Food & Travel

What might be some universities that it could be worth it to cross the globe to attend? You can always go to a community college near you. Or, you might go to the best school that you can, regardless of its location. But if you’re looking at trying to get far away from your current position, then that’s when you’re looking at an entirely different set of variables. Yes, the quality of education is important, but the priority of the location is another significant factor.

So, what would some of your criteria be? First, you can look up what some of the best schools in the world are. Second, you can consider the point of getting a master’s in business administration. Getting an MBA somewhere around the world from your present location gives you a good feel for international business concepts. 

And third, once you travel around the world, you’ll feel more mobile already. At that point, you can start following the best job opportunities you find, regardless of what your next geographical jump is.

Best Schools in the World

When you’re trying to decide which academic pathway to take, one of your first steps is always to look up the best schools in the world. How they rate schools can be something of a mystery, so you want to make sure that the type of satisfaction you are looking for is the type of satisfaction they provide. 

There are different types of best schools were different possible future jobs, so it is very important that you consider that. How much money they cost will ultimately be a part of your decision as well, but there’s no sense in looking at that until you see other statistics as well.

The Point of an MBA

Have you ever wondered why you might want to get into an MBA program? Because so many schools offer these, it makes sense that you might look at ones that are far away from you. For example, you could go to an MBA program in the European Union. 

Talk about learning a lot about culture and international business all at the same time! It would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a valuable master’s degree in a safe but challenging environment.

Following the Best Job Opportunities

One of the reasons you want to get as far away as possible when you go to a university is because it mentally prepares you for further jobs. In other words, if you’ve already moved your life halfway around the world to get an education, that means you can look up what the best jobs in the world are, and you won’t feel stressed out about the fact that you’re moving to a new culture again. You will have already conquered that fear. You can use your degree from a faraway university as a stepping stone to get a job from a distant company.

While you might have been comfortable learning to drive with your parents and tooling around your old stomping grounds at home, taking your car with you to college opens you up to certain safety issues that you might not have had to worry about before.

Luckily, with the right planning and preparation, you can feel safe in your car and know what to do if and when something should go wrong behind the wheel.

To show you just how this can be done, here are three car and road safety tips to take with you to college. 

Make Sure Your Vehicle Is In Good Working Order

Before you leave home and head off to college, it’s wise to make sure that your vehicle will be able to get you there safely. For most people, this means taking their vehicle into a mechanic so everything can get looked over before hitting the road.

If you do choose to do this trip check on your own, however, iDriveSafely.com recommends that you do more than just checking your oil. To really make sure that everything is in good working order, you’ll want to do things like check all the belts, test the brakes, check your coolant and transmission, make sure your tires are sound and more. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you won’t wind up in a car accident due to a mechanical malfunction on your way to college. 

Be Smart When Packing

Now that you feel confident that your car will be able to get you to college safely, it’s time to start packing everything in.

When doing this, Consumer Reports recommends that you pack all the heaviest items toward the bottom of your car and closer to the front or center of your vehicle. By doing this, you’ll be able to keep your car’s center of gravity lower and reduce the chances of your vehicle rolling if you were to get in a car accident. Additionally, try to strap down everything you pack rather than just setting it in the car, as anything that moves can become a projectile in the event of a car accident. 

Make Safety Your Priority When Behind The Wheel

Once you arrive at school, it’s important that you take the necessary precautions to ensure that your top priority is safety when driving around campus. With so many people walking around, it’s vital that you always pay attention when behind the wheel. 

As a part of this, Haley Cornish, a contributor to TheOdysseyOnline.com, recommends that you avoid doing things like texting and driving, drinking and driving, or getting behind the wheel when you’re tired. 

If you’re planning to take your car to college, consider using the tips mentioned above to ensure you’re able to be safe with your vehicle.

Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time for students everywhere to enjoy their summer break before heading back to school in the fall. However, for many college students, a summer break is more about figuring out your finances, preparing for classes, and catching up with friends and family before you’ve gone again for another few months.

Amid all of this busyness, it’s easy to let things slip your mind that really should be taken care of before you get caught up in your new semester of school. So to help ensure you’re as prepared as possible when the leaves start to change again, here are three tips for preparing to head back to college in the fall.

Make Necessary Medical Appointments

If you’re still on your parents’ medical insurance, the time you spend at home during the summer is the perfect chance for you to make any necessary medical appointments that you’ve been putting off. Because figuring out doctors and insurance when you’re in another city or state can be very difficult at times, the summer break is your chance to get everything taken care of in an effective way.

According to Kelsey Mulvey, a contributor to the Huffington Post, you should spend some time thinking about any medical questions you had over the last year at school and write them down to ask your doctor at your appointments. Additionally, make sure you get any prescription refills that you’ll need and are all caught up with your vaccination and a flu shot.

Get Your Car A Tune Up

For students that have their own car that they drive to and from campus each year, the break from school is a great time to get a tune-up that your car likely needs. With your car running smoothly, you’re less likely to get into a car accident as a result of something breaking down while you’re driving.

If you’re not sure where to start with this, Jerry S. Hyman and Lynn F. Jacobs, contributors to the U.S. News and World Report, recommend asking a mechanic to look at things like your tires and all your fluid levels.

Find Some Simple, Healthy Meal Recipes

When time is short during your semester, you might find yourself getting takeout or fast food on a regular basis. But not only can this be bad for your health, it can also cause your bank account to take a big hit.

To combat this, Chelsea Fagan, a contributor to Thought Catalog, suggests spending some time during the summer looking for simple, healthy meal recipes that you can make quickly and on the cheap. These can prove to be very beneficial all throughout your college years.

To help you be ready once your new school year starts, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for the fall during your summer break.

Going to college may be one of the best experiences a person has in their entire life. Getting away from home is an enlightening experience. Being a master of your destiny as far as what classes you take, what friends you make, and where you go is a big deal. Unfortunately, there tends to be a little bit of a problem with teen driving specifically in college. If you’ve only been driving for a few years, and then suddenly you’re in a college town with lots of traffic, that can become a problem, especially if you aren’t careful with certain driving precautions.

Think of all the ways that paying attention to teen driving in college should be a priority. First of all, there is the cost. Owning and driving a car costs money, and college kids are notoriously broke. Secondly, there is a higher possibility of accidents with younger drivers with minimal driving experience. Third, teens in college, especially the first few years, are notorious for risky behavior while driving to try to prove themselves to the world. And lastly, there is a consistent problem with underage drinking in college, and that leads to alcohol-related driving accidents.

The Cost

The total cost of a car is not just the price tag coming off the lot. There are insurance costs to consider. There is the price of gasoline. There is the money that you have to put into maintenance and cleaning and upkeep. All of these things add up. If a teen in college thinks they’re going to pay a few thousand dollars and then that is the entire cost of their vehicular experience, they are in for a rude awakening.

Possible Accidents

On college campuses, especially with teens, there are greater possibilities for vehicle accidents on the roads. College campuses are usually high-density areas when it comes to traffic and people, and because folks are in constant motion going to and fro from classes, this makes for potential collisions between people and cars, or one type of vehicle and another if someone isn’t paying attention or is in a rush.

Risky Behavior

Teens are more likely to engage in risky behavior, especially when it comes to driving. They may think it’s funny to pack more people into a car than is legal. They might try to do something to impress their friends by going too fast in a car or going in an area that’s off limits. These kinds of risks can lead to injury and damage, and teens are often the culprits when it comes to mischievous driving.

Drinking and Driving

Finally, there is always going to be a consistent problem with teen drinking and driving, especially in the college atmosphere. Teens will have access to alcohol in ways that they didn’t before, and then they will decide that it’s okay to drive themselves home. This is a recipe for disaster and even possible jail time.

While many college students can get away with living an unhealthy lifestyle for a little while, eventually these bad habits will catch up to you. So if you’re wanting to live a long, happy, and healthy life throughout college and beyond, you’ve got to begin creating a healthy lifestyle for yourself, including be cognizant of what you’re putting into your body.

Even if you’re a college student that’s struggling financially, you can still find ways to eat healthy and take care of your body. To show you how, here are three tips for making healthy, inexpensive food choices as a college student.

Know What To Spend Your Money On

When you have very limited amounts of money to spend on food, it’s important that you’re smart about the financial decisions you choose to make. While you may think that buying processed food with a lot of calories will help you get full and stat full, making your money worth this expense, nothing could be further from the truth. So rather than spending your money on food that’s not good for you, Natalie Stein, a contributor to LiveStrong.com, recommends buying foods like whole-grain cereal and snacks, peanut butter, fruits and vegetables, and foods high in protein. By eating foods like this, you’ll help you body look and feel better.

Learn How To Use Your Microwave

If you’re living in a dorm or you don’t have a lot of time to spend cooking meals, you’ve got to learn how to use what time and resources you do have to make healthy foods for yourself. In most dorm rooms or other living situations, you’ll at least have a microwave that you can use. If this is the case, Anisha Jhaveri, a contributor to Greatist.com, shares some of the best microwave or no-cook recipes for eating healthy, delicious foods that are simple and easy to make. By learning how to use your microwave to make everything from scrambled eggs to burrito bowls, you can have healthy meals ready to eat when you are at very little cost to yourself.

Stick With The Healthy Options At The Cafeteria

Many college students get put on a meal plan provided by their school. And while this can make getting food easier, it’s not always the healthiest options available. So if you’re struggling eating healthy with your meal plan, Thomas Frank, a contributor to NerdFitness.com, suggests sticking to things like grilled chicken, the salad bar, egg-based meals, and lots of veggies. You can likely find these things at any time in your cafeteria, so it’s up to you to make the smart choice about which food options to indulge in.

If you’re looking for ways to eat healthy and save money as a college student, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.

If you’re planning to drive home to visit your family between semesters, the most important thing is that you’re able to get home and back to campus in one piece. Especially if you live in an area that has snowy or icy roads, getting from point A to point B can be a dangerous task. Luckily, if you’re prepared, you can increase your chances of being safe on the road and truly enjoying the holidays with your friends and family. To show you how, here are three tips for staying safe while driving home for the holidays.

Make Sure Your Car Is Prepared

To give yourself the best chance of staying safe on the road, it’s important that you’re driving in a car that can handle anything the winter roads can dish out. According to OSHA, preparing your car should include making sure your battery is working correctly, your tires have good tread, your windshield wipers are working well, and that your fluids are topped off and not frozen. If you can’t check these things yourself, consider swinging by a mechanic before you hit the road to head home for the holidays. The last thing you want is to have care trouble during bad winter weather.

Bring Emergency Items

While you’d like to think that nothing bad will happen to you while driving home in the winter, you should always try to be prepared for the worst case scenario. To do this, the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission recommends that you always keep certain emergency items in your vehicle. These things should include an ice scraper or snow shovel, sand or kitty litter, a flashlight or flares, jumper cables, blankets, and some emergency food and water. While these items will take up a bit of space in your car, you won’t regret having these emergency items if a real emergency presents itself.

Advice for Driving On Snow Or Ice

If you’ll be driving on the ice or snow on your way home from campus, it’s vital that you know how to adjust your driving to keep yourself and others safe. According to AAA, drivers should be extra careful when accelerating or decelerating on winter roads. Also, you should drive slower than the posted speeds and give other cars around you increased following distance. Keep in mind that it’s harder to start and stop when the roads are slick, so try not to stop completely or punch the gas if you don’t have to.

For those students planning to head home for the holidays, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe on the road and get to your destination and back in one piece.

As a college student, there’s little that you look forward to more than spring break. After months of studying hard and stressing about school, work, and your social life, spring break comes around at the perfect time for you to unwind for a few days and prepare for the final push at the end of the school year. However, if you’re not careful, you could make some big personal or financial mistakes during spring break that could affect your life for years to come. So to help keep this from happening to you, here are three tips for planning your next spring break trip.

Pick The Right Plan For You

Just because spring break gives you the chance to get away from your routine doesn’t mean this is a necessity for you. And if you give in to the pressure to go somewhere tropical and party all week long, you may wind up feeling disappointed if this wasn’t actually your idea of a good time. For this reason, Lauren Blum, a contributor to USA Today, recommends not just going with the stereotypical spring break vacation if that’s not what you want. If you think you’d rather take a cruise or visit a historical site, or even just stay at home spending time with family, do that instead. While you might feel pressured by your peers or marketing campaigns to “take advantage” of this break, it’s a time that’s meant to help you relax from the stress of school, so spend it the way you want.

Be Smart About Your Finances

If you do choose to go somewhere or do something for your spring break, it’s important that you understand how this choice could affect your finances. According to Lisa Fickenscher, a contributor to the New York Post, a huge number of college kids spend the money they’ve taken out through student loans on their spring break splurges. And while there’s nothing illegal about spending your student loan money on things that aren’t directly school-related, this may not be the smartest financial choice. To be in the best position upon graduating, you’re going to want to have the least amount of debt possible. And if a portion of this debt was brought on because you wanted to spend a week in Cabo, that may not be a choice you’re thrilled about when you’re paying for it in the years after graduation.

Know How To Stay Safe

Spring break is a huge travel time all over the world. Knowing this, it follows that spring break is also a peak time to get taken advantage of as a tourist. To keep this from happening to you, contributors to the Huffington Post recommend doing your research before you go and taking extra precautions when you’re at your destination. This could include practicing safe drinking habits and informing your friends or relatives of where you are.

If you’re planning your next adventure over spring break, use the tips mentioned above to do so safely and practically.

You’re out on your own now. Finally away from Mom and Dad and the restraints of home. In college, you can make your own rules, your own schedule, and have pizza and beer for every meal if you want. However, when you took that step out into the world, you more than likely incurred some new responsibilities, as well. You now so your own grocery shopping, clean your own place, and pay your own bills, including your car payment and insurance. Why did I pick that out specifically? Every year, the amount of students, ages 18-25, in car accidents tend to be the largest group in this category. Here are a few things you can do that will keep you prepared should this debacle find you.

Keep Your Insurance Up to Date

It is now the law, in most states, that you must carry car insurance. When buying a new car, you are no longer even allowed to drive it off the lot without it. Unfortunately, several people, many young college students, allow the payments to lapse after the first month of coverage. Then, as it happens in life sometimes, you have a fender bender or worse. You find yourself with no coverage. Medical bills will pile up, you may not be able to replace the vehicle or repair it, you may find yourself responsible for the other party’s bills and, in most cases, no matter what happened, you will receive full legal blame, because you had no insurance. Sound appetizing?

Take Pictures!

In the awful event that you actually end up in an accident, after making sure that everyone is ok and that there is no impending danger from any vehicles involved, take pictures. Lots of them. This will allow you to prove to the insurance company, and to anyone else that would like to know, what damage was done or not done. Pictures can save you money on repairs and make good forensic evidence for proving fault, if necessary.

Have Legal Representation

In many cases, more than in prior years, both parties involved have insurance. Information is exchanged and life goes on. However, there are several thousands still driving without insurance. If you should be so lucky as to find one, it would serve you well to have legal representation on standby. These kinds of cases tend to take some time to sift out. Get a jump on things and be prepared.

Following these simple tips in your new lease on life could save you time you already don’t have between work and classes and could save you money that would be better spent on tuition or that guy/girl you met at the library while you were studying last night.

When it comes to choosing your next travel destination, one target that might tickle your fancy is to go to places where you can get the feel of different types of college lifestyles. There are party lifestyles, academic lifestyles, peculiar lifestyles, and lifestyles of the relaxed and beautiful – all contained within the ideas of various college campuses.

Five destinations in particular that you could consider might include heading to San Diego, Ann Arbor, the Harvard campus, New Orleans, or the infamous Reed College in Oregon. Each of these places is known for something distinct, so even if you aren’t going there as a student, going as a spectator can be fascinating.

San Diego

San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S., and has several college campuses either in it or near it. Going to a resort in San Diego would be your first action, and from there you could check out the local undergraduate and community colleges, and then there are the places nearby in L.A. that are famous for their output of people into the film and recording industries.

Ann Arbor

If you’re a sports fan, particularly of college football, then visiting the University of Michigan campus and going to a college football game at the Big House is going to be an event of a lifetime. The energy there is spectacular, even regardless of who happens to be playing. The rest of the campus is pretty amazing as well, with all sort of mixing of academic and commercial buildings, leading to a really interesting experience just wandering around and people-watching.

Harvard

For those who want to know what it feels like to be surrounding by some of the most intelligent people on the planet, a trip to Harvard in Massachusetts might be the ticket. The rest of the northeast would be just a hop away as well, allowing you to check out sites as varied as Boston and New York City. Popping though the Harvard campus itself however, is quite a trip through the history of academia.

New Orleans

For partying, there are very few places like New Orleans, and that goes with its student life straight down the ticket. Just make sure that you’re going during a time of year that won’t be too much for you. There are certain seasons where it’s good to appreciate the vibe, and then other seasons where it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Reed College

Tucked away outside of the mainstream in Oregon is Reed College, made famous by some of the interlopers who have wandered through its campus over the years. Whereas the oddness of the campus itself isn’t quite for everyone, it will give you a glimpse into what seems to be a alternative reality for the students there.

We all look forward to summer break, but too often when it arrives we find ourselves stuck in boring jobs or just sitting around wondering what to do. There’s no reason to bum around the house, though, when the weather is beautiful; instead, take advantage of your summers to travel a little and see the most beautiful scenery this country has to offer by going hiking.

Here are 4 hiking trails that make for a great summer excursion, with a friend or on your own. Just remember to hike safe – we’re not advising you take a weekend and try to tackle Everest, which has claimed the lives of more than a few experienced hikers. These are gentle hikes that even beginners can handle. Now pack that daypack and hit the trails!

Doane Valley Nature Trail

Paths that are labeled nature trails are typically quite gentle, and the Doane Valley Nature Trail in Palomar Mountain State Park is no exception. And while the park features a campground, you can cover a good chunk of trail in a day and make it home in time for dinner. We recommend bringing a hammock – they’re easy to carry while hiking – and enjoy a rest near Pauma Creek.

Arches National Park

For a particularly short hike paired with an incredible landscape, the two miles from Devils Garden Trail to Landscape Arch is a great little trek. You’ll get to see the world renowned sandstone arches that give the park its name. And if you’ve got a little extra time or want to check out some more of the arches up close, you can easily lengthen this hike into a five miler, still well within the confines of a short day hike.

Santa Anita Canyon

When the heat gets to be too much, you might not be inclined to head outdoors but give Santa Anita Canyon a chance. You’ll be surprised by how Sturtevant and Hermit Falls produce a natural air conditioner effect outside. The trail is shady and misty, so comfortable you’ll want to stay there all summer.

Mount Mansfield

If you want to be able to claim serious summer accomplishment, Vermont’s highest peak comes in as only about 7 miles. It isn’t the easiest day hike, but entirely manageable. If you take the Sunset Ridge Trail you’ll get to see Cantilever Rock, the structure of which is hard to believe – it can only be described as gravity defying. To understand what we mean, you’ll just have to see it for yourself.

The ambitious hiker who takes on all four of these trails, you’ll hit the east and west coast, plus some territory in between, but even if you don’t have the time or money to traverse the U.S. during summer break, we guarantee that there are plenty of great options near you as well. In particular, our national parks are home to an array of treasures, including day hikes that will take you along mountain, across streams, and may even offer some incredible nature sightings. Now that’s a well spent summer.