In one of our previous blog post Adjusting to College Life, we touched on the Freshman 15 and felt it deserved a post entirely devoted to this topic. “Freshman 15” is a phrase that strikes fear into the hearts of College freshman across the nation, a somewhat somber reminder of what they can expect after their freshman year. Most freshman enter into their first year of college with the full expectation of gaining weight their freshmen year.

These freshmen would be able to avoid these extra pounds by simply understanding what causes the “freshman 15” and what they can do to avoid freshmen fifteen weight. Here are some good tips that will help educate you on the freshman 15 and give you tips on how to combat it. 

Freshman 15 Causes 

The Freshman Fifteen are caused by the perfect storm of lifestyle changes, with multiple factors coming together to cause weight gain. Freshmen who are worried about gaining weight during their freshman year need to realize that their new lifestyle change will require a change in habits.

Freshmen are known for eating on the go. With random and busy schedules, freshmen can rarely find time to sit down for a meal. When freshmen can sit down for a meal, they are limited to whatever they can fit in their mini-fridge and cook in a refrigerator. This often leads to poor food choices, which can lead to weight gain.

Freshmen are also notorious for staying up late on a regular basis. The snacks that you eat during the late hours of the night will come back to haunt you, as your body is more likely to store sugars and fats at night. A simple snack of fries and a pop, over the course of a year, can lead to significant weight gain.

Freshmen fifteen statistics show that freshmen are less active in college. When you move to college, your lifestyle changes, and the idea of going to the gym for a workout is less attractive. Many freshmen do not have cars, making getting to the gym difficult. The combination of bad foods, late night eating, and fewer workouts will lead to a Freshman 15. 

Avoid the Freshman 15 

Freshmen are constantly looking for tips to avoid freshman 15 weight, trying to learn how to avoid the freshman 15. There are some simple and easy tips to follow that will help individuals to lose freshman 15 weight.

One simple tip is to control your eating habits. Set specific times for snacks and meals, keeping flexible for last minute schedule changes. The most important time to set is a cut-off time; do not let yourself eat past a certain time of day. Stopping your food intake around 8PM or 9PM will help you to avoid the freshman 15.

Another tip is to post pictures of yourself in the places that you eat. These “Freshman 15 pictures” will help to keep you motivated, reminding you of the body that you would like to keep as you debate your food choices.

The best tip for those looking to lose the Freshmen 15 is to go on a steady and reasonable diet. Crash dieting never works for those who gain the freshmen fifteen, as they simply gain the weight back when they stop the diet. Small diet changes, including fewer carbohydrates, no fast food, and no soda, will help you to avoid the freshman 15.

Freshman 15 Stories 

Most stories start out with “why me” and “what did I do wrong?” It’s usually the perfect storm of a change in lifestyle and diet. If you follow some of the advice above, you may actually have a good story to tell about it. Just be sure and keep your head up and realize there are ways you can overcome these challenges physically and mentally.

Feel free to share you freshman 15 stories on AnyCollege.com.
 

Tips to Adjusting to College: 

Starting College 

As a freshman year college student, give yourself time to adjust to the college transition. You need some time to digest all of the new things around you before you go home for a visit. It's very common to become homesick when you first move into a dorm. Especially if you're within driving distance of home, you may be tempted to go back within your first few weeks because of that feeling. Try to avoid doing so and instead give yourself time to experience your new surroundings. Look into college programs on campus that can help keep you engaged in the campus social life. Be sure to check out our College Freshman Survival Guide for tips on making this adjustment easier. 

Dorm living

 Leaving your family to move into a dorm and become a college freshman is something that you might be looking forward to or you might be dreading. For most undergrad students, adjusting to college life is a combination of both. The idea of going away and being independent is exciting but there is some worry about being alone, possibly for the first time and some people have trouble adjusting to college. Below you will find some tips or adjusting to college.

Many college freshman tips talk about how to adjust to dorm life, how to budget your time and your money and how to handle living with a roommate that you don't know.  They will also talk about moving out checklists, dorm checklists, dorm stuff and the dreaded freshman 15. Not as much college preparation seems to be spent preparing you for how you'll feel when you leave your family. This could be one of the toughest things to do. But you have to consider your family and your place within it, as well. It's often just as much an adjustment for parents and family members as it is for you when you leave home. Though they know you'll be coming back for visits (and maybe even bringing your laundry with you!) it may be the first time you've been away from home for weeks at a time. 

College Activities

 Going home early or often in the beginning can actually make you more homesick. Do your best to stay on campus as much as you can and get involved in social activities around your campus to help distract you from those feelings until you adjust. Ask your RA if there is a college activity list or if they have any ideas on what you can do. Some colleges also have a college activities board that can help place you in the right group. Call home, write, e-mail or talk via web cam when you feel home sick, and express your feelings. Your parents or family members are bound understand because they're going to be missing you, and they may remember what it was like for them when they went away to college. 

College Freshman Tips

There are a lot of sites that have college freshman tips and advice for students that are having some problems. Here is an idea that could help, revive the somewhat forgotten art of letter writing and actually mail them home. Your parents will probably be thrilled to hear from you in this way and the act of manually writing down how you feel and writing to them about your college freshman adventures can help you feel less homesick and make the adjustment easier. This is also a lot more personable and only takes a few more minutes to complete than sending an email. 

College Depression

 If you're a freshman year college student and you're having some homesickness, don't forget that your family may be having a harder time than you.  Call home and contact your family on a regular basis to help ease their transition to your college life. Staying in touch with your family and friends can help keep your spirits high. And don't hesitate to contact a school counselor if your feelings of homesickness persist, or you start to feel lonely or depressed, because counselors have great college freshman tips to share. Those tips listed above will help you avoid college depression, college anxiety, or feelings of being home sick or bipolar. There are a lot of college depression facts that show a correlation of college success vs. college drop outs. So be sure to seek help if you feel you are starting to struggle with any of these feelings. 

Comparing Colleges

One way to make sure you find the right college that’s not too far from home, is to use AnyCollege. You can compare college and universities though our online search engine. We also have a great resource center with stats, charts and worksheets on colleges in your area.

College Preparation

Each student's freshman year of college typically starts with some college preparation for high school students and is something that's traditionally exciting and scary at the same time. Going to college is like going to a new country by yourself. Your time spent on college preparation by reading college preparation checklists and making sure that your plans are complete can help you adjust. Even if you do follow some college preparation tips there are still going to be things that catch you off guard, and there will be pleasant surprises, too. Academically, how well you adjust will determine your grades and how much you enjoy the experience, as well as how likely you are to finish and actually earn a degree.

Classroom Attendance Policy

It's all too common for undergrads to expect that as a freshman year college student it's okay to blow off some classes while ignoring the classroom attendance policy. In this way, college is vastly different than high school. If you missed five days of high school in a row, there were serious consequences. The school would expect some sort of medical excuse or other explanation. But many college professors simply don't care if you have good classroom attendance. They assume that you're an adult and you can make these choices for yourself. There's no need to call into class or bring a note from home if you're not going to be there, like you had to do in high school with the old type of classroom attendance policies. But it's your responsibility to find out what was covered in the class and make up any necessary work.

Classroom Attendance Rosters

Be aware that some college professors understand that an undergrad can get overwhelmed with the idea of having the freedom of choosing not to attend the class so they adjust their classroom attendance policies to help you. So some professors may have a classroom attendance roster and keep track of who comes to class on a regular basis. Your grade may be affected by lack of attendance, your marks on the classroom attendance chart or participation in some cases, so make wise choices.

College Admissions Counseling

As a college freshman, you might find that the classes aren't the most difficult college courses as you might have expected. This is sometimes the case because often the first level math, science or English classes cover the same ground as the more advanced high school classes. A freshman year college student is facing a lot of pressure from all sides, and the classes may be designed to help you adjust rather than to daunt you immediately. If you are still having troubles with your classes you should definitely seek the help of a college admissions counseling session to learn the best way to strategically deal with your courses. If you ignore available college admissions consulting you are doing  a disservice to yourself, so check them out!

Time Management for College Freshman

Don't expect this ease in every class, however. Some classes may be your first taste of a true college experience by requiring a great deal of work with things like frequent papers and presentations, as well as heavy testing. Learn time management for college freshman from a book or a college admissions consultant so you can prioritize your day. That will help you make time for your classes and give yourself plenty of study time. Treat your higher education as the enormous financial and time investment that is, and take it seriously by taking a close look at materials on time management for college students. When you're prepared for each class, you're more likely to have guilt-free fun during your freshman year and get the most you can out of your undergrad college experience all because you took the time to learn good time management in college.
 

AnyCollege can help you find colleges and universities where you can succeed academically. We also have a great college resource center that has a ton of great information to help you excel in college.

Some of the most repeated college freshman tips include how to deal with difficult roommates or how to win your new roommate over and make him or her a friend. No one wants to live with someone who is distance or unpleasant. And statistics show that not only can it be annoying, it can threaten your higher education.

False Assumptions

When I signed up to study in Turkey, I was not expecting to end up like this. Soaked in muddy water with scraped knees, and nursing a sore foot from walking barefoot until finding someone's lost shoe to finish the end of the trek. A hike through Saklikent Gorge is definitely not what first comes to mind when you think of Turkey.

When I told people I was going to Turkey, a common reaction was "Why would you want to go there? They [insert some terrible characteristic]." So I think it's time to clear up some misconceptions that my friends and family have about Turkey.

"You're going to have to wear a burka, and they don't let women in public.
We have had more interactions with Turkish men than women, but I think that is more due to primarily men working in hotels, shops and restaurants where we've spent the most of our time. I've seen head-to-toe burkas - the black gowns where only the eyes show - once in my two weeks in Turkey, and it might have been a group of tourists. Head scarves are common, but not the norm, especially with younger women. Even women who cover completely find a way to do it fashionable, to the point that I would really love to own some of their clothes. I think Turkey has pushed the division of state and religion a bit too far, actually, since students aren't able to wear scarves to state universities.

"You're going to be killed by terrorists because Turkey borders Iraq."
Yeah, the countries share a border, but the distance from Istanbul to Baghdad is about the same as the distance from my house in Prairie Village to the drug wars happening in Mexico. I'm not scared.

Istanbul is a city of 12+ million people. Crime happens. I'm not going to wander down dark alleys alone or leave lira hanging out of my pocket, but terrorists? Not so much. Even with all the hubbub with Israel, I've only seen a handful of graffiti or signs expressing outrage. When we asked at the synagogue, the man giving us a tour said he hasn't experienced any sort of animosity. It seems like everyone is busy going about their day and pretty committed to get along.

"You're going to get spit on, because they all hate Americans."
I've seen opinion polls showing that 70% of Turks disapprove of Americans, but I have yet to experience anything but hospitality from the people I've met. Every time I've traveled, I've gone home and said the people were amazing, but I feel like Turkey is in a league of its own. Our tour guides feel more like rent-a-friends than guides. Each one has gone above and beyond - offering to take us out on the town, giving us watermelon, walking us to our bus terminal, inviting us out for drinks, friending us on Facebook, etc.

Everyone is so hospitable that I actually find it difficult to navigate. At what point am I being rude turning down offers? Or, conversely, when am I taking advantage of their kindness? When we prodded one our friends for why he was doing so much for us, he said he wanted us to know what Turkish people were really like, not the stereotypes of the Middle East, so that people could know how great Turkey is. It's working.

AnyCollege.com is here to help you find a school that you can study abroad with. We encourage you to embrace all the opportunities our schools offer. If you need more information, please consult our Resource Center. 

There was a good discussion on NPR this morning about a non-profit group that was formed to help U.S. Veterans pay off their student loan debt. It is actually two Veterans who started the group, Leave No Veterans Behind. This focused group is making strides to help relieve them of their Veteran student loans. 

One of the founders shared a story about when he was deployed overseas he actually received a call from his student loan originator asking him to make a payment. Student loans are supposed to be deferred when a soldier/sailor is deployed, but for whatever reason the loan originator still called them. They ended up working it out in the end and it helped spark the idea of helping other Veterans out with their loans. If you would like to help a Veteran, please visit their website.

The average Veteran who attends school has an average student loan debt of $42,000. This eye-popping figure is what Leave No Veterans Behind is out to help with. The group has already helped wipe the student loan debt clean for 3 Veterans and they continue to seek out donations so they can help out the hundreds of thousands of other Veterans struggling to pay off their loans.

If you are Veteran, AnyCollege works with many schools that offer exclusive scholarship and financial aid options to Veterans, so be sure to check out some of these great colleges today. While you are at it, swing over and submit an entry for our scholarship drawing!

Christianity in a Muslim Nation

Before coming to Turkey, I was expecting to visit places that are important in the history of Islam and learn more about that faith, but I've been surprised by how many places we've visited that are important in the Catholic tradition, which I was raised in. Although I can count the times I've been to Mass in the last five years on one hand (sorry Grandma), I can't help but feel these places are a part of my history. Constantinople was an important city in the early days of Christianity. Constantine, the man from whom the city got its name, declared the Christian faith the official religion of the empire. The city served as the Eastern capital of the Church, while Rome ruled over the west. Side by side in Istanbul are the Hagia Sophia and St. Irene's. Dating from the 6th century and 4th century, respectively, both building show the progression of attitudes toward Christianity and religion over time. When the Muslim Ottomans sacked Constantinople, they allowed the church to continue operating, but would store weaponry and artifacts in the building. Now, in secular Turkey, the church is used as a concert hall.

Saint Irene's

Hagia Sophia was such an impressive structure (a topic in and of itself) that the Mehmed the Conqueror had it converted to a mosque, and it remained one until the Republic of Turkey converted it to a museum. In the conversion, the Sultan ordered artists to cover over much of the Christian symbolism. The design the artist used included a fish, an early symbol of Christians, in order to communicate to those in the faith that the Church was still there, even if the building was taken. Looking at the paintings centuries later, it's easy to see what was original and what was the cover up.

Paintings in the Hagia Sophia

By far, the most surprising place to visit was our trip to the final home of the Virgin Mary. She and John the Baptist fled the persecution of early Christians and settled outside Ephesus. As far as tourist attractions go, it isn't much. A cistern, a small stone house, a spring and a wishing wall. It's almost laughable when you compare it to the majesty of the Vatican or the ornate mosaics at Hagia Sophia. But this humble house on the top of a hill thousands of miles from Jerusalem was the greatest reminder of the faith I've visited. To touch the walls built by an old woman who would travel thousands of miles, much of it probably by foot, to flee persecution and spread the word of something she believed in is much more impressive and humbling to me than a thousand gold gilded artifacts or Renaissance artworks.

Mary's Final Home

This next photo summarizes the dynamic of religions in Turkey. The column in the front marks the Temple of Artemis. It was originally a pagan goddess, but renamed by the Greeks. To the left are the ruins of the Basilica of St John the Baptist, where his remains laid until the Crusades. Immediately to it's left is a mosque, currently in use. Layers upon layers of traditions.

Temple of Artemis
 

AnyCollege.com can help you find a college that will help you study abroad in countries like this.

Byzantine mosaics? No big deal.

Greek sculpture? Yep.

Roman ruins? Sure!

One of the seven wonders of the world and one of the oldest churches? Just head over the Hagia Sophia.

A secular, liberal Islam state? Yepper.

If museums aren't really your thing, there is a vibrant night life and wonderful cafes with gorgeous views.

The history here is long, and Istanbul was a vibrant, diverse city before the United States existed. Istanbul was the seat of the Ottoman empire for over 600 years. The empire spread across northern Africa, into eastern Europe and Asia, encompassing many different languages, cultures and religions. When Europe was in the middle of the Dark Ages, Istanbul was a center of culture and learning whose influence was felt throughout the known world.

Trying to untangle thousands of years of history, culture and meaning in three weeks will be a feat. I think I could spend thirty years in Turkey and only begin to scratch the surface of this dynamic place.

This is what studing abroad is all about and AnyCollege.com is here to help you find a school that can lead you on this path.

This is a new blog series we will be offering over the next couple of weeks. One of the users of AnyCollege.com is going to Turkey to study abroad and will be blogging throughout her trip. So be sure and check out what she sends us!

Onward to Istanbul

Over the past couple weeks, everyone has been asking me why I'm going to Turkey or what's there (well, after getting done singing They Might Be Giants at me). My default answers have been "because I can" and "I'll let you know when I get back", which isn't far from the truth. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

I've been out of the country before - Lithuania, Russia, a mad dash across Europe, Mexico - so I know what it's like to be in a place that's completely foreign. It has been seven (!) years since I've been abroad, and who knows how the experience of travel will be different since my life has become more settled, and I've established a routine. I am looking forward to the struggle to accomplish things I take for granted here, like buying a cup of coffee. I can't wait to have that thrill and exhaustion of everything being novel again.

Turkey will be the first Islamic country I'll visit. I am excited to hear the call to prayer and visit some famous mosques, but hopefully avoid the challenges of traveling to a place such as Iran. I'm curious to see how much antipathy I'll run into. With tensions flaring between Turkey and Israel, it will be interesting to see how that manifests on the streets of Istanbul.

So, what do I expect? Who knows? I'm treating this trip like the rest of my life - I show up, make the best of it, and see what happens.