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College Visits Are a Big Part of Your College List Research

Junior year is a big college prep year, and one of the most important things that juniors will do this fall is visit colleges and universities as part of their college list research.

On the surface a college visit is a pretty simple event. However, it's important to plan early in order to make the most of your time while you're there. After all, you're deciding whether or not to spend the next four years there - a couple of hours on campus can't always give you a full picture of a college or university. But if you plan college visits ahead of time and do your homework, you can have a successful experience that can better inform your decisions when creating your balanced college list.
Do Your Research Beforehand
College visits are a great part of your college list research, but that doesn't mean it should be your only research. Before visiting a college, make sure you already know that it's a good fit. Learn everything you can about courses, your intended major, professors, campus life, and more but visiting the university's website, social media, and other online resources. Use the college visit as an opportunity to get information that you can't find on the school's website.
Here's an example of some questions to ask while on a college tour.
Take Advantage of School Breaks

You don't want to miss too much school in order to visit colleges, so try to plan some of your college visits during school breaks and holidays. If you're still doing preliminary research, and already have a family trip planned during a school break, see if there are any colleges near your vacation spot that you might want to visit. Take advantage of being in a new place to explore some of the schools that are around there.

Sign Up For the Information Session

Don't skip the information session! Not only does the information session give you the opportunity to meet an admissions officer and learn more about the school and what they're looking for in applicants, but some colleges will look to see if you've visited when evaluating applications and registering for and attending the information session gives them a record of your visit. You also have the chance to ask some questions and gain a better understanding of whether or not it's a good fit for you.

Don't Visit More Than Two Colleges In One Day

Many families will plan college visit trips with the intention of visiting multiple colleges in a short time frame. While this can be an efficient use of time, you don't want to overload yourself with too much information at once. At IvyWise, we advise students to visit no more than two colleges in one day. Any more than that and they can start to blend together, making it hard to recall which school had what when going back over your notes and experiences.

College visits are fun and exciting, as they help students visualize themselves at certain institutions and help them get one step closer to building a great college list. Plan ahead, do your research, and, most importantly, have fun!

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Juniors: 4 Tips to Help You Plan College Visits This Fall

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College Visits Are a Big Part of Your College List Research Junior year is a big college prep year, and one of the most important things that juniors will do this fall is visit colleges and universities as part of their college list research. On the surface a college visit is a pretty simple event.

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Your gown is tucked away. Your cap is proudly Instagrammed. The last notes of "Pomp and Circumstance" have fizzled out.

You're looking to the future, and you're excited to enter this thing everyone condescendingly calls the "real world." Welcome.

Oh, just one little thing: You'll be slapped with a monthly reminder of the burden of your college education for the next 10 to 20 years.

OK, good luck, byeeeee!

Here are some steps you can take now to help pay down your student loan debt faster than your sun-soaked peers.

1. Figure Out How Much Debt You Have

Before you can pay off your student loan debt, you have to know how much you owe and to whom. It's such a basic step, a lot of people overlook it.

But do you want to blindly receive a bill every month, send a check and wait for the next one?

It may seem overwhelming, but the information is simple to retrieve.
Use these tools to see how much you owe and who owns your debt, so you can make plans fully armed with information:
Credit Sesame's Free Credit Report Card

Credit Sesame will let you see how much money you owe and to whom (even if you've defaulted on loans). It'll show your balance on both private and federal loans (and other debt) and offer tips to help reduce your debt and raise your credit score.

Office of Federal Student Aid

Which grants and loans you received.

How much you still owe on each.

How much interest you owe on each.
Refinancing will generally mean replacing your laundry list of loans with one loan that brings your student debt under a single umbrella.
Status of each loan (in repayment, forbearance, default, etc.).

Your repayment plan for each loan.

Loan servicer (to whom you make payments).

2. Simplify Your Loan Payments
Enter your info at Credible to find out what your new interest rate could be. The first thing you should know is budgeting doesn't have to be complicated.
One of the simplest ways to repay your loans quickly is to refinance.
Instead of sacrificing the lifestyle you want when student loans eat away your paycheck, try to earn extra money dedicated to paying off debt.
This federal loan lets you combine multiple loans into one new one and takes an average weighted interest rate. You'll only have to make one payment each month, and you have more time to pay off your balance.

If you have private loans - or you're still struggling with payments on your federal loans - try getting a lower interest rate with a company like Credible.

Refinancing could simplify your life with one monthly payment, instead of several. It may also lower your monthly payment, improve your interest rate and/or give you more time to pay.

Drawback to this method? A longer repayment period means your balance will spend more time accruing interest. While it'll make life easier each month, it could cost you more money over the next 10 or 20 years.

3. Create Your Monthly Budget

You don't have to be an Excel genius or a numbers wiz. You just have to pay attention to how much money is coming in and how much is going out.

Don't forget to include your student loan payment in your monthly budget! If it's an afterthought, it'll be a burden every month.

4. Earn Extra Money

Think it's easier said than done? We're talking about stuff so simple, you can do it around two jobs, a family and a social life - no excuses.

These 12 apps help you earn extra money for doing almost nothing. Or try something a little more lucrative, like cashing in your aluminum cans for $150 a month.

If you have more time, try launching a flexible side hustle, like reselling clothes and other thrift store items, or driving with Uber and .

These gigs let you earn more money when you've got the time and energy to hustle - and take a break when you're worn down by the new job you hopefully landed straight out of college.

5. Know Your Options

In a perfect world, you'd understand the ins and outs of student loans signing the contract. But we understand that's not realistic for most people.
Private loans don't all come with a grace period, so make sure you understand your repayment terms.
Instead, do your research now - before your loan payments become a looming nightmare of debt that follows you around for the rest of your life.

If that means a monthly payment you can't afford, consider signing up for an income-driven repayment plan . They limit your monthly payments to a certain percentage of your income and extend the period you have to pay.

For private loans, you may be able to negotiate deferment, but the option isn't built in the way it is with federal loans. Or you can look into refinancing for better repayment terms.

Even if you're on top of your loans, learn your options now. You don't know how your finances will change in the future, so it's better to understand your options before you're in a panic.
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a senior writer/newsletter editor at The Penny Hoarder. She's written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer's Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it's allowed (and sometimes where it's not).
6. Start Making Payments

You graduated. Aren't you supposed to wait six months to start paying back your loans?

Yes, many student loans come with a grace period - you're not penalized for skipping payments in those months. But you can start paying anytime (even while you're in school).

"You can start paying off student loans right away, and you should pay what you can as soon as you can," Joseph DePaulo, CEO and co-founder of College Ave Student Loans , explained to us a few months back . "Students who put money toward their loans during school save money in the long run."

But, Walker added, "every private loan accrues interest during the in-school period."

The earlier you make payments, the less time your loans will have to accrue interest, so get crackin'.

Conquer Student Loan Debt

That wasn't so bad, right? Now tell your friends - you don't want them still drowning in debt at 35 (albeit in the sunshine beside a pool) while you're ready to take on the world.

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Oh, the Loans You'll Pay: Here's How to Get Started Right After Graduation

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Your gown is tucked away. Your cap is proudly Instagrammed. The last notes of "Pomp and Circumstance" have fizzled out. You're looking to the future, and you're excited to enter this thing everyone condescendingly calls the "real world." Welcome.

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With the first semester wrapped up, perhaps you've discovered that your college students are running amuck. Maybe deficiency notices have arrived in the mail or academic suspension is on the horizon. Or maybe your student, like other college freshmen, are just not performing at the level that won them their college placement.

What happened to all that drive and determination they left home with? Did they stumble this fall, making one (or more) of these ten college freshmen academic mistakes?

If your college students are floundering, they have plenty of company. About one-quarter of the nation's college students end up on academic probation. And six years later, some 42% will still lack a degree. Inevitably, it seems, many students have to learn the hard way, what not to do now that they've made it to college. Having an honest conversation around the common pitfalls, just might help them turn things around in the second semester.

Mistakes of College Freshmen

Pitfall #1 Assume college is like high school.

It isn't. Every high school teacher tells them so. Parents, too. And yet many first year students are convinced they can glide through college as they did high school. College disproves the old adage: when they do what they always did, they will not get what they always got. They need to up their game. The rules are different in college. Everything counts. Success is in the details-and in steady commitment.

Pitfall #2 Sit back and absorb the knowledge.

Like a ripe tomato smacking a wall, the professors' critical points will slide and dribble right out of consciousness when students hit the door. Forget about it on a test. And those assignment details? Gone. Maybe it's cool not to pick up a pen in class. But writing key points-and anything the prof puts on the board-helps students remember, even if they don't look at them again (although, of course, they should). Taking notes is part of actively participating in the course.

Pitfall #3 Deep Six the Syllabus.

The syllabus is the students' best friend. That document contains the rules that govern the course. Students should consult it when considering the impact of another absence or a late paper. It also outlines the assignments for the semester, assignments that the professor may or may not mention in class. Reminding students of every assignment is part of the handholding that high school teachers predicted will not happen in college. Once students have the syllabus, profs expect them to consult it regularly. It also eliminates the "I didn't know" excuse-or should.

Pitfall #4 Don't sweat the small stuff - like reading and other homework.

There are fewer grades in most college courses compared to high school, so everything counts for more. The profs may not spoon-feed students reading material in class; rather, they may assume the students have basics from the assigned texts and build from there. Bottom line: they expect students to arrive in class prepared by the assigned work.

Pitfall #5 Expect extra credit to fix their extra zeroes.

Few college professors give extra credit. They don't need the extra work it entails, and they'd rather have students focus on the regular work. When extra credit is offered, it usually doesn't amount to much. When it's time to assign final grades, they're interested in what students did with the core work. So college freshmen should keep their eyes on the assigned work and make sure it's extra good instead.

Pitfall #6 Party hearty on Thursdays-yes, classes are held on Fridays.

In many schools, the "weekend" starts on Thursday night. It takes discipline to decline the Thursday party invitations or to leave the scene early enough to finish the work for Friday classes. Professors notice the increase in absences on Fridays, and repeated Friday absences tell them something about students' commitment. Some profs fight the trend with Friday pop quizzes.

Pitfall #7 Ask their prof, "Did we do anything in class?"

When students do miss class, it's important that they find out what they missed and if there's anything they can make up. They should check with professors about any changes in the assignment schedule, but they should not irritate their profs by asking "Did we do anything in class." Something is always done in class, and it is always important (ask any professor). Nor should they expect the prof to "re-teach" the material to them in a private session. Instead, they should get notes-from the professor, if that has been offered, or from a trusted classmate. Students are responsible for all the material, whether they attended a class session or not.

Pitfall #8 Cut class because they're embarrassed they've missed so many classes.

Sometimes college freshmen pile up so many absences, they're afraid to come back to class. In effect, they fail themselves. The professor will let them know if they've missed too much to pass. Students need to suck it up and show up. They should also sit down with their professors to discuss the problem. And that brings us to our next pitfall:

Pitfall #9 Avoid talking to profs in hopes they won't notice slacking.

Unless it's a large lecture hall, most profs do notice slacking-if not, a review of the grades will show it. It's best that students make an appointment to sit down with the professor and discuss the situation. If there's a good reason for the absences-or even a bad one-offer it. Sometimes profs will work with a student, even when it's a case of first year-itis. Honesty and sincerity make the best impression-and sincerity can be shown by coming to class and doing the work even before the appointment comes up.

Pitfall #10 Save time by ditching tutoring sessions.

Work can really pile up in college, even more so when students take unscheduled "vacations" from the daily grind. It can be tempting to shave off some time by bypassing tutoring appointments, but they can be key to pushing average work into above average or even excellent work and overcoming a string of missteps. Find another place to shave off time-perhaps those Thursday night parties?

Your college freshmen have arrived where they are because their college believe they can handle the work. But that doesn't mean they can handle it without a stretch or with a high school mentality. Help them find the root of their academic problems, and it will set them up for second semester success.
Related: College Care Package Ideas For Every Kind of Student
Gail Radley is a journalist, author and English lecturer at Stetson University. She has written 22 traditionally published books for children and young adults, both fiction and nonfiction. Her novel The Golden Days (Macmillan hardcover and Puffin paperback) won an award from the Society of School Librarians International and was filmed as The First of May, featuring Julie Harris, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Joe DiMaggio. Odd Man Out (Four Winds Press) was a Junior Library Guild selection and a Young Hoosier Award nominee, while CF in His Corner (Macmillan) was named a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies and placed on the Sequoyah Children's Book Award Master List.

References
"Causes of Failure in College." Center for Academic Success. The University of Alabama. Web.

Turner, Patrick and Elizabeth Thompson. "College Retention Initiatives: Meeting the Needs of Millennial Freshman Students." College Student Journal. Spring 2014. 48:1. 94-104.

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10 Academic Mistakes of College Freshmen (and How to Do Better!)

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With the first semester wrapped up, perhaps you've discovered that your college students are running amuck. Maybe deficiency notices have arrived in the mail or academic suspension is on the horizon. Or maybe your student, like other college freshmen, are just not performing at the level that won them their college placement.

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As a high school or early college student, it's tough to figure out what you're going to do with the rest of your life.

Not only is it annoying - because everyone keeps asking - it's important. College is a big investment, so you don't want to end up with loans for a degree you never use.

Knowing what career you want to pursue can help you determine whether you need to go to college - and if you do, where you should go and what you should study .

How to Figure Out What You Want to Be When You Grow Up

If you're stumped, you're not alone: 24% of high school seniors have "no idea" what career they want to pursue, according to a recent CareerBuilder study .

Of those who do know, 23% said they made their choice based on "something they saw in TV or in a movie."
Choosing a career because it looked cool in a movie? Definitely not something we'd advise.
Instead, check out a site called Find Your Calling , released by CareerBuilder. It's a unique resource that combines a personality test with up-to-date career information and real-time labor market data.

We haven't seen anything like it before, so we think all young Penny Hoarders (and their parents) should know about it.

After answering a simple six-question personality test, the platform populates with relevant jobs, which you further narrow by state and career category.

What makes the site particularly useful is the fact that each job is accompanied by hard data: average salary, projected growth, required education and daily tasks.

We love that Find Your Calling presents all of this information in one clean and appealing interface. Though we're bummed it wasn't around when we were in high school, we hope it helps some of you (or your kids!) make smart choices about your and career.
Your Turn: Do you know what career you want to pursue? Do you think this site will help? Susan Shain is a freelance writer and digital nomad. She covers travel, food and personal finance (basically, how to save money so you can travel more and eat more). Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

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This New Site Will Help You Find Your Calling Before You Graduate High School

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As a high school or early college student, it's tough to figure out what you're going to do with the rest of your life. Not only is it annoying - because everyone keeps asking - it's important. College is a big investment, so you don't want to end up with loans for a degree you never use.

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When you're a senior in college, the freedom that awaits you after graduation day is thrilling.

On the other hand, the reality of finding a "real job" is terrifying .

After all, how can you stand out on a resume? If you've been dedicating yourself to your studies, your work experience is probably limited.

Good news: employers look at much more than just work experience when perusing resumes. They know there are plenty of reasons to hire recent college graduates, and it's not just because of their enthusiasm and willingness to mold to a company's way of doing things.

As a result, one of the best ways to stand out on a resume is by listing your extracurricular activities.

Each extracurricular makes a statement about what you value and can provide insight into who you will be as an employee.

Before we get into which clubs look great on your resume, here are a few tips about how to choose the ones that are right for you.

Know What Characteristics Employers Are Looking For

The National Association of Colleges and Employers' surveys show that employers look for candidates with leadership experience and the ability to work as part of a team.

After these two qualities, the most important characteristics are problem-solving skills, written and verbal communication skills and work ethic.

Next were the applicants' initiative, analytical skills, adaptability and technical skills.

Consider the Soft Skills

Student Government Association doesn't just show employers that you understand how government works. Your participation in this club also tells them a lot about the soft skills you've acquired.

Hard skills are the quantifiable things you learn to do in a club or job, such as creating a spreadsheet or analyzing data. Soft skills are the less tangible traits you learn in these positions, such as organization and teamwork.

In short, participating in clubs can help you develop the soft skills that employers specifically desire.

Quality, Not Quantity

Think deep, not wide. Monster.com iterates that your resume looks more impressive if you dedicate yourself fully to two or three clubs than if you cram your schedule with eight clubs.

Enroll in clubs early on, preferably freshman year. Stick with them to show that you are passionate about certain matters and that you have invested the time and energy to hone the corresponding soft skills. If you work your way up in those clubs, all the better!

For example, I joined Inter-Religious Council my sophomore year. I started out as a class representative of the club, became secretary my junior year and served as president senior year.

Here are eight extracurriculars that stand out on resumes, both for their prestige and for the soft skills that make you valuable as an employee.

Writing for your school paper shows you can work as part of a team, which includes taking direction from your editors. (If you the editor, that will really stand out on an application!)

By working for the paper, you can build a writing portfolio to demonstrate to potential employers that you're a strong writer who possesses those written communication skills they seek. If employers believe you can craft well-written reports and emails, they'll be excited to have you on their team.

2. Greek Life Leadership

Greek Life is a great place to seize a leadership opportunity. Holding a position shows that your peers entrusted you with a responsibility. If your Greek life brothers or sisters elected you to lead them, your employer may be more likely to trust you to lead, manage and gain respect from coworkers.

Leadership in Greek organizations can help you acquire a lot of the skills employers are looking for. Fraternity and sorority members often spend their time volunteering, organizing events and managing groups of their peers. Employers consider these experiences impressive!

Gallup has also conducted research revealing that graduates involved in Greek Life are often more intellectually and emotionally invested in the workplace.

It doesn't hurt to have a national organization on your resume, either.

From my sorority experience, I must say that if you can lead a group of hundreds of college-aged girls, you can do just about anything!

3. Student Government Association

Student Government Association is the ultimate leadership club. If you join, you automatically become a leader on campus who helps makes decisions that affect others. Members care about what happens on campus and in the lives of their peers.

Just joining looks great on a resume, but if you hold an executive position, you'll stand out as someone who goes above and beyond to make a positive difference in their environment.

Participating in band, choir or theater puts you on stage and at the center of attention frequently. Involvement in these activities provides evidence that you can handle pressure and remain poised when all eyes are on you. They also require teamwork.

Spending time in college arts programs shows intense dedication, too. Most actors, singers and musicians adhere to strict rehearsal schedules and commit hours upon hours of their own time to practicing their crafts. Band members spend days standing in the hot sun. Actors usually learn other skills in the theater, such as lighting or set design.

Engaging in these groups is no small feat, and employers love candidates who will dedicate themselves fully to their work and their team.

5. A Club Related to Your Major

If you plan to extend your major into a career, prove your passion by joining a club related to your field of study. If you're an English major, write for the campus literary magazine. If you're a religious studies student, join a religious organization.

If you qualify for your major's honors society, become active in this organization and seek out leadership roles. You will gain area expertise and experience before you even graduate.

Volunteering always stands out on a resume! If your university has elite service programs such as the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner or Circle K International, join one of these clubs.

If you don't have this option, your school probably has plenty of volunteering opportunities, especially on the weekends. Sign up to clean a river, tutor local children or volunteer at a nearby animal shelter.

Not only does volunteer work show you take initiative, it also can give you valuable experience similar to what a club related to your major might provide. For example, if you're interested in going into the medical field, give your time at a local hospital.

When employers discover that you spent an extended period of time in a different country, they see that you're not only open-minded, but also willing to take risks and step outside your comfort zone.

If you learn a second language while studying abroad, you'll really stand out. Being bilingual is always valuable in the business world , especially in Mandarin Chinese, German, Portuguese and Japanese.

Maybe you want to join one of the clubs listed above, but your university hasn't established it yet. Or maybe there's a completely different extracurricular you think would benefit your campus.

Then start the club yourself!

All it takes is a little bit of paperwork and a few members, and you can start your own club.

Establishing a campus group shows that you take initiative and are a problem solver. You'll go above and beyond in order to excel at your new job.

Do any of the extracurriculars on this list look appealing? Joining a club won't only make your college experience more fun and interesting - doing so can have a positive impact for years to come.
Laura Grace Tarpley is a nomad and freelance writer who runs the blog Let's Go Tarpley!, where she shares tips about budget travel and moving abroad. Follow her on Twitter @lgtarpley.

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Employers Want to See These 8 College Activities on Your Resume

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When you're a senior in college, the freedom that awaits you after graduation day is thrilling. On the other hand, the reality of finding a "real job" is terrifying . After all, how can you stand out on a resume? If you've been dedicating yourself to your studies, your work experience is probably limited.

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Many students think that they should start looking at college scholarships once they actually start applying to college-so, sometime early on in their senior year. Although it's true that many big-name scholarships require applicants to be high school seniors, there are some great awards out there for younger students as well.

So why not get a head start in applying for scholarship awards? You could win money for college, sure, but you'll also get experience in the scholarship application process before submitting even more applications your senior year.

I've compiled a list of scholarships for high school juniors. This list will be a great place to start, but you might also want to search for more targeted awards (e.g., by geographic area). You can browse the scholarships below based on whether they're competitions or merit-based scholarships. Read to the end for tips and strategies on getting the most scholarship money possible!
Are you ready for a little (friendly) competition? It's a win-win! You can get application practice, scholarship funding, or both!
Essay- and Project-Based Scholarships for Juniors

If you have a competitive side, these scholarship programs might be just the thing to get you motivated! Whether you're a debate pro or a science nerd, you're sure to find a competition right up your alley.

To compete for this scholarship, applicants write and record an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. The theme for 2017-2018 is "American History: Our Hope for the Future." The first place winner walks away with a $30,000 scholarship, but runners-up also receive awards; a total of $2.1 million in scholarship funding is given out annually. Winners also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC!

This scholarship is open to students in grades 9-12.

The submission deadline is October 31, 2017.

Similar to the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, students compete for this scholarship by writing and performing a three- to five-minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution. First place takes home $18,000, second place $16,000, and third place $14,000. You can learn more about this year's assigned topics here.

This scholarship is open to high school students under 20 years of age.

Deadlines vary by state, so check with your local American Legion Department. Get more information for contests in your statehere.

Are you an Ayn Rand fan? Or have you read The Fountainhead for school? Then you've already done the lion's share of the work for this scholarship competition! Students compete for this award by writing an essay on one of three topics related to The Fountainhead (you can check out this year's topics here). The first-place winner is awarded a grand prize of $10,000, although runners-up also receive prizes. In total, this program gives out $43,250 annually. (This is a cash prize, so you'll receive the money personally.)

This scholarship is open to students in grades 11-12.

The submission deadline is May 15, 2018.

If you're into research projects, you'll love this scholarship program. Students compete by completing an individual or team project in the STEM fields. The payout is pretty significant, with national awards ranging from $25,000-100,000 and regional awards ranging from $1,000-3,000.

This scholarship is open to US high school students.

The submission deadline is September 19, 2017.

This is a smaller scholarship, but it's also pretty easy to compete-all you have to do is write a 250-word personal statement. You can even reuse an essay you wrote for class, another scholarship, or a college application! The applicant who submits the highest-quality essay wins a $1,000 scholarship.

This scholarship is open to US students in grades 9-12.

The submission deadline for the fall 2017 cycle is December 31, 2017.

Do you follow US politics? Then this competition may be the one for you. Students compete by writing an essay that demonstrates their understanding of JFK's description of political courage. You can get more detailed information on this year's essay topic here. You can even read past winning essays to get an idea of what is expected of applicants. Award amounts range from $500 all the way up to $10,000.

This scholarship is open to US students in grades 9-12.

The submission deadline for the 2018 contest will most likely be in January 2018.

Do you fancy yourself a bit of a bookworm?
Merit-Based Scholarships for Juniors

These scholarships are still competitions in that you and a bunch of other applicants are vying for a limited amount of funds. But instead of being evaluated on your oratorical or scientific acumen, you'll be evaluated on personal qualities. Some of these scholarships heavily value scholarship, whereas others value leadership or community service (or even a combination of both!).

This is a bit of a specialty scholarship program-it's meant for students who are serving in student government and plan on taking government courses in college. Applicants are judged on their leadership abilities, academics, clear speech, logical thought, community involvement, and extracurriculars. A total of 104 award winners receive $10,000 each as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to a conference in Washington, DC.

This scholarship is open to students in grades 11-12.

Submission deadlines vary by state, but are usually in the fall.

To be a competitive applicant for this scholarship, you must demonstrate academic excellence in addition to a dedication to serving your community. The minimum GPA eligibility requirement is 3.75/4.00. If you'd like to be considered for this award, you must be nominated by an educator at your school, and only one nomination per school is allowed. Winners receive a $1,000 prize. You can request an application here.

This scholarship is open to students in grades 4-11.

The submission deadline is January 8, 2018.

If you're a junior in high school, chances are you've already taken the PSAT. But did you know that by just taking that test, you've already started the process of entering yourself into this scholarship competition? Students compete for this award by striving to get a top PSAT score (depending on your state, you'll need a Selection Index score of 209 or higher to qualify). You must then submit an application with other standard scholarship information. The competition gives out $2,500 awards to about 7,500 students every year (with corporate and institutional sponsors giving out additional awards).
Like most things in life, you'll be most successful with your scholarship applications if you employ some solid long-term strategies.
3 Tips for Getting the Most Scholarship Money Possible

If you're starting the scholarship application process in 11th grade, you've got a long road ahead of you. This is a good thing! Scholarship programs have varying requirements, deadlines, and expectations, so the earlier you get started, the better chance you'll have of getting money!

Below are our top tips to help you win the most scholarship money you can as a junior.

#1: Do Your Own Research

It's great to get started with these larger national scholarships, but as you might imagine, the competition gets pretty fierce when you're dealing with these noteworthy scholarship programs. Even if you're a very strong applicant for a particular award, chances are you could be a very strong applicant for a particular scholarship and still not win award money if the program is particularly competitive.

The more independent research you do into smaller, tailored scholarship programs, the better your chances of getting funding for school will be. That isn't to say you shouldn't apply to the big scholarships-you definitely should!-but you should also have some smaller "safety" awards. The more niche a scholarship program is, the better chances you'll have of winning an award (assuming you're a qualified applicant, that is).

So do your own research on scholarships programs that operate in your area or are offered to students with your particular interests and passions. The easiest way is to Google scholarships in your area. If you have a particular talent, skill, interest, or identity, search for scholarships that are offered to students based on those criteria.

You can also talk with your guidance counselor who should have more information about local scholarships and how to apply for them.

#2: Apply Broadly

This is another strategy designed to increase your odds of coming out of the process with some extra college money in your pocket. Basically, apply to as many scholarships as possible.

Many scholarship applications ask similar questions and require similar information, so if you apply to one program, you might as well apply to several. It's free to apply for most scholarships, so all it takes from you is a few hours of your time.

For example, the Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship listed above will let you use a personal statement from class or even another application, meaning you can kill two birds with one stone!

#3: Make Note of Deadlines

Many scholarships are due before college applications. As such, it's better to start your scholarship search earlier rather than later so you don't miss out on any great opportunities.

This is especially true for scholarships geared toward high school seniors. If you're looking into scholarships now, this is the perfect time to get a jump on some of the bigger scholarships for 12th graders.

You can keep track of application deadlines by keeping a spreadsheet that you update regularly. This is helpful if applications require you to ask for letters of recommendation. In that case, be sure to give your teachers and mentors plenty of advance notice to write you a letter.

What's Next?

If you want to get a head start on scoping out scholarships, check out our comprehensive guides to winning some of the most competitive national scholarships available. Learn more about the Coca-Cola Scholarship, the Gates Millennium Scholarship, the Walmart Scholarships, and the McDonald's Scholarships.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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The Best Scholarships for Juniors in High School

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Many students think that they should start looking at college scholarships once they actually start applying to college-so, sometime early on in their senior year. Although it's true that many big-name scholarships require applicants to be high school seniors, there are some great awards out there for younger students as well.

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It doesn't even need to be said - college is expensive. Students are graduating with a record amount of student loan debt, and are wondering how the heck they can keep costs down while they're in college.

I wanted to share the "inexpensive" path I took to college for any parents or younger readers out there who are planning ahead. I've seen several high school students with amazing foresight thinking about how they'll afford college, which is great! College can change your life, and you don't want to ruin it by being worried about the mounting costs.

From the get-go, I was concerned with how much debt I'd graduate with, and wanted to minimize it as much as possible. I managed to come out with $18,000: I went to community college for a year, had help from my parents for only one year, and went to a local private college for three years.

Here's what students can do, starting in high school all the way up to graduation, to lessen how much they'll pay for college.

Take AP Classes or Classes That Give College Credit

I was always in higher level classes during school, so taking AP classes was a given for me. It wasn't until later I realized this was also a great financial move as I wouldn't have to take as many 100 level courses in college.

Besides AP classes, there were a few other electives I took in high school that qualified for college credit if you paid an extra fee. I don't recall exactly how much it was, but it was definitely cheaper than what you would have paid at a community college.

Of course, you generally need a score of 3 or above on AP tests, so you can't exactly slack off, or all your hard work will go to waste as far as obtaining college credit goes.

The other good thing about AP classes is that they typically prepare you well for actual college courses, so you'll be used to the workload by the time you get there!

Consider Community College

Community college gets a bad rep for being "13th grade." A lot of students don't take it seriously, and it's generally seen as the furthest thing from prestigious.

I say do what you want - part of frugal living is embracing unpopular choices that ultimately improve your financial situation.

I got accepted into every college I applied to, yet I chose to do a year at community college. There were a few reasons for it, cost being the biggest factor.

I couldn't see spending $30,000 a semester on basic courses when I could take the same ones for a fraction of the price elsewhere. There's no more prestige in taking Algebra 101 at a top university than at a community college.

In doing this, I was also able to continue working part-time at the first job I had. I was spending less on college and earning enough to cover any expenses I had. It was a win-win situation.

Best of all, I continued living with my parents and had a rather short commute. I know it's not always the best option for everyone (especially if you don't have a great relationship with your parents), but it's one of the best ways to save during college.

At the very least, consider a city or state university as they tend to be more affordable than private schools.

Transfer Schools Carefully

One important tip: if you're planning on transferring out after a year or two, be sure you're taking courses that will transfer to the schools you want to apply to!

Ask counselors at your community college - they might have a list of what courses transfer over, or at the very least, they can find out for you. If worse comes to worse, call up the admissions office at the other schools and ask.

If you're already on the path of trying to do college the inexpensive way, consider transferring to local colleges with programs in your major. Of course, if your major is more specialized, then it may be worth the money to attend a college that offers an excellent program. Just remember, a degree doesn't guarantee you a job.

Go through the process as if you were applying to colleges straight out of high school. Inquire about financial aid, and ask about scholarships. Specify that you're a transfer student, though, as this could change which scholarships you're eligible for.

I was pretty upset when I found out my friends had received better scholarships than I had (with similar grades) simply because they weren't transfer students. Apparently, my college didn't have a great transfer program. I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere, so do your research when comparing prices and aid.

Take as Many Classes as Possible a Semester

This isn't going to be possible for everyone. I wouldn't recommend taking so many classes you completely burn out, but if you're a natural learner and don't mind taking 18+ credits (around 6 classes) a semester, then think about accelerating your graduation timeline.

I followed this plan and was able to graduate a semester early. I would have graduated earlier had it not been for the fact I had no idea I could take more than 12 credits a semester. My advisor didn't exactly make that clear when I met with him.

Full transparency here - I stopped working after my first year in college to handle the course load I had, though I've seen others go through college working full-time. It's all about knowing your limits!

Taking more classes during the semester meant paying an extra fee (and getting approval from the Dean), but it paled in comparison to paying a full semester's worth of tuition.

In addition to that, I also took one class during the winter and summer intersessions. This was paid for separately, but again, I thought it was worth it, especially as tuition continued to rise every year.

If you're worried about scheduling and flexibility, look into online classes. I took a few throughout my years and it provided a nice break from being on campus. Even with piling on classes, I was still able to have one day off a week.

Other Ways I Saved on College

I rented textbooks whenever I could, and I bought them used when they weren't available to rent. I hate to say it, but in my mind, our school bookstore was pretty much evil. 🙂

Merchandise was way overpriced, and custom books for classes were insanely expensive. Try and find a friend to split the cost with, or find someone to buy it from. My school rarely bought back books and I would have happily sold them for anything!

Consider if going away to college is worth the price. It's a different experience to be sure, and I'd never tell anyone not to do it, but going local saved me a lot of money as I only had commuting costs to worry about. My college was five minutes down the road, and I still made great friends. It was all possible because I decided I didn't have to go to the best college out there, or even the best college I got accepted to; I just had to go to the best college for me.

A plane ticket costs a lot more than a bus or train ticket back home. The closer you are, the more you'll save.

Lastly, attend school events for free stuff. Our school always had free food at events, and if you were lucky, you got some free swag out of it, too.

College doesn't have to cost you a fortune as long as you plan it out mindfully!
Additional resource: Do you have student loan debt you're paying off and would like to save money paying them off? You can consolidate or refinance your loans for as low as 2.13% APR (with Auto Pay) with SoFi. Check out the rates at Sofi to see if you qualify. How did you save on college costs? Did you take AP classes, go to a state university, community college, or local college? What would you do differently if you could go back?
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How to Make College as Inexpensive as Possible

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It doesn't even need to be said - college is expensive. Students are graduating with a record amount of student loan debt , and are wondering how the heck they can keep costs down while they're in college. I wanted to share the "inexpensive" path I took to college for any parents or younger readers out there who are planning ahead.

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've lived in the same dorm structure every year in college, and I'm highkey debating switching to off-campus housing last year. Living in the dorms has its advantages, but more and more of my friends are moving off campus and I'm always so jealous of their cute (and much larger spaces) when I visit!

It's getting to be the time of year when students are thinking about where they're going to live next year and who their roommate is going to be, so I'd thought I'd share my pros and cons list of living in the dorms and of getting an apartment to help some of y'all out!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Devine Color for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you haven't noticed, I have been obsessed with home decor this semester. I just love adding new touches to my dorm to make it seem more like a home, and not just a barren jail cell.

I've been adding a bunch of new pieces to my dorm since I moved in at the beginning of August, but today I'm sharing my latest additions. Plus, how to make them yourself thanks to Devine Color + Target!

Well we're two weeks into the semester now. So far so good because I haven't had any mental breakdowns yet. Although, I'm sensing I may have one soon if I don't get my dorm cleaned sometime soon.

On to the point of this post though.

I like to get the feel for my semester before setting goals for myself. I find this works best for me because then I know I'm not setting any unrealistic goals. Without further adieu, here are my goals for this fall semester:

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Here you will find posts detailing my college experience and advice I would give other college students. Topics covered include how to find a college that is good for you, choosing a major that fits you, what to wear to classes, and dealing with the stress and overwhelm that comes with college courses.

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If applying to college is a nerve-wracking experience, then I'm not sure how to explain the fear and dread involved in for it once you get in.

Before you know it, your excitement about getting into college can be totally trumped by anxiety about costs.

Luckily, there are thousands of scholarships for college students that can help you pay for school. Whether you're in high school, college or even graduate school, you're likely eligible for a fair amount of money.

Here's a list of tons of awesome scholarships to get you started on your search. Application rules and deadlines can change, so be sure to read all of the eligibility requirements on the funding organization's website before applying.

We will be updating this list throughout the year so make sure to check back throughout the year to see if there are any new scholarship opportunities.

Happy scholarship hunting!

These organizations offer awards several times a year - during spring and fall semesters, quarterly or even monthly. Even if you've missed the earliest deadline this year, take a look to see if there's another one coming up!

1. AfterCollege/AACN Scholarship Fund

The selection committee gives special consideration to students enrolled in a graduate program to become a nurse educator; students completing an RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN program; and those enrolled in an accelerated program.

Deadlines: March 31, June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31

2. CollegeSTEPS Sweepstakes

Deadline: None - random selection throughout the year.

3. Courage to Grow

Deadline: The last day of each month.

4. United States Senate Youth Program

Deadlines: Range from July to November, depending on your state.

5. "No Essay" College Scholarship

Deadline: End of each month

6. $1,000 Local Survey Sweepstakes

Deadline: End of each month

7. CaptainU Student-Athlete Scholarship

CaptainU is a site that allows student athletes to promote themselves to colleges and helps college coaches manage their recruiting efforts.

Deadline: Quarterly

8. DoSomething.org Campaign Scholarships

The only requirement is that you're between 13 and 25 years old; if you're not in college when you win, the organization will hold onto your prize until you head to college.

Deadline: Varies by the campaign

9. Golden Key International Honour Society Scholarships

Deadline: Varies by scholarship

10. Nitro College Scholarship

Deadlines: March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31

11. Howtostartablog.com Scholarship Program

Following the website's guides, create your own blog about something you're passionate about. Then, on your new blog, post a video and talk about how you see the blogging world impacting the future of the digital age and working in America. The award is $2,500.

Deadlines: Applications are accepted year-round; winners will be chosen March 31

12. Appraisal Institute Education Trust Undergraduate Scholarship

Deadline: Varies based on scholarship

13. The Festivus Scholarship

Deadline: December and April

14. Best Reviews Design Scholarship

Deadlines: June 1 and Dec. 1

You can apply for these scholarships from July through September.

Note: Some of the following scholarships have multiple deadlines so they may be listed in both the fall and the spring lists.

1. Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

Deadlines: Varies by local clubs; club-level finalists must be presented to regional representatives by July 1.

2. Resume Companion Annual Scholarship Giveaway

Deadline: July 14

3. SportFact's $1000 Scholarship

Deadline: July 31

4. CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program

If selected, you'll receive a salary of up to $18,000 per year, as well as full benefits. In exchange, you'll work at the CIA in Washington, D.C. every summer.

Deadline: Aug. 14

5. Race Entry Scholarship

Deadline: Aug. 15

6. "You Deserve It" Scholarship Sweepstakes

The scholarship is available to any high school or college student who's at least 16 years old.

Deadline: Aug. 29

7. Cappex Easy Money Scholarship

Deadline: Aug. 31

8. C.I.P. Scholarship

Deadline: Aug. 31

9. Clubs of America Scholarship

Deadline: Aug. 31

10. MoolahSPOT Scholarship

Deadline: Aug. 31

11. Scholarship Detective Launch Scholarship

Deadline: Aug. 31

12. American Hort Scholarships

Deadline: Sept. 8

13. Muggets Scholarship

Deadline: Sept. 8

14. Thomas "Sarge" Johnson Scholarship

There are two trade school awards for $2,000 each, seven undergraduate awards for $3,000 each and two graduate awards for $2,500 each.

Deadline: Sept. 15

15. CoffeeForLess.com "Hit the Books" Scholarship

Deadlines: Jan. 31 and Sept. 30

16. Odenza Marketing Scholarship

Deadline: Sept. 30

17. SkinCare Ox: Beauty + Wellness Scholarship

Deadline: Sept. 30

18. Top Reveal Scholarship

Deadline: Sept. 30

19. AfterCollege Succurro Scholarship

Deadline: Sept. 30

You can apply for these scholarships from October through December.

1. Create Real Impact

Deadline: Oct. 6

2. NSCA Foundation Scholarship

Scholarships are worth $1,500 each and students must be current NSCA members by the application deadline.

Deadline: Oct. 15

3. College JumpStart Scholarship

Deadlines: April 15 and Oct. 17

4. Voice of Democracy

Deadline: Oct. 31

5. Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Oct. 31

6. MigVapor Essay Contest

There are three awards; you could win up to $1,900. The application cycle reopens each semester.

Deadline: Nov. 1

7. Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

National Honorees receive a $5,000 award, a medallion, a trophy and a $5,000 grant to a charity of choice. State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, a medallion and a paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Deadline: Nov. 17

8. Unigo Education Matters Scholarship

Deadline: Nov. 30

9. Groza Learning Center Education Scholarship

Deadline: Nov. 30

10. Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship

Since the inception of the program in 2000, more than $26 million has been awarded to more than 25,000 students.

Deadline: Nov. 30

11. Lawrence A. Golding Scholarship

Sophomores, juniors and seniors in college who have made a significant contribution to their community in the areas of health, fitness and/or education can apply.

Deadline: End of November

12. HomeSecurityList Smart Home Scholarship

Submit a 1,000- to 2,000-word essay on a relevant topic involving the "smart home revolution" for a chance to win this $1,000 scholarship.

Deadline: Dec. 10

13. Agora Pulse Social Media Management Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 15

14. Burger King McLamore Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 15

15. Publicity.ai Seo and Content Marketing Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 15

16. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship

Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be a member in good standing of a high school sports team or be involved in an after-school sport.

Deadline: End of December

17. $500 Culinary Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 31

18. $500 Nursing Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 31

19. Community College Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 31

20. Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 31

21. Luigi Wewege Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 31

22. Unigo $10K Scholarship

Deadline: Dec. 31

You should apply for these scholarships from January through March.

1. Princeton Prize in Race Relations

Winners also receive an all-expenses paid trip to Princeton University for its symposium on race. One prize is awarded in each of the 27 regions in which the organization operates.

Deadline: January

2. Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship

Students must reside in the U.S. and play for a high school team or in club sports. The organization awards a minimum of 62 scholarships every year.

Deadline: Jan. 1

3. The Annual CGTrader Scholarship

Deadline: Jan. 15

4. Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarships

Deadline: Jan. 17

5. Redfin Scholarship

Deadline: Jan. 31

6. Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Award

Deadline: Feb. 15

7. AWS Foundation National Scholarship Program

Students can create a single profile online through AWS to be matched with scholarship options.

Deadline: Feb. 15

8. Society of Women Engineers Scholarships

Deadline: Feb. 15 for sophomores and higher

9. Wear Action Scholarship

Deadline: Feb. 28

10. Frame My Future Scholarship Contest

A panel of judges will select 24 finalists. Students who submit the top five entries, determined by public vote, will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Deadline: March 1

11. American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students

Deadline: March 1

12. Life Lessons Scholarship Program

Deadline: March 1

13. Headphone Selection Scholarship Program

Deadline: March 1

14. Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

Deadline: March 2

15. Bodie McDowell Scholarship

Deadline: March 2

16. Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

Deadline: March 31

You should apply for these scholarships from April through June.

1. The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

Any undergraduate student showing financial need, academic achievement and a commitment to public service is eligible to apply.

Deadline: April 1

2. College Success Scholarship

Deadline: April 1

3. Michael Crossland Humanitarian Scholarship

Deadline: April 1

4. CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program

If selected, you'll receive a salary of up to $18,000 per year, as well as full benefits. In exchange, you'll work at the CIA in Washington, D.C. every summer.

Deadline: August 14

5. Signet Essay Contest

Deadline: April 14

6. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Each year the Barron Prize honors 15 young leaders, ages 8 to 18, who've made a significant positive impact to people and the environment.

Students must reside in the U.S. or Canada and be currently working on an inspiring service project, or have done so in the most recent 12 months to be eligible for this

Deadline: April 15

7. College JumpStart Scholarship

Submit a brief personal statement about your goals and achievements to apply.

Deadlines: April 15 and October 17

8. NDS Sophomore Merit Scholarship

Deadline: April 15

9. NDS Junior Merit Scholarship

Deadline: April 15

10. ASHA Youth Scholarships

Deadline: April 30

11. Digital Responsibility E-Waste Scholarship

Deadline: April 30

12. American Floral Endowment

Deadline: May 1

13. Paradigm Challenge

There are 91 prizes awarded ranging from $200 to $100,000.

Deadline: May 1

14. Society of Women Engineers Scholarships

Deadline: May 1 for incoming freshmen

15. Dr. Troy Dreiling Scholarship

Deadline: May 1

16. Optimist International Oratorical Contest

Local club competition dates vary, but districts must submit their winner lists to Optimist International by May 15.

Deadline: May 15

17. Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Deadline: May 15

18. PRSA Diversity Multicultural Scholarship

Deadline: May 26

19. Leavitt Machinery Scholarship

You must have a 3.0 GPA and respond to an essay prompt about how safety procedures prevented an injury in a situation either you or someone you know was involved in.

Deadline: May 31

20. Chely Wright LIKEME Scholarship

Deadline: May 31

21. Best Reviews Design Scholarship

Deadlines: June 1 and December 1

22. Global Lift Equipment Scholarship

Deadline: June 2

23. American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Awards

Deadline: June 15

24. BigSun Scholarship

Students must be engaged in a sport of any kind and apply with an essay describing how their participation in high school sports influenced them.

Deadline: June 19

25. Lift Parts Express Scholarship

Deadline: June 30
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. Editorial assistant Haley Gonzalez contributed research to this post. Header graphics created by Kristy Gaunt, Illustrative Designer at The Penny Hoarder.

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100+ Awesome Scholarships That Will Help You Pay for College

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Worried about how to pay for college or how to graduate without a ton of student loans? Applying for scholarships is one way to save money on costs. To get you started, here's a list of 100 college scholarships. Good luck!

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It is important to feel comfortable at a college before you accept your invitation and make your first payment. But picking the perfect school for you can be difficult! There are many things to take into consideration. Keep reading for 15 examples of what you should look into before choosing a college.

1. Consider the location of the college.

Do you want to be as far from home as possible or do you want to be able to hop in a car and go home every weekend? Do you want to live in a thriving metropolis or do you prefer the rural lifestyle?

2. Consider the cost to attend that college.

Are there certain scholarships you could apply for?

3. Understand the school composition.

What percentage of the school is female? Male? Study the breakdown of different demographics.

4. Study the bachelor degrees and minors offered.

5. Research the graduation percentage rate.

theodysseyonline

6. Look into the food and dining options provided.

7. Figure out which sports and clubs are offered.

8. Know the crime rate and safety procedures of the campus.

9. Get a good sense of what your school is known for.

Is it the football team? The marching band? The A Cappella group?

totalprosports.com

10. Determine what you will need to pack.

Is there excellent WiFi or will you need an ethernet cord? Are you allowed to bring your car on campus your freshman year or should you bring a bike?

11. Know if your school provides transportation for its students.

If so, what are the bus routes and where are the bus stops?

12. Research where the nearby shopping centers are.

13. Try to understand what the student life is like there.

Are there a lot of parties? Where does everyone go to hang out on the weekends? What do the students do for fun?

14. See if you are able to communicate with and relate to other students.

15. Get a sense of what the students are generally like there.

thenug.com

Did you enjoy reading 15 Things To Do Before Choosing A College? Do you have any other helpful tips for our readers? Feel free to comment below or share this article with a friend!

Feature Image Source: liveinpassion-di.blogspot.com

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15 Things To Do Before Choosing A College - Society19

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It is important to feel comfortable at a college before you accept your invitation and make your first payment. But picking the perfect school for you can be difficult! There are many things to take into consideration. Keep reading for 15 examples of what you should look into before choosing a college.

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Who doesn't dream of a full-ride scholarship to college?

For a few, it happens - whether it's because of stellar grades throughout high school, being a star athlete or applying to the right organization at the right time.

But most students are left grappling with how in the world to afford school.

NerdScholar offers the following advice to consider before throwing all your eggs into the scholarship basket.

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

A common misconception is that in order to benefit from filling out the FAFSA, college hopefuls must come from a low-income family, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

The FAFSA is the recommended first step for anyone applying to college, university or career school. It takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it can open doors to federal and state financial aid, grants, low-cost student loans, work-study programs and even scholarships.

NerdScholar's FAFSA Guide helps you know what to expect when filling out the form. And our FAFSA Tutorial is a walk-through of the questions on the form and the kind of information and documents you should have handy.

Once complete, the information from a student's FAFSA is placed on file at the schools listed on the application. State offices of education, which can provide additional financial assistance, also receive the data.

Schools that accept the applicant use the FAFSA information as part of their formula to determine how much, and what kind, of tuition assistance the student is eligible to receive. This includes any grants and scholarships from the school.

Applying for scholarships

For students who need more ways to reduce their out-of-pocket college expenses - or who would prefer not to be burdened with paying off student loans - many outside organizations also offer scholarships or gift aid.

Often, this can be merit-based, when a combination of grades, community involvement, college major or other factors are taken into consideration.

Our Scholarship Search engine, which is frequently updated, provides links at your fingertips to gift aid.

If you decide to pursue scholarships, have on hand everything you used to fill out the FAFSA, as well as letters of recommendation, transcripts and test scores.

Letters of recommendation, according to Collegeboard.org, should come from professionals who are familiar with your character, such as teachers, coaches or employers.

Transcripts, which prove your grade point average, should be official and come from any schools you attended.

Also, be prepared to write essays. In some cases, the same essay can be used more than once.

Beware of scholarship scams

In your search, avoid services that charge you for help when applying for scholarships.

This issue is so pervasive the Federal Trade Commission dedicated an entire Web page to the subject. The agency urges caution when companies promise a money-back guarantee or add a processing fee.

The FTC also makes clear that because filling out the FAFSA is free, you shouldn't pay for the service. Although there are legitimate programs that can help, be careful to avoid scams.
See also: Image of scholarship applications via Shutterstock. NerdScholar Finance Glossary For Students

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What You Need to Know Before Applying for Scholarships - NerdWallet

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Who doesn't dream of a full-ride scholarship to college? For a few, it happens - whether it's because of stellar grades throughout high school, being a star athlete or applying to the right organization at the right time. But most students are left grappling with how in the world to afford school.

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Have you ever blindly sent out your resume in hopes that someone will pick it up out of a stack of hundreds of others? You're definitely not the only one. But what happens when someone does finally pick it up--and they find mistakes that make you look unprofessional?

Here are 7 of the most common resume mistakes that you should avoid. They might just be the reasons you're not getting that call back.
1. Aesthetically unappealing
Putting a little effort into your resume's layout never hurts. A page of text that simply lists all of your experience is less than ideal. Something better--and a bit easier to read--would be a "creative style" resume, or a template found online.
2. Generalizations
Writing generic tasks rather than specific, spot-on experiences leaves potential employers wondering if you even know what you did at that position. Don't leave them second guessing-- spell out your experience exactly, but concisely.
3. Passive phrases
Avoid using the passive voice by making yourself the primary proponent throughout your entire resume. Things did not happen to you. They happened because of you.
4. Overused adjectives
Using fluffy words unfortunately doesn't get anyone anywhere in life, at the end of the day. Overused adjectives, such as "compelling" or "vibrant" can be descriptive--but also ring cliché and a bit previously done.
5. Downplaying your strengths
No matter how little you may have done at a job, you have to be honest with what you did in your previous work. Beyond that, however, it's also important to emphasize that not everything you did was a beginner's or intern's job.
6. Sending out the same resume to all employers
Although it can seem more efficient to simply reuse the same resume over and over again, it will ultimately hurt you in the long run. Customizing resumes for certain jobs shows that you have the correct skill set for that work--and that's something you definitely want to portray in your resume.
7. Typos
The easiest thing can be the hardest one to catch of all. Double, triple, and quadruple check your grammar and spelling--and have someone else take a look, too.

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7 Mistakes That Make Your Resume Look Really Unprofessional

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Have you ever blindly sent out your resume in hopes that someone will pick it up out of a stack of hundreds of others? You're definitely not the only one. But what happens when someone does finally pick it up--and they find mistakes that make you look unprofessional?

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Imagine you're a high school senior struggling with the hefty amount of competition that comes with applying to colleges. What do you do?

You apply to many schools. Heck, back in 2012, I think I applied to at least 10.

But have you ever thought about how much you'll spend on applications alone?

We all know about the of earning a degree, but just applying to college can have a scary price tag. You should know what you're getting yourself into - before you start applying left and right to any school where you think you have a shot at being accepted.

How Much College Applications Cost

U.S. News & World Report recently released a about the costs of applying to colleges - and it wasn't pretty.

Application fees for spring 2016 averaged $42; the most common fee was $50.

The most expensive? Stanford University and the University of Central Oklahoma, which each charged $90. Just to apply.
And no, you don't get those fees back if you get rejected.
Back in the day, my dream school was Villanova University; if I applied there today, it would cost me 80 bucks. Based on these numbers, I would have to shell out anywhere between $420 and $800 to apply to 10 colleges today.

With that in mind, it may seem like application fees will get in the way of you and your dream school.

But fear not - there are ways you can lower the financial burden of applying to schools.

How to Afford College Application Costs: Your Cheat Sheet

To get relief from hefty application fees, you have to plan ahead. Here are a few ways you can lower the costs:

Apply for a College Application Fee Waiver Through the NACAC

Students can apply for a fee waiver from the National Association for College Admission Counseling by simply logging on to its website and accessing the . Just download and print it, have it signed and sealed by your high school, and send it directly to the postsecondary institution you wish to apply to.

You're eligible for a waiver if you're a high school student applying to college and meet one of the following criteria:

You received an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.

You participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program.

Your family's annual income falls within these income eligibility guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service.

You are enrolled in a federal, state or local program that grants aid to low-income families.

Your family receives public assistance.

You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or you are homeless.

You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

Applicants can use this fee waiver to apply to no more than four schools. Additionally, only students who seek to go straight to college after graduation are eligible; you can't receive a waiver after a gap year or if you plan to defer college enrollment after graduating from high school.

Apply to Colleges That Don't Have Application Fees

There are actually quite a few colleges out there that don't require you to pay anything to apply. Niche compiled a list of the 2017 Best Colleges with No Application Fee in America . The website weighed factors such as academics, value, professors, student life and student surveys about their overall experience to develop the list of 100 colleges.

Notable schools on the list include Marquette University, Loyola University Chicago and Case Western Reserve University.

Go on a Campus Tour

If you have the ability to head to a few of the colleges you have in mind, it might be a good idea to do so.

According to NerdWallet , some schools are willing to drop application fees for students who visit campus and .

In addition to potentially getting an application fee waived, a visit could change your mind about the school altogether. Wouldn't you rather know a school you had in mind just isn't for you you apply? You could save not only money, but also time, by avoiding an unnecessary application.

Get a Side Gig

If you run into dead ends with these ideas, have you thought about getting a side gig? There are actually plenty of opportunities for incoming or current college students to make a few bucks online .

The best part is, you can usually do these gigs on your own time, meaning you won't fall behind with your school work.

If you can, hold on to these gigs for as long as possible - having an income during school can majorly offset your costs, keeping you from racking up student loan debt .
Your Turn: How will you offset the costs of college applications this year? Let us know in the comments below! Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder and a senior at The University of Tampa. She thought she wanted to be a Florida Gator until she visited campus and realized that The Swamp is, indeed, a swamp.

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How Much Does It Cost to Apply to College? Turns Out, It's Not Cheap

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Imagine you're a high school senior struggling with the hefty amount of competition that comes with applying to colleges. What do you do? You apply to many schools. Heck, back in 2012, I think I applied to at least 10. But have you ever thought about how much you'll spend on applications alone?

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College is expensive but if you want to cut cost one way to go about it is Community College. Tuition is usually cheaper then it is at a state or private school, and you can always go for a couple of years and transfer later. Your savings will vary depending on where you live, though student loan hero breaks the savings down by state

To come up with their numbers, Student Loan Hero calculated the costs of college credits at schools nationwide, comparing the cost of earning the first 60 credits of a 120-credit degree at a two-year public school vs. four years. On average, they found that the college credits are 60% cheaper at a community college versus a four-year public college. They reported:

Therefore, a student who earns their first 60 credits at a two-year public school before transferring to an in-state college would pay an average of $11,377 less for a four-year degree. And if they pay for those credits with student loans, the cost difference is even greater (an additional $3,573) thanks to the interest they accrue.

Again, results vary by state, but here are the states where students save the most, along with the average savings:

1. New Jersey: $20,993

2. Illinois: $20,707

3. Pennsylvania: $18,653

4. California: $18,403

5. Virginia: $17,706

6. Arizona: $16,698

7. Michigan: $16,231

8. South Carolina: $16,153

9. Vermont: $15,866

10. Delaware: $15,773

Use the interactive map below to see how the savings stack up in your own state, then head to Student Loan Hero's full post below for more details on the study.

Study: Top 10 States Where Community College Students Save the Most Money | Student Loan Hero

About the author

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How Much Money Community College Students Save, Depending on the State

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College is expensive but if you want to cut cost one way to go about it is Community College. Tuition is usually cheaper then it is at a state or private school, and you can always go for a couple of years and transfer later.

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Interviewing well is a vital component of a successful career and an art that few master. Most people get nervous when they have to face a panel of experts--higher powers--who decide whether you have what it takes to acquire the job you desire.

Facing judgment day isn't easy. Most people try to act--take on roles and attributes that are foreign to who they truly are--and the results are disastrous. As a doctoral student in clinical psychology, I've been fortunate enough to average attending seven interviews each year for the past four years. While I certainly have areas for growth, being interviewed by elite psychologists and therapists--people trained to read and interpret human behavior--has taught me many valuable lessons that I'd like to share.

Here are 10 mistakes most people make when interviewing and how to avoid them:

1. Not putting enough time, energy, and effort into your preparation.

People who don't put effort into researching the company, their mission, and the type of people they hire often fail to get the job. I learned that how prepared I feel in terms of both answering questions about myself and knowing facts about the organization is directly correlated with my performance and level of comfort.

Spend the time you need to build confidence in yourself and increase your knowledge of the company.

2. Failing to maintain awareness of your posture and body language.

As a psychologist in training, I've grown to learn my tendencies: crossing my arms or leaning back when I'm anxious. Now I ensure that my body language is open, grounded, and non-defensive. That behavior shows others that I am comfortable, receptive, and confident, and has the added benefit of sending messages to my brain to remain calm.

Practice becoming more aware of your body and know your tendencies in stressful situations.

3. Talking too much.

Amateurs think that they need to cover every possible bullet point with the interviewer to appear competent. This anxious tendency often works against them, because the interviewer becomes more attuned to their anxiety than the content of their speech.

Silence can be powerful; learn how to pause and know when your answer is good enough.

4. Being afraid to revisit earlier questions and topics.

One thing that psychologists and most interviewers value is the ability to be self-reflective. This skill is correlated with emotional intelligence and conveys that you think about how you affect others. Sometimes it's absolutely appropriate to link your current answer to something you previously stated.

Practice noticing trends and patterns in your messages, and don't be afraid to revisit items--especially when it shows self-reflective skills.

5. Mumbling or rushing your speech instead of thinking first.

Nothing is worse than word vomiting or going mute--especially in group interviews. If you can't handle the pressure of an intense interview, how are you going to handle a chaotic day at work?

Tell your interviewer that you're going to take a second to contemplate your answer--it shows confidence and composure.

6. Not supporting your statements with evidence and examples.

Telling people about yourself and how you work is good, but showing them how and why you work the way you do is better. Give your interviewer a glimpse into what makes you tick by explaining your values and by providing real-life examples. It will make your claims more significant.

Explain the how and the why for each statement you make.

7. Underestimating how much your appearance matters.

Yes, it's a superficial world and you need to take that into account. For example, I'm aware that my beard conveys wisdom and masculinity, my purple shirt shows I'm connected to my femininity and creativity, my glasses say "Hey, I'm smart," and my mala bracelet shows that I'm grounded.

Everything on your body speaks to who you are, so think through the messages you're sending to others.

8. Not preparing meaningful questions to demonstrate competence and curiosity.

The biggest rookie failure of all time is not preparing questions to ask the interviewer. Don't be that person who ends an interview without asking questions that can further your credibility.

Instead, compile a list of questions that highlight your attention to detail and ability to critically dissect information.

9. Failing to explain your value and highlight how you and the company are a great fit.

You're basically trying to establish a romantic relationship with someone who is convinced that they don't need you. When you don't explain why you're a good fit, there's almost no chance that they'll accept your offer to go on a date.

Show what you can bring to the table and why this relationship will be mutually beneficial.

10. Allowing stress and anxiety to ruin your introduction and closing.

Stress and anxiety happen to the best of us, but you need to focus.

Do whatever it takes to find your groove before interviewing, and then be intentional about your first and last impression--make yourself stand out.

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10 Mistakes Most People Make During a Job Interview (and What to Do Instead)

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Interviewing well is a vital component of a successful career and an art that few master. Most people get nervous when they have to face a panel of experts--higher powers--who decide whether you have what it takes to acquire the job you desire. Facing judgment day isn't easy.

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A four-year university stint isn't the only path to workplace success.
Unfortunately, employers don't seem to be getting the message.

Organizations say degree-holding employees produce higher quality work, are more productive, and have better communication skills.

While it seems like the deck is stacked against non-degreed employees, part of the issue may simply be that the workforce is flooded with college grads looking for jobs, and companies are more than happy to snap them up.

But I Don't Want To Spend Four Years In College!

If you don't have the time, interest or money to pursue a four-year degree, don't worry.
You can still find great jobs without a degree. Here's how:
1. Get a job that doesn't require a degree.

2. Attend a trade school.

Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and other hands-on, skilled trade jobs will always be in demand as long as people want to keep their lights, toilets and air conditioning working (so, forever).
"It's time to change our perceptions about these career paths."
3. Pursue an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships teach you the skills you'll need to succeed as a mechanic, carpenter, construction worker or in other trades.

Apprenticeships are on-the-job training learned in a real-world environment, rather than a trade school classroom.

Unions or organizations for the trade you're interested in learning can point you in the right direction to get started down the path to apprenticeship.

4. Enroll in a community college.

The types of awesome, well-paying jobs available to community college graduates may surprise you.

5. Acquire a professional certification..

In some cases, a professional certification is all you need to land a great job.

Consider becoming a personal trainer, real estate agent, casino dealer , auctioneer, or horseshoer (also called a farrier).

Certification programs cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but it's still far less time and money than you'll spend on a four-year degree.
Your turn: Have you opted out of getting a four-year degree to pursue a different education path? Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. If she didn't love writing so much she'd probably try her hand at becoming a farrier because that sounds like a cool job.

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No Degree? No Problem. 5 Ways to Find Good Jobs Without Going to College

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A four-year university stint isn't the only path to workplace success. Unfortunately, employers don't seem to be getting the message. Organizations say degree-holding employees produce higher quality work, are more productive, and have better communication skills.

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With student debt at a staggering $1.3 trillion, many families are facing a huge financial dilemma: Their final springtime decisions about college enrollment and acceptance. The NPR Ed team teamed up with Weekend Edition to answer some listener questions about debt and degrees.
Waiting on the numbers
Marcy, from Union City, N.J. has twin girls going off to college in September.

"My question is: Why is it that universities and colleges wait so long to give the financial aid package? First deposits are due May 1 and we still haven't received the financial aid packages for half the schools that accepted my girls."

This is a common complaint. Colleges are increasingly practicing what's called "enrollment management." They are trying to assemble an incoming class that is as talented and high-achieving as possible, to ensure the college's prestige, but also the one that will contribute the most revenue. In addition, colleges have to predict how many of the students they accept will actually enroll, which is more difficult these days since many students are applying to more colleges than ever. When it comes to private colleges, nearly 90 percent of incoming freshmen get some kind of discount, hovering over 50 percent of the cost.

But this lack of transparency in pricing is especially hard for families who are feeling the pinch economically.
Middle class squeeze
Abby Goldfarb of Dallas has a daughter about to enter college this fall. And here's what she thinks of the financial aid landscape:

"The wealthy in this country are able to write checks and cover the cost of tuition ... and colleges are very, very generous to people making under $60,000 a year in this country. And heaven forbid you're making in that middle-class $100,000 a year range."

Almost everyone has trouble paying for college. It is true that middle-class families are less likely to qualify for need-based Pell Grants, and can't pay out of pocket the way the wealthiest families can. But, a mitigating factor is that middle-class students are more likely to finish their degrees and pay off their loans, compared with low-income and first-generation college students.

New York state's recently announced free-tuition plan has been pitched quite consciously at the middle class. It is designed to cover families earning up to $100,000, rising to $125,000 once fully phased in.
Don't know much about philosophy
Heather Feaga wrote to us on Facebook:

"Don't ever get student loans. Period. And don't get a degree in art, or philosophy, or history, or something that you will very unlikely get paid real money for."

It's true that there's a relationship between college major and your projected earnings after graduation. Engineering grads top the list.

But it doesn't necessarily follow that everyone should rush into technical fields, or choose any college major based on earnings alone. For one thing, economists will tell you that the right "fit" between a person and a job is a key driver of success and productivity. One example: When people graduate in a recession year it drags down their earnings long term, and one reason is because of job mismatch - people are desperate and take the first job they can find.

Plus, recent research by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, a trade group, found that humanities and social science majors closed earning gaps with their business-major classmates by mid-career.
More than just four years
Aaron Smith, of Akron, Ohio, teaches English composition at a four-year college.

"There are a lot of students who seem to feel like they have to be there, and a lot of times I feel like they honestly don't know why they're there. And my advice to students is: You do not have to believe the urban myth that you have to go to college. There are other options. There's lots of need for skilled jobs ... I have an advanced degree and a lot of people - plumbers, mechanics, carpenters - they make more money than I do."

Professor Smith has a point.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the fastest-growing occupations in the whole economy fall into the non-bachelor's-degree category. This includes the single fastest-growing job in the country right now, wind turbine technicians. They earn over $50,000 a year, no college degree required. Other fairly well-paid examples are health care trades requiring a two-year degree, such as occupational therapy assistants and physical therapist assistants.

Got questions for us on student loans or the cost of college? Tweet us at @npr_ed or email npred@npr.org.

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Student Loans: You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers

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With student debt at a staggering $1.3 trillion, many families are facing a huge financial dilemma: Their final springtime decisions about college enrollment and acceptance. The NPR Ed team teamed up with Weekend Edition to answer some listener questions about debt and degrees. Waiting on the numbers Marcy, from Union City, N.J.

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In less than a week I will officially be a college graduate! These four years have quickly gone by and have given me a glimpse into budgeting. In the curriculum at my university, everyone took an "introduction to finance" class. Although the class was helpful, it didn't give me everything I needed to know finance-wise for when I graduate and enter the "real-world."

About six months ago I came across the Mint app and I wish I had learned about it years ago. Like most college students, I am on a budget. I have been using the app to examine what I spend my money on, help pay for utilities, and see where I can cut back on other frivolous spendings.

During the first couple of weeks of having the app, I kept hearing co-workers talk about what all Mint had to offer. After sitting down and really digging into the app, I realized that Mint could have been a life-saver for when I didn't pay my utilities on time in college! I then began categorizing all of my transactions weekly, so I could see my weekly spendings.

Thanks to Mint, I realized I have an addiction to online shopping. From Madewell to Nordstrom Rack, I love them all. I now have a budget set on the app to let me know each month when I have reached my budget on clothing. I also was able to set this up to see what I spend on restaurants, coffee shops, groceries, and on alcohol & bars.

I wasn't surprised when more than half of my wheel showed up as gas and basically the other half was food. Right now I have an internship where I am driving an hour or so back and forth every other day from Muncie, IN to Indianapolis, IN. I knew I would be spending a lot of money on gas, but Mint makes it easy to visualize how much of my money really is going towards gas.

I know for a fact that I will continue using Mint even after I graduate and I truly suggest it to everyone. After realizing how much the app helped me, I wanted to share it with others.The first person I called was my sister who is six years older than me. I was shocked to find out she's been using it for over a year! I thought I was the cool one, but she proved me wrong! I also decided to tell all my sorority sisters about the app as well and I know quite a few of them ended up downloading the app and have been consistently using it like I have.

I highly suggest this app to incoming freshmen in college. It is an app that can help you transition into college and into the "real world." Before I downloaded this app, I thought I knew where all my money was going by just looking at my monthly bank statements. I realized being able to actually see where my money is going in real-time, rather than in a monthly statement, has taught me to be more aware of my spendings and budget more effectively.

Rachel is an avid cat lover, and is a new public relations graduate from Ball State University who's looking forward to starting her career. She is a proud Hoosier who enjoys rooting on her hometown teams, spending time with her family and telling stories in great detail. You can follow her on Instagram or Twitter!

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Dear College Freshman: What I Wish I'd Done for My Finances | MintLife Blog

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In less than a week I will officially be a college graduate! These four years have quickly gone by and have given me a glimpse into budgeting. In the curriculum at my university, everyone took an "introduction to finance" class.

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When I was a newly minted high school grad, my friends and I spent the summer speculating on what our upcoming college experiences would be like.

Since it was all so new to me, I had to learn new lingo along the way, like what a is to what means.

But the one thing that has eluded me to this day is the difference between a double major and a dual degree.

I did a little research to come up with the answer, and I'm happy to share my homework with you.

What's a Double Major?

When you pursue a double major , it means you'll graduate with only one degree but you'll have two areas of specialization.

Some students decide to pursue a double major to boost their GPA or to increase their visibility in the job market .

For instance, you could earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in Sociology and Spanish to pursue jobs in international business.

Earning a Bachelor of Science degree with double majors in Marine Biology and Environmental Science could position you for a job in oceanic research.

What's a Dual Degree?

A dual degree is pretty much what it sounds like - it means you're pursuing two separate degrees at the same time. ( )

That also means a lot more classes and a whole lot more work. ( Goodbye, social life. )

Students pursue double majors when they are equally passionate about two areas of study and don't want to have to choose between them.

Others get dual degrees that complement each other professionally.

For example, a student may earn a Bachelor in Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree concurrently with the intent of becoming a corporate attorney.

Which is Better: Double Major vs. Dual Degree?

Each degree path has its own pros and cons.

Double majors give you a diversified skill set to take with you in the work world, but it doesn't mean you'll automatically earn a higher income than your single-major peers.

A dual degree programs allow you to complete two degrees in less time - and for less money - than if you pursued each degree concurrently.

On the other hand, it will severely curtail your ability to establish and maintain connections with your peers and classmates.

To help decide what's best for you, consult with a college advisor who can make recommendations based on your academic record.
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She has mad respect for anyone pursuing a double major or dual degree. One major was more than enough for her.

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Deciding Between a Double Major and a Dual Degree? You Should Read This

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When I was a newly minted high school grad, my friends and I spent the summer speculating on what our upcoming college experiences would be like. Since it was all so new to me, I had to learn new lingo along the way, like what a is to what means.

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On Sunday evenings, you can find most high school students catching up on homework, watching TV or sleeping.

But when I was a teen, I liked to volunteer at the front desk of the local children's hospital.

One summer I went to South Africa to expand after-school programs. I even took a college semester off to ride around the country, educating students about child soldiers and the civil war taking place in Uganda.

To say I'm passionate about community service and social justice might be an understatement.

But I didn't climb out of my crib with a fire for inciting social change. I started volunteering because I needed scholarships.

Apply for These 12 Community Service Scholarships

Scholarship programs are a great way to introduce young people to life outside their social media-sized bubbles. I've kept the professional experiences and compassion I gained volunteering throughout my adult life.

You can make a real impact investing in your community through organizations that serve marginalized people, further the arts or contribute to whatever other cause lights you up. And here are some scholarships that will reward you for it.

1. DoSomething.org Campaign Scholarship

There's no essay, application or GPA requirement. You just have to be between 13 and 25 years old. And if you're not in college when you win, the organization will hold on to your prize until you head to college.

The deadlines occur monthly.

2. Princeton Prize in Race Relations

Winners also receive an all-expenses paid trip to Princeton University for its symposium on race. One prize is awarded in each of the 27 regions in which the organization operates.

The deadline is annually in January.

3. Jesse Brown Scholarship

The deadline is annually in February.

4. The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship

Any undergraduate student showing financial need, academic achievement and a commitment to public service is eligible to apply.

The award is distributed in $2,000 increments every year contingent upon the student maintaining good academic standing and maintaining scholarship criteria.

The deadline is April 1 annually.

5. Michael Crossland Humanitarian Scholarship

If you win the scholarship, you'll also join Michael Crossland and his organization, Frontier Project, on an all-expenses paid humanitarian trip to Haiti.

The deadline is annually in April.

6. The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Each year the Barron Prize honors 15 young leaders, ages 8 to 18, who've made a significant positive impact to people and the environment.

Students must reside in the U.S. or Canada and be currently working on an inspiring service project, or have done so in the most recent 12 months to be eligible for this

The deadline is April 15 each year.

7. Caring Award

Students must be nominated before they turn 18 or before they graduate from high school.

The deadline is in April annually.

8. Chely Wright LIKEME Scholarship

Thirteen scholarships were awarded in 2016, and the organization looks forward to expanding that number in the future.

The deadline is May 31 annually.

9. Bonner Scholars Program

The award is available for students attending one of the Bonner Scholar partner colleges or universities across the U.S.

Admission is rolling and applications must be filled out directly at the student's selected campus program.

10. Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

National Honorees receive a $5,000 award, a medallion, a trophy and a $5,000 grant to a charity of choice. State Honorees receive an award of $1,000, a medallion and a paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The deadline is in November annually.

11. AXA Achievement Community Award

Special consideration is given to students who participate in activities related to reducing financial, environmental, health or safety risks, as well as emergency preparedness.

The deadline is in December annually, or until 10,000 applications are received.

12. Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship

Since the inception of the program in 2000, more than $26 million has been awarded to more than 25,000 students.

The deadline is in December annually.

Jen Smith is a writing intern at The Penny Hoarder and the blogger behind Saving with Spunk . She was the president of her community service club in high school. 🤓

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These 12 Scholarships Will Reward Students for Their Community Service

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On Sunday evenings, you can find most high school students catching up on homework, watching TV or sleeping. But when I was a teen, I liked to volunteer at the front desk of the local children's hospital.

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From Mint: Connor Sweet is a student at UC Berkeley and recently discovered Mint when his impending graduation and transition to the real world began to sink in. We were, of course, thrilled to hear that he found Mint so useful; but even more so, impressed that he reached out because he wanted to make a difference in other college students' lives. Over the coming months, Connor will be contributing articles to share what it's like to be kicking off a financial life for the first time. We are looking forward to watching his journey!
College is an amazing place - it's when we get to expand our minds, pursue different interests and develop skills that will prepare you for a career of your choosing. But what it doesn't necessarily prepare you for is real "adulting".

After college, barring grad school, students will enter the working sphere and become full members of society. Meaning, you now have to pay taxes, make your own money, make decisions about credit cards, budgets, investments and more. These skills are essential to function through adulthood, but are rarely taught in college. Instead, these skills are often learned under a pressure-filled period of time when former students are transitioning into the real world.

A Skill Never Taught

About halfway through my junior year, the imminent reality of graduation set it. I began reaching out to any and every professional connection I have in an attempt to find some direction for my career path. I had conversations with investment bankers, real estate agents, salespeople, etc.

One question I always asked: "What was your major in college?" Most often, the response I received started with giggles and a, "Uhh... Well (Insert Major), but your major doesn't really matter too much for your career."

After a few of these responses, I started to realize - all of these hours my peers and I are dedicating to our majors may not actually be useful in our careers. I am currently majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy, but who knows?! I may end up finding a great job that I love as a recruiter for an HR firm. But what WILL be for sure no matter which career I end up in: I will have to manage my finances and be prepared to make financial decisions.

Becoming Aware of My Spending

This past January, I was overcome with anxiety due to the fact that, in very short time, I will need to find a job, pay off loans and support myself. It occurred to me that I need to be able to organize my expenses, save money, and budget.

I started doing research and, as most people my age do, looked for an app that might be able to help lift some of the stress. This is how I discovered Mint.

After playing around with it for a few weeks, I was amazed at how helpful it was. Granted, looking at your finances can sometimes be painful - but I've learned that by being aware, I'm making better choices.

I began telling my friends about the app and we all kind of reflected on the times we were spending insane amounts of money one minute, and then having pennies in our accounts for weeks. That's not how any of us want to live at any point, but especially once we graduate.

Hindsight is 20/20

I wish that I had started budgeting earlier in my college career so by the time I graduated it was second nature to me. The pain of trial and error while setting budgets and learning to stick to them would have been much easier with the expenses I was dealing with (versus real bills and loan payments).

Having nearly finished my college career, I reached out to Mint because I wanted to share my story. If I could offer one piece of advice to an 18-year-old I would tell him/her to learn how to budget their money. If you learn how to budget in college, it is almost like a test run. Then, once you hit the very complicated real world, it will be a skill that you have already mastered, so you can focus on other aspects of your life.

In the coming weeks I will shed more light on the college perspective of budgeting. I will provide tips, tricks, and some insight on certain parts of budgeting, while incorporating personal experience from my time in college.

Connor Sweet is on the verge of finishing his college career and has deep aspirations to invest his money in the future. He is in the process of getting his finances in order and paying off his student debt in order to reach this goal. As he begins this journey he wants to offer his personal experience, advice, and findings in order to help college students/young adults in this very confusing time/pivotal point.

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Rich After College: Why You Need to Learn to Budget Before You Graduate | MintLife Blog

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From Mint: Connor Sweet is a student at UC Berkeley and recently discovered Mint when his impending graduation and transition to the real world began to sink in. We were, of course, thrilled to hear that he found Mint so useful; but even more so, impressed that he reached out because he wanted to make a difference in other college students' lives.

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If you're a fan of stability, you're probably going to want a career that's going to stand the test of time - a job that won't be taken over by robots or ( ) squashed by the next economic recession.

Well, a career in nursing just might be the thing for you.

Of course, you have to be up to working in a caregiver role, and you can't be squeamish about needles and bodily fluid.

But the fact that the number of nursing jobs actually went up during the last recession while overall employment went down is a good sign of a dependable career.

There are several different titles in the nursing profession, and with all the acronyms (LPN, RN, APRN), it can get a little confusing. So I turned to the American Nurses Association and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for information on the different types of nurses, how to become one and how much people who work these jobs can expect to make.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)

A licensed practical nurse (also called a licensed vocational nurse, or LVN, in California and Texas, according to the ANA ) falls within the most basic level of the nursing profession rankings.

As the name implies, these type of nurses must be licensed. The LPNs must complete a state-approved education program that typically lasts one year.

Last year, the median pay for LPNs was $44,090 per year or $21.20 an hour. The BLS predicted the job outlook for this career path would grow 16% from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average occupation.

Registered Nurses (RNs)

The next step up from an LPN, registered nurses provide care and educate patients in a number of settings and also supervise the work of LPNs.

You'll typically need a bachelor's degree to be an RN, according to the BLS .

Last year, the median pay was $68,450 a year, or $32.91 an hour, for nurses at this level of the profession. As it was with LPNs, the BLS projected RN jobs to grow by 16% between 2014 and 2024.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)

The ANA states this upper-level ranking of nurses requires a graduate degree and clinical practice beyond the basic education requirements of RNs.

Depending on their speciality, different types of APRNs include nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), clinical nurse specialists (CNS) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Last year, the median pay for these professionals was $107,460 a year, or $51.67 per hour, according to the BLS, which also predicted jobs in this specialized industry would grow 31% from 2014 to 2024.

Now that's a great job to have to ride out the next recession. , back off!
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

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Nurses Are Always in Demand. Here's What They Make - and How to Become One

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If you're a fan of stability, you're probably going to want a career that's going to stand the test of time - a job that won't be taken over by robots or ( ) squashed by the next economic recession. Well, a career in nursing just might be the thing for you.

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One of the most effective ways for students to reduce the costs of higher education is to take the community college route to earning a four-year degree.

Previous generations viewed community colleges as places for students who were academically challenged or didn't plan to earn degrees from four-year institutions. The harsh realities of the Great Recession of 2008 have changed that mindset, however, explains Dr. Marnelle Alexis Stephens, chancellor of MacCormac College, a private, not-for-profit, two-year school in Chicago.

"Following the recent recession, which really hit home for a lot of people, consumers have been forced to become more savvy in their decision making," she says.

Many middle-wage families are sending their children to community college for two years, then having them transfer to more-expensive four-year institutions, says Lynn Neault, vice chancellor of student services for the San Diego Community College District.

"People are realizing that it's not where you start, it's where you finish," she says.

Living at home while attending two years of community college can greatly reduce the cost of earning a four-year degree. The average cost of tuition at U.S. community colleges during the 2016-17 academic year was just $4,892 for in-state students, according to Community College Review. In contrast, published in‐state tuition and fees for public four‐year colleges now average $9,650 per academic year, according to a 2016 College Board report, while tuition and fees average $33,480 at private, nonprofit, four-year colleges. The combined cost for tuition, fees, and room and board at public four-year schools averages $20,090 annually, and tops $45,000 at private institutions.

If current trends continue, the cost of higher education at four-year colleges is likely to become even more expensive in the years ahead. According to the College Board report, between 2006-07 and 2016-17, published in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions increased at an average rate of 3.5% per year beyond inflation.

New ways of doing things

A decade ago, many parents felt pressured to send their children away to college so they could have the experience of living on campus, Stephens notes. Today's parents and students "have a different way of looking at life," she says. "This generation is open to new ways of doing things. I find they explore more options."

Many Americans have seen their inflation-adjusted wages flatten or drop over the past 20 years. If parents choose to invest the money they save by sending children to local community colleges, they can create an inheritance for them, says Ilene Davis, a certified financial planner and the author of " Wealthy by Choice: Choosing Your Way to a Wealthier Future."

Education is more important than ever when it comes to finding a job, according to an April 2016 report by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Research has shown that by 2020 about 70% of jobs will require training beyond high school.

Some states are beginning to appreciate this and view their community colleges as part of the solution. In August, CNN reported that Oregon, New York, Tennessee, and Rhode Island are offering residents free access to community colleges. Many other states are considering similar programs.

Additional benefits of attending community college

A less costly education isn't the only benefit of attending a community college. Community college students feel less pressure to quickly declare majors and obtain degrees in order to save money, Stephens says. Because of that, they tend to be more exploratory, exposing themselves to more areas of study. This may result in better career choices.

Another bonus is that employers generally don't care if job applicants attended community college at some point, says Daniel Haitz, founder of EDUsquared.com, a company that helps students plan for college. The only thing employers are interested in is where the applicants obtained their four-year degrees.

Stephens says community colleges today generally are careful to make sure their coursework is compatible with that of four-year colleges. Often students can seamlessly enter four-year schools in their third academic year without losing credits or having to repeat classes.

And sometimes students bloom academically in community colleges. In many cases, people who didn't perform well in high school are able to improve their grades, notes Haitz. This allows them to qualify at more prestigious four-year colleges than they could have attended directly out of high school.

Graduating without student loan debt

In April, CNBC reported that U.S. citizens now hold $1.31 trillion in student loan debt. Students who attend community colleges, however, are often able to earn degrees without taking out student loans, notes Davis. That means they can begin their working life without the burden of being in debt.

"Community college is a wealthier choice," she says.
Related Articles:

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How to Graduate From a Big-Name College for a Fraction of the Cost - The Simple Dollar

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One of the most effective ways for students to reduce the costs of higher education is to take the community college route to earning a four-year degree. Previous generations viewed community colleges as places for students who were academically challenged or didn't plan to earn degrees from four-year institutions.

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Imagine a day when a college degree takes just one year to complete. Tuition is free and, upon graduation, companies like Spotify and Lyft want to hire you.

Adam Braun, founder of MissionU, wants that day to be now.

Earlier this summer I spoke with Braun to learn more about his latest venture MissionU, a program that's trying to change the way we approach and afford higher education.

(You may recognize Braun as also the founder of Pencils of Promise, an organization that builds schools, trains teachers and fund scholarships around the world.)

While college students typically attend school for four or more years and borrow money to afford tuition, MissionU is a one-year program that has an income-share agreement with students.

Students get charged tuition only once they become gainfully employed upon graduation.

The program's current (and only) major is data analytics and business intelligence, which Braun says is the top skill set many competing companies are increasingly seeking in new hires.

The average 2016 graduate is carrying about $37,000 in student loan debt, up six percent from the previous year. It's not uncommon for some to owe double or triple that amount, which makes for a challenging financial life once stepping into the "real world."

As the founder, Braun was personally compelled to launch MissionU after witnessing his wife struggle to repay over $100,000 in college debt.

"We have two major issues with the very broken higher education system in this country," he told me on my podcast. "The first is that young people are leaving school unprepared for the job market and without the necessary skills or experiences, to bring value to an employer. And then the second is that whether they get the degree or not, they're leaving school with insurmountable crippling levels of debt."

The total cost of MissionU is capped at $45,000 and grads are charged 15% of their salary for three years once they earn $50,000 or more. If a student isn't making at least $50,000 in any given month, a deferral period kicks in and can be be applied for up to 48 months.

The program is in its infancy and has yet to establish a track record, but it begs the question: What are some other ways - besides scholarships and grants - to avoid the painfully high cost of attending college?

Well, crowdfunding, for one.

What began as a means for primarily funding artists' projects, is now vastly popular way to pay for a number of initiatives, including earning a degree.

GoFundMe, for example, has a college tuition fundraising section that provides tips and resources. According to Forbes, GoFundMe "has raised $60 million from over 850,000 donations for college tuition and related expenses." Fees do apply for those who raise money through the site.

Over at YouCaring.com, the website leverages your social network to reach donors for your cause and boasts helping its fundraisers free of charge. Search for 'college' and you can find a number of accounts seeking help for school.

But why pay for college at all?

Some schools enroll students free of charge.

According to thebestcolleges.org, there are 10 schools offering free tuition this year including Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Webb Institute, Barclay College, Curtis Institute of Music, Alice Lloyd College, Cooper Union, Berea College and College of the Ozarks.

Many of theses schools have small campuses, so if you're seeking a large community, these institutions may not be the right fit. Acceptance rates are also very low. About one in eight or 13% of applicants got accepted to Cooper Union last year. And keep in mind that at some "free" schools you may still be required to pay for housing, books and some fees out of pocket.

Have a question for Farnoosh? You can submit your questions via Twitter @Farnoosh, Facebook or email at farnoosh@farnoosh.tv (please note "Mint Blog" in the subject line).
Farnoosh Torabi is America's leading personal finance authority hooked on helping Americans live their richest, happiest lives. From her early days reporting for Money Magazine to now hosting a primetime series on CNBC and writing monthly for O, The Oprah Magazine, she's become our favorite go-to money expert and friend.

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Alternative Ways to Pay for College [Video] | MintLife Blog

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Imagine a day when a college degree takes just one year to complete. Tuition is free and, upon graduation, companies like Spotify and Lyft want to hire you. Adam Braun, founder of MissionU, wants that day to be now.

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Sometimes I feel like college stress just sucks the life out of me.

Honestly, I think it's worse to suffer from anxiety in college than in almost any other life stage. If you experience work-related anxiety, at least you're away from work at night. When you experience school-related anxiety it follows you everywhere. You can't sleep, eat, or take a five minute break without being reminded of 76 things you should be doing and that someone else is probably doing. Someone who will take your place in that grad program you're trying for.

Anxiety is something that I've struggled with since I was 16 (when I started university). Over the years I've dealt with it really well and really badly-but I've learned a lot in the process. I thought that today I'd share you 9 of my top tips for dealing with anxiety in school from my own experience.

One thing I want to make clear, though, is that I am a psychology student. NOT a psychologist. This is simply meant to be a list of things I have found helped me-they are not all supported by research, but mainly my musings. If you have an anxiety disorder, please seek professional help. It's great.

With that being said, here are my 9 tips for battling anxiety in college:

1. Accept it

You've just got to come to terms with your anxiety. If you struggle with extreme stress to the point where it interferes with daily functioning, you've got to deal with it. You can't keep ignoring it-it's unhealthy for you academically, psychologically, and socially.

This doesn't mean that you can use your anxiety as an excuse. I fell into that trap-just being anxious doesn't give you an excuse for blowing up at your partner or being snippy at a friend or leaving the dishes for your roommate two weeks in a row. Rather, accept it so that you are aware of it and how it may be showing itself in your daily life. Accepting it helps you notice the power you're allowing it to have over you, and slowly take that power back.

2. Decide what you can handle

We have this idea that school needs to be completed in 4 years right after high school and then you immediately start working or go to grad school. But why? If you're experiencing anxiety, why not take a reduced course load? Is that really the end of the world?

If you're finding that school is taking too much from you emotionally and in terms of time, I would seriously consider taking a reduced course load to help you stay psychologically healthy while in school. I took a reduced course load last semester because my honours thesis is due sooner than everyone else's, and I'm so glad I did, even though it means that I'm not graduating with my friends. It's worth it for me to have a bit less stress even if it means graduating a few months later.

There is no shame in admitting that you can't handle everything. And you owe it to yourself to stay healthy.

Related: 10 Ways to Relieve Stress over Exams

3. Break up tasks by time spent rather than number of items

After you decide what you can handle, I want you to try changing the way that you write your "to-do list" of the day.

Something that I find really overwhelming is seeing a list of 7 things to do, all of which are huge projects that can't possibly be finished in a day. How much do I do? When do I know I'm done? Have I done enough yet?

What I started doing this semester is scheduling my work based on time for my larger projects. If I have 10 pages to read for a course, of course I still just write down "readings for course A," but for giant research papers I write down "1 hour methods," and "2 hours results" instead of "methods and results." See how much clearer that is? It helps me know when I've completed what I need to do and lets me feel finished without feeling guilty about how I should have done more.

4. Schedule in school-free time

This is time where you do something to just turn your brain off of school for a while. That could be having a nice, long bath after a night class or going for a run on Saturday morning. Whatever works to help you relax and feel refreshed.

5. Assess your worst-case scenario

A lot of anxiety is fear of what might happen rather than what is happening now. Something that helped me was when Connor asked me "But what's the worst that could happen?"

Of course, I rattled off about 25 things that might happen if I didn't get the grade that I wanted on a paper (I kid you not, one of them actually ended up with Connor dying. Because I didn't get the grade I wanted on a paper. Anxiety is a funny thing.), but I realized that after looking at my fears, only about three or four of them were realistic, and I could live with all of them.

The fears still worry me, but knowing that you can handle your worst-case scenario gives you a sense of control and stability even when you don't know what's coming next. You can deal with it, whatever it is.

6. Learning relaxation techniques

Sometimes you've got to calm down and you've got to calm down now. Especially in exams! Learn some relaxation exercises, like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. Oftentimes universities have workshops on mental health and CBT, go to one and listen to what they have to say! It's pretty amazing how much power we really have over our emotions.

If you don't have on-campus mental health services, just google deep breathing or muscle relaxation techniques. Something that I find helps is putting a hot pack on my shoulders. (I just made one by sewing together a hand towel and filling it with rice. Pop it in the microwave and it's immediate heat therapy!)

7. Develop a routine of self-care

It can be really helpful to feel like you have some control over life, even if it's just taking care of yourself. Create a quick routine that's easy to stick to that makes sure that you always feel clean and fresh. You don't need to leave the door with a full face of makeup and Victoria Secret model hair, but make sure you have a schedule that helps you get good food in your body and stay on top of basics of grooming at least. It makes a huge difference than just grabbing a slice of pizza on your way to class.

Feeling like you look clean and nice and knowing that you have given yourself healthy food that morning can immediately improve your mood enough to help you combat anxiety. Give it a try.
Related: Why You Should Take Care of Yourself
8. Remember that this is a phase

Sure, things like huge deadlines for work may bring back feelings of anxiety in the future, but for a lot of us this feeling we get while in college of not knowing what's happening while simultaneously having zero control is one of the most anxiety-provoking situations we'll ever be in.

Remind yourself that even though it feels like it will never end, you only have 12 weeks of class in a semester. It will end, and you will survive. Whatever you're dealing with right now is a phase that will pass, and you'll be OK on the other end.

9. Consider seeing a psychologist

If your anxiety is severe and you feel like you need help, please consider seeing a psychologist. Most people with mental health issues never receive professional help for their struggle, and therapy can be extremely helpful. I'm a psych student, and I've seen and read about so many examples of how life-changing it can be to work with a psychologist to get to the bottom of what's causing your anxiety or depression or whatever you are dealing with. Seeing professional help can equip you with the tools you need to combat this, and there is no shame in asking for help.

Look for mental health services on your campus, or look into your medical plans to see if they cover any therapy costs. Many do, so take advantage of that benefit. (you're paying for it anyway!)

Anxiety is a struggle. But it's one that we can win!

I really hope that I could offer a bit of light for some of you who are feeling extremely stressed right now-we're all in the same boat.
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What are some ways that you deal with stress or anxiety?

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Sometimes I feel like college stress just sucks the life out of me. Honestly, I think it's worse to suffer from anxiety in college than in almost any other life stage. If you experience work-related anxiety, at least you're away from work at night. When you experience school-related anxiety it follows you everywhere.

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College can be expensive: according to the College Board, a private four-year college costs an average of $32,410 a year. Four years comes out to nearly $130,000!

While it's hard to argue against the value of a college education, no one says you have pay the full freight without trying to find ways to save. Fortunately, there are some clever strategies you can use to make college tuition less expensive so you don't graduate with student loans that rival some mortgages.

Public College is Far Cheaper

A private four-year college is by far the most expensive academic option for those going to school after high school. The best way to save on college tuition is to go to a public college or university instead. Private colleges are not, by definition, automatically better or worse than public institutions. Take a look at your area of study or interests and see where the best schools align because many of the best institutions are public.

Stay In-State

Public colleges charge you based on your state of residency, while private schools charge the same for in-state and out-of-state students. If you are a resident of the state you plan to attend college in, you pay far less for public school than if you are considered an out-of-state student. The average public four-year college will charge an out-of-state student $23,890. An in-state student will pay an average $9,410: a staggering difference of $57,920 over four years!

Establish a Domicile in the State

If you are attending a public school and are considered out-of-state, establishing residency in the state will allow you to pay the in-state tuition rate. However, you should confirm the rules of residency with your college since they will determine your rate. For example, at the University of Pittsburgh, a minor (which they define as under the age of 22 for the purposes of establishing domicile) is presumed to have the domicile of his or her parents. Unless you prove financial emancipation, it's very hard to prove you're a resident of Pennsylvania if your parents are not. The rules for your college may differ, so be sure to check them thoroughly.

Get Basic Credits at Community College

The most affordable colleges are community colleges. Many people have saved a tremendous amount of money by taking basic credits at a community college and then transferring to a more expensive, four-year institution later. There are also many two-year colleges that offer transfer programs with four-year colleges. Keep in mind: it's very important that you make sure the credits you earn at a community college will transfer to the four-year college, so you can start there as a junior. There may be a grade requirement as well, so you may need to get an A in a class for the credits to transfer. You do not want to retake a class and pay for it twice!

Take advantage of scholarships

There are a lot of scholarships available to students and any "free money" you earn can be applied towards tuition. Try looking for obscure scholarships that fewer people are applying for so you face less competition. If you can't find obscure scholarships that apply to you, consider looking at local scholarships. I won a $500 scholarship awarded only to students in my high school, an award many others didn't even know existed!

Get Education Tax Benefits at Tax Time

When it comes time to do your taxes, make sure you take advantage of education tax credits and deductions you're eligible for: like the American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $2,500 per student or the Lifetime Learning Credit worth up to $2,000 per tax return. (You can take only one!) Also, if you racked up student loans, you can deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest.

Don't worry about knowing about these tax benefits. TurboTax will ask you simple questions and give you the credits and deductions you deserve based on your answers.

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5 Tips to Save for College Tuition | MintLife Blog

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College can be expensive: according to the College Board, a private four-year college costs an average of $32,410 a year. Four years comes out to nearly $130,000! While it's hard to argue against the value of a college education, no one says you have pay the full freight without trying to find ways to save.

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Many moons ago, I piled everything I owned into a car and drove 10 hours to my new home.

(And by many moons, I mean seven years ago.)

I thought I'd lead a minimalistic life, eating meals at the dining halls and spending most of my time with my nose buried in books.

But that's not exactly what happened that first year. I wanted to be social, not eat greasy pizza and wilted salads every night. I wanted to explore my new grounds.
Wondering how to save money in college? In the spirit of my fledgling adulthood struggles, I've compiled a list of easy-to-use tools that'll help new - and existing - college students save a buck or two.
1. For Grocery (and Beer) Runs, Use Ibotta

This app is perfect for college students who have little time to screw around with coupons.

Download Ibotta (for free), and find your preferred grocery store. You'll also find online retailers, restaurants and bars. Peruse cash-back opportunities.

was my go-to spot in college, though it required a solid 30-minute trek over to the neighboring town. Right now, here are a few cash-back offers available at Target:

$5 back on two packs of Bud Light aluminum bottles

75 cents back on Clif Crunch bars

$1.25 back on Purex laundry detergent
Bonus: Here are more ways you can save on groceries.
After you check out, scan your receipt for your selected rebates, then score the cash back. Within a few months, I've earned nearly $50, which is a hearty chunk of change I could have used back in college.

Once you claim your first rebate, you'll get a $10 bonus .

2. For Cafes, Bars and Restaurants, Use Swagbucks Local

I didn't expose myself to coffee until my junior year of college. Then I was hooked, and I frequented the same coffee shop. Over and over and over.

My bill there racked up.

The same thing happened at the local pizza joint and the ice cream shop.
Bonus: Here are more ways to save the next time you treat yourself to a nice meal.
If you frequent the same spots, at least see if they're paired with Swagbucks Local so you can earn money back.

Swagbucks Local is a free app you can link to your debit and/or credit cards. If you swipe your card at a Swagbucks-affiliated spot, you'll earn Swagbucks, or SBs. You can then exchange these SBs for gift cards to spots like Amazon, Starbucks or Target.

After you set up the account, you don't have to do anything but occasionally check in.

Many eateries in my area offer 7 SBs per dollar. I've racked up 268 SBs so far without really trying. Once I hit 500, I can cash out for a $5 gift card.

3. For Emergencies, Use Acorns

I had no idea what an emergency, or rainy day, fund was back in college. However, I could have certainly used one.
A super easy, passive way to earn money back when you shop online is to use an automated personal assistant like Earny.
Living in an old, poorly ventilated dorm building with hundreds of girls, staying healthy is tough. Also, it never failed that my car had issues requiring hefty repair fees.

For that, I should have started an automated savings account through an app like Acorns. Acorns is actually a micro-investing account that rounds up your purchases to the next dollar and moves the digital change to a savings account. However, you can also choose to have your money automatically invested, ideally earning you more.

You don't need much to get started, just download the app and connect your account. Plus, when you make your first investment, you'll bank $10.

If something ever happens and leaves you strapped for cash, you can dip into Acorns to get the money out.

4. For Clothes and Other Necessities, Use Earny
Bonus: Here are some other Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. If you're a college student who has a favorite cash-back app, let us know. We'd love to feature you! legit ways to make money in college without skipping class.
Whenever I needed new clothes for a job, internship or just because I didn't want to go to class in holey T-shirts all the time, I'd shop online.

With Earny, everything is automatic. You just need to connect your inbox, then it'll issue you a refund when an item's price drops.

For example, if you bought a Keurig K50 Brewing system from , Target or for $109.99, the price recently dropped $40, which Earny would put back in your account (minus a 10% commission).

Another example: Maybe you bought a Dyson AM07 Cool Tower Fan for your room. The price dropped $50 from $399.99. If you had Earny, it'd be right back in your pocket.

Don't worry, price drops happen all the time.

Here are its affiliated retailers: Amazon, Best Buy, Bloomingdale's, Carter's, Costco, Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, J.Crew, Jet, Kohl's, Macy's, Newegg, Nike, Nordstrom, Overstock, Sears, Staples, Target, Walmart and Zappos.

Your refunds will automatically appear in your account.

I've got to say: These four apps only touch the tip of the iceberg of the cash-back realm. However, in my opinion, these are the easiest to use - which is perfect when you feel like you have a million and one things to do before class tomorrow.

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These 4 Apps are Guaranteed to Help College Students Save Some Money

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Many moons ago, I piled everything I owned into a car and drove 10 hours to my new home. (And by many moons, I mean seven years ago.) I thought I'd lead a minimalistic life, eating meals at the dining halls and spending most of my time with my nose buried in books.

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Several years ago, a fellow college grad mentioned how she was over $100,000 in debt from school. It surprised me because I didn't recall tuition being that expensive at our in-state college at the time. "Well, I used the money for my living expenses, too," she explained. Then I remembered the studio apartment she rented during senior year and her insistence on eating organic food. And it all made sense.

Looking back, this probably wasn't the best use of the funds. Just because a lender (or a group of lenders) gives you a six-figure loan doesn't mean you have to spend all of it.

In general, colleges first apply a student's federal student loan towards tuition, room and board. Money left over gets sent to the borrower by check, cash or a direct deposit to a bank account. Private student loans typically get disbursed in a similar fashion, although in some cases, depending on the loan, borrowers may receive all the money up front in their bank account.

Suddenly, a college student who's used to never having any money in her bank account, feels rich! My friend's student loan deposits in her bank account may have given her an inflated sense of what she could "afford."

But, as tempting as it may be to use some of that money to buy a new fall jacket or live off campus without roommates, be careful. Your graduated self, a few years down the road, will thank you for practicing some self-control and putting those student loan dollars to more responsible use.

Here's some help on how to properly spend and manage your student loans to avoid regrets or remorse down the road.

Do Pay Tuition First. (Some) Food and (Some) Books Later.

Again, while colleges typically transfer your student loan funds over to the "necessities" like room and board first, there is a chance you may need to appropriate some or all of the money yourself to the various expenses on your plate. My advice is to ration the funds starting with the obvious biggies that are more or less non-negotiable such as tuition, on-campus housing, your meal plan and required fees.

After that, I'd say pay for the cost of books and other course materials, but to an extent. Don't buy everything on each professor's recommended list on the first day of school. Instead, visit class, talk to former students and learn what is essential and what you can skip. Keep in mind, too, that some textbooks can be purchased used or found online for a fraction of the price. Another thing to keep in mind is that school libraries sometimes keep one or two copies of each required textbook on hand.

If you choose to live off campus or don't want to go with a school meal plan, try to live below your "student loan" means. In other words, don't just look at what's left in your account after paying for tuition and spend up to that amount. Want to stock your fridge with all-organic produce? Maybe try earning some money on the side to supplement your lifestyle.

Do Return the Extra Funds

If, after applying your student loans to the various qualifying expenses you have some funds left over, consider sending it back to the lender to help reduce your final bill.

I know this can painful in the moment, but your future self will thank you. Your student loan, after all, is a form of debt that may very well be accumulating interest as you sit in Chemistry 201. Do you really want to finance your groceries? Leverage your sorority dues?

Using personal savings may be a smarter way to afford those extra expenses that are natural to occur in college. Don't have savings? Consider a side hustle to bring in extra cash (if it doesn't compromise your studies).

Don't Call it "Income"

Finally, while some or all of your student loan funds may end up in your bank account, remember that it's not really yours. It's not really cash. It's debt you need to repay one day. And it's certainly not "income."

I say this as cautionary advice because it's been reported that some student loan borrowers state their loans as "income" when applying for credit cards. The new credit card rules which took effect in 2009 state that if you are under the age of 21 you are not eligible for a credit card unless you have either 1) qualifying income or 2) a qualified co-signer. A student loan is not qualifying income. It's debt. And if you're in debt with no job, you probably shouldn't be applying for a credit card that could land you into further debt.

Have a question for Farnoosh? You can submit your questions via Twitter @Farnoosh, Facebook or email at farnoosh@farnoosh.tv (please note "Mint Blog" in the subject line).
Farnoosh Torabi is America's leading personal finance authority hooked on helping Americans live their richest, happiest lives. From her early days reporting for Money Magazine to now hosting a primetime series on CNBC and writing monthly for O, The Oprah Magazine, she's become our favorite go-to money expert and friend.

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How to Spend Your Student Loans: Do's and Dont's | MintLife Blog

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Several years ago, a fellow college grad mentioned how she was over $100,000 in debt from school. It surprised me because I didn't recall tuition being that expensive at our in-state college at the time. "Well, I used the money for my living expenses, too," she explained.

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A college education is expensive, a huge investment of time and effort, and sometimes, not the right path. In fact, one Harvard expert has reported that for every 100 young people who start college, only 25 get degrees and good jobs. About 45 drop out, and 30 graduate but end up under- or unemployed. But if you--or your kid--are bent on earning a bachelor's degree, how can you stack the deck to make sure an attractive job waits on the other end of four (or more) years? Take some advice from Sarah Franklin, the GM of Trailhead, a free online learning environment created by Salesforce, who has made it her mission to help educate students at any age or expertise, on today's most sought after skills to land their dream jobs at any company. Here are her words about the top five skills she believes every student should master before graduation.

1. Learn to code.

Today, every company is a tech company, which means every kind of business, from beauty to banking, has a need for individuals who know how to code. Having basic coding skills under your belt will be a huge asset to you throughout your career, and even if you're not planning to become the master developer, having that skill on your resume can increase earning power and make you more attractive to employers. We at Trailhead offer a beginners developer class, where you can learn the tools and technologies that power development on the Salesforce platform. There are also tons of other free resources online, including GitHub's 500 free programming books that cover more than 80 different programming languages.

2. Learn how to develop for AI.

Artificial intelligence is currently a $15 billion industry, and is expected to grow to more than $70 billion by 2020, meaning that employers are eager to hire people who understand its business value, and how to develop for it, so they can keep ahead of the competition. Adding the ability to understand and develop for AI to your skillset will take your resume to the next level. Check out some free, online courses such as Coursera's class hosted by Stanford University on Machine Learning, to get skilled-up on AI and machine learning on your own time.

3. Know Agile.

Agile is an iterative approach to software development that focuses on continuous releases and incorporating customer feedback with every revision. Agile is the industry standard for building and shipping high-quality software, allowing teams to move faster and adjust to changing market trends. Today, large organizations are looking for ways to apply agile to entire programs, creating a strong demand for talent in the market. My team has partnered with Atlassian to bring agile courses that will provide the skills needed to build and run agile teams across any business. Here is the best place to get started.

4. Understand the importance of data and analytics for business intelligence.

Companies are investing more of their time and money into interpreting their customers' data to garner business intelligence and gain a competitive advantage. Learning to take data and interpret it to create insights that you can use to make better business decisions, is a skill that employers are avidly seeking in today's data-rich environment. Visit edX's class "Knowledge Management and Big Data in Business" to start building your business intelligence skills and begin taking the steps that will differentiate you from other job seekers.

5. Embrace public speaking.

The fear of public speaking is said to plague 75 percent of the population, meaning that people who speak well publicly are few and far between. Being able to master this skill, whether it be in front of a class of your peers, or in a boardroom of superiors, is an important ability to have. Use the time you have left in school to practice talking in front of groups as much as you can. This will help you feel more comfortable speaking to potential new colleagues during the interview process and will ultimately help you present your ideas in the workplace without losing your cool. Our team created a course that will help you face your fears and learn to present like a pro.

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The Top 5 Skills Every College Student Needs To Acquire Before Graduation

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A college education is expensive, a huge investment of time and effort, and sometimes, not the right path. In fact, one Harvard expert has reported that for every 100 young people who start college, only 25 get degrees and good jobs. About 45 drop out, and 30 graduate but end up under- or unemployed.

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The future is here. Technology is driving our progress at a rapid pace, driven by advances in artificial intelligence. Just look at modern conveniences, from self check out lines at the grocery store to chatbots used for online customer service. Many jobs are slowly being replaced by robots as they become automated. There is not much that can (or should) be done to stop this natural progression.

Of course, you cannot compete with machines. They are faster, more precise, and most importantly, they don't need to work in shifts. Jeez, this sounds grim. Sure, humans aren't as efficient as machines, but there are other ways we can make ourselves relevant. The best thing is to learn new skills that will make you a valuable asset to your future employer. Now, you might be thinking, how can I know what job skills are going to be necessary in the future?

Luckily, today's infographic reminds us of the hottest sectors to keep an eye on. Based on the current trends and flow of the market, there are also 10 skills all of us will need to be successful in 2020. The human brain is still extremely difficult for machines to properly replicate, so the skills we need like complex problem solving and cognitive flexibility require deep thinking. Graduates, pay attention!

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10 Hottest Jobs In 2020 And The Skills You Need [Infographic] | Daily Infographic

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The future is here. Technology is driving our progress at a rapid pace, driven by advances in artificial intelligence. Just look at modern conveniences, from self check out lines at the grocery store to chatbots used for online customer service. Many jobs are slowly being replaced by robots as they become automated.

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Whether you like tinkering with mechanical gears, tweaking human muscles or cleaning folks' teeth, the latest job growth projections will give you a reason to jump in the air and click your heels, 1920s-musical style.

OK, the last one sounded a little weird, but you'll just have to read on to see where we're going with this.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has finally updated its forecast for job growth through 2026 - it previously just went up to 2024 - and the country is slated to add more than 11 million new jobs in that timeframe.
So if you're a college student or experiencing the existential ennui of a job you don't truly love, now may be a good time to start looking for a new career.
There are a few problems when you look at these numbers at face value, though.
105%!
That sounds huge, but because the industry is so small right now, that only means a few thousand jobs a year over the next decade.
And many other others, like mathematician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner require advanced degrees, and we know you ain't got time for that.
And on the other side of the coin, if you just look at the volume of job openings , the list has jobs that are really seasonal and not too glamorous, like waiters or fast food workers. Some don't pay that well, with the median salary of those 21 jobs listed by the BLS falling a bit below $32,000.

So to bring you, our loyal readers, the best jobs you should consider based off of these freshly-released stats, we considered the percent of job growth projected, overall growth forecast and wage to bring you a list of jobs that are attainable and totally off the heezy for the next decade. You'll see, some are stronger in one category than another.

The best part: None of these require a bachelor's degree. However, some may require a year or two of certification training, and an Associate's degree may take more than two years.

Top Careers Slated to Grow That Don't Require a Bachelor's

1. Physical Therapist Assistant

Median Annual Pay: $56,610

This one's personal.

2. Sonographer

Median Annual Pay: $69,650

3. Dental Hygienist

Median Annual Pay: $72,910

4. Respiratory Therapist

Median Annual Pay: $58,670

Hey, all humans have gotta breathe, right?

5. Oil, Gas and Mining Service Unit Operator

Median Annual Pay: $48,610

Median Annual Pay: $68,010

Becoming a takes a high tolerance for heat and a healthy respect for the power of electricity. But, like infrastructure jobs we've highlighted in the past, you don't need a college degree. Try an apprenticeship if you're looking for an electric career choice.

7. Bicycle Repairer

Median Annual Pay: $27,630

The wildcard!

Become a bicycle tinkerer and you'll definitely have work over the next decade, although the pay doesn't measure up as much as others on the list.

8. MRI Technologist

Median Annual Pay: $68,420

9. Physical Therapist Aide

Median Annual Pay: $25,680

This is another career that is set to take off because our aging demographics with chronic problems, like obesity or diabetes, according to the BLS.

10. Oil or Gas Roustabout

Median Annual Pay: $37,340

Roustabout sounds like an awesome old-timey job you'd have hauling luggage for a traveling circus, but it's also a solid career choice in the field of energy.

11. Massage Therapist

Median Annual Pay: $39,860

As the current political and international climate remains apocalyptic, we're going to need all the help we can to relax.

12. Web Developer

Median Annual Pay: $66,130

13. Hearing Aid Specialist

Median Annual Pay: $50,250

Can you hear me now?

You know the best part about most of these careers? You'll be helping people - and in the end that's what matters most.
Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder.

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These 13 Careers Are Set to Take Off in the U.S. - No Bachelor's Needed

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Whether you like tinkering with mechanical gears, tweaking human muscles or cleaning folks' teeth, the latest job growth projections will give you a reason to jump in the air and click your heels, 1920s-musical style. OK, the last one sounded a little weird, but you'll just have to read on to see where we're going with this.

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Hiring practices may have changed a bit in the last few years, but one thing has stayed the same.

Resumes are a must during a job hunt.

Many new grads worry their resume isn't any good because they don't have much job experience to list. Some lack a resume altogether.
That's too bad, because a quality resume is a very big deal for job seekers.
It's your first introduction to prospective employers and can make or break your chances of getting a job.

Writing a resume isn't too complex, but there are some important details to keep in mind. Use this blueprint to create a great resume that gets you noticed.

Choose Your Format

Free online resume templates that let you fill in the blanks are an option, but you get what you pay for - which is to say, not much.
Employer brand consultant Jörgen Sundberg says resume templates cast job candidates in a poor light.
Artists, graphic designers and other visually creative professionals may want to use their resume to highlight their creative talents. Otherwise, keep things simple.

Hiring managers are interested in your skills and experience, not fancy fonts or formatting. Use a standard font like Arial or Tahoma and keep the layout simple.

Create Your Content

Your resume should contain several important components.

Contact Information

Feature your name and contact information at the top of the page.

Use your full name, followed by your phone number and email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile or professional online portfolio, be sure to include that as well.

Write a short paragraph - two or three sentences at most - highlighting the type of work you're looking for. Be sure to mention skills and talents that make you perfect for the job.

Work Experience

List your current job (if applicable) first, followed by all previous jobs in reverse chronological order.

Each job should include:

Name and address of the company where you worked

Your job title

Dates of employment

Your job responsibilities

If you have no work experience, don't leave this section blank or eliminate it altogether.
Instead, use the section to highlight skills you've developed during college or while doing volunteer work.

In this section, include any community colleges, universities, trade schools or technical colleges you've attended. Begin with your most recent school and work backwards.

For each school, be sure to provide:

The name, city and state of the school

The dates you attended

Any degrees or certifications you received

Note: If your degree is in progress, add the expected date of completion to let prospective employers know you're still working on it.

Honors and Community Experience

Academic or work-related awards

Membership in clubs or organizations like Girl or Boy Scouts, 4-H or debate club

Volunteer community service

Greek Life leadership

Additional Skills

Here's where to highlight skills and talents that set you apart from other job seekers, including:

Fluency in more than one language

Typing speed

Proficiency in specific computer software programs

Experience with public speaking

A Word About Keywords

Many companies ask job candidates to apply online and upload resumes to their website. Resumes are often electronically scanned for specific keywords to quickly weed out unqualified applicants.

As you sprinkle keywords throughout your resume, be sure they don't make the content sound stilted or awkward. Look for ways to work them in naturally; don't force it.

Final Touches

Once you've created your resume, it's not ready to hand to a hiring manager until you do these three things.

1. Proofread Your Work

Print a copy of your resume, then read through it slowly several times to make sure it's error-free.

2. Show It to a Friend

Share your resume with someone you trust to get some honest feedback on how it looks. Have them read it to you out loud to take in the content in a new way.

3. Convert It to a PDF

PDF file formats are almost universally preferred during the hiring process and they protect your resume's content from being accidentally altered once it leaves your hands.

Once your cover letter is ready for prime time, write up a cover letter ( they're more important than you think ) and start sending it to job prospects.

Happy job hunting!
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves to write anything, and she means anything, except resumes.

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Not Sure How to Write a Resume? This Step-by-Step Guide Makes It Easy

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Hiring practices may have changed a bit in the last few years, but one thing has stayed the same. Resumes are a must during a job hunt. Many new grads worry their resume isn't any good because they don't have much job experience to list. Some lack a resume altogether.

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In the world's only mobile college fair, you can explore and compare over 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities -- or search by major, career, location, and interest.

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Edpuzzle video lesson. Make any video your lesson. Take a video and crop it, add your voice or embed questions at any point.

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Names and numbers.

I say that to my students over and over again - their college application is just a series of names and numbers.

Names of courses taken

Names of clubs and activities

Names of sports they played

And while all those names and numbers will be a record of what they have done in high school, it will not show who they are.

Their only chance to put a human touch on an impersonal process is to reveal their best qualities and characteristics in the essay.

AND THAT FREAKS THEM OUT!

I have had some students come in tears.

Some came with an empty page and a blank face.

Others had the seed of an idea that needed fertilizing.

Some were just looking for a final edit.

Rather than see the opportunity to stand out and distinguish themselves from a pool of applicants, many panic. They fear they lack life experience, they struggle to tell a story, and they regret not starting earlier.

I can help. I have some tips that can make the process easier and better. I've read well over 500 college essays over the years. Year after year patterns emerged. I saw what worked and what should be avoided.

The Biggest College Essay Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The Five Cliches

What's Wrong: I read dozens of these essays each year - and they are all the same.

My sports team won the championship - I love my teammates.

My grandparent had cancer - Life is fragile.

My parents divorced - I'm now independent.

I traveled to a disadvantaged area - boy am I fortunate.

I suffered a sports injury - The medical field is awesome.

Granted, I'm doing a gross overgeneralization and reducing these topics to a sound bite. But that's the point. I've read so many of these essays over the years that they all become boring and predictable.

Make it Better: The only way to stand out with those topics is to be original. Don't start by describing the winning goal in the league championship, begin with a small detail like the color of your cleat laces. Don't tell me how much your grandpa suffered, show me what he looked like when he came to your science fair ceremony in middle school. Don't tell me all the bad things your mom and dad used to say to each other, show me the moment when you realized his awful breath. Don't tell me about the pop in your ankle, show me the DSW Shoe Warehouse aisles with all the open-toed sandals that you could no longer buy.

Please, don't start with the obvious. Go off the beaten path and blaze your own trail.

The Big Words Fallacy

What's Wrong: I have seen too many students make the terrible assumption that colleges want big words because big words are an indication of intelligence. The essay sounds like it was cribbed from the thesaurus with sentences like, I traversed my current state of adolescent bliss to the illuminating confines of the Guatemalan destitute.

Here's the danger of writing sentences like that - it comes off as inauthentic and insecure. It says to a college admissions officer, H ey, I'm not that confident in my own voice or who I really am, so I'm going to the thesaurus to say the things and use words that I think will impress you.

Make it Better: Write as you talk. Application readers see right through the big words and overly descriptive sentences.

Students have been raised on a steady diet of expository writing. Its purpose is different - it is meant to inform and, consequently, is more formal. Narratives are meant to illuminate through the art of story telling. They include dialogue, action, and thematic purpose. Students are not used to writing this way because they don't do enough of it. They need colorful writing, but they struggle to find their voice.

Have them tell their story to you out loud. Then tell them to write what they just said.

Mount Everest Syndrome

What's Wrong: Many students feel they have nothing to write about because they have led the typical teenage life. In order to apply to college they feel they need to have climbed Mount Everest or sent care packages to orphans in a war-torn African village. As Brianna Crowley shared with me, "they feel pressured to find the most dramatic thing that's ever happened to them and write about how that made them a better person. They don't realize that sometimes the most revealing things about us are those small, seemingly mundane aspects of our life, perspective, or experiences that can be the most revealing or profound. No one has to die or almost die for us to have rich, compelling stories about our experiences and what makes us unique."

Make it Better: In his poem, "Who Am I" Carl Sandburg writes, "My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe." Each student is a series of infinite truths waiting to be rescued the recesses of their mind.

Some truths reveal themselves in the most dramatic moments. But perceptive and reflective students can look back as the elusive moments of their life and see a truth that was speaking to them when they did not even know it. Only in the maturity of adolescence can they look back and realize it profound voice. There are a bunch of these types of essay in my free giveaway below. Those are the essays that speak to an admission counselor's soul.

Activity Record as an Essay

What's Wrong: I can look at your activity record and see that you were in the school play in 9th, 10th and 11th grade. I don't need a three paragraph essay summarizing each year's drama production. It doesn't have to be drama. It could be robotics, or sports, or service club. But the problem is, when you do a My History in ________ essay, it reveals little more than what your activity record already shows. It is superficial, skimming along the surface of the experience. It does not allow you to develop yourself or the other people in your narrative. Action gets summarized. Dialogue is non-existent. And the essay plods to a boring conclusion that was predictable from the first sentence.

Make it Better: Don't give me the telescopic view and all the constellations in the sky. Put your meaningful activity under the microscope. Zoom in so I see the all those fascinating interdependent cells that are hidden to the naked eye. Tell me what the costumes smelled like. Capture the timidity in Charlie's voice when he asked out Claire backstage when no one was looking except you. Make me feel the spotlight burning into your retinas at 9:30pm on the Thursday of Hell Week with the show only three days away. Follow the age-old college essay axiom - show me, don't tell me. A few sensory details go a long way.

Here are a few more college essay pointers compiled from teachers around the country:

Stay away from the 3Ds - drugs, death, and divorce. These essays tend to highlight the shortcoming of others rather than your own strengths

Avoid using 2nd person pronouns (i.e., you should keep trying hard .... etc.)

Some of the weaker essays include a "step-by-step" explanation of their Eagle Scout project, Girl Scout project, etc. that uncovers very little about the student.

Avoid overusing words/phrases: I love... my passion is... I'm passionate about ...

Some essays never answer the most-important question: what does this say about YOU?"

Many essays that tackle ongoing adversities - health, mental health, dealing with bad teachers, sexual abuse - reveal little about why the student would be a good fit for a college.

The writing style is just too vague. No clear details or images make the essay feel cold and distant.

They fall into cheese at the end instead of allowing an organic closure.

What mistakes do you see students making time and time again? Drop me a note in the comments below.

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The Biggest College Essay Mistakes - Talks with Teachers

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Names and numbers. I say that to my students over and over again - their college application is just a series of names and numbers. Names of courses taken Names of clubs and activities Names of sports they played And while all those names and numbers will be a record of what they have done in high school, it will not show who they are.

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Shmoop Careers is here to help you get real - because we believe that if you don't, you'll end up spinning a lot of wheels and effort chasing a dream that either ends up being a nightmare - or turns out to be a dream that you didn't really want in the first place.

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OK, maybe not the most confidence-inspiring thing to see on a personal finance site.

But it's true. Credit cards and other debt come with interest we often don't understand and payment terms we can't live up to.

Even if you're savvy and want to keep on top of your finances, just getting hold of the credit information that's used to decide nearly everything in your life can feel like a feat.

We're here to simplify all of this for you. To help you get smarter about credit, pay down debt and put more money in your pocket, here's a quick rundown of some credit card basics:

(Hint: Bookmark this page to come back to anytime you have questions about using credit cards! You're welcome.)

How to Build Credit

The weird conundrum about credit is you have to have it to earn it - but you would have had to... have credit to earn that original credit?

It sounds like a disaster, but don't worry. This isn't a high school lunchroom. You can totally break into the cool kids' circle. Here's how to start building your credit from scratch.

Why You Should Use Credit Cards Instead of Cash

We think Dave Ramsey was wrong when he said, "Responsible use of a credit card does not exist."

It's true credit cards are tough to keep under control, and that's why so many people are afraid to use them. But you can do it. And when you do, you get to reap fantastic rewards!

Here are 10 smart reasons to pay with credit cards - as long as you can pay your balance off at the end of each month .

Which Credit Cards Should You Use?

Not all cards are equally beneficial. With some, you simply run the risk of building a bunch of debt with a high interest rate.

With others, though, you can earn free flights and hotels, points toward food and entertainment, and even cash. Here are a few to consider:

Here's another option we like: It's the Plus, if you spend $500 in your first three months of opening the card (hi, groceries), you'll pocket a $150 bonus. Get signed up - and 0% intro APR for 15 months - Chase Freedom Unlimited card . Its claim to fame? You'll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all your purchases. here.

Is an Annual Fee Ever Worth It?

Ever wonder if you should pay to use a credit card? Lots of great credit cards come without fees, so why choose one with an annual fee? Because those are often the ones with the best rewards!
Cash-back rewards could net you a profit over the annual fee for your card. In that case, the fee could be worth it.
How to Keep Track of Your Credit Score

Once you establish credit, you're going to want to keep an eye on your activity.

Credit card companies, lenders, landlords and others will use your credit report to determine whether to trust you. You can make sure you understand what kind of impression you'll make by watching your credit score and report closely.

(Pst. Credit score and credit report are the same thing.)

First things first: What the is a credit score? In plain English, we explain credit score basics and why you need to know yours here.

How to Read a Credit Report
You want more than just that grade. You want to understand what earned you the grade.
That's why you'll want to see your credit report - the statement that lists information about your credit activity and current situation, like payment history and status of your credit card accounts.

Here's how to get your free credit report (no sneaky tactics here) - and how to understand the financial mumbo jumbo it contains.

One bummer: You might find mistakes on your report. Lenders and reporting agencies are far from perfect, so they might neglect to update your credit report when you pay off debts, for example. Or someone will hit the wrong key at the office, and your credit will be marred with some debt you never touched.
Here's how to fix those mistakes on your credit report.
What Affects Your Credit Score?

I've noticed an odd phenomenon: When you visit any site that lets you check your credit score, it always has a big note that says, "This won't affect your credit score!"

That's true: Checking your credit score won't hurt it. When you think about it, wouldn't that be ridiculous? That's like if your professors docked your grade when you ask to see your test scores.

How much of your available credit you use: 30%
Here's a more detailed overview of the types of activities that can affect your credit score (and those that can't).
How old your credit accounts are: 15%
Experts would recommend what's come to be known as the debt-avalanche method of debt repayment.
The variety in types of credit you've taken out: 10%

How often you're applying for new credit: 10%
If you want to consider debt consolidation, here are six steps to get you started.
But people still believe this myth, because the algorithm that determines your credit score is as confusing and scary as the one that determines what you see on Facebook (and nearly as life-altering...).

Here's what's actually included and how much each weighs into your score:

On a similar note, here's how closing an old credit card can affect your score .

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
Dana Sitar (dana@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer/newsletter editor at The Penny Hoarder. Say hi and tell her a good joke on Twitter @danasitar.
While it's not the most perfect way to pay off credit cards - because it lets debt sit and gather interest - it's a smart way to get moving when you feel immobilized by how much you owe.

This method eschews the instant gratification you get with the snowball method, but it'll probably save you more money in the long run.

How to Consolidate Credit Card Debt

Another option to consider when you have a lot of debt to pay off is consolidation. This basically means you'll take out one big loan to pay off your smaller credit card debts.

Ideally, that loan has a lower interest rate than your credit cards, so you'll owe less long term. Plus, you'll just have the one monthly payment to worry about instead of a bunch of payments with a bunch of due dates.

What to Do When You're Out of Options

Sometimes life gets the best of you. We understand that. If you're already up to your ears in debt and not sure what to do next, we've got a few final pieces of advice.

Those folks on the late-night commercials who promise to help you pay off debt quickly? They spin a good yarn, but their promises are often way too good to be true.

Any More Questions?

Credit cards and debt are sort of ginormous issues in the world of personal finance. They're becoming ubiquitous in our lives, even though most of us barely understand how any of this works.

We hope these basics help untangle some of the confusion - but we know there's plenty more to cover.

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This is a Crash Course in Everything You Need to Know About Credit Cards

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OK, maybe not the most confidence-inspiring thing to see on a personal finance site. But it's true. Credit cards and other debt come with interest we often don't understand and payment terms we can't live up to.

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by Guest Author

Student loans are a fact of life for many (most?) college grads these days. I wish I would have understood the consequences of taking out so many loans before I used student loans to help pay for Spring Break in Vegas. But it was just so easy...

Fast forward to graduation. And student loans switch from easy money to, quite possibly, one of your biggest expenses. It's tempting to just try very hard not to think about it, and just make your payments like we eat our vegetables, slowly, begrudgingly and with sufficient complaining.

But keeping your head in the sand can lead to some costly mistakes during repayment. And let's face it, at this point, the last thing you need right now is more costs!

So pay early and often and avoid the following (common) mistakes:

Not Paying At All

I get it. Life happens, nobody is perfect. You might still be looking for a job, or get surprised by some unexpected expenses. Or maybe you just didn't realize your grace period was over.

Whatever the reason, not paying your student loan bill can have serious consequences. Your credit score can suffer, and if your federal loans go into default, the government could decide to garnish your wages or withhold any tax refunds.

If you are having difficulties paying your loans, contact your lender immediately and work out a different payment plan. Whatever you do, don't let your payments lapse altogether.

Not Using Auto-Pay

This is an easy one. Often times, signing up for your lenders' Auto-Pay feature, they will give you a discount on your interest rate. A 0.25% discount on your interest rate might not sound like much, but it could reduce your total loan cost by $1,000 or more!

Paying Toward Future Payments, Not Principal

If you're working on your Debt Snowball, or just using every extra penny to pay off your student loans, it might be worthwhile to verify how your payments are being applied.

When you send in a payment greater than your balance due, your lender will apply that extra money mostly to fees and interest. The extra payment might even apply to future payments. Either of these options might not be helping you hit your goals any faster. If you really want to pay off your loans quicker, have the extra payment applied directly to the principal (loan balance minus interest).

Next time you make an extra payment, check to see if your lender allows you to select an option for applying the extra towards principal. If not, give them a call.

Dragging Out Your Payment Window

I don't know many recent college grads that look forward to the $500, or even $1000, monthly student loan payment at the end of their grace period. Some just simply can't afford it.

A number of repayment plans exist that will extend the term of your student loans from the standard 10-year term to 20- or even, 25-year terms. This will reduce your monthly payment, sure, but the interest costs are enormous.

Consider this example: A $50,000 loan balance at a 6.8% interest rate would have a monthly payment of $575 and would cost just over $19,000 in interest on a 10-year repayment plan.

That same loan extended to a 20-year term would have a monthly payment of $381 but would cost $41,600 in interest! Is it worth the extra $22,600 in cost and an extra 10 years of payments to save $194 a month? I don't think so.

Find ways to cut expenses in order to make your student loan payments-do whatever you can-before you extend your repayment period.

Paying the Wrong Type of Loans for Public Student Loan Forgiveness

This mistake won't apply to everyone, but it could be very significant if you are trying to qualify for Public Student Loan Forgiveness. I feel it's worth an honorable mention, at least.

If you work for a federal, state, local, or tribal government agency, or some non-profit organizations, you might be able to have your federal student loans forgiven after a certain amount of time. The trick is, you have to make 120 qualifying payments toward your loans. Key word being, qualifying.

If you are not making payments on an income-driven repayment plan toward Direct Loans only, you will be in for a rude awakening when your application for Public Student Loan Forgiveness is denied. This is the biggest reason borrowers will not earn forgiveness in the PSLF program.

Check to see if you are on an income-driven repayment plan such as PAYE, REPAYE, ICR, or IBR. Also, make sure your loans are Direct loans. FFEL, Perkins or any other "non-Direct" loan will not count. You can check your loan type in the National Student Loan Data System.

Refinancing Federal Loans into Private Loans

There are many banks that advertise savings on your student loans by offering you a lower interest rate if you refinance with them. While this might be a good idea for your private student loans, it's generally a mistake to refinance your federal loans into a private loan.

Your federal student loans come with benefits that are typically not offered by private loans. For instance, there are a number of income-driven repayment plans offered for federal loans, not private loans. Private loans might not offer deferment or forbearance options if you were to go back to school or lose your income.

By including federal loans into a private, refinancing loan, you lose many of these protections. Just make sure you have all the information before you make a change.

Keeping Your Cosigner

A cosigner may have been necessary when you took out a private student loan in order to reduce the lender's risk. If you are paying your student loans without any issue, you may not think twice about the cosigner on your loan.

In the unfortunate event that the cosigner passes away, the student loan could automatically go into default, even if you have been making regular payments. As I mentioned, going into default has serious financial consequences. Since most cosigners are parents and grandparents, it's not unreasonable to consider the risk of the cosigner dying while you're paying off your loans.

If you have a cosigner on any of your loans, call your lender and find out how they can be released from the loan. If all else fails, refinancing your private loans can be a last resort.

***

After graduating from Purdue University in 2009, Dan Kellermeyer had a pilot's license, a degree in Aviation, and more than $100,000 in student loans. Today, Dan is free of consumer debt and is passionate about helping others get out of debt and plan for the future at DepartingThePattern.com.

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7 Things You Must Know About Paying Off Student Loans

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Student loans are a fact of life for many (most?) college grads these days. I wish I would have understood the consequences of taking out so many loans before I used student loans to help pay for Spring Break in Vegas. But it was just so easy... Fast forward to graduation.

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Surprise! It's time for a pop quiz.

Do you know what a 401(k) is?

What does HELOC stand for?

Can you name the three major credit bureaus?

If you're feeling a bit stumped, you're not alone - a recent survey by GoBankingRates revealed one in three Americans don't understand "simple finance terms and concepts."

The survey included 529 responders from all 50 states, who were asked the following questions:

1. Which of the below describes a 401(k)?

2. What does a CD offered by a bank stand for?

3. What is net worth?

4. What does HELOC stand for?

5. What are the 3 major credit bureaus?

6. Which of the following does not impact your credit score?

Around one-third of respondents answered questions incorrectly, according to the survey, meaning financial literacy isn't as common as you may think.

Here are some notable financial literacy wins and losses revealed in the survey:

Win: We Know 401(k)s Have To Do With Retirement

The good news is, 63% of respondents knew what a 401(k) is. Those ages 25 and older had the highest correct answer rate, whereas the 18- to 24-year-old group answered incorrectly. However, they did still associate it with retirement.

For the young'uns out there who aren't exactly sure what a 401(k) is, don't worry - I didn't either until I was offered one.

The basics of a 401(k) are simple: it's a company-sponsored retirement plan that commonly offers matched contributions from your employer.

Basically, you have a percentage of your salary taken out of your paycheck taxes and it's put into an investment account. Then your employer contributes the same amount to your account.

Loss: We Aren't Sure What "Net Worth" Means

Middle-aged respondents (aged 45-54) and young millennials had the most incorrect answers as to what the definition of net worth is.

These groups thought it was "income after taxes."

I wish it were that simple.

Your net worth is defined by GoBankingRates as "what you own minus what you owe." The difference between the two can reveal how healthy your asset-to-debt ratio is; the lower your , the worse your personal wealth will be.

Freaking out about your number? High-interest credit card debt could be holding you back; check out our five trusty ways to pay it off in a hurry .

Loss: Millennials Don't Know the Three Major Credit Bureaus

OK, young millennials - this isn't good. Only 29% of you could identify the three major credit bureaus. Ouch.

The worst part? A whopping 46% of the 18-24 year-old group selected "Visa, Mastercard, American Express" as their answer.

GoBankingRates suggests this group lacks knowledge on the three major credit bureaus because " they have had fewer situations that require pulling their credit scores."

For the record, the three major credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

Read them. Write them down. Memorize them.

Your credit score will determine interest rates on car loans and whether or not you have to put a deposit down when opening utility bills. It will even come into play when you're looking to rent an apartment .

Win: It's Not All Bad News

Aside from being shaky at best when it came to personal wealth and credit card bureaus, respondents were savvy in a few areas of financial literacy.

Older groups correctly identified what a HELOC is, which is good news considering they're the ones still buying houses and millennials aren't .

The biggest win of all? The question "What does a CD offered by a bank stand for?" had the most correct responses. Of those surveyed, 68% knew that a CD stands for "certificate of deposit."

These high-interest savings accounts can stretch your money farther than most traditional savings accounts - hopefully we're all taking advantage of those!

Knowing how to define basic financial terms can help you make responsible financial decisions. With more knowledge about the basics, your everyday money choices can be less of a challenge.

Time to hit the books!
Your Turn: How did you become financially literate? Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.

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This Survey Says 1 in 3 Americans Can't Define These Basic Finance Terms

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Surprise! It's time for a pop quiz. Do you know what a 401(k) is? What does HELOC stand for? Can you name the three major credit bureaus? If you're feeling a bit stumped, you're not alone - a recent survey by GoBankingRates revealed one in three Americans don't understand "simple finance terms and concepts."

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Shortly after graduating from New York University with a Master's degree, Melanie Lockert turned to food stamps, as she worked her way out of $81,000 in student loans.

"There were a lot of emotions around carrying that debt. It caused a lot of stress and depression and anxiety for a long time," she shared with me recently during an interview on my podcast.

The student loan crisis in America has reached epidemic proportions. With households across the country carrying $1.26 trillion in student loans, it is the second largest category of debt following mortgage debt.

For the class of 2016, the average student loan balance is $37,172, up six percent from the previous year, according to a new analysis by student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz published in the Wall Street Journal.

If you're struggling to make ends meet due to student loans or wondering how you'll ever pay off the debt in a timely manner, here are some key steps to support you along the way.

Never Pay Late. Ever.

Whoever likes to call student loans "good debt," has probably never faced a late payment. "Falling behind on payments can cause federal loans to enter default, triggering expensive fees and collections," says Heather Jarvis, attorney and student loan expert.

If you miss several payments and are in default, federal loan borrowers may also seize your wages, tax refunds and possibly social security benefits. And you can only imagine how all this can damage your credit score. (Keep reading for advice on what to do if you're already in default.)

To avoid ever paying late, sign up for automatic payments with your lender. Doing so could also earn you a reduced interest rate (usually 0.25%), which could save you hundreds of dollars, maybe more, over the life of your loan.

Extend the Term

Speaking of your loan's life, extending the term from 10 to 15 or 20 years could provide you with some payment relief since when you extend the term, your monthly payments decrease.

Bear in mind that since your interest rate remains the same this strategy may mean you'll end up paying more to pay off the loan over time.

One way to avoid paying too much more interest is to take advantage of the smaller monthly payments for only a window of time. As soon as your finances strengthen place more than the monthly minimum towards your balance to help you get out of debt closer to your original term. Be sure to place extra payments directly towards the principal to knock down the debt even faster.

Tap Government Assistance

If you have federal student loans you may qualify for Income-Based Repayment (IBR), a government program that helps qualifying borrowers cap loan payments to a percentage of income, typically 10% of their income. The program will also forgive any remaining student loan debt after 20 or 25 years of making payments.

The Department of Education also has a program called Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). If you work full-time for a "public service" employer such as not-for-profits, AmeriCorps or PeaceCorps, the military or a government agency, PLSF may forgive your remaining federal loan debt after 10 years of employment.

If You're Already Behind...You Have Options

If you're in default, Jay Fleischman, a student loan and bankruptcy attorney, says you may be able to consolidate your loans under the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Consolidation Loan Program, which is free and does not depend on creditworthiness. "You could also rehabilitate by making nine agreed-upon monthly payments over a 10-month period of time with the collector assigned to the account. Those payments may be adjusted based on your income, and payments can be as low as $5 per month," he says.

For private student loan borrowers, "the situation is markedly different because there is no right to consolidate or rehabilitate unless the lender has a specific program to do so," says Fleischman. Contact your loan servicer and learn about ways you may be able to reduce or eliminate payments until you get back on your feet, he says.

If your lender won't budge, you may choose to remain in default until a settlement opportunity presents itself or until the statute of limitations for collection expires. As a last resort, you may also consider bankruptcy as a way to wipe out other debts and repay your student loans under court supervision. "Though bankruptcy may not wipe out your student loans except in limited circumstances, many people opt for bankruptcy as a way to get more control over the ways in which your loans get paid," says Fleischman.

Tap Home Equity...With Caution

Homeowners may be eligible to use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to pay off their remaining student loan balance. This allows them to pay off the student loan with the existing equity in their home and save money if the HELOC has a lower interest rate than the student loan.

There's also a new program offered by online lender SoFi called the Student Loan Payoff ReFi that allows some homeowners to pay down student debt using their home's equity. SoFi refinances the total amount of your student loans and existing mortgage at a lower rate. Through that process your student loan balance is paid off directly to the loan provider.

To qualify, SoFi says borrowers need healthy credit scores, a debt-to-income ratio that's 45% or less and a loan-to-value ratio that's 80% or less (meaning you can't be underwater on your mortgage).

Just keep in mind that when paying off your student loans with home equity - be it through SoFi or another lender - if you default on the consolidated loan the lender has the right to use your home as collateral and foreclose on the property. It's a serious risk if you don't have enough in savings or stable income to help you get by during tough times.

Remember to Deduct It

Student loans are no fun, but paying them can yield lower taxes. Each year the IRS lets borrowers deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest from their taxable income.

Maybe Your Employer Can Help?

A growing number of companies are helping employees squash their student loans as an added perk like a 401(k) and health care.

Gradifi is a Boston-based start-up that's working with over 200 employers to set up its student loan pay down plan, including PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

It's a trend that's likely to grow over the years with more than 50 percent of student loan borrowers saying they would rather receive student loan benefits than heath care from their employer.

Start a Side Hustle

While it's important to cut back on spending to make room for paying down debt, that move alone isn't always enough. "Pinching pennies and cutting back is really useful as an initial strategy, but at some point, there's only so much you can cut back," says Lockert, whose now chronicled her debt payoff strategies in the book Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up With Debt.

Through a series of side hustles over the years, including housecleaning, event assisting and pet sitting, earning $10 to $50 per hour, Lockert managed to not only afford her living expenses, but also erase five figures worth of student loan debt.

Depending on your interests, you can find relatively easy gigs at sites like TaskRabbit, Tutor.com, GigWalk and Care.com.
Have a question for Farnoosh? You can submit your questions via Twitter @Farnoosh, Facebook or email at farnoosh@farnoosh.tv (please note "Mint Blog" in the subject line).Farnoosh Torabi is America's leading personal finance authority hooked on helping Americans live their richest, happiest lives. From her early days reporting for Money Magazine to now hosting a primetime series on CNBC and writing monthly for O, The Oprah Magazine, she's become our favorite go-to money expert and friend.

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8 Ways to Navigate the Student Loan Waters [Video] | MintLife Blog

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Shortly after graduating from New York University with a Master's degree, Melanie Lockert turned to food stamps, as she worked her way out of $81,000 in student loans. "There were a lot of emotions around carrying that debt.

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How do successful people find time to learn so much everyday? originally appeared on Quora -- the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Bernie Klinder, serial entrepreneur, investor, and consultant, on Quora: How do successful people find time to learn so much every day?
When I was in Army basic training, we routinely did several hundred push-ups a day. At the beginning of the eight-week cycle, it was around 200 a day, and by the end I think we were close to 500. When most people hear that, they have the same surprised reaction and I think they imagine that we did those pushups either all at once, or in large sets. In truth, most of those were cranked out 25-35 at a time 10 or more times a day. The entire day was an ever changing mix of running, push-ups, and training (classroom and hands-on field training).

Many people react the same way when I tell them I read 125-plus books a year, as well as several print magazines, listen to podcasts, read blogs, etc. Just like the push-ups, I don't spend half my day reading and studying in one long session. I break it up into smaller sessions throughout the day, often less than 10-20 minutes at a time. Think of it this way: If you read just 30 pages of a book every day, you'll finish a 300 page book in 10 days. If you do it consistently, you'll read about three books a month -- without spending your entire weekend reading.

Breaking up the time into smaller sessions has two advantages: First, it makes it easier to "find" the time -- carving out a smaller 10-minute breaks is easier than finding an hour to read. In addition, there is a cognitive limit to how much you can learn and retain at a time. Studying something for a few minutes and then giving your mind time to process and absorb the information is much more effective than longer "cram" sessions.

This is known as : Instead of sitting down with a book for four hours, try "snacking" throughout the day:

Reading a single chapter of a book takes about 10-15 minutes. I often start the day with just one chapter of whatever book I'm reading, usually over my morning coffee.

Throughout the day, I look up any new or unfamiliar terms, names, concepts, etc., that come up in my reading or day to day conversations. Between Google and Wikipedia I can find detailed information easily, and it usually takes less than a minute. Yesterday, I learned about (it came up in conversation), looked up the difference between the terms "jealous" and "envious," learned more about the solar eclipse, read a summary of the book and read up on the history of Confederate monuments, among over things. While that sounds like a lot, this really took only a minute or two at a time for each item -- less than the average TV commercial break.

I often listen to podcasts or audio books while doing chores, working out, or driving. Make the most of your morning and evening commutes, or other time-consuming tasks that don't engage your brain. A 20-minute podcast makes washing the dishes, ironing clothes, cleaning the house, or folding laundry go much faster. I often wear wireless headphones and listen to podcasts while grocery shopping. Again, this is in small increments -- just 30-60 minutes throughout the day.

I ditched cable a few years ago and often watch TED Talks, educational YouTube videos, or documentaries on Netflix. I still make time for a movie or occasionally binge watching a series, but about half of what I watch are documentaries or tutorials.

In addition to these ad hoc things, I also make a concentrated effort to learn something in depth, spending 2-3 months learning from several sources on the same topic. With a little focused effort over a 12-week period, you can learn an incredible amount about a topic and know more about a topic than most people ever will. Again, it's a chapter here and there, with other source material combined into a theme. For example in one three-month spurt, I read a book on the Civil War, watched Ken Burns's Civil War series, read Ulysses Grant's autobiography, watched a few other documentaries about the Civil War, and then traveled to a number of local museums and historic sites. Then I moved onto to something else. This made it fun, and it didn't consume as much time as most people spend watching sports each week.

The important thing is not to overwhelm your brain with too much at one time. You need to give your brain time to process the information and make sense of it. Always start with something you're interested in, and see what pace makes sense for you. Spend 20-30 minutes taking in the information, and then take a break. When you're ready, go back for more. I usually break up my time into three or four periods per day, switching between something I want to learn and something I have to learn for work (or something to advance my career).

In aggregate, I spend an hour or maybe two a day learning new things in a few 20-minute spurts. It doesn't seem like much, but over time this incremental advance is huge. It's really no different than working out three times a day for 20 minutes. You'll discover that small gains, over a period of time, can lead to an incredible amount of progress.
This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:

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How the Truly Successful Make Time for Constant Learning

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How do successful people find time to learn so much everyday? originally appeared on Quora -- the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Bernie Klinder, serial entrepreneur, investor, and consultant, on Quora: How do successful people find time to learn so much every day?

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I've got two kids in college. One attends an expensive private university and the other goes to an affordable community college. Since neither knows what he wants to do for a profession, my husband and I certainly wish the one going to the private school would join his brother at the junior college. But what we really think would be prudent is for both to drop out altogether. Here's why.

1. There's a huge need for workers in healthcare and construction industries.

When it comes to healthcare, many good paying jobs can be found with only specialized training often necessitating two years of school or less. And anyone willing to work hard physically is guaranteed a decent living, considering that hundreds of thousands of construction jobs are unfilled during a boom time for homebuilders. It's the same on the commercial side. The hotel remodeling firm my husband works for hires electrical and plumbing companies which charge at least $100 an hour per worker they send to a job site.

2. Someone willing to work harder than everyone else will naturally gravitate to a path of success.

It's a guaranteed way to get attention from people in power who can help you get ahead in business and life. The business world is full of stories of influential leaders who have mentored others, providing advice, connections and other methods of valuable support.

3. You're golden if you can be more important to your employer than they are to you.

Salespeople--or anybody else who brings money through the door--often are the most valued individuals in an organization. That's according to Donald Sheppard, a guy with no college degree whose advertising agency was acquired by a global player in the space in 1999 (he discusses his journey to success in his book The Dividends of Decency). While this kind of work can be stressful and thankless, anyone who makes themselves necessary to a company's viability is on a different plane when it comes to a career trajectory.

4. Acquire the best education by getting job at a successful company.

Joe Kraus, a partner for with Google's early-stage investing arm, GV, says this is the best play for anyone who wants to start their own company. At a recent speaking event he said people can glean a wealth of knowledge by making several small decisions every day over the course of years, while watching how coworkers conduct themselves. Gaining experience with a company which knows what it's doing is a much better way to learn how to be successful versus going off alone on an entrepreneurial path.

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Have a Kid Not Going to College? Here's What They Really Need to Get on a Path to Success

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I've got two kids in college. One attends an expensive private university and the other goes to an affordable community college. Since neither knows what he wants to do for a profession, my husband and I certainly wish the one going to the private school would join his brother at the junior college.

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If you're applying to college, you may want to think twice about what you post on your social media accounts.

College admissions officers can learn a lot about you from a simple online search, and what they find could influence whether they accept you into their program.

Harmless shenanigans like dosing your roommate's coffee with a splash of soy sauce probably won't raise an eyebrow.

But iIlegal activities, racist language and online bullying could get you passed over in college admissions competition.

According to Kaplan Test Prep , 35% of college admissions officers check out the social media profiles of admissions candidates during the decision-making process.

Since there's no way to tell which side of the fence your college admissions officer falls on, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Does your online presence show the best side of you? Here's how to find out, what to do if it doesn't and how to put your best foot forward.

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

The first step to shaping a great online presence is to find out what people can see and learn when they search for you online.

To begin, log out of all your browser, online email and social media accounts.

If you stay logged into your accounts, some services and platforms will show you personalized content. That means you won't get a clear picture of what others see when searching for you.

Next, search your name online. Use several different search engines, like Google, Yahoo and Bing to get a broad range of results.
Take note of what websites and social platforms show up and what they reveal about you.
See something you don't like? Here's what to do.

Erase Embarrassing Content (Or Try To, Anyway)

The things we post online have a nearly eternal shelf life.

Think stuff you posted last year is gone and forgotten? Think again.

"I've had a reader message me a photo on my Instagram from years ago asking me about it," notes author and online branding expert Jandra Sutton . "Luckily, it was just a bad selfie with a ridiculously embarrassing hairstyle. Nothing serious (the reader thought it was funny), but it reminded me that the things I posted when I wasn't even thinking about it still exist online, and it isn't impossible to find them."

The thing about the internet is that once you put something out there, it's practically impossible to make it disappear completely.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to minimize how easy it is to find.

Social Media Content

If you yourself posted the unflattering content on a social media platform, begin by hiding or (even better) deleting it. Here are instructions to do that on:

If someone else posted embarrassing content about you on their social media account, ask them to remove it.

If that's not an option or they refuse, contact the social media platform directly and ask for help.

The Rest of the Internet

Removing unflattering content that turns up during general internet searches is a bit more difficult, but there are a few things you can try.
1. Contact individual search engine companies to ask for their help.
Depending on the nature of the content, they may work with you to remove it from their search results.

Here are instructions for:
2. Bury unflattering content under positive search results.
Studies show that 75% of people don't scroll past the first page of search results .

If the first page of your name search results contain unflattering content, create positive content to bump it to page two or more.

"Consider writing articles for a local newspaper or newsletter with your byline," suggests Timothy Jaconette, founder of Advanced Admit College Admission Consulting . "I did this when I was in high school. You can create some professional written material that should come up at the top of search results with your name."

If you'd rather publish your own content, create a website or open a blog account and use it to highlight your successes.

"Try to write one post per week," says Jason Patel, founder of college prep company Transizion . "Posts over 1,800 words are viewed very favorably by Google's algorithm, but posts around 500-800 are great for content."
3. Call in the professionals.
Depending on the type of content you're trying to draw attention away from, you may want to consider hiring a professional who specializes in improving your presence in search results.

Reputation repair services can help you figure out ways to manage high-visibility issues like mugshots, arrest records and other negative content.

There are plenty of online services you can use but your best bet is to ask around for a word-of-mouth referral to make sure you find a company you can trust.

Tips for Creating a Sparkling Online Presence

Once you've assessed and polished your online presence, you'll want to keep it looking fresh and appealing to college admissions officers.

Keep these things in mind as you post new content and social media status updates.

Be Passionate

"Find a field of interest or a passion," recommends Patel. "Sounds cliche, but it looks great when a young person has an idea of what she wants to do or be a part of in college or when she's older."

He says your interest doesn't have to be related to a career.

"It just needs to signal to the admissions officer or university that this student is someone who can think on her own and think for the future," he says.

Be Authentic

"People are looking to get to know who you are as an individual, but that doesn't necessarily mean they want to see every meal you've eaten (unless food photography is your passion)," says Sutton.

"When I was establishing my online brand, I sat down and thought about what types of things I actually wanted to post about. I'm passionate about books, current events, and all things Marvel, so I said, 'Okay, I'm going to try to stick to these topics.' I absolutely post about other things, but I try to keep in mind what is relevant and interesting to my audience AND true to what I believe in."

Be Generous

Make sure the content you share sincerely captures your generosity and thoughtfulness.

"Perhaps you want to think about what you could post that shares your care and concern for other people," suggests Jaconette. " This concept of care and concern for others shows up multiple places in the college admission process, from college admission policies at large state schools to the teacher evaluation forms in the Common Application."

"If you have hobbies or skills that you want to highlight in your application make sure that you highlight them in your social profiles, personal blog, website or YouTube channel as well," says Mark Bechtholt, co-founder and growth hacker and online branding expert at . "Admissions offices love to match what you say in your application with your online presence."

Be Meticulous

Social content isn't as formal as a college essay, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention to your writing style.

Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation and save text-speak for your instant messages.

The Bottom Line

"For better or worse, social media has become an established factor in college admissions, and it's more important than ever for applicants to make wise decisions," Yariv Alpher, executive director of research at Kaplan Test Prep.

"If you're not sure what to post, ask a parent or high school counselor. If you're still not sure, then the best course of action might be to not post it at all."
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She's eternally grateful the internet wasn't around when she applied to college.

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Applying to College? Here's How to Clean Up Your Social Media Presence

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If you're applying to college, you may want to think twice about what you post on your social media accounts. College admissions officers can learn a lot about you from a simple online search, and what they find could influence whether they accept you into their program.

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Editor's note: Some of these scholarships may no longer be available.
When I was in high school, I dreamed of being a student athlete.

They were popular, good-looking and had all the extracurriculars to make college admissions counselors swoon.

Now that my 10-year reunion has come and gone, I've come to terms with my lack of athletic finesse, but I'm still envious of those sports scholarships.

If you think only the best athletes in the country get scholarship offers, well, you're right. Just 2% of high-school athletes receive athletic scholarships, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

13 Athletic Scholarships for College-Bound Students

Luckily, some organizations have identified the gap in athletic scholarships and are helping to bridge it.

So whether you're an all-star prodigy or just like playing pick-up on the weekends, you might be eligible for a number of fitness and athletic-based scholarships.

1. Wear Action Scholarship

Are you obsessed with your step count? Then this scholarship is perfect for you.

You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a U.S. citizen to apply.

The annual deadline is in February.

2. NSCA Foundation Scholarship

High School (for seniors entering college)

Challenge Scholarship

Jerry Martin Scholarship (specifically for students wanting to become strength coaches)

Minority Scholarship

Women's Scholarship

Applicants are judged on a number of categories including NSCA involvement, financial need and an essay.

Scholarships are worth $1,500 each and students must be current NSCA members by the application deadline. The number of awards hasn't been disclosed for 2017, but in 2016, there were 38 scholarship winners across the five categories.

The deadline is in March annually.

3. Sports Unlimited Scholarship

Its unique essay question asks you to identify a piece of gear or equipment used in a sport and to describe how and why to improve it. My pick would be lacrosse sticks, with a glow-in-the-dark paint job.

The deadline is April 25, 2017.

4. Fitness and Education Scholarship

Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and explain what makes you passionate about fitness in an essay using fewer than 500 words.

The deadline is May 1, 2017.

5. Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship

Students must reside in the U.S. and play for a high school team or in club sports. The organization awards a minimum of 62 scholarships every year.

The deadline is May 31, 2017.

6. BigSun Scholarship

Students must be engaged in a sport of any kind and apply with an essay describing how their participation in high school sports influenced them.

The deadline is June 19, 2017.

7. USATF Kim Haines Academic Excellence Grant

The deadline is July 30, 2017.

8. Thomas "Sarge" Johnson Scholarship

These 11 scholarships are available for active USA Boxing members who have have competed in at least two sanctioned bouts in this year, as well as each of the last two calendar years. Applicants should have completed at least one semester in a college, technical or vocational school.

There are two trade school awards for $2,000 each, seven undergraduate awards for $3,000 each and two graduate awards for $2,500 each.

The deadline is Sept. 15, 2017.

9. Focus Fitness Scholarship

You'll have to write a 1,000-1,500 essay about why you chose your major and what you do to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The deadline is Dec. 1, 2017.

10. Yoga Alliance Foundation Scholarship

Awards are biannual. The spring deadline is in May, and the fall deadline is in August.

11. CaptainU Student-Athlete Scholarship

CaptainU is a site that allows student athletes to promote themselves to colleges and helps college coaches manage their recruiting efforts.

This scholarship has a quarterly deadline.

12. Lawrence A. Golding Scholarship

Sophomores, juniors and seniors in college who have made a significant contribution to their community in the areas of health, fitness and/or education can apply.

The deadline is in November annually.

13. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship

Of those, one scholar will be selected for the Ken C. Hicks Scholarship, receiving an additional $5,000 award.

Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be a member in good standing of a high school sports team or be involved in an after-school sport.

The deadline is in December annually.
Jen Smith is a writing intern at The Penny Hoarder and blogger behind Saving with Spunk . She's a recreational runner who spends more money on her sport than she will ever get back.

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Game On! These 13 Scholarships Will Help Student Athletes Pay for School

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Editor's note: Some of these scholarships may no longer be available. When I was in high school, I dreamed of being a student athlete. They were popular, good-looking and had all the extracurriculars to make college admissions counselors swoon.

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We know. That's why we want to cut your time in academia in half.

Getting your associate degree allows you to jet off into the workforce quicker and can provide ample opportunities for high-paying and fulfilling careers. So The Penny Hoarder did an analysis to show you the 10 best jobs you can land with just a two-year degree.

10 High-Paying Jobs With an Associate Degree

We also included the states with the highest concentration of each job.

1. Radiation Therapist

Job growth through 2024: 14%

As the child of a breast cancer survivor, I have major respect for anyone involved in the treatment of the disease - especially the unsung heroes.

Radiation therapists are the behind-the-scenes operators of the machines that blast x-rays at cancer cells in a patient's body. With an associate degree and certification, this career can flourish in a variety of health care settings, from hospitals, to medical offices and to outpatient centers.

With an aging population, health care jobs like these are some of the fastest growing over the next decade. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists , an organization that certifies radiation therapists, has plenty of resources on where to start if you're interested in this career.

It's important to note that some radiation therapists can pursue a bachelor's degree which pays more, bumping up the median wage for the occupation as a whole.

Where the jobs are: New York, Texas, Florida, California, Illinois

2. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Job growth through 2024: 26.4%

It's a mouthful, but basically, diagnostic medical sonographers are responsible for the first glimpse expectant mothers get of their babies.

They also operate imaging equipment used to investigate muscle and tendon tears, the presence of breast cancer or pretty much any other internal problem in your body.

There are more than 350 viable programs for you to pick if you're entering this field, according to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs .

Where the jobs are: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania

3. Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job growth through 2024: 42.7%

Picture occupational therapy assistants like Dorothy oiling up the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. They help you move it, move it. (Yeah, that was two movie references in on paragraph. Sue me.)

They help you get back to work.

These careers are based out of hospitals, retirement homes, home health care agencies and can be provided by local governments. There's a lot of flexibility when you're looking for a job.

Where the jobs are: Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York

4. Dental Hygienist

Job growth through 2024: 18.6%

So this isn't a job for everyone, but dental hygienists are the real workhorses of any dental practice. They clean teeth, take x-rays and chat you up while you drool through massive balls of cotton in your mouth.

Who knows, one day you might have R.H.D. after your name.

Where the jobs are: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Michigan

5. Web Developer

Job growth through 2024: 26.6%

The first non-health care job on the list is also the one that has the lowest barrier to entry and most flexibility: web developer.

They design and create websites just like the one you're browsing right now (and please, stay for a while). While you can learn to code on the cheap , picking a community college for your associate degree can provide you with internships and help with building a portfolio.

Where the jobs are: California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois

6. Physical Therapist Assistant

Job growth through 2024: 40.6%

Similar to No. 3 on the list, physical therapist assistants are support staff helping people get their groove back.

This job involves ensuring patient safety while implementing physical therapy treatments and collecting data on patient progress.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education has approved 331 schools in the U.S.
Where the jobs are: Texas, Ohio, Florida, California, Illinois

7. Cardiovascular Technologist or Technician

Job growth through 2024: 22.2%

These combined fields both represent health care workers focusing on diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel issues.

Cardiovascular technologists are lifesavers - literally. They are involved in teams treating heart attacks, but also help install stents and pacemakers. Technicians run stress tests and electrocardiograms.

Where the jobs are: Texas, Florida, California, New York, Pennsylvania

8. Respiratory Therapists

Job growth through 2024: 12.3%

Respiratory therapists help patients with the essential life function: breathing.

They care for everyone from infants to the elderly, and they also assist doctors during emergency situations, such as drownings, patients in shock or heart attacks.

The demand for these jobs is the highest it's ever been, and they offer stable careers, according to the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Check out this nifty map that compares each school with respiratory therapy programs.

Where the jobs are: California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York
These workers pretty much do it all. They gather samples for scientists to test, record data, install lab and field equipment, monitor oil wells and even do scientific tests of their own.
9. Geological and Petroleum Technician

Job growth through 2024: 11.8%

Where the jobs are: Texas, California, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Pennsylvania

10. Radiologic Technologist

Job growth through 2024: 8.7%

Radiologic technologists maintain x-ray equipment, run x-rays on patients and record results.

But don't just think of them as some machine jockeys - they have to know all about the anatomy of the human body, radiation safety and patient care.
Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder.
to find an accredited program for this career. Like the other health care jobs above, it requires certification after you graduate.

Where the jobs are: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania

Methodology

Next, we looked at the median wage and projected job growth through 2024, and used a nerdy mathematical method developed by these two guys to throw out bad data and rank the jobs based on those two metrics. And voila!

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10 High-Paying Careers That Only Require an Associate Degree

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We know. That's why we want to cut your time in academia in half. Getting your associate degree allows you to jet off into the workforce quicker and can provide ample opportunities for high-paying and fulfilling careers. So The Penny Hoarder did an analysis to show you the 10 best jobs you can land with just a two-year degree.

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Continued from Introduction

Should I Join the Military?

First and foremost, you should decide if you should even join the military. As I said, the military is not for everyone, and some people find that out too late. Ask yourself why you want to join the military? Do you need a job? Do you want to serve your country? Are you thinking of making the military a career, or just do a term or two? Is it for the college benefits?

Is it to learn a trade? Do you want to travel the World for awhile? Just need some time to "mature?"

Before you join, recognize the fact that a stint in the military is not civilian employment. It's not just like having a regular job. You can't just up and quit anytime you want to (See article, Getting Out of the Military). You can go to jail just for being late for work. (Granted, it's unlikely that a commander would impose nonjudicial punishment, or court-martial action the first time you are late for work, but it would be entirely legal for him/her to do so -- See Article 86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).) No matter how high your rank, no matter which service you join, there will always be someone telling you what to do, and when to do it. Many times you won't like or agree with your orders, but you take a solemn oath to "obey the orders of the President of the United States and the lawful orders of those appointed over you." Disobeying those orders can have serious consequences.

If you can't live with this simple fact, save yourself and the government some valuable time and money, and don't enlist.

In a civilian job, if you don't like your boss, or don't like the job, you can simply quit. Not so, in the military. I get email all the time from recruits who just graduated basic training and/or technical school (job training), asking how they can "quit" the military.

The short answer is that you can't -- unless it is for a valid hardship reason (i.e., someone in your immediate family is terminally ill, and your presence is required). The military can throw you out for several reasons, but you can't simply quit because you don't like it. If the military decides to throw you out (discharge you), the consequences of the discharge (depending on the type of discharge you're granted) can follow you the rest of your life.

If you like to smoke a joint once in a while, don't join. The military uses random, no-notice urinalysises, and -- if you're found positive, you may very well go to jail (as well as being discharged). The DOD urinalysis test can find THC in your urine for three weeks after you've smoked a joint.

The military is allowed to discriminate by gender. If you're a woman, know that there are some jobs and positions which are not open to you (most in the Marines, fewest in the Coast Guard -- in fact, all ratings are open to women in the Coast Guard).

In today's military, expect to spend a significant time away from "home." The average Navy enlisted person can spend a significant amount of time each year at sea. On any given day, 40 percent of Navy personnel are assigned to a ship or submarine, and 35 to 45 percent of those ships will be deployed to sea (2003 statistics). Depending on your Air Force AFSC (job), and duty assignment, you may find yourself spending up to seven months out of every year deployed to such garden spots as Kosovo, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

The Army deploys a significant amount of folks to beautiful downtown Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo. The Marines are also scattered around (although not in as great numbers as the other services). Recently, however, the Marines have been taking their turn in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, unlike the Army (and like the Navy), a Marine may find him/herself spending significants amount of time deployed to sea on Navy and Marine Ships. Even if you elect to join the National Guard or Reserves, these branches now spend a significant amount of time deployed to areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Gulf (See National Guard and Reserves Mobilized).

Which Service Should I Join?

Next, you'll need to decide which service you are interested in. Sometimes, you'll know this in advance. Perhaps you had a friend or relative who served or are serving in a particular branch of the military and you want to follow in their footsteps.

You should give this matter much study. Each of the services are different, and some people may be more suited (based upon qualifications, temperament, and/or interests) for one service vs. another. Make sure you select a service that YOU are interested in joining, based upon YOUR interests. Don't join a service just because someone else liked it, or expects you to.

It's your life, your interests, your decision. The article, Pros/Cons of Each Military Service may help you decide which service is best for you.

The Marines are, without argument, the most "military" of all the services. If you join the Marines, expect to eat, sleep, and breath "The Corps," 24 hours per day, seven days per week. All Marines are considered a "rifleman" first, and whatever other MOS (Job) they hold second. This is attributable to the high level of marksmanship training that all Marines receive. The Army is probably the second most "military." Many Army Combat Arms units, such as the elite Rangers, are just as intense and "gung ho" as the Corps. The Navy, while not as "rigid" as the Marines and Army, has many deep-set customs and traditions which are immobile. For the "gung-ho" sailor, the Navy possesses, probably the best-known special operations force -- the Navy SEALs. The Air Force, tied with the Coast Guard, as the "least military" service, also has it's share of "gung ho," in the the elite Combat Controllers and Air Force Pararescue forces. For more information, see Special Operations Forces.

(Note: Recruiters see lots of folks who want to enlist and serve in one of these elite fields.

The truth of the matter is that most people who apply for the "elite" programs wash out due to the very rigorous training requirements. If you enlist to become one of these "elites," and you wash out of training, you don't get to quit. You'll be required to serve the remainder of your enlistment contract in a different job).

If you like shooting (a lot), and want a complete change of lifestyle, to include a deeply ingrained pride of service, commitment, and sense of loyalty, the Marine Corps may be just what you're looking for. This may be a minor point, but it is very telling: When you ask an airman what he does, he will respond, " I'm in the Air Force." When you ask a sailor what she does, she'll respond, " I'm in the Navy." If you ask a Marine what he does, he'll say " I am a Marine."

If you want a little more flexibility in your lifestyle, but still want a strong sense of being in the military, the Army may be for you.

If you like to crawl through the mud and blow things up, using the latest and greatest of "blowing up toys," consider one of the Army's combat arms branches. You'll likely get all the time "in the field," that you want.

The Navy is probably the best place for those who like to travel -- a lot. There are few ratings (jobs) in the Navy that won't spend a significant amount of time at sea. This might be great if you are single, but might be something you'll want to think about if you have a family.

The Coast Guard has the advantage of having a real, "peacetime" mission, in active law enforcement, rescue, and ocean safety. On the "down side," the Coast Guard only has 23 enlisted jobs to choose from, and you usually cannot get a "guaranteed job" at the time of enlistment. On the plus side, pretty much all of those jobs directly relate to the civilian job market. Additonally, with fewer jobs, the Coast Guard doesn't "specialize" as much as the other services, and one may get a wider range of experience within a specific job.

Of all the services, the Air Force is probably the most (but not exactly) like having a regular job. The Air Force is, in my opinion, far ahead of the other services in many "qualify of life" issues such as dormitories and base housing units. If these things are important to you, then the Air Force should be something you look into. However, in terms of educational requirements and overall ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Appitude Battery) scores, the Air Force (tied with the Coast Guard) is the hardest service to get into. For details, see Minimum Required ASVAB Scores.

National Guard and Reserves. All of the services have a reserve component and two of the services (Army and Air Force) have a related National Guard, as well. The primary purpose of the Reserves and National Guard is to provide a reserve force to supplement the active duty forces when needed. The biggest difference between the Reserves and National Guard is that the Reserves belong to the federal government, while the National Guard belongs to the individual state government.

While both the Reserves and the National Guard can be called to active duty by the Federal Government, under the authority of the President, individual state governors can also call out their National Guard units to assist in individual state emergencies.

Following basic training and job training, members of the Reserves and National Guard drill (perform duties) one weekend each month, and two weeks every year.

However, it's become more and common to activate Guard and Reserve units to supplement active duty deployments to such garden spots as Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, and Kosovo. In fact, as I write this paragraph (May 2004), 171,917 Guard and Reserve members have been mobilized in support of such deployments (See Guard/Reserve Mobilized for current figures). For an overview of the services, and their basic functions, see U.S. Military 101.

There are also differences in education benefits, assignments, job guarantees, and education programs, and enlistment/re-enlistment bonuses, which we'll discuss in the later parts of this series.

In addition to deciding on a military service, if you have a 4-year college bachelors degree (or above), you should decide whether you want to join that service as a commissioned officer, or whether you wish to join as an enlisted member. Commissioned officers make a lot more money than enlisted members. Additionally, their "quality of life" is generally better (better housing, quarters, ect.). However, they have a much greater degree of responsibility. For an overview of the differences between commissioned officers and enlisted, see U.S. Military 101.

The competition for commissioned slots is tough, and merely having a college degree is not enough.

Factors such as college grade point average, and officer accession test scores are given much weight. It's also much harder to get approved for waivers (medical, criminal history, etc), for commissioned applicants than it is for enlisted applicants. If you decide you wish to apply for a commission, ask the recruiter to refer you to an "Officer Accessions Recruiter."

Once you've decided what service(s) you're interested in, you may wish to make appointments and talk to the recruiters of all of the services that interest you. Don't begin the enlistment qualification process, however, until you're fairly sure what service you want to join. It's unfair to make a recruiter do all the work to pre-qualify you, set you up for testing and medical, then back out and join a different service, instead.
Continued in Part 2 -- Meeting the Recruiter.
Other Parts to this Series:

Part 2 -- Meeting the Recruiter

Part 3 -- The Enlistment Process and Job Selection

Part 4 -- Enlistment Contracts and Enlistment Incentives

Part 5 -- Military Pay

Part 6 -- Housing, Housing Allowance, and Barracks

Part 7 -- Chow Halls and Food Allowance

Part 8 -- Education Programs

Part 9 -- Leave (Vacation), and Job Training

Part 10 -- Assignments

Part 11 -- Promotions

Part 12 -- Military Medical Care

Part 13 -- Commissaries and Exchanges

Part 14 -- Morale, Welfare, & Recreation (MWR) Activities

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What the Recruiter Never Said About Choosing a Military Service

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Continued from Introduction First and foremost, you should decide if you should even join the military. As I said, the military is not for everyone, and some people find that out too late. Ask yourself why you want to join the military? Do you need a job?

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Every year, thousands of Americans consider serving in the military. You can make the military a very rewarding growth experience if you prepare yourself before joining. Here are the top ten things you need to understand and consider while you prepare to meet with a recruiter:

1. Self-motivation

Joining the Military is nearly always a life defining decision. Your greatest opportunity for a successful enlistment or longer career will suffer if you have been "talked into" joining. Make sure you can articulate the basis of your desire to join and then be confident in your decision to meet with a recruiter.

2. Best Fitness

The purpose of Basic Training or "Boot Camp" is to turn recruits into Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. This training is rooted in Education, Tradition and yes, physical strength, stamina and in some cases, skill, such as swimming. All services have specific minimum requirements, but just know that this minimum represents a tough starting point for Recruits. Consider getting into shape now, as many weeks before joining as possible.

3. Personal Initiative

Taking the initiative is a skill you will be taught when in the military, but you can start practicing now. Research important things about your future profession. Learn about current events around the world - they affect your potential assignment. Talk to veterans. Read stories about missions involving all services. Consider what you want to be when you enlist.

4. Plan Your Recruiter Visit

Call to make an appointment to meet face to face. Be persistent. Prepare questions ahead of time. Know what you need to bring and what you want to do in the military before visiting. Anticipate what you will need: SSN card, birth certificate, other IDs, transcripts from high school and college, to name a few examples to consider.

5. Gather Medical Records

The military will screen you medically, but if you have any prior surgeries, broken bones, or major illnesses, they need to know about it and file the proper paperwork as some of these may require medical waivers. Yes, you may be able to get a waiver. Know the ailments that are disqualifying - check here for more info. Make copies of all your records when you submit them.

6. Ace The ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

Learn how to take this test. Take some practice tests (Ace the ASVAB) and read a book on tips and strategies for taking the ASVAB. There are many ASVAB study guides in bookstores and online. Your score on this test can determine where you will live and what you will be doing in the military.

7. Best Behavior

"Good order and discipline" are a core characteristic of the Military. You will undergo a background investigation to ensure there are no disqualifying events in your history. Criminal behavior is a typical disqualifier. Inform the recruiters of any arrests not just because they will find out, but because it's the right thing to do. An omission on your part may be detrimental to progressing further due to a perceived character issue. A successful stint in the Military depends heavily on trust.

8. A Higher Discipline

A successful stint in the Military depends heavily on trust, but it relies on discipline. That discipline starts in earnest the minute a recruit arrives at Basic Training. A higher discipline requires acceptance that all feedback is positive and the key to achieving the personal discipline necessary to succeed in the Military. Consider this: Learning to be led is the most important lesson in learning to lead.

9. See the World

Often, enlisting in the Military takes the newly minted Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine far from family, loved ones and their geographical roots. It means that you will have travel and professional experiences that will shape the way you see the world, at a very early age. Embrace the opportunity.

10. The Change Is Forever

The Marines say that "The change is forever...". It's true that you can see a significant and positive change as quickly as graduation from Basic Training. The military experience will shape your life through the development of self-reliance and relationships that sometimes last a lifetime. You will learn how to react quickly to high stress situations, and you will rely on your training to help others through traumatic events. There are many educational opportunities available in the military from occupational training courses to full college tuition paid in undergraduate and graduate programs. Choosing the military as a career also has its benefits (retirement and medical) and challenges. Here's more info on the GI Bill, other Military College / Training Programs.

Do your homework before seeing a recruiter. This is your future profession and possibly even your career. Take the time to educate yourself on all the pro's and con's and opportunities you have in front of you. It is your life - make it a good one. Start now.

Interested in Joining the Military?

We can put you in touch with recruiters from the different military branches. Learn about the benefits of serving your country, paying for school, military career paths, and more: sign up now and hear from a recruiter near you.

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What You Should Know Before You Join the Military

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Every year, thousands of Americans consider serving in the military. You can make the military a very rewarding growth experience if you prepare yourself before joining. Here are the top ten things you need to understand and consider while you prepare to meet with a recruiter: Joining the Military is nearly always a life defining decision.

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Thinking of joining or reaffiliating with the military? Learn about all of your options at Military.com's Recruiting Center, and connect with all the service branches

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Everybody's always talking about why you should join the military, so I decided to give you five reasons you shouldn't join. Here they are in random order.

1. You want an education and have at least $40,000 dollars just sitting around for you to use. Education is very expensive and $40,000 is actually a very conservative estimate for a 4-year degree. If you don't want to take advantage of the military paying 100% of your tuition while on active duty and giving you upwards of $50,000 dollars through the GI Bill to use on active duty or up to 10 years after you get out, then the military is not for you.

2. You absolutely do not want to have a job that gives you any kind of vacation time! If you are one of those people who never likes being away from the work place then the military is not for you. The military gives you 30 days of paid vacation every year starting with your first year. It could take 20 years with some civilian companies to build up that much time off.

3. You get a scared feeling every time you even think about leaving your hometown. Some people like where they live and have no desire to travel the world at someone else's expense. The military has installations all over the world and gives its members opportunities to travel like no other company in the world.

4. You would feel way too guilty receiving free medical care for you and your family! Being riddled with guilt can be pretty terrible. If you can't imagine ever having free health care for you, let alone for your wife and kids then the military is not for you. Imagine how bad you would feel accepting the military's world-class health care and not paying a dime for it.

5. You want to be really old when you finally retire from a company. There's good news and bad news here. If you join the military at 18 years old you can retire and start collecting your retirement at 38 years old, now that is the bad news you won't be really old when you retire from the military. The good news is you are only 38 years old and can go and work at another job until you are really old. The military's 20-year retirement is an awesome benefit if you want to retire young.

So there they are, 5 reasons you shouldn't join the military. It's not too late to change your mind though, if you want to take advantage of any of these military benefits or the numerous other benefits the military has to offer, you need to talk with a recruiter.

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Everybody's always talking about why you should join the military, so I decided to give you five reasons you shouldn't join. Here they are in random order. 1. You want an education and have at least $40,000 dollars just sitting around for you to use.

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Eligibility rules can be a little confusing. There are different rules for enlisting and for officer programs. Enlisting: Enlisted members do the hands-on work of the military. They need at least a high school degree (a GED may or may not suffice). Officer: Officers are the managers of the military. Most officer programs require a college degree at minimum, and are very competitive. Many officers have master's or higher degrees. Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Some qualifications are required by all five services:

You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

You must be at least 17 years old (17-year old applicants require parental consent).

You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma.

You must pass a physical medical exam.

For each branch, there are slightly different enlistment requirements:

Air Force

Be between the ages of 17-39

Have no more than two dependents.

Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 36)

Army

Be between the ages of 17-35

Have no more than two dependents.

Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 31)

Coast Guard

Be between the ages of 17- 27

Have no more than two dependents.

Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 40)

Have a willingness to serve on or around the water.

Marines

Meet exacting physical, mental, and moral standards.

Be between the ages of 17-28

Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 32)

Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational exception of combat arms specialties: infantry, tank and amphibian tractor crew.

Navy

Be between the ages of 17-34

Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 35)

Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of serving in the Navy Seals or on submarines.

Age limits vary based on active-duty, prior service, or reserve. In addition, 17-year old applicants require parental consent. Contact a Recruiter
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Eligibility rules can be a little confusing. There are different rules for enlisting and for officer programs. Enlisting: Enlisted members do the hands-on work of the military. They need at least a high school degree (a GED may or may not suffice). Officer: Officers are the managers of the military.

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By Phoebe Gavin, US Army Vet, Iraq War Vet, @ohsoordinary

I joined for the free shit.

I grew up in a dead end town where there were no opportunities. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn't want to do nothing. I figured the military would pay me to leave my town and learn how to do something new. I knew I would get educational aid, which I needed since my parents were poor. I knew I would get free healthcare, which I needed since I wouldn't be able to stay on my parents insurance unless I went to school (which I couldn't afford). I wanted to see more of the world, because I knew I was a city girl deep down, and I knew the military would pay me to see new places and do new things.

I joined the Army by process of elimination. The Marines seemed way too intense. I didn't want to be on a ship. The Air Force recruiter was a perv.

I can't say that I had all the deep, admirable motivations that some others did, but I can say it was the best decision I ever made. I joined for the free shit, but I stayed for the people. I loved my team. I loved my units. I loved my work. I loved being a part of that amazing family.

More than anything else, I love the person I have become because of the Army. I am a driven, relentless, methodical, grateful, empathetic, thick-skinned leader. I was none of those things before.

Best part: I never need an alarm clock.

...

By Jon Davis, Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps

Why I joined the military.

When I was younger, I was in love. I knew that I really didn't see myself in college, and I knew that I needed to provide for my new wife. The military had great pay and benefits for a young, smart individual with little skills or experience willing to take on hardships, and especially for a young family. Not to mention that someday, I might just like to go to college, and coming from a poor family ... well, the military financially filled a great deal of holes.

I come from a family where most of the men had served, not to retirement, but done their time, and military was highly respected to us. Grandpa was in Europe for WWII, Dad was a Green Beret, uncle was in Vietnam, so there was a great deal of support when I started thinking about joining. It wasn't pressure, but it was support.

I also thought this would make for a great opportunity to get out there and see the world. Growing up the only nerd in a tiny Oklahoma farm town where there were more livestock than people was agonizing -- boring at the least. There was almost nothing new to do and virtually no cultural diversity. Joining the military gave me experience living in a beautiful city, and many experiences with people from other parts of the country, different socio-economic backgrounds, and I even had the opportunity to learn Arabic and have conversations with numerous people from all over the world. I kind of expected that something like that would happen.

Put this together and you see me talking to recruiters.

Why I joined the Marines.

I appreciate honesty. The army recruiter (where all the other members of my family had served) seemed like he was trying to sell something he didn't have. The air force was trying to convince me that I could have my own jet and that I would retire as the owner of Lockheed Martin. The Marines recruiter told me that boot camp for the Marines was twice as long and twice as hard as any of the others, the jobs are tougher, the people are meaner, and the suit is friggin' awesome. He also showed that all benefits are from the the same Department of Defense, so I wouldn't be getting my own jet. I liked that I felt I was getting the truth. I also always had a thing for doing things in the hardest way possible for no real reason. Perhaps it was just that doing something that was harder made me feel more pride in what I was doing. In any case, I am pretty sure that now I would have always felt, had I joined the other services, "Could I have succeeded in the Marines?" After being a part of them for four years, I am now sure that I could have succeeded in the others.

...

By Jon Mixon, USAF Vet

Why did I join the US military?

1. My father was in the military - I was exposed to the military at an early age, and while it was different for me when I joined, it wasn't unfamiliar to me when I did.

2. I was aimless after high school - I didn't have a clue as to what I wanted to do after high school. The US Air Force seemed to a good place to start until I decided what I wanted to do in life.

3. The economy was poor - I graduated in 1984. While the economy was somewhat better than it is today, it was still rather soft when I went into the service. Basically ... I needed a job.

4. I wanted to travel - Since I wasn't the child of wealthy parents, my choices for traveling the world would have been very limited. I chose what I believed at the time would be a good opportunity to see the "world." This did happen ... although not quite in the manner which I expected.

5. I didn't really consider many other options - I had looked at several colleges and considered working at several different jobs. Frankly, I was rather lazy at the time, and I didn't invest the time and the effort into those other options for them to bear fruit. When things didn't work in those directions, I decided on what I believed to be my last "option."

Sorry if my ideals don't sound as noble as those of others, but that's what they were. I joined the military because I didn't have a job, I didn't have a clue as to what I wanted to do, and because I wanted travel.

For my sins, I got all three, and the rest is history.

More questions on United States Armed Forces:

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By Phoebe Gavin, US Army Vet, Iraq War Vet, @ohsoordinary I joined for the free shit. I grew up in a dead end town where there were no opportunities. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn't want to do nothing.

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Doug Dingus, Quora user
The single most important thing to know is you give up your rights. Not all of them, and not in all places and times, but enough to seriously change how you can conduct yourself. G.I. stands for "Government Issue," and you are a resource in the strictest sense of the word. If you are the kind of person who values basic liberties, or who doesn't conform well, this will be a significant matter to deal with.

There aren't generally any "outs." Once you've done it, you've done it. Reconsideration doesn't come around again until after your term of service.

I have been enlisted in the past, for what it's worth.

That said, I'll put some good and bad things down, closing with some advice aimed at those seriously considering enlistment.
Good things:
You absolutely will end up in peak shape. The benefits last years.

You will garner some basic deportment that others pick up on. Little things, like "the walk," or how you assess a room will change in subtle ways. Others, who have been in military service, can see it. These changes also have nice benefits that last for a long time, if not a lifetime. In business/professional settings, you will be seen as capable, not a slacker, and it's on a basic level.

Your self-confidence will improve, as will your ability to just do it, as those two things are strongly emphasized.

Basic skills in combat, physical means and methods, group dynamics, leadership, etc... all improve, unless you do not advance in the military at all, and even then some basics happen to everybody.

Discipline becomes something real to you. Self-discipline in terms of how you manage your life, your conduct, your body, those things and people around you becomes something you are conscious of. To me, this was a benefit, as I really didn't have those experiences prior. Hell of an adjustment though. Be forewarned as I mentioned at first.

Emergency scenarios tend to have a diminished impact. You get first aid skills, and basic response becomes ingrained. Ordinary life won't impact you to the point of inaction like it can otherwise. I didn't notice this until some stuff happened, and I saw myself acting and directing others to act. This is worth a lot.

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What Should A Young Person Know And Consider Before Joining The Military?

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Doug Dingus, Quora user The single most important thing to know is you give up your rights. Not all of them, and not in all places and times, but enough to seriously change how you can conduct yourself. G.I. stands for "Government Issue," and you are a resource in the strictest sense of the word.

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Think your school, campus and college town are the coolest in the U.S.?

You could win a $1,000 scholarship by telling rental search firm in 1,000 words or less - and five pictures - why your school is the_bomb.com.

OK, OK. I know the feeling. The semester just started, and you have to write essay? But with all that pressure over student loan debt , you totally owe it to your future self to give it a shot.

If you really, really can't write another dang essay, sift through tons of other scholarships we've compiled here. There might be a few with less... academic requirements.

If not, keep reading to find out how to enter to win this $1,000 scholarship before this semester's Feb. 28 deadline.

How to Enter This College Scholarship Essay Contest

First off, Abodo runs this essay contest twice a year, once for the spring semester and once for the fall. No, you can't win twice - but your roommate could enter.

to find the scholarship application. You'll need to describe five things people might not know about your school, campus or town that make it amazing. It could be a really cool professor, that big, awesome tree people are always doing tai chi in front of or a weekly concert in the park.

Make sure to use proper grammar and spelling. The site or your browser could time out, so I suggest writing the essay on your own word processing software, then pasting it in.

Throughout the essay, include links to images of what you're describing for extra points. You can use Imgur to upload images for free, then copy the URL into the body of the essay.

Oh, and I hope you're OK with the essay and pics in your application going public, because Abodo owns the right to use them in the future.

And there's only one winner, which will be chosen after the Feb. 28 deadline, so make those pictures Instagram-worthy and the essay solid.
Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder. Here are five reasons his alma mater Florida State University rules: Railroad Square, Bullwinkle's, Lake Ella, Wakulla Springs and football.

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This Company Will Pay You $1,000 for Telling It Why Your School Rules

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Think your school, campus and college town are the coolest in the U.S.? You could win a $1,000 scholarship by telling rental search firm in 1,000 words or less - and five pictures - why your school is the_bomb.com. OK, OK. I know the feeling. The semester just started, and you have to write essay?

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So far in this series on whether or not college is truly for everyone, we've covered both the history of higher ed, and the pros and cons of attending a 4-year university. Today, we're going to look at alternatives to the traditional 4-year degree.

One-quarter of college grads are in jobs that don't require a degree. And of the 30 jobs projected to grow the fastest in the next decade, only 7 require a standard 4-year degree.

Although it may not seem like it based on what you hear in the media and from the general public, there are a number of very legitimate opportunities other than the traditional 4-year college for graduated high schoolers to take a look at.

Ultimately, you have to think about your life goals. Mary Docken, a prominent voice in education advocacy, says, "Students need to think about what their interests are, how they like to learn, what motivates them, what financial realities they face, what type of work they see themselves doing - (sitting behind a desk with a computer in front of them, building things, working with people, etc.)."

For some professions - like many of those in STEM fields - college is absolutely the right choice. But for many, it ends up being a waste of time and money. For some, college even limits your career options, as you get strapped into thinking you have to go into a certain major (most often business) in order to be successful. That's just not the reality, however.

Below, we've highlighted 10 very legitimate options to consider after high school. Some of them can lead to lifetime careers, and some of them are seen more as transition periods to decide life's next steps - whether that's ultimately to go on to college or to take another path. Either way, they should be considered right along with 4-year colleges for every high schooler out there struggling to try to figure out what to do next.

1. Start a business.

There are over 22 million individuals who are self-employed in the U.S., with no employees other than themselves. That's about 14% of the entire American workforce. With drive, initiative, and a quality product, it may be more attainable than you think to make it on your own. In fact, some of the most successful men of the 20 th and 21 st centuries were entrepreneurs without a college degree:

Richard Branson

Michael Dell

Walt Disney

Henry Ford

Bill Gates

Steve Jobs

Milton Hershey

Frank Lloyd Wright

All of these men took the initiative and started businesses they were passionate about, and were sure would change the world.

The barriers to starting a business have never been lower. With a computer and an internet connection, there are a slew of business opportunities that can be launched with even just $100 from the comfort of your own home (half of those 22 million individuals work from home). Whether selling goods online, or simply using the web as your portfolio, it's quite simply never been easier to become an entrepreneur. To open a clothier, for a quick example, you no longer need an expensive storefront that has rent costs, utilities, numerous sales employees, etc. With a little bit of drive (okay, a lot of drive) and a quality product, you could be the next Antonio Centeno, making and selling quality clothing online from the backwoods of Wisconsin.

Or consider the ease of starting a business selling any kind of handmade good with an Etsy shop. You could even become an antiques trader and seller with nothing but an eBay account. With just an internet connection and copious amounts of hustle, the possibilities are truly only limited by your own creativity.

One of the great things about starting a business these days is how much information and free education is available. Your local bookstore will have shelves and shelves of business books, and a quick Google search can get you started down the road of entrepreneurship in no time. The Art of Manliness was built from the ground-up by Brett and Kate with mostly their own gumption. Using Google, they installed WordPress, designed the website, created an online store, sold advertising, and have now been running a successful business for six years. (Although they would also say that their college and graduate degrees greatly aided in the writing and critical thinking skills so necessary to running a successful blog).

While it's certainly true that more small businesses fail than succeed, you'd be hard-pressed to find an entrepreneur who didn't learn invaluable lessons even amidst their failures. Do you have zeal for something you created as well as good people skills? (Those are two qualities that entrepreneurs say catalyzed their success.) If so, perhaps taking the steps to start your own business is a better idea than spending four years in college.

2. Attend community college.

While community college doesn't carry the prestige of the 4-year university, there are numerous benefits to this alternate path:

Saves boatloads of money - the average credit hour at a community college costs $60, while the average credit hour at a 4-year college costs around $300. While community college costs are rising right along with 4-year colleges, it's not nearly at the same pace. There are even schools like Tulsa Community Collegethat will cover 100% of the tuition costs for all high school seniors with at least a 2.0 GPA who enroll the fall after they graduate. Check to see what kinds of programs and incentives are available in your area.

Makes the transition to college easier - if you attend community college, you're more than likely either living at home, or else living very close to home. Instead of feeling like you've been kicked off a cliff into the deep waters of college, you can wade in at a pace that is right for you, and slowly take on responsibilities of your own.

Gives you time to define and refine your interests - at 4-year colleges, the majority of your first two years are going to be general ed classes, even if they're related to your major. You can do the same thing at a community college, for a fraction of the cost. This gives you time to explore your interests, without the stress of knowing you may be racking up massive debt on courses that don't end up counting towards your degree or major.

Those are some practical benefits of community college when compared to 4-year colleges. The other major benefit - perhaps the one the matters more than anything else - is that in just two years you can earn your associate's degree, and enter in on a path towards success that you never imagined.

In the next decade, only 7 of the 30 fastest growing jobs require a traditional bachelor's degree. Most others require mid-level education - defined as more than a high school degree, but less than a 4-year degree. And believe it or not, these aren't necessarily low-paying jobs. This list of 40 high-paying careers that don't require a bachelor's degree is quite diverse. A few particular careers mentioned in that list that require an associate's degree:

Engineering technician (avg salary $60k)

Aerospace operations (avg salary $61k)

Web developer (avg salary $62k)

MRI technologist (avg salary $65k)

Nuclear technician (avg salary $69k)

Air traffic controller (avg salary $122k)

3. Get into a trade.

Trade schools offer specific vocational training for a wide variety of skilled careers. Sometimes this means getting an associate's degree at a community college, but many times it's simply a year or so at a technical school. These careers are often associated with "blue collar" jobs, and unfortunately often carry some negative stereotypes in today's culture.

The reality is that there are literally millions of people who work in skilled labor jobs, and they're paid well, especially compared to college graduates. The average starting salary for a college graduate is $45,000, while the average salary of someone who went through trade school is $42,000. Not much of a difference, and the trade school graduate is entering the workforce at least two years sooner.

In addition, you're almost guaranteed a job coming out of school. There are numerous stories of large energy and construction projects that had to be canceled not due to money shortages, but due to labor shortages. Companies simply can't find the skills to complete the work needed.

Yet another benefit of skilled labor is that your skills are not as exportable as people who sit at a computer in a cubicle all day. Even work that was formerly done by lawyers and doctors is being outsourced. You can't outsource electrical or plumbing or welding jobs. These careers are truly what makes our nation run on a daily basis.

Mike Rowe, former host of Dirty Jobs, is doing his best to dispel the stereotypes surrounding blue collar work and is trying revive interest in the skilled trades:

"There were over 3 million jobs in 2008 that were sitting there, and nobody was really talking about them because they weren't aspirational. So long-story-shot, I figured lack of appreciation for skilled labor ultimately manifested itself in a kind of disconnect that led us to push kids in one direction, ignore another direction, and that ultimately created a whole lot of jobs that nobody was too enthused about."

He's started a foundation that provides resources, scholarships, and even a job board for those interested in pursuing skilled trades. It's really an incredibly handy website, and nearly made me want to pursue a trade myself! He also has a new book out, in which all proceeds go towards his foundation - my copy is on its way and I can't wait to read it.

So, what are some specific career options? Take a look at the partial list below, and learn more details about these trades over at Rowe's website.

We're going to embark on a more detailed series of posts regarding the trades in just a few months. Stay tuned!

4. Be an artist.

If art is your passion - be it music, painting, sculpting, etc. - you should strongly consider not attending a 4-year college. While established artists average around $60k a year in earnings, it takes a little longer to get to that point. After getting a degree, you'll be strapped with debt, and will you have really advanced your craft beyond what you would have anyway?

Getting an associate's degree as a backup plan is a good idea, but then just put everything you have into your craft through deliberate practice, and consider moving to an art-friendly city like Seattle, Austin, TX, or one of these other top cities for artists, where you can find peers and mentors that can help critique and improve your work.

In building your following and clientele, really what you're doing is starting a business. And you have to treat it like a business. Don't fall into that "starving artist" stereotype of the lazy, couch-surfing bum who can only work when inspiration strikes. Even if art is your calling, you'll have to work your butt off, just like with any other profession.

5. Take online classes.

Online college-level courses have boomed in the last couple years, with Coursera and EdX leading the way. While YouTube and a variety of websites freely offer lectures for the public to consume, Coursera and EdX offer certificates of completion, and with a small fee, those certificates can be university-verified.

While you won't get college credit for taking these courses, they are absolutely college-level (trust me, they're difficult), and will teach you some very valuable and practical skills that can be applied to a number of professions. A selection of class titles includes New Models of Business in Society, Competitive Strategy, Physics 1, Beginning Game Programming, and many more. If you don't have a degree on your resume, being able to show a handful of certificates for specific skills is much better than nothing at all.

One institution making waves in the education world is the University of the People (UoPeople). Founded in 2009, it offers tuition-free education to anyone and everyone. Students can receive an associate's or a bachelor's degree in business administration or computer science. It's hard to believe, but UoPeople is no gimmick and there's really no catch for students - you get a real degree. Curriculum is put together by volunteers, and the school was recently accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. Bill Gates has given money, as have many large corporate entities. It has applied for accreditation from the Department of Education, and it's believed that they'll meet the requirements.

One drawback is that in attending this university, you really have no skin in the game. While there are over 1,500 students, only about half are active. I've noticed this phenomena myself when taking courses on Coursera or EdX; when it's free, it's harder to stay motivated to continue when life gets busy or if you simply become disinterested.

Another drawback is the lingering negative perception in general of online-only schools. Employers are sometimes wary about online degrees - even if those concerns aren't necessarily warranted. It's a matter of public perception that will hopefully change over time, but as of yet, online degrees still don't carry the same prestige as a "real" university.

Having said that, UofPeople is a unique opportunity, and is gaining some public steam.

It's only a matter of time before these online learning institutions gain even more credibility and become mainstream options for graduated high schoolers.

6. Take a job. Any job.

One option that every 18-year-old should consider is to simply get a job and work for a year or two before deciding on their college path. Even if you start at minimum wage, things like showing up early and staying late, having integrity in the workplace, and treating customers and coworkers with respect will move you up the chain. Believe it or not, those seemingly simple characteristics are in high demand.

By working full-time at a fast food joint, or as a barista, or doing landscaping, you'll learn invaluable life lessons. You'll learn about customer service, about bucking up and working even when you don't want to, about budgeting your income, about balancing life and work. Those are things that many men don't learn until they're out of college.

Beyond slinging burgers at the local diner, there are well-paying and life-long careers that don't require any formal education beyond high school (keep in mind these positions still need to be worked up to, they just don't require formal post-secondary education):

Construction Supervisor (avg salary $60k)

Claims Adjuster & Investigator (avg salary $60k)

Mass Transportation Operator/Inspector (avg salary $63k)

Gaming/Casino Manager (avg salary $65k)

Power Plant Operator (avg salary $66k)

Detective/Criminal Investigator (avg salary $74k)

Elevator Installer/Repairer (avg salary $77k)

If after a couple of years of working you decide to go to college, you'll be two years more mature, and you'll have money in the bank to help you pay tuition. While wages are lower and unemployment is higher for those with only a high school degree, a little bit of elbow grease can go a long way. My own mom, for example, didn't attend any form of college, but worked for a few years in various fast food and retail jobs before getting her real estate license and becoming an executive for multiple real estate companies and earning a wage much higher than the average person. Gumption and grit can in some cases take you further than a college degree. Speaking of real estate...

7. Sell real estate.

Becoming a real estate agent is one of the best options out there for young men not interested in 4 years of college, but who are interested in high income potential. For generally under $1,000, you can take a couple months of real estate courses, take a state licensing test, and start selling homes.

Real estate agents, on average, make $42k a year, which is on par for those with a degree. But your income potential is much higher than that. You get as much out of the career as you put into it - so if you work hard and hit the pavement, you'll make plenty of money to keep you and your family happy. It's also an appealing career choice because realtors are often home-based, and set their own hours, to a certain extent.

The downside of real estate is that you'll likely end up working on many nights and weekends. People who work jobs with normal hours can only look at homes when they're not working, and you'll often be on the phone and filing contracts late into the evening to make sure your client gets their dream home.

While the housing downturn a few years back may turn off some folks to this career, the market is already starting to rebound, and the job growth is projected at 11% in the next decade, which is in-line with the job market as a whole.

Check out the National Association of Realtors for more info on becoming an agent.

8. Volunteer.

Volunteering for a year or two is a great way to not only give back and do some service, but to build your own character at the same time. Many people have dreams of living abroad or doing service for a year, only to realize after college that bills show up, spouses materialize, and soon after, babies start coming. There's simply no better time than that year or two after high school to capitalize on your desire to have a little adventure and do some good in the world.

The Peace Corps is an option for international service, but the majority of assignments go to those with college degrees. If you haven't attended college, they generally look for commensurate experience in the field you'll be working in. Having said that, there are options for those with only a high school degree, so look into it.

AmeriCorps is a much better option for high school grads, although you are "limited" to service here in the U.S. Particularly, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program is a good fit for men aged 18-24, who want to serve for about one year. It's a residential program, and you work in teams of 8-12, so you almost get a college feel, except you're doing community projects instead of attending classes.

The AmeriCorps VISTA program is another good option. The set-up is a little bit different; you work for a year as basically an employee of a non-profit organization. You're given a small stipend for housing and living costs, and that's about it. I personally know several people who have done this program, and every single one has had a great experience.

A few other options for volunteer work after high school:

Conservation Corps - goes back to the days of the Great Depression and FDR's New Deal. Much like AmeriCorps, you receive a small stipend for living expenses. The Conservation Corps tends to focus more on outdoorsy-type work.

Global Routes - an organization that sends young people to foreign countries for 12 weeks or so to perform service. The drawback of this program is that it's a shorter-term commitment, and costs $4,000-$6,000 in "tuition."

Catholic Volunteer Network - provides a wide range of volunteer opportunities, and has a great searchable database where you can specify that you'd be looking for opportunities that don't require a college degree. You don't have to be Catholic (or religious at all, for that matter) to take advantage of this network.

9. Join the military.

While many folks think of the ROTC program when they think of young folks in the military, that's not the only option (although it is certainly a good one). There are around 100,000 18- and 19-year-olds who join the military right after high school. Beyond being a form of service, the practical benefits of being in the military are another reason to consider joining:

A salary that is on par with what a new college grad makes ($30-$45k).

Free health care for you and your family.

Little-to-no living costs, meaning you can save money faster.

Tuition is paid for while in service, should you decide to earn a degree at some point. (You have a variety of online learning options, and many military bases have satellite classrooms of prominent colleges so you never even have to leave post.) You can also take advantage of the GI Bill once your active service is complete, and get at least portions of your education paid for, depending on your time on active duty.

Travel the world - while certainly not the point of military service, this is a benefit that shouldn't be ignored.

30 days of vacation per year. The average for folks with 20+ years of service in the American civilian workforce is only 17 vacation days.

Retirement, with benefits, after 20 years of service. For an 18-year-old, that means you can retire at 38. While you likely won't live off those benefits for the rest of your life, you'll have much less to worry about financially.

There are a few requirements for joining military service:

Must be 18 to join, without parental consent. You can be 17 when enrolling if you have parental consent.

Must be a US resident (includes territories like Guam and Puerto Rico).

A high school degree is not required, but is strongly desired. GEDs are sometimes acceptable as well.

Pass the ASVAB Test - tests your comprehension in various categories like science, language, technical skills, mechanical skills, etc. It helps in assigning career roles within the military. The different branches have different passing scores for this test.

Pass a physical. Each branch has different requirements for height, weight, and body fat. You are also tested for various physical ailments that could handicap your service.

The learn more about joining the military, I'd recommend visiting two incredibly helpful websites: www.military.com and www.todaysmilitary.com.

10. Become an apprentice/fellow.

Peter Thiel - founder of PayPal, entrepreneur, and investor - has taken an interest in this discussion of the necessity of college. In 2011, he launched the Thiel Fellowship. Each year, he chooses 20 young men and women under the age of 20 to give $100,000 to in order to skip college and realize their visions and ideas. He says, "Rather than studying, you're doing." During the two-year program the fellows are mentored by some of the world's top scientists, researchers, and business leaders. There are no specific definitions of a successful two years in the program, but most graduates of it have invented something or started a company.

Similar programs are popping up all over the country as people begin to realize the benefits of the age-old idea of apprenticeships:

Enstitute - provides full-time, paid apprenticeships for students aged 18-24.

Echoing Green - provides funding for young leaders who are passionate about social change.

TechStars - provides funding and guidance for entrepreneurs of any age in the technology industry.

UnCollege Gap Year - a really cool program that basically guides students through self-directed learning and growth. It does have tuition costs of $16,000, but the idea is that perhaps you'll discover a different route for your career than a traditional college degree.

11. Attend a work college.

This option is close to being just another 4-year college, but with one crucial difference. You are actually required to work 10-15 hours a week to help pay your tuition. Because of that, at these work colleges, you pay significantly less in tuition, and in a few cases, you pay no tuition.

In all other regards, it's a normal college experience, but you aren't strapped with the debt that cripples so many students and their families. You also get the valuable experience that comes with working a job while also engrossed in your studies. These institutions admit you'll probably work harder than at other schools, and have a harder time learning how to balance your responsibilities, but you'll come through the other side stronger than most of your peers.

There are only seven federally recognized work college in the country, so your options are a bit more limited, but they are definitely worth considering. Learn more at www.workcolleges.org.

"Is College for Everyone?" Series Conclusion

We've brought you full circle with this series on the necessity and worth of a 4-year college degree. We started with a look at the history of higher ed in America, and how that past has informed the current situation. We then discussed the pros and cons of a traditional 4-year college and concluded that when you get down to it, there's no easy yes or no answer as to whether or not one outweighs the other. And finally, today we've presented a variety of options for the graduated high schooler who wishes to do something different with his life.

Ultimately, our goal with this series is not to convince you of one side of the argument or the other. There are serious pros and cons no matter what you do, and there are opportunity costs for every choice we'll ever make in life. College just happens to be one of the biggest decisions you'll grapple with, so the opportunity cost could well be high.

It's with that in mind that we ask students to thoughtfully engage with the question of whether or not to attend a 4-year college. As an 18-year-old, that's admittedly a tough task. You have peer pressure, parental pressure, societal pressure - it's almost more than anyone can really sort through and examine clearly. And yet, the college decision will have implications that impact the entirety of your life. Don't assume that a 4-year school is the best option just because that's what everyone else says.

And that sentiment goes for parents as well. You've seen the data in these posts. A college education simply isn't what it used to be. For many students, it will definitely be the right choice. For some, however, it will not. Parents need to consider the fact that a bachelor's degree may not be what's right for the course of their child's life. Help your students engage this topic, and help them understand the weight of debt - something that's so hard for young minds to truly grasp.

Whether you're the parent or the high school senior, the one takeaway we hope you have gotten from this series is that education doesn't have to be a continual conveyer belt that you first step on in pre-k and don't step off until you've gotten a college sheepskin in hand. It's okay to jump off and explore other paths. We wish all the young men heading out on their own this year the best of luck as they decide which way to go.

Tags: college

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11 Alternatives to the Traditional 4-Year College | The Art of Manliness

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So far in this series on whether or not college is truly for everyone, we've covered both the history of higher ed, and the pros and cons of attending a 4-year university. Today, we're going to look at alternatives to the traditional 4-year degree. One-quarter of college grads are in jobs that don't require a degree.

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Every student is different. Finding the "perfect" college is different for every student. Don't fall into the common traps of college admissions. Jennifer Ann Aquino talks about helping every college-bound student find their personal fit.

Listen Now

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Link to show: www.coolcatteacher.com/e239
Date: January 25, 2018

Vicki: Today we're talking with Jennifer Aquino, the author of The International Family Guide to US University Admissions.

Jennifer, where do we start? There's all kinds of books that say, "OK, have a good SAT. Have this. Have that."

But is that the right place to start when we're talking about college admissions with our kids?

Jennifer: Vicki, this is THE question right now. This is why I also wrote the book, because every family and every student would come to me and say, "Where do we start?"

Where do we start with College Admissions?

And so... there's really not one word answer for that. But there is a place to start, and that's really with the child - him or her - self.

Helping him or helping her discover and embrace who she really is... building up her confidences, helping her take risks, understanding who this person is... Then championing that, and bringing that through to the applications.

Vicki: But you know, it's so tough.

I have three... One's graduated from college, one's in college, and I have one in high school.

You know, there are certain things. You know, students don't have a certain GPA, if they don't have a certain SAT... some of those choices are kind of eliminated, aren't they?

Jennifer: Well, here's the way that I look at it, and this also goes along with how admissions works in the U.S.

How many universities do we have in the U.S., right? There's over 3500 4-year degree-granting institutions in the U.S.

There is a "fit" for every student.

There is a "fit" for every student.

The problem that we face is that we don't start at the right starting block. We're always starting, putting pressure on the students with the grades, and these crazy standardized tests. Right?

Instead of starting with, "Who are you? What do you love to do? What are you afraid of? What are challenges for you? What do you want to try in life? What are you proud of yourself for?"

[We need to] really help the student understand who she is, so that she can build up her own self confidence, start to embrace her own self, and realize where her strengths are. (And obviously, her weaknesses, where they lie as well, because we all have them...)

Help the student understand who she is

And then looking for the universities and colleges that state (that they want) that very specific student.

Vicki: You make me think about a student who I have who just started an excellent school, Savannah School of Art and Design. We actually had some of these conversations in 8th and 9th grade. She struggled in math, and you know, she was just beating herself up, "I want to go to a great college."

And I remember the conversation we had.

I said, "OK. What if you end up in art school? How important is math?"

And she had a good math math grade, but honestly, admissions and her math scores weren't as important as her portfolio, for that college.

Jennifer: Right. Absolutely right.

AND... going back to what you just said, Vicki, of, "She wants to go to a great college." But we have to sort of... We've got to dig down deep of what does that mean? What does a great college mean, for each student?

What does a "great college" mean?

For every single individual or child who exists on this planet? There is a great college for that individual person, because that means it's just a "fit" for them. Right?

So a great college is not one that comes out in the rankings, or one that we see everybody wearing the sweatshirts of. That's a great college for ... several students... but not for every student.

A great university, a fabulous university, is one that fits - like you're talking about your student - that fits her. It's going to embrace her, her talents, her strengths - and it will also support her and her future, and help her become a success, whatever "success" means in her mind and in her life.

Vicki: Yeah. I actually went to Georgia Tech, which two of my children now attend.

But I went there in the 1980's, when there weren't many women there.

Jennifer: Ahhh!

Vicki: I can't tell you how many people tried to convince me NOT to go there.

Jennifer: Interesting...

Vicki: And I'm like, "Are you trying to tell me not to go there because I'm a woman?"

Jennifer: Hmmm.

Vicki: "Or, you just can't picture women in technology?"

Jennifer: Hmmm.

Vicki: So Jennifer, let's talk about... What are some common mistakes that parents and teachers make when trying to help kids with the college admissions process?

What are some common mistakes that adults make when trying to help?

Jennifer: It's very different when we talk about the mistakes parents make [versus] the mistakes that teachers make. (laughs)

So, from my experience, one of the mistakes that parents make - and I say this with 100% of respect - is this idea or this notion that a recognized university (again, walking down the street, where I am right now in New York, and seeing that university on someone's sweatshirt, and recognizing that). That's means it's a good university for my son or my daughter.

That's not the case. Right?

We're talking about fit. Universities select the students to attend their university based on fit. Sure, it's based on grades and in some cases based on standardized tests. But it's based on fit!

As you know, Vicki, every university has its own character, has its own personality. And they're looking for students who are going to fit into that personality, right?

And you mentioned mistakes that teachers make. I think that mistakes that teachers perhaps might make ar falling into to the standard that we consider what is needed for U.S. university admissions. "Ok so how are your grades? How are your test scores? Have you filled out your applications?"

Sort of the procedural steps, instead of looking at each student as the individual self and helping her - again - embrace who she is, build up her confidence, and say, "Have you looked at Such-and-Such University?" or "Have you considered somewhere else?"

Students look up to their teachers like no one else. They're mentors.

I think teachers are probably one of the best resources for students in terms of helping the. Not necessarily through the process of that, because that goes to the guidance counselor and so on. But my students look up to their teachers like no one else. They're mentors. So when I have a student tell me, "My teacher today suggested a university to me. She knows the university well. She thought it would be a good fit." They are so much more inclined to research that institution, to try to get to know that institution because they trust the teacher. The teacher knows them so well.

So, obviously, not asking teachers to understand what 3500 universities, their different personalities, criteria, admissions standards are. But to really have a conversation with the student, I think that's really, really, really helpful... such as "Where are you thinking of going? Why would you go there? Why does that interest you?"

Really start to help them think about, "Why am I thinking that? Is it because it just falls on the list, or I see someone with a sweatshirt, or it falls on the rankings, or my parents told me, or my social network is telling me I should apply there? Because I can really defend my fit, and this is the right university for me."

When do you start having college conversations with kids?

Vicki: So when do you start having those conversations? What age or grade?

Jennifer: That's a great question.

I tend to work with students on the building confidence, trying new things, taking new risks, embracing who they are - in 9th and 10th grade. That's 10th and 11th grade in the British system.

The process begins in the penultimate year, in my view. Starting the process before that I think is far too early. When I say process, I mean developing their list, starting to do standardized tests, starting to fill out applications. I don't like them to do that prior to the penultimate year in secondary school or high school, because I think it locks them in. It doesn't allow them to keep their mind open and allow them to be OK to change. And there are going to change, as you know as a teacher.

But I think in 9th and 10th grade, there are things that they should be preparing for, for university admission. But that's really about the self. That's that self evaluation and that self embrace.

Creating resumes and CVs

Vicki: You know, I've just found, having my 9th and 10th graders create resumes, and having different sections for their experiences, their honors...

Jennifer: Yes.

Vicki: The kids will come up and say, "I don't have anything in this section."

And I'll say, "Ohhhhh. What do you need to do that?"

So they can make educated decisions about what they're going to do in high school.

Jennifer: It's great that you're doing that, Vicki. I mentioned this in my book, too. There are some adults who say, "Well, kids shouldn't have CVs." I'm a big proponent of kids having CVs or resumes. I think it helps take a look, like your example, "Huh, maybe I need to try this, or maybe I need to do something new." or "Maybe I'm not working as hard in my classes as I should be." But I think it gives them a nice snapshot, and I think that's a great way to start with them, too.

Vicki: So Jennifer, as we finish up, give us a 30-second pep talk on helping every child find that fit for college.

Jennifer: My 30-second pep talk is this. Let's help our students build confidence in themselves by trying new things, taking new risks, learning what it is to fail at something, learning what it is to succeed at something, and really encouraging them to embrace who they are - not who we want them to be, or who their parents want them to be, or who their friends want them to be. They need to really embrace who they are, because that is what will come through in a solid and winning application - them being able to express themselves and express how they are fit for the universities that they're applying to.

Vicki: Jennifer has given us such great advice, teachers. One of the questions I always ask students, when they sit down and say, "What should I write for my college application? Or "What should I write for my Validate Victory Speech?" I always say, "What is it about you that makes you special?"

"What is it about you that makes you special?"

Jennifer: (agrees)

Vicki: "If you had a minute in an elevator to tell somebody something that really makes you different or pretty unique, what would you talk about?"

You don't want the kids to be turning in something that 10,000 other students could write. There's always a story. Every child has a story.

Jennifer: Exactly. And that is a wonderful thing. We all have a genuine self. We've got to be able to help our students develop that and express that.

Vicki: OK, teachers, let's help kids find the right college and a great fit.
Contact us about the show: http://www.coolcatteacher.com/contact/
Transcribed by Kymberli Mulford [email protected]

Jennifer Aquino - Bio as submitted

Jennifer Aquino, the author of " The International Family Guide to US University Admissions", Wiley & Sons 2017, has 20+ years of experience in international education having started her career as a teacher of AP Biology at The Gunnery School (US) and moved on to administrative roles including Director of Education Abroad and Director of International Advancement (Bentley University, US) and Managing Director, International MBA (IE Business School, Spain). She now works with families and institutions to help guide students to the best educational and career path for the individual student. A member of IECA and IACAC, she holds an MA in Spanish from Middlebury College and a BS from Boston College in Spanish and Biology with a concentration in pre-medical studies. She serves on the Global Committee for IECA. She is based between Singapore and Geneva.

http://www.jenniferannaquino.com/about

Blog: http://www.jenniferannaquino.com

Twitter: @jenannaquino

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a "sponsored podcast episode." The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.

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College Admissions Tips and How To's for Parents and Teachers

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Every student is different. Finding the "perfect" college is different for every student. Don't fall into the common traps of college admissions. Jennifer Ann Aquino talks about helping every college-bound student find their personal fit. PowerSchool is my SIS and LMS and is the sponsor of today's show.

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Heads up, doodlers!

Google is offering thousands of dollars in scholarship money and prizes to K-12 students who submit the best artwork during its Doodle 4 Google contest.
Kids and parents have to act fast because the contest ends March 2, 2018.
What's a Google Doodle?

Since 1998, Google has created over 2,000 doodles for its homepages around the world, including doodles to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day , Marie Curie's 144th Birthday and the Great American Eclipse of 2017 .

The company uses Google Doodles to change up its logo to mark significant dates throughout the year.

Who Can Enter the Doodle 4 Google Contest?

The is open to U.S. citizens and permanent legal U.S. residents of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the District of Columbia.

Students enrolled in public, private and home schools are eligible to enter. They must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to be eligible.

"Parents, teachers, non-profits and after school programs are [also] welcome to enter artwork on behalf of students K-12," according to .

What Materials and Mediums Can Be Used to Create the Doodle?

Entries aren't limited to only digital submissions. Students can also create Doodles using "paint, pencils, crayons, markers, chalk, pastels, charcoal, cray-pas, or a 2D collage."

Be sure to read the guidelines on how to submit digital and three-dimensional Doodles online or through the U.S. mail.

What Do the Doodle 4 Google Winners Receive?

Google is offering several prizes to winning students, including:

For the National Winner: A behind-the-scenes experience with the Doodle team, a $30,000 college scholarship, $50,000 technology package for their school/non-profit organization and a trip to Google Headquarters

For the 5 National Finalists: A doodle featured on the Doodle 4 Google gallery, a $5,000 college scholarship and a trip to Google Headquarters in California

For the 53 State and Territory Winners: A doodle featured on the Doodle 4 Google gallery and a special celebration

All winners also receive Google hardware and "fun Googley swag."

How to Enter the Doodle 4 Google Contest

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She's still trying to learn how to draw stick figures.

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Doodle 4 Google Offers Oodles of Prizes & Scholarships to K-12 Students

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Heads up, doodlers! Google is offering thousands of dollars in scholarship money and prizes to K-12 students who submit the best artwork during its Doodle 4 Google contest. Kids and parents have to act fast because the contest ends March 2, 2018.