Can Nerds Reinvent Themselves for College?

We at SparkNotes know real college prep can't be taught in a 6-week Kaplan course, at least for some high schoolers.

...And by "some" we mean "nerds."

If you've ever fantasized about reinventing your frizz-headed, unfashionable self into a College Franken-Beauty (Think Jessica Alba meets Jessica Simpson meets Jessica Biel meets Jessica Rabbit) or a Brooding Boy Undergrad (Brad Pitt meets Kurt Cobain meets Jonas Brothers???), you're not alone. Anyone who's ever graduated high school feeling ashamed of their place on the social totem pole will tell you they've had the urge to transform into a sleeker, sexier, and more confident version of themselves for college.

And the truth is, some do. Successfully.

Sure, there are a few mishaps on the way to looking "thrown together" and "effortlessly hot" in that collegiately-coveted sloppy and accidental way. Self-tanning can be a serious setback, as no one seems to want to date people who are radioactively orange (and I thought our society was color blind! Tsk, tsk!). And when you go for that "college messy" look, you sometimes end up looking, and smelling, more like a pile of garbage.

But once the awkward transition phase is complete and a new you flashes in your dorm room mirror, there's one more issue to confront: When you leave your high school nerd-dom behind you, are you being more or less true to yourself?

We at SparkNotes tend to think nerd-iness is charming. After all, nerdy guys always make the most thoughtful boyfriends. We think a nerd is a nerd, no matter what he or she wears. The important part is to be confident in your nerdy thoughts so you'll feel comfortable sharing them with any crowd, in any outfit. What's wrong, after all, with a nerd who dresses like a model for Urban Outfitters or H&M and lets advanced calculus jokes slip confidently out of two gorgeous, well-glossed lips? We think it's possible for style and substance to peacefully coexist... like watching an episode of Jeopardy while DVR-ing What Not to Wear.

What do you think: Is reinvention a betrayal of yourself or a path to finding your true self? Do you have plans for a college makeover? Has anyone tried it?