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Jennifer Casarella, MD on April 21, 2021

There are many different conditions that are recognized as mental illnesses. The more common types include:

Anxiety disorders: People with anxiety disorders respond to certain objects or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety or panic, such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating. An anxiety disorder is diagnosed if the person's response is not appropriate for the situation, if the person cannot control the response, or if the anxiety interferes with normal functioning. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

Mood disorders: These disorders, also called affective disorders, involve persistent feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. The most common mood disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, and cyclothymic disorder.

Psychotic disorders: Psychotic disorders involve distorted awareness and thinking. Two of the most common symptoms of psychotic disorders are hallucinations -- the experience of images or sounds that are not real, such as hearing voices -- and delusions, which are false fixed beliefs that the ill person accepts as true, despite evidence to the contrary. Schizophrenia is an example of a psychotic disorder.

Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common eating disorders.

Impulse control and addiction disorders: People with impulse control disorders are unable to resist urges, or impulses, to perform acts that could be harmful to themselves or others. Pyromania (starting fires), kleptomania (stealing), and compulsive gambling are examples of impulse control disorders. Alcohol and drugs are common objects of addictions. Often, people with these disorders become so involved with the objects of their addiction that they begin to ignore responsibilities and relationships.

Personality disorders: People with personality disorders have extreme and inflexible personality traits that are distressing to the person and/or cause problems in work, school, or social relationships. In addition, the person's patterns of thinking and behavior significantly differ from the expectations of society and are so rigid that they interfere with the person's normal functioning. Examples include antisocial personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder,and paranoid personality disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals are called compulsions. An example is a person with an unreasonable fear of germs who constantly washes their hands.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb.

Other, less common types of mental illnesses include:

Stress response syndromes (formerly called adjustment disorders): Stress response syndromes occur when a person develops emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressful event or situation. The stressors may include natural disasters, such as an earthquake or tornado; events or crises, such as a car accident or the diagnosis of a major illness; or interpersonal problems, such as a divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job, or a problem with substance abuse. Stress response syndromes usually begin within three months of the event or situation and ends within six months after the stressor stops or is eliminated.

Dissociative disorders: People with these disorders suffer severe disturbances or changes in memory, consciousness, identity, and general awareness of themselves and their surroundings. These disorders usually are associated with overwhelming stress, which may be the result of traumatic events, accidents, or disasters that may be experienced or witnessed by the individual. Dissociative identity disorder, formerly called multiple personality disorder, or "split personality," and depersonalization disorder are examples of dissociative disorders.

Factitious disorders: Factitious disorders are conditions in which a person knowingly and intentionally creates or complains of physical and/or emotional symptoms in order to place the individual in the role of a patient or a person in need of help.

Sexual and gender disorders: These include disorders that affect sexual desire, performance, and behavior. Sexual dysfunction, gender identity disorder, and the paraphilias are examples of sexual and gender disorders.

Somatic symptom disorders: A person with a somatic symptom disorder, formerly known as a psychosomatic disorder or somatoform disorder, experiences physical symptoms of an illness or of pain with an excessive and disproportionate level of distress, regardless of whether or not a doctor can find a medical cause for the symptoms.

Tic disorders: People with tic disorders make sounds or display nonpurposeful body movements that are repeated, quick, sudden, and/or uncontrollable. (Sounds that are made involuntarily are called vocal tics.) Tourette's syndrome is an example of a tic disorder.

Other diseases or conditions, including various sleep-related problems and many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, are sometimes classified as mental illnesses, because they involve the brain.

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Jennifer Casarella, MD on April 21, 2021 There are many different conditions that are recognized as mental illnesses. The more common types include: Anxiety disorders: People with anxiety disorders respond to certain objects or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety or panic, such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.

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Mental health: Definition, common disorders, early signs, and more

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Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being. We define mental health, explain different disorders, and assess potential treatments.

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Consuming the right balance of nutrients can help maintain a healthful lifestyle.

Macronutrients are nutrients that people need in relatively large quantities.

Carbohydrates

Sugar, starch, and fiber are types of carbohydrates.

Sugars are simple carbs. The body quickly breaks down and absorbs sugars and processed starch. They can provide rapid energy, but they do not leave a person feeling full. They can also cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Frequent sugar spikes increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Fiber is also a carbohydrate. The body breaks down some types of fiber and uses them for energ; others are metabolized by gut bacteria, while other types pass through the body.

Fiber and unprocessed starch are complex carbs. It takes the body some time to break down and absorb complex carbs. After eating fiber, a person will feel full for longer. Fiber may also reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer. Complex carbs are a more healthful choice than sugars and refined carbs.
Learn more here about fiber.
Proteins

Proteins consist of amino acids, which are organic compounds that occur naturally.

There are 20 amino acids. Some of these are essential, which means people need to obtain them from food. The body can make the others.

Some foods provide complete protein, which means they contain all the essential amino acids the body needs. Other foods contain various combinations of amino acids.

Most plant-based foods do not contain complete protein, so a person who follows a vegan diet needs to eat a range of foods throughout the day that provides the essential amino acids.
Learn more here about protein.
Fats

Fats are essential for:

lubricating joints

helping organs produce hormones

enabling the body to absorb certain vitamins

reducing inflammation

preserving brain health

Too much fat can lead to obesity, high cholesterol, liver disease, and other health problems.

However, the type of fat a person eats makes a difference. Unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, are more healthful than saturated fats, which tend to come from animals.
In this article, learn more about the different types of fats and where to find them.
Water

The adult human body is up to 60% water, and it needs water for many processes. Water contains no calories, and it does not provide energy.

Many people recommend consuming 2 liters, or 8 glasses, of water a day, but it can also come from dietary sources, such as fruit and vegetables. Adequate hydration will result in pale yellow urine.

Requirements will also depend on an individual's body size and age, environmental factors, activity levels, health status, and so on.

Click here to find out how much water a person needs each day and here to learn about the benefits of drinking water.

Micronutrients are essential in small amounts. They include vitamins and minerals. Manufacturers sometimes add these to foods. Examples include fortified cereals and rice.

Minerals

The body needs carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

It also needs dietary minerals, such as iron, potassium, and so on.

In most cases, a varied and balanced diet will provide the minerals a person needs. If a deficiency occurs, a doctor may recommend supplements.

Here are some of the minerals the body needs to function well.
Potassium
Potassium is an electrolyte. It enables the kidneys, the heart, the muscles, and the nerves to work properly. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults consume 4,700 milligrams (mg) of potassium each day.

Too little can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and kidney stones.

Too much may be harmful to people with kidney disease.

Avocados, coconut water, bananas, dried fruit, squash, beans, and lentils are good sources.
Learn more here about potassium. Sodium
Sodium is an electrolyte that helps:

maintain nerve and muscle function

regulate fluid levels in the body

Too little can lead to hyponatremia. Symptoms include lethargy, confusion, and fatigue. Learn more here.

Too much can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Table salt, which is made up of sodium and chloride, is a popular condiment. However, most people consume too much sodium, as it already occurs naturally in most foods.

Experts urge people not to add table salt to their diet. Current guidelines recommend consuming no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, or around one teaspoon.

This recommendation includes both naturally-occurring sources, as well as salt a person adds to their food. People with high blood pressure or kidney disease should eat less.
How much salt does a person need? Find out here. Calcium
The body needs calcium to form bones and teeth. It also supports the nervous system, cardiovascular health, and other functions.

Too little can cause bones and teeth to weaken. Symptoms of a severe deficiency include tingling in the fingers and changes in heart rhythm, which can be life-threatening.

Too much can lead to constipation, kidney stones, and reduced absorption of other minerals.

Current guidelines for adults recommend consuming 1,000 mg a day, and 1,200 mg for women aged 51 and over.

Good sources include dairy products, tofu, legumes,and green, leafy vegetables.
Find out more about calcium. Phosphorus
Phosphorus is present in all body cells and contributes to the health of the bones and teeth.

Too little phosphorus can lead to bone diseases, affect appetite, muscle strength, and coordination. It can also result in anemia, a higher risk of infection, burning or prickling sensations in the skin, and confusion.

Too much in the diet is unlikely to cause health problems though toxicity is possible from supplements, medications, and phosphorus metabolism problems.

Adults should aim to consume around 700 mg of phosphorus each day. Good sources include dairy products, salmon, lentils, and cashews.
Why do people need phosphorus? Find out here. Magnesium
Magnesium contributes to muscle and nerve function. It helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and it enables the body to produce proteins, bone, and DNA.

Too little magnesium can eventually lead to weakness, nausea, tiredness, restless legs, sleep conditions, and other symptoms.

Too much can result in digestive and, eventually, heart problems.

Nuts, spinach, and beans are good sources of magnesium. Adult females need 320 mg of magnesium each day, and adult males need 420 mg.
Why is magnesium essential? Click here to learn more. Zinc
Zinc plays a role in the health of body cells, the immune system, wound healing, and the creation of proteins.

Too little can lead to hair loss, skin sores, changes in taste or smell,and diarrhea, but this is rare.

Too much can lead to digestive problems and headaches. Click here to learn more.

Adult females need 8 mg of zinc a day, and adult males need 11 mg. Dietary sources include oysters, beef, fortified breakfast cereals, and baked beans. For more on dietary sources of zinc, click here.
How does zinc benefit a person's health? Click here to find out. Iron
Iron is crucial for the formation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. It also plays a role in forming connective tissue and creating hormones.

Too little can result in anemia, including digestive issues, weakness, and difficulty thinking. Learn more here about iron deficiency.

Too much can lead to digestive problems, and very high levels can be fatal.

Good sources include fortified cereals, beef liver, lentils, spinach, and tofu. Adults need 8 mg of iron a day, but females need 18 mg during their reproductive years.
Why is iron important? Find out here. Manganese
The body uses manganese to produce energy, it plays a role in blood clotting, and it supports the immune system.

Too little can result in weak bones in children, skin rashes in men, and mood changes in women.

Too much can lead to tremors, muscle spasms, and other symptoms, but only with very high amounts.

Mussels, hazelnuts, brown rice, chickpeas, and spinach all provide manganese. Male adults need 2.3 mg of manganese each day, and females need 1.8 mg.
Find out more here about manganese. Copper
Copper helps the body make energy and produce connective tissues and blood vessels.

Too little copper can lead to tiredness, patches of light skin, high cholesterol, and connective tissue disorders. This is rare.

Too much copper can result in liver damage, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea. Too much copper also reduces the absorption of zinc.

Good sources include beef liver, oysters, potatoes, mushrooms, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. Adults need 900 micrograms (mcg) of copper each day.
Why is copper important? Click here to find out. Selenium
Selenium is made up of over 24 selenoproteins, and it plays a crucial role in reproductive and thyroid health. As an antioxidant, it can also prevent cell damage.

Too much selenium can cause garlic breath, diarrhea, irritability, skin rashes, brittle hair or nails, and other symptoms.

Too little can result in heart disease, infertility in men, and arthritis.

Adults need 55 mcg of selenium a day.

Brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium. Other plant sources include spinach, oatmeal, and baked beans. Tuna, ham, and enriched macaroni are all excellent sources.
Learn more about selenium here.
Vitamins

Eating a variety of healthful foods can provide the body with different vitamins.

People need small amounts of various vitamins. Some of these, such as vitamin C, are also antioxidants. This means they help protect cells from damage by removing toxic molecules, known as free radicals, from the body.

Vitamins can be:

Water-soluble: The eight B vitamins and vitamin C

Fat-soluble: Vitamins A, D, E, and K
Learn more about vitamins here. Water soluble vitamins
People need to consume water-soluble vitamins regularly because the body removes them more quickly, and it cannot store them easily.

Beriberi

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Unclear, as the body excretes it in the urine.

Fortified cereals and rice, pork, trout, black beans

Hair loss, rashes around the eyes and other body openings, conjunctivitis

Unclear

Beef liver, egg, salmon, sunflower seeds, sweet potato

B-9 ( folic acid, folate)

Weakness, fatigue, difficulty focusing, heart palpitations, shortness of breath

May increase cancer risk

Beef liver, spinach, black-eyed peas, fortified cereal, asparagus

Fat-soluble vitamins
The body absorbs fat-soluble vitamins through the intestines with the help of fats (lipids). The body can store them and does not remove them quickly. People who follow a low-fat diet may not be able to absorb enough of these vitamins. If too many build up, problems can arise.

Peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, reduced immune response

May reduce the ability of blood to clot

Wheatgerm, nuts, seeds, sunflower and safflower oil, spinach

Bleeding and hemorrhaging in severe cases

No adverse effects but it may interact with blood thinners and other drugs

Leafy, green vegetables, soybeans, edamame, okra, natto

Multivitamins are available for purchase in stores or online, but people should speak to their doctor before taking any supplements, to check that they are suitable for them to use.

Antioxidants

Some nutrients also act as antioxidants. These may be vitamins, minerals, proteins, or other types of molecules. They help the body remove toxic substances known as free radicals, or reactive oxygen species. If too many of these substances remain in the body, cell damage and disease can result.
Find out more here about antioxidants. Here, learn which foods are good sources of antioxidants.

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Nutrition: Nutrients and the role of the dietitian and nutritionist

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Macronutrients are nutrients that people need in relatively large quantities. Sugar, starch, and fiber are types of carbohydrates. Sugars are simple carbs. The body quickly breaks down and absorbs sugars and processed starch. They can provide rapid energy, but they do not leave a person feeling full.

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New research is revealing that even small amounts of physical activity trigger dozens of beneficial changes in the body

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"Why am I running out of money?"

That's the question students ask most when they visit the student money management center at University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia.

"When I ask them about a spending plan or a budget, they'll typically say, 'Yeah, I know what I spend my money on,'" says the center's coordinator, Jean Cyprien. "But when I show them a spreadsheet with different categories for spending, they'll say, 'Wow, I didn't realize I was spending that on eating out' or 'I forgot about that music app that I'm paying for.'"

You may have income from a part-time job, or you may start the semester with a lump sum. No matter your source, you have to make your spending money last all semester.

Here's how to do it.

Set expectations with your parents

Before school starts, have a conversation with your parents about who's paying for what.

"You don't want to be in a situation where it's kind of up in the air," says Philip Schuman, senior director of financial literacy at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. "Having that first initial conversation will help go a long way toward having students become more financially independent from their parents."

For example, your parents may agree to cover tuition and supplies, but you'll have to pay for living expenses.
More: More: More: How to avoid getting punched by checking account overdraft fees Car payments getting out of control? How to retake the wheel on financing With this simple strategy, 'You can't avoid becoming a millionaire'
Separate needs and wants

Paying for your wants shouldn't come at the expense of your needs. To prioritize spending, start with a list of expenses you are certain of during the semester, such as a trip home at Thanksgiving or filling your car with gas every two weeks.

Subtract those expenses from the amount of money you have for the semester. What's left is your discretionary spending money.

Now divide that remaining amount by the number of weeks you need to cover. For example, if you have $800 available over a 15-week semester, that's a little over $50 a week you could spend.

Use leftover financial aid wisely

If you borrow student loans to pay for college, there may be remaining funds you can use for personal expenses after covering tuition and fees, as well as room and board.

But avoid spending loan money on nonessentials, like streaming services, vacations or delivered food. Paying for those expenses with financial aid can be costly, since you'll have to pay back the money you borrow, with interest.

Find a tracking tool you'll use

There are endless ways to track spending, including phone apps, online budgeting worksheets, an Excel spreadsheet or a paper and pen.

It doesn't matter what tool you use, so long as you find something that works for you, college budgeting experts say. If maintaining an Excel spreadsheet isn't your thing, try an app that links to your bank account.

Tracking your money can help you make smarter spending choices.

"You've got to take responsibility to say, 'I can't go out and spend money to go to the bar or pizza place, because I'm not going to have enough money for the books that I need,'" says Katie Ross, education and development manager for American Consumer Credit Counseling, a nonprofit credit counseling organization.

Stop spending. Plan to skip a few weeks of spending to stick with your current budget. If you spent three weeks of your allotment in one weekend, for example, then curtail spending for two weeks.

Start over. Add up all of the money you have left for the semester and divide by the number of weeks left. This is the new amount available to spend each week.

More from NerdWallet: How to Use Student Loans for Living Expenses How Much to Borrow for College Budgeting for College Students: Where to Start Anna Helhoski is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @annahelhoski. NerdWallet is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
What to do if you slip up

Overspending is probably going to happen. You might budget $50 a week, but one weekend you end up spending double or triple that amount.

You don't necessarily need to work more hours at a part-time job or send an SOS to your parents to get back on track. Instead, adjust your budget. There are two effective ways to do it:

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Budgets 101: How to make your spending money last in college

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"Why am I running out of money?" That's the question students ask most when they visit the student money management center at University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia. "When I ask them about a spending plan or a budget, they'll typically say, 'Yeah, I know what I spend my money on,'" says the center's coordinator, Jean Cyprien.

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Budgeting can be difficult for anyone, and college students are no exception. With the countless opportunities and new experiences at most universities, it might be tempting to indulge yourself and rely on your parents as a financial safety net. But if you can learn to manage your money at this stage in life, your chances of living a more financially stable and free life in the future are pretty high.

Although you might not make a lot of money in college, you'll likely want to experience everything it has to offer. But you don't want to go broke doing it all, only to find yourself having to pay off a massive amount of student loan debt.

Click through to find out some creative ways to pay for college.

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Budgeting can be difficult for anyone, and college students are no exception. With the countless opportunities and new experiences at most universities, it might be tempting to indulge yourself and rely on your parents as a financial safety net.

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The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form required by the federal and state governments as well as colleges for students that wish to qualify for financial aid. Outside of scholarships, financial aid is the most helpful way to pay for school, and it's not just for those that can demonstrate financial need. The FASFA application asks questions about a student's personal and familial financial circumstances in order to determine how much they can pay for college. Unfortunately, the FAFSA application isn't a short form that you can simply fill out in a few minutes. It takes just under an hour to complete, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Fortunately, it only takes 10 minutes to correct it, which is oftentimes necessary given that mistakes are pretty common. A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application for financial aid. About 30% of all FAFSAs are selected for verification, a process intended to identify and correct common errors. Some colleges voluntarily require 100% of FAFSAs to undergo verification. If your FAFSA is verified and contains errors, it can cost you. To avoid these errors, get started early - when the FAFSA becomes available on October 1 - and use the online version of the FAFSA. The online FAFSA has built-in "edit checks" that can catch and prevent many errors. If you use a printed version of the FAFSA, be sure to proofread your application before you submit it. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is also helpful in preventing errors. It can be used to copy the answers to some FAFSA questions directly from your federal income tax return. If you do not modify those answers, those questions will not be subject to verification. This will reduce the likelihood that your FAFSA will be selected for verification, saving you time and hassle. Do not, however, wait until you file your federal income tax returns to file the FAFSA application. Some states have very early deadlines for state grants, and some states award their grants on a first-come, first-served basis. Technically, the FAFSA has an 20-month application cycle. That means that the FAFSA deadline for the form just released on October 1 is June 30, 2021, to qualify for federal student aid. However, if you want to qualify for state aid, you need to submit your application much sooner. For example, if you're from Michigan, you need to submit your form by the state FAFSA deadline on March 1, 2020, in order to qualify for state aid. Many states, though, request that students submit the form as soon after October 1 as possible, as mentioned above. With that, students and their families can sometimes be working too quickly when filing the FASA, which could also lead to mistakes. As you start the form, use the FAFSA checklist to insure you've gathered all the necessary information. The worksheet is updated every year, so if this year isn't available yet, keep checking until it is. Also, keep these things in mind in order to create the perfect FAFSA the first time around.
Avoid the most common FAFSA mistakes:
* The most frequent mistake made on the printed form is leaving a field blank. If the answer is zero or the question does not apply to you, write in a zero. If you leave a question blank, the processor will assume that you forgot to answer. * Use the 1040 federal tax return for income reporting and reporting taxes paid. If you use your W-2 and 1099 forms, compare them with the prior prior year's income tax return to make sure you did not overlook any source of income, such as interest and dividends. Take advantage of the IRS Tool in order to avoid mistakes on this part of the form. * Don't forget to report all the required sources of untaxed income. These include veterans' noneducation benefits, child support and workers compensation/disability income. * Report your correct marital status. If you plan to file as a married student, you must be married on or before the date that you sign your FAFSA application. * If your parents are divorced, your stepparent's financial information must be reported in addition to the financial information for your custodial parent. * Include yourself in the household size. Even if you didn't live there during the previous year, you should always include yourself as part of your parent's household. * Don't forget to sign the application. If you're filing as a dependent, both you and your parents must sign. If you file online, you and your parents can sign the form electronically using your FSA ID. * Remember to file on time. Priority for programs with limited funds is often given to students filing the FAFSA as soon as possible once it's released. The form will be made available on October 1, but you should complete it well before the FAFSA application deadline. * As with all forms and applications, make sure you read the instructions and questions carefully. If you're unclear about a question or are having trouble filling out the FAFSA, check the FAQ section on the FAFSA website, or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). * Create your FSA ID before you start the form. Not only do you need this FSA ID to complete the form, you also need it to make corrections. It acts as your electronic signature on the FASFA as well. Students and parents need their own separate FSA IDs. While filing the FAFSA can be time consuming, there are so many tools and tips provided along the way to keep you on track and prevent you from making mistakes. Though mistakes are common, they should be avoided at all costs. In the long run, these mistakes could actually cost you financial aid dollars. Ultimately, if your FASFA is pulled to be verified and mistakes are found, you can work with the U.S. Department of Education or your financial aid administrator to help correct the issues. Owning up to the mistake is far better than intentionally making one or realizing you've made one and neglecting to fix it. A correct FAFSA form can be your best asset in securing financial aid to pay for college, in addition to college scholarships. Get started on the form sooner rather than later, and do your best to make it perfect the first time around.

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10 FAFSA Mistakes that Affect Financial Aid

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The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form required by the federal and state governments as well as colleges for students that wish to qualify for financial aid. Outside of scholarships, financial aid is the most helpful way to pay for school, and it's not just for those that can demonstrate financial need.

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I'm in the throes of reviewing college aid offers for my daughter, who has been accepted to five colleges.

There's more than $150 billion available in student aid, but you have to act quickly to obtain it.

You have to read these offers carefully and be prepared well in advance. Here's what you can do:
* Ask Directly for Grants, Work-Study, Tuition Discounts and Scholarships instead of loans.
This is the best way to stay out of debt, although how much non-loan varies from college to college. Private schools may have more money to dole out than public colleges.
* Pay Attention to Your "Expected Family Contribution (EFC)."
Although the EFC is what you're expected to pay each year out of pocket for college, it's not written in stone. You can always ask the college to pony up more non-loan aid.

Note any changes in income to college financial aid departments and update your FAFSA form, which must be updated every year your child is in college.

Are you expected to lose a job or income? Are you disabled or getting divorced? All of this matters and may result in more aid.

Always remember to complete all requested forms, including the FAFSA.
* Keep a Close Eye on Liquid Assets.
This generally means cash, assets in non-retirement accounts, income and second homes. All of these items are counted as resources available for college.

So if you're planning to start withdrawing money from retirement accounts or thinking of buying a vacation home, you might want to hold off.

Also be careful with grandparents who contribute. That income might show up as student assets, which are counted most prominently in aid formulas.

And if you're investing in a college savings account, choose a 529 account over a trust called an UGMA or UTMA. The trusts are assessed four times higher in aid formulas compared to 529 plans.
* Enrollment Status and Grades Are Important.
Part-time students will not get the full grant amounts. They need to be taking at least six credit hours to qualify for loans and full-time for scholarships.

And aid eligibility is also based on grades. They may lose their aid if they're flunking out.
* You Can Always Appeal Aid Decisions.
The first offer isn't always the last one. Even if your family is wealthy, you may qualify for merit aid based on your academic qualifications.

You can appeal a college's aid decision by asking for a "professional judgment." Do it in writing, stating your case carefully. Do you expect a change in income?

Are you going to be laid off? Are some major medical bills coming due? Colleges are actually surprisingly flexible on packages if you can articulate a reason for sweetening the aid package.
Annoying Things Colleges Don't Tell You When You Apply
While a college might claim to "meet all financial need," they may meet your financial need with loans, which comprises about 38% of all aid packages.

How much is offered in aid that doesn't need to be paid back -- grants, scholarships, work-study -- is the main number you should eye carefully.

Another bugaboo is the origination fee on loans. These are upfront charges based on the amount of the loan and are similar to what lenders charge on mortgages.

In my opinion, origination fees should be banned, because there's no way (unless Congress changes the law) to avoid them.

According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), a group of college financial aid professionals, origination fees are the following:

* For Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans with a first disbursement date on or after 10/1/14 and before , have a fee of 1.073%

* All Direct PLUS Loans (parent and graduate/professional) with a first disbursement date on or after 10/1/14 and before , have a fee of 4.292%

* All told, the government (in fiscal year 2014), collected $1.6 billion in these fees.

I'm with NASFAA in proposing that these fees be banned. They needlessly add to the cost of borrowing money for college.

"Since federal student loans are made directly from the government, money from origination fees go directly into the US Treasury," NAFSAA said in a recent statement.
"Instead of charging students twice, once in origination fees and again with interest charges, all costs to borrowers should be built into the interest rate charges. Loan origination fees are nothing short of an upfront tax on students, taken off of the top of the loan amount that ultimately reduces the amount of funds that can be used to pay for college. Ideally, any costs should be built into repayment in the form of interest charges, when students should be in a better position to repay the loan."

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I'm in the throes of reviewing college aid offers for my daughter, who has been accepted to five colleges. There's more than $150 billion available in student aid, but you have to act quickly to obtain it. You have to read these offers carefully and be prepared well in advance.

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Would you rather spend hours applying for scholarships or years paying off student loan debt? Us, too. Here are our best tips for finding scholarships and creating the most successful submissions.

1. Apply for local scholarships

Many communities offer local scholarships through clubs, organizations, small businesses, and benefactors. The odds of winning these scholarships are greater because they're open to a smaller group of students. Here's how to find local scholarships:

Check with your teachers and guidance counselor

Search local media websites, like television and radio stations

Check community portals

Use geographical Internet searches, like "scholarships in Texas"

Ask people who graduated

Use a personalized scholarship search tool like our Scholarship Match or the Scholarship Search tool in the premium version of the MONEY College Planner

2. Apply for scholarships with smaller awards

Many students look for scholarships that offer the biggest bucks-but those are also the most competitive. Scholarships with smaller awards usually have fewer applicants, so your chances of winning may be higher. These scholarships can help with college costs like books, supplies, and living expenses. Paying off those smaller expenses can quickly add up to big savings.

3. More work = fewer applicants = better chances

Many students avoid scholarships that require a lot of work, such as essays, videos, and projects. As a result, the applicant pool is much smaller, which means greater chances for you. Scholarships with essays over 1,000 words often have fewer than 500 applicants, compared to the 5,000 students who enter easier scholarships.

4. Get personal

Instead of burning yourself out applying for every scholarship you qualify for, have some fun! Apply for scholarships that fit your interests and that you'll enjoy. There are scholarships for everyone under the sun: zombie lovers, vegetarians, Magic: The Gathering players ... the list goes on and on. The more personal the scholarship, the more likely your passion will show through, resulting in a better submission.
Related: 99 Colleges That Give Everyone a Scholarship
5. Don't introduce yourself in your essay

It's cliché and may even get you disqualified. Many scholarship committees conduct blind readings, and essays that include names or other identifiers are immediately discarded. Get to the point as quickly as possible.

6. Don't repeat the essay prompt

No one wants to reread the same sentence hundreds of times a day. Be original! Use the beginning of your essay to showcase your personality and set yourself apart from the crowd. Try starting your essay by setting the scene for a story or jumping directly into your answer.

7. Don't use quotes

Your essay should be about you. The best essays are unique and stand out from the competition, so be original and use your own words.

8. Satisfy all the requirements

You can write the best essay in the world, but if the prompt asks for a list of five things, and you only list four, you may be disqualified. Make sure you answer every question and accurately meet every requirement.
Related: How to Write a Better College Essay (video)
9. Stick to the word limit

Get as close to the word limit as you can, but don't go over. Exceeding the word limit may disqualify you.

10. Proofread

Spelling and grammar mistakes may get you disqualified. Make sure to proofread your essay at least twice and ask your parents and friends to look it over, too. The more eyes, the better.

11. Submit early

Don't wait until the due date, just in case there's a problem with the site, the Internet connection, or your computer.

12. Apply for as many scholarships as you can

The tip we hear the most from scholarship winners is to apply for as many scholarships as you can. Treat it like a part-time job and set aside several hours every month to look for and apply for scholarships. You should continue applying for scholarships for as long as you're in school.
Related: The 25 Best Private Colleges for Merit Aid
13. Don't give up!

If you don't win, don't take it personally, and DON'T GIVE UP! Like most things in life, the most successful scholarship winners are the ones who keep trying. Find scholarships that you're passionate about and keep applying. Good luck!
Scholarship expert Unigo is a content partner of the MONEY College Planner.

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13 Best Tips for Winning College Scholarships

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Would you rather spend hours applying for scholarships or years paying off student loan debt? Us, too. Here are our best tips for finding scholarships and creating the most successful submissions. Many communities offer local scholarships through clubs, organizations, small businesses, and benefactors.

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If you are considering an opportunity to obtain scholarship, you should know that a creative scholarship essay will pave your way to success. However, not every paper can capture the hearts and minds of the admission committee. You can realize your dreams and strivings, only if you know how to write a creative scholarship essay that is at the same time innovative, and easy to read. A perfect scholarship essay is that, which impresses the reader. You must be extremely thorough choosing the topic of your work. Be relevant and vivid in your descriptions. Be honest and fair with your reader. Remember that, behind the rich vocabulary, you must also present your strongest features such as intelligence, wit, humor, and talent. Persuade the committee that you are a unique personality and deserve the right to win your scholarship. Now you know what a good scholarship essay is.

How to Start a Scholarship Essay and Make It Outstanding

It is an ambitious dream of every student to learn how to start a scholarship essay and have no problem with getting the scholarships throughout the years of getting education. However, this process of learning requires diligence, attention, and eagerness to excel. First of all, a great scholarship essay requires an outstanding title. If the title is catchy and smart, it will serve as a sign that the essay is worth reading.

The First Sentence: How to Write It

Try to make it clear for the readers that your essay is brilliant from the very first sentence. No matter how short or long it is, it should draw the readers' attention with its extraordinary tone, language, and content. It is a welcoming note for the readers to the trip that you have organized for them.

TONE. The tone should be appropriate for the type of essays you have chosen.

LANGUAGE. The winning college scholarship essays are never written at once. They always require having several drafts which are revised, edited, and improved. Devote considerable time to make your first sentence as bright as possible. Get the overall feel of the essay and then get back to the first sentence and amend it appropriately. The first variant you have written never works.

CONTENT. The first sentence has the same value as the essay title. It gets the readers ready for getting acquainted with your personal perspective on the topic. Be specific, excessively broad ideas do not make the essays interesting.

The First Paragraph: A Winning Option

Read a lot about how to start a scholarship essay effectively because a great opening means that each of the sentences plays an important role. Make sure that every sentence is perfect in its tone, language and content, not only the first one. Focus on the efficiency of the thesis statement as well and build a framework where all the sentences have value. Leave space for the future research. It is clear that the first draft cannot comprise all the needed materials, but stick to one solid argument throughout your work on the essay.

Essay Body: Each Paragraph Has Its Value

Check if all body paragraphs are discrete units with specific points and build a consistent sequence of arguments throughout the essay. Be thoughtful in dealing with the counter-evidence and counter-claims because the readers always value proper attitude to presenting ideas. Demonstrate that although you are confident in your position, you have also taken other ideas into account. In some essays, you are supposed to show different positions without choosing the only one as the best. Be fairing presenting the counter-claims which are not your own.

Keep the balance between expending on your own position and focusing on the positions of others. You are supposed to refute the opposing views, but do not respond to the minor challenges as it will leave you little space for your own arguments. Cover your position only with the best evidence. If you quote from other sources, do make sure that the referencing is done properly and only from credible sources. Mind the Internet sources usually look suspicious for the readers unlike books, articles from the journals and other published sources.

So, all your evidence should come from the sources which are:

1. Relevant - Relevance of the evidence implies that the facts pertain to a specific point of the essay or a single paragraph. Searching for the evidence, choose the memorable sentences and ideas and include the keywords peculiar to your overall argument.

2. Appropriate - Appropriateness of the evidence implies having proper length (neither too short nor long), proper tone (combative, objective, or necessary for this type of essays), proper sources (reliable and trustworthy), and proper form (with quotations and relevant parts cited).

3. Accurately interpreted - Accurate interpretation implies that the evidence is viewed in the broad context. Every quote used is also applied in the proper context and location throughout the essay.

The examples of scholarship essays, which are really good, show that the evidence may take different forms, other than statistics and facts. Outstanding essays can rely on various types of evidence, for instance the outcome of an argument, your own observations or even common knowledge can serve as evidence. In the essays about your own achievements or background (admission essays, reports about your experiments, etc.), you should cite your own examples. Common knowledge evidence is not subject to citing. For example, telling about the theory of relativity and ideas of Einstein, you should not reference those facts.

Last Paragraph: Making It Great

Your admission essay is typically not lengthy, but its final paragraph always plays a great role in the impression it makes on the readers. It should not only sum up the essay ideas, but to be a last chance to appeal to the readers and affect their attitude to you and your written text. However, if the academic essay if long, the readers should feel that the essay is coming to its end, and the conclusion can have more than one paragraph comprised. Scholarship essays can be of two types: a short one and a long one; so, the conclusions will also be different in each of them.

All in all, if you know how to start a good scholarship essay, you should realize that a conclusion never adds content to the body paragraphs. It ensures a logical statement which ends up the story, but does not appear as a separate piece of content. How is the scholarship essay conclusion different from that of other essays? It does summing up of what has been told before, but it should not be too lengthy. The winning points are scored in the introductory part and the body, while the conclusion is meant to finalize the harvest. In most cases, a great conclusion of a scholarship essay can be viewed as a chance of the applicant to move the readers from the presented arguments to the future potential summits. You take your readers on an exciting trip, starting from a peaceful plateau to the top to see astonishing landscapes and to decide on the next actions to be taken.

A clear summary in the last paragraph should be full of wit, inspiration, intelligence, and motivation. It should make the readers keep the memory of what they have read in the essay and have certain remarks, which will be beneficial for you.

Finishing Touches: Last but Not Least

If you believe that you are capable of writing a perfect scholarship essay yourself, without any professional advice or guidelines from the experts, you can try to do that. However, we should warn you that your chances are low.

Benefit from other people's reactions to your essay

Ask another student, your friend, your parent, professor, teacher, or any other person to have a look at your essay. It is recommendable to involve somebody who is authoritative for you. It is even better if this person knows your potential readers and has somewhat similar tastes with them. Listen to their comments and see the both strong and weak points that the essay has.

Reading silently, you can skip some typos and mistakes in your essay. Reading aloud, you can not only see all the mistakes but also feel the flow and tone of the essay. The best option is to read the essay for the first time and then ask another person to read it again for you. You will see that the reader will see the text not in the way you have imagined it is. Note that some lines from your essay sound more persuasive than the others, and they will contribute to your success. Check if all of the sentences are understandable, and then polish those several phrases, which are the most memorable

Learn about writing speech in article "Effective Elements of Speech Writing"

Scholarship Essay Sample

Good Scholarship Essay Tips And Trends To Have No Writing Problems

Keep to the main point of your work.

List the things you are going to describe in your scholarship essay.

Use external material to support your position.

Make several drafts and edit them thoroughly. Never submit an unedited version of your paper.

Never write your scholarship essay, as if you are in a hurry.

Be original and authentic in your writing. Do not plagiarize.

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Write Creative Scholarship Essay to Win | Scholarship Essay Tips

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Want to write creative scholarship essay to get a desirable scholarship? Get scholarship essay tips and learn how to start a scholarship essay and be an expert in getting what you need using your outstanding writer's skillsWe see the importance of this paper and we are ready to help you to write it.

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Finding college scholarships takes more than one Saturday afternoon! Though scholarship applications and requirements may vary from year to year, it's never too early to begin. There are scholarships out there tailored to academic interests, talents, extracurricular activities , career goals, geographic location, and many more factors. Here are five steps you can take to jump start your search and make college more affordable .

1. Check Your Prospective Schools

Go to their website or call the financial aid office. If you meet the qualifications, find out how to apply. Don't assume that by applying for admission, you're applying for scholarships. It's often a separate process. Be aware that scholarship deadlines can be different from those set for the college admission application. In fact, some schools ask you to submit an application for scholarships prior to your application for admissions. Raising your GPA and test scores in high school will help increase your chances of earning merit aid .

2. Ask Your Academic Advisor

If you are currently a student, you likely have access to a school counselor. Take advantage! He or she may know about a scholarship that's a good fit for you. If there is a dedicated office at your school for students heading to college, find out what services they offer. Our college counselors can help you plan your financial aid strategy, too!

3. Dig Into Your Network

Do you belong to a church group or a local chapter of some national club? Are either of your parents a member of a union or civic groups? Does either of them work for a large corporation? Many of these types of organizations offer scholarships to members and their children. Check out the PTA, Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, churches, foundations and others in your town, which often offer scholarships based on a variety of factors. There's often less competition for these, since they have to be awarded locally .

4. Try Online

When searching online, we recommend that you be as specific as possible. Simply typing in "scholarships" will yield thousands upon thousands of hits. Use qualifiers such as the names of schools and programs of study to help narrow the field.

A word of caution: You should never pay money to investigate scholarships. Scholarship providers don't offer their awards to students who pay to find them; they offer them to all students.

5. Be Keenly Aware of Scholarship Deadlines

Deadlines vary by scholarship. Some are the summer before your senior year, others in the fall or as late as spring. To stay organized and keep track of due dates, we recommend keeping a calendar, and making your earliest deadline the deadline for all of your applications. Finally (and this cannot be stressed enough), do not miss your deadlines. You'll have no recourse if your application arrives late, and you will have zero chance of receiving that award. Many applications will require a scholarship essay, so keep that in mind when you're planning your time.

6. Take Both the SAT and ACT

Many scholarships require test scores from candidates. Consider taking both the SAT and ACT, so you have the scores you need on hand to meet a variety of requirements.

A Final Word on how to get Scholarships

You may review a hundred scholarships before you find one that applies to you. Be patient and stay the course (and keep those grades up !). Eventually you'll uncover a good match. And you'll appreciate all your research when you secure some funds!
Video: Learn everything you want to know about financial aid

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Learn how to get college scholarships for your good grades, your talents, and interests. Check out these 6 tips to learn how to get a scholarship for college.

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Hit a Financial Snag at College? These 7 Resources Could Help

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Learn about the many resources available to help college students who run into financial trouble. Don't let finances interfere with your education.

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Explore Resources For Low-Income College Students

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Discover the challenges faced by low-income students in higher education and the financial aid options and resources available to help them succeed.

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The purpose of this blog post is to provide links to the resources discussed during the Financial Literacy Seminar held at Brooklyn College on April 23rd.

During the seminar, the following topics were discussed:

1. Credit Scores

2. How to "Compare, Ditch and Switch" - including Bank Accounts and Student Loans

3. How to Complain

We will provide links for all of these topics below.

Credit Scores

Every year, you should download a copy of your credit report from all three credit-reporting agencies. There is only one place that you can do that for free: AnnualCreditReport.com. Credit scores are built based upon the information in the credit bureaus, and you need to make sure that all of the information is accurate.

If you find information that is not accurate, you can dispute online. You should make your dispute directly with the credit bureau that has the incorrect information. Here are the links to where you can dispute:

There are a number of ways to see your credit score for free.

If you want to see your FICO score, a number of banks offer the score on your statement. We have written a guide to show which banks offer free FICO scores. If you want to purchase your FICO score, you can do so at MyFICO.

There are also websites that offer free credit scores. These websites do not offer the official FICO score. Instead, they offer the "VantageScore." It is often referred to as the "FAKO" score, because it is so similar to FICO. Here are the places where you can get your free VantageScore:

Remember: your goal is to have a score above 700. Ideally, your score should be above 750.

To have the best credit score, you should do these two things:

1. Make sure your balance is never more than 20% of your available credit.

2. Make your payments on time, every month.

Don't stress out about a small movement in your score. Your score range is what matters the most.

Compare, Ditch and Switch

We talked about how expensive it can be to bank if you make the wrong choice. If you want to be a savvy consumer, you should be ready to look for the best deal and avoid obscene overdraft charges and fees.

Branch-free, Internet banks are offering some of the best deals. You can find a list of the Internet-only banks here.

We also discussed student loans. When you graduate from college, remember to do the following:

1. For federal student loans, you should remember that you may have the ability to take advantage of "income-based repayment." This is a program that caps your student loan payments to a fixed percent of your monthly income. You can learn more about it here.

2. For private loans, you can consider refinancing your debt to a lower interest rate. You typically need to be employed, have made at least 6 months of payments and have a good credit score. But the interest rates can be much lower than your existing rates. We have compiled a list of student loan refinance options here.

How To Complain

If you have difficulty with a financial services company, you can get help. You can make a complaint directly to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Complaints can be made online.

Complaining online with the CFPB can be a great tool. The agency will reach out to the company on your behalf. Just make sure you keep excellent written records of your account, so that you can share all of the details with your complaint.

A Few Remaining Thoughts

Just remember the following tips from the session:

Start saving for retirement with your first job. The earlier you start, the easier it will be. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, make sure you sign up and take advantage of it.

The best way to build credit and avoid temptation is to keep your credit card at home. Just set up a monthly bill (like Netflix, for example). And then set up automatic monthly payments. That way your score will go up and you will not end up in debt.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. The team at MagnifyMoney is happy to help. You can reach us at [email protected]

Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.

Disclaimer

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For many college students, their default banking option while in school is a student checking account, which is typically free. Unfortunately, when you graduate you lose those benefits. Many student checking accounts will begin to charge you monthly maintenance fees unless you meet certain requirements.

So, where do you go from there?

Few young adults would turn to their parents for fashion or dating advice and, yet, one of the most common ways we've found young people choose their bank account is by going with whichever bank their parents already use. This could be a bigger faux pas than stealing your dad's old pair of parachute pants.

The bank your parents use may carry fees or have requirements that don't meet your lifestyle or budget, and make accounts expensive to use.

But where do you even begin to choose the right checking account?

When you're nearing graduation, start planning your bank transition.

Many banks send a letter in the mail a few months prior to your expected graduation date informing you that your student checking account is going transition to a non-student account. If you're not careful and you disregard the letter, you may be transitioned into an account that charges a fee if you don't meet certain requirements.

You can always call the bank and ask to switch to a different account or you can choose a new account that offers more benefits, like interest and ATM fee refunds.

Account Name

Minimum Monthly Balance

Amount to Open

ATM Fee Refunds

APY

Consumers Credit Union (IL) Free Rewards Checking

$0

$0

Unlimited ATM reimbursements

5.09% on balances up to $10,000,
0.20% APY on balances between $10,000 and $25,000 and 0.10% APY on balances over $25,000

The 5 key things you should look for in a checking account

When you're shopping around for a new checking account, there are several things you should look for to ensure you're getting the most value from your account:

1. A $0 monthly fee: Sometimes banks may say they don't charge a monthly fee but read the fine print - they may require a minimum monthly balance in order to avoid it. There are plenty of free checking accounts available for you to open, so there's no reason to stay stuck with an account that charges a monthly fee. Take note, as some accounts may require you to meet certain criteria to maintain a free account like using a debit card, enrolling in eStatements or maintaining a minimum daily balance.

2. No minimum daily balance: Accounts without minimum daily balances mean you can have a $0 balance at any given time. This may allow you to have a free account without meeting balance requirements - although other terms may apply to maintain a free account.

3. Annual Percentage Yield: APY is the total amount of interest you will earn on balances in your account. Opening an account that earns you interest on your balance is an easy way to be rewarded for money that would typically sit without earning anything. You should definitely aim to earn a decent APY on your savings account.

4. ATM fee refunds: You may not be able to access an in-network ATM at all times, so accounts providing ATM fee refunds can reimburse you for ATM fees you may incur while using out-of-network ATMs. Those $3 or $5 charges add up!

5. No or low overdraft fees: Most banks charge you an overdraft fee of around $35 if you spend more money than you have available in your account. Therefore, it's a good idea to choose an account that has no or low overdraft fees.

Top overall checking accounts for college grads

For the top overall checking accounts, we chose accounts that have no monthly service fees, no ATM fees, refunds for ATM fees from other banks, interest earned on your deposited balances and with strong mobile banking apps. While there is no all-inclusive account that contains every benefit, the accounts below are sure to provide value whether you want a high interest rate, unlimited ATM fee refunds or 24/7 live customer support.

1. Simple

Cash management app Simple acts as a hybrid checking and savings account with a generous APY and no fees. It features unlimited transfers between your checking account and Protected Goals account, as well as high APYs ranging from 2.02% on balances under $10,000 to a whopping 2.15% on balances over $10,000. Simple also provides fee-free access to 40,000 ATMs - although it doesn't rebate ATM fees you might incur from machines outside its vast network. With built-in budgeting tools integrated into its app, Simple is a strong contender for the best checking account for college grads.

on Simple's secure website

2. Aspiration Spend and Save Account

The Aspiration Spend and Save Account offers a wide range of benefits for account holders and has few fees. The $50 amount to open is fairly low, and once you open your account there is no minimum monthly balance to maintain. Aspiration gives you up to five free ATM withdrawals per month.

As the account name suggests, there are two sides to the account: a spending sub-account and a savings sub-account. The spending side yields no interest, while the savings side earns 1.00% APY. To earn this APY, you must deposit at least $1,000 in the combined account monthly, or maintain a balance of $10,000.

on Aspiration's secure website

3. Discover Cashback Debit

Cracking our list for the best checking accounts for college graduates is Discover Bank, which takes a unique approach to checking account rewards. Instead of offering an APY on deposit balances, Discover opts for cash back as an incentive to get consumers to sign up for its checking product. The Discover Cashback Debit account offers up to 1% cash back on $3,000 of debit card transactions per month. That coupled with its zero fees and free access to 60,000 ATMs nationwide make it one of the best checking accounts for college graduates.

4. Ally Bank

Online bank Ally Bank offers a solid checking account with minimal fees, decent APYs and other attractive perks. Its Interest Checking account charges no monthly maintenance fees and provides free access to Allpoint ATMs nationwide, as well as a $10 reimbursement per statement cycle for any other ATMs fees incurred. Ally Bank's APY isn't too shabby, either: You can earn an APY of 0.50% with a $15,000 minimum balance. Other cool features include its Ally Skill for Amazon Alexa, which enables you to transfer money with just your voice.

Top high-yield checking accounts for college grads

Since most checking accounts offer little to no interest, high-yield checking accounts are a great way for you to maximize the money that typically would just sit in your account without earning interest. These accounts often offer interest rates that fluctuate depending on how much money you have in the account. However, in order to earn interest, there are some requirements that you may have to meet such as making a certain number of debit card transactions and enrolling in eStatements.

1. Consumers Credit Union (IL) Free Rewards Checking

The Consumers Credit Union (IL) Free Rewards Checking account is just that: Rewarding. It offers a tier-based APY, which includes a 5.09% APY on balances up to $10,000, 0.20% APY on balances between $10,000 and $25,000 and 0.10% APY on balances over $25,000. In order to earn the highest APY, you must complete at least 12 signature-based debit purchases, receive at least one direct deposit, ACH debit, or pay one bill through their free bill payment system, log into your online banking account and be signed up for eStatements and spend $1,000 or more with a Consumers Credit Union Visa credit card each month. This account has no fees and offers unlimited ATM reimbursements if requirements are met.

2. La Capitol Federal Credit Union Choice Plus Checking

This checking account has a $2 monthly service fee, which can easily be waived if you enroll in eStatements.

While the terms state a minimum balance requirement of $1,000 and a low balance fee of $8, the fee can be waived if you make 15 or more posted non-ATM debit card transactions per month.

To earn the top interest rate on your checking balance, you just need to make at least 15 or more posted non-ATM debit card transactions per month. There are numerous surcharge-free La Capitol ATMs for you to use, and after signing up for eStatements you can receive up to $25 per month in ATM fee refunds when you use out-of-network ATMs.

3. Boeing Employees Credit Union Member Advantage Checking

Contrary to its name, anyone can join the Boeing Employees Credit Union - however, to do so, you must join the Northwest Credit Union Foundation's "Friends of the Foundation," which has a $20 membership fee. That $20 fee could be well worth it, though, if you take advantage of the credit union's Member Advantage Checking account. This account has a generous 4.07% APY on balances up to $500, as long as you open BECU Member Checking and Savings accounts, sign up to receive eStatements and make at least one transaction a month. There are no monthly service fees, and the Member Advantage Checking account offers $6 per month in ATM fee reimbursements.

4. TAB Bank Kasasa Cash Rewards Checking Account

Based in Ogden, UT, TAB Bank's Kasasa Cash Checking account is a great choice for recent graduates. You can earn a very competitive 4.00% APY by meeting a few simple requirements: Have at least one direct deposit, ACH payment, or bill pay transaction posted to the account during each billing cycle; and make at least 15 debit card purchases of $5 or more. Even better, the bank will reimburse up to $15 in ATM fees per month from making withdrawals outside their ATM network.

Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.

James Ellis |

James Ellis is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email James here

Advertiser Disclosure
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Getting a credit card while you're in college can set you up for financial success, provided you avoid racking up unnecessary charges. If you are over 18 and have a steady income, applying for a card now will kick start your credit history, and you can start building that all-important credit score.

Learning how to choose and use the right student credit card is relatively simple. Make sure you avoid annual fees and go with a bank or credit union you can trust. When you get the card, make sure you use it responsibly and pay the balance in full and on time every month. If you do these things consistently over time, you can leave school with an excellent credit score. And if you want to rent an apartment or buy a car, having a good credit score is very important.

Magnify Glass Pros

Good Grades Reward program: Did you study extra hard this year? If you've gotten a 3.0 GPA or higher for an entire school year, Discover will reward you with an extra $20 statement credit. You can get this statement credit for up to five years in a row as long as you're still a current student when you apply.

Free FICO® score: Just like how you have grades for your classes, your FICO® score is your "grade" for your credit. Credit cards have a huge effect on your FICO® score. You can watch how your new credit card affects your score over time with a free FICO® score update on your monthly statement.

5% cash back : You can earn up to 5% cash back at different places that change each quarter, on up to $1,500 in purchases every quarter that you activate. Past categories have included things like Amazon purchases, restaurants, and ground transportation. Even if you don't buy something in the bonus category, you'll still earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Cash back match at end of your first year: In addition to rotating 5% cash back categories, new cardmembers will also get an intro bonus. When your first card anniversary comes around, Discover will automatically match your cash back rewards you earned during your first year.

Cons Cons

Remember to sign up for bonus categories: Even though this card comes with a great cash back rewards program, it comes with a catch: you'll need to manually activate the bonus places each quarter. You can do this by calling Discover or logging in to your account online. If you forget, you'll still earn 1% cash back if you make any purchases in the qualifying categories.

Gift certificates only available at certain levels: You can redeem your rewards for many things such as Amazon purchases, a statement credit, or a donation to a charity, to name a few. But, if you'd like to get a gift card instead, you'll need a cash back balance of at least $20 saved up in your account.

Bottom line

The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers great perks for college students, such as a rewards program for good grades and a free FICO ® score so you can learn about your credit firsthand. Its cash back rewards program is our favorite. No other card for students (that we could find) offers the opportunity to earn up to 5% cash back. And with no annual fee, this is our top pick.

Read our full review of the Discover it® Student Cash Back

Magnify Glass Pros

1.25% cash back if you pay on time: Each purchase you make earns a flat-rate 1% Cash Back on all purchases; 0.25% Cash Back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time. This makes it handy for people who want as simple a card as possible. And it rewards great behavior.

Higher credit lines after on-time payments: If you're approved for this card, you'll receive a credit line of at least $300. If you make five on-time payments in a row, you can call Capital One and ask them to increase your credit line.

No foreign transaction fee: This is a great card to take overseas, because you won't have to pay any foreign transaction fees. Most cards charge an average 3% foreign transaction fee, but Journey allows you to use your card abroad without being charged extra fees.

Cons Cons

High APR: This card carries an APR of 26.99% (Variable). That's almost twice as high as some other student credit cards, such as the Wells Fargo Cash Back CollegeSM Card with a rate as low as 12.90% - 22.90% Variable APR. It's just one more incentive to pay off your bill in full each month.

Bottom line

We really like this card because it actively rewards you for developing good credit-management behavior by offering a small cash back bonus for on-time payments. In addition, the cash back program is straightforward with no confusing categories to remember or opt into, making this card a good option for students who want a simple, flat-rate card.

Read our full review of the Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®

Best Intro Bonus

The information related to Wells Fargo Cash Back CollegeSM Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.

Wells Fargo Cash Back College SM Card

Magnify Glass Pros

Interest rates as low as 12.90% - 22.90% Variable APR: Depending on your credit, your interest rate could be between 12.90% - 22.90% Variable APR, but there is no guarantee you'll receive the lower rate. This is a lower variable APR range than most student cards, and can help if you aren't able to pay your balance in full one month.

Intro Rewards Bonus: 3% cash rewards on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases for the first 6 months, 1% cash rewards on virtually all other purchases

Access to credit education: Wells Fargo provides you with all sorts of tools and information to learn about things like credit, budgeting, and expense tracking. While this is a nice feature, it's not exclusive to Wells Fargo. You can get this information from free tools such as Mint, or even reading books and blogs. But it is pretty handy having it right at your fingertips when logged in to your account.

Cons Cons

Need to be a Wells Fargo member to apply online: You can go into any one of the 6,000+ branches and apply for the card. You can also apply online, but you'll need to be an existing Wells Fargo customer. However, anyone can open a checking account online with a minimum deposit of $25.

High bars for some cash back redemption options: There are a lot of redemption options available through Wells Fargo's own online cash back rewards mall. However, if you'd just like straight cash, you have a few options. You can request a direct deposit into your Wells Fargo checking account, savings account, or Wells Fargo credit card (if applicable) in $25 increments, or request a paper check in $20 increments. That can take a long time to accumulate if you're not spending much with your card.

Bottom line

The Wells Fargo Cash Back College SM Card is a relatively simple card with a great intro bonus of 3% cash rewards on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases for the first 6 months, 1% cash rewards on virtually all other purchases In addition, the low variable APR is handy for those who think they'll be carrying a balance on their credit card from month to month at some point in the future. This is generally something we recommend against, but if you can't avoid it, the Wells Fargo Cash Back College SM Card is your best bet.

Read our full review of the Wells Fargo Cash Back CollegeSM Card
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Magnify Glass Pros

Unlimited rewards. Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points.

Flexible rewards redemption. You can redeem your points for a statement credit to pay for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or baggage fees. Plus, this card doesn't restrict you to a particular airline or chain of hotels.

Free FICO score. Keep track of your credit score via online banking or Bank of America's mobile app.

Chance to earn more rewards. Have an active Bank of America checking or savings account? Then this card offers a chance to get a 10% customer points bonus on every purchase. The card is also eligible for the benefits of the Preferred Rewards program, though that program is based on banking and/or investment balances that might be too high for many college students to qualify for.

Foreign transaction fee? There is None.

Cons Cons

Points are not worth as much when redeemed for cash back. When redeemed for a travel credit, each point is worth $0.01. However, if redeemed for cash back, points are only worth $0.006 each. For example, 2,500 points redeemed for travel would be worth $25. The same number of points redeemed for cash back would be worth $15.

Bottom line

If you're looking for a student card offering travel rewards, the Bank of America ® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students could be a good option. With an annual fee of $0 and points that can be redeemed for travel with any airline or stays with any hotel line, this card gives you options.

The information related to Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Best Credit Union Card

Altra Federal Credit Union Student Visa ® Credit Card

Magnify Glass Pros

$20 reward for good credit card usage: If you can maintain your account in an "exceptional way" for your first year, you'll get a bonus $20 reward on your card's anniversary. All you have to do is not have any late payments, don't charge over your card's limit, and use your card for at least six out of twelve months.

Up to $500 random winner each quarter: It's like playing the lottery, except you don't have to buy a lottery ticket. Each quarter Altra will choose one student cardholder at random and pay back all of their purchases from the previous month, anywhere between $50 to $500.

Earn rewards: For the first 60 days after you open your account, you'll earn 2 points per dollar spent. After that you'll earn 1 point per dollar spent. You can redeem these points for cash back, merchandise through their online rewards mall, or travel.

Redeem points for a lower interest rate: If you'll need a car in the future, this might be a good credit card to get. You can trade in 5,000 points for a 0.25% reduction, or 10,000 points for a 0.50% reduction on an auto loan through Altra Federal Credit Union. That could end up saving you a ton of cash in the long run.

Cons Cons

1.00% of each transaction in U.S. dollars foreign transaction fee: This is definitely one card to leave at home if you'll be traveling or studying abroad. Most credit cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, so this is on the low side. Still, it's not too hard to find a student credit card with no foreign transaction fee, such as the Discover it® Student Cash Back or the Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® card.

Must join Altra Federal Credit Union: Luckily, anyone can join, but it might take a bit of legwork on your part compared to a bank. If you don't meet certain membership eligibility criteria, you can join the Altra Foundation for $5. Then you'll need to open a savings account with a minimum $5 deposit that must remain in the account while you have your card open.

Bottom line

If you're a student who doesn't mind working with a credit union, Altra provides a card that has several rewards benefits. This card is a good option if you may be taking out an auto loan in the next few years, since you'll benefit from a reduced interest rate by trading in your rewards points. In addition to earning rewards, using this card responsibly can help you build credit.

Read our full review of the Altra Federal Credit Union Student Visa® Credit Card

Magnify Glass Pros

Cashback program: This card has a feature uncommon to other secured cards - a cashback program. You earn 2% cash back at restaurants or gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus 1% cash back on all other credit card purchases.

Cashback Match™: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched (new cardmembers only). This is a great added bonus that increases your cash back in Year 1.

Automatic monthly reviews after eight months: Discover makes it easy for you to transition to an unsecured card with monthly reviews of your account starting after eight months. Reviews are based on responsible credit management across all of your credit cards and loans.

Cons Cons

Security deposit: You need to deposit a minimum of $200 in order to open this card, which is pretty standard for a secured card. This will become your credit line, so a $200 deposit gives you a $200 credit line. If you want a higher credit limit, you need to increase your deposit. The security deposit is refundable, meaning you will receive your deposit back if you close the card, as long as your account is in good standing.

Bottom line

The Discover it® Secured is great for students who want to build credit. This card easily transitions you to an unsecured card when the time is right, and you can earn cash back. With proper credit behavior, you'll soon be on your way to an unsecured card.

Read our full review of the Discover it® Secured

Best for No Credit History

Deserve ® EDU Mastercard

Magnify Glass Pros

No credit history required: You can qualify for this card without any credit history, making this a great option for students new to credit. You don't even need a Social Security number when applying.

Reimbursement for Amazon Prime Student*: This card will reimburse you for the cost of a year of Amazon Prime Student (valued at $59). You need to charge your membership to this card to qualify, and you will not be reimbursed for subsequent years' membership fees.

No foreign transaction fee: Whether you travel abroad or study abroad, you can rest easy: There are no foreign transaction fees with this card.

Cons Cons

Low cash back rate: The rewards program has a subpar 1% unlimited cash back on ALL purchases. You can do better with some of the other cards mentioned in this post. Though as a student, rewards shouldn't be your primary focus - instead, build your credit so you can qualify for better non-student cards. (Note that if you've applied without an SSN, you won't build credit with this card until you link an SSN to your account.)

Bottom line

The Deserve® Edu Mastercard for Students is a great choice for students who are looking to build credit. Deserve markets their cards for those who may have trouble qualifying for credit, and students who fall into this category may more easily qualify for this card than for cards from traditional banks. You can earn cash back, and receive a great promotional offer of a year of Amazon Prime Student for free*.
The information related to Deserve® Edu Mastercard for Students has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Also Consider Also Consider

Golden 1 Credit Union Platinum Rewards for Students:

This credit card offers a snazzy rewards program: rather than accumulate points, you'll get a cash rebate instead. All you have to do is make a purchase. At the end of the month, you'll get a rebate of 3% of gas, grocery, and restaurant purchases, and 1% of all other purchases deposited back into your Golden 1 savings account at the end of the month. Anyone who lives or works in California is eligible for credit union membership.

What should I look for in a student credit card?

The most important thing to consider when looking for a student credit card is that it charges no annual fee. You should never have to pay to build your credit score. Fortunately, most student cards don't charge you an annual fee, but it's still something to watch out for.

The second most important thing you should keep an eye out for are tools that help you learn about credit or even promote good credit-building habits. For example, some student credit cards will give you a free monthly FICO ® score update. You can use this freebie to see in real time how your credit score changes as you build credit history by keeping the card open, or paying down your credit card balance, for example.

The last thing you should be considering when picking out a student credit card is the rewards program. I know, I know, it seems counterintuitive. But stick with me - I'll show you why in the next question.

Why shouldn't I be concerned about maximizing my rewards while in college?

Rewards cards are nice to have. But if you're a college student, here's the truth: you probably won't spend enough to earn meaningful rewards.

Why? With a good rewards program, you can earn points or cash back. A small percentage of your monthly spending can add up quickly. However, given the tight budget that most college students live on, it will probably take a while to earn meaningful rewards. For example, if you earn 1.25% cash back and spend $300 a month on your card, you would earn $45 of cash back during the year.

College students are very good at making good use of $45. And our favorite card offers a great cash back rewards program. Just don't expect to earn a lot of cash back, given the tight budget of a college student.

Why should I get a credit card as a college student?

There are a lot of great reasons why you should get a credit card, as long as you can commit to using it responsibly.

The single biggest reason why you should get a credit card as a college student is because you can start establishing a credit history now. When you graduate from college, you will need a good credit score to get an apartment. And your future employer will likely check your credit report. Building a good credit history while still in college will help prepare you for life after graduation.

Getting a credit card while in college can also train you to develop good credit habits now. But you need to be honest with yourself. If you find that you can't avoid the temptation of maxing out your credit card, you might want to switch to a debit card or cash.

Finally, getting a credit card now can be the motivation you need to start learning about credit. These skills aren't hard to learn, and they could save you thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars later in life (when you want a mortgage, for example).

What is the CARD Act and why should I care about it?

Many years ago, credit card companies would market on college campuses. You could get a free beer mug or t-shirt in exchange for a credit card application. And you would be able to qualify for a credit card without having any income. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act was signed into law in May 2009 to change a number of practices.

How did the CARD Act change student credit cards?

The CARD Act made a lot of changes in how credit card issuers do business with students. One of the biggest changes was requiring students to be able to demonstrate an ability to pay. If you are under 21 and do not have sufficient income (a campus job, for example), you would need to get a co-signer.

In addition, colleges must now limit the amount of credit card marketing on campus. The days of free t-shirts and pizzas in exchange for credit card applications are gone. But that doesn't mean it is impossible for a college student to get a credit card. Some highly reputable banks and credit unions still offer student cards. And building a good credit score while still in college is still highly recommended.

How can I protect myself from racking up debt?

When used properly, credit cards are a very convenient method of repayment. However, when not used properly, you can end up deep in credit card debt. It is important to establish a healthy relationship to credit now, with your first credit card.

You should try to ensure that you pay off your credit card bill in full and on time every month. Ideally, you should set up an automatic monthly payment. And to keep yourself on track, take advantage of alerts offered by most credit card companies. You can even get daily text messages reminding you of your balance.

How can I automate my credit card usage?

If all of this sounds confusing, don't worry. There's actually a way you can automate your payments so you never even have to bother with the hassle of using a credit card. All it takes is a few minutes of upfront work.

First, you'll need at least one recurring monthly bill of the same amount, such as Netflix or Spotify. Log in to your account and set up an automatic payment each month using your credit card. Make a note of how much your monthly bill costs.

Next, log in to your bank account. Set up a second automatic payment to go to your credit card each month for the same amount as the bill. If your bank doesn't offer the option to set up automatic payments, you may also be able to set up your credit card to automatically withdraw the amount of the bill from your bank.

Because you know this bill will be for the same amount each month (barring any price increases), you can literally just leave this running in the background each month on autopilot. You don't even have to carry your credit card in your wallet if you don't want to. Then, when you graduate, you'll automatically have an improved credit score!

What happens to my student credit card when I graduate?

Congratulations! You've made it to the finish line. But what about your student credit card? You may choose to hold on to your student card since it might be your oldest credit account and this can play a part in your credit score. If you close your student credit card account, it will reduce your average age of credit accounts and could hurt your credit score. Instead of closing the account, you can ask your student card issuer if there is an option to upgrade your card.

Here is a summary of our favorite cards:

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Advertiser Disclosure Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners. The purpose of this blog post is to provide links to the resources discussed during the Financial Literacy Seminar held at Brooklyn College on April 23rd.