How to Get through College – DEBT FREE!
Hi Friends! I want to share my tips with you on how I got through College debt free. Yes, you read that right – I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree from UNLV debt free. I did not have any student loans, or any credit card debt! Zero! Nothing! I know what you’re thinking – my parents paid for everything, that wasn’t the case. I was fortunate enough that my parents did contribute sometimes, but I paid my fair share. I moved out of my parent’s house when I was 20, and graduated from College when I was 24. I worked full time, went to school mostly full time and worked extra gigs and events on the side to make extra money. Getting my 4-year degree turned out more to be 5 to 5.5 years, apparently, this is normal. Haha.
I want to share my tips with you, and hopefully they can help you along the way!
I’ll go through a quick list of my tips and go through them more thoroughly in the sections below.
- If you are a local in Las Vegas, go to CSN (or a community college) first and take your prerequisites / core classes, and THEN transfer to UNLV. Make sure that your classes / credits will transfer to UNLV / count toward your major.
- Tuition, Grants & Scholarships- Apply & look out for opportunities for these.
- Buy used books or rent books.
- Budget & Plan ahead.
- Work extra gigs / events to pay for school.
- Be disciplined with your time & money, & stay organized!
CSN to UNLV
I went to CSN first, to almost all of the campuses – the Henderson campus, the small computer lab at Green Valley High School, and the Charleston campus for a few years taking my prerequisites and trying to figure out my major, then I transferred to UNLV. I advise you do the same. This can save you tons of money since CSN is much more affordable than UNLV, and the parking is free (at least when I went it was). The campuses and classes are much smaller, this is great especially when you are just starting college, you can get a hang of things before going to UNLV which is much bigger and busier. One of my classes was a lecture class that had 300+ students.
Make sure to meet with your guidance counselor at CSN and UNLV to make sure you are on track and taking the right courses for your degree. They will provide you with a print-out listing the classes required for your degree. Keep this print out handy always, you can also make copies to keep in different places – in your planner, at home, in your car. Make sure to stay on top of checking off what classes you’ve taken, and make sure you are taking the correct classes. I would suggest meeting with a counselor at both CSN and UNLV to go over and make sure your credits will transfer, and to make the transition of transferring over smoothly.
Tuition- Scholarships, Grants & Tuition Reimbursement
Scholarships
I went to Green Valley High School here in town, and graduated with an Advanced Diploma and was able to receive the Millennium Scholarship with my GPA. This helped me out tremendously. The Scholarship does have rules and regulations – so please check the current rules and regulations. The scholarship is only valid for a certain amount of time after High School Graduation, and only for a certain monetary amount. The Millennium Scholarship does not pay for your entire cost of Tuition / College expenses – but pays per credit. For more information, please check with the Millennium Scholarship office or their website: http://www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/GGMS_Home/
If you are currently in High School, definitely look into this scholarship, it is very attainable.
Grants
I applied for FASFA, and was able to receive it a few times. This will all depend on your personal circumstance, but I advise applying and see if you are eligible. It doesn’t hurt to try!
Tuition Reimbursement
I worked at the Hard Rock part of my college career. I found out that they do a tuition reimbursement program. I had to apply for the program prior to each semester, submit my classes and paid receipt, and a description of how the classes would benefit my current job at the company. After the semester, I had to submit my grades showing that I completed the courses and what grade I received. Based on the grades I received I would get a certain percentage back. Example: A 100% back, B 90 % back, C 80% back. There was a maximum monetary reimbursement per year. As with every program, they had their own rules and regulations, make sure to always read those thoroughly.
Check with your employer if they have a tuition reimbursement program!
There are many other grants and ways to apply for free money for college; ask your fellow classmates, teachers and try to Google what is available out there.
Buy Used Books, or Rent Books
Books are very expensive, and to be honest – how many of you keep your college books? Check ahead of time if your teacher has listed the book(s) required for your class. By checking a head of time, you can search for used books on-line or rent a book. The earlier you look, the bigger the availability will be. You can buy used from your college, look on Amazon, E-bay or maybe Craigslist, I think even Facebook is selling things now. Always make sure to read reviews and be safe when meeting someone in person to buy anything. I sold my math book once, my husband went to do the actual sale, and the person he met was actually the mother of the college student – smart people think alike. Be safe! You never know who’s out there and what scams they are trying to pull.
I also used this website called bookrenter.com where I would rent a book and return it at the end of the semester. Sometimes books were available for half the price.
Some books are also available for a lower price as an E-version; I tried this once, and honestly didn’t like it. It had its pros and cons, but overall I felt more frustrated with it. Give it a try, you may like it.
Sell your used books
You can make some money back by selling your used books. I have sold my books back to the college at the end of the semester, you get a small amount back or you can try your luck selling privately through Amazon, E-bay, Craigslist, Facebook, you name it. As I stated above – always be safe and smart!
Budget & Plan Ahead
I am a big planner. Make sure to plan ahead, and budget your school expenses for the upcoming semester. Include all expenses such as tuition, books, parking, school supplies. Try to save before the semester, and if you can’t afford all the classes you’d like. Take what you can. Doing something, is better than nothing, and you are still working on your degree.
Make sure to look at available classes and try to get the schedule that you need / want, and the classes you need / want. The earlier you look / apply the more availability there will be.
I remember I would literally be on my computer the minute it was my turn to register for classes, and if the classes filled up, I had my back up classes on hand.
I think some classes also have a waiting list, if you really want a class, put yourself on the waiting list – people do end up dropping for numerous reasons such as money, schedule conflict etc.
Work Extra Gigs / Events to Pay for School
During college, I worked promotional events, special events, did background work for a couple movies and a print modeling job for Caesar’s. I was always trying to make extra money to make sure I could afford school and all my bills. By being busy with school and working – I didn’t have much time to spend my money, which was a good thing, because all my time and money went where it needed to go.
I worked promotional events from the following websites:
- encorenationwide.com
- pushmodels.com
I worked special events that were available to me since I worked in Sales & Catering at the Hard Rock.
Some events I found out through word of mouth or through my own research.
The background work and print work I did through local talent agencies in town – to join with them, you can research local modeling / acting agencies and apply. Once accepted, they will send you projects / castings and if you are chosen for a job / casting – you can make some extra money.
Ask around and you can also find ways to make extra money.
Be Disciplined with Your Time & Money, & Stay Organized!
Working full time and going to college full time takes hard work, planning and discipline. You have to be in charge of yourself and your time. Make sure to budget, and stay on track. I spent countless weekends at home doing homework while all my friends went out. I have stayed up late nights doing my homework, and yes, I have been stressed to the point that I cried – but you have to ask yourself how much do you want it? You are in charge of your own life, your own path and destiny – no one else is going to do it for you. Your friends have their own lives and bills – are they going to pay your bills for you? You have to make sure you work hard THEN play! Getting through college was one of those times in my life that I really had to focus, because who wants to spend their entire weekend doing 10 page essays, and assignment after assignment? It is worth it! Remind yourself why you are going to school, to have a brighter future, to have a degree, to have the education you need for your specific career; or, maybe, it’s just a personal goal for yourself! You can do it!!!!!
Buy or print yourself a calendar and put it in front of your desk at your house, write down all your due dates / deadlines / test dates. In you planner do the same. I would write these in red so I would remember them. Make sure to schedule enough time to be able to accomplish all your assignments, tests, and have study time also. By scheduling enough time, you aren’t rushing or cramming and stressing last minute.
TAKE CARE OF YOU! Make sure to schedule time for yourself and your friends and family. You can’t just keep going and going on an empty tank. Sometimes time for yourself, gives you a break and refreshes you to keep going at it even harder!
I hope you enjoyed some of my tips and tricks for getting through college, and found them helpful in some way. College is not just about a piece of paper. It’s about discipline, hard work and finding yourself. It’s about navigating through life and figuring out how to pay for school, your bills, and prioritizing. It’s about working with different people. College teaches you a lot more than what’s in the curriculum or in the books. When you Graduate, and have that degree to show for it, employer’s will see that you are educated and dedicated. Be proud of yourself!
Thanks guys! Please leave your comments or questions below – or if you have any tips that helped you get through college.
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