Julianne Shapiro – Editor-in-ChiefSuzanne Yada – Features Editor Holly Szkoropad – Front-of-Book EditorKatherine Finneran – Art DirectorAmy Reynoso – Advertising DirectorSamantha Patterson – Back-of-Book Editor

Mission StatementMission StatementLiving on your own as a San Jose State student is a nerve-wracking thing. You've got bills, you've got studies and you've got downtown San Jose to contend with. So it is our mission to bring to you a new magazine jam-packed with information your parents forgot to tell you while they shoved you out the door. Never learned how to do laundry? We'll show you. Need to find a fabulous new salon that's affordable and near campus? We'll guide you. Want to party like a college student at night and still behave like an adult in the morning? We cut the crap and give you the real deal with fresh stories, fun tips and useful advice geared specifically for helping the newly independent San Jose State student navigate through life. Just think of us as your encyclopedia for surviving – and thriving – on your own on this crazy campus, in this crazy city, in this crazy modern world.

The SpecificsThe Specifics

32-page color issue4,000 press runTarget audience: San Jose State University undergraduate students between the ages of 17 to 22

Strategy MemoStrategy MemoThree themes rule students’ life: Live, Study and Play

A student can easily absorb our content

 Departments will tie into our front- of-book, feature and back-of-book articles

Strategy MemoStrategy Memo

 Front-of-book: Live and Study sections

 Back-of-book: Play articles

 Features: Center of book Articles are quick reads packed with information

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Each article is dedicated to our theme of survival in ways that affect SJSU students

 Each feature will cover a different facet of Spartan life in depth

Design MemoDesign MemoAttention grabberVibrant photos and graphicsVivid use of colorLayout tailored for each storyFonts:Myriad Pro – sans-serif for headlines

Garamond Pro – serif for body

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Sections color-coded for easy navigation:

Live section: GreenStudy section: BluePlay section: RedFeatures section: Yellow

BookmapBookmap

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Letter From The EditorLetter From The EditorWhen I first moved to California from Connecticut on my own

at age 17, I knew life would not be a cakewalk. I had no support from my family, no friends in the area and no real plan other than displacing myself 3,000 miles away from my parents. It was a little extreme looking back on it and although many of you may feel inclined to do something similar at times, I am here to reassure you that living on your own in San Jose is an extremely viable option.

We designed this evergreen guide so you have the insight from years of our own screw-ups. Don’t make the same mistake as me: shopping therapy is no solution for your social problems. The article “Step Away from the Piggy Bank” on page 5 provides great tips on how to live on what you have, without breaking into your savings. Please don’t make debt consolidation another monthly headache.

Ever think you have had the worst guidance advice from the guidance department? Chances are, you’re not alone. Read about the horror stories from other likeminded individuals on page 13 while we set the record straight on what classes can count for more than one graduation requirement. Don’t assume those 10-minute drop-in sessions for advice will actually result in a diploma when you want it.

Our cover story on page 21 examines the fine equilibrium of balancing life, school and athletics. Of course, the answer is not steroids as one-student jokes. Examine the schedules of three student athletes who were in the top 15 percent of their class to see how they managed to still walk the dog, clean the dishes and find time to party.

Of course, I can’t forget the one saving grace from school stress that I have found myself turning to throughout the last six years (if you guessed books you really weren’t close) – booze. We’ll school you on the best happy hours in town on page 23 so you’ll know where to go to spend your tips you made at Starbucks. But, keep in mind my gospel: getting through college is best spent out of the bathroom than in it.

Enjoy the issue and sort of see you at The Blank Club, Julianne ShapiroSparta 101 Editor-in-Chief

Front-of-BookFront-of-BookLive SectionFinance: Step Away From the Piggy Bank Top Five Credit Card Mistakes

Trends: iPods: Friend or Foe? Are You Alienating Yourself? Work Out on Campus

Home Ec.: Five Recipes with Only Five Ingredients Ten Good Uses for Ketchup

Study Take Back Sunday: Get Homework Done, So You Can Play Cramming: Facts You Need to Know

Feature 1Feature 1Survival Tales: how they conquered the real world and how you can too

Sidebar: how the Career Center actually help in the transition?

Art: portraits of the graduates

Feature 2: Cover StoryFeature 2: Cover StorySurviving College In Shape: Balancing life, School and Athleticism

Sidebar: A typical day in the life of an athlete: Is your schedule this jam-packed?

Art: Photographer to follow student through typical day

Feature 3Feature 3Are you earthquake-ready? 12 steps you can take to be prepared

Sidebar: 10 things you can do right now to make your space earthquake-proof

Art: Photo illustration of a shaking Tower Hall, archived photos of previous earthquakes

Feature 4Feature 4Horror Stories: Students school the guidance department

Sidebar: The top five most common counseling problems

Art: Photo illustration of student inside Munch’s “The Scream” painting

Back-of-BookBack-of-BookPlay: Put the magazine down and go have

some funWhere to be after studying: Nightlife, Bars/Clubs Best voted restaurants in town to indulge in Clubs for the under-21 crowd Calendar of upcoming events Student discounts Music concerts in the area, concert previews Theater events Sports teams/ exercise classes to get involved in to release all that built-

up stress

Sunday Fun Day Guide to cheap fun Antique fairs/flea markets Seasonal fun (San Jose Sharks season, snowboarding fun for winter)

Business Memo: Business Memo: Advertising InterestAdvertising Interest

Lee’s SandwichesYolee’s FreezeTres Gringos Baja CantinaFahrenheit Restaurant and Ultra

LoungeAgenda Restaurant Bar and LoungeSmoke Tiki LoungeWET NightclubTricks Pub

Business Memo: Business Memo: PromotionPromotion

Giant display banner of the front coverex: like Access’s banner from last semester

Request The Spartan Daily to run an advertisement to pick up the magazine

Business Memo: Business Memo: CirculationCirculation

Available on campus at:Student UnionDr. Martin Luther King Jr. LibraryDwight Bentel HallAvailable off campus at:StarbucksTogo’sSubwayTully’s Miko Miko at Lollycup

Business Memo: Business Memo: CompetitionCompetition

The WaveCoverage of entertainment, dining, family and community, nightlife

Business Memo: The Business Memo: The WaveWave

Business Memo: Business Memo: CompetitionCompetition

The MetroCoverage of entertainment in Silicon Valley, upcoming events

Business Memo: The Business Memo: The MetroMetro

Business Memo: State & Business Memo: State & NationalNationalLocal competition onlyNo state and national competition

due to target audience

Business Memo: What sets Business Memo: What sets us apartus apartHighly targeted readershipAges 17-22Fun, smart, youthful, inquisitive

Longer shelf lifeStudents keep helpful articlesMinimum adsLess competition for readers

Web MemoWeb MemoGoal: attract readers to actually go out

and pick up printed magazine Interactive/multimedia activity:Interactive event calendarLeave comments on feature articlesVideo of interviews from feature articlesBulletin boardDowntown business ratings, link

exchange and list of student discountseNewsletter function for upcoming

editions