I recently read an article that appeared on my Facebook feed titled The Best Advice Any College Freshman Will Ever Get. It's cute and funny and the kind of advice that makes college sophomores nod their heads and the incoming freshman giggle.

After a quick google search, I found similar articles everywhere (1, 2, 3) complete with corresponding memes and GIFs from Legally Blonde and Animal House. Some of the advice is good (Don't wait until your final year to learn how to use the library) and some just makes me roll my eyes  (Hook up with whoever you want. As the famous philosopher Drake once said, “You only live once, that’s the motto [insert expletive] YOLO.”)

While reading these articles, I was disappointed that the best advice I would give wasn't normally included. And now that I have been out of college longer than I was actually in college (but not too long that I don't understand the Drake reference above), I can look back at those years with an outsiders perspective and wish I had done a few things differently or known some of this before my senior year.

So as promised, here is The Best Advice for Every College Freshman. And for the advice I can't personally recommend, I've gotten a little help…


1. Study abroad.

EVERY STUDENT SHOULD STUDY ABROAD. I can't emphasize it more. Don't believe me? Even the New York Times thinks so! But really, why wouldn't you want to take the opportunity to explore the world while staying on track and gaining credits toward your degree? You're most likely not going to get an opportunity like this again in life!

Believe me, it's hard to find a steady career that ships you off to another country for six months so you can gain more experience. So, don't wait until after college. Go now. There are opportunities for a week or a year. Do your research early, talk to the advisers and pick something that works for you.


2. Can't afford to study abroad? You probably can.

Studying abroad may sound expensive at first. You can barely afford your semester at your home university, how could you possibly afford this trip abroad? First, don't think like that. If going abroad is important to you, you can make it happen.

For a semester or year abroad, your financial aid is processed by your home school, making you potentially eligible for grants, state aid and federal loans. The U.S. Government actually wants you to study abroad, so getting help may coming easier than you imagined.

3. Go on an Alternative Spring Break.

Most American universities offer volunteer trips during Spring Break as an alternative to the stereotypical party week. The truth is, the kids that party all week return to campus with sunburns, hangovers and a lot of regret. I'm not saying don't do it, just consider your options. You have four years of spring breaks. Heck... maybe five or six!

Alternative Spring Breaks give you the opportunity to visit somewhere new (international or domestic) and help those in need. You'll meet a group of students you may not have normally hung out with and you'll work together to solve problems and finish projects. And better yet, you'll actually get to know each other because you'll be more than just beer pong partners in the hotel room.

Worried about the cost of these trips? Look into your university's requirements for leading one. Leaders commonly get to go for free!



4. Befriend international students.

So you can't always be travelling. I mean, you do want to spend some time on that beautiful campus, go to football/basketball/quidditch (whatever you're into!) games, attend the best social events and sleep until noon on a Tuesday. Oh yeah, and you have to go to class. So while you're there, why not befriend some of the students from across the world who are studying abroad at your university?

Hopefully, you will be in the same boat they are one day. Unfortunately, study abroad students tend to band together and struggle to meet the full time students.

Make an attempt to meet some international students. Show them around campus, bring them to a party and help them to feel welcome at your university. You'll get to learn about a new culture and maybe meet a good friend to visit during your Eurotrip after graduation.


5. Visit friends' hometowns.

Most likely your new college friends will be from all across your home state or neighboring states to your university. Pick a weekend to go home with one of them. Have them show you around their town, enjoy some home cooking and explore somewhere new. Then, bring a friend back with you and use the opportunity to play tourist in your hometown.



6. Use your abundance of time off to travel.

I look back on my Winter Break as a college student with much fondness: A full month off placed smack dab in the middle of the school year, in-between semesters without a single assignment hanging over your head. Oh, the good ol' days.

In college you'll have many of these opportunities: Winter Break, Fall Break, Spring Break, Summer Break and whatever other random holidays they'll give you. Use them to their fullest! Once you enter the working world, you will not get this many vacation days. Unless you're a teacher, but believe me (I've been there), they won't be this long or stress-free.

If you work hard during the school year, use your time off to treat yourself to a trip. Make it a big backpacking trip across Southeast Asia or a little road trip to visit some friends. Take advantage of this time off school!

Don't want to plan it or have no one to go with? I'm sure your school offers many trips during each of these breaks. Check in with the study abroad office, volunteer/service learning programs and the outdoor education office to see what they offer.

View more photos from Bethany's summer abroad on Instagram.

7. Study a language.

I never thought I would be able to speak another language. My high school memories of Spanish class include boring workbooks and barely passing test grades. I just didn't care. Well, fast forward to my senior year of college and I was planning to spend a year after graduation in Ecuador. And after that, I spent a year in Spain. Granted, my Spanish is good now, but I'm kicking myself for not taking Intro to Spanish as one of my free electives in college. It would have made my first few months in Ecuador go much smoother.

If you're slightly interested in international travel (which you should be), pick a language and take a class to learn a little. You never know when you'll need it.


8. Work or intern abroad.

So you want to make money and/or gain experience during your college years? Good for you! Why not add a little adventure into the mix?

When looking for jobs and internships, don't be afraid to browse your options far from home. If there is a particular city or country you'd like to work in after college, try to find a job or internship there so you can do some networking. While not all internships pay, many offer stipends to help you get by during that time.

Or maybe you ignored my advice in #1 (Shame on you!) and dropped the ball on studying abroad. Make up for it by finding an internship or a job overseas! Browse through some of the popular American programs (1, 2, 3) to get an idea of the opportunities available.

Cruises can be a great option for an inexpensive vacation abroad, but you have to be careful or you'll get struck with hidden fees and disappointment. I wish someone told me this before my recent cruise vacation!

Read on for a few tips to save money and get the most out of your trip.

1. Bring your own snorkel gear.
If you're headed to a tropical location, there's a good chance that snorkeling opportunities are available. Your cruise ship may sell overpriced snorkel equipment or you can probably rent it at the beach. Save yourself the cost and bring your own. Buy a cheap set of goggles, flippers and a snorkel to pack in your suitcase. Use it throughout your trip and keep it for the next time you're on vacation. Even a one time use will be worth the money saved.

2. Bring your own alcohol.
Buying drinks at the ship's bar can rack up quite the tab. Normally, passengers are allowed to bring on two bottles of wine and one six pack of soda per stateroom. Research your ship's policy before packing. And if passengers pack just a little something to go along with that soda, it will most likely be overlooked. But don't get greedy.

3. Order room service.
Room service is [normally] free! Need I say more? If you're too tired to make it to dinner, order as much as you want to your room. Check for specifications on your ship, but additional charges usually only exist during late-night hours.


4. Pack inflatable rafts.
Another fee that will sneak up on you is the cost for renting a raft. If you're cruising to a beach, pack some, cheap inflatable rafts in your luggage. Blow them up once you arrive at the beach and avoid the ridiculous rental fees.

Cruising was never my first choice of vacation. Trips that are all inclusive, surrounded by tourists or only in a resort just aren't my go-to. I know many serious travelers may see this post and immediately turn up their noses. But hear me out...

Last month, the office at my new job was closing for a full week after we hosted a big event in Florida. So I would already be in sunny Florida with a week vacation and limited budget. I researched my options, weighed the pros and cons and booked a 4-night cruise with Royal Caribbean.

This trip allowed me to visit three tropical locations and relax on beautiful beaches while staying under budget.


My boyfriend, Mike, flew down to meet me and we boarded the ship in Miami. Our first port of call was Nassau, Bahamas. I visited there once with my family and knew that I wanted to get out of the city and find some solitude on a tropical island. So our one and only cruise excursion was to Blue Lagoon Island in Salt Cay.
Next up was Coco Kay, a private island owned by Royal Caribbean. Again, this was beautiful: turquoise water, white sand and palm trees. Really, all I needed. The only downside was that the island was also filled with every person from our cruise ship.

However, it was no trouble finding quiet areas to swim and lounge. We spent most of our day "snorkeling." Well, we didn't want to pay to rent the snorkels & fins, so we found discarded goggles on the beach and swam around the island looking at the colorful fish, stingrays and lobsters. It was quite the workout and so much fun!


Our final stop was Key West, Florida. Although the scenery is gorgeous, the beaches aren't as appealing. Or maybe we were just too spoiled in the Bahamas! On this day, we rented some bikes and toured the island on our own. We stopped to take in the views, do a little shopping, check out the local bars and of course get some famous pie bars from Key West Key Lime Pie Company.


Overall, the trip was relaxing and fun! My favorite part was that fact that I didn't have to think! Food, amenities and entertainment were always available. I didn't have to stress over the travelling part and getting place to place. And I didn't feel the need to find the local hangouts and secret spots. It was nice just embracing my inner tourist and relaxing.