There’s plenty of students who go into college thinking they know what they want to major in and as they go through college, their mind changes. Maybe you thought you wanted to be a reporter, so you went in as a journalism major. When you took that general education course in anthropology, your wheels started turning and you decided your life wouldn’t be complete without going to other cultures and becoming an anthropologist instead of writing about it. It happens to more students than you think, and it’s not too difficult to change your plans midway through your previous ones.

If you do want to change your major while you’re in school, here’s what you should do and consider:

1. How far have you gone in your current major? If you’re in the first two years of your education and you really just completed your general education courses, then changing your major shouldn’t be too difficult. However, if you’re one semester away from graduation, and you’ve gone through the upper division classes of your current major, it may not be a good idea to change your major unless you don’t mind staying in school a for a few more semesters.
2. Would a minor suffice? If staying in school too much longer is going to be an issue, maybe you should consider minoring in the subject that has peaked your interest instead of changing up your major. You will still take the core classes in that subject when you minor, but you won’t have to take so many classes, postponing your anticipated graduation date.
3. Have you talked to your counselor or academic advisor? Discussing your change in plans would be best talked about with your counselor. They are not new to this situation and could best guide you in your changes. They can help you draft a plan where you know what classes you need, when they’re offered, and how it will affect your schedule from then on out.
4. Have you talked to your parents? There are so many students who go with a major that their parents wanted them to pursue. If you’ve found a passion for a subject that you just can’t ignore, discuss this with your parents. You have to be happy with your degree since you’ll be the one working with it. Get their input and let them know how you feel.
5. Have you explored career options? One of the best ways you can see if this is the right major for you is to explore your career options. Talk to people who work in the field, and see if that’s a job that you would enjoy having. Find an internship for the semester and see if you could stomach the field. Some people intern in a field and realize they would hate to work in it. It’s always good to find out as early as possible.

Your major is exactly that: your major. You have to think if you’re going to be happy with your degree when you graduate. Think about it before you make the decision, and find support if you’re going for it.

It’s almost back to school time. Are you ready? Are you enjoying all of the commercials about the great “back-to-college-savings” or what? More importantly, are you going to be working this semester?

A reader comment actually inspired me to write about the idea of working while in college. My experience with working in college is that I tried to work full-time every term that I was in school. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to graduate debt free and go away every year for Spring Break.

Nate wrote in a comment about working in college on a previous post:

I could work 40 hours a week (and occasionally do), and still finish my honors thesis a semester early. School is not hard! I can’t stand it when advisors advise you not to work more than 20 hours a week. If a person is incapable of handling their undergraduate studies and a job simultaneously, they should reconsider higher education altogether!

How can you work while in college? It’s actually really easy. I’ve written about this topic tirelessly around here. I included some of my best work on the subject at the bottom of the article.

The beauty about working in college is that you don’t have to hold down a gig that you hate and will hurt your grades. You can use college as an opportunity to start working on your own business/side projects.

If you think that I’m full of it, check out what Seth Godin wrote in Linchpin:

The only way to prove (as opposed to assert) that you are an indespensable linchpin– someone worth recruiting, moving to the top of the pile, and hiring– is to show, not tell. Projects are the new resumes.

[Check out: Why College Is The Best Time To Start A Business.]

Now I want to end this article by asking you again: are you going to be working this semester?

Check out some excellent posts on this topic:

Productivity Issues Facing College Students.
Time Management Tips To Help You Kick Butt.
A Quick & Effective Tip For Reaching Goals.

Only the affluent and otherwise financially endowed can afford to get through college without taking on a part-time job. Typically, it’s just because students need disposable income, and with tuition skyrocketing parents are dishing out less and less money to their kids in college that can be spent on anything other than necessities. Thus, countless college kids get themselves some sort of gig when going to school. Here are five reasons why that job can and always should be food delivery:

#1 You Can Do it ANYWHERE.

Everywhere with a human population has at least one enterprise, if not several, that cater to those who want food driven to them. Picture yourself becoming a University of Phoenix student because you want an online education living in Arkansas where you have a steady job. Next semester, you find out the dream major they offer can only be attained if you go attend the University of Phoenix in San Diego. There’s certainly going to be at least ONE delivery driver job waiting for you when you get there.

#2 Smartphones Take Away the Hard Part.

Delivery driving is easy money. The catch has always been that you have to be good with directions and navigating on-the-go. That’s eliminated a huge number of people. But these days, virtually everyone has GPS on their phone. You can just punch-in an address and be told how to get there. What was once an easy job has become too easy.

#3 Your Car Probably Sucks Anyway.

Delivery driving puts some serious wear and tear on your ride. That discourages a high number of people from applying. But if you’re in college, in need of work, and own a car, chances are that car is used and a borderline bucket of bolts. Putting it to use won’t take away any of its value while putting money in your pocket. Just remember to change the oil frequently.

#4 Staggered Source of Income is Ideal for College.

The paycheck twice a month is difficult to breakdown into a daily budget. It shouldn’t be, but for college kids that’s just the way it is. Instead, you should look for a job where you make cash right then and there. That way you’re never strapped for it.

#5 Unlike Serving…

The quick cash that comes with delivery driving is comparable to the money that’s possible in restaurant service. But the difference is that when delivering pizza, you have more time available to do school work. You have to count on a slow night to get caught up with homework when serving, which means no money. When it comes to delivering pizza, however, every red light is an opportunity to read a paragraph or two. Lulls mean you can go to your car and work on a research paper based off the books in your backseat.

Delivery driving lets you pretty much do what you want when you want for way more money than you deserve. For college kids who need to work for a living could there be a better fitting occupation?

Are you stressing about what to bring to college with you this fall? Are you worried that you’ll leave something behind and your life will be over as you go back to school? You don’t need to worry any longer! You’ll find all of the help you need here when it comes to deciding what to bring to college.

Two years ago I put together a piece on college dorm room essentials. This post ended up being much more popular than I expected it to be. Let’s go over the college dorm room essentials that I included the first time around:

• Coffee maker.
• Hangers.
• Can opener.
• Mini fridge.
• Microwave.
• Laptop.
• Desk lamp.
• TV w/ dvd player.
• USB stick.
• Sandals.

While my list was pretty extensive at the time, I missed a few key items. What did the readers add to this list?

Una wrote in:

My dorm had a common room with a TV, DVD-player and kitchen (including microwave, kettle and fridge). I used the common room TV or my laptop form all my TV/movie needs (besides, TVs are time drains). We were also not allowed to bring microwaves, hotplate or anything of the sort, and I never needed it because there were some in the common area that I could use. I did get a mini fridge though, as food in the common room fridge would consequently be eaten by drunken floormates. I also never needed quarters for laundry, as we had a pre-paid card system.

Stuff I really appreciated having:

- Two sets of sheets
- Mini-fridge
- Printer (I don’t think I would have saved anything by printing at the library – plus I could print and run, instead of lining up for a computer to print from)
- Comfy chair/bean bag chair/futon – if you want to hang out in your room too – also great for doing your first read-throughs)
- Posters, pictures and keepsakes.

Stephanie added:

Always check to see what’s allowed in your dorm! My dorm disallowed microwaves, hot plates, or any other heating appliance without an automatic shutoff. (They provided at least one microwave for community use on each floor.) I definitely second the can opener, though – I was the only freshman on my floor to bring one, so people were constantly borrowing mine! And bring really cheap flip-flops for the shower – my siblings bought me a pair, but didn’t realize they were actually cool light-up ones that weren’t waterproof, so I had to buy another pair. (I miss those light-up sandals, they were awesome!)

Then a year later I wrote another post based on reader feedback and the crazy amount of emails that I received on the topic. This time the post was about even more college dorm room essentials that you need. On this list I included:

• Leave your closet behind.
• Vacuum cleaner.
• Cleaning supplies.
• Stack of movies.
• Earphones.
• Earplugs.

This post once again received some great reader feedback.

MFO wrote in:

I just want to re-emphasize the earplugs. Those can be a SERIOUS grade saver! Not in that hearing you roomates will keep you awake while you try to sleep (though that DOES happen), but also so that when you hear your roomates having fun, you don’t get up and join them.

I’d also add an eyecover thing (not sure what it’s called). The little pieces of fabric that you strap over your eyes to block out light, they hand them out on airplanes, but they work wonders if you have roomates studying in the same room!

Finally I would say bring your entire wardrobe… Or least the underwear and socks portion of it. I actually stocked up on those two things when I went to college, I knew I was not about to do a lot of laundry.

Zfarls chimed in with:

Ahh, bring as many clothes as possible so you have to do laundry as little as possible. Also don’t bring a vacuum, make friends with the girls across the hall and borrow theirs. Bring plenty of trash bags, also popcorn smells good to most people and makes them stop in.

Now what’s left to bring to college with you? Your financial tools.

A student credit card.

If you don’t feel that you’re ready to handle a credit card then you better NOT GET ONE! I don’t want to hear from anyone complaining about me promoting credit cards. I just want you guys to know that if you do plan on getting a credit card in college that you find one of the best credit cards, instead of those that they give away with a free hot dog on campus.

Your no-fee checking account.

I don’t want to see any new college students getting nickel-and-dimed from some bank that’s charging them$15 a month for “maintenance” or some other excuse.

You need to sign up for a free checking account. There’s plenty of options for college students.

Now I challenge you to find something that I missed off this list. What else can you bring with you to college?

There are many college students that read Studenomics. I don’t want to forget about you guys. There will be some college talk as unfortunately the summer is coming to an end.

As you prepare your list of college dorm room essentials, I’m sure some of you are still looking for a place to live in. I must admit that I lived at home during college and commuted about an hour each way every single day. I was able to save a LOAD OF CASH. I’m talking way more money than I could have ever saved by living on campus or moving away.

As happy I am with my savings, I sometimes regret not moving away. I did my best to not miss a party or stay in on a weekend. The reality is that living at home just can’t compare to having your freedom.

A friend of mine always lived right beside campus in the heart of the city. The rent was much more expensive than it would be outside of town or if they had lived at home. However, I’m a huge supporter of paying for value. There’s lots of value in living close to your college campus.

What are the benefits of living in a central area near campus?

Always close to campus.

My problem was that I was so far away from campus. I couldn’t just pop in to visit a professor or to show up to random study sessions. I needed to plan my appearances at school based on my class and work schedule. Being close to campus means that you can take off to the library when your friends are making too much noise or go home for lunch during a spare.

You can attend events on campus.

There’s so much going around campus that it’s crazy. There’s always something to do. Every single day there’s something going on around campus that you can attend. When you live far away, you really don’t feel like spending two hours commuting in total just to pop in for a small event.

You spend less money on transportation.

Transportation can be a wallet killer. Between taking cabs and the high cost of driving, you can easily lose a pretty penny just on getting around. By living close by campus you can walk everywhere. You might even lose a pound or two during your long sprints when you’re trying to make it to your finals on times.

The social life.

College is really all about getting out there and having some fun. You need to get your grades high and save some money, but you can definitely balance this with a social life. I often visit friends that have gone away for school on the weekends and the social life is amazing when you live with your friends close to campus. Once again if you can’t balance studies and a social life it’s not worth it. If you can hit that perfect balance, you’ll have the time of your life by living close to school.

There are plenty of companies that specialize in city-based apartments close to major universities, such as the city centre flats in Leeds from Morgans City Living. If you haven’t started looking for a place yet, I suggest that you close this window and begin your hunt right now!

I’m just curious: did you live close to your college campus? Are you planning on live close to school?

This guest post was written by Brendan Baker, Social Media Director at Student of Fortune, the online tutoring site that connects struggling students with talented tutors.

With an ailing economy and the cost of education on the rise, more students are taking on side jobs in order to help support themselves financially. While there’s nothing wrong with an ambitious work ethic, many students are now working over 20 hours a week on top of their normal school schedule, and studies are indicating this could impact their schoolwork negatively.

After analyzing student schedules for the past 20 years, US researchers have determined the affect of such a heavy workload on a student’s academic and behavioral well-being. It’s not surprising that students who work over 20 hours a week suffer in both categories, but specifically, the overworked students experienced a general lack of academic engagement, a loss of interest in continuing their schooling, and even a greater likelihood of criminal involvement such as drug use.

Not as obvious was the fact that the study revealed that even after these busy students cut down on their hours, once the negative patterns began to emerge, it was difficult to recover from them.

What Do We Do?

From one perspective, the number of hours a student works should be closely monitored by parents and educators. But since we can’t always count on that extra support, we have to take matters into our own hands. So here are some things you can do if you’re feeling overworked:

Talk to your teacher.

It can’t hurt. Be honest and let them know about your situation and hopefully they will cut you a little slack. If you tell them about your late hours then maybe they can help you out, either by providing additional homework help or by offering extended deadlines on assignments. After all, it’s possible they went through the same thing themselves.

Talk to your boss.

You may be desperate for the hours, but consider the benefits of catching up on some much needed sleep by requesting to get out a little earlier. If you’re still finding yourself strapped for cash, perhaps working more on the weekends would ameliorate things. Depending on your job this might be easier said than done, but just know that in most cases employers rather not have you overworked.

Remember, working more than 20 hours a week on top of school doesn’t mean you’ll turn into a criminal. The takeaway should be that the more you pack your schedule, the greater the chances are that it will affect your education negatively.

So just ask yourself: are the few extra bucks you’ll make this week worth it in the long run? Judging by the possible consequences…probably not.

(photo credit: think public)

This is a guest post from Jeff at The Wall Street Chalkboard.

[MD's note: I wish I studied abroad to be honest. I'm always thrilled to post any article that discusses working or traveling abroad.]

Studying abroad is an opportunity for almost every college student these days. With plenty of financial aid available for most study abroad programs, and programs for every semester including the summer, no student should attend college without studying abroad. Next fall semester, I will be studying abroad and from researching study abroad programs, I have come up with a list of tips for you. It is very important to research and look into your study abroad options. Factors such as the host nation, housing, and your field of study all weigh very heavily in deciding which program to choose when studying abroad.

Where to Study Abroad?

Where you choose to study abroad depends on your personal preferences. Do you want to study abroad in a hot location, where you can sit on the beach every day? If the answer is yes, go to Australia or a country in South America. However, if you want to be able to travel to a handful of countries when studying abroad, maybe you should choose to live in Europe. In Europe, whether you choose to live in Italy or England, flights are very cheap and traveling is a highlight to the program. However, if you choose to study abroad in Australia or another island, traveling is difficult. Flights will be much longer and much more expensive.
In addition, another factor to take in mind when deciding where to study is the language of the nation. One reason I chose to study abroad in London is because I will be able to speak the same language as the citizens there. If you choose to study abroad in Italy, you better know how to speak Italian pretty well or else you will only really interact with your American peers studying in Italy. With this in mind, if you feel confident that you can speak the foreign language, then study in a country with people that speak your secondary language. However, if you are not confident, then choose a nation which suits your primary language.

Dealing With Housing.

The housing offered through your study abroad program can make or break your experience abroad. One housing option which I would stay away from is living with a host family. Living with a host family takes away your independence and forces you to live with a family that you may not even like. You become part of the family, eating meals with them and listening to their problems. Some may enjoy this because you are around the culture 24/7, but I would not recommend it.

The next most common housing option is living in apartments with other American students at the program. This is an ideal situation because you will live with peers in a similar situation as yours. You keep your independence by cooking your own meals, and setting your own curfews. Some may not like this option because students can distance themselves from the host country and live within a bubble. This is a possible negative factor of this housing option, however it’s up to the student to make the most of their time in the country.

What About Field of Study?

What you choose to major in may be the biggest factor in deciding where to study abroad. Being a finance major, I chose to study in London because it is the finance capital of Europe. Those who major in art may want to study somewhere in Europe, where you are constantly surrounded by famous art. While those who major in medicine may want to study abroad in Africa, where one can gain hands on experience with eradicating life threatening diseases.

In addition, a program may allow you to get an internship in the host country. I would highly recommend a program that offers this because it allows students to show future employees that they did something other than party and travel while studying abroad.

With all this in my mind, I recommend you to start researching your study abroad options. There are many more options to take account of when choosing your study abroad programs. Look into what the program offers and make a wise decision based on your preferences.

Do you know anyone that has studied abroad? Did you leave home to study? Do you wish you did?

April 15th comes around for everyone–even college students. In the past, you may have never really worried about paying taxes. Your parents probably took care of that for you, but now that you’re on your own it’s up to you to take care of your own tax return. Unfortunately, you have no idea how to go about it. Here are a few tips to get you started with your taxes this year:

Organization is the Key

It may be difficult to do, especially if it doesn’t come naturally, but being organized is extremely important in tax return preparation. It’s the key to simplifying the entire process. Keep records of everything you make, and hang on to receipts for any expenses you may have had during the preceding year. Set aside a file cabinet or a drawer to keep it all in one place so you don’t have to look for it when you need it. It’s better to have too much information when you sit down to make out your tax return than to need something and have to spend hours or even days tracking it down. It’s far easier to keep track of your finances day by day, and keep all the info in one place. Being organized will also help prepare you for life after college.

Be Prepared

Gather everything you may need before starting to fill out your return. Having all the proper forms at hand is just as important as knowing how much you made and how many deductions you may be eligible for. Take some time beforehand to find out how to fill out the forms – maybe even do a practice form. It can’t help but benefit you. Set aside a period of time to dedicate to the process of filing your yearly tax. It’s a good habit to get into; because it’s something you’ll be doing for the rest of your life.

Didn’t Make Much Money? File Anyway

If you look at your W2 and decide it is a pathetic amount of money and not worth filing your taxes–after all, it doesn’t even come close to being enough to make it mandatory–it would be best to reconsider because some money was deducted from your paycheck. If you want to get that money back in the form of a refund, you must file. Luckily most tax programs come with a handy tax calculator that will show you where you stand along the way.

Look for Deductions

As with any tax return, it is permissible to take deductions for certain things. Being a college student you may also be eligible for certain tax credits or deductions. You may qualify for a tax deduction for college tuition or other mandatory school fees. You may also be eligible for a Lifetime Learning tax credit or the American Opportunity credit. Hope Credit is another opportunity for a tax credit you should check into. Information on these and other tax credits and deductions are available by doing what you do a lot of in school–research. Using online search engines can produce a wealth of information, and could be well worth your time.

Help is Available

Taking on the responsibility of filing a tax return can be daunting. Fortunately, the IRS has a lot of free information on their website, www.irs.gov. They also have local volunteer sites and publish a selection of free guides for students including Tax Benefits for Higher Education. Closer to home, a lot of colleges offer free help from their own students who are studying accounting. It’s good practice for them, and allows you to be sure your return is accurate, in addition to the fact it’s free. Contact the accounting or business departments of your school to find out if this service is available. Don’t wait; the closer it gets to the filing date of April 15th, the harder it will be to find someone available to help you.

This was a guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes about home insurance and related topics for www.homeinsurance.org.

This guest post is from The Digerati Life, a general personal finance site run by a mom of 2 and a former engineer from Silicon Valley.

So you’ve finally hit college. While it’s not exactly the real world yet, it can definitely feel that way if you’re working part-time to put yourself through school and paying for housing and any bills. It is your stepping stone to a fully independent life in your twenties. Play your cards right in college, form the right habits, establish the right foundations, and you should be fairly well equipped for what life has in store. There are no guarantees, certainly, but you’re putting yourself in a good position.

Difficult life lessons can be learned in your twenties, especially if you’ve learned, only too late, the need to budget, the need to be responsible, and the need to be more prudent with your spending. Had you learned these in college, you may well be able to avoid wrestling with these problems once you’re out in the real world. However, life is not perfect. If you’ve already started your career and your finances are in shambles, do take heart. You’ve got a lot of time. Either way, you may want this cheat sheet to skip the pain and devastation of making the wrong choices in the future.

Watch Your Debt. College is a financially draining time for most people. A college education is quite expensive, and student loans can plunge you into debt. How about minimizing the blow of college spending by being careful about the use of college student credit cards? Sure, some of these credit cards give you perks for having great grades and practicing good money management. But make sure you are ready to handle plastic before you actually do.

Learn To Budget. Are you the type who always spends his or her daily allowance to the last dime? If so, you may want to learn how to use home budget software to take care of your finances. A personal financial tool can be a roadmap that helps you to stick with your budget. Once you get used to budgeting, you can build upon your money management skills.

Set Simple Financial Goals. Yes, you’re in college to learn. But apart from getting through your classes, this is also a great opportunity for you to pick up some life lessons. No, we’re not talking about how to avoid getting your heart broken. We’re talking about how you can avoid breaking your bank account. For example, how about starting a new personal finance project? You could challenge yourself and set goals that allow you to curb your spending. If you own a credit card, see if you can pay them off in full each month. Setting goals can help you develop good habits that set you on a firmer financial footing.

Find Out How To Earn More. Once we’ve built up some savings, we should think about how we can grow our savings further. Think about reinvesting your long term money into equities and faster growing investments. Open an account with a top broker (some offer free stock trades) and review their mutual funds, ETFs and other products. This is one way you can earn extra through passive income. If your newfound savings habits have allowed you to save a good amount of cash, don’t go out to get the newest iPhone just yet. How about applying this money to any of these investment vehicles? Start young and the power of compounding should work to your benefit. This helps to make sure that your finances will be in excellent shape by the time you’re 30.

So get a head start in life. Form the right habits during your college years and you’ll set the tone for financial freedom for the rest of your years.

(photo credit: m31)

If you’re a college student and moving away from home for the first time it can be a reality shock. Living with parents offers a comfort zone away from the stress of renting, bills, and cost that go along with having a space of your own. It’s important to be prepared before starting this next new and exciting phase of your life by having an understanding of the costs associated with moving.

Here are a few tips to consider when planning your move:

Besides the cost of school, housing is the most costly expense. Many times university’s offer student housing in the form of apartments or dormitories on campus. Before you decide to live on campus you might want to research the average cost that your university charges and weigh your options.

While living on campus would allow you to spend less on gas, and be within walking distance of university resources, often the price of student housing is much higher than apartments or houses off campus. Another option, if you are nervous about living alone, is finding roommates. Splitting the costs of rent and utilities between other people can greatly decrease your monthly bills.

If you’re moving far from home and you’re not planning on moving back for some time, you don’t necessarily have to look at larger living accommodations to house your belongings. You may have many belongings, but not necessarily the space to fit them. If this is the case there are many places that have storage that can be very affordable. The storage space would also be useful for dormitory students who need a place to store their belongings during the interim break of summer.

Hiring professional movers can be expensive. Research truck rental, and move your belongings yourself. Ask your friends and family if anyone would be willing to help you out. This can be a great help for your back and your bank account.

Lastly, perhaps the most important tip, save your money. Save. Save. Save. While it may seem like you have an expendable income, since meal plans are usually included in tuition and for dorms, expected expenses for extra books and supplies comes up constantly in college. Budget the money you have for necessary expenses, but try to set aside money every month for just-in-case expenses.

Living on your own is a step that requires responsible thinking and planning. While it’s great to have a social life in college, do not forget being in college often requires more adult responsibilities. Make this move to academic life a stress-free and cost-efficient venture by carefully planning the experience.