If you’re like me, nothing screams comfort more than a hot Starbucks drink on a chilly day.

One thing I’m not the hugest fan of, though, is the amount of fat, sugar, and calories that tempt me on the menu when I’m ordering. While I definitely treat myself to unhealthy drinks occasionally, I try to make a habit of ordering lighter items most of the times so that the only thing getting damaged is my wallet!

Since the weather is getting cooler and finals are approaching, I think that we all could use a guide to which Starbucks drinks provide a winning combination of flavor and healthier nutritional stats!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for hibernating in hoodies and sweatpants, gaining some extra fluff is not on my to-do list! Here’s how lightening up your drink can help:

Order nonfat milk: I personally barely notice the change from 2% (Starbucks standard) to nonfat milk in my drinks, especially with flavored lattes. By ordering your drink to be made with nonfat milk, you can cut around 1/3 of the calories and around 7 grams of fat in most tall drinks!

Go with a smaller size: As Americans, we’ve gotten so used to humongous portion sizes in both meals and drinks. By simply ordering a smaller size, you’re cutting unnecessary calories, fat, and sugar from your drink while still getting a pretty sizable treat.

Skip the whipped cream: Whipped cream can add around 120 calories and 11 grams of fat to your drink. What a ripoff! You could drink two nonfat lattes for the amount of calories whipped cream tacks on and save on all 11 grams of fat. If whipped cream is a must for you, though, order “light whip” so they go easy on the good stuff.

Add spices for flavor: I love adding a bit of cinnamon into my drink for a punch of delicious flavor and the soothing smell! In fact, spices such as cinnamon have been shown by studies to have positive health effects such as regulating your blood sugar, reducing LDL (the bad kind) cholesterol, and reducing inflammation.

Tropicana hosted a fantastic Cross Enrollment seminar, presented by the helpful and knowledgeable counselors from the SBCC career center. Cross Enrollment allows SBCC and UCSB peers to unite in an academic setting as City College students work towards their transfer goals. As a transfer student myself, I thought I had seen most opportunities that were offered for those attending a community college. Cross Enrollment was a surprising new opportunity that I did not have at my community college in my home town. This goes to show what a unique opportunity students have at Santa Barbara City College, the #1 Community College in the Nation!

At the beginning of the informational seminar, students were given the foundation to Cross Enrollment with a quick lesson in”Transfer 101.” Students learned the basic requirements to transfer to any 4 year college institution, as well as interesting facts about incoming students. Did you know that the average G.P.A. of a UCSB incoming Freshman was a 4.1? When you transfer from SBCC to UCSB however, you only need a 3.2 G.P.A. Why? Because once you have completed your unit requirements, you will have proven you are capable of handling college level work equivalent to UCSB’s lower division coursework.

Another interesting fact about transferring is the unit requirement and its relation to units earned for Cross Enrollment. You will need 60 units to transfer, and you can max out at 70 units. In total, you will need 120 units to graduate from a university with your Bachelor degree, or equivalent.

Cross Enrollment classes are unique in that they can be applied towards the initial 60 units needed to transfer OR they can be applied to the units earned at a 4 year university. This means that you can earn UC credit for $31 a unit, and it can be applied towards transferring or completing your degree at the UC in less time.

To be eligible for Cross Enrollment, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a California resident (not a California resident? See below for more information about Open University opportunities at UCSB).
• Have completed at least one term at SBCC
• Be enrolled and complete at least 6 SBCC units during the term of cross-enrollment (student must maintain at least 6 units during the entire semester at SBCC)
• Have a minimum 2.0 SBCC G.P.A.
• Be an undergraduate
• Have all current SBCC fees paid
• Speak with a Transfer Academy counselor for admittance to Cross Enrollment

If you are attending SBCC, local or from out of state, you can take UCSB classes through Extension. UCSB offers the Open University Program (formerly known as the Open Enrollment Program), which allows all types of students to take classes at the UC and earn transferable units, without being formally admitted to UCSB.

This meeting, while informative, is just a stepping stone to your success. You are encouraged to join SBCC’s Transfer Academy and meet with the counselors in the Transfer Center on a regular basis. Together, you and your counselor can make plans for complete your transfer goals in 2 years. You can also begin working towards completing requirements towards your TAG (Transfer Agreement Guarantee). A TAG is a contractual agreement between you, SBCC, and a four-year college or university. Students who meet and maintain stated admission and major requirements are guaranteed admission to a specific four-year college or university, such as UCSB.

To find out more information about Cross Enrollment or transferring, please contact the following email addresses: