How to Get Your Money's Worth in College!

College is expensive these days, and it's very important to be sure you're getting your money's worth! Here are three simple ways to keep ahead of the curve in college, and make sure your experience is as productive as possible.

Use up your meal plan!
Many college students complain about the meal plans. They're often overpriced, are non-refundable, and require you to purchase food that you ordinarily wouldn't. I encourage you to make the most of your meal plan, especially if you're on a tight budget in college. It may seem tempting to go to the grocery store, starbucks, and fast-food restauraunts on a daily basis, but doing so will cause your meal plan money to languish in your account, where it may never get used. The idea is to get that mean plan as close to used up as you can before the end of the term, so if you prefer to eat meals off-campus, at least be sure that your non-meal items, like your morning coffee, afternoon snacks, beverages, or dessert items, are coming out of your meal plan.

Get to know your professors!
The whole reason you're spending all this money at college is so that you can become academically and professionally successful. Don't waste your money by fading into the background and getting lost under a pile of work you don't understand. Your professors took their jobs because they love talking to students, and they really, really, want you to succeed. I encourage you to visit your professors in their offices, introduce yourself, and just say hi! That way, if you're feeling swamped later in the term and want to ask for an extension, some extra help, or a second chance, you won't feel as intimidated by going to see them. Communicating with your professors is key! Make use of your phone, email, or whatever you feel comfortable with, to keep your Prof posted. If you miss three lectures in a row (in a smaller class), for instance, it's a good idea to be keeping in touch with your professor, so they know what's going on with you, and don't crush your participation grade. Profs are people too! They will be understanding and supportive, as long as you are open and honest with them.

Dealing with crowded lecture halls
It can be daunting to step into a class, only to discover that you are one of 300 students, and that the booming voice narrating the PowerPoint slides belongs to one tiny, aged little being, lecturing so far away that you wouldn't recognize him if you saw him right after class. Big lecture halls are a difficult learning environment for some people, but it's important to get a handle on your learning style, and make the most of it. I encourage you to find a seat near the front of the room, close enough that you can see the professor's eyes while he or she is speaking. This will make it easier to pay attention to the professor, and will help keep you from nodding off. To find a seat you want, you'll have to arrive to the lecture a little but early, but getting there a little sooner is worth it when the alternative is sitting in the very back, where you'll more easily be distracted.