Hey Finisharound1 - I've been where you are. My freshman and sophomore years of college I gained probably 30+ pounds, don't know for sure because I never weighed myself. But I do know that all of my clothes fit way too tight, if they even fit at all. I gained in my stomach, legs, and face. It was not cute...at all. Then my senior year I said F**K this and started dieting and working out religiously. I can say this because I've done it --- you DO have time. You CAN make time. It's all in how you CHOOSE to spend your time. I took 15 hours each semester and worked 30 hours a week and still made time for my homework, studying, AND working out and eating right. Then in grad school I worked full time (40+) hours a week, maintained a relationship, took full time graduate classes, and still had time for homework and studying AND a social life. It's all about how you manage your time. Wake up an hour early if you have to, join a gym that's open 24/7 if you have to. I used to wake up at 6am, go sit at a cafe and eat a healthy breakfast while I did my reading for class or made paper outlines so that I could be at the gym the second it opened on campus, and then go to class after that. I served tables through college so some semesters I would get off work at 11 or 12 at night, go bust out an hour at the gym after that, then spend 2 hours doing homework and go to bed at 3am. The glory of college is that your schedule is so flexible, it's okay to stay up late or wake up early. Just squeeze it in when you can, where you can.
Now as it pertains to the HOW. I am a terrible cook. I am 27 now, have been in a committed relationship for 4 years, live with my girlfriend (I'm gay), and STILL am a terrible cook. But there are simple things you can cook that are so easy its like impossible to screw up lol. I used to live off of eggs because they're quick, easy, taste good, high in protein, low in calories, and just fuel your body. Scramble up 2 eggs (no cheese, no salt, no pepper, just plain), eat an apple & BAM...there's lunch or dinner. Buy some peanuts or almonds and portion some out, carry them in your backpack, and BAM...snacks throughout the day while you're on campus. Carry a big bottle of water and refill it when its empty instead of grabbing a coffee on campus or a soda. Another one of my old favorite meal preps was to get canned chicken (yes I know it sounds gross, but its actually pretty good.) I forget the brand I got because its been so long, but I think it was on the rice isle of the grocery store. Get some of that, get some microwaveable brown rice, and get a package of steamable veggies. Cook the chicken in a pan, heat up the rice and veggies, and portion it out in a few tupperware containers. Take that on campus with you and heat it up in a microwave for lunch. The possibilities are endless, but you don't have to be a great cook to eat healthy -- because I've been doing it for the past 6 years.
Rereading this it sounds a little harsh, and I promise I don't mean it that way. I am just so passionate about this stuff and I KNOW it can be done, because I've been where you are and have juggled school, social life, relationships, and healthy living along with working. If you have any questions or want some of my go-to snacks or meals on the go, let me know. I'm more than happy to share. Also -- lean cuisines. I eat them every day. I take one to work with me and eat it for lunch. Tastes great, and all you need is a microwave.
Let me know if you want more details -- I'm happy to share.
Good luck in school, and you got this, you can do this