It’s been said by many that once you become involved in a Greek organization, you come to realize it’s more about the relationships you develop and the opportunities that come your way.

That being said, how does one know if the Greek life is the right way to go? Before rushing into the decision, consider the following:

Organizations are eager to recruit new students each semester. Think of these recruiters as salespeople. The first club to approach you may not necessarily be right for you, so be patient and selective. Ask questions and learn about the different Fraternity/Sorority houses before making your decision.

Money may or may not be your deciding factor for joining an organization, but is definitely something you should at least consider. Not all organizations are free. Some have a one-time fee, while others collect dues every semester. There can also be a very costly initiation fee, not to mention the social outings can add up.

Are you interested in community service? Statistics reflect that sororities and fraternities continue to be active in raising money for many reputable organizations. Your grades are also taken into consideration, as the National Panhellenic Conference holds a reasonable GPA requirement that all Greek organizations must meet.

Ultimately you want to be yourself throughout the process. Share your interests and explain what you are looking for in an organization. Don’t commit on the spot and don’t feel pressured into making your decision. This is about you and the role you will take moving forward in your college career. Good luck!

Spring Break 2013 is just around the corner and your plan is to hit the beaches in style

You walk into a department store on the hunt for the perfect swimsuit. As you peruse the racks, you don’t find anything impressive. You begin feel the weight of your hunt, and you wonder why swimsuit shopping has to be so much work.

The truth is it shouldn’t be. Swimwear shopping should be a fun! At UjENA, we know that your swimsuit represents the hopes of a great Spring Break and the coming summer.

A swimsuit can say a lot about you; with the right fit and style you’ll be feeling both sexy and con­fident as you hit the beach. Express yourself in a made for you UjENA Swimsuit. We’ve been designing and manufacturing the largest selection of women’s swimwear in the world since 1984.

UjENA.com has something for everyBODY.

To get your perfect Spring Break bikini or swimwear, please click here or visit www.ujena.com and use Promo Code 1630 to receive FREE Shipping on all purchases!

• THE FASHIONISTA:

Make the beach your runway, and show your style. These suits have that little something extra – think lace, ruffles, sparkles and more.

• THE ROCKSTAR:

Think metallic, think rock n’ roll.

• THE SUPERSTAR:

Be the athlete on and off the field in our made for you sporty suits. Halter and sport tops paired with a boy short work great as you work up a sweat taking the lead in the co-ed beach volleyball game.

• THE PIN UP GAL:

Embrace your inner Marilyn Monroe, and try a vintage inspired swimsuit. UjENA.com offers classic and sexy styles with higher waistbands, twisted and ruched tops.

• 80S GIRL:

Florescent. Electric. Neon. Bright. Hyper. It isn’t just a pop of color, but a punch of color. It takes a certain confidence (and a love for the 80s) to pull off this fun and flirty style.

• JACKIE O:

Emulating the clas­sic styles of Jackie O these suits focus on simple silhouettes, classic colors and a glamorous, demure look.

Brit, Candy, Cotty, and Faith are four college girls who will stop at nothing to fund their Spring Break getaway. A chance encounter with rapper “Alien” promises to provide the girls with all the thrills and excitement they could hope for, and leads them on a Spring Break they never could have imagined.

Spring Break Guide’s INTERVIEWS with the Director & Cast:

HARMONY KORINE (Director/Writer)

Who was cast first?

It was James Franco first, and then the girls. James and I talked about making a movie together for quite a while. Usually I write my scripts first and people read it afterwards, but for this one I just wrote a treatment during Christmas and sent it to James Franco asking him whether he wanted to play this character. He wrote back immediately and said ‘yes’. And that was it. I was excited about that idea and the character, so I flew to Florida—Spring Break was actually taking place at that time—and wrote the script in a hotel, while a bunch of kids were vomiting on my porch.

JAMES FRANCO

In the movie, didn’t you have to perform as a rapper in front of a huge Spring Break crowd?

I mean I’m not a rapper! (Laughs) I have never really done anything like that before, certainly not in front of that many people in an MTV style rap show. But I guess I am at the point where I feel like I know when I am on a movie where I am supported. I know Harmony is going to capture that in the best way. And yes, I was up there rapping in front of people and I had an audience, but even if I’m not 50 Cent, Harmony is going to put it together in such a way that I will look as good as possible.

SELENA GOMEZ

What was your perception of Spring Break and real Spring Breakers before connecting with Harmony’s ideas?

It was everything that I expected. I had a picture of what Spring Break was in my mind and you see it in videos and how they are completely crazy, and then you are actually in it and you witness it and it is intense. I definitely expected it, there were a few things that Harmony did that were wild, beautiful and fun and I didn’t know could be done, but I kind of expected it to be that crazy.

VANESSA HUDGENS

How did you prepare for the role in Spring Breakers?

It starts, honestly, just from reading the script. One of the first things we did was to get close to the girls right away, because we wanted to build an amazing bond and relationship, have a feel that we had known each other for years. And then go further past that of course and study girls who are just hard and rough and tough and who are in this other crazy world. It really is a completely different world, their headspaces are so different. They’re just living in the moment.

ASHLEY BENSON

What was it like to experience real Spring Break on set? Apparently you shot a lot of scenes with real people…

We just filmed this huge scene and it was crazy. You know, when you’re in the moment and you’re in the scene, it’s like whatever, go for it, because that’s what really happens. Afterwards I thought, “Wow oh my God, this is insane!” But I asked the extras, “So what are you guys doing?” And they said, “Oh, we go to college, but we want to be in a movie and it’s Spring Break so why not?” (Laughs) And they were all on Spring Break and they were just doing everything they would do if they weren’t in the movie so it was literally being put into some random party and then Harmony bringing out the camera. It was pretty insane.

RACHAEL KORINE

What was your perception of real Spring Breakers and how do you relate your impression of that very specific and accentuated American culture to Harmony’s idea?

Definitely the girls and the interaction between the cast seems pretty true to a group of friends that would go on Spring Break. Girls that are just really thirsty for that debauchery and the attention. It makes sense in that world. And then meeting someone like the “Alien” character, that’s sort of when the fantasy starts to happen.

Don’t miss this “wild ride” of a movie, featuring a hot original score by Cliff Martinez and Skrillex and a cast including rap star Gucci Mane. SpringBreakers opens nationwide in Spring 2013.

Over the years, hundreds of thousands of students have used the Panamaniac Club Card to save $$$ and make their Spring Break a truly memorable experience.

Why Buy The Panamaniac Club Card?

That’s an easy answer that can be summed up with 5 words:

CLUBS, PARTIES, EVENTS, DISCOUNTS, FUN, FREE!

What Does The Panamaniac Card Get You?

Get the card and you’ll save over $300 during Spring Break at the 5 hottest clubs in PCB including:

Spinnaker Beach Club, Sharky’s Beach Club, Harpoon Harry’s, Hammerhead Fred’s & Coyote Ugly Saloon!

Other benefits include..

• Free Cover Charge At The 5 BEST Clubs in PCB!
• Free drinks daily 2-4pm, and 7-9pm
• Discounts at dozens of retailers, restaurants & attractions
• FREE Spring Break T-Shirt
• & Much More!

How Do I Get The Card?

Avoid the rush and purchase your 2013 Panamaniac Club Card online for a discount prior to your Spring Break trip.

Please click here to purchase your discounted card online right now

There are only a limited amount of cards that can be sold each week during Spring Break. Therefore, take advantage of this opportunity and get your card now at a discount.

For more information, please visit www.panamaniacclubcard.com for all the details on the number one Spring Break program in Panama City Beach.

The performance, which is expected to run approximately 90 minutes, will take place on the beach during the day at Sharky’s ‘World Famous’ Beach Bash – a Spring Break staple event which is highly regarded as being Panama City Beach’s biggest and best daytime party.

The rising country duo Florida Georgia Line – Tyler Hubbard, 25, of Monroe, Georgia, and Brian Kelley, 27, of Ormond Beach, Florida – have recently wrapped up their U.S. tour but will be joining fellow country artist (and Spring Break favorite) Luke Bryan on tour in 2013.

The duo’s first album “Here’s To The Good Times” which includes the hit tune “Cruise” was released in December to huge success, hitting No. 10 on the Billboard 200.payday loans “Cruise” hit No. 1 on the Country Airplay scorecard and has amassed a release-to-date sale of more than 1.3 million downloads.

Other tracks including “Round Here”, “Get Your Shine On”, and “Stay”, have all debuted in the top 50 on the Hit Country list.

Tickets for the Beach Bash at Sharky’s are now on sale and can be purchased online at http://beachbashmusicfest.eventbrite.com/ .

For hotel reservations please visit http://www.springbreakguide.com/panama-city-beach

Collegiate Marketing Group currently manages and administers the largest Spring Break destination websites and Facebook fan pages for Spring Break. Follow the news and unfolding events at http://www.springbreakguide.com and at http://www.facebook.com/springbreakguide.

For more information about Collegiate Marketing Group, please visit www.collegiatemarketinggroup.com.

Gildan Activewear is providing 30,000 high quality shirts which will have a unique Spring Break themed design on the back, along with eight other additional sponsors’ logos. The TDC’s logo will be placed on the front of the shirt.

The souvenir shirts will be given away free during the month of March to students as a thank you for continuing to make Panama City Beach the “Spring Break Capital of the World”. The shirts will be available at multiple locations, including hotel lobbies, clubs, events, and on the beach.

“Spring Break and free T-shirts have been synonymous with each other for decades,” said Carm Giardina, a representative of Collegiate Marketing Group – the agency not only tasked with co-producing the project, but also managing the promotion of it. “It’s the one souvenir spring breakers expect to come home with – a badge of honor proving they attended the number one student party of the year.”

The eight other shirt co-sponsors have contributed generously in making this one-of-a-kind T-shirt possible for students to take home and appreciate. “This is their way of giving back to spring breakers and thanking them for their business,” confirmed Giardina.

The full list of sponsors (and their websites) for the official T-shirt of Spring Break 2013 in Panama City Beach is as follows:

Premier Sponsors:

Panama City Beach Tourist Development Council (TDC) www.visitpanamacitybeach.com

Gildan Activewear www.gildan.com

Contributing Sponsors:

Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort www.springbreakfunplace.com

Sandpiper Beacon Tiki Bar www.springbreakfunplace.com/tikibar

Seahaven Resorts www.springbreakgo.com

pcbeachspringbreak.com www.pcbeachspringbreak.com

Panamaniac Club Card www.panamaniacclubcard.com

Holiday Inn Resort www.springbreakhq.com

Days Inn Hotel www.daysinnbeach.com

Paradise Palms Resort www.paradisepalmsinn.com

Casa Loma Hotel www.casalomapcb.com

StudentUniverse.com www.studentuniverse.com

About Collegiate Marketing Group

Collegiate Marketing Group provides North America-wide services to corporate brands specifically targeting the college market through a variety of experiential services, including strategic social media networking, on-site campus promotions, nation-wide events programming, and Spring Break destination events and promotions. For more specific information, please visit their website at www.collegiatemarketinggroup.com and join their conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

About Panama City Beach, Florida

Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay converge. With more than 300 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers.

For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-6503) or visit the official Web site of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.

How to Text a Girl:

Before you send a text to that girl you just met while on Spring Break, think twice. Take a peek at what girls really want to hear from you. This App gives the best guidance you could ever ask for, featuring the best, and most reliable text message examples written by experienced girls and guys of all ages.

Near + Now:

Enjoy the freedom of exploring your Spring Break destination without paying some creepy guy to show you around. Avoid getting bad directions from a disgruntled local. This App lists all the cool locations like clubs, bars, restaurants or other great places to see based on your current location. The suggestions get better as you rate things you like.

Tip Master:

You’re probably going to be eating out with your friends quite a bit this Spring Break. This helps you easily determine the right tip based on amount and how you’d rate the service. The built in calculator helps you split the bill as well with all your buddies. Great not just for meals, but for any service properly rendered.

WhatsApp Messenger:

It’s BBM for any mobile device and has become one of the main ways for friends to communicate. Unlike BBM, there’s no “PIN”. Your WhatsApp account works via your phone number and any contacts who have WhatsApp installed will pop up in your Contact list. Send short messages, pictures, audio notes and more. There’s even a useful Group Conversation mode (great for discussing Spring Break plans!).

Spring Break Panama City Beach:

For those heading to Panama City Beach this year, use this app to find out what’s going on around you, how far away the nearest party is, and where you can get the best deals and specials for attractions, restaurants, and shopping.