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Caitlin Grey is a senior at Alameda High School  in Alameda, California. For almost four years, she's been reporting and writing commentaries for Youth Radio-Youth Media International , a Peabody Award-winning youth-driven production company in downtown Oakland. She is very passionate about the environment, and is president of the environmental club at her high school. Caitlin recently traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's Fifteenth Conference of the Parties as one of eighteen national delegates for the Sierra Student Coalition.  She enjoys writing, art, the outdoors, and music festivals.

Being a second semester senior is not nearly as exciting as I thought it would be.

Part of me expected the Monday after fall semester finals to be completely different — like only 4 kids to showing up to class, "NO HOMEWORK!" written in huge letters on the board, and incessant pizza parties. Instead, I was shocked by the fact that really nothing had changed at all. We had just as much homework in every class, teachers were lecturing just as long, and everyone was in their seats.

The eyes of the students were a little less bright, texting was a bit more rampant, and a general vibe of "meh" permeated throughout each classroom. But my classes are definitely not letting up.

However, becoming a second semester senior has shifted the way I feel about school (and life in general). I still do everything I did first semester but with a little less gusto. "I'll be gone in 7 months anyways!" has become my excuse for just about everything. I feel like a marathon runner who is so close to the finish line, but instead of sprinting to the end, has just started walking.

I've noticed the trend in my friends too. Picture-perfect 5.0 students — who are all varsity soccer team captains and presidents of clubs — skipping class! They've planned their whole academic lives just so they could put these activities down on their transcripts, and now they're embracing their second semesters like it's the afterlife.

Throughout high school, I've made a point of only participating in activities that I care about, which makes second semester pretty much just like all the rest. So I soldier on (although with a little less umph).

Most college applicants write about their love of learning and how they are self-motivated students, but to me, slacking off in the second semester makes us hypocrites. And who wants to be a hypocrite? But the second I start to feel bad about it, I remember "I'll be gone in 7 months anyways!"

Caroline

With graduation coming up in just a couple of short months, job interviews can't be far behind for college seniors. Or maybe you're interviewing already?

I know for me, the last semester of college was consumed with lots of worry about landing a job after graduation. And my worst fears were actually realized — it took me much longer than I'd planned to land a job in my field.

I don't say this to scare you! Hopefully you can learn a little bit from my experience. I wasn't really ready for my job interviews.  Why? A few reasons. Some of the jobs weren't a good fit. I was nervous, not being myself in many of the interviews.

But also, some of the interview questions really threw me.

At one interview, they actually asked me who my favorite comedian was. Huh? I panicked and gave the name of the first comedian that came to my mind — definitely not my favorite. I cringed inside when I saw the interviewers give each other a sidelong glance that said, "Uhh, this woman is not going to fit in here."

Light bulb moment: They wanted to know something about my personality that the standard interview questions weren't going to tell them. Needless to say, I didn't get the job.

So how can you be ready for those curveball questions? I came across an article a couple months ago that listed some "creative" interview questions for employers to ask potential applicants. Check them out  and try to work through the answers you might give. It's a great exercise to get you thinking about what a potential employer might want to know about you, and how to best present yourself.

Have you been through any job interviews yet? Tell us about your experiences.

Caroline

Here at the Student LoanDown, we are always recommending that you complete the FAFSA as soon as you possibly can after January 1. (You can read a couple of my earlier posts about the FAFSA here and here.)

As a result, we’re really curious when most of you actually do complete the FAFSA, if you’re using it at all. So if you would, please take a quick second to vote in our poll and let us know what you're thinking about completing the FAFSA.

Thank you!

Caroline

High school seniors, do you feel like you're coming down with something? Not feeling as ambitious as usual? Thinking you might just want to coast ‘til the end of the year?

You might have a case of senioritis. 

A little senioritis is understandable. You've worked hard and now you're in the homestretch of high school — it can be hard to stay motivated.

But try not to let senioritis get out of hand — and don't let it affect your grades. Even if you've been accepted to college, your final transcripts still count. There are horror stories of students who blew their college acceptance  because of bad final semester grades. It really does happen.

So how do you fight senioritis?

First, you might have to readjust your thinking. After all, high school graduation isn't the end goal — getting to college and succeeding there is what you're really striving for. To do that, you're going to have to work hard your final semester in high school. Your ability to focus and study  — even when you don't feel like it — are going to be critical to your success in college. Consider this your real college prep.

Reward yourself. You have worked hard in high school and you do deserve a reward, but that doesn't have to involve slacking in school. Find another way to reward yourself for a job well done, like planning something special with your friends. Just don't take your eye off the ball in the meantime.

Shake things up. Your symptoms of senioritis might be a sign of burnout. If you're overscheduled , see if there is something you can drop — it's not going to hurt to give up one activity, especially if you're involved in 10. Conversely, could your senioritis be due to boredom? Maybe trade out an activity that you've done year after year for something new this spring — it might give you a fresh outlook.

Have you been hit by senioritis? Tell us what you're doing to fight it!

Caroline

I don't have many regrets about my college career, but honestly, if I could take a do-over on a couple things, I would.

So, what would I do if I could jump in my time machine and head back to good old 1989? I would make a point to truly get to know some professors, my advisor, my boss and any other professionals in my field. They're called mentors, folks — and they're good for much more than just job references. The ones you really click with can help guide you through the bumpy years as you get started with your career.

And believe me, the first few years out of college can be rough. You might feel lost, disillusioned, or just plain disappointed with your job specifically or where your career is headed generally. Your mentors can help you through those times — they've been there and are in a great position to encourage you or help redirect you.

For example, I've talked before about how lost I was in my first job search post-college. Looking back, if I'd only known a pro in my field to ask for advice, I might have made some smarter choices.

By contrast, a couple friends I know really did make great connections with mentors during college. They seemed to come out of school much more focused and inspired than I was. I was frankly a little jealous when I heard about the great advice, encouragement and insight about themselves that they'd gotten from these mentors.

So how do you go about getting a mentor? Well, I don't know exactly, but it's not going to happen without some work from your end. You've got to have the right mentality — that a mentor can be crucial to your success, and you have to be proactive to develop a relationship with a good mentor.

If I was doing things all over again, here would be my game plan:

• Look into an official mentoring program. See if your department offers an official way to connect with a mentor in your field.
• Slow down and stick around. Instead of bolting out the door after class, stick around and chat with your professor about an assignment. Because profs are sometimes mobbed by students after class, you may want to drop by during his or her office hours instead.
• Join an organization related to your field. Then participate. Go to meetings or other functions and try to meet other professionals. Ask them about their career, tell what your plan is, or admit that you're always seeking advice from pros. Most people are happy to share their experience. At minimum, you'll probably get some good insight. Keep going back and you may really get to know someone who'll make a good mentor.
• Get an internship. We've said it before, and I'll say it again. Internships are a fantastic way to meet professionals and find out if you're on the right track career-wise. In an internship setting, you've got the best opportunity to make the real connections with people that leads to a mentoring relationship.

Do you have a mentor? Tell us how you got connected with them!

Caroline

Although it's only January, now is the time to start getting serious about your funding for college  next year.

For high school seniors applying for financial aid for the first time, that means completing your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible.

If you're new the world of financial aid, you probably have some questions before you get started. Here's a brief Q & A to cover the FAFSA basics.

Q: What is the FAFSA?
A: It's is the form you must fill out to determine which federal loans and other federal financial aid (grants, work-study, etc.) you are eligible for. The application takes about two hours to complete and asks for detailed personal and financial information about the student and the parents of dependent students.

Q: Where can I find an application?
A: You can find out more about the FAFSA and complete it online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  If you prefer a hard copy, check with your high school guidance counselor.

Q: I don't think
I'll qualify for any aid, should I bother to apply?
A: We recommend you complete the FAFSA, even if you think you won't qualify for aid. Most students are eligible for at least an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, which is not based on financial need.

Q: Why should I apply so early?
A: While the FAFSA is the federal application for financial aid, it's also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as your state or school. Deadlines vary for different types of aid, so the earlier you get your application completed, the better.

Q: What type of information should I have ready when I apply?
A: You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, income tax returns, bank statements, and investment records. Gather these records ahead of time, especially if you're applying online.

Do you have questions about the FAFSA? Post them here.

Caroline

Happy 2010!

Have you made any money-related New Year's resolutions? For me, this is the year I want to settle on a specific college-savings plan for my two younger kids, and cut back spending where I can (like eating out).

If you don't have a financial resolution, I've got an idea for you: Try just one money-saving trick this year and see how it goes. As with all resolutions, once you decide on one, write it down — it will make it more "real"! Here a few money-saving ideas to get you started:

Cash plan. If you find yourself using your debit or credit card  willy-nilly on random things, try operating on a cash-only basis. Here's how it works: Figure out what you need to spend money on for a given week (food, gas, entertainment, etc.). Take out only that amount of cash, and live on it for that week. The idea is to curb your unplanned purchases. If you do spend money unexpectedly, then you have to be accountable for it somewhere else. For example, if you make an unexpected trip to Burger King® , well, you'll just have to take that out of your gas money, or whatever. You can build in an affordable cushion for incidentals if you like, but the point is to set limits on your "random" spending. And remember to make sure all your fixed expenses (rent, phone bill, etc.) are covered before determining your cash flow for the week.

Say "no" to vending machines. When you're running all over campus, strapped for time, it's easy to get in the habit of stuffing bills into a vending machine for a bottle of pop , some candy — anything to keep you going. While it might be convenient, it's a major waste of money. Try buying your go-to vending machine items at the grocery store and stashing them in your backpack instead. It may not seem like much, but if you're dropping a dollar or two per day, you can easily cut that in half by planning ahead and bringing snacks to campus with you. That extra few dollars a week really adds up over time.

Check your bills. You're probably paying your bills on autopilot by now — in fact, you may actually be making your payments automatically online. Still, it never hurts to review your bills to make sure you know what you're paying for. Did you agree to some "free" movie channels that you're now inadvertently paying for? Are you going over the limits of your cell phone plan? Do you know how much interest you're paying on your credit card bill? Take some time to make sure everything is in order and that you understand the details of all your bills.

Make sure the roomie divide is equal. If you're living with roommates, are you splitting expenses evenly? Make sure that one person isn't getting stuck with any "extras" that don't show up on the bills — like buying all household cleaning supplies. Revisit any other financial agreements you've made with your roommates and decide if they still make sense.

Conquer one money-wasting habit. Just about everyone has one bad spending habit, whether it's a daily coffee run  or a weakness for shoes. As I mentioned, for me, it's eating out too often. While it's probably not realistic — or necessary — to try to eliminate the little luxury from your life altogether, you can make a resolution to seriously cut back. I'm aiming to eat out no more than once a week. Can you cut your coffee runs to Saturdays only? Dial back the shoe-shopping to every other month?

Give these tips a shot and let us know how they work for you! And in the meantime, let us know: What are your financial New Year's resolutions?

Caroline

As a graduate student, you have the opportunity to borrow significantly more funds per year to cover your expenses than you did as an undergraduate student. Are you finding that you need to borrow the full amount of federal aid offered to cover your expenses?

I ask because my step-daughter is a grad school student, but has a scholarship  so she doesn’t need to borrow nearly the full amount of aid offered to her. She is also able to work  a significant amount , which helps make up for the fact that she no longer has two roommates to share living expenses.

What has your grad school experience been like? Are you borrowing the full amount offered you in student loans?

Are your expenses significantly higher than when you were an undergrad? How are you managing it?

Tell us about your situation.

Caroline

Senior year is all about planning and saving for college. And part of your planning process should include a scholarship search.

One easy way to get started is to enroll in the Wells Fargo CollegeSTEPS® Program & CollegeSTEPS Scholarship Sweepstakes¹. When you register, you'll not only get a chance to win money for college, but you'll get help planning for it as well.

Sign up for the CollegeSTEPS Program online and you'll receive emails with helpful college-planning tips on topics such as choosing a college and securing financial aid.

You can enroll in the program to start receiving emails anytime from freshman through senior year. High school seniors who sign up for the program are automatically entered to win $1,000 toward their college tuition.

Have you started a scholarship search? If so, got any tips for fellow seniors?

¹ NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. Purchase does not improve the chance to win. Continued CollegeSTEPS Program enrollment not required for Sweepstakes entry. Sweepstakes begins July 1, 2009, at 7:01 a.m. (CT) and ends May 31, 2010, at 7:01 a.m. (CT). Sweepstakes is open to any current U.S. resident, (excluding residents of New York, Florida, and Rhode Island), who has enrolled in the CollegeSTEPS Program, is a high school senior during the 2009-2010 school year, and graduates from high school in 2010. Limit one entry per Eligible Entrant during the Sweepstakes Period. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Actual odds of winning depend upon the total number of entries received at the time of winner selection. See the Official Rules for complete details.

Caroline

Editor's note: This is part three of our three-part series on 529 plans — Caroline's interview with Sarah Henriksen, a vice president with Wells Fargo Funds Management. You can read part one here and part two right here.

CH: How much money do you need to start a 529 plan?
Sarah Henriksen: Typically you can open an account with as little as $250. And, many 529 plans waive this minimum if you set up an automatic investment into the account of as little as $15 per month. A program of regular investment cannot assure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market.

CH: How much can an individual contribute to a 529 plan per year?
SH: We talked about the low limits for starting a 529 plan. On the other end, 529 plans have very high contribution limits. There is not a specific annual limit as long as you don't exceed the 529 plan maximum, which can be over $300,000 depending on the plan. One thing to keep in mind is 529 contributions are considered completed gifts to the beneficiary, subject to the annual gift limits. For 2009, the annual exclusion amount is $13,000 (or $26,000 for married couples), which means any contribution over that amount may be subject to gift tax. If you are looking to make a larger contribution in one year, you can contribute up to five times the annual limit without incurring gift tax by prorating that contribution over the next five years. This is a unique benefit of 529s, which is not available through any other investment vehicles.

CH: Is there a total contribution limit?
SH: Most 529 plans set their contribution limit with the goal of allowing families to invest enough for five years of college, plus graduate school. As you can imagine, this means the total contribution limit for most 529 plans is quite high. Depending on the plan, the limits can be $300,000 or more.

CH: How is the money withdrawn to make college payments?
SH: Another benefit of 529 plans is that the account owner controls when and how a payment is made. This means you can ensure your funds are used for school expenses and not concert tickets or the latest video game. And, most 529 plans offer a lot of flexibility for withdrawing the funds. You can choose to have funds sent directly to the school, to the beneficiary or even to yourself if you want to get reimbursed for expenses paid out of pocket.

CH: Can participants continue to contribute to the plan while the student (beneficiary) is in college and making withdrawals?
SH: Absolutely! A recent study from the American Enterprise Institute found that fewer than 60% of new students graduate from college in less than 6 years!* Chances are, your student will be attending school for years, and if he or she decides to attend graduate school, that can increase even more. 529 plans provide the benefit of being able to contribute while students are still in college in order to take advantage of the benefits the plan offers while they are attending.

CH: What is a good source to learn more about 529 plans?
SH: A great place to start would be on the Wells Fargo website at www.wellsfargo.com/investing/education/529.

*Diplomas and Dropouts Which Colleges Actually Graduate Their Students (and Which Don't) by Frederick M. Hess, Mark Schneider, Kevin Carey, Andrew P. Kelly. AEI Online, June 03, 2009.

Remember: 529 plans involve risks, including the possible loss of principal. Consult a program description for additional information on risks.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment management and administrative services to certain 529 college savings plans. Shares in these programs are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS * NOT FDIC INSURED * NO BANK GUARANTEE * MAY LOSE VALUE