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5 Ways to Earn Extra Money While Earning Your Degree


You can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is your college career. You have everything you need to finish: your class schedule, motivation and sweet spring break plans. You have everything except enough cash to get you through the school year. For many students, holding a traditional full- or part-time job is difficult to manage with their ever-changing class and extra-curricular activity schedules. If you know where to look, though, there are plenty of job opportunities that can fit into your hectic lifestyle and earn you enough money to fund the necessities, such as books and rent, and maybe even a few well-earned spring break excursions.

Online Transcription

If you have excellent typing skills and a decent tolerance for repetition, online transcription may be for you. The work is straight-forward: listen to an audio file (and then listen to it a few more times) and then type exactly what you hear in a provided format. Transcription companies such as TranscribeMe, Rev and Quicktate hire new employees who pass a skills test. You generally only need a computer and high-speed internet connection to work and you can pick up as much or as little work as you can handle. Companies usually pay between $15 and $25 per audio hour (your actual pay per hour depends on your efficiency).

Online Surveys

Taking online surveys is probably not going to cover all of your expenses, but it is an easy way to earn a little extra money in your free time. Money Saving Mom links to six legitimate survey companies on her website that you can check out to help you earn some cash.

Contractual Work

There are a plethora of online sites that connect skilled workers to employers. For example, Handy pairs cleaners (at $22/hr) and handymen (or women) (at $45/hr) with jobs, allowing workers to chose the jobs and schedule. Likewise, websites like Zirtual and TaskRabbit connect people in need of virtual (or at times, in person) assistants for specific tasks. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a company like Amway, the 26th largest company in the U.S., provides a framework to earn money while honing online sales and other creative marketing skills.

Freelance Work

If you’re hoping to work in a creative field, there is no better way to earn money while building your portfolio than freelancing. While freelancing has a longer startup time than something like online transcription, the potential career payoff is much greater. Freelancing is not just for writers, either; websites like Upwork list freelance opportunities for everything from graphic designers to editors to news producers.

Selling Plasma

If you’re looking for something that won’t tax your brain but will earn you a little extra money, many college students sell plasma for up to $70 per week. The process, a quick physical and then a nurse drawing blood, takes less than two hours and can be done safely two times a week.

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5 Reasons to Get an On Campus Job in College


workstudyThere is no hiding it, college is expensive. If you are like me, you’ve probably seen a swarm of student loan commercials in recent weeks. It is that time of the year. As tuition bills begin to hit email inboxes nationwide, many students and families are forced to consider student loans as a way to pay for college.

Yes, student loans are a great tool for some students. But you should look for ways to pay for your education before using student loans. Scholarships and grants are great ways to help you meet your cost of attendance, but often times these awards aren’t enough. Working in college is not as bad as it seems. Too often I hear from my fellow classmates that they don’t have enough time to work, or it may affect their school performance. Everyone is busy, but working in school can go a long way in avoiding student loan debt. You should consider getting an on-campus job this year! On-campus jobs are great for reasons other than just a paycheck too.

Here are my five favorite benefits of having an on-campus job:

  1. Spending Money

Eating at the cafeteria on campus gets old very quickly. And, that bottom shelf bottle of vodka will get older even quicker. Having an on campus job might not make you the richest student on-campus, but it will certainly give your monthly budget some much needed wiggle room. On-campus jobs tend to pay pretty well too. As an incoming freshman I received $8 an hour working in a computer lab on campus. And, each semester I’ve been given a $0.25 increase. After a few years you can be making $10 per hour on campus! If you work 10 hours a week, you will be bringing home $400 per month. That $400 can go a long way in paying for food, drinks, and even student loan interest.

  1. Flexible Hours

Most on-campus jobs are pretty flexible. Most of the time your manager will be an upperclassman or Professor. I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t had a flexible on-campus job schedule. In my case, swapping hours with my coworkers was very easy. And my manager was very understanding when it came to midterms and finals. On-campus managers will certainly understand that you have other commitments.

  1. Making Friends

Some of my best friends are also my co-workers. If you are an incoming freshman, or transfer student, an on-campus job can be a great way to meet people. Connecting with your coworkers can be great for your social life and your professional network.

  1. Resume Builder

Most Freshmen and Sophomores don’t have too much when it comes to a resume. When you start applying for internships, having an on-campus job can really help you stand out amongst your classmates. Moreover, if your job is in a relevant field, it can show a potential employer your ability to learn outside of the classroom. For example, an on-campus job in the finance lab can help you greatly when applying for that financial control internship. It helped me!

  1. Paying Student Loan Interest

Most students have no idea that their student loans are accumulating interest during deferment! Unsubsidized federal student loans and private student loans accumulate interest while you are in school. Then, the accumulated interest will compound and capitalize. By paying your student loan interest in college you will save yourself thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Furthermore, many private student loan lenders give extra discounts to students who pay their interest in school. An on-campus job can give you the ability to pay your interest while taking classes. I promise you will thank me upon graduation!

Today’s guest author is Pyper Barnes. She is a Junior Finance Major at the University of Alabama. Pyper is the creator of WeirdScholarships.net. Weird Scholarships is a new website dedicated to helping students find unique and sometimes weird scholarship opportunities.

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Working as a Tutor: The Perfect College Job


CollegeTutoringMuch of what you can do to make paying for college happens before you even arrive on campus; applying for scholarships, getting grants, choosing an in-state school, etc. But once you’re on campus, you may find that you want an on-campus job to give you some spending cash and help you pay for random expenses.

The bad news is that many on-campus jobs not only don’t pay super well, but also don’t really require the skills you’ve developed as a student/scholar. If you’re at a large research-based university, there may be opportunities to contribute to a research project in your field of study. But if not, working as a tutor is a great way to earn money, use your knowledge, and help other students — all at the same time. Three different approaching — online tutoring, on-campus tutoring, and private tutoring — can all be pretty lucrative, especially when compared with working at a coffee shop or in the library.

Work as an online tutor

Working as an online tutor allows you to help students out regardless of location. You can try to find students yourself, but one service that specifically recruits college students to work at tutors is InstaEDU.com. They run the largest marketplace for online tutoring, connecting students who need help with online tutors, either for on-demand lessons or for scheduled lessons. Tutors all make $20/hour, pro-rated by the minute, and there’s no minimum time commitment, so it’s simple to hop online and work with students when your schedule is a little more open, or cut back when your schedule is more busy. If you’d like to work as a tutor, just fill out the online tutoring job application with your school information, academic backgrounds, and interests.

Go through your school

Many colleges and universities offer tutoring for students… from other students. Perhaps you took (and aced!) organic chemistry as a sophomore; as a junior, you’re now in a perfect position to help out a student who’s struggling with his or her own organic chemistry coursework. Great places to look for these types of positions are department list-serves as well as on-campus tutoring centers. A quick piece of advice: these types of tutoring jobs can get claimed quickly, so it’s best to look at the beginning of the school year.

Work with local students

Potentially the most lucrative of the three approaches, working with local elementary and high school student is a great way to make money on the side. Unlike working through university or online service, you can set your own rates, so you have the option to make a pretty nice hourly rate. Your challenge with this approach is that it can be difficult to find an initial group of students to work with. A few good places to look include your local Craigslist, asking professors if they have any ideas, or simply putting up fliers around local schools.

Finding a great job that pays you well, gives you time to study and pursue extracurriculars, and allows you to use some of the knowledge you’ve amassed in the last 18+ years is possible — if you take the time to find a tutoring job that works for you.

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5 Students That Started A Business While In College


educationmoneyContrary to what most people believe, you do not have to wait until you get your college diploma or degree to get your career going. Starting a business while still in college is no longer a challenge. Just as many other successful businessmen and women begun, you too can start a business while still in the dorm room. All you need to have is determination and dedication.

If you think it is difficult juggling between studies and business, you are wrong. It is as easy as doing what you are supposed to do at the right time and in the right place. Here are five students who started their businesses while in college:

Bill Gates: Microsoft, Computer Software

Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University. In 1973, he convinced his fellow drop out Paul Allen to partner with him in launching a computer software company, the now famous Microsoft. It was not long after Steve Ballmer, Gate’s friend at the university joined them.

TIP: If you have to start a business in school, have the skills required to execute the business.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page : Google, Search Engine

While at Stanford University in 1996, Ph. D students Sergey Brin and Larry Page started working on a search engine called “BackRub”. The two ran the search engine on the university’s servers for a year before renaming it “Google.” Today, Google is the biggest and widely used search engines in the world.

Michael Dell: Dell Inc., Computer Manufacturer and Distributor

Michael Dell could not entertain the thought of waiting until he finished college to look for a job. While a student at University of Texas-Austin in 1984, he started selling IBM PC computers from his dorm room. In one year, Dell had created his own computer called Turbo PC. By 1992, he was the youngest CEO of a multimillion computer company.

Seth Berkowitz : Insomnia Cookies, Cookies Bakers

While a junior at University of Pennsylvania, Seth Berkowitz could not stand hunger attacks due to late night cramming sessions. Seth decided to bake cookies to curb the hunger. When fellow students learned about his cookie operations, he decided to make it a business naming it Insomnia Cookies. Insomnia cookies are now a booming business in campuses throughout the country.

Bo Peabody and Brett Hershey: Tripod.com

Bo Peabody and Brett Hershey were classmates in Williams College in 1992. These two saw a business opportunity on the worldwide web and decided to go for it. They teamed up with Dick Sabot, their economics professor and sold web server space via a company called tripod.com. Tripod.com became one of the first big dot-com companies prior to the mid 90s boom.

There you have it. It is not until after college that you start looking for a job or start a business. If you have the opportunity to start a business while still in college, go for it. You never know, that could be your only chance of creating a good foundation for your future, that of your children and generations to come.

You do not have to start the same business as the ones listed above. Look for an opportunity to take advantage of. You should balance your studies with business responsibilities if you decide to start a business. Business opportunities never knock on your door, it is your duty to go on a quest and identify profitable opportunities.

About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Joshua Turner. He is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business. In this article, he describes a few entrepreneurs who began their business in college and aims to encourage further study with a NJIT Marketing MBA online.

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5 Great Part-Time Jobs While Going to College


workstudyDue to the rising cost of college education, an increasing number of college students are having trouble making ends meet.

One of the best ways to deal with financial problems while in college is to get a part-time job. Other than easing your financial woes, a part-time job can also give you some valuable real-world work experience and a great opportunity to make new friends.

Here are five of the best part-time jobs for college students:

Barista

Coffee shops do not only help college students deal with sleep deprivation; they also provide excellent part-time job opportunities.

If you can get a job as a part-time barista at a Starbucks location, you can expect to earn between $7.50 and $10.00 per hour.

Starbucks also offers a great benefits package to its part-time employees, which include bonuses, paid time off, health and dental coverage, life and disability insurance, vision care and emergency financial aid. In order to be eligible for these benefits, you need to work at least 160 hours over a two-month period.

Whole Foods Employee

Whole Foods is one of Fortune Magazine’s “Top 100 Companies to Work For”, and it offers a wide range of part-time positions. The employees of Whole Foods make an average wage of close to $11.00 per hour.

You can get health insurance and other benefits after you have worked between 400 and 600 hours.

College Library Staff

Another great way to find a part-time job while you are in college is to join your college’s work-study program.

One of the best jobs you can get through the program is a library assistant or worker. Being a member of the library staff allows you to study while you are working and reduce commuting time.

However, most work-study employees make close to minimum wage, which can vary significantly from one state to another.

Computer Store Employee

Keep yourself updated with the latest tech gadgets by working in a computer store. Some computer stores, such as Apple, provide tuition assistance to employees who meet certain requirements.

As an employee of a computer store, you will also get discounts on computers, mobile devices and other gadgets.

Paid Intern

It is not easy to get a paid internship, but you will benefit greatly if you can get accepted for one.

Besides improving your financial situation, a paid internship provides hands-on work experience that is related to your field, boosts your resume and enables you to establish professional contacts that can be useful in the future.

Depending on your college’s requirements, you may also be able to get academic credit for your internship. Paid internships usually pay between $7.00 and $20.00 per hour.

Besides the above-mentioned jobs, there are many other part-time jobs that are suitable for college students. As such, it should not be difficult for you to find a job that suits your needs and schedule. All you need to do is ask around or browse through newspaper and online classified ads.

About The Author:

Today’s guest article comes from John McMalcolm. He is a freelance writer who writes on a wide range of subjects, from employment tips to Internet reputation management services.

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How to Excel at School While Working at the Same Time


CollegeStudentThe price of a higher education has gone up drastically in the last decade, and studying full-time has become a luxury that the majority of students simply can’t afford.

Of course, balancing work with personal life and still finding enough quality time to devote to studying is often easier said than done. However, if you have a plan and are determined to succeed, it certainly isn’t impossible either.

Whether you’re a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first-time student who is working on the side to finance a degree or a seasoned worker returning to school to supplement your education, the following work-study tips are for you.

Schedule everything

Welcome to life as a working student; you will now have to schedule everything in advance, from the classes you want to attend to the day you’ll do your shopping to downtime with your buddies.

Mark important dates on your calendar and set up email or phone reminders that come through the day before any important events so that they don’t slip your mind.

Communicate with your employer

If you are planning to study and work full-time, it’s best to be upfront with your employer about what your expectations are and how you plan to manage work alongside your studies so that you are both on the same page.

Most employers are understanding of the demands of juggling work with studies and will be open to negotiating some flexibility. Perhaps you can work from home a couple of days a week, get earlier/later hours on certain days or work more on weekends instead.

Look for ways to earn a passive income

As a working student, every little bit of money helps, and adding a passive income to your current income stream can help to pay for at least some of your living expenses.

There are a number of different ways to start generating a passive income, from rental income to online stores to information products or apps. Think about the things you are good at and whether or not there is a market for something you can offer.

It probably won’t make you rich, but it will, however, supplement your current income and enable you to work fewer hours and focus more on your studies.

Find out if your school accepts transfer credits

Transfer credits are a great way to cut down on the amount of work you have to do at school, and even courses you did years ago may be able to help you earn a few credits towards the degree you are currently working on. In some cases, you may even be able to translate your work experience into course credits, so it’s definitely worth finding out what your school’s transfer credit policy is.

Prioritize

No matter how religiously you schedule each one of your activities, there will be times when you have to pick and choose due to unexpected circumstances.

Of course, it goes without saying that work and school should take priority over most other things, but it’s also important to keep your sanity, so judge each situation separately and make sure you aren’t neglecting your personal life either.

 About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Joyce Del Rosario. She is a career and education blogger and she is a part of the team behind Open Colleges and InformED, one of Australia’s leading providers of Open Learning and trusted and accredited distance education.

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Jobs in College: How to Balance Work and Study


workstudyStudy by itself can be very stressful, and when you add a job into the mix, your college life will need a good deal of balance and organization. Balancing study and work as a university student can be really challenging, but not impossible. When you succeed in striking that balance, you’ll discover that being a working student can be fun and enriching.

Finding work as a student is not just about getting money for your needs, it is also about gaining much needed work experience and discovering your hidden strengths. If you’re finding difficulties striking that balance between study and work, or you’re a college student considering taking up a job, then below are some tips to help you find that balance and avoid unnecessary stress.

Time Management

The job you accept as a student has everything to do with time management. It is advisable for college students not to look for jobs that require them to travel a lot. A job within the campus or within its vicinity will enable you to save travel time. It is best practice to secure a part time job in the university where one studies to avoid losing time and money on travel. You can find jobs around campus such as working in the library, which will be an opportunity for you to study and research while logging in time for work. Getting a job that is in line with your studies is advantageous, as you’ll find inspiration for your courses in your work. A good example would be applying for an assistant teaching position within the university. There could be no other way of enhancing your study skills than teaching your preferred subject.

Establish Your Priorities

You should be realistic when looking for a part time job as a college student, considering your strengths and weaknesses without losing sight of your priorities. Before you start applying for a job, it is absolutely necessary for you to make a list of your priorities, highlighting those things you think are most important to you. Do not be swept off your feet by the sheer prospect of getting a good job that you forget about your other responsibilities. If you are realistic and focused, then you’ll certainly make good decisions when it comes to the kind of jobs for which to apply.

Choose Courses Wisely

One important thing to do as a working student is to balance course difficulty. It will be very practical to offset difficult classes with those that demand less strenuous thinking. You’ll be able to keep headaches and stress away if you replace courses that deal with numbers with something like law or management. You should not bite off more than you can chew, which is why you’ll need to get enough free time for yourself and your family, or any important people in your life. Besides your studies and work, you’ll have your personal life to handle with its many problems as well. Taking one or two off-duty days per week will help you find time to relax, perhaps attend yoga classes or go to a wellness club.

It is also important that you make your limitations known to the people in your life, especially those who are flexible. Make sure to understand that you can’t handle everything, and you can’t satisfy everyone. If this thought is in your mind, then you’ll know how to take it easy on yourself when the pressure starts building around you. Succeeding as a working student will be very challenging, but if you’re mindful of your priorities, your limitations and how you manage your time, then you can create the harmony that can make work and study both exciting and interesting.

 About the Author:

Today’s guest article comes from Ryan Ayers. He is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to the field of education. This article offers tips on working while in college and aims to encourage further study with a master degree in education.

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5 Reasons Why Starting a Business In College Makes Sense


We all know that Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook from his Harvard dorm room and is now one of the wealthiest people on the planet. In fact, there is an extensive list of other massive corporations that were launched while their creators were in college— companies such as Google, Apple, Dell, Yahoo, Citadel, FedEx, and TIME magazine. Of course, starting a business in college does not guarantee riches, but there are a surprising amount of success stories every year, where current or recent college students have turned an idea into a profitable business. With that said, there are definitely a host of legitimate reasons why starting a business while in college makes sense.

Incredible Reservoir of Dirt Cheap Talent.

If you are launching a web-based business for example, college campuses are flush with the talent you’ll need. Think of all the students majoring in computer science, programming, software engineering, etc. Through a little networking, you can easily meet with these fellow students who have the technical skills you wish to utilize. Also, they may be interested in partnering with you and accepting equity instead of payment or making another type of arrangement—which won’t require large amounts of cash.

Privileged Access to Valuable Knowledge.

Every college campus offers access to experts in virtually every field, (otherwise known as professors). Often times, these professors have substantial experience in their field expertise. Each year, businesses spend millions of dollars on consultants in effort to optimize and execute business strategies. Developing relationships with and receiving advice from professors related to a business venture is an enviable pathway to free consultation with qualified experts.

Instant Marketing. Ignite Social Networks.

Most business these days try to take advantage of social media, attempting to reach current and potential customers through Facebook, Twitter, etc. However, the truth is, they are largely disconnected from an authentic, personal approach. Generic product posts and tweets don’t have much lasting influence power. On the contrary, when friends or like-minded peers endorse a product or service, the power of influence carries much more weight and travels further. Thus, by tapping into social networks of your own and your fellow undergraduates, it’s possible to quickly spread the word to tens of thousands of people.

Special Passport to Funding.

University students are often privy to a host of insider funding resources, made available only to enrolled students. A bouquet of special grant programs and scholarships are commonly accessible through university programs or connections within the businesses community. Additionally, many schools hold business plan competitions where local companies participate, providing access to more potential funding sources.

Resume Experience Unlike Any Other.

Maintaining a high G.P.A. and launching a business venture, all before receiving a college diploma, shows future employers that an individual is very driven, capable and hard-working. Basic internship experience is a dime a dozen among college students. However, the ability to produce an idea, architect a plan, launch a business and generate revenue will set a new college graduate apart from the norm.

Today, the modern business world is ultra-competitive and moves at the speed of light. Creating a business out of thin air while in college, is definitely a very challenging and consuming endeavor. However rest assured, whether the new entrepreneurial venture is great success, marginally profitable or a tremendous flop—much will be learned, character will be built, and invaluable experience will be gained.

About The Author:

Today’s guest article is provided by Justin Stephenson. He is a writer for Collegeboxes.com, the largest college storage and shipping provider in America.

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