Advice for College Students
By: echo_promotions | Posted: 24th July 2007
As soon as I entered college I instantly realized that there were many things I needed to know that Mom and Dad never taught me. I am certain that thousands of other college students were (and are) in the same predicament I was in. Now, I'm definitely not your mother, but I trust that the following information will be of great use to you.
I cannot cover everything a student needs to know before entering college in an article like this, however, I will quickly cover a few important things including money management, obtaining financial aid, cooking, and time management.
Managing Your Money:
I only have 3 money management tips, so listen carefully:
1- Create your budget. I know it's hard in the beginning but it'll really reduce your stress. If you do not know how to create a budget, search the internet or ask your friends or parents to help you.
2- Never spend more than you make. If you're in the habit of spending more than you are earning you have two options: increase your income or decrease your expenses. There are hundreds of ways to decrease expenses.
3- Pay your bills when their due. Just do it. Do not get into more debt than you must.
Obtaining Financial Aid:
The most common way to obtain financial aid is through acquiring scholarships, grants, and loans. You can find scholarships at your college, on the internet, through groups, businesses, and churches.
The most popular way to obtain a grant is through the government. In order to do this you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fill out this application on the internet or in your financial aid office.
There are two types of student loans: Federal and private. Some Federal loans are the Stafford, Perkins, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS loans. Private loans may be obtained through a financial institutions.
College Cooking:
Contrary to popular belief, cooking doesn't have to be complicated. There are plenty of simple recipes that anyone can put together. In fact, loads of recipe books have been written specifically for college students! You ought to consider investing in one of these great books.
When you don't want to pull out the recipe book simply look at the food you have, choose items that would taste good together, and toss them into a frying pan. Most meals are meat based with vegetables and sometimes noodles or rice.
Managing Your Time:
Here are my tips for managing your time:
1. Prioritize- List your most important tasks and do those first.
2. Schedule- Everyone needs a different kind of schedule. Try out different schedules to determine which one works best for you..
3. Follow your Schedule- When you are in class, BE in class. Do not dose off or text your friends. If your teacher is really boring, do homework for a different class. When it's time to study, study. Do not stare out the library window for 45 minutes. When it's time to relax, relax. Do what you need to do when you need to do it.
NOTE: Use of this article requires links to be intact.
To learn more about student finances please visit our Managing Student Debt page. A college student herself, Elise Fisher enjoys writing articles for her website About-Student-Loans.com.
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