To the Class of 2019

Tomorrow I will help carry a futon and clothes into a dorm. My little sister is now a freshman in college. This summer she has worked her butt off with three jobs and now found a reasonable and reliable car to take to school. I’m proud of her and her new monthly payments in an effort to build credit.

I see her heading into college just as I’ve started out into the “real world.” I've begged her and her friends to please actually get some advice from someone who has been there around the same time you are, rather than from your mom who may or may not have been stuck with a $20 bill for college after loans in the 80s.

Some of these diamonds of advice are either from things I accidentally did well, or wish I would have done looking back at my four years worth of loans. (Apparently I love lists, but really, who wants to read fluff paragraphs?)

• Consider going to a tech school for just a few classes. Find out exactly what classes you need at X University of State and then take the Intro 101 class at a local tech school for lots less. If you can cut out a whole semester through tech classes and AP credits, you will be happy in the long run. If you really don’t know what you want to do, this is the kind of place to figure it out.
• Get as many scholarships/grants/stipends as possible. You may not think the $350 from your old middle school will be of much help now, but when you need to pay for expensive science books, you’ll be thankful. Be aware that at state schools it truly is more difficult to get scholarships. Unless you’re the brightest of the bunch, consider looking into a more “pricey” private school. They will give scholarships more freely based on academics, music talents, majors, and even slide some under the table for athletes. Ask current students about their situations and see what you’re likely to be offered.
• Work through college. Your mom might be worried if you ever sleep, but let’s face it, no one actually goes to bed in college before midnight. Use your time wisely and spend a few hours working in an on campus office or at a business near campus. Try looking for a paid internship or job that is near the field you’re studying. This is a great way to do some real networking and get experience.
• Put your own money towards your tuition. Now that you’re working, save some of those paychecks and put them towards your tuition. Try making a budget or at least transferring funds to savings. If you can’t pay it all off in the Fall and Spring, that’s alright. That’s one less dollar owed in January of 2020. Ask your school about payment options. If you could break down your payment into manageable portions each month, maybe your job/savings could cover it.

Once you get this book at your graduation party, its six months ‘till loan payments start. Relish the moment, and I’m hoping you’ll have a few less regrets come January.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”   - Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You’ll Go