Sincerely Amanda: College Advice Blog

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The Thrifty College Student: Six Tips for Saving Money in College

Let’s face it: college is one hefty price tag. From the tuition cost, to supplies for courses, and living on campus, my head was constantly swimming in numbers before I even stepped on campus freshman year. But even though college can be pricey, you don’t have to worry. I’ll share with you some tips I learned to save some money in college.

How to Save Money in College:

1. Rent used textbooks. I can’t say this enough. Please avoid buying textbooks you’re never going to use again after the semester. Before you hit the expensive bookstore, see if you can find a free online version of your textbook on sites, like Library Genesis or Textbook Nova. If you can’t find your textbooks online, I highly recommend renting used textbooks from sites, such as Chegg (preferred) and Barnes & Nobles because they are pretty cheap. If you end up renting from these sites, remember to return them on time to avoid fines.

2. Fill out the FAFSA! Who wants to pay more for college if you don’t have to? Even though applying is a hassle, it’s worth it. If the state can help cover the costs of some element in college, take it because every dollar adds up. If you have great grades, that can also help since the government can give you additional grants to pay for other college expenses. So fill this out, please.

3. Apply for scholarships. Seriously, go on your college’s website and apply to some scholarships within and outside your major. I know it can be annoying to apply to so many things, but it’s worth it. You never know, you might get some extra money. Here is a forum on some useful scholarship websites. 

4. Thrift shops & dollar stores. I know everyone wants the new, trendy pieces, but first look in thrift stores to find cheaper options for basic furniture pieces, dishware, and clothes. Your wallet will thank me later. Here’s where to find the nearest thrift store near you and here’s some trendy clothes thrift shops: dote | depop | poshmark. 

5. Find coupons. Before you go shopping, scourge the internet for some coupons to shop at the stores you love. Go on websites like Retailmenot and Groupon to save some serious money. And if you find some coupon books, here is a blog to help you save a little more. Happy thrifty shopping! 

6. Use your campus id and email. College comes with a lot of perks, especially when it comes to stores and online shopping. When you go shopping, ask if there are any students discounts- It’s worth it trust me. Here’s a list of stores that give discounts to students. Also if you use your campus email to sign up for Amazon Prime (cheaper prices & videos) and Spotify Premium (comes with Hulu & Showtime for $5 a month), you can pay less for entertainment while your at school. Have fun saving and relaxing! 

Let me know if you need more tips in my suggestion box. Good luck blog family!

[sincerelyamandablog-blog]

Lonely College Student to Social Butterfly: Six Tips on How to Make Friends in College

When I first went to college, I expected to make friends easily like in high school, but college was different. Because of my homesickness, it was difficult to make friends, making me feel lonely during my freshman year. I felt embarrassed about it, but looking back, I shouldn’t of been because its completely normal to feel lonely.

According to this UCLA Survey , “12% of students feel depressed during the school year” due to a lack of friendships. Even in this NY Times article, it discusses how most college kids have a hard time making friends. 

Remember, good friendships in college are possible. You just need to how to look and here’s how.

Six Tips on how to Make Friends in College:

1. Adjustment Time. Every new experience is something to get used to, and college is no different. It’s normal to feel lonely. Think about it this way, every freshman is feeling the same way you currently do. For me, it took about a year to feel at home and make friends at my college, so give yourself time.

2. Stop Comparing. By comparing yourself to others, you are hurting yourself. Instead of focusing on making a bunch of friends, try to focus on quality over quantity. I started small by talking to people in my classes and they became my best friends to date. So you never know where talking can lead you.

3. Get involved! I know its scary, but make yourself open to new friendships. By joining some clubs or going to campus events, you can meet some new friends. Talk about your commonalities and try to be patient with yourself. Sometimes friendships work out or other times, they don’t. What I learned is it’s better to get involved and try, than not at all. 

4. Talk and hangout! I know it can be daunting to go up to strangers, but try to talk to someone who has similar passions as yourself. I went up to a stranger once at a music event on campus, and we became friends by just liking the same band. If you get along with someone, try to make plans outside of class and just talk because you’re bound to have something in common. 

5. Be yourself! It sounds cheesy, but by being yourself, you’ll make friends–I promise. Everyone loves to be around people that are genuine to themselves and others. Friendships don’t instantaneously happen, but by being yourself, friendships will be sure to follow. 

Measuring a Friendship:

6. Reflect on their qualities. True friends are loyal, trustworthy, and dependable. If you can’t trust them or talk to them in a time of need, they are not worth your time. If they don’t prioritize your friendship, find friends that will support you- plain and simple.

Let me know if you need more tips in my suggestion box. Good luck blog family!

[sincerelyamandablog-blog]

Five Tips for Staying Organized in College

Sometimes life can get messy. I know it’s hard to balance all of life’s craziness, especially in college, but staying organized throughout your semester will make your life easier. I promise.

Here are 5 tips on staying organized in college:

1. Start with a planner.  As I said last week, everyone needs a planner in college. It doesn’t matter if you have the best memory in the world, buy a planner and write down all the important dates of the semester. Remember to refer back to your syllabi and log every assignment for each course and when you can start working on it. I recommend getting a cute planner that you love to write in, which you can get on Amazon. Here are some tips on how to maintain an organized planner. 

2. Keep Good Notes. Taking notes is proven to help you retain information, so do it! For each course, have only one binder or notebook to keep all your information in one place. When taking notes, focus on the main concepts of the lecture, rather than writing every word the professor says. Also use abbreviations throughout your notes to save time and space. And if you are a slow note taker, ask your professor if you can audio record the lecture. I know that can be daunting to ask your professor this, but it’s better to ask than having poor notes. Here are some tips on how to take good college notes.

3. A Clean Room! What I learned about myself throughout college is that if my room is a mess, my mentality will reflect the environment I am in. Start with only keeping the essential school supplies and ditch useless knick-knacks to utilize all the space on your desk. I also recommend buying shelves and organizational drawers to have more space if necessary. By using these organization ideas, your dorm can be clean, efficient place to work in. 

4. Work and play in different areas. I get it. Your bed is so comfortable and you don’t want to move, but your bed is meant for sleeping and relaxing, not homework. Do your homework at a desk or in the library to limit distractions and maximize efficiency. Reserve your bed for relaxation after your done with your work.

5. Create a consistent schedule. In college you have the freedom to do anything whenever, but to make your days more productive, try to have a consistent schedule. First, set a certain wake-up time and bed time. I find often when I oversleep, I feel like I wasted the day away. Also, figure out what time of the day you are most productive. When you find what time works best for you, try to optimize that time for productivity and work by limiting distractions. Here are some tips on how to create a consistent daily schedule. 

Let me know if you need more tips in my suggestion box. Good luck blog family!

[sincerelyamandablog-blog]

Living with Devils: How to Deal with Horrible College Roommates without Losing your Sanity

Getting amazing college roommates throughout your college experience is like winning the lottery. If you aren’t so lucky, don’t worry, you’re  not alone. This is a common issue throughout campuses across the US. In a survey by Boise State in 2008, it found that around 25% of students have roommate issues within the first month of classes.

I lived with two dreadful roommates myself during sophomore year of college and survived to tell the tale. So don’t worry, if previous college students can work through their horrible roommates, so can you.

Here are some tips to help you deal with your unpleasant roommates:

Tell your roommates what bothers you ASAP---if they don’t listen contact your College Residence Life Please. Even if your roommate is the devil incarnate, you still need to talk out your differences like adults. I recommend directly communicating with them instead of using the petty tactic of leaving passive aggressive notes; it will only create more drama. First try talking it out and establish an agreement before going to your College’s Residence Life. If your roommate is still causing issues after multiple attempts, schedule a roommate meeting to solve this issue. Your roommate may be upset, but that’s not your issue; remember it’s their issue for not making it work in the first place.

If you are upset with your roommate, don’t create drama. Relax. I know how hard it is to pull yourself away from a situation when you’re upset, but it’s better to do something that will relax you, like binge watch a show at a friends dorm. The good thing is you have time to think about your thoughts and feelings, so you can come back and talk about it rationally with your roommate. If your roomie doesn’t listen and this is a frequent occurrence, try to have space from your roommate for the sake of your own mental health because your mental well-being is important. Here are some tips on relaxation.

You aren’t their maid or therapist. I fell into this trap during my sophomore year and it was completely draining, so please don’t clean up your roommates physical or emotional messes on a daily basis, especially if they are your “friends.” They should be able to clean up their own physical mess since they are adults. However, they shouldn’t rely on you to handle all their emotional baggage, since that’s the job of a professional therapist- not a college student. It’s okay if your roommate talks to you about issues in their lives, but only if it’s reciprocated; if not, set boundaries since your mental health is important.

Intimacy is cool, but if you see/hear it-that’s an issue. We all know that college brings new relationships, but if you see/hear your roommate having intimate moments on a regular basis-tell them. You should be able to share a space without being fearful of seeing your naked roommate and their partner, so establish a schedule for everyone in your dorm or a sign that you’re occupying the room. Trust me, your eyes and ears will thank me later.

Remember these Tips:

Tell your roommates what bothers you

If you are upset, try to relax yourself

Don’t clean up your roommates physical/emotional messes

Call your roommate out if you hear/see intimacy

If  anything is serious, please contact your college

Additional resources: https://bit.ly/2BHcy9c & https://bit.ly/2SGzi3L

Let me know if you need more tips in my suggestion box. Good luck blog family and if anything is serious, please contact your college because your safety is important.

[sincerelyamandablog-blog]

Under Pressure: Tips on How to Handle Stress in College

Whenever anyone talks about college, they always say it will be the best years of your life, but they fail to tell you the stressful realities of being in college. 

In a study done by the N.C.H.A., it found that “only 1.6 percent of undergraduates reported that they felt no stress in the last 12 months,” making stress a common issue among college students. From balancing school work, health, jobs, and family life, college kids (like you and me) can get overworked and feel like they are constantly spreading themselves thin to do everything asked of them. But don’t worry, if previous college kids can control their stress and get degrees, so can you and me.

Here are some tips I learned to crush college stress:

Eat right & drink water. I know it sounds pretty simple, but I can’t tell you how many times I forgot to eat meals and drink water throughout my busy schedule. It’s fairly obvious, but if you don’t properly feed and hydrate your body, you will not function. And I don’t mean eating small nutrition bars and drinking coffee. You should eat a diet of five food groups and atleast drink eight cups of water to help reduce bodily stress. Remember, you are what you eat. Here are some cheap healthy meals you can make in no time at all. 

Sleep & exercise. Yes, college gives you the freedom to stay up all night if you wanted to, but you shouldn’t. I stayed up with friends and missed classes, causing me to get stressed on numerous occasions. According to Everyday Health, students should combine at least seven hours of sleep with 20 minutes of daily exercise to reduce excess cortisol throughout the day and help you relax at night. So get much needed beauty rest and gym time to reduce stress! If you have trouble sleeping, here’s some tips.

Get organized & relax. Please get organized and take time to recuperate from the day. Also make sure to record all the important due dates of the semester in a planner! Coming from a workaholic, everyone needs to accomplish their semester-long obligations and then relax. If you have a difficult time relaxing, like me, here are some tips on how to relax because you deserve a break!

Talk to someone. Throughout your college semester, you will most likely feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry, by talking to a friend, family member, or even a school counselor, you will work out whatever is stressing you. Remember, there is nothing wrong with talking about what is on your mind and using your college’s mental health resources. Here are some more general college tips to help with stress. 

Let me know if you need any more tips down below or in my ask box! Good luck blog family.

Sincerely, Amanda