5 Strategies for Better Roommate Relationships

By David Gutierrez

College is stressful enough on its own. The last thing you need is a noisy, disruptive, or rude roommate interfering with your ability to study—and don’t forget, you might be that roommate to someone else if you aren’t considerate with your behaviors. There are many benefits to having college roommates—which is one reason why so many universities make roommates mandatory for college freshman—and fortunately, the downsides can be managed easily if you have the right system in place.

Strategies for Better Relationships

These strategies can help you start and grow better roommate relationships overall:

1. Seek off-campus or alternative housing. There’s (usually) nothing mandating that you stay in a college dorm. Dorms tend to be cramped, which can make strenuous living situations even more strenuous, and there are hundreds to thousands of students living in the same complex. Consider seeking alternative, off-campus housing with your chosen roommates; not only will you get more space, you’ll also have more control over who you end up paired with. Plus, if you’re an older college student with some extra capital, you can use an option like rent-to-own, or even buy a house outright to make money back on your investment.
2. Establish quiet hours. Once you and your roommate are settled in, it’s essential to designate “quiet hours,” during which no excessive noise is permitted in the dorm—that means no company, no loud music, and no other major disruptions. This period allows everyone a guaranteed time to sleep, study, or enjoy themselves quietly without issue. How you set quiet hours depends on you and your roommates’ needs; though most quiet hours run through the night, you may have an alternative arrangement, or you may need more or fewer “quiet hours” than others.
3. Study together when possible. You have a roommate, so why not make the most of the situation? Chances are, you’ll have at least one or two classes together, and even if you don’t, you can study together anyway. Take some time at least once a week to help each other prepare for an exam or recap a lesson; not only will you learn more, you’ll establish a closer bond, which can help you resolve problems faster when they come up in the future.
4. Set mutually agreeable rules for cleaning and inviting people over. It’s best to set rules proactively when it comes to how you take care of your shared space. There are many different ways to handle it, but you must come to an agreement. For example, if you’re both neat freaks, you can take turns cleaning every other day. If both of you hate cleaning, you can use a game or challenge to draw for cleaning duty randomly. Plus, you’ll want to establish ground rules for who can be in your dorm and when—and the earlier you have this conversation, the better.
5. Speak openly about your concerns and needs. Finally, try to be as open as possible when discussing things with your roommate. If they break a rule, address it right away. If you’re concerned about their behavior, mention it. If you have a request, bring it up. As long as you do so politely and consistently, you’ll open the door to conversation and, eventually, a resolution.

What to Do With a Disagreeable Roommate

In some cases, no matter how hard you try to set agreeable rules, politely talk about your concerns, and strive for the best possible environment, your roommate won’t hold up their end of the bargain. If you’re stuck with a roommate who refuses to follow the rules (or help to set new ones) and disrupts your ability to study or academically function, you need to take action. File a complaint with the university asking for a new roommate, or work with your landlord to get them off the lease.

Roommates are, for the most part, a pleasure to have around—even if you don’t see eye to eye right away. The more open you both are to creating the best possible living conditions, the more successful and satisfied you’re all going to be.

David Gutierrez has worked in the field of web design since 2005. Right now he started learning Java in order to get second occupation. His professional interests defined major topics of his articles. David writes about new web design software, recently discovered professional tricks and also monitors the latest updates of the web development.

 

 

10 Places Where College Students Can Learn Code

BY JANE HURST

If you are in college studying about web design and development, you are going to need to learn code. No matter how long you try to avoid it, learning code is inevitable, and it is necessary if you want to get into this line of work. But, you may not be able to get all of the training you need with your college courses, and will need to look outside of your school for places to learn code. The Internet is the best place to begin your search, and there are loads of great sites where you can get the training you need. Here are our top 10 picks.

 

1. Codecademy – If you are new to the world of coding, this is a great place to start. This platform lets you learn interactively, so you are reading and typing code, seeing immediate results. There are many topics you can choose from, including HTML & CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Angularis, The Command Line, and many more.
2. Marksheet.io – Here is another great learning tool for beginners. It is broken into four chapters, HTML5, CSS3, the web, and Sass. This is a lot like an e-book, but it is under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This means that you can use it to learn what you need.
3. Tech Camp – Students who are still in high school can prepare for college and learn code at one of the Vision Tech Camps. This is the San Francisco Bay area’s top tech summer camp, with learning opportunities that are science and math-based. Students can take part in the Programming Camp, where they will learn Java, C, Python, C#, and C++. Learning is fun, because students apply what they are learning to create video games, robots, and more.
4. The Odin Project – The creators of Viking Code School have created this coding boot camp. This is actually the free version, and you have the option to work on your own, with others in-person, or in online study groups. The topics you will learn include HTML, CSS, JavaScript & jQuery, Ruby, and Ruby on Rails.
5. Free Code Camp – First you will learn coding via a common curriculum. Then, you will get hands-on experience with coding, working on a variety of projects for nonprofit organizations. Not only do you get to learn for free, you get to give back by working with nonprofits. You will learn HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Databases, DevTools, Node.js, React.js, and D3.js.
6. Skillcrush’s Coding Bootcamp – This free coding boot camp is perfect for those who are new to coding. You will learn all about working in tech, and get definitions of industry lingo that you can actually understand. You will also have the opportunity to create your first lines of code and get your feet wet.
7. The Code Player – Here you will find a large collection of video tutorials that will help you learn coding, inside and out. This is great if you are trying to learn smaller projects, and you can learn HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Regex, and JQuery.
8. Coursera – These courses are free, and taught by actual university professors. If you want to prove that you have completed the training, you will need to pay for the Coursera Verified Certificate, which costs $30 to $100, depending on which course you are taking. There are also specialization courses, which you also have to pay for.
9. Khan Academy – Whether you want to learn about coding, or anything else, you can learn it here. There are loads of computer programming courses, and there are even some courses geared for younger kids.
10. Udemy – You can choose from both paid and free courses on many subjects, including web development, data science, and programming. Because these courses can be made by anyone, be sure to check out reviews to make sure that you are going to be getting the right training.

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter

7 Off-Campus Housing Tips for College Students

By Lorraine McKinney

When you choose to live off-campus instead of in the dorms when you are in college, the first thing you have to do is find a good place, which isn’t always easy. While there may be plenty of apartments available to rent, it doesn’t mean that they are going to be suitable for your needs, or even livable for that matter. So, here are some things to think about when you are looking for a place to live while you are in school.

1. Tour the Neighborhood – When you find an apartment you are interested in, check out the neighborhood. There are certain things to look for. Make sure it is on a bus route. Also, find out from people who live in the area if it is a safe place to live, and if there is anything or anyone you should look out for. Don’t forget to make sure that it is in close proximity to the school. While this isn’t necessary, it helps when you are running late for class and you don’t have to go all the way across town to get there.
2. Tour the Right Place – Many landlords will show you their more expensive apartments rather than the one you actually want to consider renting. These apartments are all set up for show, but they aren’t going to show you what your potential place will look like. Ask the landlord if you can see the actual apartment that is for rent rather than the showcase apartment.
3. Check the Walk Score – Residential properties are assigned a Walk Score between one and 10. This will tell you how far it is to walk to school, stores, restaurants, etc. If you don’t have a vehicle and tend to walk to most of your destinations, you need to make sure that you live in an area that is close to everywhere you need to be. Otherwise, you will end up spending extra money on cabs, subways, etc.
4. Talk to Tenants – “It is a good idea to speak with people who already live in the building to learn more about it. The landlord can tell you all kinds of great things, but you won’t know the full story until you talk to the people who actually live there,” says an expert from Miami Properties. Ask what they like about the building, if the landlord keeps up with repairs and maintenance, etc. There will always be at least one or two tenants in the building who love to talk, and who will give you the lowdown.
5. Inspect the Apartment – Before you sign the lease, make sure that you give the apartment a thorough going-through. And, be sure to bring along your phone or a camera so you can take photos. This way, you can prove what the place looked like before you moved in if the landlord tries to say that you ruined anything. Also, be sure to check for anything that may need repairing, and make sure that the landlord agrees to make repairs before you sign the lease.
6. Inspect the Lease – Be sure to carefully look over your lease before you sign it. If there are any discrepancies between the lease and what you have discussed with the landlord, now is the time to get things straightened out. Also, you need to make sure that you won’t get locked into a lease that you can’t get out of if you need to.
7. Furnish for Free – Once the lease is signed and the rent is paid, it is time to move in. You probably don’t have a lot of furniture, but, don’t go out and spend a lot of money on stuff you will likely throw out after you graduate. Talk to graduating seniors about donating furniture they won’t be taking with them when they leave. Visit thrift shops for cheap items. Just be careful about stuffed furniture, such as beds and sofas, because of bedbugs and other creepy crawlies.

Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist. 

 

3 Ways to Keep Your Student Loan Debt Low Without Starving

By Dorothy Mitchell

Student loans are essential for most people to get the education they want, and the growing debt can be scary. Most students live a frugal life, but there are other ways that you can keep your student debt low without making living unbearable.

Here are 3 things that you can do to earn extra cash to start paying your loans off before you graduate.

1. Start a Business

Although you should never sacrifice your studies for making money, it is viable to start a business during your student years, and make a dent in your debt in the process.

College kids always need frat shirts, banners, and all sorts of merchandise – providing an affordable solution on campus could see you making some serious cash.

You can also do part-time work, get involved in paid tutoring, or learn a skill that will help you make a little money on the side. For instance, you could provide referrals to a law firm like Fisher & Talwar, and then get a commission when some defined results are achieved.

2. Make Compromises

It seems logical to try to reduce your expenses by sacrificing your everyday comforts, but a lot of students want to live on their own terms instead of saving towards their student loans.

Being smart with your money doesn’t mean that you must live on a dollar a day. There are practical steps that you can take. Start by creating a budget that covers everything you’re going to have to pay for, such as accommodations, books, gas, entertainment, and food.

Once you have an idea of how much you can spend, try to find low-cost ways of making your available money work for you. Find a roommate to reduce your rent, buy second hand books and computers, and think about trading your car in for a bicycle.

You also don’t need to be the guy buying everybody drinks all night, or the girl who goes out every time her phone rings. Take a balanced approach to your student experience, plan, and you can ensure you have the best time ever without breaking the bank.

3. Shop Like a Student

From travel deals to discounted meal combos and screen printing software and supplies, the world is geared towards making life easier with student-only specials.

The average college student can probably tell you the exact time when drinks are on special at their local bar, but isn’t aware of how much they can save by cashing in on student specials.

Ask other students for tips on how to save – buses, haircuts, movies, and other student essentials are often discounted in college towns. Take advantage and put your savings right back into your student loan and you’ll find you have enough money to enjoy yourself.

Conclusion – Every Little Bit Helps

Car pools, split the bill on dates, unsubscribe from cable – do whatever it takes to save without living in misery.

Making ends meet as a student can be tough, but if you’re prepared to take any job that pays, reduce your expenses where possible, and look for student specials, you can make it through without a mountain of debt.

Dorothy Mitchell is a freelance business writer and social media marketing consultant. She has worked as a writer, researcher, social media manager and business consultant with several companies, including Fortune 500 companies like LinkedIn, Microsoft, Cisco and PepsiCo.

How to Fit Daily Meditation Into A Busy Schedule

By Anamika Nair

 

There are many reasons why someone should try practicing meditation throughout the day. Mainly, daily meditation can help you reduce stress levels and find your inner peace. It’s a fantastic and easy way of calming yourself down and helping you think straight. By meditating a few minutes every day, you can bring clarity to your mind and help you relax more.

The problem is, many people believe they don’t have the time to meditate because of their busy schedule. A busy schedule is often an excuse for a lot of things. It’s the reason we eat badly, the reason we don’t exercise, and now it’s the reason we can’t meditate. Granted, modern life can be very fast-paced, and you’ll see minutes turn to hours as a whole day passes you by in the blink of an eye. However, no one is ever ‘too busy’ to spare a few minutes throughout the day where you can sit still and meditate. Where there’s a will there’s a way, it’s much easier than you might think.

The following article will show you some easy ways that you can fit daily meditation into your busy schedule. Plus, we’ll also look at the benefits this will bring to people of various different lifestyles.

Create a Meditation Schedule

It’s a lot easier to fit your daily meditation in if you schedule it at the start of the day. Before bed each night you should get your phone out and add reminders at certain times to take a minute and meditate. You’ll be notified during the day, and it’s a great way of ensuring you never forget. Plus, you can work your meditation around your busy schedule for that day too. You can look at what’s on your agenda, and figure out when you can and can’t spare a few minutes.

Wake Up Half an Hour Earlier

One of the easiest ways to fit in a solid 30-minute meditation session is to wake up half an hour earlier than planned. This means you have the time to meditate and can start the day off feeling a lot calmer and in the right frame of mind. It’s the perfect way to prepare yourself for another busy day in your life.

The best thing about this idea is that your meditation doesn’t eat into your schedule at all. By the time you’ve finished, it will be the time you usually wake up.

Meditate Before Bed

Another simple way to fit in half an hour’s worth of meditation is to do it before bed. Get ready for bed earlier than usual, and spend 30 minutes sitting peacefully before you hit the hay. Again, it’s a great time to meditate as it relaxes your body and mind. You’ll find yourself having a much better night’s sleep if you go to bed relaxed and with your mind at ease.

Spread Your Meditation over Small Periods

Generally speaking, meditating for at least half an hour per day will make a big difference to your life. But, this doesn’t mean you have to meditate for half an hour straight. What you can do is split up your meditation over smaller periods throughout the day. Meditate for five minutes here, five minutes there, and you’ll soon rack up all the meditation time you need to benefit from it.

There really are no excuses for missing out on daily meditation because of your busy schedule. Even if you genuinely can’t spare a few minutes here and there to meditate throughout the day, you’ll definitely be able to do it in the morning and evening.

The big question is, why should you put in the effort to meditate daily? Below, you will find the main benefits of daily meditation, and how it can affect different lifestyles:

Relieves Stress

Arguably the biggest benefit of meditation is that it helps reduce your stress levels. If you practice it every day, you’ll start to become far more relaxed and stress-free. This is great for people from all walks of life. Students should practice daily meditation during exam periods to relieve them of stress and help them feel more relaxed before sitting for an exam. Business owners are often subjected to high degrees of stress, as are people with very demanding jobs. By meditating, you help undo all the negative effects stress has on your brain, and it will help you be better at your job.

Helps Clear Your Mind

Another benefit of daily meditation is that it can help clear your mind. When you meditate, there’s an emphasis on controlling your breathing and relaxing your mind. This helps you become more mindful and aware of your thoughts. You start to think straight, and it leads to you being in greater control of your reactions. As you can imagine, this is highly beneficial to anyone in the workplace. If you work a busy job where you have lots of things to do, it pays to have a clear mind. If you spend a few minutes clearing your mind and become more aware of your actions, you’ll make better decisions in the workplace.

Enables You to Control Your Emotions

Thirdly, daily meditation helps you control your emotions. By slowing things down and sitting still for a few moments, you can get your emotions under control and avoid any outbursts. This is very beneficial for parents who are likely to have their emotions run ragged by their children throughout the day. By meditating, you can get things under control and avoid losing your cool and shouting at your kids. This is the same for business owners when things go wrong at work, and you want to lose it and shout at everyone. Take some time out, breathe deeply, and gain control of your emotions.

As you can see, meditating benefits you in many ways no matter what life you live. Along with all these benefits, it’s also a great way of just slowing things down and reflecting on all the good things in life. Make sure you use all of the earlier advice to fit daily meditation into your busy schedule.

Anamika Nair is an experienced freelancer with extensive experience in writing texts, blogs, and columns. She studied Neuroscience of Yoga and Meditation from University of Eidenburg and she is also a meditation expert who is skilled to write about vast variety of topics on Meditation.

 

 

4 Steps to Design an Outstanding Online Course

BY NORMAN ARVIDSSON

Whether you are a corporate trainer designing a new online program, a teacher who is proposing a new course to the Superintendent/Board of Education, or a professor who wants to add a new online course, decisions will very well be made by others. Your job is to present a proposal that is well-organized and compelling. To do this, you will need to follow a proposal model that most everyone understands and accepts as valid. It is not a complicated model and, if used well, will provide all of the information that a decision-maker will need.

The “devil,” of course, is in the details, and those will differ widely dependent upon the learners to be served. For example, a U.S. history course planned for high school learners will differ markedly from a university level course. With that in mind, these are the overriding components of a course proposal.

Step I: Needs Assessment

No one will consider supporting or putting money into a project unless they determine that there is a real need among consumers of the online course. And the first step in a online course proposal is to prove there is a need. This “proof” can take several forms:

• Such a course does not exist within the context of the implementation venue. For example, an online course in personal finance for high school does not exist does not yet exist and is not offered by the school district to whom the course is being pitched.
• Provide research/data that shows there is a gap between the number of consumers (students) who could benefit from this project and the opportunities for them to obtain the learning they need.
• What is the consumer demographic and what are the numbers that would choose to participate in the course, training, etc. that the online course addresses? A course might be an elective at either the secondary or university levels, but what are the specific numbers of students who could be tapped to enroll?

Why a Needs Assessment is Important

The idea for an educational/training online course may have come from any number of places – a casual conversation or something you read, for example. And while you and a few friends or colleagues may believe it is a great idea, the course and/or the timing may not be feasible.

• A needs assessment may show duplication of such a course – duplication that is already serving a large part of your demographic.
• A needs assessment may show that there is not enough of a “gap” to justify the time, effort and investment to move forward on a project
• A needs assessment may show that there is not sufficient demand for the project you are contemplating

On the other hand, a needs assessment may present the research and data that supports the course. In that case, decision-makers will take notice and, indeed, throw their support behind it. Other stakeholders, such as those who may be asked to help fund or provide other in-kind support, are far more inclined to provide their support too.

Step II: Online Course Planning and Implementation

Planning and implementing a course is a complex task. The best approach is to break the whole down into manageable parts of a logical development process.

1. Set Goals and Objectives

Anyone who has been involved in an educational field understands goals and objectives. These form the skeleton by which a course curriculum is developed. It is probably not necessary to discuss this step in detail, but a brief review of the difference between these two might be a good idea:

• Goals constitute the big picture – the large learner outcomes as a result of the teaching and learning process. They are not measurable because they don’t have a specific end-point.
• Objectives are the goals broken down into smaller chunks of learner outcomes. Unlike goals, they are measurable. The best way to think about objectives is in terms of input and output. The input constitutes all of the activities to meet the objective. The output is the level of mastery of the objective on the part of the learner.

 

1. Objectives From the Units of Study

Now the specifics of the course or program are added. These include the learning activities, the assignments (if relevant) and the manner in which mastery will be evaluated (tests, reports, presentations, papers, etc.). You can order your works somewhere, or hire someone, buy something… Sometimes it’s a good idea because there are plenty of good helpers, you can check them all at the bestessays.review. But… The key to an effective course or program is the following:

• Course objectives must be age-appropriate for the prospective learners. This means that a high school course in economics will address basic theoretical and practical concepts; at the college level, however, such a course may move into such things as global economic policies and circumstances, currency manipulation, politics of trade, etc.
• All learning activities must relate directly to the objectives.
• Learning activities must engage the participants and be as student-centered as possible. The differences between planning for learners at different academic levels is quite pronounced in this section of the proposal. Secondary students, for example, are not as capable of long-term independent learning as university students are. This means teachers must plan for far more communication, connection and nurturing as students move through their assignments and activities.
• Resources and materials should be identified. Again, age-appropriate materials must be selected.
• A timeline must be included

 

1. Market the Course/Program

Marketing strategies will, of course, vary dependent upon who the potential consumers are. Certainly, if the course is a part of an educational program, then those program “owners” will implement the marketing, such as it is. At the secondary level, this may mean a course announcement, a description, and “talking the course up” on the part of the teacher. At the university level, the course will be included in the course catalog. Beyond that, the instructor may want to promote the course through the department as well.

If on the other hand, you are an entrepreneur/consultant who has designed a new training program, your marketing techniques will be those that businesses typically use to market a new product or service.

Part III: Evaluation

In advance of implementation, the methods by which the course/program itself will be evaluated should have been designed when the needs assessment phase was being conducted and a proposal made to decision-makers. The most important thing to remember here is that courses are never perfect. There is always room for improvement. A solid evaluation methodology will identify areas for improvement.

Throughout the implementation of the course, formative evaluations should occur. For example, if, after a unit of study is finished, a large percentage of the learners did not master the content or skills at an appropriate level, then it is time to investigate and analyze why that occurred? Often, asking the students will provide excellent feedback. Materials and activities may have to be revised or replaced.

If the evaluation is honestly implemented throughout the implementation, in the end, you will have information and data necessary for the final part. Here are typical questions to be asked as a program is evaluated:

• Were the resources used as planned?
• Was the program implemented according to the design and plan?
• How actively were participants involved in their learning? What was the quality of student-produced products?
• How have participants responded to the activities?
• What are the participant survey results?

Part IV: Revision

Revision can be a difficult activity. One of the reasons is that the individual(s) who has designed and implemented the course or program is emotionally attached to the design, the goals and objectives, and the activities, most of which have also been designed by the individual who actually delivers the curriculum. Another reason, of course, is time and money. If for example, it is determined that different or additional resources must be acquired, evaluating the options and budgeting for those additions may be quite challenging.

Revisions must always be based upon the results of the evaluation. Each issue that is pointed out by the evaluation must be addressed, analyzed, and its weaknesses identified. And a plan must be developed to strengthen each weakness. If students in a high school online course state that they felt too isolated, for example, then steps must be taken for more collaboration, discussion, and instructor/peer support.

Conclusion

In the end, the success of any course or program is participant mastery and level of satisfaction. When that mastery and satisfaction occurs, the course will continue, will be popular, and will be recommended by satisfied students.

About the author: Norman Arvidsson is a young and passionate blogger, tutor and educator. He writes about student’s life, education tips, and studying. You can contact him via Twitter.

Michael Kirst on Accomplishments and Unfinished Business in California State Education Policy

One Third Of Millennials Regret Going To College Because of Loan Problems

By Malia Keirsey

One-third of students have so much debt that they regret college. Here are some strategies that you can use to belong to the other 2/3rds and make a life that is ultimately debt free.

A few years ago a study by Wells Fargo revealed that a third of millennial students regretted going to university. Why? One word: Debt. The debt that they received was so big and the time it took was so crippling that these students felt that they would have been better off going to work straight away, even though it would have reduced their earning powers for their whole lives.

Scary, no?

Of course, if 1/3^rd of students regret going to college, then 2/3^rd don’t. So what’s the difference?

They ignore the advice to pursue their dreams

Dreams are wonderful things. They keep you going at the end of the day. They give you something to live towards. They do not, however, make most of us make very good university choices. Let’s face it, there are more than enough arts majors out there and the direction of psychology has probably received a little bit too much attention as well.

Instead of focusing on fulfilling some flighty fancy, try to focus on filling one of the many areas where companies are desperate for employees. According to payscale.com some of the best-paying degrees are:

• Petroleum engineer
• Systems engineer
• Actuarial Science
• Chemical Engineer
• Computer Sciences.

(check out the site for more ideas).

Remember, just because you spend some time doing something that pays well doesn’t mean that you have to do it for the rest of your life. You can always become a painter, or find ways to help abused children later in life. Reject the instant gratification mindset. Work towards your dreams.

They don’t decide to worry about their debt later

The tricky thing about debt is that if you don’t pay attention to it, it will keep on growing. For that reason, you’ve got to pay attention to it from day one. That means finding loans that have low-interest rates (even ½ a percent lower can make a huge difference in the long run due to the nature of compound interest) and finding any chance you can to pay at least some of it back, so it doesn’t have a chance to grow out of proportion.

They also take steps to restructure their debt whenever possible and aren’t afraid to ask for financial assistance from friends, family, and the corporations that are out there.

They continue to live like students for a little longer

Now, I understand that once you’re done with university and you’re starting to earn a bit more money, it can be very tempting indeed to splash out. Buy a new car. Get a house. Maybe buy those shoes you wanted.

There are two things to consider before you follow that dream. The first is, debt is debt. It means you owe money and should pay it back – the sooner the better so that you’re out from under that debt mountain.

The second is, once you take a step upwards in your spending habit, taking a step the other way is very hard indeed. You get used to spending more money quickly and it really hurts to downgrade again.

So don’t take the step up! Or only take a small one and spend all the other money on paying down your debt. If you really focus on spending down your debt for the first year or two, then you can take a big debt out of the mountain. That not only means the mountain is smaller, but also that the interest is smaller as well. That’s a double win.

They don’t take a year off right after college

Yes, of course, you want to see the world. Yes, of course, it’s all a great adventure. The thing is, you don’t have to go and see the world when you freshly graduated. You can actually wait a few years, get rid of your debt and then head off into the big wide world.

There are plenty of people who only start traveling when they’re in their late twenties or possibly even their early thirties. Yes, I know. Disappointing isn’t it? But then, so is struggling with debt until you’re 35. And one year of not paying off your debt can add years of struggling down the road.

They work while they’re in college

There are so many ways that you can earn money while you’re at college. It doesn’t even have to take all of your free time. Even just having a job that you do a couple of hours a week that gives you a bit of income can make a huge difference.

That means doing some bar work. Or it can mean using your degree and joining a writing site like Writing judge. When you’ve got a job you’ll end up with a lot less debt for three reasons.

• The first one is because you’ll (obviously) make more money.
• The second is that you spend less time spending money, which is also a useful way to keep yourself from going too deeply into debt.
• And thirdly, it will give you a lot more experience, which in turn will make the job that you’ll get coming right out of college that much better paid.

So bite the bullet. Join the working world before you quit the college life!

Embrace experiences instead of things

Sell what you don’t need. When you need something for a little while only, rent it and then return it. Live a minimalist life. Focus on enriching your mental life instead of your physical one. Not only will it be much easier to control your spending (leaving you more money to pay off your debt) but it will make you much happier besides.

Now I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like much of a sacrifice does it? So make sure that you focus on the right things. If you find it doesn’t work for you and you really want a bit car, then you can always do so after you’ve tried out minimalism and paid down your debt.

Last words

It is possible to live debt free much sooner than you may think. Here’s the story of one guy paid down 90k in debt in three years. So it is very possible. And yes, it might not be exactly comfortable, to begin with, but the act of actually getting your debt under control can be highly motivating. It can make you feel like you’re finally getting your problems under control.

And after you’ve paid down your debt, You’ll not just have a huge amount more freedom, you’ll also have financial discipline – and that is nothing to sneeze at. It’s something you need to run a household and a company.

So, fight the debt demon. It’s not an easy battle – but then nothing life that’s worth having is ever easy. The good stuff is the tough stuff. That’s because it isn’t just something you’ll end up having, but also something that will help you build character. And that is, in the long run, far more valuable than anything that you can hold in your hand.

 

 

About author:

Malia Keirsey is an enthusiastic writer and guest contributor. She has finished the University of Chicago with master’s degree in Sociology. Now she’s working as freelance web designer and blogger. Her main topics of interest are writing, digital marketing and education. Follow @MaliaKeirsey on Twitter.

8 Tips to Learn a Foreign Language in College

BY LAURA MCKINNEY

It is never too late to learn a new language, and while in college, it is the perfect time to do so. Thanks to the Internet and a variety of language-learning websites, you don’t even have to take any special classes in college or spend extra money to learn a new language. Not only is learning a second language going to make you well-rounded, it can also help to open doors when you are looking for employment. If you are considering learning a foreign language while you are in college, here are a few tips that will help.

1. Choose the Right Language – Sure, learning Farsi may seem like fun, but is it really going to do you any good in the long run? Choose a language that is in-demand. For instance, there is a huge demand for those who can speak Arabic for government contracting positions. Chinese and Indian are also both languages that are in high-demand at the moment.
2. Do More than Necessary – If you are taking an actual foreign language class in college, go well above and beyond what is expected of you. Obviously, there are going to be minimum requirements to pass the course. Take your studies to the next level. Don’t just make the minimum requirements, or take the lowest course level just to make it easier.
3. Watch Your Grammar – No one really enjoys learning about grammar, but when learning a new language, it is important to know how it works. You will have a much better understanding of the language if you take the time to study the grammar, and compare it to English grammar. This is going to make speaking a foreign language much easier in the long run.
4. Travel a Lot – The more you travel, the better your chances are of getting chances to speak any new languages that you’ve learned. Don’t forget to learn about local slang as well, because it can serve you well in some areas. For instance, you may be looking for directions in the Dominican Republic. By knowing some Dominican slang words and phrases, it will be easier to talk to locals.
5. Read a Lot – The more you read in a foreign language, the more you are going to understand it. When you are reading in a foreign language, look at the big picture and not each word. Look at the context, and understanding that context. When you are just trying to learn new words, you are not actually learning how to use those new words. When you are reading them, you are understanding them better.
6. Write a Lot – Writing in a foreign language can be a bit of a struggle, especially in the beginning. It takes a lot of practice to be able to do this. But, the more you practice, the easier it will come to you, so keep practicing. Write in the language you are learning at every opportunity, and then have someone who does speak that language review your writing and make suggestions, while explaining why they are making suggestions.
7. Speak with Natives – Engaging in conversation with someone who speaks a foreign language is one of the best ways to pick it up. Just one hour of conversation with natives is better than weeks of study at school. Be prepared with lots of questions to ask, and be prepared to have eyes rolled at you a lot while you are still learning. After a while, you will be speaking their language fluently with them.
8. Create Your Own Classes – Not everyone does well in a classroom setting. Everyone learns differently, and at a different pace. If you are learning a foreign language on your own, your classroom can be any place you choose. Look at how you learn the best, and how you like to learn, and then find the best place to sit down and take online classes, practice, etc.

Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist.

 

3 Common College Roommate Conflicts and Solutions

By Jimmy Rohampton

Being in college is one of the most enjoyable and important phases of anybody’s life. One of the highlights is living in your own space, but if your roommate and you don’t see eye to eye, life in college can be uncomfortable and awkward.

While it’s inevitable that people who are put into confined spaces and placed under pressure are going to clash, some problems between people escalate into serious issues. Here are 3 common roommate conflicts and solutions to keep them in check.

1. Study Schedules

People come from all over the world to follow their dreams at America’s finest colleges, and they bring with them unique quirks, superstitions, and study techniques.

It’s common for people to require absolute silence to study, or to prefer cramming for days ahead of exams in a mad frenzy. If you love loud music and preparing in advance, then you will not have the ideal study environment.

It might not seem like a serious issue, but clashing study methods can have a negative impact on even the friendliest roommates.

Instead of letting a difference in approach drive you both crazy, have a honest discussion about the way you like to do things when you first meet up. College is built for knowledge, so find out where else you can study – study halls, libraries, even an open lawn can be favorable to retaining information.

Once you’ve got an idea who is going to study where, work out a fair schedule so that your routine lets you both prepare adequately without one of you living your life outside of your room.

2. Smoking

Although studies suggest that the number of smokers is in decline, there are still a large number of college students who smoke – maybe as they learn about themselves.

Smoking is an uncomfortable habit at the best of times, but sharing your room with a smoker if you don’t smoke is almost impossible.

From the smell and the danger of fires to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, you are going to need to come up with a solution if you live with a smoker.

Vaping is a popular option among younger smokers.  It’s safe to vape indoors and there are none of the lingering scents or flames of smoking normal cigarettes.

If you’re rooming with a smoker, then ask them to try an e-cigarette as an alternative that suits you better.

3. Cleanliness

College is a messy time in a lot of ways, but keeping your personal space clean is essential in making your situation as comfortable as possible.

If you’re a bit of a neat freak, then try and divide cleaning chores with a schedule so the room doesn’t get out of hand. If that seems a little formal, set up a fines system for roommates who leave laundry on the floor or pizza boxes everywhere.

Final Word

Whether its smoking, studying or dealing with a slob, you can overcome these common conflicts and make sure that college is as exciting and educational as it should be.

 

 

Jimmy Rohampton is a freelance writer, business consultant and the creator of HowToCreateABlog.org, where he empowers people to gain digital skills.