How to Have Fun in Your College

When you’re feeling bored, it’s easy to think your only option is to stay in again and watch TV or Netflix. Think again. You’re in college, surrounded by students facing the same dilemma. All it takes is one good idea to change your plans from ugh to awesome — and we’ve got eight, so keep reading.

Organize a Clothing Swap

You love your roommate’s sweater that she wore everywhere last season, and she’s taken with the scarf your mom gave you. Solution? Throw a clothing-swap party where you and your friends can trade clothes, shoes, and accessories to score a new wardrobe mid-semester, all at no cost.

Prank a Friend

College is the perfect setting for a prank. Try wrapping your roommate’s bed in plastic wrap or tin foil, making it impossible for him to climb under the covers. Or fill someone’s room with balloons at night. Cardboard cutouts or color printouts of science fiction characters placed or taped strategically work well. The possibilities are endless — just be ready for retaliation.

Start a War

With water balloons or water guns, launch a full-on attack on your dorm mates —just try not to soak any books needed for this Friday’s final .

Host a Costume Party

Showcase your creativity and throw a costume party. Choose a theme such as heroes, alter egos or dead celebrities. Or try a theme such as ‘anything but clothes,’ which requires partygoers to craft attire from materials such as trash bags, duct tape, shower curtains, envelopes and the like.

Challenge your Hall Mates to an Eating Contest

It’s good, clean fun — at least in the beginning — to engage in an eating contest. Time yourselves while chowing down on hot dogs, pizza, donuts, or whatever you have around.

Dress in Funny Outfits and Hit the Gym

A sure way to laugh is to get others to join you. Wear your underwear over your clothes, or don costumes, wigs, and masks and hit the gym. You could work out, or you could just run through the facility — which is a workout all on its own.

Or Challenge them to a Cook-Off or Bake-Off

If you’d rather generate more snacks than devour the ones you’ve got, challenge your friends to a cook -off or bake-off. Foods to compete over include chili, nachos, Chex Mix or cookies. Or you can opt to not limit the category and see who brings the most creative dish, crafted with love over a hotplate.

Play Twister With a Crowd

A Twister game mat typically holds two to six players, but buy a couple more games and some duct tape, and you can play with as many friends as you’ve got. Be sure to duct tape the top and bottom of the edges.

Or Play Truth-Or-Dare

Or start a game of truth or dare. One way to dial up the fun is to have your friends write a truth question or a dare on each piece of a Jenga game. Then, as players withdraw a piece, they must complete what’s written on it.