Avoiding the Generic: How to make your room stand out

We have all seen college movies. Where posters of beer pong, classic movies, or famous and trendy art covers the limited wall space, the ground is covered by piles of clothing, the bed spread is a plain color, and the sounds system is simply computer speakers. Now after my first three years of college I have seen every shape and variety of dorm room. To be honest, it is rather hard not to slowly slide into the generic and basic décor. The items that create such a setting are simple, cheap, and mass produced to meet demand which is why it is so hard to stand out some times.

But standing out is a must. Your room can be an expression of yourself if you let it. First off, when choosing wall coverings, stay away from those generic posters. Everybody has seen these and no one is ever impressed by them. Maybe you will get a chuckle for the mere commonplace nature of the thing.

On the other hand, something you put effort into finding can evoke conversation and that is exactly what posters are good for. No more awkward silence for you. I personally found some 1984 Los Angeles Olympic posters, a Dali painting, a rare Bob Marley saying (that I actually connect with) and a less than common Muhammad Ali portrait.

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How To Use Your Summer Holiday To Prep For A Better School Year

Hi guys! It's Kaleigh, from EveryCollegeGirl.com, and my friends here at DormDelicious have been kind enough to invite me to do a guest post for all the DormDelicious readers. The summer is a great time to relax, hang out with friends, and recover from the long academic year. However, just because you're having a lot of fun, doesn't mean you should completely overlook the year ahead. Summer can also be a great time to get a jump on your next school year to make it even better and take off some of the stress once it's time to get back to business. Here are three tips on how to use your summer holidays to prep for an even more successful school year.

Beach Reading

Somehow, reading a book that you don't have to finish in a week takes infinitely less time to read than one that you do. You'll probably read a couple books over the summer anyway, whether it's at the beach or on your break at work, why not make it a productive read instead of re-reading Twilight for the 38th time? Go online, talk to previous students, or even e-mail your profs to find out the required reading for your upcoming classes. You can pick a few books at random, or, if you have the full syllabus, pick readings that you know will be covered during a hectic time of year, like near exams or Christmas break. This way, when these readings come around in class, you'll already have them done and can either relax, or use the extra time to review and get caught up on everything else that's due.

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Off to College: Five Must Dos

The transition to college life can be unsettling one. Moving into the dorms, meeting new friends and having fresh experiences can be tons of fun but can also be very stressful. Luckily with a little preparation and foresight, during the summer months, you won't have to worry about little annoyances ruining the shift to college living.

Preparing for life on your own is a big change. It may seem daunting to you, but with minimal organization and a little less procrastination than usual you can have a jump start in your social and academic life. First off, don't be lazy. Sure procrastination for many is a viable solution in a more personalized high school setting. On the other hand, even if you have been organized and on top of your game throughout high school, now is not the time to stop this beneficial behavior. Mom won't be around to remind you of deadlines and cutoff dates, so constantly be aware of what needs to be done. Keep a constant list, on a dry erase board or calendar, of all upcoming deadlines.

To make sure nothing gets by you try to do the following five things:

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5 Appliances and Accessories to Revolutionize Your Dorm Room

Some college students are content to simply survive their time in a college dorm room. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's only temporary, right? If this is you, then don't bother with the rest of this article and enjoy your boring cell.

The rest of us know the truth: if you have to live in a dorm – and at most colleges you do at some point – you may as well make the best of it. Why simply survive dorm life when you can actually enjoy it. The only problem is that sometimes that can mean a lot of work.

Depending on your school, your dorm room can be anything from a spacious multi-roomed duplex to a cramped and dull concrete cell. It's hard to imagine that anyone can live in the latter, let alone turn it into something enjoyable. But those of us unlucky enough to experience it know that it can be done. And someday you may even consider it your home away from home.

The gadgets and small appliances listed below are not going to help you study for your midterms. They won't write your papers for you either. However, they'll certainly make the rest of your college experience more enjoyable.

Multi-Functional Breakfast Maker

While useful, the old school coffee makers that were the roast of the town just years ago don't cut it anymore. Coffee is great, and obviously a collegiate necessity, but wouldn't it be nice if you could also make eggs, toast and maybe even pancakes – all at the same time? If you dream of a breakfast machine that would make Pee Wee Herman proud, then you need a combination coffee maker, toaster oven, griddle and steam tray. You're not just rolling out of bed and into a pot of coffee anymore, you're serving full-out breakfast with all the trimmings. Best of all, it won't take up too much room in your dorm – unlike Pee Wee's contraption. These fine machines are also quite the crowd pleaser when you have unexpected company overnight.

3D Blu-Ray Player

With your hearty breakfast ready, you're obviously going to need something to watch while you eat. For those days when daytime TV just won't cut it – or maybe you just want to impress your newfound guest – the 3D blu-ray player is just what you need. Since studios seem to be releasing every blockbuster movie now in digital 3D, you may as well take advantage of it. Yes, you're also going to need a new 3D-enabled television as well as some specially designed 3D glasses, but it's a small price to pay to amaze your friends and establish your room as the coolest theater on campus.

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10 Websites Every College Student Should Know

Now that a lot of you have found out what schools you've gotten into, it's time to start prepping for college by having a look at these must-visit sites! Even if you're already in college, you should check 'em out. You never know what you might find!

1. Rate My Professors

This site is a great way for you to find out what you are getting yourself into when signing up for a particular class. Past students can rate the professor on easiness, helpfulness, clarity and rater interest. They can also write comments about the professor so you can decide if this is the right class for you or not.

2. Evernote

Evernote is a very useful site that will help you to keep every aspect of your life organized. For a college student, it is great when you are working on a class project. Instead of keeping a million tabs open on your web browser, you can store all of the information you need on Evernote. The best part about Evernote is that you don’t need to always be on the computer or internet to access your notebooks. Evernote can be used on the web, your desktop, Blackberry, Palm Pre and iPhone/iPod Touch.

3. Half.com

Half.com makes surfing Ebay even easier. Simply search for the item you are looking for and instantly find the BEST price being offered. They also categorize the items based on the condition of the item. Definitely a great way to save money on textbooks!

4. DormCo

For those who just got into college (and those looking to spruce up your dorm), DormCo is a site specifically for finding stuff to put in your dorm, so obviously we love it. From Twin XL sheets to Jersey Shore Gym-Tan-Laundry bags, you'll find all your dorm needs here.

5. Craigslist

You can find anything and everything you need on craigslist. This site allows people to post items that they no longer want and its basically a first-come, first-serve. You can find furniture, DVDs, textbooks, pets and so much more!

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