10 Ways to Not Spend College Completely Screwing Up the Rest of Your Life

11. This is for before college, but still relevant: Pick a good, but affordable university. Unless it's ivy league, it doesn't really matter - just avoid community college and technical schools. Racking up student loans to go to a subpar private school isn't worth it. 12. Though it's easy to get caught up in all the freedom college has to offer, don't. You go to college for an education, not for parties - just one bad semester can really damage your GPA. 13. Decide whether or not you want to be well off in life then choose your major accordingly. 14. Don't, for the love of everything that's good in this world, pick an expensive school, take out 100k in student loans and major in something like social work. You can't live at home forever and too much ramen will probably kill you.

Take college seriously and do internships!!!! Oh man if I could only do it all over.  College was the most fun 4 years of my life but once I was done the reality of all my good times sure was a slap in the face.  Couldn't get a job in my field because I had mediocre grades, no connections and no "experience" (which could have been fulfilled by internships).   Now, 8 years into the aftermath, I  work in a call center and am applying to go back and get a second undergrad degree in a different field.  If I had only done things right the first time around....

I would add: Don't assume that simply going to college will be the key to employability. Do your research to find out what the employment rate and starting salaries are like in the fields you'd like to major in, and then find one where there are jobs AND that are a good fit for you. If you're financing college with loans, you need to make sure that there are jobs that pay enough that you'll be able to both pay rent and make loan payments when you're done.

There are so many young people who think that all they need is a degree and the major doesn't matter. They simply decide to major in what they enjoy or find interesting. So they take out massive student loans to double major in drama and women's studies, and then are shocked when they graduate and can't get a job in their field that will pay enough to make the bills and pay back their loans. (I'm not bashing all drama majors OR women's studies majors--that was just a random example!)

Always minor or double major in something completely practical like business. That can help you get in the door at a company in your desired field, and it will give you an edge if/when you ever become the boss as most people want to do one day. I've met so many professionals (chiropractors, vets, animal behaviorists, etc) who don't know the first thing about running a business but want to open their own office.

Also make sure there are jobs in your field in your area or be prepared to move. Where I went to school there were over a hundred appilcants for each education position that opened up. If you wanted to be a teacher you had to move out of state to find a job. Different geographical areas have different needs.

 

I don't know what community you're from, Rachel, but where I'm from, there are several community colleges in my area that are quite respectable. In some cases, they offer the exact same classes as a more expensive university. I am paying for my own college tuition because my parents have been through some difficulties with money due to lots of medical bills, and I don't want to take out a 12,000 loan for one year like some of my extended family members have. So what if my education only costs 3,000? Community college is well worth it.

teenage dream, you have to keep in mind that those community colleges are only respectable where you live. They don't have the same value anywhere else in the country. Furthermore, because community colleges accept everyone, don't require SAT scores and are generally attended by bottom-rung students, the graduates aren't viewed the same. This isn't to say that some reasonably smart people don't go to community college because I'm sure they do, but wouldn't the smarter ones get a scholarship to a university and leave with even less in student loans? I attended a university and left with a surplus of money because my scholarship paid me thousands of dollars per semester to go to school.

wrong rachel...all the community colleges that surround philadelphia do a dual admissions with fabulous schools such as penn state and drexel...for a fraction of the price u get all pre requisites done...stigmas suck

Wow - Rachel. You are completely in the dark about the value of a community college education! I already have a BS degree from a "good school" but am attending a community college for an RN degree, that also offers a completion program at area universities. It was an EXTREMELY competitive program, and required SAT scores, transcripts, entrance exam, etc. General majors at community colleges do accept more students, however a technical or health care degree from a community college will pay you double the salary of many degrees at a "big fancy school" and will still cost you less than a big school with a scholarship. Oftentimes, even a scholarship paying 50% of your tuition will still cost more at a big university, and does not take into account room/board/meals. Unless you have someone helping you foot the bill, it is not always the best choice nor does it make the most sense. Community college is also often the best and only choice some people have for a good education. The idea that an education at a "big college/university" pays off in the long run is a very outdated view, especially for the current economic state in our country.

don't spend all the money you have saved for college on stupid things.
if you don't want to go to class at lest drop it so then you're not all the money you spent on the class.