A Five-part Series by Carol J. Amato
17. Rent your textbooks rather than buy them. Textbooks are prohibitively expensive. If your school doesn't offer digital materials, rent your textbooks for less than half the cost from sites like www.chegg.com, www.bookrenter.com, and www.skoobit.com. Be certain that you get the identical ISBN number of the textbook listed for the course.
Alternatively, you can trade books with students who have already taken the classes. Check the bulletin boards around campus.
Another option is to buy them online rather than through the college's sources. Go to www.bigwords.com. This website compares the various online textbook suppliers by price. Be sure to use a shipping method that will guarantee arrival of your books before the first day of class.
18. Accept the fact you'll have to forego an active social life. While your spouse and children need to remain center stage, your friends and extended family do not. You may have to spend up to 20 hours a week studying and doing homework. Those outside your immediate family may get upset that you can't make those nights out or family gatherings as often as you would like, but remember that your degree is the goal. That degree means more career opportunities and more money in your pocket. The doors that open to you will make the sacrifices worth it.
19. Make sure you get some down time. You need time to unwind and regenerate. That old saying "All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy" is true. You need to keep your energy level high, so schedule in some relaxation each week.
20. Hang an empty diploma frame on the wall. Visualize your degree in it. That "sheepskin" will be there for real before you know it!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
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