college student

college student questions and answers

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Q: What is a first generation college student?
I'm not sure if i would be considered a first generation college student. Neither of my parents have college degrees, but my dad did attend college for six months and then dropped out. I'm not sure if it would go by whether or not he has a college degree or if he just attended a college at all. Can someone clarify what it is?

A: Yes, you will be considered first generation to go to college once you graduate from college. ss

Q: If a 19 year old college student causes a auto accident is he the only liable party?
A change to my previous question. If a 19 year old college student causes a auto accident is he the only liable party? Both of his parents who are divorced from each other help pay for his college education but neither one carries car insurance on the student but the mother claims the student as a dependent for taxes. Are either one of the parents liable for property or personal injury damages or claims from the injured party.

A: There are tons of sites where you can get a free insurance quote. http://www.goodinternetdeals.com/Auto-Insurance.html It only takes roughly 10 minutes to do.

Q: How much can a first year college student borrow using a unsubsidized Stafford Loan?
I'm a first year college student applying online for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan. I'm confused as to the amount I'm allowed to borrow. I'm classified as a dependent. Any help would be much appreciated.

A: The maximum a dependent freshman can borrow is $5,500.00 per academic year. This loan limit is for Stafford loans that are disbursed on or after July 1, 2008,

Q: I'm a college student looking for a job in the health care field. What are some suggestions?
I am a University student with 3 years of college under my belt and many science classes (such as Organic Chemistry, etc.) that I have taken. I am looking for experience in the healthcare field so that I can put this experience on my application when I apply for Medical school. What are some suggestions as to what jobs I could apply for? What about internships? Any tips or advice? Thanks so much!

A: I would go to your college career center. They will really be able to help you more. When I was in college I went to the career center, which was very helpful. They showed me listings of internships with or with out pay, and also part time jobs with pay. The jobs they offer to you will most likely depend on your major, and also what your interest is. If your confused about what you would like to do, the career center is very good at helping you take the next steps. So visit your college career center and go from there. Some suggestions as to what jobs you can apply for is research jobs pertaining to the healthcare field such as research assistant. Some research jobs are really good at offering internships, and also jobs primarily for the summer.

Q: I am a college student looking for a part-time job related to my Finance Major. What would you recommend?
I am a college student looking for a part-time job related to my Financial Management Major. What places would you recommend I go and apply at? I live in Birmingham, AL which is a huge city so there are a lot of options. If you have some tips and suggestions for certain companies to apply at please let me know. Thanks!

A: I would suggest an internship. They usually have flexible hours and some pay a stipend and give you college credit. Another route, of course, would be just a part time job, which you asked about. I used to work for a company doing mutual funds/retirement plans/annuities and I found it to be very interesting. There may be jobs on campus as well. I hope this helps. Craig's list is a good tool to use, but then again I live in the NYC area so it's easier to find things related to my field. Of course, I was also a business major so that was easier to find.

Q: I am a college student looking to start a typing service. How should I go about this?
I am a college student and I am looking to start a typing service. How much should I charge and how should I advertise? Thanks!

A: The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in. I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box. Associations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant: * Complete Typing Business Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Successfully Operate a Home Typing Business by Frank Chisenhall * How to Start a Profitable Typing Service at Home by Nicki Montaperto * Virtual Assistant, The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA by Diana Ennen, Kelly Poelker * Start Your Own Business Support Service (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Entrepreneur Press There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles. Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Q: How to develop financial literacy as a college student?
I'm a college student, but I've never worked other than doing volunteers and I've been very dependant on my parents. I'm going to start working but I also want to develop financial literacy. What are the good ways in your guys' opinion? Any websites?

A: 1. Find a friendly bar or convenience store that has state lottery KENO. Teach yourself financial discipline by learning how to win money or lose money at KENO without panicking. Small $1.00 bets can be very informative because you can apply a stock-broker's approach to KENO and analyze its PSUEDO-RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR (which has predictable output streams). Also learn as much as you can about Probability and then watch the KENO game with a more trained eye. 2. Join an investing club in your college. 3. Read the WALL STREET JOURNAL at least three times a week, and look up the terms & concepts you don't understand. Its filled with business jargon. Write these down in a notebook. 4. Read biographies of both: Jesse Livermore and Warren Buffett, becaue they both have opposite approaches to the stock-market and both were extremely successful. Livermore 'plunged' into Growth Stocks; and Buffett is into a 'Buy & Hold' strategy. 5. Go to INVESTOPEDIA on the internet and browse. 6. Join a stock market game on the internet: real stock market but fake money, and learn how to buy and sell stock and bonds.

Q: What is a good cuisine for a college student and enthusiastic cook to learn?
I'm not the type of college student who lives off ramen and kraft dinner. I love cooking, and keep my kitchen full of fresh vegetables, meats and grains. I have a reportiore of some really good meals, but I'd like to expand my horizons and learn the ins and outs of a particular cuisine. I originally wanted to do Indian food, but a little bit of research showed that all the Indian restaurant dishes I love take the better part of a day to prepare. I'm busy, so I want food that takes 1 or 2 hours, tops. I'm thinking Thai- I looooove the flavor, but I'm worried that the fresh seasonings like limes, basil, and lemongrass might run up my expenses. My food budget is about $50 a week. I have a pretty well fitted kitchen, and I could drop some money on 1 or 2 reasonably priced new pieces of equipment. I would prefer to use foods that can sit in a fridge for a while, because I can't shop that often. Thanks for all input!

A: I would go with Mediterranean: it's healthy, versatile & wont break your bank! Rice, pasta, couscous, veggies, olive oil... It encompasses: spain, italy, greece,france, turkey, morocco, tunisia....best of all worlds

Q: How much can a community college student earn from Pell Grant?
I was wondering how much a community college student, not a four-year university student, could earn from a Federal Pell Grant? This is assuming that I meet all the criteria to receive the max amount in grants. Thanks.

A: The amount of Pell Grant that you will receive is based on three factors: 1) The EFC value on your student aid report once your FAFSA has been processed. 2) The number of credit hours that you will be taking per semester 3) The cost of education budget that your college will use as your Pell Grant budget. In order to get an idea of how much Pell Grant you could qualify for, you should first complete the FAFSA and then speak with a financial aid counselor at the Financial Aid Office of the community college that you will be attending.

Q: Where should a college student who wants to "go green" start?
I am a college student who is partially, well aware of the threat of global warming. However, being a college student sets me a little back with going green, because I am limited to spending and going green from what I have researched tends to be a little bit more expensive. I know that recycling can help but what are some other ways that help, that I may not be aware of and that I can inform my roommates, friends, peers, and family about?! Thanks in advance, this is something I really want to learn more about!

A: Congratulations on even thinking of the question. I think it's a myth that going green has to be expensive and you'll probably find that when you start being aware, you'll actually save money. I started by simply paying attention to my habits. I was buying a newspaper everyday and had multiple magazine subscriptions to magazines that I barely read. Realized that the magazines were 90% ads - so I was paying to buy ads to buy things! Now I read the same newspapers online, cancelled the subscriptions and if I really need a magazine I go to the library and check it out. Then I slowly detoxed and found out that I couldn't care less which celeb was sleeping with whom. So I'm saving money and trees and finding out that my life is really a lot more interesting than I gave myself credit for! It's a matter of changing bad habits and going on an energy "diet" - like any diet you'll fail immediately if you decide to stop eating totally. Begin by focusing on trimming electricity usage. Lights are only on when they are essential. Totally shut down the computer when you're done. When you're watching tv and the phone rings, the tv gets shut off, not muted. Don't put on the tv for "company" - unless you're actively engaged in a show, shut it off. Appliances - even when they are not in use they "draw" and waste energy. Totally unplug the ones you can like the coffee maker, the toaster, the cable box, the hair dryer, the printer, etc. Think about large appliances that sit around 24/7 drawing huge amounts of energy. The fridge - can you lower the settings so that it's still keeping food fresh while using less energy? The freezer - keeping it well stocked will actually cause it to use less energy than a freezer just holding a couple of items. Water heater - most home water heaters are kept at way too high a temperature and work all day/every day to keep the water at this high temp. Check the settings to see if it can be lowered to a temp that still works well for you. If the family is going away for vacation, check the owner's manual to see if it's okay to shut it off completely. Newer water heaters only take a couple hours to return to the correct water temp setting when you get back. Air conditioners - are they on because of habit when it would be just as comfortable to open a window? Same thing with heat - lower the temp on the thermostat and put on a sweater. Is the heat on at 70 when no one's home? Install a timer so it drops down to 55 while you're sleeping or everyone's gone and then goes up an hour before you get wake up or get home. Not only are you saving oil/energy, it's actually healthier too. Is the water running while you're brushing your teeth? Can you take a shower in 10 minutes instead of 20? Transportation - huge contributor to global warming. Start by paying attention to your own habits - are you running to the store and then coming home and then going back out? Can you combine your trips to save gas? Carpool - you're going to the store, see if someone else wants to go with you or needs anything. The question at the food store "paper or plastic?" should really be phrased "kill a tree or drown a fish?" - bring your own reusable bags. Are you arriving at a restaurant to meet 3 friends all with their own cars? Does it make green sense to all go together? When you're going home from school for the weekend, can you give someone a lift and share the cost? Walk everywhere you can. Again, saves money and is healthier. Recycling is great and important but take it a step further and look at what you're recycling - are you recycling a dozen soda cans? Think of the energy and resources that were wasted making the product and the energy and resources that are wasted in recycling them. If you have to have soda, buy the liter bottle. Better yet, switch to water and NOT bottled water - never! Buy a reusable container and fill it with tap water. That's what you're paying for anyway lots of times. I used to whine, "well it gets warm" so now I keep a small cooler in my trunk to keep them cold. Make coffee/tea at home instead of going to Starbucks and am saving resources and huge amounts of money. Pay attention to corporate marketing - if a corporation is marketing something as "convenient" it often really means "wasteful and full of chemicals so it can last on a shelf for a 100 years". "Single serve" items like bags of chips or cookies or soups are a waste of packaging and your money. Buy in bulk and you'll save both. Buying a hybrid car is great but if car makers were really concerned about the environment they'd be telling you to buy a used car or use mass transportation. It's critical to real environmental change that we all start paying attention to marketing and remembering that spending money is really spending resources. I look around my own home and see at least 12 bottles of barely used "latest greatest" hair products that I bought that I'll never use. Recyling the bottles is a small improvement but how much better if I never bought them to begin with? Same with lipsticks and nail polishes. Now when I'm in the makeup section I ask myself how many eyeshadows do I have at home that are really exactly the same as the one that I'm considering buying simply because it's embazoned with "new!". When I pull out my summer clothes I'm dismayed at the pile of barely worn clothes I'm getting rid of simply because they are no longer in fashion. Now when I clothes shop I pay attention to what is made well and will last because it's a classic style rather than what is fashionable for a minute. I am so impressed that someone as young as you is even asking this question. You and your generation have the ability to change not only your own habits but global habits as well simply by speaking up. When grapes are available in the food store year round it's because they're being flown from Argentina and treated with chemicals harmful to the environment. You ar emaking a huge statement by not buying it. Only buy fresh stuff that's grown locally and is in season. Farmer's markets in your area are cheaper and you're supporting a neighbor instead of a huge conglomerate. Speak up - when you hear of a celebrity travelling by private jet or buying a Hummer, instead of being impressed remember that our natural resources are limited and that celebrity is wasting YOUR resources simply because they can. If you invited that same celebrity over for pizza and they took 8 slices and threw them away you wouldn't be impressed for long. Having 5 homes scatted around the globe is not impressive, it's 4 homes that are sitting around empty at any time wasting valuable resources being heated and cooled while empty. Start being impressed by the celebrity that flies commercial and has sold the 4 extra homes and donated the $ to preserving the rainforest.

Q: What is the best way for a college student to invest?
I'm 21, independent, college graduate student. What is the best way for me to make short term investments (2-4 years) to try to increase my funds for medical school?

A: Get the book. Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. It has lots of great information about saving and investing. Better yet go to his website and look for specific topics to help you. This is a man with great answers. Old fashioned advice of "It you can't pay cash, can't afford it then don't buy it". Back to the basics. Dave Ramsey . com. Good luck. Jeannie At the very least you can earn 5% on a money market account. It gives you access and liquidity to your funds. Anything earning 10-12% earnings needs to sit for 5-10 years to show profit.

Q: What are allowable college student tax deductions?
I'm trying to file my taxes as a college student, and i'm not sure if i can put down the amount of money i received from a Stafford Loan as a deduction. My mother has claimed me as an exemption, but didn't claim any education credit or student loan. As a student, can i claim education credits or add the amount of the loan for a deduction?

A: If your mother claimed you as a dependent, you cannot claim the education credits.

Q: What's a good resume title for a college student seeking a full-time customer service position?
I'm a full-time college student with some retail, office and hospitality experience. I'm posting my resume online and I could really use a title that will catch the attention of potential employers. Thank you all for your help.

A: How about: "Motivated, experienced College candidate eager to serve your customers - full time" If this is not the perfect title, that's ok, but put yourself in the shoes of a prospective employer and think about what he/she is looking for. Imagine you run a business and are looking to hire a customer services person. This person may well be the face of the company to your customers. You want them to be competent, friendly, and you want them to care about your business and clients. Try to tell that story in your title. It may already be the case, but make sure that your resume tells the same story. It should be professional, clean, detailed and show a glimpse of your personality and character aside from just your work ethic. The web site http://www.SpotMyResume.com can walk you through this process with tips from a professional at each step for under $10. It may be worth considering.

Q: How many books should a college student be reading?
Aside from the typical text books and assigned readings, how many books should a college level student be reading in one year?

A: ....As many as you want to read, given that you have the time to do so...