The Dos and Don’ts of Starting College

Starting college is the beginning of a new chapter in life. Most people look forward to it, but only a few people know how to go about starting it. College is one of those chapters where you have to learn as you go, developing yourself along the way. There are, however, some pieces of advice  that if followed, can help make the college adventure a little bit easier to get started.

Do buy your books ahead of time.

Many former students will tell you not to buy your textbooks until classes start, but this is a recipe for disaster. If you wait to see if you actually need the book, most bookstores will be sold out when you try to order it. If you are uncertain about a book, email your professor and they should be able to answer your questions.

Don’t buy your books from the college bookstore.

This is a complete waste of money, as there are tons of places online to get the same book for much cheaper. The only exception is if the required book is that college’s edition, in which case you will have a hard time finding it somewhere else.

Do get to know your roommate.

If you’re a shy person, branching out and meeting new people can be challenging. If you’re going to get close to one person, however, make it your roommate. This person will be your brother, sister, boyfriend, or girlfriend for the next however many months. Make sure the two of you are close, as that will be the person you confide in throughout your time there.

Don’t wait to find your roommate.

Finding a roommate can be a daunting task. You will be looking for that person who you truly “connect” with. While this is important, you don’t want to wait until the month before school to make that decision, as many people will have already paired up with someone else. Take advantage of the social networks that your school provides to talk to new people and get to know someone who might potentially end up living with you.

Do get a worthwhile meal plan.

Many students may take the cheap road when it comes time to choose your meal plan; don’t make this mistake. Colleges typically have multiple different plans ranging in quantity of meals per week, or will have some form of dollar system on a card that you can reload. Make sure you purchase one that will fit your eating habits, otherwise you might be rationing throughout the semester.

Don’t spend your meals too quickly.

It can be tempting to go get a meal every time you’re bored. The problem, however, is that by the time the end of the semester rolls around, there’s nothing left on your plan and you’re stuck rationing or resorting to the college student gourmet meal: Ramen Noodles. Many colleges have a guide of how much should be in your account as you move through the semester and following these guides can help tremendously.

Do get involved with your school.

There are so many students that go to college, do their work, and maybe go to a few parties without getting involved with the school itself. There are a million clubs and activities to partake in, many of which can be entertaining or beneficial. National clubs like the AMA and AFA can be fun in school, but also look great on a resume. A quick visit to the activity center can provide a glimpse of what is offered. Also, don’t rule out sororities and fraternities, as they can be an essential part of your college's story, although they do tend to take up quite a bit of time. 

Don’t become overloaded.

Participating in clubs, groups, Greek life, and other activities is a great way to be a part of your college’s community and meet new people. Keep in mind, though, that your coursework shouldn't take a seat on the back burner as you run for president of the Fashion and Design club. Only join the things that are most important (and useful) to you.

Do go out and have fun.

While college is a place of higher education, massive amounts of studying can really take a toll on a person’s body, mind, and overall happiness. Make sure to unwind with friends by going out on the town, grabbing a bite to eat, and doing things that you enjoy.

Don’t make going out an every night thing.

Having a good time in college is important, but if you make a habit of hitting the bars every night and going out during the day, two major things will begin to suffer: your wallet, and your grades. Make sure to give yourself ample time to study and get things done. Don’t forget the real reason you’re going to school.

By following tips like these, entering the college lifestyle can be slightly less stressful. Each college experience is different, and it’s your job to make your experience unique in its own way. If you have any tips, stories, or way to ease the college transition, feel free to comment them below!

The Textbook's Viscous Cycle

As we're headed back into another semester, the dreaded bookstore trips have begun to take place, and more students step into the "wait here to be ripped off" line. It's a fact that a seperate loan is practically required to be able to afford the textbooks needed in college courses. Every college student is aware of this fact, and unfortunately they have no other course of action other than to fork up hundreds of dollars for a single book. While this may be the case for certain textbooks, there are  ways to trim the cost of a textbook bill.

Rental

Most students know that renting is always a good option, and can save a ton of money on multiple books. Two of the more common places to rent are Chegg.com and Amazon.com

• Chegg

A student can typically find just about any book that they're looking for on this site. They have relatively decent rental prices and provide an array of other services, such as e-copies, study guides, and other helpful products. I wouldn't recommend Chegg for purchasing, however, as they can be pricey to buy outright. If you're looking to sell some books back, though, can give some pretty competitive quotes to purchase your lightly used books. (They bought a Macroeconomics book from me for over $80!)

• Amazon

Amazon is a go-to source for many things, including textbooks. They typically have most of the books that are required, with decent prices to match. One of the benefits Amazon carries over Chegg is their Prime membership features. If you are part of their Prime program, you get free two-day shipping on eligible items, rentals included. That can be good if you're looking to get a book in a pinch. They typically offer a 6 month free Prime membership to students, and then discounted rates after that time period.

Purchase Used

New textbooks can cost upwards of $300. If you can find the same book that has been used, the savings can be astounding.

• Half.com

Half.com is a website owned and operated by Ebay. It essentially operates the same way Ebay does, but strictly for books. You can enter in the ISBN, title, or author of the book you are searching for, and Half.com will return multiple sellers of the book. The sellers will list the condition of the used book you are buying, and the worse the condition, the cheaper the book ("Good" is typically the lowest I would go in condition; below that you run into torn pages, a ton of highlighting, etc.). The website also provides seller ratings, just like Ebay does, so you know if you're buying from a reputable source. Half.com also offers rental prices, however, they tend to be higher than Amazon or Chegg.

• Alibris.com

Alibris is just like Half.com, in that you buy from listed sellers, with prices based on condition. You will find many of the same sellers listed on Alibris that you would on Half.com. Their rating system is similar to Half.com as well, although it isn't as thorough (using a 5-star system instead of a percentage). Alibris can be hit or miss on both their prices and availability of textbooks, but they are definitely always worth checking out.

E-Versions

Many textbooks can now be found in a digital format for use on a tablet like a Kindle, for instance. We'll use Amazon's Kindle and Kindle cloud as an example. Instead of purchasing a physical copy of the textbook, you can search Amazon's Kindle database to see if your required textbook is available. By purchasing an e-version, you no longer have to pay the cost associated with the book materials, and therefore just pay for the work itself. Amazon also provides a Kindle rental service  for some books. Instead of outright buying the copy, it stays on your e-reader for a selected time period and disappears when that time period is up by using some form of sorcery. The use of this sorcery cuts your cost even more.

There are some downsides to using an e-version of a textbook, however. Many textbooks haven't been "optimized" for digital use, and sometimes pictures, diagrams, and other material can get out of whack in Kindle format. Another issue that can arise is that many e-books don't have page numbers associated with them, but instead have "sections". This can pose an issue if the professor references a specific page number, as you may have to do some searching. Lastly, a Kindle or e-reader version obviously requires some form of e-reader, which is a cost in itself. Then you have to always make sure that the battery will be charged for when you need it. It's a personal choice to go this route, and you have to weigh out the benefits on if the minor savings are worth it. 

PDF Formats

PDF formats of textbooks are not something that I particularly recommend, but they can be a really cheap, if not free, alternative to a physical textbook. The problem with these is that there are no correlating page numbers, making it difficult to search. Also, finding PDF formats typically requires torrents or P2P sharing, and many PDF formats you may find will carry some unwanted 3rd parties with it, like a virus, for instance. So if you manage to find a PDF version of your textbook, proceed with your own risk, and know that it may be worth it to shell out some money through one of the other methods.

Other Students

Students who have previously taken the class are an excellent source of used textbooks. After they take the course, they have no use for the book. If they try to sell it back to where they bought it from, they just get ripped off like everyone else. It can be a win-win situation for everyone if you meet them in the middle of what the bookstore would give them and what the book would cost YOU to buy. That way you get a good deal on a textbook you need, and the student gets more money back than what they thought they would. 

No matter what method you use to get your textbooks, always try to get the best deal. College textbooks have one of the biggest retail markup around, and it's probably going to stay that way. If you have any other sources for textbooks that work particularly well for you, feel free to comment them to let everyone know! You can now use all the extra cash you've saved towards buying food that tastes much better than what you're going to get served in your dining hall...or beer, if that's your thing.