UChic in the News!

Publishers Weekly Q&A with Christie Garton

Christie Garton (University of Kansas class of 2001) is creator of the Web site UniversityChic.com, a networking community for college women, and now the author of U Chic: The College Girl's Guide to Everything (Sourcebooks, Apr.). Publishers Weekly asked her a few questions about today's college experience.

PW: What's the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you before you started college?

Christie Garton: Find a mentor or adviser as soon as you can and plan to check in with him or her throughout your entire time in college.

PW: What has changed the most since you graduated?

CG: The level of competition has increased almost to a breaking point. It used to be that you were ahead of the curve if you took a prep course for a standardized test. Today, pretty much everyone does. Not only do college students put pressure on themselves to get top grades, but they feel that they have to be involved in
student government, serve as president for as many clubs as possible, snag the most prestigious internships, volunteer on a weekly basis and spend their spring break doing the same while having full social lives. And some women feel the added stress of having to look gorgeous while they're doing all this.

PW: What will never change?

CG: The importance of building a strong network of friends and mentors along the way. If you take the time to grow and nurture these relationships, these people will be there to support you for the rest of your life.

PW: What three items should every new college student have on hand?

CG: A credit card with a reasonable limit. A favorite item from home or childhood. And a day planner, whether accessed through your calendar software on a BlackBerry or iPhone or even handwritten in a super-cute day planner.