Resources
While our primary goal is to help you find ways to pay for college and navigate
a perplexing financial aid application process, we’re also here to help you get
into, prepare for, and adapt to college life. We’re constantly expanding our library
of resources to cover all aspects of college life and the preparation required while
you’re still in high school to get yourself ready for college life. Browse through
our resources for useful tips and advice that will have you feeling more comfortable
about your upcoming college experience, because while the transition from high school
to higher education isn’t an easy one, there are ways to prepare so that you’re
not as stressed out about it as you could be.
Once you’re actually at college, you’ll have a lot to get used to in order to adjust
to campus life. If you’re not sure what to expect of that first year in college
– and don’t worry, few freshman do – we have tips on everything from what people
mean when they say “the college lifestyle” to the basics of college cooking and
preparing for roommates and communal living. If you plan on balancing work and college
to pay your way through school, we have advice on that too, as well as some information
on money management. We know what it’s like to live off a college student’s budget,
and while it is tough, it’s also possible without getting into too much credit card
debt. Knowing what to expect of campus life before you get there is a good strategy
that will leave you with more time to get excited about the college experience,
rather than worry about it. Below are some of the topics covered in our "Campus Life" section.
College prep doesn’t start when you’re already on campus, but while you’re still
in high school. If you start the college planning process early, you’ll be on the
right track toward figuring out what you want out of your college search and what
you need to do to get to college. We have tips on applying and preparing for college,
choosing the right school and choosing a major, and helping you understand the benefits
of enrolling in one kind of college class over another, to start. While the decisions
you’ll be making throughout high school about what you’d like to do and where you’d
like to go post-graduation are major ones, you’ll feel a lot less overwhelmed by
them if you know what to expect and what’s expected of you before starting the process. Below are some of the topics covered in our "College Prep" section.
Working on your study skills starts well before college. The college application
process alone is demanding and time-consuming, and requires that you know the basics
of standardized testing. Mastering the basics of the ACT and SAT – and the LSAT
and GRE if you’re pursuing a post-undergraduate degree – will come in handy in more
ways than one. Yes, you’ll have an impressive score to boast on your college application
if you studied hard and prepared well, but you’ll also have a better understanding
of college-level exam material.
The studying certainly doesn’t stop once you’ve been accepted to your intended college.
If you have some experience with Advanced Placement coursework from high school,
you may be feeling better about the workload you’ll be expected to carry once you’re
on campus, especially if you did well enough in those AP classes to receive college
credit for your hard work. You’ll be even more prepared, though, if you know what
to expect on a college exam or for your first finals week. Study smart now to excel
at college later, and remember the kinds of study skills that worked for you in
high school, because it may get hard to focus when you’re faced with the distraction
and demands for your time that come with your first year in college.