The Strategic Collegiate

  S o you've been accepted to a college and made the decision to attend. Now what? Registering for your first semester will be different in some ways than in future semesters, but some things are true no matter what. Keep reading for tips to help you pick the right classes and get on the right track!      During your summer orientation, you'll go through some variation of this: You attend presentations, go on group tours and do ice breakers in small groups, then you'll be broken up by department then by major, given a little advice, then put in a room full of computers to register, with maybe one administrator in the room for technical difficulties. At this point, you have in front of you a list of recommended classes and a course search to pick between teachers and times. You're also, as a freshman, in the very last group of people to register and therefore some classes will have filled up, though there should be plenty of slots for core classes.     If yo...

C ollege is more expensive than ever, and has quickly outpaced the minimum wage the average high school student can make. However, you've been told it's the only way to get a good job. What are you supposed to do? How do you navigate huge financial decisions before you've ever even lived on your own? Don't let healthy, motivating stress become crippling stress; you have several options: Working Loans Scholarships Alternative Paths Emergencies Disclaimer: This is based on my personal experiences as a college student, and I am not a professional in higher education, finances, or loans/scholarships. WORKING     Even if your parents or scholarships will cover all your costs, working part-time in college is still a good idea. You can find on-campus part-time jobs that only expect you to work 8 hours per week, all the way up to the federally-mandated maximum of 20 hours per week. You can also choose to work off-campus, giving you more options and allowing more than 20 hours. ...

  S earching for college can be a difficult hurdle by itself. When I began this process in my senior year, I barely had any idea of what major I wanted, let alone where in the country to look at. Choosing colleges to apply to and attend consists of a series of important decisions.     There are three general areas you'll want to consider to choose where to apply and attend: Location Price Program Quality  LOCATION     You may have a specific location in mind, or you may have no idea and feel overwhelmed by choice. Either way, there are several location considerations to make. First, you may want to stay close - but not too close - to family. When it comes to moving in and out every year and visiting for weekends and holidays, it's much more convenient to live about an hour to five hours away from family - whether your parents, grandparents, or aunt and uncle. Another very important location consideration that you may not be thinking about yet - I know I was...