Things Students Should Know Before Attending College


by Blake Provo - Date: 2007-07-19 - Word Count: 539 Share This!

Upon entering college I quickly 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 that same situation I was. Now, I'm definitely not your mother, but I believe that the following information will be of great use to you.

Everything students ought to know before enrolling in college simply can't be covered in an article such as this one, but I will quickly cover a few things that I consider to be very important: money management, finding financial aid, cooking, and managing your time.

Managing Your Money:

I only have 3 money management tips, so listen carefully:

1- Create your budget. This can be difficult at first but it'll really reduce financial tension in the long run. If you do not even know where to begin, explore the internet or ask your friends or parents.

2- Do not spend more than you make. If you are in the habit of spending more than you are making you either need to increase your income or reduce your expenses. There are hundreds of ways to reduce expenses.

3- Pay your bills on time. Just do it. Don't get deeper in debt than you have to.

Obtaining Financial Aid:

The most common way to obtain financial aid is through acquiring scholarships, grants, and loans. Scholarships can be found at the school you are planning to attend, online, through groups, businesses, and organizations. Open your eyes to scholarships and you'll find that they are everywhere.

Most people get grants from 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. Some Federal loans are the Stafford, Perkins, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS loans. A private loan can be obtained 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! Consider investing in one of these great books.

When you don't feel like getting out the cook book all you have to do is assess the food you have, choose items that would taste good together, and chuck them into a pot or frying pan. Use meat, noodles, or rice as your base and then add vegetables.

Time Management:

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. Figure out what works best for you..

3. Follow your Schedule- When you�re in class, BE in class. Don't dose off or daydream. If your teacher is really boring, do homework for a different class. When it is time to study, study. Don't stare out the library window for 45 minutes. When it is 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.

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Related Tags: loans, student, cooking, college, budget, time management, scholarships, higher education, fafsa, prioritize, financial institutions

To learn more about student finances please visit our Managing Student Debt page. Being a college student herself, Elise Fisher enjoys writing articles for her website About-Student-Loans.com.

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