Thinking of Dropping Out of College?-University
Thinking of Dropping Out of College?
If rising tuition costs or personal concerns have made you consider dropping out of college or "taking a break" I'd like to encourage you to reconsider.Don't Let Cost Stand in Your WayIf cost is your primary reason for reducing your college hours or dropping out completely first pay a visit to your school's financial aid office. Have you applied for financial aid using the FAFSA? Priority deadlines for most colleges is late spring to early summer. However, most of the time students can still get some kind of financial aid as long as you apply before the school term begins.Another reason for visiting the financial aid office is there may be other sources of aid available to you that you are not aware of. Some colleges participate in state funded financial aid programs and special need based programs that you may qualify for. Your financial aid counselor can give you more information about alternative programs such as these. In addition, the financial aid office may be aware of local foundation and organization sponsored scholarships.In some colleges the financial aid office also handles scholarships. Other schools run a separate scholarship office. Either way, make sure you apply for all of the scholarships offered at your school.Many local social organizations such as the Lions Club, Business & Professional Women and Chamber of Commerce sponsor scholarships. Get out your local phone book and start calling organizations in your area. You may be surprised at what type of local scholarships may be available.Consider College an Investment in YourselfAccording to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, people with a bachelor's degree earn over 70 percent more on average than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, this will make a considerable difference in overall earnings, standard of living and retirement savings.The power of a bachelor's degree becomes even more apparent when seeking employment. Applicants with a degree are much more likely to be hired for a position than those without a degree. Specialized study in college prepares workers for a job field or industry. A general or liberal arts degree will help workers gain employment in a wide range of fields. Often your college major is not as important as just the fact that you have the degree.Finally, college is a time to explore your interests, talents and grow as a person. The experience you gain working with other students and professors will help you mature and be ready for not just the job market, but for deeper life experiences.Michael Carter is a contributor at College Financial Aid Guide, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans.
How to Save Money While at College-University
How to Save Money While at College
Still struggling to pay off the college loan? Have you disconnected your cell phone just to avoid those darn creditors? Need a quick get rich scheme? Well?maybe not that but in this article you will find some practical ways on saving money while attending your post secondary institution.BooksCollege book prices have been rising along with the cost of tuition, and it is no wonder why so many students have resorted to photocopying their texts. Instead of photocopying why not buy an old edition book, all the information that you will need to know is there and you can keep that book as a reference. It's not like the gravitational acceleration of earth is going to change with the new edition?right?Too broke to buy book then try to find your books at the local library, not the school's library. You will be amazed at how many books you will find at the local library, not only is it convenient but is also cheap. True, if you borrow a book for a semester it would cost you a late fee but I mean who cares right, since the $10 late fee charge is nothing when compared to $200 price tag of a new book price.Another upcoming trend in colleges these days is the trend for students to rent their books. I guess these students probably wanted to keep their books as reference or may still need them for the following year and thought they could make some extra cash by renting them out. If you are thinking about renting then its best to rent to people that you know, and always have a legal signed document.Always try to buy used. Many colleges now have a book buy back program, and these books can be found at the college used book room. Also, there are a ton of online book exchange sites on the net which are both free and convenient.When to buy used & when to buy new? Good question. My rule is this, if a book is say like 4 years old then its best to buy used. The only time I recommend buying new is if the book is less than 4 years old, since it is more likely to being the latest edition, and you know for sure that the same edition is going to be used next term. This way you can sell your books for the maximum profit.FoodInstead of buying a pop, from the local vending machine why not just buy a case of 24 to store at your locker or dorm room. You will be amazed at how much you will save when you buy in bulk.
Another way of saving on food is to visit your friend's fridge on a daily basis and when ever possible try to attend to any free food locations (parties, club meetings?etc) on campus.ClothingInstead of buying those brand new "check marked" shoes, why not save your money for something that you will really need in college (laptop, books, contraceptives). Try to visit the local thrift store and check Ebay on a daily basis, you will be amazed at how many $1 t-shirts are out there.Printing & PhotocopyingMany students save money on printing and photocopying by the use of a scanner. The student simply scans what he/she needs and emails the scanned file back to him/her self. Not only will you save money, but will also have an electronic copy of the file which you could later download to your laptop or pda.
If you really must print then try not to use the school printing services. Most of the time these services will cost you an extra 5-10
How Parents Can Help Allieviate The Stress of Getting Into College-University
How Parents Can Help Allieviate The Stress of Getting Into College
Getting into college is a stressful experience for most high school students. However, there are steps that parents can take to help alleviate the stress and make the experience more positive. To begin with, parents should make the process about "you" not "we" when discussing college choices, allowing the student to have a sense of empowerment or independence over the college selection and application process.Parents should NEVER fill out applications, call schools or schedule appointments for their children with guidance counselors or admissions officers. High School students are quite capable of doing the work necessary for "getting in" to college. Parents should be open to the schools that their children are leaning toward and not fall into the "one school only" trap as the ultimate prize and reward. Always remember that the emphasis is on enjoying the learning experience, not winning. There are over 3,500 colleges in the US and only 200 of them accept fewer than _ of their applicants.It is less important to push your child towards a prestigious school than it is to focus on the school that provides the proper match for successful learning and a meaningful college experience. Encourage your child to research schools early and make several visits to college campuses. Plan to accompany your child on these visits, but allow your child the freedom to explore and ask questions independently. Be supportive and encourage your child to do mock interviews with other adults to prepare for the college visits.If possible, begin the college planning process in the 9th grade, so that your child can proceed in "baby steps" instead of at a fast-paced schedule. Parents need to remind their children that there are many colleges and many options and that it is "okay" if students don't get into their first choice selections.--Katherine Cohen, President & CEO IvyWise LLC
http://www.ivywise.comKatherie Cohen, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of IvyWise, http://www.ivywise.com a comprehensive educational consulting company. Dr. Cohen graduated from Brown University in 1989 and continued her studies at Yale University, receiving Masters degrees in 1992 and 1994, and a Ph.D. in 1997. She received certification in College Admissions Counseling from U.C.L.A.Dr. Cohen is the author of two books on college admissions. The Truth About Getting In, which serves as a detailed manual for approaching the college admissions application process and Rock Hard Apps: How to Write a Killer College Application, which follows three students through the college application process and uses dozens of other real applications to illustrate what's effective in a college application, and what's not.