Getting Through College: A Graduate's Guide

When someone speaks of college we may think it is all about studying all hours of the day every day of the week, two hours of sleep a night, and countless exams. Sure, college is challenging. Why else do they call it college? As much work as it can be, it can be a truly rewarding and fun experience. Going to college means leaving your grade school years behind and taking on a whole new experience. You can meet some wonderful new people, get involved in some really neat clubs and organizations, take a number of very interesting classes from a number of disciplines, and even take some field trips with class friends. Here are some ways to enjoy and make the most out of your college experience:

1)Take classes that interest you. You do not necessarily only have to take classes that are related to your degree. If you are going for a biology degree, you can take a history class or art class as an elective.

2) Volunteer outside of school. Depending on what you're going for, you can take part in environmental cleanup, volunteer at an animal shelter, help out at a nursing home, and more.

3) Joins clubs and organizations. Whether it is a creative writing club, a biology club, or book club, see what it's about. You can meet new people and add it to your resume.

4) Stay organized and know assignment due dates and test dates. Being organized can make the biggest difference.

5) When studying for a test, try not to cram. Try to study the material that is taught in class each day.

6) When studying or doing homework, don't watch TV. Instead listen to soft music or music that interests you. When I did homework or studied, I could not do it when there was complete silence.

7) Always talk with your advisor and make sure your on track for graduation. They will help you plan out your college career.

8) Take advantage of services offered by your school (e.g. career services).

9) Make sure to get to know some of your professors or other school officials. They can provide valuable information and serve as references for future job opportunities.

College is also a time when money can be scarce. You've got a tuition bill, travel to and from school, textbooks, food, and more. College textbooks can cost hundreds of dollars a semester. I remember when, on my first semester, I spent over five hundred dollars on textbooks. Don't panic. There are ways to cut corners and make tremendous savings:

1) Before buying your textbooks at you college bookstore, compare prices with those at a half.com, amazon.com, and textbooks.com. You can save hundreds of dollars a semester. One semester I saved 60% by buying books from these sites.

2) Keep eating out to a minimum. This is something that I did a little too much of. There is nothing wrong with going out once in a while, but don't eat out four or five times a week. It can get pretty expensive.

3) If there is descent public transportation where you live, give the car a rest and take the bus a few times. This can save you a lot in gas.

4) Tuition at a university is more expensive than it is at a community college. If possible, take your core classes at a community college and transfer them to a university.

5) Always apply for financial aid by the priority filing date noted by your school. The earlier you apply, the more generous your financial aid package will be.