Upon entering college I quickly realized that there were many things I needed to know that mom and dad forgot to teach me. I am certain that thousands of other college students were (and are) in that exact same predicament I was in. While I'm certainly not your mother, I trust that you will benefit greatly from what I'm about to tell you.
I cannot cover everything a student needs to know before entering college in a short article like this, but I will give an overview of a few things that I consider to be very important: money management, finding financial aid, cooking, and managing your time.
Money Management:
I only have 3 money management tips, so listen carefully:
1- Create your budget. I know it's hard at first but it'll really reduce financial tension. If you don't even know where to start, explore the internet or ask your friends or parents to help you.
2- Never spend more than you make. If you are spending more than you are earning you either need to increase your income or reduce your expenses. There are hundreds of ways to reduce your expenses, but you may need to get creative.
3- Pay your bills on time. Just do it. Don't get deeper in debt than you have to.
Obtaining Financial Aid:
Scholarships, grants and loans are you finance options. Scholarships can be found at the school you are planning to attend, on the internet, through clubs, businesses, and organizations.
The most popular way to obtain a grant is through the government. In order to do this you must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fill out this application on the internet or in your financial aid office.
You have two options for student loans: Federal and alternative student loans. The Stafford, Perkins, and Parent PLUS loans are a few examples of Federal loans. A private loan may be taken out through a financial institutions.
College Cooking:
You don't have to be a chef to be able to cook. 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 acquiring one of these recipe books.
When you don't feel like getting out the recipe book all you have to do is look at the food you have, decide what items would taste good together, and toss them into a pot or frying pan. Most meals are meat based with vegetables and sometimes noodles or rice.
Time Management:
Here are my tips for managing your time:
1. Prioritize- As long as you get the really important things done, nothing else matters.
2. Schedule- Everyone needs a different kind of schedule. Try out different schedules to determine what works best for you. Without a schedule the majority of college students end up loafing, being pulled away by friends or distracted by events and consequently, getting behind in their studies.
3. Follow the Schedule- When you're in class, BE in class. Don't dose off or daydream. If the teacher is really boring, do homework for a different class. When it's time to study, study. Don't stare out the library window for 45 minutes. When it's time to relax (and you definitely need to take time to relax), relax. Do what you need to do when you need to do it.