1. Discover Student Card allows students to earn 5% cash back during their first year on items that change every few months. For example, card members can sign up to earn 5% cash back bonus on up to $300 in purchases at gas stations, hotels, theme parks and movies from July through September, and up to 20% back at over 175 retailers through ShopDiscover, Discover’s exclusive online shopping site.

Key features:

• 0% Intro APR for 9 months. After 9 months it will be 12.99%-19.99% variable purchase APR.
• No annual fee. Receive the benefits of using the Discover Student Card without paying anything except your bills on time.
• Earn 5% cash back in various categories during certain months. In October through December, receive cash back for eating at restaurants and shopping for clothes. Back to school shopping, anyone? Make sure to enroll before each quarter to receive these benefits.
• Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases after spending $3,000 annually. Receive .25% cash back before spending $3,000. This means that credit card holders are receiving cash back for all of their purchases, and once they spend $3,000 they receive even more money back.
• Redeem your cash back bonus in any of the three ways: merchandise, gift cards, Discover gift cards or cash. Card holders are able to set up direct deposits to their bank accounts if cash is preferred.
• Rewards have no expiration date, but if an account is closed or inactive for 18 executive months, or if the card holder fails to make any minimum payment for two consecutive billing periods, then any cash back bonus points in the person’s account will be forfeited.
• Choose from over 30 card designs. Why not spend money in style?
• 0% Fraud liability.

The Discover Student Credit Card is a great option for students looking to build credit, while earning cash back rewards at the same time on purchases through Discover’s rotating list of categories. Students who are financially responsible and will not put off paying their credit card bills will enjoy using this credit card, because it gives cardholders benefits for making financially responsible decisions.

2. Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students is designed for students who are in college, want to build credit, and want to receive points for maintaining a good G.P.A. That is exactly what cardholders are getting when they sign up for Citi’s mtvU Platinum Select Visa.

Key features:

• No annual fee. Enjoy Platinum benefits and participate in the card’s great rewards system for no cost at all.
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 7 months. After 7 months, the variable APR will 12.99% to 20.99%, depending on your creditworthiness.
• Earn up to 4,000 thank you points every year for maintaining a good G.P.A. Thank you points can be earned by submitting a proof of your grades up to two times a year.

• No co-signer required, so students are able to build their own credit history.
• Earn 5 thank you points for every $1 spent at restaurants, bookstores, music stores, video rental stores and movie theaters.
• Earn 1 thank you point for every $1 cardholders spend on other purchases.
• Thank you points can be used for a variety of rewards such as gift cards, CDs, a VIP mtvU Spring Break Pass, tickets to the MTV Music Awards and airline tickets.
• Earn 25 thank you points every month for paying your credit card bill on time. Be rewarded just for being a responsible credit cardholder.
• 10% discount when shopping at the online MTV store and at the NYC MTV store.
• 0$ liability on fraudulent charges. If your card is lost or stolen, you as the cardholder will not be held liable for unauthorized charges.
• Receive virtual card numbers, so that you don’t run the risk of giving out your real card number while shopping online.
• Travel accident insurance. When cardholders use their Citi mtvU Platinum card for their tickets, they receive automatic travel insurance.
• Auto rental insurance when cardholders charge their car rentals to their citi cards.

The Citi mtvU Platinum credit card is designed with college students in mind, with a generous rewards program and plenty of opportunities for cardholders to receive additional benefits.

3. Citi Forward Card for College Students is a card designed for college students with fair credit and want to build it up for the future when applying for jobs or loans. With plenty of extra rewards and perks, Citi Forward Card is a popular choice among college students nationwide.

Key features:

• Up to a 2% purchase APR reduction when cardholders make a purchase, stay under their credit limit, and pay on time 3 billing periods in a row. Cardholders are eligible for up to 8 reductions of .25% each, adding up to 2% in total APR reduction. This is an uncommon offer and a great benefit to those who choose this card.
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 7 months. After 7 months the APR will be between 13.99% and 22.99, all based on creditworthiness. It’s important to pay bills on time, even during the intro period.
• No annual fee. Use this credit card and receive all of its benefits for free.
• No co-signer required. Students can sign up on their own, as long as they have fair credit.
• Earn 5 Thank You Points for every $1 spent at restaurants, on books, movies and music, and 1 thank you point for every other dollar spent.
• Earn 100 Thank You Points at the end of each billing cycle when the cardholder makes at least the minimum payment on time.
• Earn 1,000 Thank You Points by signing up for paperless statements within 3 months of opening up an account with Citi.
• Thank You Points can be redeemed for rewards such as merchandise and travel, gift cards to a variety of stores and restaurants, movie tickets and more. Cardholders can also redeem their points in cash of $50 and $100 increments.
• Earn a $75 statement credit after spending $150 on back to school items at apparel, book or electronic stores during the first 3 months of opening your card.
• Extra protection for your credit card. Identity theft protection, $0 liability on fraudulent charges and cell phone protection.

The Citi Forward Card for students is a card designed to take care of students by paying them for using their credit card on certain purchases and by keeping them protected from high interest rates and lost or stolen credit cards.

4. Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students has a great cash back program that rewards students for being responsible credit cardholders, and for using their credit cards on anything.

Key features:

• No annual fee. Here is another card that allows college students to earn rewards and cash back just for using its services.
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for 7 months and 12.99% to 20.99% thereafter, depending on creditworthiness.
• This card’s generous rewards system allows cardholders to earn 5% back on all purchases made at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, convenience stores and utilities for 6 months, and 1% thereafter. This sounds like a rewards program that takes care of a typical college student’s expenses.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Earn at least 2% back in a rotating list of categories that change each quarter. Remember to enroll for this program at the beginning of each quarter.
• No co-signer required, so students are able to build their own credit history.
• 0$ Fraudulent charges, so the cardholder will not be held liable if his or her card is lost or stolen.
• Earn 5% cash back with no limit on the cash back you earn, when you make a purchase through Citi’s online shopping mall that has over 400 retailers.
• There are many opportunities for coverage and security. Buyers Security Coverage keeps cardholders safe from any accidents. Extended warranty on items that cardholders purchase with their Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card. Auto Rental Insurance when cardholders use their card to rent the car, and automatic travel accident insurance.

The Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students is a good choice for students who want to build up credit and earn cash back on items they would spend on a typical day.

5. Discover Open Road Card for Students is a card that rewards students who frequently go out to eat and spend money on gas. It’s for students with fair credit, who want to build credit for the future when applying for real jobs and big loans.

Key features:

• 0% Intro APR for 9 months and 12.99% to 19.99% thereafter.
• $0 Annual fee. Pay nothing to use this credit card and receive its rewards.
• 2% cash back bonus at any gas station or restaurant during the first $250 cardholders spend with their credit cards. 1% cash back on stations and restaurants thereafter.
• Receive 1% cash back on all purchases after spending $3,000 for the year. For the first $3,000 cardholders spend, they will receive .25% back on all purchases.
• Get cash back bonuses from 5% to 20% when shopping in Discover’s exclusive online mall with over 175 retailers.
• Rewards have no expiration date. If your account is closed or has been inactive for 18 months then your rewards will be forfeited. But if you are a lively card user, then say hello to never expiring rewards.
• Earn cash back rewards for paying your monthly house bills with your Discover card.
• 0$ Fraud liability means never having to pay for unauthorized payments on your Discover credit card.

The Discover Open Road Card for Students is a great card to use and earn rewards with while not even paying attention to what you are buying. Set up your telephone bill to the card, pay for gas, and earn rewards while living a normal life.

6. Journey Student Rewards Credit Card by Capital One is a credit card designed to help students build credit while in college, while simultaneously rewarding them with 1% cash back on all purchases and giving a cash back bonus to those who pay their bills on time.

Key features:

• 1% cash back on all purchases. This allows students to spend money on anything and receive money back, just by using this credit card. While one month’s cash back may not be a lot of money, it will add up over time. If a student spends $250 a month on their Journey Student Rewards Credit Card, they will receive $2.50 in rewards at the end of the month.
• No annual fee. Students are able to use this card and receive all of its benefits for free.
• Free text and e-mail alerts keep credit card users aware of their spending, enabling them to never miss a payment.
• 25% bonus on the cash back you earn each month, just for paying bills on time. The company is rewarding spenders, just for being responsible credit card users. On a $250 budget each month, a student will receive an additional $0.63 each month, adding up to $3.13 for one month. Annually the credit card user will earn $37.56 in cash back rewards.
• Cash rewards are unlimited and do not expire. They can be redeemed in three forms: account credit, check or gift cards.
• 0$ fraud liability if your card is lost or stolen. If someone steals your credit card and makes payments, you will not be held liable.
• No balance transfer fee. If your existing credit card has debt that you would like to transfer over to your Journey Student Rewards Card, there is no charge for transferring this debt. But be aware that this card has an APR of 19.8%, so only transfer your debt if your existing interest rate is higher than 19.8%.
• Automatic travel accident insurance. When you use this credit card to pay your travel fares, you automatically receive accident coverage at no extra charge.
• Auto rental insurance. If you rent a car with this credit card you are able to receive collision, damage and loss insurance.
• Extended warranty program. Items that are purchased with this credit card receive additional warranty protection at no charge.
• There is NO introductory APR on purchases. Credit card users start off with an APR of 19.8% on purchases and balance transfers, if they do not pay their bills on time. To avoid this, pay your bills on time.

This is a good choice for college students who have never used a credit card before, because it rewards them in little ways and has additional offers while helping build credit little by little. If students are responsible and pay their bills on time, Capital One rewards them as they use the Journey Student Rewards Credit Card.

7. State Farm Student Visa Credit Card is a card for college students who want to establish good credit while receiving additional rewards for buying groceries or textbooks. State Farm is committed to helping students establish a good credit history, which is why they’ve developed this credit card.

Key features:

• No annual fee. Use this card for FREE.
• An APR as low as 11.24%, which is lower than most of the other credit cards, but it does not offer 0% Intro APR for the first few months like many of the other credit cards.
• Select your own card design.
• Cash access worldwide through ATMs.
• Worldwide Visa credit card acceptance. Never get turned down when you have this credit card.
• 24-hour fraud protection with zero liability. Cardholders will never have to pay for an unauthorized transaction.
• Auto rental collision insurance with your Student Visa credit card.
• Save with Visa online student discounts. Get free shipping and additional coupons at a range of different retailers online.

The State Farm Student Visa Credit Card is a good card for students who want to establish good credit and who don’t care as much about receiving additional points or rewards. This is a simple Visa credit card by State Farm that gets the job done when it comes to making credit purchases.

8. U.S. Bank College Visa Credit Card is an easy-to-use, convenient credit card for college students who want to practice good money management while receiving all of the benefits of having a credit card.

Key features:

• No annual fee. It has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?
• Pay your bills online. U.S. Bank has set up a quick and convenient way to take care of your bills through an online account.
• Use your free online account access to view your credit card information at anytime or check on purchases and advances. Cardholders can also sign up for online statements only and account alerts to make sure they never miss a payment.
• Zero Fraud liability. Cardholders will never be held liable for unauthorized payments made on their U.S. Bank Visa credit card, and replacement cards can be sent within 48 hours.
• Never be denied with your Visa credit card. Visa is internationally accepted, and cardholders can access cash at millions of ATMs worldwide.
• Use your U.S. Bank College Visa credit card at hundreds of retailers and receive special deals and offers at the Visa Partner Advantage mall.
• U.S. Bank overdraft protection ensures that cardholders never overdraw in their checking accounts by transferring money in $25 increments from your Visa credit card to your U.S. Bank checking account.

The U.S. Bank College Visa credit card is a convenient and accessible credit card that helps students build good credit history while offering extra advantages to using their credit card.

9. Citi Forward Card for College Students-$75 statement credit offers students the option of building up their credit history without a co-signer and rewards them when they pay off their bills on time.

Key features:

• No annual fee.
• $0 Introductory APR for the first seven months
• Earn a $75 statement credit when you spend $150 on back-to-school items within the first 3 months of setting up an account.
• No co-signer is required to set up an account
• Wise credit management is rewarded with reducing your credit card’s interest rate. Reduce your APR by up to 2% over the course of 2 years.
• Earn 100 Thank You Points for paying your bill on time and under budget.
• Earn 2 Thank You points for every dollar you spend on purchases at book stores, record stores, restaurants, movie theaters and video rental stores. Earn 1 Thank You point for every dollar you spend on anything else.
• 0$ Liability. Cardholders will never be held accountable for fraudulent charges.

This is a good credit card for students who are looking to build credit and receive additional benefits for buying back to school items and everyday needs.

10. Wells Fargo College Visa Credit Card is a credit card that works with the college student’s budget, is easily manageable and comes with built-in benefits like 24-hour customer service and automatic car rental insurance.

Key features:

• No annual fee. Free free free.
• Introductory APR of 5.9% for 6 months on purchases, and 13.15% to 20.15% thereafter, depending on creditworthiness.
• Customize your card with whatever photo you choose!
• Make payments with your credit card quickly with the Visa payWave feature.
• Manage your spending online in an easy and accessible layout. View charges, transfers and easily track your expenses. If the credit cardholder has a Wells Fargo checking account as well, he or she is able to see spending across both accounts in one place.
• Cardholders can choose their monthly payment due date and sign up for automatic or online payments.
• Cardholders are able to stay up to date with their account activity by signing up for email alerts when they approach their credit limits, payments are due and more.
• Zero liability for fraudulent charges.
• Automatic Car Rental Insurance.

Wells Fargo College Visa Credit Card is a card that helps students, who’ve never had a credit card, build good credit. There isn’t 0% APR for the first few months like many other credit cards, but as long as students pay off their bills on time the APR isn’t an issue.

Selling Clothes

When selling clothes there are a couple of things to look for, before taking them directly from closet to store. Most shops only take clothes that are in good condition. Which means:

Photo by apreche

• rip and tear-free
• no loose seams
• stain-free
• good condition

Some shops may only take clothes that are ‘in season.’ This means during summer season they will not take winter jackets, and during winter they will not take shorts and tank tops. Keep these things in mind, so you aren’t rejected for all of your winter clothes when you go in during July. You can call certain stores like Buffalo Exchange and ask what kinds of items they are currently buying from sellers. Some other places you can sell clothes: Plato’s Closet, Ebay, Crossroads Trading

Selling Books

Depending on where you sell your used books, there are certain things that buyers look for. It is most likely that buyers will not buy a book if it has these qualities:

Photo by Rob Enslin

• Rips, tears, stains or odors
• Tape repairs
• Beaten up, in worn-condition
• Covered in stickers or price markings from other stores
• Writing or highlighting (with the exception of owner’s name in front)
• Pages falling out
• Broken spines/bindings

These are the qualifications for Powell’s Books in Portland, OR. It is also mentioned that the prices they pay for books, online or in-store, are based off of what they think it will sell for, as well as the ‘desirability, current and historic market values, in-print prices, conditions, and [their] current stock levels.’ Some other places you can sell your books: Cash4books, Half.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon

Selling Bikes, old furniture, televisions, etc.

When selling old bikes, furniture, televisions and other things that are stowed away in the garage, there is usually more leeway when it comes to pricing, because it’s the seller who sets the price. Selling these items is usually done online so the price is comparable to the quality. Here are some websites where you can sell your stuff: Craigslist, Ebay

Photo by jayhay312

Hold onto it with two hands, fists clenched.

1. Take a lot of pictures. Whip out that D60, disposable, point & shoot, or iphone. That’s probably the most tech-savvy option.
   

   Road Trip

2. To take pictures, you first need some kind of adventure. Take a road trip and visit a historical landmark that’s nearby but has always been too touristy for your taste. Fanny packs and ugly sandals aren’t that bad.
3. If you are working this summer, enjoy working while you do. I say, no excuses for monotony unless you are Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction.
4. Have a garage sale for some quick and easy money. Getting rid of stuff and slapping a price tag on it is one of the easiest ways to make money, especially during this time of year. ‘Tis the season to go garage sale-ing.
5. Remember that place called college? Forget about it, at least for the approximate 3 months that we have. You will have plenty of time to go back and think about it all you want. But for now, think summer and no school.
6. If you’re in summer school, take a deep breath and say, “I’m getting ahead.” Repeat 3-5 times.
7. Do as many things outside as possible. Help your grandmother with her garden, play Frisbee in the park, read in a hammock.
8. Listen to summer music and watch summer movies. Personally, nothing sounds more like summer than country music which is my guilty pleasure. And no movie says summer more to me than Stand By Me. And while we’re on the subject, nothing smells more like summer to me than Aloe Vera.
9. Learn something. Even though it’s summer, it doesn’t mean we have to remain stagnant. Brush up on a foreign language, check out a book on Russian history, learn how to cook Cajun cuisine or how to do East Coast Swing.
10. Go to a music festival with a group of friends. Camp out, stay up all night, listen to tons of music.
11. Take plenty of trips to large bodies of water i.e. ocean, lakes, rivers. Any beach you can find will suffice. Lather up on the sunscreen too.
12. BBQ your heart out.
13. Stow away those winter scarves and sweaters and bring out the shorts.
14. Sell those old books! Half.com is a great place to sell books if you don’t end up selling them at your school’s bookstore.
    

    Photo by umjanedoan

    And you can usually get more for your books when selling online or in stores that buy used books.

15. Take a bike ride. If you don’t have a bike yet, look for one on craigslist.
16. Drive with the windows rolled down and the music turned up loud. This is the epitome of summer.

But overall, there are just a lot more activities cramped into a smaller amount of time. That is the college life, and we are supposed to deal with it somehow. There are some practical things students can do to balance a life of school, work, sleep and play. So why didn’t they tell us these things before we started this kind of life? Because they say we are supposed to learn on our own.  They are right in doing this. But now I will tell you some things that have been helpful to me on this journey thus far.

Juggling Work, School and Life

1. Addressing procrastination: If I would have realized it was okay to say ‘no’ to friends, then I would have said it a lot earlier and a lot more. But one of the issues (partially) is that there is always a trip to Bubble Tea or another episode of Lost being watched. It’s so easy to make the decision to put off homework until 11 pm. And then when the time comes to do work there is a lack of motivation and an overwhelming presence of drowsiness. For me, the drowsiness usually trumps the little motivation that is there and I submit to defeat once more. The moral of the story is, just say ‘no’ when you know you should go do what needs to be done.
2. Having a flexible job is extremely helpful when you are a student. During the weeks when classes are heavier, it is reassuring to be able to reschedule work around big exams and study sessions. The flexibility may rest upon the duties of the job, your employer, and other factors. If working for your school, chances are they are going to be more flexible when it comes to your hours and your schedule around high-stress weeks. Even the fact that you are a student should be proof to your employer that you are a student first, but your job is still important to you. All in all, try to find a job with flexible hours in case school gets too heavy.
3. At the beginning of each quarter or semester, create a schedule for classes, work, important events and deadlines. Having this information down in print will be a relief when deadlines are approaching and stress levels start rising. Having a schedule and sticking to it is the goal. If this goal is attained, you have succeeded in self-discipline and organization skills. Juggling classes and work is no easy task, but it is definitely doable.
4. Pencil yourself in. Intentionally take time out of your week for yourself. This time should be spent doing whatever it is that you love, or whatever will keep the big picture in mind. Whether it is going for a run, playing a good game of chess or laying in the grass and looking at the clouds, make that time for yourself during the hustle and bustle of the week that requires more work than play.
5. Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Doing this will help you get into a groove for your schedule, regardless of what you have planned for the day.

Best of luck to you on balancing the different aspects of your life. Knowing what your priorities are is key. Do this and you will not have to worry about missing deadlines because another area of your life is too overwhelming.

I think that most of us could agree, as college students, that we are not in college so that we can earn a job in retail sales. Nothing against the industry—it’s huge and there are a ton of great opportunities with great employee benefits—but it is highly probable that students in college are earning a degree to go towards something else. But I want to point out too that there are some great things about folding clothes and working in a fast-paced environment, that will make students more hirable (and also that retail isn’t just folding clothes). First of all, not every one is cut out for a job in retail. I say this because it is not a walk-in-the-park like high school students make it out to be.

Since it does require hard work, it is a job worth considerably taking this summer. And why would we want a job that requires hard work? Because it is helpful to our resume and our future career.

Retail realities

• According to Wikipedia:

Retailing consists of the sale of goods or merchandise from a very fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser.

• Working in retail requires: Hard work (sometimes for little pay), good customer service, problem solving skills
• Retail is the second largest industry in the U.S. Therefore, it’s a huge driving force in the country’s economy and there are a lot of opportunities to receive jobs in the industry.

Rewards of the industry

• Retailers usually offer employee discounts, which are helpful if it is a store that holds a lot of practical items.
• Depending on your status as an employee, whether you are part-time or full-time, retailers offer employee benefits such as vacation time and health insurance
• If it’s a seasonal job, there is no obligation to coming back and you can be up front that you will move on to other opportunities, be them school or a career of your interest.
• The hours are very flexible to change around school schedules (or spontaneous road trips during the summer). Though work is never something that should be blown off, retail is great because it gives employees the opportunity to have a flexible schedule.

*Photo of sign by: sylvar Photo of cash register by: House of Sims

There is always the option of hand washing and hanging to dry. Which really is not as bad as it sounds. It can’t be worse than an overflowing dirty clothes hamper, weeks overdue of a wash. But this is what happens when our pockets are dry of quarters. There is always the option of begging, too. But here are some more practical options for getting some short-term work and some quick cash.

• Be first in line to sell your books at the end of the semester—that way they sell for more!
• Sell some clothes at a second-hand store
• Offer to babysit for a friend on a Friday or Saturday night, so they can have a break and you can make some quick cash
• File your taxes and get back any income taxes that have been taken out of past paychecks
• Have someone pay you to file their taxes
• Take part in an on-campus research study that pays people to participate
• Offer to do someone’s chores, in return for a small stipend
• Take back cans and bottles
• Are you crafty? Do you know how to crack an egg and mix? Make things and sell them for cheap
• Sell stuff on Craigslist—it’s the easiest way to make known your uselessness for something and then get rid of it, while putting some cash (or quarters) into your pocket
• Wash cars, mow lawns, weed out yards for families in your neighborhood
• Donate plasma
• Participate in online surveys, answering simple questions, to make quick money through Amazon Mechanical Turk

Most of these suggestions probably will not be able to pay for your tuition. But most of them will get you at least one clean load of laundry. Which is what really matters, right?

*Photo by Ingorrr

Do you despise retail? Monotonous office work? Being mocked by chicken McNuggets at your friendly neighborhood McDonalds? I have good news! A job that is in high demand is being a nanny. Nannies get paid well, they have the joy and pleasure of taking care of someone else’s children, and they learn some life lessons along the way. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tough job. But from the little experience I have with taking care of children, and the stories I have heard from friends who are nannies, it is a job that is more than worth the time, money and hard work. And men, know that this job is not limited to women.

Some prerequisites for the job:

• Being able to withstand long hours with hyper children
• Minimal knowledge of using an oven, microwave and stove to cook
• A foundation of trust with the parents, therefore showing them that you are responsible
• Having the ability to be a disciplinarian when necessary
• CPR training, or willingness to become trained
• Previous nanny experience

The experience needed is heavily dependent on your employer’s desires.

Something that is not necessary (but definitely helpful) is being able to connect with children, not only as an authority but as a friend. This can be accomplished by speaking in a tone you would toward peers rather than children, by speaking to them at their height rather than above them as an authority (but knowing when to be the authority), and assigning them tasks so they feel important and trusted. But let us focus on getting the job first.

Nanny resources

There are a ton of nanny networking websites that allow you to set up profiles and submit applications to agencies and resources available for parents in need of a nanny. Here are a few of the top nanny websites:

• www.nanny.com
• www.nannies4hire.com
• www.sittercity.com
• www.care.com

This is a great job for anyone looking for a full or part-time job during the school year or for this summer. Becoming a nanny is a good opportunity for anyone willing to earn a decent wage and gain some experience that may come in handy in the future with your own children. Remember that there are tons of families in need of someone they can trust with a responsible adult. So if you are up for the challenge, then roll up your sleeves and become a nanny.

I’ve been researching the qualities and attributes of scholarship recipients from scholarship search services such as Fast Web and College Board, and I’ve noticed that there is something different about these students. It’s not that they are home schooled individuals who went to bed dreaming about The Golden Ratio, or didn’t have any friends growing up because they were overly dedicated to their schoolwork. No, that’s a stereotype. What I am talking about are scholarship recipients, who are creative, innovative, out-of-the-box thinkers. These kinds of people will thrive in our culture, because everyone is looking for new ideas so that their business can become bigger, better and more established.

You are a creative, innovative, out-of-the-box thinker

Don’t look over your shoulder, I’m talking to you. Education is one of the ways that shapes us as individuals, shaping an extent of our identity. Be it Math, English, Web Design, Linguistics, or Biology, the ways in which we learn as well as the content we learn expands our mind and teaches us to think differently. A math major will look at the world differently than an English major and a student majoring in Web Design will look at the world differently than a student majoring in Biology. And beyond our education, there is experience which is dense and inevitable. Are you getting my point? We are all unique individuals, just like Mr. Rogers probably said, and we each bring something different to the table. When applying for a scholarship, being set apart is the key. Whether the set-apart-ness is big or small. But we don’t have any excuses if we think we are inept to fulfill this duty. Here’s how to get that free money:

• Answer the question and follow the instructions.
• Be real, and add your own experience to what you decide to write on.
• Be original.
• Be grammatically correct.
• Know that you have a chance.
• Think before you write. Brainstorm some good ideas and create an outline to help you get going.
• Show what you are trying to say through stories and examples, individualizing your essay while demonstrating the point you want to make.
• Know your audience.
• Develop a theme. Don’t simply list all your achievements. Decide on a theme you want to convey that sums up the impression you want to make. Write about experiences that develop that theme.

What the scholarship givers look for:

• A positive and confident attitude
• A clear definition of who you are and who you want to be
• An assessment of your top skills

And here is what NOT to do. And here’s some more of what not to do.

That’s what three members of the Department of Education in September 2009 explained to hundreds of high school counselors who gathered in Baltimore to hear the changes being made to the Free Application for Financial Student Aid. Hey, that applies to us! The Obama Administration announced the changes in June and they have been in effect since the beginning of this month.

Some Facts on the 2010 FAFSA

• The online application, which previously asked for more than 150 questions, now asks 22 fewer questions
• The applicant will be led to 17 less web screens than they would have in 2009
• Applications online for the FAFSA must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2010
• Corrections made to the application must be submitted online by midnight Central Daylight Time, September 21, 2010
• The online form is now more organized into categories such as, “student demographics,” “parent demographics,” “basic eligibility” and “dependency status”
• Once an applicant has filled out the application online, it will give an estimate of the student’s Pell Grant, giving them a figure of their eligibility for student loans
• Students who are married or are over 23 can skip over a section of parent finance questions that no longer apply to them
• Low income students no longer have to go through questions of assets that are irrelevant to their situation
• Students who are applying for aid in the spring 2010 quarter are able to upload their IRS tax data directly into the online FAFSA forms
• Full summary of changes on the FAFSA