My big topic this week is preparing for school. Here a few tips on getting ready to go back to college.
Supplies. Get the newspaper out. I know it’s a little tough to read an informative piece of paper that is sometimes boring. If you unfold it, there will be store circulars. Although it seems a little parent-like, clipping coupons and checking on sales is a really good thing. You’ll need the extra money for tuition and fuel. Shop around for the best deal. My best shopping trip of all time was when I planned to go to Target and Wal-Mart for their advertised deals. I saved 10s of dollars!
Tuition. Unless you are still in high school, which is free, you’ll be stressing about paying your college fees. Scholarship deadlines were way back in March, so the next step is student loans. I have unfortunately had to apply for a loan recently. My scholarship covered 1/2 of the tuition, leaving another half to pay for. (Remember, I love to state basic math on the weekends.) If you are rich with thousands of dollars, you don’t have this problem. Good for you.
People. Any time you see a person of authority at school, be friendly. It is really important to create a good impression at your college. Community college involvement leads to possible scholarships at a university. Even though fees are sometimes a little high, it’s nothing compared to the future monetary help. Oh, most universities require students to fill out the FAFSA.
ORGANIZATION. It’s in all caps for a reason. When you start off this year, organize everything. Make sure every little thing is ready and paid for, so you can concentrate on class. This is the dorkiest thing I can suggest, but don’t jump into using a spiral notebook. Use a three-ring binder. That way you can divide the subjects and see which one includes the most note taking. Not only does a student need to be organized in their backpack, but he or she should also be organized inside. Always schedule study time. Turning to the books when you think of it, or five minutes before class, can seriously affect your grades. They are called “pop tests” for a reason.
