College Life, Made Easier

Pretty much everything you have to pay for these days, you can pay for with a debit or credit card. So, having a credit card in college can allow you to pay for what you need around campus from meals to books and more. Having a credit card comes with the added benefits of learning financial responsibility and building credit.

Building credit means that you are demonstrating a history of making on-time payments on credit cards and other loans in order to start establishing a good credit score. A good credit score typically helps you have an easier time getting other loans and receiving better interest rates on those loans.

Ready to apply for your first credit card? Get ready in five easy steps.

It depends on the type of aid.

• Federal Aid Received through FAFSA. You must renew FAFSA every year to continue receiving the benefits—including work study and federal student loans—of federal financial aid.
• Grants and Scholarships. This is grant or scholarship specific. Some scholarships are for every year and renew automatically, and others are one-time awards. Check with the issuer of the scholarship to find out what you need to do in order to maintain or reapply. If a scholarship can’t be renewed, you can always search for additional scholarships.
• Private Student Loans. In many cases, you’ll need to reapply for private student loans. However, Citizens offers Multi-Year Approval^{^} which means that, if approved, you’ll only submit one loan application for all four years of college. It’s best to always check with your lender to ensure you have the funds you need each semester.

You may be so busy with your class schedule, social life, and extracurricular activities that “earning money” may feel like an impossible task. But here are some ways to earn some extra cash:

1. Work Study. If you filled out your FAFSA—which you should EVERY year of college—you could qualify for work study. Remember, if you qualify, snag the opportunity quickly as work study is generally first come first served.
2. Become an RA. A resident assistant enforces dorm policies, organizes social gatherings on their floors, and helps mediate any issues between residents in the dorm. Payment comes in free housing, which could free up some money for you.
3. Get a part-time job. There are typically opportunities on- and off-campus that are flexible within your course schedule.
4. Consider an internship. Internships are a great way to apply classroom learning to real-world application—and most of the time, they’re paid opportunities.
5. Apply for scholarships. Every little dollar helps, and you can apply for scholarships year-round, literally.

Deciding what you “want to be when you grow up” isn’t easy for everyone, including some adults who are already working. To help you decide your path consider:

1. Your personality. Ask yourself: what are your likes and dislikes, and strengths and weaknesses? What kind of environment do you prefer? What things are important to you?
2. Explore careers. Find out what skills you need for certain types of careers, what the job growth projections are for those, and the likely salary outcomes.
3. Research majors. Once you have an idea of what career you might like, search for the majors that you’ll need to complement your intended career.

Still need some tips? Follow this step-by-step guide.

Step outside and get to know your campus community. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Social/Community Life: Most campuses offer a variety of clubs, student organizations, and events—from sporting events, activism, intramurals, theater, and more. Don’t be afraid to try something new, you may be surprised to find you enjoy it and the people you meet doing it!

Academics: College means choosing your own path, which includes building your class schedule and setting yourself up for success with good study habits. You’ll experience a lot more independence in college, so utilize the support of your professors and advisors to help you thrive in your intended major and each of your courses.

Campus amenities and resources: Size and location matter when it comes to what’s on your campus. But you’ll have everything you need from dining halls, dorms, libraries, student unions, campus greens, and, of course, lecture halls and labs. Get to know your buildings and resources in order to have a fun and safe college experience.

If you are getting ready to graduate with a 4-year degree, congrats! Not sure what to do next? Here are some options:

1. Work with a career coach or resume writer to help you hone your resume and nail your interviews to get a full-time job in your field!
2. Get an internship.
3. Apply for graduate school. Even better, have your new employer pay for it.
4. Take a gap year and travel.
5. Join the Peace Corps.
6. Start your own business or side-hustle.

Ready to get started on graduate school? Fund every year of grad school, right here.