There are many reasons why card games are popular among college students. A deck of cards only costs a couple bucks, is easy to transport and can be replaced in no time if someone spills their drink on it. Not only that, but almost everyone already has one; finding a deck of cards is not a difficult thing to do. Because of this popularity, college students have made playing cards a staple of the college recreation scene. While there is an almost-infinite number of card games, a few have risen above the others to become student favorites.

1) President (also known as Asshole, Capitalism, Presidents & Assholes, Rich Man Poor Man, and others). This game is almost always played as a drinking game, and involves any number of players trying to get rid of the cards in their hand and become the “President.” The rules are fairly simple, but few students play without adding a house rule or two that can drastically change how the game is played. This is a good game to learn, as many students know and enjoy it.

2) Poker is a game that is certainly not limited to college students, but many of them have taken a liking to it (this is more true with guys than girls, but it is played by both). Because it’s easy to play for any amount of money, betting on poker is pretty common—though it’s not usually for very much, as college students can’t afford to be tossing a lot of money at each other. Both draw and stud are played.

3) Bullshit (also known as Cheat) is one of the easiest and most fun college card games. Because it is so simple and can be played quickly, you’ll find that this is a favorite of many students. Most people have played this game at some point or another, but if you’ve never played, you’ll find it quite to learn.

4) Spoons is one the few card games that actually involves physical activity, and this results in much hilarity. Because N people will be battling over N-1 spoons, the game can very competitive (especially if there’s any drinking involved). If you’re looking for even more competition, you can place the spoons in another room; just be sure that there’s nothing breakable even remotely close to the spoons or the path from the table to the other room. It could get a little crazy. Note: one of my favorite ways to win in this game is to fake the other players out; just reach really quickly for the spoons, but don’t touch one. You can also bang your fist on the table. This will only work a couple times, but it’s hilarious when it does!

There are hundreds of college card games that you might encounter on your campus, but these four are probably the most popular ones. If you know how to play these four games, you should have no problem being included in any card-playing extravaganza!

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the major partying days for college students. And why not? The Irish are known for their beer consumption, and this holiday is all about being Irish . . . therefore, it stands to reason (at least college student reason) that a staggering amount of alcohol should be consumed on or around this day. Or both. But just having an obscene amount of alcohol at your party won’t make it unique, nor will having a few green decorations. Here’s a guide that will help you throw the greenest St. Patrick’s Day party on the block and ensure that people will remember your party (or at least arriving at your house).

First, the obvious—you’ll need as many green decorations as you can find. Get shamrock cutouts, green streamers, a cardboard leprechaun (or several), St. Patrick’s Day balloons, green confetti, and some sort of rainbow and a pot of gold (not green, but still required). If it’s green and can be hung on your wall, draped on your furniture, set on your countertops, or tossed on your floor, get it and use it. There’s only one exception: money. Don’t use money as a decoration.

Many types of green clothing will also be of great benefit to your party, especially if it’s something cheap that you can buy in large quantities and pass out to your guests. Things like those little green plastic hats are perfect. Green leis or Mardi Gras-like beads, although they aren’t specifically St. Patrick’s Day-themed, work great and add a little flare to your guests’ party wear.

Once you have your decorations and clothes, you’re ready to start making your party a little more unique. One of my favorite ways to add more green to your party is to get tablecloths, napkins, paper or plastic plates and cups, and plastic tableware that are green. While this isn’t terribly uncommon, it’s a good place to start. It’s especially entertaining once people’s depth perception is getting a little off and they start having difficulty picking out their green cups against the green tablecloths.

If you’re looking to literally make your party greener, you can buy green light bulbs and stick them in some of your lamps and ceiling fixtures. Putting one in the light over your front door is a fun way to make the outside of your house or apartment a little more festive. Don’t go overboard with this, though, as it’ll get pretty hard to see anything. Just use enough light bulbs to add some color to your party. Green Christmas lights are another way to add some green to your party.

Everybody will be serving green food on St. Patrick’s Day, but if you really want the greenest St. Patrick’s Day party on the block, you’ll have to find a way to out do everyone else. Try to think of foods that no one else will be serving—how about pickle rolls with green cream cheese? Or green tortilla chips with guacamole? Getting as many green drinks as possible is also a necessity—green beer and green Jello shots are a necessity; but will many other people have green rum to mix with Coke? And who will be expecting green martinis (with green olives, of course)? A little green food dye will go a long way.

This short guide should get you started—go nuts! There are very few things in your house that cannot be dyed, painted, or covered in green. There’s no such thing as going overboard on green on St. Patrick’s Day!

If you’re concerned about your social standing, it’s fairly likely that you’ll be very interested in the college party scene and how you can use it to your advantage to gain some social credit. And while figuring out how to do that is up to you, I’ll try to help you keep from losing any social credit. In the interest of making you, the reader, the highest socially-ranked person on campus, here is a list of things not to do at any part—appropriately deemed “party fouls.”

Foul #1 – Spilling a Drink

This has got to be the most common party foul. You drink a little too much, your balance and coordination go out the window, and pretty soon you find yourself holding an empty can of beer while the girl (or guy) next to you is making a terrible facial expression in your direction. Ouch. Just don’t do it.

Foul #2 – Being Ridiculously Loud

Yes, parties are going to get a little rowdy, and it’s going to get loud. But if when the neighbors call the cops, they specifically mention you, and not the party, you’ve committed the second of the party fouls. Keep it to a reasonable level and at least the cops won’t be coming specifically for you.

Foul #3 – Vomiting

Does this really need to be explained?  Don’t do it.

Foul #4 – Starting a Fight

Do you get belligerent when you start drinking? Then make sure that one of your friends stays with you throughout the night to make sure that you don’t start a fight. It’s extremely uncool, and will probably get you banned from future parties. You may also get your ass kicked, which is no fun either. And then not only will you be banned from future college parties, you’ll look like a fool.

Foul #5 – Taking Somebody else’s Drink

This is one that usually happens by accident. If you’re at a house party, offer to grab the person another drink. If you’re at a bar, buy them another one. If it’s not an accident, and the drink does not belong to your best friend or significant other, 1) you’re an asshole, and 2) someday you’re going to take your college’s star linebacker’s drink . . . and you’ll deserve what you get.

Foul #6 – Driving Home

This one should go unsaid, but there are quite a few people that won’t think twice about drinking and driving home. Don’t be stupid. Get someone else to drive or spend the night (many college parties end with a dozen or so people sleeping on various pieces of furniture—try to get the couch before anyone else does!).

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it should give you an idea of what not to do at college parties. If you commit a small party foul, it’s not a big deal; but if you make a habit of it, you may find yourself without invitations to a lot of parties. And no one wants that. So think about what you’re doing, act your age (or at least somewhat close to it), and don’t commit any major college party fouls.

Many incoming college freshmen have questions about the college party scene and would like to know if it’s as crazy as it’s rumored to be. The following lists will attempt to give you a general picture of what college parties are like.

Things You’ll See at College Parties

Drinking.

Yes, a lot of drinking can go on at college parties. This is certainly not always the case, however. There are many parties where there is very little or no alcohol served. And the majority of people stay within their limits and maintain control of themselves.

Games.

Whether it’s board games, card games, darts, pool, video games, foosball, or something else, a lot of people like to play games at parties. This is a great social opportunity, as you can get to know people that you may not have talked to otherwise (if you can get a cute guy or girl to play on your team, you’ve now created a great reason to introduce yourself and get to know each other—take advantage!).

Dancing. The combination of loud music, open space, and alcohol often results in dancing. While there are very few actual “dance parties,” many people like to dance whenever they get the chance. Either get in and show your stuff or sit back and relax—there’s no pressure.

A lot of people.

While there won’t be any busting down of walls, you may find that some parties can get awfully crowded rather quickly. Especially parties in houses, where there are fewer noise restrictions than in dorms or apartments.

Things You Won’t See at College Parties

Animal House-like antics.

Some parties get pretty crazy, but National Lampoon took it to the extreme. You may see a few toga parties, though!

Drugs.

Let’s be honest—many people wonder about college students doing a lot of drugs. And yes, some do. But the vast majority of people (and parties) are drug-free. This largely depends on your group of friends; but like dancing, there is no pressure to be part of this scene.

Girls Gone Wild.

If you’re hoping that you’ll be seeing a bunch of naked people running around and hooking up with each other in hot tubs, you’ll be disappointed. The most that you’ll probably see is a couple making out in a corner. And that usually doesn’t last long, because they quickly realize that everyone’s watching them . . . and that’s just weird!

Really, college parties are like any other parties. A bunch of people get together to relax and socialize. There’s no need to be stressed out about fitting in at parties or being the only one that’s not drinking. Just go out and have fun!

Because they provide a needed break from the rigors of academic life, video games can be a lifesaver in college. Your brain is on overdrive at least 20 hours of every day—why not take an hour out every once in a while to let your gray matter rest a little? Playing a mindless video game can provide a good outlet for academic stressors. But while gaming by yourself can be fun, there’s nothing better than playing games with a bunch of other people. Below are some of the best party video games that every dorm floor or apartment should have.

Guitar Hero

Everyone knows Guitar Hero—even if you haven’t played it, you certainly understand the concept (and if you’ve been living under a rock, go to http://www.guitarhero.com/ and check it out). Take a plastic guitar and start ripping out chords to popular songs. Just press the colored buttons on the guitar as they come up on the screen and you’ll be jamming. Sounds easy, right? Wrong—be prepared for one of the most challenging tests of hand-eye coordination that you’ve ever had. Fortunately, the game provides four levels of difficulty so that you can hone your skills before trying to show up the greatest guitar players of all time on songs from Avenged Sevenfold, Nirvana, Slayer, Pearl Jam, Fall of Troy, Guns N’ Roses, Senses Fail, Van Halen, and many others. . A group of friends, a big TV and stereo, and some beer will make for a Guitar Hero battle for the ages!

Mario Kart

This is a classic party game that has been around for a long time. And why not? What could be better than racing at ridiculous speeds around brightly-colored animated tracks and blasting the hell out of each other as cute cartoon characters like Mario, Bowser, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi? Mario Kart is tough to top for sheer fun factor. Playing on the Wii adds a new dimension to the game, as you can now use a wheel to direct your kart instead of the directional pad on a traditional controller. Don’t be fooled by the whimsical environment of this game—it can get very competitive very quickly and lead to some pretty serious rivalries!

Golden Eye

This may not appeal to as many people as Guitar Hero or Mario Kart, but it cannot be left off of a list of the best party video games. N64’s GoldenEye was a pioneer of the multiplayer shooter game, paving the way for games like Halo, Gears of War, and Call of Duty. Instructions are simple: choose your character, then stay alive as long as possible while taking out your opponents. You can choose a variety of levels and weapons. As it’s a very easy game to become familiar with, all you need to do is fire it up and start shooting!

These are only a few of the popular party video games; as you spend more time at parties, you’re likely to see more games. A great way to get a lot of people together is to have an old-school video game party: play games like Duck Hunt, Sonic, and Mario Brothers. It’s like going back in time for a few hours!