College

We're happy to present this article from our partner site Yahoo! Shine:

While many college students across the United States are looking at the calendar and getting ready for a booze-fueled spring break, some students are planning a different kind of vacation bash: their weddings.

Also on Shine: Is 21 Too Young To Get Married?

It's not uncommon for teens attending small religious schools to forgo the typical drinking-and-partying college experience and instead focus on finding their soul mates. At Walla Walla University in Washington state, the idea of "dating to marry" is so much the norm that students have dubbed the school "Western Wedding University."

Is this a match made in heaven? Read on to find out.

We're happy to present this article from our partner site Yahoo Shine!:

The US economy may be on the mend, but that hasn't stopped it from influencing a generation in an unexpected way: for the first time ever, an annual survey of college freshman has found that first-year students are more focused on their job prospects than their party plans.

According to the "2012 Freshman Norms report," conducted by UCLA's Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) each year since 1966, only 33 percent of college freshman reported drinking beer in 2012, down from 35.4 percent in 2011 and far lower than the 73.7 percent who were knocking back drinks in 1982, when many of their own parents were in college.

Read on to find out if college freshmen are more focused on potential jobs than partying.

Paying for college can be a tricky financial situation, but Business Insider shares a way to put away money for college tuition.

What might be the most accessible and simplest way to save for college — a 529 savings plan — is typically one of the most widely misunderstood financial tools among consumers.

That all might be changing, however, given a new report by the College Savings Plans Network.

Related: Parents Are Using Rewards Credit Cards to Help Pay For College

Contributions to 529 plans have reached record growth levels, with a total of $179 billion saved in 11 million open accounts so far this year.

Growth has doubled since the same period last year, from $7.43 billion to $14.16 billion in new assets, the group says. The average account holds about $16,300.

This is exciting news and most likely a result of soaring tuition costs that look unlikely to drop anytime soon. A 529 plan is a simple tool parents or relatives can use to tuck away a college nest egg for high school graduates to use on related expenses after enrolling.

If you're in need of a 529 savings plan refresher, here's what you need to know:

What it is: In short, a 529 plan is a tax-free savings fund that can be set up for anyone heading to college. There are two main types: a prepaid tuition plan (the only kind higher education institutions can offer) and a savings fund, according to the College Savings Plan Network. Head over to CSPN's site to try their handy tool to compare the benefits of various plan features.

Read on for more.

College is a great goal for many students in their academic careers, but the thought of paying is not so fun. Kiplinger shares a few points to keep in mind when paying for college.

You've heard the stories about students who borrow $40,000, $60,000, $100,000 to get a college degree and discover upon graduation that the monthly payments are way too high to manage. And then there are parents who stretch to the breaking point to send their kid to a school they can't afford.

Unrealistic expectations, and the thrill of acceptance letters, can impel families to make decisions that may not only hurt their children's future but also impair their own. According to a recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 10 percent of new grads have monthly loan payments that consume more than 25 percent of their income, and default rates have soared since 2008. Even more depressing, the New York Federal Reserve recently reported that more than two million people ages 60 and older are still paying down student debt.

You — and your kids — can avoid that fate if you steer clear of the mistakes that trip up families when they’re paying for college.

Read on for more.

Starting college (and even going back to it after a relaxing Summer) can be a learning experience when it comes to healthy living habits. As you settle into a campus routine, watch out for these traps that can sabotage weight-loss goals.

1. Unlimited buffets: The all you can eat aspect of campus dining halls, may be all you need to justify an extra bowl of cereal at breakfast or a hot fudge sundae after dinner. Practice portion control and opt for veggies from the salad bar over fried foods — you'll be proud that you didn't go on pizza overload, and you'll feel much more energized as well.
2. Loose schedules: For many, high school is chock-full of classes and extracurricular activities, making it harder to stray off a schedule. When college rolls around, however, nighttime social activities and late-night study sessions may be all the incentive you need to hit the snooze button enough times to miss out on a morning run. If you find that you're skipping workouts more often than not, sit down and make a schedule so you can fit exercise into your day at a time where you know you'll have no excuses.

Keep reading for more campus traps to avoid.

Before you decide on a major or career, maybe you need to weigh all your options, especially in this economy where unemployment rates are high. Kiplinger compiles a well-thought-out list of the best majors.

Many Millennials grew up hearing that they should study what they love. While that's a nice sentiment, it's also landed countless recent grads in quagmires of student debt and unemployment. In today's tough economic climate, some college majors simply offer better prospects than others — and savvy students should want to know the difference.

That's why we came up with our list of the 10 best college majors for your career. We analyzed the unemployment rates and salaries for graduates of the 100 most popular college majors, using data from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce and PayScale.com.

What did we look for? Fields of study with grads — both recent grads within the past five years and those well into their careers — who enjoy an attractive combination of big paychecks and abundant employment opportunities. The undergraduate programs that we ranked can take from two to five years to complete.

Take a peek at our list of the 10 best college majors for your career.

10. Medical Assisting Services

Unemployment rate: 2.9 percent (Average for all grads with a bachelor’s degree: 4.9 percent)

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4 percent (Average for top 100 majors: 7.7 percent)

Median salary: $51,000 (Median for all grads with a bachelor’s: $54,756)

Median salary for recent grads: $43,000 (Median for top 100 majors: $37,000)

Projected job growth for this field, 2010 to 2020: 31 percent (Average: 14 percent)

If you don't mind following doctors' orders, medical assisting is a pretty sweet deal. The average medical assistant with a two-year associate’s degree will enjoy far better job prospects than most grads and earn nearly as much money as a young B.A.-holder. Medical-assisting majors study office administration and basic clinical skills, such as transcription, coding, and lab procedures. They generally work in doctors’ offices, taking patient history, performing basic tests, and tracking insurance and other paperwork as needed.

9. Management Information Systems

Unemployment rate: 4.2 percent

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 7.4 percent

Median salary: $71,000

Median salary for recent grads: $51,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010 to 2020: 18 percent

Not all computer majors are created equal, contrary to rumor and admissions-office hype. Computer-networking majors, for instance, see 8.2 percent unemployment and a $37,300 salary upon graduation. But management information systems majors can expect high starting salaries right out of school, and strong job and salary growth after that. The major prepares students to work in IT for big organizations — helping clueless technophobes fix their email, sure, but also building, securing, and maintaining a network for an entire company.

8. Construction Services

Unemployment rate: 5.4 percent

Unemployment rate for recent grads: not available

Median salary: $65,000

Median salary for recent grads: $50,200

Projected job growth for this field, 2010 to 2020: 17 percent

Construction services may seem an odd choice in a down economy, when building projects can grind to a halt. Still, there's enough demand for general contractors and construction managers to keep unemployment at a tidy 5.4 percent. Construction-services majors study project scheduling and construction law and go on to oversee projects ranging from office buildings to power plants. The workplace isn't as glamorous as a swanky office, but new construction services grads make more money than new grads in finance, general engineering and pre-law.

7. Medical Technologies

Unemployment rate: 1.4 percent

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4 percent

Median salary: $58,000

Median salary for recent grads: $45,100

Projected job growth for this field, 2010 to 2020: 13 percent

Medical technologists are in serious demand — so serious, in fact, that some hospitals try to tempt recent grads with perks such as sign-on bonuses. In addition to the abundance of employment opportunities, medical-technologies majors can look forward to above-average starting salaries. In school, majors study chemistry, biology, and clinical laboratory skills; after graduation, they work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and diagnostic labs analyzing patient samples.

Read on for more.

The expensive dorm meal plan you're paying for might cover most of your meals, but hunger doesn't schedule itself around study sessions, and sometimes you're just too busy to make a stop at the cafeteria. Whether you're lucky enough to have a fully operational kitchen in your dorm room or you need to spin mealtime gold out of the proverbial straw, we've provided a few ideas on how to stock your pantry to ensure your hunger pangs don't undermine Chaucer or Copernicus.

What to stock if you have no appliances:

• Granola bars
• Tuna
• Crackers and chips
• Beef and turkey jerky
• Apples, bananas, and other fruits that don't require refrigeration

What to stock if you have a compact refrigerator and freezer:

• Cereal and milk
• Yogurt and cottage cheese
• Lettuce and fresh produce for salads
• Baby carrots and veggies for snacking
• Salad dressing
• Bread
• Cheese
• Sandwich meats
• Mayo, mustard, and other condiments
• Juices, soda, and other beverages

For food ideas if you have a microwave or hot pot, just keep reading.