College can be expensive. In these tough economic times everyone is looking for ways to save money in any way possible. Here are some simple things that you can do to help reduce the cost of your schooling.
One way to greatly decrease the price of your education is to start off with community college. A junior college is much cheaper than a university, but they usually offer the same core curriculum. You can go to a local school for your first couple of semesters and get your basics out the way. This will save a lot of money and you can just transfer the credits to the university you want to attend and finish all the classes needed for your degree. If you are unsure which specific classes transfer, the counselors even keep transfer plans for all the major universities and can help you out.
If you attend community college you may even be able to stay at home for an extra year. This will help with the expense of housing. If you decide to go to a college that is not in your hometown you can still save by looking for nearby apartments or rent houses. With a couple of roommates these are usually much cheaper choices than dorm rooms which can get pricey.
Another place where you can take a lot off your total costs is textbooks. New books are very expensive. Used books are a much better choice. Some colleges even hike up the prices of their used books, so if possible you should ask around and find out if someone has taken the class before. They may be able to make you a deal on their used books. You may even be able to find the books you need on the internet for cheaper. Be sure to always double check that you are getting the right book because sometimes classes may be using a newer version of a book with the same title.
If you are in certain degree fields you may be able to reduce you tuition by interning. Sometimes companies will pay part or all of your tuition if you work for them. A good example of this is working as a teacher’s aide. When you are working as an aide, while you are going to school for your teaching degree the school district will usually pay for your tuition. There are programs like this one for a variety of fields. Your college counselor will have more information about the ones that are available in your area.
Finally, no matter how attached you are to your pet, you might have to leave your beloved dog or cat with your parents while you go and study. According to a leading cat training website, cats will not get mad at you when you leave for a while – they’ll just be happy to see you again!
Following these simple tips can greatly reduce the cost of college. This can give you an advantage in today’s hard times.