Getting Ready for Graduation

Hello, beautiful! I wanted to make a post that's extra-special. What makes it extra-special, you might ask? Well, I'm finally taking the opportunity - for the first time in a long time here on HMB - to open up about my anxieties. Specifically, my anxieties about the future.

I am one of those people who can't stand unwelcome surprises, someone who likes to have every detail of her day planned out from the minute I wake up to the second I go to sleep. So, naturally, the thought of graduating a year earlier than expected gives me serious anxiety. (Like, the kind of anxiety that makes you want to scream, cry and throw up all at the same time! Soon-to-be-grads, you know what I'm talking about...)

There's a lot of facets to consider when thinking about your life post-graduation: for instance, what kind of job do you want? Where do you want to live? Who do you want to spend it with?

I'm not promising the answers to any of these questions - but I can say with some certainty that you should do these six things before you graduate from college. That way, you'll be uber-prepared for the next chapter of your life, and won't be able to stop thinking about this exciting new leaf!

1. Save a Nest Egg

Think of your life after graduation as an investment - and like any good investment, you want to be prepared to give as much to it as you hope to get out of it later.

That's why I recommend saving a couple thou before graduating from college. You'll have a nest egg to begin your new life on, and to invest in things like paying rent, meeting with a career coach (more on this later) and a professional wardrobe to get you started in the real world.

2. Revamp Your Wardrobe

Secondly, if you're going to begin a new life as a "grown-up," you'll need to start dressing the part. The fact is that you simply can't get away with wearing your old college sweats to the office the way you could in your 8 AM lectures!

I've done several posts on building a professional wardrobe on the cheap (click here or here to check them out) here on Haley Marie Blog - but for starters, here are ten basic items I think every college girl needs to stock up on for post-grad life:

1. Tailored blazer
2. Pinstripe button-up
3. Classic pencil skirt
4. Slim cropped pants
5. Sheer bow blouse
6. Wool peacoat
7. Sturdy shift dress
8. The perfect bag
9. Chelsea boots
10. Sophisticated nude pumps

3. Set Relationship Boundaries

Good relationships need boundaries. Period. Take it from a girl who has been in two long-term relationships that each ended: neither relationship met my needs or matched up with the boundaries I had set for myself. It's especially important to reassess your relationships and boundaries prior to graduation, as this is a huge period of change, where many couples either get serious or decide to end the relationship!

For me, setting boundaries means getting really honest upfront about what you're looking for in a relationship. I personally would not recommend getting involved in a serious relationship if you're single prior to graduation - but I'm also not the type of girl who "just hooks up," either. And I make sure to let every single date I go on know that, so these boundaries are established from the beginning and don't become a gray area later.

4. Enjoy Your "Lasts"

There's a first and last time for everything - and as a college student getting ready to leave behind the place you've called home for the past 3-5 years, you're likely to face a lot of lasts before you graduate. Last first day of classes, last fall formal, last performance or trip with a club....the list goes on and on. And probably on some more.

Graduation can certainly make you busy - sometimes so busy that you say no to hanging out with friends, going to club activities or going out as often as you used to. But here's my advice: try saying yes more often! Chances are, you'll look back on these times and regret not enjoying those firsts and lasts while you had the opportunity. So, live your college experience to the fullest, and spend it with those who are most important to you. End of story.

5. Tune Out Haters

...and by "haters," I mean anyone who tries to tell you what you should be doing with your life, where you need to live after graduation, what your starting salary needs to be or what kind of job you need to get. Because yikes.

Seriously, though: this life is yours and yours ALONE! And it's yours for the taking. So, don't say no to your dream job or the perfect opportunity because it doesn't match up with someone else's idea of what you ought to do with your life (sorry, Dad, but it's true!). Live your life for yourself! 

6. Reach Out to Employers

Last but not least, ending on another career-focused note, you really should be reaching out to potential employers before graduation - not after! After all, wouldn't you rather be the girl with a stellar gig lined up for after graduation than the girl who's stuck in her parents' house for another long year?

From the fall of your graduation year onward, you should be reaching out to potential employers via email, submitting resumes and cover letters and messaging people you admire on LinkedIn. Like, nonstop! (Or until you finally get a job, that is.) It might seem extreme, but I truly believe that putting yourself out there is the only way to find real success. So, put yourself out there, girl! I know you can do it ;)

What's your best tip for soon-to-be college grads? LMK in the comments below or Tweet it @haleymarieblog! 

Tips for New College Bloggers

Hello, beautiful! It took a long time for me to really see myself as a "college blogger" - you know, as a member of that scary-but-actually-not-so-scary community of successful niche bloggers. But one year and 72k monthly Pinterest views later, I think I've finally "made it" to legit college blogger status! (Although let's be honest: when you're a blogger, have you ever really "made it"? I don't think so.)

Last week, I had the privilege of getting to know Laila of Laila Anne Co. in person (we're sorority sisters now!) and our conversation on blogging really put my past and present successes (and failures!) into perspective. It was so nice to sit down and just talk to someone else who gets it - because let's face it: all my non-blogger friends just think I'm weird and bring my camera everywhere for fun. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, I easily get caught up in the pressure to keep working, working, working toward the next big thing. But how often do we hard hustlers actually stop to reflect on how much we've already accomplished?

Well, this post is my way of doing just that - while providing some helpful tips that my fellow bloggers can actually apply to their careers. I'll be looking back on some of my biggest mistakes and greatest successes as a blogger while I share with you my best tips for those of you who might be new to the blogging scene. Here we go!

Don't Be a Cookie Cutter

There's a tremendous amount of pressure in niche blogging to be just like everyone else. In college blogging, for example, there are a couple go-to topics you can never go wrong with if you want traffic: spring break, finals, etc. 

But if we're being honest, all my most popular posts have been posts where I chose to take a risk and break the mold! My number one post to this date is my post on being pre-law - and while I'm not pre-law anymore, I think it was the fact that there aren't that many undergrad pre-law bloggers out there that helped propel my post to success.

Another example? My posts on being in a sorority are always a hit! While many other college girls are in a sorority, not many girls write posts targeting chapter women or talking about much other than recruitment itself. By taking something I'm passionate about and capitalizing on it, I was able to achieve much more success than I would have if I'd just blindly followed trends. 

That's why I encourage you not to be a cookie cutter of every other popular college blogger out there. It's great to have role models and girl crushes - but I guarantee that if you spoke to any of those people in person, they'd tell you to be yourself above all else. 

Readers, like dogs and babies, can sense when you're being fake. It's that genuine sense of passion and connection they're looking for. And besides: if you're interested in something no one else has written about, chances are there are tons of girls just like you waiting to read about it! So take a chance and put your story down on paper (well....Wordpress).

Spread the Word

Another mistake I made as a new blogger was trying to hide my blog from family and friends. And believe me: I get why I did it, and why you might do the same thing. Friends who don't understand how you spend your time can be relentless with the teasing, and tend to think you're weird for spending twenty minutes grabbing the perfect shot at brunch! 

On the other hand, confidence is key in getting anything you want in life, including blogging success. If you want to be a big blogger, then don't hide your work from the spotlight! Encourage your friends and family to hit up your blog - and share it with their friends and family. 

And speaking of family, I know firsthand how tough breaking the news of your blog to your family members can be, especially when they are unsupportive. Although my family thought I was weird at first for spending so much time on my blog, they eventually came around when they saw me getting sponsorships and free products in the mail, seeing what good this blog has been doing for my career.

My best tip? Prepare your best pitch for naysayers to explain the importance of your blog in your life, and don't be afraid to share, share, share! After all, retweet accounts and hashtags can only get you so far. It's word of mouth and that personal connection that really get people invested in what you do, and you absolutely need your friends and family behind you to make that happen.

Burst the Blogging Bubble

Speaking of spreading the word, that goes for your fellow bloggers, too! Don't live in a "blogging bubble" where you put your own content out there and never share other people's work. The best way to achieve blogging success, like any kind of success, is with a team of supportive, likeminded people behind you - and to get there, you need to build professional and personal connections with other bloggers.

So, support your fellow bloggers as much as you can: read, tweet, share and comment on their work! Make response posts to interesting things they've written, link to them in a roundup post or encourage your fans to follow them, too! Most of my best blogging connections were made by simply reaching out and being myself.

And that's another thing: don't feel pressure to act like someone you're not in the blogging community. In my opinion, the blogging community is built on individuality, not on leading the "perfect life," as some people have suggested. And when people join the blogging community who aren't putting forward their truest, best selves, well...let's just say it doesn't reflect well on any of us.

So, how do you make connections with bloggers you've never met IRL? It's simple, really: reach out! Email, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram...whatever way you can get in touch, pop in to say hi. No matter how many followers they have (well, as long as they're not uber-famous like Zoella), they'll almost always take the time to appreciate a fellow blogger by lifting them and their work up to their audience. 

If you only remember one thing I've said, remember that you can always just say hi! Because what's the worst that could happen? (I know I will always take the time to answer you guys!)

What's your best tip for blogging success? LMK in the comments below!

How to Graduate College Early

Hello, beautiful! I have some exciting (read: terrifying!) news: guess who's graduating at the end of her junior year? Hint: her name starts with "Haley" and ends with "Marie."

Yes, that's me - and no, I can't believe it either! Shaving a year off my college education wasn't something I planned to do, but from an expenses perspective, it is SUCH a relief to be able to say that I'm saving $120,000+ on tuition by graduating early. Because f**k student loans, right guys?

Granted, having to enter the workforce a little earlier than expected is more than just a shock - it's freakin' terrifying! But, I would totally recommend graduating early if you're looking to save money, get a jump start on your career or even take some time off before applying to grad school. For example, I'm strongly considering taking my fourth year of "college" to freelance before applying to agency jobs post-grad!

If you want to hear how I'm doing it (and maybe glean some advice for your own college career), check out my guide below to graduating early from college. Your post-grad self will thank you!

Step One: Transfer Credits

The most important factor in my ability to graduate a year early from college was hands-down my semester of AP credit (that's 16 credits and four classes, people!) transferred from high school. Because I got good grades on most of my AP tests, I was able to spend $80 per class instead of thousands on an entire semester at school.

So, if you're still in high school, I would highly recommend packing on AP credit - as much as you feel comfortable taking, go for it! Though it's a bit of an investment now, it's well worth the money you'll save on taking extra classes in college.

If you're already in college, however, you can't go back and take more AP classes. What you can do, however, is spend your summers at your local community college. My university has a database of classes that transfer from other schools, so you can easily take summer classes at a cheaper college and transfer them over to your university. This is an especially great idea if you're a freshman or sophomore looking to shave off some of those pesky gen-ed requirements to delve deeper into your major!

Step Two: Double-Up

And speaking of all those pesky requirements, wanna know how I'm managing to graduate early with both a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Political Science? Thank my college's gen-ed requirements for that! 

My college requires both general ed classes in history and social sciences, as well as three classes in a "concentration" of your choice. I used Political Science classes to fulfill all of these, leaving me one class away from graduating with a minor on top of my already-half-finished Mass Communications major.

Step Three: Skip the Distractions

Okay, so this seems kind of harsh - but let me explain myself before you click away. By "distractions," I don't mean boys, friends or parties. The last thing you should do is sacrifice your mental health and happiness to kill yourself studying all night! 

When I say "distractions," I'm more talking about those alluring programs colleges try to tempt you with during the admissions process - things like co-op programs (unless your school requires it, of course) and semesters abroad. As great as it is to spend a couple months studying in Europe, it's an expense that often doesn't count toward your requirements for graduation. And same goes for that fancy internship in the city - unless they're paying you for it, all those new internship clothes and work lunches are bound to cost you a pretty penny and deter you from your goal of graduating early.

So, don't let your college advisors get the best of you! Pay attention to the fine print before you sign onto these programs, and think carefully about your priorities and motives before accepting an opportunity abroad.

Step Four: Count Credits Carefully

Try saying that ten times fast! But, in all seriousness, it's important to keep a careful eye on your credits to make sure you're staying on track toward early graduation.

The most obvious way to make sure you're staying on track is to meet with an advisor regularly to count your credits and make up for any discrepancies along the way. However, my school also offers a helpful online tool that shows you how close you are to meeting your requirements for graduation. If your school offers something similar, it's a great DIY alternative to sitting in an advisor's office for hours adding up credits on a calculator. (Just trust me on this one.)

Are YOU graduating early? If so, how will you make it happen? LMK in the comments below - because accountability is key!