Study Habits and the College Investment

College costs a lot of money and it isn't getting cheaper. For a student, there is really just one option: you need to maximize the investment of tuition by maximizing the return on your investment of time and money into school.

Good study habits are essential to success in any level of school. Regardless of the class and its individual difficulty, the proper level of preparation and research is going to coincide with the total educational value you achieve when learning a new subject. This return will also be visually realized with grades and a GPA that you can use to find more choices for scholarships and financial aid.


What is the right study habit? Basically, it is unique for every individual student, but I will give you a few hints to get started figuring out what works for you. Listen to your mind and learn the environment that allows you to read uninterrupted and contemplate the content.

Avoiding outside distractions is essential. Try turning the phone and instant messengers off for an hour or two and let the battery charge a bit.

Some people like quiet, but I personally like to listen to music. Some people like to sit at a desk, some people like to stretch out on a bed. There is no right or wrong on matters of comfort when you're studying , just be sure to be respectful and mindful of the noise if you're at a library.

Take notes: In class or at home reading, one of the most essential ways to retain knowledge and expand your ideas is to take notes on key topics, events, people, dates, theories, or formulae. Memory retention increases exponentially if you take the time to write a fact down, so bring several good pens and a blank notebook any time you're going to study or do homework.

Saving Money for College Key Strategies

Saving Money for College

Key Strategies:

• Minimize costs: Consider local community colleges for two years, state public universities, or anything that allows you to live at home or with family for a little while longer. If you are living on your own and you feel like you've had enough ramen noodles, consider some potato or rice ;) Its kind of different

• Apply for Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships: Search for other sources of tuition money like private organizations, charities, and government assistance. Use multiple free sources of funding information and apply for several programs that most closely match your personal eligibility information. The odds aren't good if you just apply once to the first scholarship you find. Focus on programs and awards with very specific requirements that match you personally. Then apply to as many of these as you can possibly identify.

• Find a Part-time job or start a small business: You may have marketable skills that you take for granted, like the ability to fix general computer problems, or plug in a communications network. Maybe you know a little more technical information too and you could start up your own website or find a good job that pays a decent wage. If you're particularly good at a certain class, consider offering private tutoring services for your fellow students - or try to take on a position with the school's academic assistance departments.

• Participate in College Discussion Online: Find online communities of students dealing with the financial aid process. I'd recommend Scholarship Forums or College Confidential, but there are literally hundreds if not thousands of sites like these where you can talk about money, admissions, applications, anything to do with college life and success

• Keep up on Education News: New online technology like 2.0 bookmarking and social bookmarking services make it easier than ever to stay up to date on the news and developments of the education world. Here is a Web 2.0 application for education links and bookmarks. Check out the latest news here or sign up to submit your own education resources for other students and academic professionals.
  
  
• Save Money with Regular Purchases: Upromise makes it easy for students and families to save money for college with everyday purchases on things like groceries. Registration for this service is completely free, and it can help you turn unavoidable expenses into a little bit of help paying for school.