April 2013

As you put the finishing touches on your tax return, you’re probably wondering which of your educational expenditures are tax-deductible.  Can you deduct the cost of your new laptop, for example? And what about your textbooks? We scoured the Internet looking for the best source of quick answers to those questions. The best we found was the article “What are Qualified Education Expenses?” on the TurboTax website. Need to know how to get started? Download our free guide on How to Go back to College today! You’ll want to check out this article for yourself. But until you do, here’s a quick summary . There are basically two different ways to deduct college costs. The American Opportunity Credit lets you deduct tuiti ...

Today’s post is the first in a series of short tips on how to save money on college. Today’s tip is . . . Take more courses during every semester you are in college Do you want to save money on college and graduate sooner? Here’s a powerfully simple strategy for you. Simply take one additional course during every semester you are enrolled in college. You can do the math. If you take one extra course every semester during your first six semesters of college, that adds up to six classes. That could save you more than a semester’s worth of tuition, student fees, and other costs. Here are some strategies that can help you get this strategy working for you . . . Take pass/fail courses as your “extra” classes if possib ...

by Brittany Hege I've been out of school (Savannah College of Art and Design) for seven months now, but I still remember that first day. My mom saying goodbye, crying, and me crying as soon as she closed the door. But, then I realized, “Screw this, I'm own my own now! Heck yea!” Now, freshman year wasn't all smiles and laughs, but I had some darn good times. Peep my list of 10 tips for college-bound students and soon you'll be swearing in excitement too! 1. First of all, let me just say, don't mix V8 Splash and tequila or Crystal Light and vodka. Unless you want to end up slumped against a fence, saying, “I'm sorry you guyssss!” over and over again. And then have to run drunkenly and sloppily because the cops have infiltrated ...

by Danielle Koons I will admit there was a bit of a learning curve when I left for my first year of college. And much like a wizened old Monk, I am here to share what I learned about “The Wonderful World of Secondary Education.” You’re welcome. 1) College is not harder than high school. No, really. (Well, at least not your first two years, before you start taking classes toward your bachelor’s degree.) I had some tough teachers in high school tell me all the time that the reason they were tyrants was “to prepare us for college.” Bull. Hockey. I have yet to meet a college professor who doesn’t accept work late, and most of them haven’t even docked points for it. But turn in a paper in high school just ONE DAY LATE and y ...

As the old saying goes, “In spring a young man or woman’s fancy turns to love.” Of course, that’s true. So why has the traditional school year been set up so that just when students start thinking about love, they have to study for finals and write term papers? It borders on the sadistic. Why not let students off the hook, let them get outdoors, let them get together, and watch the romantic sparks fly, right? But here’s some good news. Taking classes online  instead of in the classroom is better for romance for some very clear reasons . . . No more distance relationships.  You remember them. They happen when you are going to North Dakota State Agricultural College and your main squeeze is attending the University of So ...