Don’t Fall Prey to Bad Credit Cards

Lots of hands showing off credit cards. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

As a recent college grad you are walking through life with a giant target painted on your back. It’s a target that only credit card companies can see and believe us when we tell you that they are going to throw everything they can at that target and hope that it sticks.

Do you remember the tables that would get set up on campus with the guys who would jump out with a clipboard and a sign up form and tell you all about the awesomeness of credit cards while trying to minimize the 30% interest rate? You’re going to get those same offers but now they will come in the mail. Continue Reading

College Computing Capers: Learn the Ropes, Keep Info Safe

College students using a lab computer. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

You’ve gotten your obligatory set of pots and pans, hand-me-down furniture from your uncle Pete, and that one last oil change before you hit the road. It’s time to head off to school (or pack your kids up to move out). Melancholy tears mix with excitement as the realization that you’re about to enter the “real world” hits.

The real world, in all its mysterious splendor, can offer as much reward as it does annoyance. In the digital era there’s even more to learn and be concerned about as you embark on your journey. Everything from buying the right tablet to keeping your work and information safe is a factor. When it comes to preparing yourself for the best possible experience, make sure you factor in the most savvy tech practices. Continue Reading

University of You: Starting Your Own Business in College

College students receiving business training. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Brandon Bernier is a junior at George Washington University, majoring in computer science. He’s also making financial ends meet as president of Bernier Enterprises, LLC,. How does he run a business while juggling a full-time student schedule? It’s not as hard as you think. Continue Reading

7 Tips For College Students Looking To Start Their Own Businesses

Hallie Rich, Founder and President of Rich Vitamins LLC

Post-graduate life can be exciting but also a little scary:  how do you make your mark, can you really follow your dreams?  Here are 7 tips for those embarking on their careers after college

1. Love it because you’re going to have to breathe it! If you’re not excited and passionate about what your idea is, you can’t expect others to be either.  Starting your own business really does mean that you are on the job 24/7 and it gets hard to maintain the focus and passion needed if you don’t really believe in what you’re doing. Continue Reading

Bad Career Advice: Six Tips You’ll Often Hear But Should Usually Ignore

College students who are about to cross the threshold between academia and working life are typically besieged with well-meaning advice. Some of this advice is wise and useful, some of it is suspect and some of it is just plain silly. But when you’ve never actually taken a single step into the professional world, it can be hard to sort the good advice from the clichés, the popular myths and the questionable nonsense. Here are six common words of wisdom for young graduates that may warrant a closer look. Continue Reading

Coming to America: International Students Continuing Education in the United States

While some American college students may consider going abroad to study, many international students are coming to the United States to do the same.  Learn more in the following infographic. Continue Reading

Avoid credit card catastrophes – Smart ways a student can avoid incurring debt

Woman smiling and holding a credit card. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Nowadays the students arrive in the colleges with shiny new credit cards and spiffy new backpacks, with a determination to enjoy their college life. They leave college with thousands of dollars piled on their high interest credit cards. Students are of the opinion that they should live on their own so that they can lead their own extravagant life and they also feel that once they leave college and grab a job, they can easily repay their debt amount. But are they really aware of the sluggish improvement of the job market? Did they ever anticipate what would have happened to them if they aren’t able to manage a job in this tough labor market? Well, if they had thought, they wouldn’t have taken all the wrong financial moves at the same time. As the students know that there are credit card consolidation firms that can assist them in getting out of debt, they adopt a lackadaisical attitude towards their personal finances. Continue Reading

Getting a Service Industry Job

Lauren Knight, Shiftgig

No one really tells you when you’re sending in those applications, but there’s so much more to college than a dorm room and a major. For many, it’s the first taste of freedom. You get to decide where you eat and when you sleep and how many parties you hit. There are no curfews to adhere to or elders to whom you have to explain your comings and goings.

There are darker clouds on the horizon of that bright future too. Worries about money can put a strain on students, as tuitions continue to rise. Student debt is a heavy reality that can cause a lot of stress for new graduates. Whether it’s in preparation for that eventuality, an effort to shoulder some of that immediate burden, or just for some pocket money to make sure the college years are lived to the fullest, many students decide to take up a part-time job. No other industry serves their schedules and needs better than the service industry. Continue Reading

The Influence of Technology in College Education

These days, many college students are attached to their mobile devices, whether socially or academically.  When it comes to success in the classroom, these students highly depend on technology, as shown in the following infographic. Continue Reading

How 2013 College Students Are Scoring Interviews Better Than 2012 Grads

Natalie Bracco

The idea that today’s college graduates are facing an impossible battle when it comes to finding a job is largely exaggerated. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2013 graduates have better prospects of getting a job than their 2012 counterparts. While it’s true that high unemployment has made things more challenging for all job seekers, there are actually several ways that 2013 college grads are able to distinguish themselves and ace the application process. Continue Reading