You’ve just received your hard-earned diploma, but it’s come at a hefty price. If you’re like most people, you had to take out loans to pay for your degree, so now you’re in a world of debt.

The following tips will help you manage the debt and take control of your financial future:

1. Create a Budget

I used to cringe at this word, no joke. When my parents told me that I needed to make a budget and stick with it, I would put it off. You know why? Because I never wanted to take a hard look at how much money I owed in student loans. I wanted to continue living in the student bubble I had created for myself, and not enter the real world.

Take it from me. Skip the shenanigans of putting it off and create the budget early. Don’t wait until you’ve graduated from college to do it; create the budget as early in life as is reasonably possible. Set restrictions for yourself and stick with them. It might seem like a drag because you’ll be slightly limited, but it will pay dividends in the long run. I haven’t reached this point yet, but I know how good it will feel when I make that last student loan payment.

2. Maintain the Top Ramen Mentality

I’m not suggesting that you attempt to subsist on Top Ramen for the rest of your life; I’m merely recommending the mentality. Even though you’ve graduated, pretend that you haven’t when it comes to entertainment, food, and costs of that ilk. Yes, food is a basic necessity of life, but you can definitely find good food at a reasonable price.

Continue cooking at home instead of going out to eat; limit yourself to one movie in the theater a month and the rest at home; keep the happy hours and drinks to a limit as well…that can add up fast.

Another big expense that doesn’t have to be so big is coffee. Brew your own instead of going to Starbucks for a cup of coffee (or even more expensive, a latte). This tip goes hand in hand with creating a budget. Consider your income and seriously determine how much you can afford to treat yourself AND still have money left over to save or put toward the student loan debt.

3. Use Public Service or Other Positions to Reduce Debt

Many teachers will obtain their degrees and find positions in a low-income, urban public school that will forgive a portion of their student loans. Depending on the state and district, if you work in the school a certain number of years, they will forgive some or all of the debt associated with obtaining your degree. It’s a great incentive to put in your time, help some underprivileged students, and enrich your life a little more. Some districts even give you a bonus for working in their schools; you just have to inquire about them.

You may also want to look into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for additional information on paying off your student loans more quickly. This program greatly benefits those entering the Peace Corps and Americorps.

4. Make Higher Interest Loans a Priority

Well, it makes sense, right? The higher the interest, the more you’ll have to pay back, so you may as well pay the minimum on your lower interest loans and the maximum your budget can handle toward your higher loans.

Many graduates also have credit card debt from being in school. You’ll probably notice that those interest rates are among the highest. As a side note-many college students get roped into high APR credit cards their first year of school. This is typically what they are approved for because very few have established a credit history. If you have not had the opportunity to get suckered into these rates, good for you. Otherwise, make your higher interest credit cards a priority to pay off.

5. Be Aware of Your Credit

Typically, you want to keep credit card usage at 30-50% of your credit line. Meaning, don’t max out those cards! If you have a credit line of $5,000, max your spending limit at the $2,500 mark. The higher your line of credit, the higher your liability, and the higher the chance of lowering your credit score (unless of course you’re paying it off completely each month). Many students, however, get into trouble early by spending more than they have, maxing out their cards, and as a result, lowering their credit score. Be wary!

Also, when taking a hard look at your finances in an effort to streamline, consolidate, lower your expenses, etc., it may be very tempting to close your credit card accounts. I would talk with a financial counselor about this prior to doing so. Sometimes, keeping certain cards (i.e. the oldest accounts), would be in your best interest to maintain that established credit history.

6. Lower and/or Consolidate Interest Rates

You may be eligible to lower your student loan interest rates with the new consolidation program. If eligible, you could lower your consolidated loans by .25%, and another .25% if you’re enrolled in automatic payments. Check into this to see if you can take advantage of the program.

If you’re not eligible, you may try to consolidate your loans the old fashioned way. Find out what your loan interest rates are to determine if it would be cost efficient to consolidate.

You may find that your interest rates fall between 4-8% on multiple loans, however you can get a fixed rate of 5% on all loans. Well, that might be a significant savings if only one of your loans is on the lower end of the spectrum and the rest are closer to 8%. Again, you will probably have a rate reduction of .25% if you enroll in automatic payments.

If you have any other tips that would help recent graduates take control of their financial affairs, please leave them in the comments below!

Many authorities, including college counselors and human resources specialists, would highly recommend attending job fairs. This is a brilliant idea. What’s better than going to one place and meeting prospective employers who you can get to know in a less formal setting than an interview? Job fairs can be wonderful, especially if you have a glowing personality to help you navigate from booth to booth. Strike up a conversation, and let people know who you are.

The following six tips will help you get through each job fair with flying colors, and hopefully one step closer to finding your dream job:

1. Prepare Your Resumé

Have plenty of copies ready. Take it one step further by putting them in a pocket folder. If you have business cards (highly recommended, even for recent graduates), get the folders that accommodate them. You never know when you’ll be asked for your resumé, so be ready to distribute them.

You should know which types of businesses will be at the job fair. If you have various job interests and strengths to reflect your skills, produce several different versions of your resumé for each type of job. This way, you’ll have all of your bases covered and will be one step ahead of the next candidate.

2. Know Your Elevator Speech

An elevator speech is about 30 seconds long. Sometimes that’s all you’ll have and all you’ll need to make the right first impression. This is when you let employers know who you are and how you would be an asset to their company. That’s it, short and sweet.

3. Research the Employers

Just as you wouldn’t attend a job interview knowing nothing about the employer, neither would you attend a job fair in such fashion. Take a look at the job fair website to formulate a game plan. What type of industries, and which employers will be present?

Research the companies and understand what they do so you can have intelligent conversations with the ones you approach. They may have job postings right there on their website. This would be a great time to talk to one of their representatives about the job, let them know your interest, and ask for more insight into the position. It’s also a great idea to make a priority list of who you’ll want to target first, second, etc. This way you’ll hit the employers most important to you at the get go.

4. Arrive Early

The earlier the better. You want first dibs on employers so you can set the standard high, as well as set a lasting impression. Think about it this way: the later you arrive, the more people will be there, hence more competition to get your elevator speech working for you.

Moreover, just like with everything else, the later in the day it is, the more tired everyone is, so the less energy either party will put into a brief chat. However, no matter how tired YOU may be, put as much energy into your mini meeting as possible. This is your first impression, so do what you can to have an opportunity for a second one.

Be enthusiastic above all else. Employers want to see someone energetic, not sluggish. Show up early, plain and simple. Upside: you get it out of the way and spend the rest of the day doing what you really want to do: playing video games on the couch.

5. Dress to Impress

Business attire is your best bet. Gentlemen and ladies should wear suits. Ladies will also look nice in a suit jacket and skirt, or a suit jacket and dress. Remember, it’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. You may be a top-notch candidate, but if you show up looking sloppy, you won’t leave a good impression. Many won’t even take you seriously.

6. Follow Up

Don’t forget to ask for business cards, especially from the employers you’re really interested in working for/with. You’ll gain a competitive edge by following up your meeting at the job fair with an email, or typed letter through snail mail, stating what a pleasure it was to meet them, your interest in the job (and perhaps your 30 second elevator pitch in written format), and a thank you for their consideration.

If you had a memorable moment, such as a funny experience, or something else that would remind them of who you were at the booth, include it. The follow-up will solidify you as a candidate in their mind. You never know, if they like you and someone else equally, this type of communication can tip the balance in your favor.

Have you been to a job fair recently? Please share your tips with us on our Facebook page!

Gone are the days when we see a job posting, send in our resumé, and have a solid chance of getting an interview, at the very least. Now, it seems that our resumés and job applications fall into a hole and can never seem to dig themselves out.

Let’s face it. Starting a meaningful career after you graduate from college is very challenging, just because it’s incredibly hard to find one. Our economy has taken a huge hit, and because of that, there isn’t enough money to pay people for work.

We’ve compiled a short list of tips that might help newly-grads figure out how they will use their time searching for jobs and getting focused on what they think will make them happy and bring in a paycheck. Here they are:

1. Network

This can’t be stressed enough. If you’re reading this and haven’t graduated yet, start building your network now. Use resources like LinkedIn to find people you know, mentors, peers, colleagues of your family and friends, etc. Add anyone you know or even remotely recognize to your list of networks and be active in maintaining a healthy dialogue with them.

Don’t just set up an account for the sake of doing it, be active. Check it every day. Join groups that are relevant to your niche market and interests, pose discussion questions, engage in private discussions with others, etc. Essentially, you want to learn the ins and outs of this social network to use it to its maximum capability. This is the network where you can display your resumé and talents. This is where you can really shine and appeal to prospective employers.

Online networking is crucial, but so is offline relationship building. Go to any and all alumni functions if they are within reach. You never know which of your friends from college got a killer job and know about other openings that might be a good fit for you. You may also run into old professors and counselors. Tell them what you’re up to, that you’re looking for a job, and would love a recommendation. Don’t be shy. Chances are that the people you are approaching have been in similar situations and would love to help you. They’ve been there. They know it’s rough.

2. Become an Intern or Volunteer

While trying to find a paid position is hard, finding one that provides only experiential compensation is highly prevalent. Consider volunteering or seeking unpaid internships with organizations you feel might be a good fit for you in the long term. While the short-term is not ideal, an internship at a respectable firm might land you a great job months down the line.

This is your chance to show potential employers that you are a hard worker and are willing to do anything to gain some real-world experience. They have nothing to lose (sans a few office supplies if you leave disgruntled) by hiring you on a temporary, unpaid basis. So go for it and seek these positions out! And remember that even if you’re working for free, you can add all of this work to your resumé, making it that much more rich in experiences!

3. Find a Temp Job

While its not ideal, you may want to consider a temporary job if you need to pay your bills. The majority of us have upwards of $1-2,000 a month in living expenses, so any sort of cash flow is necessary. Check out some temp agencies that might be able to place you in a position that will lead to long-term benefits. In other words, look for jobs that are in your field, and that you want to pursue in the future. There is a fine line here; you don’t want to get stuck in a staff position that is mediocre and not fulfilling. If you go the temp route, seek out something that has the potential to grow into a full-time and meaningful position.

Or, you can go the route of finding something REALLY temporary, like bar-tending, waiting tables, retail, etc. These will help you make some money while looking for a more permanent situation.

4. Start Your Own Business

No need to think corporation. Think small. Provide a service or skill that you excel at. Tutor if you have the skills to work with grade school kids. A friend of mine was tutoring for $60 an hour teaching upper level math and college prep skills at the high school level. This type of job requires absolutely no over-head, and you don’t have to register with the state initially. If it turns into something big, where you have such a high demand and need to hire others, then it’s time to make some decisions!

If you’re particularly good at graphic design or web development, consider marketing yourself in this field. If you can do both, all the better. This field is exploding because of the current web growth. A good way to get start up business is to post your skills on a site like Craigslist, get them on LinkedIn, and work at coffee shops in semi-affluent or affluent areas to meet people. If you can get out of your comfort zone and strike up conversations around you, you’ll be surprised at how many entrepreneurs and other small businesses need web development and/or design help.

Have you recently graduated from college in the last year? Please tell us what worked for you in the comments below!

This is understandable; you did just spend 13 years of your life working through grade school, then another four to five getting your undergraduate degree. When did you have time to get a job??

Regardless of whether or not you can answer that question, most employers are expecting something that’ll wow them. You might have a sparkling personality, super strong work ethic, and play well with others, but in order to show them all that in the interview, you need to look good on paper. We’ll help you do that.

Here are 6 tips for writing a dazzling resumé:

1. Gather Your Experiences

Think about everything you’ve ever done that you’re proud of. Now write them all down. Consider your experiences as they’ve pertained to community service, extracurricular activities (e.g., sports, clubs, etc.), internships, work-study programs, academics, etc. Highlight the ones that were really meaningful, that you did well in, and that you were able to take something away from. It’s reasonable to keep the list from about 9th grade to college graduation day. If you have an over abundance of activities, jobs, and the like, take only the most crucial to you. Remember that you don’t want your resumé longer than a page.

2. Be Versatile

The best resumés are obviously the ones that exemplify your strengths in one or two areas. In many cases, our life experiences point us toward one path. We take something we’re really good at and run with it. Take another look at your skill set and everything you listed in number one. What’s the common denominator? Which jobs and activities highlight your strengths the most? Those are the ones you’ll want to focus on. If you truly are a rock star and have excelled at everything you’ve ever done, consider making multiple versions of your resumé that correspond to various types of jobs out there. It’s more time consuming, yes, but it will pay dividends in the long run.

3. Use Action Verbs

This is an important aspect of the resumé simply because verbs play a big role in the English language. Use this to your advantage. Don’t worry so much about which ones you’ll use when drafting your resumé. When you’re in the final stages, get a thesauras and start plugging in some of your verbs to see if you can find stronger ones to bulk up your page. Word to the wise: Use verbs that you recognize and would use in everyday conversation. Yes, the resumé is meant to impress others, but don’t forget that you also need to be yourself. You’re not doing anyone any good by painting a picture of yourself and not living up to its standards.

4. Focus on the Positives

No matter what type of job you are seeking, your employer will want to know that you can produce favorable results. They will look for elements in your resumé that point to how effective you were in past experiences. Make sure to go through each of the accomplishments, jobs, services, etc. that you listed in number one, and list how you contributed to the organization. Remember, regardless of whether you were compensated for the jobs you performed, if you played a crucial role (especially as a leader) and generated positive results, you should highlight it. That’s what your resumé is for.

5. Include College Achievements

Anytime you can reference how well you did in college (not just on a resumé!) is ideal. If you graduated with Magna Cum Laude (or other Cum Laude), were on the Dean’s list, had a high GPA, were valedictorian, received awards and recognitions that pertain to your academic career, you should definitely include it under your Academic Experience section. These accomplishments show discipline, motivation, and hard work. Anything you can do to pad your resumé (honestly, of course), you should.

6. Review, Review, And Review Again

Your first few drafts should be reviewed by you, then the final one should be reviewed by your peers, mentors, academic advisers, counselors, parents, smart older sister, etc. This is a very important step. Remember, your resumé is the first thing employers will see, so you need to make sure your achievements and personality really shine through. The best way to ensure that you’re giving others a true sense of who you are is to ask trusted friends and family members to take a fresh look at your one page ticket into an interview. Ask for honest feedback and you’ll get it.

For most of us, synthesizing all the hard work and effort that went into shaping a significant portion of our lives is challenging, but this is the best way to take stock of what you’ve done and impress others with it.

What’s your best resumé writing tip? Share with us on our Facebook page!

And let’s face it, we all have to eat. Unless you want to live on Ramen and oatmeal every day of the week, consider these simple ways to increase that cash flow in order to splurge on a luxurious bagel and cream cheese once in a while.

Here are 5 ways to make some cash in college:

1. Sell Your Books

Books are expensive. Period. If you’re going to buy your college textbook, you should try to sell it back. Whether you bought it new or used, you can always make something back on the books you know you’ll no longer need.

Moreover, you’re making space and getting rid of materials you never want to look at again. Try to sell the books back as soon as you’re finished with them. Remember, you don’t need to wait until spring semester comes to a close to sell your books back. You’re likely to get more cash back if you enter that ISBN number sooner rather than later. Book publishers are always coming up with new editions, so the older ones become less valuable.

Try our price comparison site to find the best websites for selling your books back. You can also visit the one-stop shop (located on the right side of the blog) and enter multiple ISBNs at once.

2. Sell Your Cans

Ah, an oldie but a goodie. While we in no way condone under age drinking, many college students are over 21 years of age and drink plenty of beer. In cans. Because it’s cheap. Why not collect them and take them to one of those supermarket machines once a month? By the way, you don’t have to just drink beer to do this. Remember to keep all of your soda cans as well. Your apartment might look like a recycling facility at the end of the month, but hey, at least you’re getting a return on your extracurricular activities.

3. Get a Job

While this isn’t the quickest and effortless way to make money, it’s an honest way to earn some pocket change. Consider getting a job on campus. Campus employers are typically the most understanding when it comes to asking for time off to study for an exam. And, you can probably schedule just a few hours of work at a time, as opposed to the normal 8 or 9 hour shift.

You might also want to consider a website like Care.com. This site helps you find odd jobs, like pet sitting, babysitting, tutoring, etc. It’s like any job seeking site; however, it is tailored to domestic work. You can enter in your hours and days of availability, and the site notifies you of potential jobs in your area.

If you have exceptional academic talents AND are responsible, tutoring might be a great option. You don’t necessarily have to tutor other college students. You can get some cheap business cards made and visit local elementary, middle and/or high schools to distribute them to the teachers. After you get one or two students, the word spreads about you and finding more students gets easier and easier. Depending on what you are tutoring, frequency, your location, etc. you could ask for anywhere between $20 and $60 per hour.

4. Sell Your Clothes

Well, not all of them, just the ones you no longer wear. This can be a big money maker depending on how impulsive of a shopper you are. I knew so many girls in college that would purchase on a whim. As a result, at least a quarter of their clothes still had price tags on them at the end of the year.

If you don’t wear something in over nine months, it’s safe to assume that you can live without it. So why not find a thrift shop and sell back your threads? Warning impulsive shoppers: You might find yourselves clamming for more goods to fill your closet, but remember you’re there to sell back clothes you don’t wear. If you don’t trust yourself, rely on the buddy system. Take a friend who hates shopping and you’re golden. You’ll be in an out of there in no time.

6. Hold on to Change

Guys, especially, hate to carry around loose change. Unless they carry around a man purse. There’s plenty of change room in a man purse. But if you don’t like the jingling in your pocket, take the change home, save it in a jar, and roll it into those fun little bank rolls once a month.

This is actually a painstakingly annoying thing to do, but you’d be surprised at how quickly those cents add up to dollars. If you really want to save here and there, pay in bills only, collect the change, and add it to the jar. I did this and ended up depositing the money into my bank account, but in hindsight, I should have treated myself to a nice dinner once in awhile. I mean, a girl can live on Ramen for so long.

Have any other great ways to make some quick cash? Share with us on our Facebook page!

Keep in mind that a prospective employer may ask you back for multiple interviews before giving you the job…or breaking your heart. Typically the higher paying jobs (sans anything illegal, of course) are the ones that string you along for awhile.

It’s a game, but unfortunately you have to play it. So, you may as well play it fully equipped.

Our blog posts usually discuss what we think you should be doing, but this one’s a little different. Instead, we’re going to talk about what you shouldn’t do during the interview process. Here are 5 sure-fire ways to lose a job before you get hired:

1. Blow Off the Phone Interview

In some cases, employers use a telephone interview as part of their screening system. Essentially, if your resume makes it past the “first” round, someone will want to interview you on the phone.

If you still have even a smidgen of interest in the job, take this phone call very seriously. It will determine whether you get a face to face; the real first interview. Schedule a time when you will be alone and have plenty of time and attention to give to the hiring manager.

As much as this interview is about letting the employer learn more about you, it is also about learning more about them. Take some time and learn about the company; ask questions that were not answered through your research. This shows that you’ve done your homework and you’re serious about the job.

2.Discuss Other Jobs

As much as you might want to be forthright about other opportunities, don’t. This seems intuitive enough, but some people have this need to let the interviewer know that they may be taking another job if the offer comes in.

There’s no reason to do this, and there’s no reason to discuss how many other jobs you’re interviewing for. Keep the interview about the job in question, and nothing else.

The only reason you should ever bring up another position is if you actually get an offer and want the other prospect to give you a counter offer. In this case, there’s no better time to leverage your worth.

3. Provide Too Much Information

You’d be surprised how many job seekers go into an interview in hopes of a sympathy party. So what if you haven’t been able to land a job yet and have been looking for almost a year? You’re not the only one, remember that.

Yes, while it is sad and unfortunate, the last thing you want to be perceived as is a weak individual. Remember that this is your first real impression. Keep your baggage at home. If you don’t, it’ll raise red flags for your prospective employer as well as alienate potential colleagues. Keep it positive, cheerful, and above all else, professional.

4. Talk Poorly About Former Jobs

Yes, obvious, but it’s happened so it made it to the top 5. Keep the trash talk for your friends, family, dog, gerbil, or random passersby if you feel the need. But DO NOT under any circumstance say anything negative about old jobs, employers, etc. Why?

Because the employer will be concerned that if things don’t work out for you at that position, you’ll be doing the same thing in the next job interview. State the minimum without stating too much.

Give a brief and concise reason for leaving your last job, and no matter how awful it was, veer away from the negative. Remember all that baggage? Keep it at home.

5. Be Arrogant

There’s confidence (turn on), and there’s arrogance (turn off), and there’s a very fine line between the two. A gamut of behavior falls within the arrogance category. Avoid all of them.

a. For instance, maintain eye contact as much as possible. Sometimes looking past someone means that there’s something more important attracting your attention.

b. Don’t name drop out of context. If you feel the need to mention someone’s name, devise a plan that will make it seem as natural as possible.

c. Do not interrupt the conversation. Let the interviewer speak, and you can speak in turn. It is very annoying when someone is constantly cutting you off because they think they have something more important to say.

d. Don’t blame others for anything. If you have to discuss a potentially negative event, take responsibility and be a man (or woman).

There are more interview “don’ts”, of course, but these made our top five. Do you have any you’d like to share? Please do so on our Facebook page!

This is the hardest part of the year to battle because your three months of freedom are right around the corner. Here are a few tips to help you stay balanced and get you through the last few weeks:

1. Go Outside

There’s nothing much better than fresh air (no matter how warm or cool), to reinvigorate your senses when you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just sad. Get out and absorb some Vitamin D, and get happy doing it.

The sun’s rays have a calming and rejuvenating effect on us, so why not take advantage of a beautiful day by taking a walk, jog, run, or even a nap outside? Taking your study materials outdoors and getting some work done among nature isn’t a bad idea either. Work on your tan and get some studying done at the same time. I can’t think of a better way to multi-task.

2. Eat Healthfully

Easier said than done, right? It’s challenging to maintain a healthy diet when you’re stressed and studying for exams. Often, fast food, sugary, and salty, unhealthy snacks are the first go-to. Why? Because there’s something inherently comforting about them.

Well, we’re comfortable for awhile, until the digestion process gets underway. Stay mindful of your snacking tendencies if you’re making a conscious effort to maintain a healthy diet.Watching portion sizes is a great way to keep the calories down.

Try to stay away from sugary drinks as well. They’ll give you that instant boost of energy you need, but then you’ll slowly crash. Water is the best go-to for staying hydrated. If you can substitute water for all caffeinated drinks also, you’re golden.

3. Be Active

Exercising is one of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re not busy with your head in the books. It may seem counter-intuitive, taking time away from studying and using it to do something recreational, but it’ll do your body good.

When you exercise, you’re building endorphins that will naturally improve your energy level and contribute to your general well-being. Besides, it’s good to take breaks and get as far away from your school stuff as possible. You can return refreshed and ready to work.

Try jogging, walking, or yoga. However you decide to stay active, completely clear your thoughts of anything remotely stressful. The point is totay mindful and in the moment so you can make the most of it.

4. No More Unhealthy Habits

Try to cut back on caffeine. One cup of coffee or caffeinated tea a day is okay, but anymore than that and you could be asking for trouble. When you overdo it on caffeine, you actually become agitated, and as a result inadvertently elevate your stress levels.

You’ll be a little moody and might feel the need to keep the coffee/tea flowing just so you can stay ahead of it. If you find yourself drinking multiple cups a day, start skimming it back now, perhaps by half a cup every few days. There are many alternatives to caffeine.

Alcohol can also become a problem if you normally have a high intake level. Try to cut back on drinking the weekend before a big test. This will help keep your mind focused and clear to perform to the best of your ability.

5. Prioritize

Whether your grades are suffering or you’re doing fabulously in school, prioritize your schedule so you can stay ahead of it. This might mean developing a schedule with approximate timing of your classes, study time, extracurricular time, etc.

If it seems like you might have to cut back in some ways because your classes are so demanding, consider trimming down the extracurricular activities. For example, if you’ve joined a sorority, are in a club, and play a sport, you might want to think about which is the most important and cut out the others.

6. Be Good to Yourself

Let’s face it, we all love rewards. Sometimes they’re that much more satisfying when we’ve found a way to reward ourselves. So, why not do it? Develop several times during the year (or, in this case, the next few weeks), where you can give yourself something (e.g. massage, shopping, lazy time, etc.) for achieving a goal.

This will help make the end goal seem that much closer, because you are getting something tangible for your progress. It’s motivating and will probably help you get through the stretch.

7. Find a Buddy

Do you ever feel that having a buddy would make it so much more enjoyable and motivating to go to the gym? Well, consider the buddy system for getting through the last few weeks of school (or during the regular school year if you need it).

Your buddy will hold you accountable to certain things, and you will do the same for your buddy. You can organize group studies, keep each other honest about going to class, and plan a mini party for yourselves for when you finish. A loyal buddy will do wonders for your morale and motivation.

8. Don’t Forget Why You’re There

You’re in college to graduate. Remember that the hard work will pay off, and if you put in a 100% effort to do well, that’s all you can ask for. If it helps to have a checklist to get things done, do it.

If it helps to keep a calendar of things you need to do for each class on any given day, do it. Bottom line, do whatever it takes to walk off that campus with a college degree.

Got any more tips for us and your fellow peers? Share them on our Facebook page!

The truth is, while college will probably be one of the most memorable times in your life, it is very expensive. It’s not just your tuition; you have to also consider other costs, like transportation, textbooks, food, computers, entertainment, etc.

The costs associated with being a college student, and/or sending your child off to college are rising exponentially. We have ideas of how to save money in college, but here are a few things you may not have thought of:

1. Transportation

Living on campus your first year? Ditch the car. Seriously, you don’t need it. If you live in the dorms, that will make your college experience that much more memorable and your first year fairly reasonable in terms of how much money you’ll save. You’ll save on gas, insurance, parking permits, etc.

Your campus will have plenty of resources that will not require a car to obtain. If you do need to leave campus for any reason, consider taking the bus, riding your bike, walking, or carpooling with your friends. There will be plenty of people who do have cars and plenty who don’t, so you’ll be in good company.

2. Textbooks

Textbooks are annoying, not just because they’re usually big and intimidating, and who came to college to read anyway, right? Well, they can also be really expensive.

If you buy new books, you may find yourself shelling out top dollar for just one class. Multiply that by five or six. This could throw a major wrench in your budget.

New books are shiny and pretty, but its literally what’s on the inside that counts. Try renting or buying used textbooks. If you buy used, from time to time you’ll find really helpful notes and highlighted goodies on the inside.

You can then turn around and sell your books online, and make sure you get top dollar for it.

3. Food

Food is obviously a basic necessity, but you can find ways to cut corners. If you’re living in the dorms, you’ll need to choose a meal plan. Going with the most expensive meal plan isn’t always a good idea, although you definitely have more options.

Typically you’ll have the option of 7, 14, or 21 meals a week. Before deciding, think about your eating habits. Are you likely to wake up for breakfast?

If you have a mini fridge in your room, you could always have some breakfast staples, like milk and cereal, bagels and cream cheese, etc. That would let you choose the 14 meal plans a week and have all of your food needs covered.

Some other things to consider: stop buying bottled water. Unless you live in a third world country, you’ll be fine with filtered/tap water. If you’re working out of a coffee shop, buy the cheapest coffee or tea you can get. Opt out of getting the luxury drinks, otherwise your coffee fixes won’t be sustainable.

Alcohol is expensive. College students spend an average of $5.5 billion on alcohol. We’re not condoning or condemning alcohol, just providing the facts!

4. Entertainment

You don’t always need to leave campus for study breaks or entertainment. You’ll probably find plenty of events to keep you entertained. Look up dates for movie screenings, dances, sporting events, student-run plays, etc.

Your campus might have a beautiful park you can have picnics in and spend time with friends at. If you research it a little, you’ll probably find that leaving campus is more trouble than it’s worth most of the time, especially with all the amenities available.

5. Computers/Phones

Obviously you need a phone and computer in college. Take a good look at the various plans available with your cell phone company and choose the one that is reasonable for your needs.

Keep in mind that it might be a little limiting, but take advantage of all the social media sites that are available to connect with your friends and family.

When you’re buying your laptop/computer, take advantage of student discounts. Apple offers incentives for college students. Additionally, consider the programs or applications you really need to pay for. If you’re primarily using the machine to write papers and do online research, opt out of the high tech software programs.

6. Get a Job

Perhaps waiting a quarter or semester is a good call before getting your first job in college. Something that brings in a little bit of spending money and is on campus might be your best bet.

Take a look around and see what you’d enjoy doing. Special note here, however. Consider the fact that if you take on too much, you might get overwhelmed, so start slow and dial it back when you feel that it’s getting in the way of your school work.

After all, you are there primarily for one reason: a college degree.

Other than all that, good luck! And if you have a sparkling tip we forgot to mention, let us know on Facebook!

Think of it this way, you’re preparing for the next four or five years of your life. This is the time when you’ll be expected to show your independence, become somewhat of an adult, and begin the journey to becoming a productive member of society.

So, where do you start? How do you prepare? Start here:

6 things you should know about getting into college:

1. Plan Early

A drag, yes, but also a necessity. Don’t forget who you’ll be competing against when you’re a junior and applying for acceptance to your first choice. Think about all those smarties who want to go to the same school you’re interested in.

Use all the time you can to get ready. You can’t go back in time, so be aware of everything you need to do to be a top pick: extracurricular activities (e.g., volunteering, being an active member of a club, playing a sport, etc.). You won’t be able to rewind your life and participate in these activities when you’re filling out that application, so do it now.

Homeschoolers: Call the schools you’ll be applying to and ask how they evaluate home-schooled students. Find out how you can be the most successful applicant.

The sooner you get this information, the sooner you and your parent(s) can decide the best course of action to take as far as which classes and activities you should be participating in.

No matter what they say, remember that being able to show them that you have a range of social experiences and diverse personal interests will dispel any negative myths they may have of home-schooled students.

When you go in for the interview, talk up your experience. This could be a major advantage for you, so don’t downplay the fact that you have been home-schooled. Highlight all of the fun and creative things you’ve been privy to that sets you apart from your public and private school counterparts.

Many college admissions counselors have had limited interactions with home-schooled students, so take the opportunity to accentuate the positive and teach them a thing or two about your experience.

2. Choose Classes Wisely

Sure, you can slide through high school taking the easiest classes and acing them, but is that what you want? Do you want mediocre, un-challenging courses that get you the grades, but not necessarily the competitive advantage?

Think about your goals after you graduate and where you want to apply yourself to. Consider taking classes that are just above your learning ability, and challenge yourself.

Colleges do look closely at which classes you took, and will weigh that against others who have other similar attributes. Remember, if you don’t take yourself seriously, neither will they. They have a keen ability to smell complacency.

Homeschoolers: Because you will be producing your own transcripts, make sure you document everything. Keep records of every class you take and every activity you participate in.

3. Every Year is Crucial 

It’s true, freshman year counts. But if you fell a little short, don’t freak out. Colleges look for trends more than anything else. They want to know how you do over a period of time. So keep that in mind from here on out.

4. Prepare for the Dreaded Exams

ACTs, SATs, and any other acronym-ed exams that colleges consider in the acceptance process are annoying, but necessary to prepare for. Start taking the practice exams early, and take a lot of them.

You want to do as well as you can on these, obviously. So take the time and study. Remember, this is an investment in the next four or five years of your life. You never know, you may be a total rock star and getting into college will be a breeze after that.

5. Be Selective with the Extras

More isn’t always better with extracurricular activities. Be choosy with what you get involved in, and put your all into it. You don’t want to enroll yourself in ten clubs, then feel completely overwhelmed or apathetic about going to any of the meetings. What’s the point of that?

Two or three is a healthy number in this category. Perhaps playing a sport and joining a club that offers volunteering opportunities would make for a strong high school experience. And if you stick with both for the duration of your high school career, even better.

6. Pick the Right School

For many of you, choosing the right school will be more than just your decision; your immediate family will likely be involved. Remember to consider factors such as location and price when selecting the right school.

Think about how far or close you want to be, how expensive it will be, how you will be paying for it, etc. Do some research. Can you get a scholarship? Are there work/study options? Talk to your high school counselors, professionals, mentors etc.

Homeschoolers: Although there are many advantages to going to a college with a campus, you can now obtain your college degree entirely online. There are many accredited, four-year universities that offer undergraduate degrees online.

There are downsides to this, however. And they should be considered very carefully before committing to such an endeavor. For one, you will probably not have the same social experience.

Making friends will be that much harder. There are also a lot more challenges when completing a degree online. You have to be extremely self-motivated, independent, and disciplined to work.

This is a topic that can be expanded on quite a bit, so we invite all comments, suggestions, recommendations, etc. Please tell us on our Facebook page!

No matter which type you are, there are certain things no one ever tells you about college that you probably want to be aware of:

1. You will be miserable at some point.

Very true. Whether it’s because you are home-sick, your roommate completely sucks, you broke up with your significant other, you partied so hard you missed all of your 8am classes so you’ve failed…whatever the reason, you will most likely feel like the world and everyone in it sucks at some point.

Don’t fret, though. It’ll pass, like everything else does. It’ll either get better, or it won’t, but you’ll get over it at some point. Find someone you can talk to because chances are more than half the people in your classes, dorm, or sorority/fraternity have been in the same boat.

2. Your dream school is not worth living in debt for the rest of your life

You may have heard this already, especially in the midst of the economic crisis we’re enduring, but deeply consider how much your school will cost you per year.

Then, consider how much it will cost you when you grab that diploma and step into the world. Don’t forget to calculate what the interest on those loans will be, and how much your cost of living will equal.

Will you have the job to pay for it within 10 years? 15? 20? Are you sure of what you want your major to be?

No matter how confident you are that you’ll be graduating with an amazing degree and will have no trouble paying back your loan, think twice about a state school or a community college to complete your general ed requirements. After two years, you can transfer to that dream school.

3. Pick the right school for you

When you’re 17 or 18 and applying for colleges, the hormones are raging, you’re bright-eyed and ready to start a new adventure in your life, and more than likely ready to move out of that nest your parent(s) built for you.

Before you make your decision and send in your acceptance, visit the campus. Believe it or not, many people go to college without having roamed the school and its general vicinity. This is a big no-no. Remember point number one? You might be asking for it, depending on which type you are.

Go to the school and take a look for yourself. Does the size seem right? Does it meet your values? Is it liberally or conservatively based, or somewhere in between-and are you OK with that? Are the class sizes small or do they focus on large lecture halls? Which do you think you would excel in?

Talk to the counselors. Can you see them helping you while you’re enrolled? Ask them what they think is the biggest attribute of the school and where they think it needs improvements. Most of the time they will be honest with you.

Take a good look at the people around you. Take a look at the community around the school. Are you comfortable? Would you rather be in a relatively homogeneous student body, or do you want to be around a mix of personalities?

If you have no idea what you will be studying, consider a school that meets many of your interests. Regardless of whether you’ve declared a major, you may be one of the 25 to 30 percent of students who change their major.

How far do you want to be away from home? If you’re across the country, more than likely you will only be visiting during the major holidays. This may sound very appealing at first, but think about how you might feel in the long run.

Perhaps you want to be close enough to visit if there are any problems you want your family’s support for, but not close enough that you’ll be visiting every weekend. Think about it.

4. Books are expensive, be ready for it

If you’re lucky, a lot of your professors will have e-books you can download. But, this is rarely the case, especially when working on your general ed requirements. Books are very important, but they can be incredibly expensive. Think $300/class expensive in some cases.

Don’t feel you need to buy them new. Have a list of your books and purchase or rent them used in plenty of time to receive them. Do some price-comparisons for various sites or stores.

You can find the best deals if you take the time to look around a little. Used books aren’t as pretty as new ones, but they serve their purpose. Then, you can sell them back or return them to the rental agency.

6. Networking is your biggest asset

No matter how independent you may be, or think you are, build your network in school. Go out when you can and meet new people. This is extremely important when you don’t live in the dorms, don’t belong to the Greek system, or don’t belong to any other clubs on campus.

Not only can you build your network of friends, but you can build your network of future colleagues. Keep tabs on people to see where you might have an intersection of interests in the future.

Got any more expert tips or personal experiences? Please add them in the comments below!