Do You Have Enough Money:

You need to add up your financial aid position to analyze whether you have enough funds to pay for a full academic year:

Add Up Your Costs
Tuition
Housing-Food
Books-Supplies
Laptop-Software
Transportation
Other
Enter $$$ You Now Have
Stafford Loans
PLUS Loans
Scholarships
Work Wages
Other Gift Aid
Personal Savings
Total Cost
Total Aid
Extra Funds Needed

When You Need Extra Funds:

If you need extra aid to close the gap between the cost of education and the amount of financial aid awarded, get a private student loan to make up the difference.

You can use the loan to pay for tuition, housing, transportation, books, computer, living expenses and more.

You can borrow up to the full cost of education minus any financial aid received as certified by your school.

Link to our SayStudent.com site for complete information
or dial: 1-866-530-9523 for assistance

Be Sure to Budget Your Expenses:

Use our FREE budgeting worksheet to help you budget and manage your monthly expenses and financial aid:

jump over to our college budgeting tool

School Registration:

Your college should notify you on important registration dates and requirements for first-time students. In you haven't received anything, or need clarification on some items, check with your college admissions office:

Use our directory of universities and colleges to link to web site: college search directory

Class Registration:

Many colleges have online or mail-in class registration. Check your class requirements.

Some colleges may allow credit for online courses sponsored by other colleges. This will give you the flexibility to arrange your schedule. Again, check with your admission's office:

Source for online learning courses:
view directory of online programs

Packing Up:

Get ready. You need to "make-your-home" away from home. That means packing and gathering a few things.

Download our FREE "Off-to-College" Checklist of moving items you should consider taking to school:
click to download moving checklist

Getting There:

You need to arrange your move to college. Will you be driving, taking the train or bus, or flying? Need to make those important travel arrangements:

Check our college moving module for detail information:
click here for college moving center

There will be a lot of money that will be changing hands over the next year. The question is how best to manage your money.

1. Setup a checking account with your family bank.
   Many banks offer FREE student checking accounts. Use your checking account for ATM access and check writing such as paying tuition and monthly rent.
   
   
   
2. Use your credit card for everything else.
   Whenever possible, use your credit card to pay for everything else. Many merchants will not accept student checks, so your credit card will be necessary (avoid carrying cash).
   
   
   
3. Setup a College Budget:
   Make sure you budget your college expenses. You want to avoid having to borrow more money to finish the year. Download FREE our college budgeting worksheet
   
   view our discussion on budgeting
   

Credit Card Use 101:

• As a graduating high school student,
  you will be targeted by credit card companies on the "EASE" of using and having your own credit card.
  
  Think about it! Your own personal card to buy pizza, clothes, gas, music — you name it — without having to pawn money from your parents.
  
  
• But there is a hitch.
  The credit card charges will come due in about 25 days. And if you are like most students, you won't have have enough money to pay your credit card off.
  
  
• No problem!, say the credit card companies.
  Simply pay the minimum payment (which will be very low) and continue using your card as you like.
  
  
• That is where the credit card companies entrap you — they want to keep you paying that low minimum payment from month-to-month.
  
  By paying just the minimum payment each month, it will take you about 23 years to pay off your by credit card balance
  

Being Smart About Credit Card Use:

What Type of Credit Card for School:

• How to use pre-paid credit to manage money
  summarizes how pre-paid credit can manage student funds
  
  
• Building rebate dollars
  learn how to manage your credit cards using a computer (FREE download)
  

Before making a decision about credit cards, student loans, and other credit financing, take a brief moment to view our affiliated center on credit card and debt management:

(links go to our affiliated site at SayGoodCredit.com)

Credit Management
summary review of credit management and how to start and develop your own credit skills. Topics include:
introduction: about credit
types of credit
about your credit report
Applying for Credit

establishing credit
maintaining good credit
repairing your credit

Debt Management
learn tactics to manage and avoid debt.
Topics include:
about debt management
how much debt
solving your debt problems

managing credit card debt

Budget Management
develop important budgeting skills while in school.
Topics include:
why budget
what's in the budget
developing a spending plan

tips: Lowing Your Bills

Find a Computer

Most schools require the use of a computer. How about getting your own:

• Visit our center for a complete reference line of computers and computer peripherals and software.
  
  Everything you need to get your computing needs going:
  click here for our computer selection directory
  
  

School . . . transportation . . . computers . . . supplies . . . make sure you and your parents review all possible options:

• View this summary chart of financial aid options:

  • for undergraduate students (first-time students)
  • for parents of undergraduate students

Find College Books and Supplies

Every College requires books. Buy them online. See our "Moving to College" books and supplies plan:
click here for college supplies

Stuff For the Dorm

Besides books, you may need some study / personal items:

• See our "Dorm Section " for dorm and other personal items:
  click here for dorm items

Time to get serious and set some personal achievement goals. Try this helpful plan:

• FREE Download
  Complete guide on discipline and character building. Has illustrations on the building blocks of success.
  
  FREE: click to download book summary
  FREE: click to download book
  

Don't forget about Halloween in October.
We've got a great party package that will make your party a "spooky" smash:

Review Halloween Kit: FREE download Download this FREE Halloween Story: click to download