Madeleine Foley

You’ve finally settled into your dorm, the dining hall has become significantly less intimidating, but suddenly, your college relationship is facing the dreaded “one month” hurdle. For long-distance couples, the first four weeks apart tend to be the “make it or break it” period. For hook-ups, that first month is the expiration date for the “casual” label. And for crushes, 28 days is just long enough for all that sexual tension to boil over. So whether you’ve been dumped by your long-distance beau or want to take your flirting to the next level, we’ve compiled a list of potential scenarios and talked to collegiettes and experts to help you through it!

Problem #1: Your long-distance relationship is having issues.

You promised one another that your love was stronger than the cost of a cross-country plane ticket. You agreed on daily Skype sessions and hourly texts and weekly phone calls. But four weeks is a long time and in the grand scheme of things, you’re barely out of the starting gate. You’re beginning to second guess your decision to remain in a long distance relationship. But how do you bring that up with your significant other?

“You have to approach the topic carefully,” says Frances, a senior at University of Rochester who’s been in a long distance relationship going on four years. “For me, we both wanted to stay together but we had very different ideas about what college and freshman year are all about. To be completely honest, I think entering freshman year in a long distance relationship is a mistake unless you truly believe you can grow on your own and branch out at school without feeling held back by your partner.” 

It happens every year - the nights become cooler, summer flings fizzle, and collegiettes everywhere begin the countdown to September. It’s not just the smell of pencil erasers or new books wafting through late August; it’s the intoxicating scent of a fresh start. Of all 365 days, these are the ones most filled with anticipation and promise and the prospect of walking onto campus knowing people are taking notice.

While you may not be able to suddenly grow four inches or purchase an entirely new wardrobe, you can experiment with makeup, nails and accessories to achieve that “wow” moment. To help you turn heads in the hallways, we’ve compiled a list of low-cost, high-impact mini-makeovers just in time for the Fall debut of the New You.

1. Sweet eyes - Pretty much every love song ever mentions the eyes. To get your peepers noticed and inspire a few angsty ballads of your own, Megan McIntyre, Beauty Editor for Refinery29, suggests the “It” makeup color for fall: Chocolate Cherry. Explains McIntyre, “[It’s] the combination of a deep brown and bright red into one gorgeous, romantic shade. It's a flattering color to a variety of skin tones because the two hues almost cancel each other out when they blend to create a universally appealing hue.”
Inspiration: Donna Karan Fall 2012 Runway.