News

Being a college student can be very demanding, and if you add work and personal life to your study schedule, you can often end up with a very overwhelming task to meet. However, with a few tips and some good planning, you can stark a good balance between college, work and fun. Here is some advice that will help you survive this stressful time in your life.

Have a good schedule

A good schedule will keep you informed. You will know when you're due to start a project, finish an assignment or meet a colleague, so you can easily fill the gaps with a few fun things to do like meet your friends, catch up with your favorite TV show or have a pampering day. Sticking to your timetable is very hard yet very important. But, once you see how much easier it is to balance everything when equipped with a fool-proof schedule, you will find it easy to stick to it.

Learn good time management

If you don't pay attention, college life can take every waking moment of your day. Many new students feel like they need to find the time to participate in every social event on campus and join as many clubs they can. Once you finish with everything on campus, you will have no time to see your friends or relax. So, learn how to manage your time, prioritize, divide your day into portions and you will get to fit everything into one day without issues.

If your country doesn't have the right university that teaches your favorite subject, the only option left is to study abroad. But studying in a different country means added expenses. You not only have to pay for a higher tuition fee, but expenses like apartment rent, food, and transportation will also add to the list. Not many students have millionaire parents who can afford such steep expenses without a second thought. So, if you want to follow your passion and study the subject you love, here are a few ways you can make your dream more economical:

1) Look for financial aid options and scholarships

Consider this as a thumb rule: unless you apply for financial aid or scholarship, you won't get one. You shouldn't feel shy about applying. Go through the college admission form to check whether they provide any of these options to students. It doesn't matter whether you are a domestic or international student. In fact, some colleges offer financial aid because they are aware of the added expenses students need to incur after they leave their hometown.

If you're an ordinary student, you probably know what it's like to be broke. Who can resist all those parties, take-out meals and Starbucks drinks? Plus, the price of schooling and textbooks is skyrocketing around the world. However, there are a few things you can do that will relieve some pressure off your wallet and save you from living on ramen noodles and air. 

Switch to cash

If you're living off of student loans, you're living on borrowed money. This means you have debt, so don't sink any deeper by over-spending which can be very easy when you're using credit cards. Instead, switch to cash, so you have a better overview of your spending and how much money you have left. 

Get a roomie

If you can't live with your parents, look for a good roommate that will make paying rent a little easier. Apartments today can be quite pricey, so a reliable roomie will allow you to save half of the living costs. 

The grades are in, your university place has been secured after a few nail-biting months of anticipation, and you're ready to fly the nest. Heading off to University is an exciting yet daunting time of our young adult lives, on one hand the transition is full of change and nerve-wracking experiences as you meet new people and familiarise yourself you're your surroundings, and on the other it's the start of one of life's most thrilling journey's. If you've been used to your parents making life easy for you, then you'll soon need to learn how to take care of yourself and understand the many dials on a washing machine.

If your big move from family home to freshers' digs is on the horizon, then you might be wondering what items you'll need to pack for the start of your new life. Don't worry, everyone else will be in the same boat and asking the same questions as you.  This list of essentials is sure to help you with the first step...

All of the essential bedding

It's not easy being a student, never mind an international student - with procedures completely different to what you're used to, it can be confusing to get your head straight. We've put together some tips which are sure to help your studying a little smoother.

First Things First - What Course Are You Taking?

It may sound simple, but you need to make sure you know what degree you're studying. It's important to do something you are passionate about, as there will be lots of help and support if you are academically weaker, but not much to help if you hate the subject. You also need to consider the type of degree you're studying - whether you're going to college in person and staying on campus, or whether an online masters program in Boston, MA is more your thing. If you're focusing on a particular profession, we recommend seeing if there are any educational requirements.