Student LoanDown readers, you’ve been back at school for a few months now. So far, what’s the most stressful thing about college?
Moms and dads, what are you hearing from your kids?
What’s the most stressful thing about college?
Any ideas to share on how you manage your college stress level? Tell us about them!
With the semester in full swing, students may be looking for a little something extra to add to their schedule. What better way than joining a club or organization on campus?
Not sold on the idea of becoming a joiner? Think about these big two benefits to joining club or organization on your campus:
Both of those gave me a leg up at internship time.When you're looking into options, remember not to overextend yourself. While joining organizations on campus have their benefits, they will take up a chunk of your time. Don't let them interfere with your college studies. After all, that's why you're there.
So while you may be very passionate about numerous groups try to choose your involvement wisely. To narrow down your options, ask yourself questions like:
How much time will it require?
What are the benefits to my personal and professional development?
Does it work with my class schedule?
If you don't find something that interests you, consider starting your own club!
What clubs and organizations are you interested in? If you've already found an extra curricular activity, tell us about it!
Remember your senior year of high school, when all anyone could ask you was "Where are you going to college?"
Well, now that you're in college, the questions keep on coming, but this time you get it from every new person you meet (which is a lot your freshman year): "What's your major?"
If you're undeclared, that gets to be a pretty short conversation. And eventually you do have to settle on a major. So how are making the major decision? Here are some ideas to get you started:
Entertain the ideas of those who see you from the outside looking in. They shouldn't make your decision, of course, but they may have some good insight for you. and list anything that catches your eye. It's a good way to gauge your interests, and remind yourself what's out there. Think not just about the major but about the career path you plan to follow. Consider what jobs in the field will pay and compare it to what you're paying (and borrowing) for school. Be sure that reality plays some part in your decision and that you're keeping the future in mind.Have you decided on a major? How did you make your decision?
Yeah, yeah, your bags, boxes and laundry baskets are packed. You've got all the goods for college : a couch, TV, dorm fridge, new towels, laptop. What else could you possibly need?
There are a few more things to bring to college with you, but don't worry, they won't take up any more room in your parents' already loaded-down minivan! This is a more non-traditional packing list, but vital stuff to have with you as you embark on your new adventure:
may not appreciate your taste in music or housekeeping habits. Try to respect that and come to an agreement. on class participation, you'll have to be ready to jump in the discussion. If you're struggling with a class, or need some academic advice, your advisor isn't going to come looking for you — you'll have to speak up. — it's up to you now. As you head off to school, know that it's your job to tackle it.For those of you already in college, anything else the freshmen need to pack?
Well, my summer internship at Wells Fargo has come to an end, and I'm headed back to college. With graduation just a year away, I am putting on my entrepreneur cap and creating a plan B just in case my bachelor's degree isn't enough to get me where I want to be given the current economic environment.
Last semester, I took a class in urban land economics. To my surprise, I developed an interest in Real Estate. Even though the housing market isn't doing so well right now, I am looking ahead to its future recovery and preparing for it by studying for my salesperson license. I mean, things have to get better eventually!
Meanwhile, my friend who just recently graduated is preparing for her CFA exam to be a Chartered Financial Analyst. Although this sounds strenuous on a summer afternoon, it really isn't so terrible when we motivate each other and meet at cafes for short study sessions.
Plus, summer is really the best time to try new things!
Another one of my friends is working hard creating a marketing plan for his company, 1-800-TAXI-USA , which he founded a few years back. Now he's getting partnership offers across the nation!Or, if you have an interest in medicine, you could consider getting certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). My friend got certified in just two weeks and is now taking full advantage of working at concerts. Getting to watch your favorite artists perform live (for free) while also being at the ready to save a life? Amazing!
These are all great ways to get ahead. I figured that even if I never end up using my Real Estate license, it's still practical knowledge to have — especially when I'm ready to buy a house!
In the meantime, let us know what sorts of things you envision when you put on your own entrepreneur cap. And remember: With some motivation and entrepreneurial spirit, you might just find a new and rewarding career!
Editor's note: Delenie has departed for her senior year at UC Berkeley. We thank her for the many conversations she has generated over the past three months, and we'll be stepping in to answer any questions for her going forward. Good luck, Delenie!
School's starting too soon! In just a matter of days, I will be going to class and living at my sorority house again.
Unlike most of my friends who are apartment hunting, I luckily have things figured out: As one of sixty girls living in the house, I receive my living expenses as a package, much like you do in the dorms.
The deal with sororities is that you have to pay a semester membership fee, along with rent and utility expenses that do not vary over the course of the semester, which makes life way easier. It might seem like a lot of money to shell out at once. But don't let that be the only reason that holds you back from deciding whether or not to rush and join one.
What are some of the perks of Greek life?
with Congresswoman Libby Hauser. (Yes, I know this is fictional!)Some of my friends think living in a sorority is a big expense when you can live in an apartment for much cheaper, but I think sometimes the experience outweighs the expense.
How do you feel about Greek life? Share your thoughts with us!
The start of college is just around the corner, and for you freshmen, it will be a time of new beginnings — you'll have a lot of new freedoms and new responsibilities. It can be exhilarating, but a lot to take in all at once.
I got a lot of good advice when I started college, and I thought I'd share some of it with you, to help you get off on the right foot:
, especially the early morning sessions! Don't give in to the temptation. Even though no one is around to make you answer that alarm clock, get in the habit of always attending class. It will make a big difference in your grades. In my opinion, it's even more important to attend class than to do the required reading. (Obviously you should do both, but I'm just saying!) Plus, you are paying for these classes — get your money's worth!
Study between classes. Once you start college, you'll probably be surprised at how much free time you have during the day. You're used to being in school seven hours a day, but in college you may only have three classes on any given day. That leaves lots of hours in between. Resist the temptation to head back to your dorm room and watch soaps between classes. If you don't have an on-campus job to occupy your time between classes, then stick around and head to the library. Review your notes, catch up on reading (you'll have a LOT of reading to do in college), or finish any assignments you might have. If you get in the habit of staying on campus and studying during the day, you'll find that you have a lot more free time in the evenings. and trying to figure out college life. You'll quickly start making more friends and finding things to do. It will be important to your happiness and your ultimate success in college to have a strong network of friends and a fun social life at school, as well as back home.For those of you who have survived your first year of college, do you have any tips to share with the incoming freshmen?
A few weeks ago, Caroline asked, "Will you work during college?"
I wanted to share some of my thoughts on this topic with you soon-to-be college freshmen. Since you're new to the college scene and may be looking for a job to fund your expenses, my suggestion is to find a low-key, on-campus job so that you still have time to explore, transition smoothly, and have fun!
During my freshman year, I worked for UC Berkeley's Call Center , where I fundraised for departments and programs on campus. I know it sounds very telemarketing-ish, but you'd be surprised! The alumni were generally easy to talk to and were even fun to network with. Over the course of the job, I was able to make some valuable contacts while getting commission. Plus, having this experience on your resume shows potential employers that you are a good communicator.
With school about to start, campus job postings should be plentiful. Good places to look for part-time jobs are your school's web site and career center. On my campus, library jobs seem to be in great demand. I hear they're flexible and come with plenty of perks, like downtime to get reading done. How amazing does that sound? Getting paid for doing your own homework!
If you have a passion for journalism, you can write for your school's newspaper (like Barbara did), or if you're into tutoring and mentoring, there are usually plenty of those jobs to choose from (Staci was a tutor in her college's writing center).
My final bit of advice: Don't become a workaholic and forget to live your college life! There's plenty of time to build your resume and work with amazing people. In the meantime, focus on surviving your first year of college.
Like many college students, I fall under the category of being an uncontrollable spender when it comes to wardrobe enhancements and fine dining. For me, even though it's important to look trendy and live an eventful life, it's just as important to spend wisely and save so my summer income can fund my full-time student living expenses during the school year.
That's why I'm making an effort to be more careful about tracking my own expenses. Recently, I took my friend's advice and opened an account at Mint.com that directly links to my checking account. This tool helps me create a realistic budget, while comparing some of my spending habits to the average American. Eye-opening!
With this budget in mind, I'm thinking about how to cut back on certain expenses and limiting my spending to the items I truly need. Here are some of my ideas:
instead of eating out three times a day instead of shopping prior to making any big purchases instead of going to the movies with friends instead of paying for a monthly gym membership instead of going to fancy stores like Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn So far, I've managed the accessorizing. 
Have any smart spending/saving tips that you'd like to share? Let us know!
I'm a college student, and I think it's never too early to start establishing your credit. In fact, it is key to build a good credit history in preparation for the future when you are looking to take out a loan to finance a car or a home. Employers may check your credit rating to get a sense of what kind of person they are hiring, so a good rating could project a positive image and take you a long way.
As for college students who are constantly looking for an apartment to rent, landlords may favor you because it shows that you will be more likely to pay your rent on time.
Recently, we received a comment from reader Jeff on guest blogger Chelsea's post about debit cards:
Our son is off to college this fall, and he's never had a credit card. Would you suggest that we help him apply for a credit card in his name and a small ($500) credit limit, or should we give him our credit card to use?
This was a particularly timely question, as I've just taken off my own credit card training wheels.
See, for the last six months, I've had a joint credit card account with my mom to build my credit history. To avoid overspending and to prove to my mom that I was an accountable adult, we agreed that I would only use the credit card on big-ticket items since I already had a debit card for everyday purchases.
Another ground rule we set was that I would pay off the balance in full each month. This reassured her and gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the billing cycle and payment process.
Plus, I've learned a lot about credit and financial literacy while interning here at Wells Fargo this summer. That, combined with my mom's guidance, gave me the confidence to take off my training wheels and fly solo. I did some research on which credit card was right for me, applied, and qualified on my own! Now I just need to make sure I continue applying what I've learned over the last six months to build my credit responsibly.
What do you think of this training wheels approach to getting your first credit card? Would it work for you?
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