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Barbara

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Each year my hometown newspaper does a special feature at graduation time. Now, keep in mind that I'm from a town of about 1,200 people.  The paper publishes all the high school graduates' photos and includes their activities and honors, as well as their future plans.

As I read about the class of 2009, I had some interesting reactions: First (since I remember the birth of many of the graduates), am I really that old?

After that shock wore off, I started reading their future plans. To be honest, I got a little judgmental. So-and-so is going to a technical college to learn a trade. "Good for them," I thought, "saving money and getting the education you need." So-and-so is going to study elementary education at an expensive private school. "Well, that's not a smart choice," I thought, "probably over-borrowing considering their chosen field."

Obviously, there is much to consider when you're choosing your college.  You want to make sure that you'll feel comfortable on campus, that it's the right size, the right distance from home, etc. However, you also should make sure you're in the right price range for the degree you want to get.

Of course, there are some reasons you may want to attend a more expensive school that make perfect sense — like if your chosen program is one of the best around or if you were awarded a better scholarship package.

But if you're going to be borrowing $30,000 annually for four years to end up with a degree and a job that pays a maximum of $30,000, you might want to think again — and consider a lower-cost option.

How did cost fit into your college choice?

Caroline

So, you've finally graduated!

After four (or more!) years of hard work, you're all done. You should be elated, and you are. But you might also feel a little down. And that's totally normal.

My stepdaughter just graduated from college this past weekend. And she and I were talking a few weeks ago about how sad college graduation can be. On the one hand, you want to be done. You should be done and ready to move on. But it's hard to watch your friends go off in different directions. And it's just plain sad to leave to leave behind the college way of life.

And this is just the beginning. Be prepared: Your first year out of college  can be tough one. Nobody ever really tells you that. Now, I don't want to make it sound like life after college is just one big bummer. It's definitely not. But if you're struggling a little to adjust in the next year, know that you're not alone.

When fall rolls around and you don't go back to class for the first time in your life, it feels weird. If you've started your first job you might think, "Wow, I'm really going to do this every day for the rest of my life?!" Don't panic — this feeling should pass by December when you realize:

1. You're making money  now, not just spending it — and that's kinda fun;
2. You don't have to stay up half the night studying  for finals.

But when mid-winter hits, things start to feel strange again. In college you get a little life shake-up every semester. New classes, new faces. You get to start over in a way. Out of college, life just kind of rolls on. Again, don't worry. It's something you really will get used to, and eventually you'll appreciate things about the post-college world that seem strange now.

At some point during your first year out of college, you'll probably really miss the social atmosphere of college, with friends your age who share your interests living all around you. Once you've graduated, you'll have to work a little harder to make friends and find things to do.  You'll probably find some friends at work, but also try volunteering, joining a club, taking a class for fun or joining a gym.

For me, at least, once that first year passed, so did my nostalgia for all things college-related. I started getting used to the working world, and I really liked it. I had a new group of friends to have fun with, even if it wasn't the 24/7 togetherness of college. In short, I started enjoying my grown-up life quite a bit.

For those of you who graduated a year or more ago, what has your post-college experience been like? Any advice for the new grads?

Cheryl

Admittedly, my thoughts today were inspired by a gorgeous, teenage vampire who once said, "The wasting of finite resources is everyone's business."

Like Edward Cullen , I've come to realize that environmental conservation is not just for unbathed hippies who have hunger strike tendencies. Nor is it just a cause that I donate money towards or volunteer for each spring in support of Earth Day , which happens to be today. It's not about the grand gesture.

In fact, something as massive as saving our planet is clearly going to take a little bit of thought (and perhaps sacrifice) each and every day from me and everyone else.

Going green is truly a lifestyle change. But it doesn't have to be difficult! Here are just a few tiny ways I've changed to be more efficient, which I hope are minimizing my footprint:

• Carpool.  Soccer moms were on to something decades ago. Now, I'll find ways to bum rides with my friends (or drive them) to school, work, out for dinner, a big game or a concert. It saves gas, emits less, and we can split parking costs.
• Subscribe to less printed media. I read my fashion magazines and celebrity gossip news at the gym. I set up news feeds  and sign up for other electronic newsletters and clipping services on subjects that interest me (from college hoops to business news to sample sales).
• Set a timer while showering. Not entirely sure why, but I used to take super long showers. Now, I set a timer in the bathroom so I don't slip into an inadvertent daydream or sneak a little more shuteye.
• Print on both sides. Whenever I'm printing papers or presentations, this printer option can cut my paper usage in half. I tend not to double-space, if given the option. If I ever have old hand-outs that do have blank sides, I'll save it for note-taking, list-making, or printing drafts of my next masterpiece.
• Pack containers. Instead of Ziploc  bags, plastic wrap or foil to pack away leftovers, I opt for plastic, metal and glass ware and jars that can be washed and reused several times, if not forever.
• Reuse my goody bags. Over years of attending job fairs, professional conferences, and sample sales, I have enough canvas bags to carry all my groceries home. I even won a raffle at my local grocer for bringing my own bag. Who knew that the most valuable free S.W.A.G. (stuff we all get) was the bag itself!
• Pay paperless-ly. I used to think I needed a physical reminder to pay my bills. But now, with email statements, text message alerts, calendar reminders and all the other ways to stay organized, I got over it. And I can't remember the last time I wrote a check to pay a bill. The beauty of the internet is that I can pay my bills wherever I am — as long as I have a computer — whether I'm at home, at a coffee shop, or in an internet café on a remote Greek island. I personally could care less that postage costs are rising! 

So sure, these are small sacrifices I've made and they can be a tad more inconvenient or time-consuming at times. But the gratification and sense of worth one feels by doing good by far outweigh any negatives. How else could we ever explain the growing list of image-conscious Hollywood A-listers trading in their Roadsters and suped up trucks for teeny, egg-shaped hybrids?

But the best part about being eco-friendly is it also helps me conserve my own dough and not be wasteful with that precious resource. It's seriously a no-brainer.

So, what sort of ways are you going green? Any tips? Please share!

Barbara

We all strive to be above average in some of the things we do. Scholars are hoping to surpass the average grades, athletes are striving for higher than average statistics, you get the picture.

Yet we tend to settle on being average in other arenas. And, yes, sometimes it's just fine to run with the pack as just your average Joe or Jane.  But there is one area that you should never find comfort in being average — your finances.

Why not? I can tell you from personal experience that finding comfort in being average can come back to bite you!

When I graduated from college, a little over $2,000 on a college credit card followed me into the real world. Now for someone who had a scholarship to cover college expenses that seems a bit high, right?

Well, here's the deal. Looking into some credit card facts  I kept hearing over and over that the average college student graduates with over $2,000 in credit card debt. So I thought, "What the heck?" If my counterparts are dealing with the same situation, I can charge a few things, too.

However, when we get stuck thinking that the debt is inevitable, we become less conscious of how much we are spending on things we don't really need. Part of that $2,000 on my credit card was for an iPod, and be sure that I whipped out the plastic for a pair of shoes or two (or three...).

So in the end, thinking average college debt was OK helped me develop some pretty bad spending habits. And unfortunately, those habits stuck with me until I started working for a bank and talking about financial education!

I challenge you to be better than average when it comes to your finances — both during college and after. Think twice about charging that sweatshirt at the campus bookstore. Resist ordering a pizza for dinner when you could use your pre-paid meal plan at the campus cafeteria.

Don't fall into the average trap with your student loans, either (the average for student loan debt is almost $20,000 ). Consider a part-time job to supplement your living expenses rather than taking out more student loans. Pay your interest during school to avoid capitalization.

Each tiny step will put you leaps and bounds in front of the students who settle for "average."

Rachel

I caught a little heat from my boss after she read my last post on internships because I failed to mention that my job now actually sprung from an internship she granted me five (whoa!) years ago with Wells Fargo. Oops.

So here's my Wells Fargo internship story.

I had just graduated from college with a degree in Journalism and an emphasis in advertising. I needed a job. My neighbor worked for Wells Fargo and said they were hiring. So I applied for a banker job. Banker. A Journalism major? I know.

It was interesting at first. I might as well have superglued  my calculator to my right arm. After learning the ropes at my branch, I heard about the marketing department. Light bulb! I knew what I wanted to do.

Here are the steps I took:

• Requested an informational interview with the Marketing Manager.
• Received word that she was willing to meet with me! Celebrated by buying a new outfit to wear for the meeting.
• Arrived embarrassingly early (I think 45 minutes. This is not advisable. I really should have stopped for coffee to kill time — decaf, of course).
• Attempted to ask insightful, intelligent questions during the interview.
• Sent a thank-you note. 
• Wrote one of my college professors asking him for advice on what to do from there.
• Traveled to Europe with my BFF  and realized I wanted to move to be closer to her and my friends.
• Requested a job transfer.
• Arrived at new branch.
• Checked into new region's marketing set up. Found out they were looking for an INTERN!
• Hiring manager called her college professor asking for student recommendations (the SAME college professor I had asked for advice).
• Applied for the internship.
• Was given 24-hour notice for the interview.
• Was super nervous and choked a little during the interview but mentioned the informational meeting I'd had (bonus!).
• Miraculously an internship offer was extended.
• I accepted!

Five years later, I've graduated from intern to marketing consultant and I'm ever so thankful for every opportunity that's come my way. I really I think it comes down to knowing what you want, learning everything you can about it (and all things related to it) and demonstrating all the great things you have to offer to contribute to it. I'm still earning my stripes in my job, and all the basics continue to help me as I work toward whatever comes next.

Staci

College students are well-known for their frugal habits. Ramen noodles , anyone?

But in a recession, everyone can take a page from college students, who know how to have fun on the cheap.

I'm taking a page myself. After four months of making double mortgage payments (and no offer in sight on my old house), I've had to adjust my own spending habits. Things that seemed essential in better financial times — like my HBO  subscription — suddenly find themselves on the chopping block.

But giving up Flight of the Conchords  doesn't mean I have to give up entertainment altogether. I recently discovered Redbox  $1 DVD rentals at my local grocery store. A buck plus tax will get you the latest new release for an evening, provided you return it the next day. You can return the DVD to any Redbox location — it doesn't have to be the same one you rented from — and you can reserve DVDs online ahead of time, too. Plus, since you're already at the grocery store, you don't have to make an extra trip!

Sure, Redbox isn't the only service of its kind out there. My best friend Charlie swears by Netflix  because he doesn't even have to get out of his pajamas to watch movies — the DVDs are delivered to his door or he can watch them instantly on his laptop. The selection is greater, too. But that requires a longer-term commitment, not to mention more than just one dollar.

In this economy, are you changing your entertainment habits in any way?

By the way, I'm drawing the line at ramen noodles. I ate far too many of them in college!

Barbara

The Facebook  status updates are overwhelming me: "So-and-so has two more weeks until spring break," "So-and-so is dreaming of spring break," "So-and-so can't wait to spend spring break on the beach."

Sigh. I wish I had a spring break. But since I don't, let's talk about your spring break. Ah yes, the yearly tradition where many college students head to more fabulous locations to escape from their college obligations, if only for one week.

Are you taking a big spring break trip?  My guess is that in the current economy (groan, I hate talking about it) some of you may be scaling back your spring break plans.

Perhaps you are thinking about some less expensive alternatives?  If so, you may have considered:

• Staying local and exploring what your city has to offer 
• Driving instead of flying 
• Packing your own food  in a cooler rather than buying it along the way (remember snacks , too)
• Finding a campground  or staying with friends/family to save on lodging
• Going on a service trip instead 

Choosing a less expensive alternative can still be just the getaway you need to come back to school refreshed and ready to finish out the year strong. Plus, a lot of times, it's more about the trip with good friends than the actual destination.

You tell me: Is a big spring break trip still the plan for you? And if you are planning an inexpensive alternative, share your plans.

Rachel

Internships. A good one can be like the holy grail for college students.

It would be great if we could all be like Lauren Conrad and land one at Teen Vogue straight out of high school. But in reality, a lot of students wind up with internships that feel like they're one step up from a temp. Think Ryan from The Office. And before you wear the humbling title of intern, you first have to go through the painstaking process of seeking one out.

I remember touring Goodby, Silverstein & Partners (my version of Teen Vogue) in college. They're the advertising agency that created the Got Milk? advertising campaign. When asked how one could score an internship working for them, the recruiter replied with something to the effect of, "If you're smart enough to know about us, we'll give you an internship." Oh, and in the same breath she explained that their internships are unpaid. Right.

I still don't know how exactly an unpaid internship is manageable when you are working your way through college. And because I was never able to figure that out, it was goodbye, Goodby.

There's some truth to the old sayings:

"It's not what you know, it's who you know."
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
"Go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is."

At my college, an internship was required to graduate. I completely stressed out over finding an internship that was a) in my related field of study (a caveat to the requirement) and b) paid. Then, one night at the grocery store, I bumped into one of my college teachers, who also happened to be a city councilman. By the next week, I was a Public Information Office Intern.

You may be thinking, well la te da, Rachel. The thing is, once you start meeting people, your exposure to opportunities increase. Talk to your professors, your guidance counselor, your friends and their parents. Work the six degrees of separation to your advantage. Go to a local rotary or chamber of commerce meeting. Attend a networking luncheon in your related field, like the American Marketing Association. Research other groups in your area like a young professional's network.

Put yourself out there!

Before you know it, you'll be jumping up and down in the produce section of the grocery store thanking your lucky stars.

Barbara

Today marks a quarter-century since I came into the world: the big 2-5. Soon, I'll be sitting on a beach celebrating my birthday — but before deserting South Dakota for warmer temperatures, I have some evaluating to do.

At 25, I've done pretty well for myself. Really, I can't complain about where I am in life. I have a lovely home, a good job, and generally I am healthy (with a few upgrades). However, over the past year I've felt a little...restless.

In the words of one of my favorite crooners , I keep wondering: "Am I living it right?" 

For some reason this antsy feeling has taken over and I find myself questioning the choices I've made. Those anxious and uncertain feelings may be part of something bigger — a quarter-life crisis , perhaps?

Some of you may be right there with me. After graduating, it takes some time to adjust to adulthood. It's pretty normal to think, "Is this it? Seriously, this is life from 9-5 until retirement?" The repetition can feel tedious.

What's a quarter-lifer to do?

For me, the past year was an opportunity to shake up the monotony with new activities and involvement. I started volunteering  and took up a new hobby. It's amazing how adding something new into the mix can give you a fresh perspective. And I hope to continue to shake it up at 25 with some goals for my personal and professional life.

So for now, I'm happy being a somewhat complacent quarter-lifer.

And one final note for you: While I will not be buying a small sports car  like someone going through a mid-life crisis , I am planning to celebrate with one extravagance on my vacation — going parasailing  (pending optimal weather conditions and minimal acrophobia)! 

Now, I'm off to bask in the sun!

Staci

Last week Alysa commented on my "Realistic resolutions" post, discussing the return on investment on college educations:

Education is the number one priority of everyone. Everyone aims to get a degree because that will definitely helps everyone to earn extra money. As more Americans try to figure out ways to save extra money, many people are asking: Is private college worth it? SmartMoney did a study that shows people who pay tuition and fees at private colleges don't see a higher return on their investment, financially speaking. In fact, looking strictly at the initial cost of getting a degree and the salaries and extra money that graduates earn, Ivy Leaguers see a lower return on investments.

Our comment guidelines prevented us from including the link about the SmartMoney study , but I was intrigued about the concept offered here: quantifying the long-term value of college education. Do you get a better "bang for your buck" by choosing a private college over a public one, or vice versa?

I work in marketing, so often I'm considering the potential rate of return  when developing a campaign. But I also have to consider the intangibles — benefits that you can't necessarily see, or touch, or spend. Things like financial education components or brand awareness, which could have an impact in the future.

The same intangibles may come into play when you're making a college choice. Sure, you want to get a solid education, pay a fair value for it, and know what your earning power will be once you graduate.  But things like geography, religious affiliation, professor/student ratio, and social group involvement all can give you value over time.

Because — and I know you might be surprised to hear a bank employee say this — money isn't everything, right?

What sort of return on investment do you expect from your college education? And does public or private make a difference?