I've previously written here on Fastweb about the importance of borrowing student loan funds wisely. I am also an advocate for students pursing scholarship opportunities that they qualify for in order to offset the cost of a college education. There are, however, other ways that you can gain an education without going into debt. [gate] Do you want to know more ...

I can never again poke fun at the cliche concept of girls locking themselves in their bathrooms and crying until they feel better. That was me, minutes after reading my decision letter from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: waitlisted. All I could think was, "I'm not even good enough for a rejection." Looking back, it seems really silly. ...

It is that time of year again. College students from all across the country converge on sandy beaches in Florida, or California for a week of sun, fun, and partying. Spring break—a time for rest and relaxation away from the rigors of college life- can be a great time. It can also lead to some tough life lessons if a student ...

I’m going to give a little back-story on my experience with the fantastic test that everyone dreads – the SAT. I took it for the first time in the fall of my junior year and for the second time in the spring of that year. I did relatively well the first time I took the test, but it wasn't good enough ...

Just a little while ago, I got off the phone with my mom. The only thing that set this conversation apart from the many others we've had over the course of my first year of college is that, for the first time in my life, we were talking about my decision to drop a class. There really isn't much of a ...

It has been said that college is like any relationship: after some wonderful months in the honeymoon stage, reality comes crashing down. Suddenly it really bothers you that football weekends get so crazy or that occasionally you have to walk to class in the pouring rain. That’s okay. In fact, that’s normal. The trick is using this new perspective to jump ...

When last we met, I was a high school senior, more than ready to graduate and get my real life started. Full of idealism and excitement, I was fighting at the bit, and felt as though, when the time came for me to move in to my dorm room here at Truman State University, I would have few qualms about college ...

“What is the best piece of advice you can give a freshman?” It was a question that popped up over and over again during my time at Dawg Camp, an optional weekend retreat in the summer for incoming freshmen to the University of Georgia. Some of the answers were predictable, like make a lot of friends or don’t forget to call ...

Kristen has been contributing to Fastweb since August 2011 and has garnered a lot of attention from our readers for her personal and prolific pieces, like Accepting Rejection (or a Deferral or Waitlisting). So we thought it would be nice to introduce you all to even more of Kristen! What are you studying in school and what are the biggest challenges ...

There is nothing that so cements in the mind how amazing an experience college is as one's first steps onto a college campus. As brochures and scheduled tours would have us believe, the university is at all times a dynamic place, and in a lot of ways that’s very true. But viewing a college entirely through the lens the university represents ...

I wonder what I should sign up for this year? Oh, wait. I’m a transfer student, and this is my senior year in college. What am I thinking? I quickly look up the general education courses for my current university. I’m pretty sure I am not the only transfer student with these thoughts right now. Although this is my senior year ...

One thing I wish someone had told me is that social networking is even more popular in college than it is in high school. Seeing the college brochures of students playing frisbee, lying on the grass, studying in libraries, and hanging out at coffee shops had given me this mental image of the college student who is so busy living her ...

The weekend college road trip is an art. It requires all of the participants to be in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. When executed properly, the college road trip is a success. When executed poorly, it looks a little like what happened with me last month. “Oh, dear,” you gasp, “whatever shall we do to ...

For those who are about to take finals, we salute you. The few weeks between Thanksgiving break and the heavenly month-long winter break seem to be some of the most stressful of the college school year. [gate] The eight days I spent at home for Thanksgiving was the longest period of time I had been there since summer, and, as much ...

Many college students have a small budget for purchasing gifts. What can you do to get your loved ones gifts they will love, while remaining economical? [gate] The holiday season probably snuck up on you this year. Busy with classes, studying, and a part-time job or internship, you may not have gotten around to doing any shopping. Here are some ideas ...

There are millions of students in the world who are considering going to college and what it means for their future. Some of them, myself included, are going above and beyond, pushing their boundaries to make their college résumés look as impressive as possible. However, there are many people, teens and adults alike, that look at those people with bewilderment, as ...

Being away at college has changed pretty much everything for me. Some things for the worse, some for the better, but mostly I think it’s just different. For example, I no longer have curfew, I’m living in one tiny room with another person, I don’t have a car at my disposal anymore, classes are shorter, and the burden of all responsibility ...

This is the time of year that is often most nerve-wracking for high school seniors: on top of all the school stressors that have been fairly consistent over the past three years, we have to consider where we’ll be a year from now. For the majority of us, that place will be on a college campus. Thinking about college, while a ...