Avenues to Success Notes

Going to College Checklist - Ways to Save Money in College

With the economy in decline, college students are exploring different ways to save money and cut back on expenses. Most students don’t have problems with cutting back on tuition, with loans, grants, financial aid and scholarships, but most college students are having difficulties paying for the smaller things that come with college life.

The Tribruin Online has a helpful post for college students.

10 Easy Ways to Save Money in College

Click here to read the details.

1. Student and Employee Discounts
2. Buy in Bulk
3. College Meal Plans
4. Used Textbooks
5. Avoid Daily Expenses
6. Bottle it Yourself
7. Bank Smart
8. Clip Your Coupons
9. Embrace the College Diet
10. Entertain on a Budget

via www.tribruin.org

Here is something to consider when thinking about a distance learning college degree

Here is an interesting finding, according to a post at Limed Wold News,

Do Potential Employers Value Distance Learning Degrees?

Unfortunately, numerous employers have not yet been sold into this alternative way of acquiring education, thus they still regard such degrees as invalid or dubious.

This is because of the large number of bogus schools on the internet. However, according to the article steps are being taken to help raise the acceptance for the employers to the many fine, legitimate programs available in line.

Meanwhile, be sure to check out the program, and "school" before putting down your cash.

Pay For College Information

Education Assistance Corp. has a must see site

Planning for the Cost of College

Topics, with links are:

• Saving for College
• Setting a Spending PlanTop 10 Ways to Save Money at College
• Working
• Finding Money for College
• Are you sure you really need a student loan?
• Completing the FAFSA
• Reviewing the Student Aid Report
• Comparing Award Letters
• Tax Savings
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Help is Free
• Native American Students Transitioning to College

Tips for making sure your college student is properly insured

Click here for insurance Tips for Parents of College-Bound Students

Insure.com offers these tips for making sure your college student is properly
insured:

• Car insurance
• Home insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance

Going to College Checklist: Define yourself while in college

From      

8 Ways to Build Your Brand as a College Student

1. Take Courses Unrelated to Your Major

2. Don’t Join Clubs and Organizations. LEAD Them

3. Be a Teaching Assistant For a Semester

4. Take Leadership Roles at Every Turn

5. Do a co-op or shadow a prominent figure in your field.

6. Rabidly approach everyday problems with an entrepreneurial mindset.

7. Work a part-time job.

8. Volunteer.

And

5 Things to do In College To Lay Your Brand’s Foundation

1. Take advantage of what is around you.
2. Start something.
3. Track what you do.
4. Experiment.
5. Take your time at school seriously - it ends faster than you think.

Going to College Checklist: Consideration about a priviate college counselor service

Here's a question facing many parents and future college students about their college search:

A lot of my son’s friends are applying to colleges in the fall, and some of them have hired “private” college counselors. What do they do? Is it necessary? My son already has guidance counselor-will a private counselor give him a leading edge?
-Counselor-Curious

Read CampusCompare.com's answer.

Going to College Checklist: Off Campus Living

While looking for an appropriate graphic for the previous post on off campus housing, I found this site which should be checked out. While the focus of Off Campus Living is primarily off campus housing and safety for students in the Buffalo and Western New York Region, much of the resources and information can be useful for students everywhere.





You can download the Off Campus Housing Checklist Booklet at this site.

Going to College Checklist: 5 Hints for Off Campus Housing

Here are some tips from Campus Collection, A Student Affairs Newsletter to Parents from the Office of the Vice Chancellor—Student Affairs, University of California, Santa Barbara. (I made some changes to generalize the information.)

Going to College Checklist: Health Insurance - A Caution

Some colleges and universities are offering health insurance because students are not covered by parents, or they cannot get it on their own.

This may be a good option for a student, much better than the potentially disasterous alternative of not having any health insurance. However,

..., The New York Times advises families to be cautious about college health plans. Some limit the number of doctors’ appointments, prescription drugs, length of hospital stays and maximum benefits.

“It varies from state to state and college to college,” said Sandy Praeger, the insurance commissioner of Kansas and chairwoman of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ health insurance committee. “Limited coverage is still better than no coverage, but it’s important for parents to understand these limitations before they sign up.”

You can read the entire post Many College Students Foregoing Health Insurance from the All Insurance Log.

Going to College Checklist: Questions for the Recruiter

Here is some good advice when you meet with the college recruiter about playing sports for his school. The focus here is on the sports recruiter. Apply the article to all scholarships you may be considering. While reading the article, it struck me that this is an excellent outline for preparing for a job interview.

The National Collegiate Scouting Association suggests the five most important types of questions to ask when speaking to a recruiter.

However, on the outset of the interview: Be Prepared - know about the school and its programs and and that you are going to Ask About:

1. Academics
2. Athletics / Recruiting
3. Scholarship
4. College Life Questions
5. What Comes Next

Read the complete article at the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Team's blog, Colorado Avalanche Cares.