So, you think you’re ready for college? Find out if you’re right!
What kind of school would you like to go to?
The type of college you attend can have a dramatic effect on your academic, social and financial success. Be sure to choose the one that will give you the best experience in all three areas.
Two-Year Community College (Living at Home) These colleges offer two-year programs and specialized coursework that leads to an associate’s degree. They’re very affordable and you could enter the working world right after graduation, or transfer to a four-year college or university. Living at home could save you a few hundred dollars a month on rent.
Public Four-Year In-State College These schools offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields, plus graduate programs that lead to a master’s, doctoral or professional degree. Financially supported by state tax money, they are less expensive than private colleges, particularly for in-state students.
Public Four-Year Out-of-State College These schools offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields, plus graduate programs that lead to a master’s, doctoral or professional degree. Financially supported by state tax money, they are less expensive than private colleges; however, out-of-state students pay more and may have limited financial aid options.
Private Four-Year College Funded through endowments, tuitions and other donations, the cost of attending these schools is higher than attending a public university. However, they usually offer financial aid options to help make their costs more affordable and in-state students may receive special consideration for admission. Out-of-state students may have to meet higher enrollment criteria for admission.
Where will the money for your education come from?
Think about how you’re are going to pay for college...
Savings: Do you have a savings account at a financial institution, or even a piggy bank? Put the money you’ve acquired to good use.
Gifts: If someone gave you money as a high school graduation present or other gift, be sure to add it in.
Scholarships: If you qualify for them, scholarships are a great way to keep your education costs low.
Grants: Have you applied to receive any federal or state grants to help you pay for school?
Jobs: Will you be taking on a full- or part-time job during the school year or over holidays?
Student Loans: Banks and other financial institutions offer loans specifically designed to help students with their expenses. If you need some extra money, this is one of the ways to get it.
If you have more than the minimum amount necessary to pay for your education, you might be able to consider working shorter hours at your job, or not taking out a student loan.
If you don’t have enough money available to pay for all of your education expenses, look back at the possible options and think about where you might be able to get more money to pay for college.
Below you will find a series of "You Make the Call" questions about your GPA, finances, and health and happiness will appear. There are three possible responses to choose from. Just pick the one that’s right for you. There are also hints listed that can help you to make the best call.
[FRESHMAN: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Your parents put $1,000 into your school-year account for “miscellaneous expenses.” They advised you not to spend it all at once. It’s only November and there’s $172 left.
• Sit down and add up everything you spent money on and try to figure out where you went wrong.
• Resolve to do better next year and see if you can borrow money from your friends.
• Call your parents and admit that you messed up and ask them to bail you out.
Hint: Pace your spending throughout the semester so you stay within your budget.
Hint: Take a calculator with you when you shop to track costs before you buy.
[FRESHMAN: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Your parents enrolled you in the school’s meal program to ensure that you would get three square meals a day.
• Ignore the meal plan and eat off-campus as much as possible, because you’re sure the food is much better somewhere else.
• Take full advantage of the meal plan and stay away from places you have to pay extra for.
• Use the meal plan most of the time, but splurge on the weekends when you’re off-campus with your friends.
Hint: If you work in a restaurant, you might be able to eat some meals free!
Hint: Brew your own coffee. Your visits to the local coffeehouse can add up fast.
[FRESHMAN: FINANCIAL MGMT]
You've put off doing laundry for a month and you've got a huge pile of clothes that need washing. You:
• Scrounge around for spare change in your room and everyone else's so you can visit the Laundromat.
• Realize it's time to spend some of the savings in your 'Laundry Fund.' It's wash day!
• Decide your laundry can wait another week. Right now you have better things to do.
[FRESHMAN: FINANCIAL MGMT]
You really like having your own car to drive around campus. With gas prices being rather high these days, you:
• Continue to class as a pedestrian throughout the week, but drive the car on weekends.
• Pick up your friends and drive into town as many times a week as possible to get away from campus.
• Use the car as often as you need to, but avoid going off-camp
[FRESHMAN: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Your parents helped you devise a weekly budget that would keep you well fed, clothed and entertained throughout the school year. You:
• Stick to it, knowing you're making the best use of your incoming funds.
• Secretly go on a wild spending spree once a month. You're in college now. It's time for fun!
• Stay on budget most of the time, but recalculate it as needed so you can buy gifts for your friends' birthdays, and pay any other unexpected expenses.
[FRESHMAN: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Since Monday is a holiday, you have a long weekend. You:
• Stay on campus to enjoy an extra day of study time.
• Crack open your piggy bank and buy a plane ticket for a fast getaway somewhere.
• Catch a movie you've been waiting to see and shop at a local sale for some new clothes.
[FRESHMAN: HEALTH/HAPPINESS]
The university is sponsoring a free, all-you-can-eat “Pizza and a Movie” night.
• Wait till the last minute to decide if you'll go, and then opt out because you can’t find anyone to go with you.
• Have absolutely no interest in spending time with a bunch of people you don’t know well.
• Definitely attend – it’s free food and a free movie.
Hint: To save on groceries, buy the store brand instead of brand-name items.
Hint: Take advantage of freebies whenever possible to save your money
[FRESHMAN: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
The local art museum is featuring your favorite artist’s work for the next three weeks.
• Make a trip to the museum one weekend to take in the exhibit all in one day.
• Decide not to go. You should stay on campus to study your assignments.
• Visit the museum one day each weekend that the exhibit is on display.
Hint: Avoid high gas prices by riding your bike or rollerblading instead of driving your car.
Hint: Sell the things you make or don’t need anymore online to make some extra money.
[FRESHMAN: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
If there's one thing you love to do, it's ski. Tonight, the Ski Club is having a new membership meeting. You:
• Plan to attend so you can meet other people with similar interests.
• Forego the meeting for a weekly study session.
• Go shopping for a new ski outfit instead, so you'll look good on the slopes!
[FRESHMAN: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Sometimes you need a snack when you're up late at night studying. You keep your dorm room stocked with:
• All your favorite junk food - after all, there's no fridge and who's around to tell you it's bad for you?
• Only healthy food - granola bars, instant soup, fruit and whole-wheat crackers.
• Mostly healthy snacks. You don't want to get the 'freshman 15' - that typical first year weight gain you get from eating whatever you want.
[FRESHMAN: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
The gym on campus is having a fitness fair where students can sign up for a free fitness program this semester. You:
• Wonder why you even need a fitness program. You're young and active enough as it is.
• Go to the fitness fair to learn more about how to stay in shape.
• Get your friends to join the program so you can show off your physical ability to them.
[FRESHMAN: GPA]
Your weak writing skills are really bringing down your grade in one of your major classes.
• Accept the fact that you'll never be able to write well.
• Find a tutor who can help you improve your writing.
• Ask another student to proofread your work before you turn it in.
Hint: Don’t hesitate to call home if you need money or moral support. You can’t get help if you don’t ask for it.
Hint: Buy used books instead of new, or borrow one from a friend.
[FRESHMAN: GPA]
Making good grades throughout high school came so easily to you. Now that you're in college, you plan to:
• Keep up the good work through good study habits.
• Study on weekdays, but weeknights and weekends are for fun!
• Become the party animal you've always wanted to be. Good grades are overrated.
[FRESHMAN: GPA]
One of your class study groups meets in the campus library every Wednesday morning. You:
• Only meet up with the group when you need help understanding an assignment or lecture.
• Go to the library every Wednesday to review everything you learned in class with the group
• Would rather sleep in on Wednesday mornings instead of meeting with a group that goes over the same thing you just learned in class.
[FRESHMAN: GPA]
In your high school English class, even though you didn't read all of the novels that were assigned to you, you still got pretty good grades. Now that you're in college, you figure:
• You'll keep the same study habits and hope to get good grades without having to apply yourself too much.
• Make a point of reading all of the texts assigned to you so that you can keep up with your classes.
• Join a study group so other students can give you insight into the readings without you having to read anything yourself.
[FRESHMAN: GPA]
Your roommate is rather loud and studying in your room is impossible. You want to switch roommates, but you don't want to offend him/her. You:
• Request a different roommate so you can study and make good grades that will help you get a job after college.
• Ask your roommate to try to be quieter and stay off his/her cell phone late at night.
• Do nothing and hope things will work out.
[FRESHMAN: GPA]
You thought you aced your last exam, but your grade is much lower than you expected. You:
• Ask your professor if she made a mistake; you just know you deserved an A.
• Acknowledge that you probably should have studied more.
• Drop the class because it's obviously going to be tough.
[SOPHOMORE: GPA]
You have a paper due on Monday morning that you need to work on all weekend. Your friends drop by and practically yank you out the door to go to a nearby college for the weekend
• Pack your bags and hit the highway with your friends. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
• Go, but before leaving, set up a ride back on Sunday so you’ll still have some time to write your paper.
• Tell them you'll try to finish the paper early, and if you do, you'll meet them there.
Hint: Focus on your class work through study groups, instead of socializing off campus.
Hint: Invite your friends over instead of going out, to save yourself money, time and stress.
[SOPHOMORE: GPA]
During your freshman year, you focused on participating in a lot of extracurricular activities and student clubs, and you made a lot of friends.
• Keep up with all of your activities and friendships just like last year.
• Realize that with harder classes this year, your grades may suffer if your social life is too packed. You cut back on your involvement and plan to study more.
• Get together with friends or classmates to study during the week, and save all of your extracurricular activities for the weekend.
Hint: Take advantage of your friends’ talents. For example, let them cut your hair instead of visiting a salon or barber shop.
Hint: Make your own holiday or birthday gifts for friends and family. It’s the thought that counts, remember?
[SOPHOMORE: GPA]
Two exam papers are due to two different professors on the same day. You only have a few days to get both done. You:
• Start writing both papers at the same time to get all of your thoughts down on paper.
• Work on just one paper now, and plan to turn the second one in late.
• There's nothing like the power of the last minute to produce your best work. You'll worry about your deadlines later.
[SOPHOMORE: GPA]
If you think about it too much, mid-term exams could really stress you out. To prepare yourself for them, you:
• Keep up with all of your coursework and review it regularly with other students to make sure you have a full understanding.
• Adopt a 'don't worry, be happy' attitude about your exams, and just go with the flow.
• Review your assignments whenever you have time, to keep the information fresh in your mind.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MGMT]
All your friends have these incredible, new dark-wash jeans. You don’t, and you absolutely must have them. They cost $180, which is all that’s left on your charge card.
• Buy the jeans. That’s what credit cards are for, right?
• Make peace with the jeans you have. What if an emergency comes up and you need the credit card for something more important?
• Ask your parents to buy them for you. They might say no, or they might agree to count it as your birthday present for the next five years.
Hint: You can find cool clothes and other unique items at thrift stores and yard sales.
Hint: Borrow the things you need or want from friends, and be sure to reciprocate the favor.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MGMT]
At least once a week, you like to eat at the popular sandwich shop near campus, but their prices recently went up. You
• Ignore the price increases and eat there whenever you feel like it, as usual.
• Limit yourself to one visit per week at the sandwich shop.
• Decide it’s time to start spending less by making your own sandwiches
Hint: Share large meals with friends when you go to restaurants to reduce your bill.
Hint: When you’re eating out, order a few of the side items as your meal instead of an entrée.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MGMT]
A national charity is sponsoring a fundraising event near campus.
• Donate your entire weekly allowance to the cause, even if it means you won’t be able to afford to eat for a while.
• Make a small donation to show your support.
• Volunteer your time for the event to help raise funds.
Hint: Volunteer for medical or other types of studies that pay their participants.
Hint: Apply for scholarships to help defray the costs of your education.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
Aunt Cecile sent you a care package filled with dozens of her “famous” double-chocolate chip cookies.
• Eat some of them, then pass out the rest to your friends.
• Can’t possibly eat all of them, so you throw them away. If you want a cookie later, you’ll go to the store and buy one.
• Divide them up and sell three cookies for $1 to your fellow students. It’s an easy way to make $20 and you’ll still have a few left for yourself!
Hint: Turn leftovers into another meal. Tonight’s fried chicken can become a pizza or fajita tomorrow.
Hint: Whenever possible, buy sale items in bulk — just don’t overbuy things you won’t really use.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
The local lottery is up to $243 million. You:
• Borrow 100 bucks from your savings account to buy a ton of lottery tickets.
• Spend $5.00 to get 5 tickets. You know your chances of winning are slim.
• Save your money to buy food. You'd rather eat than spend your money on a game.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
Your favorite restaurant has just opened a new location near campus. You:
• Go to the grocery store and buy pasta and sauce to cook your own Italian meal.
• Make a point of going to the restaurant about once a month for special occasions.
• Get away from campus with a friend and eat there together once a semester.
[SOPHOMORE: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
During the holidays, you racked up some credit card debt. You:
• Pay the minimum amount due every month until it's paid off.
• Tell your parents you need more money this semester, and then secretly use it to pay off the debt.
• Get a part-time job so you can pay off the debt as quickly as possible.
[SOPHOMORE: HEALTH/HAPPINESS]
Your roommate's friend is throwing a party tonight and you're invited, but you have a big exam in the morning. You:
• Drop what you're doing and go party. You don't want to miss a good one!
• Thank your roommate for the invite, but stay on campus to study.
• Go to the party for an hour, then return to campus to study.
[SOPHOMORE: HEALTH/HAPPINESS]
You met a cute guy/girl from your calculus class at a party over the weekend and seemed to hit it off. You:
• Don't bother calling him/her to get together again. You'd rather get good grades than socialize.
• Talk on the phone when you can, and plan to meet up for a date in a couple of weeks.
• Make plans to meet at the coffee shop to study for the next test.
[SOPHOMORE: HEALTH/HAPPINESS]
Your boy/girl friend calls and asks you if you want to go out for a quick burger. You've been studying for five hours and feel overwhelmed. You:
• Just say no. Tomorrow's test is important and you need to get the best grade possible.
• Go out for an hour, have an enjoyable dinner and come back with a revitalized brain, ready to go back to work.
• Jump at the chance to have some fun! You stay out until midnight and set the alarm so you can cram in the morning.
[SOPHOMORE: HEALTH/HAPPINESS]
It's Sunday. Your plan for the day is to:
• Get up early, do your workout routine, then study from Noon till midnight.
• Sleep in, enjoy a late brunch with friends and spend time catching up on the things you don't usually get to do.
• Sleep till mid-afternoon, eat whatever you can find, then watch TV in the student union for the rest of the day.
[JUNIOR: GPA]
Your ultimate career aspirations will require you to earn a master’s degree after you receive your undergraduate diploma.
• Enjoy your “carefree” undergrad days while you can. You’ll worry about the serious work ahead of you when the time comes.
• Add an extra study day to your week, but don’t stress yourself out over your grades.
• Make sure you really study well for the next two years so you’ll graduate with an impressive GPA.
Hint: Put your research skills to good use by reviewing product info online so you’ll get the best deal when you buy.
Hint: Stay in touch with your friends after you graduate. Your connections can pay off when you apply for jobs later.
[JUNIOR: GPA]
You didn't do so well on your last assignment, so your professor has offered you a chance to improve your grade. You:
• Accept the offer and start working on an extra-credit project.
• Say thanks, but no thanks - and plan to do better on future assignments.
• Don't even like this class, so you're not worried about your grade.
[JUNIOR: GPA]
You are hoping to get an internship over the summer because it will look good on your resume, but you don't have time to research internship opportunities. You:
• Call your mother and get her to look into it for you.
• Bag it. It'll be more fun to have the summer off and hang out with your friends.
• Call your adviser and see if they can hook you up with some of the companies near your hometown.
[JUNIOR: GPA]
You woke up late and missed a test because you forgot to set your alarm clock. You:
• Ask your professor if you can do some extra credit work to help keep your grade up.
• Immediately tell your professor what happened and ask if you can take the test at another time today.
• Accept the fact that you'll get an 'F' grade on this test and hope to get an 'A' on the next one to make up for it.
[JUNIOR: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
You're returning home during summer vacation and know from experience that you'll need some extra spending cash next semester. You:
• Kick back and enjoy the time off from school. You'll worry about money later.
• Organize a yard sale to sell some of your things, and save your earnings for school purchases.
• Get a job right away so you can make as much money as possible before school starts.
[JUNIOR: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
Aunt Cecile sent you a care package filled with dozens of her “famous” double-chocolate chip cookies.
• Eat some of them, then pass out the rest to your friends.
• Can’t possibly eat all of them, so you throw them away. If you want a cookie later, you’ll go to the store and buy one.
• Divide them up and sell three cookies for $1 to your fellow students. It’s an easy way to make $20 and you’ll still have a few left for yourself!
Hint: Turn leftovers into another meal. Tonight’s fried chicken can become a pizza or fajita tomorrow.
Hint: Whenever possible, buy sale items in bulk — just don’t overbuy things you won’t really use.
[JUNIOR: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
You do all your budgeting in your head. One day you go to get cash but the ATM says there are no funds available. You:
• Curse the bank, they must have made a mistake.
• Realize that you messed up. You'll just have to make it on Ramen noodles until the first of the month.
• Decide that budgets make sense and set up a monthly budget to avoid this happening again.
[JUNIOR: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT]
Every week, you use your bank ATM/debit card to withdraw $50 from your checking account to use for the week's expenses. You:
• Only use your ATM/debit card for those weekly withdrawals.
• Also use your ATM/debit card to pay for miscellaneous purchases.
• Also use your ATM/debit card to make deposits into your checking or savings account whenever possible.
Hint: Don't plan your entertainment around shopping areas. Go to a park or other place where you won't be tempted to spend money.
Hint: Work as much as possible over the summer and other holidays to make extra money.
[JUNIOR: HEALTH/HAPPINESS]
Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by everything — tests, papers, relationships, money, the future...the list goes on. To relieve the stress, you
• Go out with your friends and stay up all night.
• Exercise, meditate or call a friend.
• Play video games for 12 hours straight.
Hint: Volunteering will lift your spirits and introduce you to new, like-minded people.
Hint: Getting a lot of regular exercise helps you feel good physically and emotionally.
[JUNIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
It’s been raining a lot lately, but the sun finally came out today.
• Miss out on the sunshine because you have some class work to finish.
• Pack up your books and a snack, and go study outside for a couple of hours.
• Go for a quick roll to revitalize yourself.
Hint: Leave your credit cards behind when you go shopping. It’ll help you avoid impulse purchases.
Hint: You’re less likely to overspend when you’re in a good mood, so make sure you do things you really enjoy.
[JUNIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
You've been waiting on tables at a local restaurant for the past two years making good money. Now your boss says he needs you to work over spring break. You:
• Tell him you're sorry, but you've already made vacation plans for the week.
• Let him know he can count on you - you're looking forward to making the money.
• Cancel your vacation plans because you'd feel guilty if you didn't help him out.
[JUNIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Your best friend is on spring break and wants to come see you at your campus. You have some open time, but also need to finish up a project. You:
• Tell your friend you're sorry but you have too many other things going on this week.
• Tell your friend you'd love to see him/her this weekend and arrange a short visit.
• Encourage your friend to come so you can show him/her around this week, but explain that you'll need some time to focus on your schoolwork during their visit.
[JUNIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by everything - tests, papers, relationships, money, the future...the list goes on. To relieve the stress, you:
• Go out with your friends and stay up all night.
• Exercise, meditate or call a friend.
• Play video games for 12 hours straight.
Hint: Volunteering will lift your spirits and introduce you to new, like-minded people.
Hint: Getting a lot of regular exercise helps you feel good physically and emotionally.
[JUNIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Your favorite band will be performing Saturday night in a city about 2 hours away from campus. You:
• Gather up your friends to take a road trip to see the show.
• Buy the band's latest CD instead, figuring you'll be able to see them some other time.
• Buy the concert on the pay-per-view channel and invite all of your friends over to enjoy.
[SENIOR: GPA]
Your grades are good but you know the truth — they could be better. Since this is your last year of college, you decide to
• Work harder than you ever have before so you'll graduate with an excellent GPA.
• Sleep late, skip some classes and have fun. You've worked hard and you deserve it.
• Try to get A’s in the easy classes and pass the rest with B’s or C’s.
Hint: Tutoring other students in subjects you’re good at will keep you focused on schoolwork and can make you money.
[SENIOR: GPA]
This semester, you were able to schedule your classes to have every Friday off. With your day off, you intend to
• Recover from the late night you had on Thursday.
• Schedule some extra study time during the day to stay on top of your schoolwork.
• Take on an extra work shift at your job to increase your income a little.
Hint: Take on odd jobs here and there to earn some money (i.e., mow lawns, write someone’s resume, etc.).
Hint: If you’re good at something, like proofreading, help other students in exchange for money or food, etc.
[SENIOR: GPA]
You've studied hard during your first three years of college to get a good grade point average. Now, in your senior year, you plan to:
• Relax with easy classes and enjoy the ride till graduation.
• Continue taking relevant coursework and study well to maintain your GPA.
• Get a job to earn money that can help you prepare for life after graduation.
[SENIOR: GPA]
One of your professors has offered you an extra credit project to help bring up your mediocre grade. You:
• Don't bother with it, you have too much to do already.
• Thank her and do a spectacular job on it.
• Forget about it until the night before it's due, then throw something together at the last minute and turn it in.
[SENIOR: FINANCIAL MGMT]
You’re doing your laundry one day and find a $10 bill in the pocket of a pair of jeans.
• Feel lucky to have a little more money to add to your savings.
• Use it to buy snacks and a drink while your clothes are getting clean.
• Put it in the pocket of the jeans you're wearing and forget about it until you find it again next washday.
Hint: Start an emergency fund for surprise expenses that come up.
Hint: If you use a credit card, pay it off on time to avoid additional fees.
[SENIOR: FINANCIAL MGMT]
You find $10 on your way to class. You:
• Order a pizza.
• Spend it on school supplies.
• Put it toward a ticket to an upcoming concert.
[SENIOR: FINANCIAL MGMT]
You have received two job offers to consider. One pays a lot, but doesn't seem interesting. The other pays much less, but it's just what you are looking for. You:
• Accept the high-paying job - now you can get that HDTV!
• Take the job that you are excited about. Money is important, but so is happiness.
• Keep looking for a job you like with the highest salary you can get.
[SENIOR: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Some of your friends are spending the summer traveling around Europe. You'd love to go but can't afford it. You:
• Apply for the pre-approved credit card you just got in the mail. The $8,000 credit limit will cover the whole trip and you can worry about paying it off later.
• Call your parents and ask them to fund the trip. If they say they aren't able to help you, try talking them into it by explaining all of the benefits of travel.
• Start applying for summer jobs so you can work and save enough to go next year.
Hint: When you travel on break, stay with friends and family to avoid hotel expenses.
Hint: Compare travel costs and go by train or bus instead of air whenever possible.
[SENIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
On Saturday morning, your campus is sponsoring a 5K hike for charity. You decide to:
• Participate to get some exercise.
• Sleep in and skip it.
• Make a point of signing up for the next charity event instead.
[SENIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
The most popular local hang-out for students is the coffee shop around the corner. You:
• Always like to see who will show up at the coffee shop, so you've become a regular there.
• Make a point, instead, of going off-campus for a hike or picnic with your friends whenever you can.
• Don't really like being around people you don't know, so you avoid the coffee shop like the plague.
[SENIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
You have received two job offers to consider. One pays a lot, but doesn't seem interesting. The other pays much less, but it's just what you are looking for. You:
• Accept that happiness is rare and accept the highest paying job.
• Keep looking for the perfect combination of money and happiness.
• Take another look at the job you want to see if you can live with the salary offer for now.
[SENIOR: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Your friend asks you to join her for a charity fundraiser on Saturday, but it's your only day to just relax. You:
• Tell her you already have plans. You need a day off, plus you are already involved in some other charity events this year.
• Reluctantly sign up, giving up your only free time this week.
• Offer to donate money to the charity instead.
[GENERAL: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Some of your friends are spending the summer traveling around Europe. You’d love to go but can’t afford it. You
• Apply for the pre-approved credit card you just got in the mail. The $8,000 credit limit will cover the whole trip and you can worry about paying it off later.
• Call your parents and ask them to fund the trip. If they say they aren't able to help you, try talking them into it by explaining all of the benefits of travel.
• Start applying for summer jobs so you can work and save enough to go next year.
Hint: When you travel on break, stay with friends and family to avoid hotel expenses.
Hint: Compare travel costs and go by train or bus instead of air whenever possible.
[GENERAL: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Every week, you use your bank ATM/debit card to withdraw $50 from your checking account to use for the week’s expenses. You
• Only use your ATM/debit card for those weekly withdrawals.
• Also use your ATM/debit card to pay for miscellaneous purchases.
• Also use your ATM/debit card to make deposits into your checking or savings account whenever possible.
Hint: Don’t plan your entertainment around shopping areas. Go to a park or other place where you won’t be tempted to spend money.
Hint: Work as much as possible over the summer and other holidays to make extra money.
[GENERAL: FINANCIAL MGMT]
Since Monday is a holiday, you have a long weekend. You:
• Stay on campus to enjoy an extra day of study time.
• Crack open your piggy bank and buy a plane ticket for a fast getaway somewhere.
• Catch a movie you've been waiting to see and shop at a local sale for some new clothes.
[GENERAL: FINANCIAL MGMT]
During the holidays, you racked up some credit card debt. You:
• Pay the minimum amount due every month until it's paid off.
• Tell your parents you need more money this semester, and then secretly use it to pay off the debt.
• Get a part-time job so you can pay off the debt as quickly as possible.
[GENERAL: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Your favorite band will be performing Saturday night in a city about 2 hours away from campus.
• Gather up your friends to take a road trip to see the show.
• Buy the band’s latest CD instead, figuring you’ll be able to see them some other time.
• Buy the concert on the pay-per-view channel and invite all of your friends over to enjoy.
Hint: Avoid going to movie theaters. Rent movies on DVD with your friends instead.
Hint: If your clothes ever get damaged, fix them up instead of buying new ones.
[GENERAL: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
The gym on campus is having a fitness fair where students can sign up for a free fitness program this semester. You:
• Wonder why you even need a fitness program. You're young and active enough as it is.
• Go to the fitness fair to learn more about how to stay in shape.
• Get your friends to join the program so you can show off your physical ability to them.
[GENERAL: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
It's Sunday. Your plan for the day is to:
• Get up early, do your workout routine, then study from Noon till midnight.
• Sleep in, enjoy a late brunch with friends and spend time catching up on the things you don't usually get to do.
• Sleep till mid-afternoon, eat whatever you can find, then watch TV in the student union for the rest of the day.
[GENERAL: HEALTH & HAPPINESS]
Your friend asks you to join her for a charity fundraiser on Saturday, but it's your only day to just relax. You:
• Tell her you already have plans. You need a day off, plus you are already involved in some other charity events this year.
• Reluctantly sign up, giving up your only free time this week.
• Offer to donate money to the charity instead.
[GENERAL: GPA]
You thought you aced your last exam, but your grade is much lower than you expected. You:
• Ask your professor if she made a mistake; you just know you deserved an A.
• Acknowledge that you probably should have studied more.
• Drop the class because it's obviously going to be tough.
[GENERAL: GPA]
If you think about it too much, mid-term exams could really stress you out. To prepare yourself for them, you:
• Keep up with all of your coursework and review it regularly with other students to make sure you have a full understanding.
• Adopt a 'don't worry, be happy' attitude about your exams, and just go with the flow.
• Review your assignments whenever you have time, to keep the information fresh in your mind.
[GENERAL: GPA]
You woke up late and missed a test because you forgot to set your alarm clock. You:
• Ask your professor if you can do some extra credit work to help keep your grade up.
• Immediately tell your professor what happened and ask if you can take the test at another time today.
• Accept the fact that you'll get an 'F' grade on this test and hope to get an 'A' on the next one to make up for it.
[GENERAL: GPA]
One of your professors has offered you an extra credit project to help bring up your mediocre grade. You:
• Don't bother with it, you have too much to do already.
• Thank her and do a spectacular job on it.
• Forget about it until the night before it's due, then throw something together at the last minute and turn it in.
You’ve just had a chance to think about some of the things you may face in college. Your choices can greatly impact the final outcome of your grades, your money, and your happiness. By focusing on making the right decisions throughout college, you should be well on your way to ultimately achieving the job of your dreams. In fact, that’s something else you will face throughout your college education: decisions about your future career.
Your career aspirations will influence the classes you take and the majors and minors you pursue. When you’re planning your class schedule, no matter which career path you choose, be sure to take a few business courses. Everybody from artists to musicians, scientists to engineers, doctors to lawyers needs to have a few business and finance survival skills. And you don’t have to be a business major to benefit from many of the introductory courses in business, finance, accounting, business management and business law.
This is an exciting time of your life. There are a lot of exciting paths you can follow. Keep following the ones that lead you in the best direction. If we can be of any help, just visit our Student Page.