By Marty Steffens
SABEW Chair
University of Missouri
This month SABEW continues its College Connect project, an effort to have students share their experiences with managing money.
The project is funded by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and is being conducted this semester at my home base, the University of Missouri.
As before, we’ve chosen students with very different points of view. I will be the adviser and here is a look at some of the viewpoints you will see over the next weeks.
One student, Candace, has decided to take the semester off to gain work experience — but that decision has had tough consequences as her savings have run out.
Lauren is a sorority member, and offers advice for others who want the social experience without breaking the bank. Alex talks about study abroad and its value, and Deron writes about his adventures with financial aid. Jessie, a student who is working long hours while a student, talks about making it all work.
My goal is to let students talk from their own experience, and speak directly to their peers. That’s the essence of College Connect — letting students connect to others through their experiences in handling and managing money and credit.
(College Connect was started in the fall semester of 2010 and has been conducted in Missouri and at Arizona State so far.)
By SARAH BOSWELL
You probably know somebody like my friend Kayla. She’s a college senior who’s been putting herself through school while working about 25 hours per week – at various times as a restaurant server, teaching dance lessons and even wrangling kids at a daycare. She and her boyfriend live together and share expenses. He also works part time at a supermarket meat counter. All that work hasn’t changed one fact of college life: The bills pile up fast. The boyfriend is $40,000 in debt, and Kayla isn’t sure exactly how much she owes. Read the full story…
Sweet as they may be, tuition refunds aren’t free money
By BENJAMIN DASHLEY
The other morning I found a $700 check written to me. I didn’t work for it, I didn’t steal it. The check, of course, came from the loan I took out to pay for school. It’s tuition refund time, when thousands of us find ourselves with the money left over from our student loans after tuition is paid. So what do you do when 700 bucks suddenly falls out of the sky? Read the full story…
Coupon Clipping Can’t Make a King
By VICTORIA ISON
Chex Mix, Yoplait yogurt, Cheerios – these are snacks my family enjoys at the mercy of the Sunday paper. Clipping coupons is my mother’s regular chore and my papa’s particular pleasure. For him, saving a few dollars and cents on groceries turns a trip to the grocery story into a triumph. Read the full story…
By DAVID WIETLISPACH
It’s one of the great conundrums of college — going away for school, gaining independence, and … being stranded. For many, getting anywhere in a college town, or getting from a college town to anywhere, can be a tricky proposition. It was my reality for two years of my college experience. But, if you’re on a budget, and determined to travel, you’ll find that there are plenty of options. Read the full story…
By KELLY DICKEY
In my family, college wasn’t an option – it was just part of the plan. Even at age 5 I remember my folks saying that a four-year university was in my future. And being the upper-middle class family we were — it would be on their dime. Read the full story…
Learn to barter and be generous in college
By LAUREN STEFFENS
Going to college is expensive, but there are the ways to save. I’ve found that every day there are a lot of discretionary expenses – where to go for lunch, how much to spend going out, buying clothing. Read the full story…
College on Coupons- clipping can save!
By DAVID WIELISPACH
Let’s face it. Trying to get by in college is a great lesson in economics. Making dollars stretch just far enough for food, rent, utilities and fun, is a perfect primer in the laws of supply and demand — or scarcity and want. But, when you approach the problem of making dollars seem more than they actually are, good old-fashioned couponing comes to the rescue. Read the full story …
Study Abroad Dreams – making the cost worthwhile
By ALEX SAGI
My dream took five years to come true and started while browsing the web to find my college home and career path.
I wanted to live at the center of the political and economic world, meet its leaders, tell its stories and breath in its culture. As a high school junior enjoying American history and government classes, I was smitten by the University of Missouri’s opportunity to report from the parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Read the full story…
By DERON DALTON
When I returned from NYC to Kansas City, Mo. I was broke. I was worried about how I was going to pay second month’s rent and have money in my pocket for whatever I needed for when I returned to Columbia, Mo. Read the full story …
By KAITLIN LOUKIDES
Two weeks ago, I graduated from the University of Missouri with my degree in Broadcast Journalism in one hand, and an unpaid internship in the other. Read the full story …
Never let money play a factor in pursuing your dreams, or so we’re told.
That notion sounds nice, but money typically plays the largest factor. This has become increasingly clear during my time here in New York City. Read the full story …
One of the biggest decisions a college student makes is whether to join a sorority or fraternity. There’s a lot of pressure on some campuses, where 40 percent of students are members of a Greek organization. Read the full story …
This semester, I decided to not go to college, and gain valuable work experience in New York City. I had interned here over the summer, and a magazine editor I met offered me the great chance to intern this semester – though no pay, which is common. Since the summer job was paid, I did have some savings, but as it turns out, not enough. Read the full story …
My dad is a single parent, so I only have him for support. In order to support my decision to stay in New York City this semester for an unpaid internship, a family friend decided to call him to see if he would change his mind about offering me some kind of financial support. Read the full story …
College Connect: Not the time to tie up money in CDs
College Connect: Finances are a big part of the job hunt
College Connect: You can have what you want, even in college
College Connect: Are joint bank accounts a good idea?
College Connect: Learning to build good credit the American way
College Connect: How to open a bank account in the U.S.
College Connect: It’s Spring break –Let’s make some money!
College Connect: Jumping into financial risk when benefits changed
College Connect: Buying Our First Place: Little House, Big Decision
College Connect: Saving requires doing the little things
College Connect: Using Smartphones to Save, and Help Manage Your Money
College Connect: New GI Bill restrictions helped many, but hurt some (like me) in the process
College Connect: Students’ Points of View on Personal Finance – Part Two
College Connect: Adjusting to a new currency
College Connect: Holiday shopping not always a ‘deal’
College Connect: Students’ Points of View on Personal Finance
Society of American Business Editors and Writers
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication,
Arizona State University
Suite 416, 555 North Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1248
Phone: (602)-496-7862 Fax: (602) 496-7041
E-mail: sabew@sabew.org
©2001 - 2012 Society of American Business Editors and Writers, Inc.