COLLEGE & CAREERS
INSIDE THIS SECTION Planning for the cost of college • Your freshman year • Finding a job after college • Ranking the best jobs A supplement of Suburban Newspapers
September 16, 2015
Planning for the cost of college without breaking the bank
M E T R O C R E AT I V E C O N N E C T I O N
What to expect during your freshman year Be prepared to make some adjustments during your freshman year of college — especially in the first semester. Here are some challenges you may face: Feeling out of place and lonely When you get to college, you may find it difficult to stay close to your high school friends because they no longer share your experiences. You may also get homesick. To gain a sense of belonging, attend freshman orientation activities, get involved in extracurricular activities and find a part-time job. Don’t wait for opportunities and people to come to you. Staying busy and meeting new people will make your college experience more enjoyable. Having less structure You’ll go to bed and get up later. You’re in class for only three to four hours each day, and those hours are often staggered rather than back-to-back. You’ll think you have plenty of time to study and will have an urge to procrastinate. Instead, use the time between classes to review notes and study, and get plenty of sleep each night. Reading more Talk to any current college student and they’ll tell you the reading is “huge!” To avoid becoming overwhelmed, set small goals (10 pages at a time), and take short periodic breaks. Studying You’re going to have to study — even if you got by without studying in high school. Develop study strategies early on so you don’t feel overwhelmed when that first test comes around. Get assignments done in the order they’re due, find a study spot where
ABOUT THIS SECTION
you can focus, and take notes while reading to retain the information. Gaining weight You’ve probably heard people complain about dorm food. But eating in the dining halls is convenient, and the food is plentiful and usually pretty tasty. Combine this with a more sedentary lifestyle than high school, and it’s no surprise that many students gain weight their first semester. To combat this, choose healthy options at dining halls, avoid late-night and sugary snacks, and use your college’s recreation center. Getting your grades “Wow, what happened?” Many freshmen ask that question when they get their first set of grades. Your professor will give you a syllabus at the beginning of the class. It’s up to you to follow it. You won’t get reminders about due dates for reading assignments or term papers. Keep track of due dates, talk to professors or a tutor when you’re struggling, and talk to your academic advisor to make sure you’re on track with your class schedule. Feeling overwhelmed All these changes can be overwhelming. You’ll feel pressured to make new friends right away, decide what you want to do with the rest of your life and keep track of dayto-day assignments all at once. You don’t need to have all the answers immediately upon entering college. There are resources all over campus that will help you make your college experience fun, successful and rewarding. — EducationQuest Foundation
College & Careers is published by Suburban Newspapers. For advertising information contact Paul Swanson at paul.swanson@owh.com.
College costs in the U.S. are on the rise. According to the latest College Board survey, the average price tag for an in-state public college for the 2014-2015 academic year averaged $23,410, and a private college averaged $46,272. This is a 3 percent increase from the year before. Another number on the rise is student loan debt. Nearly seven in 10 graduates from the class of 2013 took out institutional, state or federal loans, graduating with an average $27,667 in debt. “In our latest Merrill Edge Report, we found more than half of respondents are actively paying off debt to be stress-free in retirement, and we expect a notable portion may be for paying off student loans, considering more than 40 million Americans are carrying them,” said Aron Levine, head of Preferred Banking and Merrill Edge for Bank of America. “Borrowing is a great option to help offset costs, but relying on savings is cheaper factoring in interest. It’s important to find a balance to ensure you’re still working toward your future financial goals.” Here are a few strategies to get a head start on saving for college that can help you avoid drowning in debt: Estimate costs Tuition and fees take the lion’s share of your income, with annual costs rising at about 6 percent. Start comparing public, private, community and in- and out-of-state schools to get a ballpark figure on cost, and then you can start to estimate how much you need to invest based on your timeframe and budget. There are tools and resources online to help calculate these costs, and you can always consult a financial professional for further guidance. Start saving and investing now With college costs on the rise, saving and investing now can pay off later. That’s because starting early allows more time and opportunity for your investments to grow — and can reduce the amount you have to borrow. Remember, it’s never too soon or too late to start saving. Every dollar saved is one less you may need to repay with interest, and automating your savings and investments will help to make sure you don’t forget. Consider a 529 plan Whether investing for a child, grandchild or even yourself, 529 college savings plans are flexible,
“Borrowing is a great option to help offset costs, but relying on savings is cheaper factoring in interest. It’s important to find a balance to ensure you’re still working toward your future financial goals.” Aron Levine tax-advantaged accounts that allow the investor to make high contributions to help the recipient pay for college expenses. These funds aren’t taxed as they grow, and no federal (and often state) taxes are applied to withdrawals used for qualified higher education expenses. It’s also a great gift alternative for holidays, birthdays and special occasions. Borrow with care While it’s cheaper to save than borrow, student loans can be an important tool to help close any gaps between your savings and the cost of tuition. If paying cash for college means skimping on another financial priority — like your retirement savings — student loans can help. Some options allow the student or parent to begin paying off the interest while they’re still in college, so be sure to explore the different types of loans to find the one that’s right for your situation. Balance college savings with other life priorities Investing in your or your children’s education is a goal that should be set with other life priorities. Instead of tapping into your nest egg to cover tuition costs, consider all funding sources to avoid jeopardizing your financial health, including financial aid, grants and scholarships. Seek the help of a financial professional to assist in balancing your goals with your finances. It’s never too early to start preparing for the cost of college. Whether you have a 2-year-old or 16-year-old child at home, or if you’re thinking about going back yourself, college is a worthwhile, but significant investment that requires financial preparation. — Brandpoint
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Choosing the right major Choosing a college major is a decision that ultimately rests on the shoulders of the students who must consider a host of factors before committing to a specific field of study. But parents can still help their children, whether those kids are already enrolled in college or college-bound, as they make this important decision. Encourage patience Today’s college students and college-bound youngsters are living in a world that’s significantly different from the one their parents or even older siblings might have encountered. Technology is changing the way many industries conduct business. But students trying to pick a major should avoid picking one too quickly. Just because a certain field is experiencing job growth does not mean that field is ideal for all students. Encourage kids to be patient when choosing a major so they can find the field that’s right for them. Suggest a double major Many of today’s students are fully aware of the job market and the cost of a college education. As a result, such students want to choose a major they feel will put them in the best position to land a well-paying job after college. That’s a smart strategy, but it’s also one that overlooks the joy of studying a subject you are passionate about. Parents can simultaneously encourage kids to be smart about their job prospects and pursue their passions by suggesting a double major. For example, if your child has a love of art but understands the difficulty
in earning a living as an artist, suggest a double major in art and graphic design. This way he or she has more career options upon graduation. Encourage students to apply for internships Internships aren’t always easy to get, but some firms hire interns who are still in high school. Parents should encourage kids to pursue internships as early as possible. Internships offer some real-world experience and give a glimpse into what a profession might be like if they choose a particular field of study. Some kids might be encouraged by an internship, while others might realize a given field is not really for them. Either way, the internship can help narrow down the field of prospective majors. A major isn’t the same thing as a career The pressure to choose the right major can be overwhelming for some young students. But parents should let kids know that a major is not the same thing as a career, and many graduates end up working in fields that had little or nothing to do with their majors. For instance, just because a student earns a degree in finance does not mean he or she will end up working on Wall Street. While parents should emphasize the importance of choosing the right major when speaking to their children, they should also let kids know that nothing is ever set in stone. That can help take some of the pressure off students as they make such an important decision. — Metro Creative Connection
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College students have discovered how to save money on textbooks Rent, buy; new, used; or e-book By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — In his first year at George Washington University, Sam Connelly did what most freshmen do after getting a list of required course materials: head to the campus bookstore. That trip ended with an $800 bill. The next semester was no better, with Connelly spending $900 on textbooks. By his sophomore year, the finance major had enough. With a little research, he found a wealth of online sources for deep discounts on books and brought his bill down to around $300 a semester. “Some books you can get lucky and get for $20 or less,” said Connelly, now 21 and a senior. “But some of my finance books are brand new and only come in hard copies, so I might still have to bite the bullet and buy a $200 textbook.” The high cost of tuition gets a lot of attention, but any college student can attest that buying textbooks is no small expense. Print textbook prices have soared 82 percent in the last decade alone, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yet students like Connelly are saving money through online marketplaces for used, new, rental or electronic textbooks. This past school year, students spent an average of $563 on course materials, 20
percent less than they did in the 2007-2008 academic year, according to the National Association of College Stores. Online, for instance, there’s the University Network, a website that looks for the lowest price on textbooks for college students. The textbook search engine works like travel site Kayak, perusing the Internet for the best price on books. Testing out the service, I clicked on one of the most popular textbooks on the website, the 10th edition of Campbell Biology, which turned up nearly 60 results. Prices ranged from $22.40 for a rental to $106.87 for the electronic version of the $244.59 textbook. “Textbook prices are constantly changing,” said Peter Corrigan, chief executive of the University Network. “There are cheaper times of the year to buy textbooks, in August just before school starts. Then, a week or two into the school year there is a limited amount of inventory that becomes available from students who drop classes and prices drop a lot.” Much like the University Network, the site Slugbooks provides a list of options from booksellers, including Amazon, AbeBooks, ValoreBooks and Chegg. Students can also sell their books through the company. Founder David Miller said the days of students worrying about not receiving textbooks from online sellers in time for class are over. See Textbooks: Page 5
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Textbooks: Saving a little money Continued from Page 4 “You can get books pretty quickly, especially if you’re renting books. All of the rental sites have every incentive to get you your book quickly,� he said. “If you are buying from a marketplace site like Amazon or eBay, the trick is to find sellers in states close to you, which drastically reduces the shipping time.� There are still benefits to brick-and-mortar college bookstores. Most are in the business of renting out books these days. Some also print and bind textbooks on demand for much less than the cost of a traditional textbook. While bookstores are feeling the pressure to compete with online retailers, publishers are also being forced to shake up their business model. The handful of publishers that control the textbook market, such as McGraw Hill, Pearson and Cengage, are seeing less demand for new hardcover textbooks. Textbook publisher took in $4.5 billion in revenue in 2014, down from $5 billion in 2012, according to the Association of American Publishers. Now publishers are producing less expensive digital versions of their textbooks that can be run on a laptop, smartphone or e-reader, said David Anderson, executive director of higher education at the Association of American Publishers. “Companies are pretty much of the view that the traditional hardbound textbook will in the next few years go the way of the do-do bird,� he said. “They see this new technology is where the market is going.� Take McGraw Hill, which has expanded its catalog of digital textbooks. One of the
company’s biology titles that sells for $190 at a college bookstore is now available for $85 as an e-book, explained David Levin, chief executive of McGraw-Hill Education. “It’s not only cheaper but, more importantly, way more effective,� Levin said. “It’s a personalized experience that is tailored to the student’s learning style, focusing attention on the concepts the student needs to learn most.� Alongside the emerging digital market, there is growing interest in open-source textbooks. These books are created under an open license to let students download or print them for free or for a few dollars. A study by the Student Public Interest Research Groups concluded that students could save an average $128 a course if schools swapped dead-tree texts for opensource books. The advocacy group studied open-source pilot programs at five universities, including the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Kansas State University, and found it cost students far less than buying traditional textbooks. OpenStax College, a nonprofit tied to Rice University in Houston, is one of the largest providers of open-source books. The company relies on funding from philanthropist, such as the Gates Foundation, to produce peer-reviewed digital textbooks for free, and print versions for up to $55. According to OpenStax, the 260,000 students using its textbooks this school year will save an estimated $25 million. There are 1,288 schools that have used the books since the company was founded in 2012.
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Rankings, salaries What’s the best job for you? There are many things to consider when looking at a college major and career path. Do you want a job that isn’t excessively stressful but that is challenging? Or perhaps you want something that lets you be creative. A job that pays well would be nice. Something that has job growth would be great, too. U.S. News & World Report has amassed a ranking of the best jobs, including those that pay best. We’ve highlighted the top 10 earners and best jobs here. Salaries are from 2013 data. — Suburban Newspapers
TOP 10 BEST JOBS 1. Dentist Median salary, $146,340. Average salary, $164,570. A good work-life balance. 2. Nurse Practioner Median salary, $92,670. Average salary, $95,070. Work independently of physicians. 3. Software Developer Median salary, $92,660. Average salary, $96,260. Job growth should balloon. 4. Physician Median salary, $186,850. Average salary $188,440. Abundant job growth. 5. Dental Hygienist Median salary, $71,110. Average salary $71,530. They don’t just clean teeth. 6. Physical Therapist Median salary, $81,030. Average salary $82,180. Help others recover from injuries and so much more. 7. Computer Systems Analyst Median salary, $81,190. Average salary $85,320. Must understand computer hardware, software and networks. 8. Information Security Analyst Median salary, $88,590. Average salary $91,210. Plan and monitor security of computer networks. 9. Registered Nurse Median salary, $66,220. Average salary $68,910. The bedrock player of a hospital or health care setting. 10. Physician Assistant Median salary, $92,970. Average salary $94,350. Job outlook for physician assistants is quite strong. Source U.S. News & World Report
Tips for finding a job after college Being fresh out of college and looking for a job is stressful. It feels like you aren’t experienced enough to be able to do any of the jobs you see listed, and it can be easy to start thinking you aren’t good enough to ever have a full-time “real” job. But keep your head up and don’t stop applying. If you stick it out and follow these tips, you’ll eventually find something. Keep in touch with professors Your college professors want to continue to help you after you graduate. They put a lot of time into educating you and want to help you use what they’ve taught you in the “real world.” Ask them to let you know of any jobs they hear about. They may know of positions opening up that aren’t advertised yet or may have inside contacts they can send your résumé, cover letter and/or portfolio to. These professors can also serve as excellent references alongside former employers. Continue making yourself employable Just because you’re between school and a career doesn’t mean you should stop learning. Research or even write a blog about topics relevant to the field you want to enter. Anything you can do to show that you’re interested and knowledgeable about that field will help you find a job. Look at each application as an individual experience. Obviously each place you apply will have different applications and will ask for slightly different information. But when sending or attaching your résumé and cover letter, adjust them to match the job you’re applying for. Shuffle around your duties at past jobs and internships so that the experience most relevant to the job you’re applying for comes first. If you have an idea of what the culture of a business is like, adjust your cover letter to better match that personality. Every business is different and will be looking for different things, so why would you send the same information to all of them? Apply to any job you think you can do A lot of jobs will have experience requirements that you may not quite meet. But if you read the job description and it sounds like work that you believe you can do well, apply even if you don’t quite meet the minimum required years of experience. The worst they can do is throw your application out, but there’s always a chance you’ll get at least an interview and you may even end up with the job. It never hurts to try, and adjusting your résumé and cover letter for each job is great practice. Be in contact with the places where you apply If you know somebody who works where you’re applying or if the job description lists a contact person, it never hurts to email them and ask about the timeline on hiring or something to that effect. Doing this shows that you’re interested in the job more than just sending in an application. And if you’re asked to come in for an interview, be sure to ask what the dress code is and then dress one “level” above that. An interview is for you to learn, too You don’t just go to an interview to im-
M E T R O C R E AT I V E C O N N E C T I O N
press the potential employer and for them to learn about you. It’s also a time for you to find out more about that company and determine whether it’s a place you’d like to work. While you probably don’t want to be too picky with your first post-college job, it’s important to get a feel for what a business is like before you decide to work there. Be prepared with questions about that business or company about their culture, goals, etc.
Keep a LinkedIn profile Your college may have made you make a profile on LinkedIn, but maybe you never updated it or paid any attention. But when you’re searching for a job, you want to keep it updated with your work experience and make sure it looks professional.
Keep your head up As a fresh graduate applying for full-time positions, a lot of the competition will have much more experience than you. You will almost certainly get passed over for some jobs. Don’t let that get you down and don’t let it keep you from trying again. As long as you’re willing to continue putting in hard work, you will find something eventually.
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