disgusting sink full of dishes. Even if you guys love each other, there’s guaranteed to be some conflicts at some point, ...

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 ...