Are you pursuing college with a tight or less budget? This blog is for you.
Hi beloved! I am Kenn, a teacher here in the Philippines. In this blog, I'll be sharing to you five different practical ways on how to survive college with less budget.
Nine years ago, I'm also like you ----- I was so worried if I could finish college since we are not financially capable. My father is a motorcycle driver and my mother is a housewife. During that time, all of us (siblings) were also studying. So worrying for my future was really high during that time.
But now, I'm confidently working (for five good years). I am happy I have surpassed all the challenges in college. And that's also the reason why I'll be sharing some of my techniques on how I did it.
For now, let's focus more on dealing with your financial worries.
Let's go!
Tip no. 1: Apply for Scholarships
Today, there are a lot of scholarships that you can apply for. Based on my experience (and what I also know), there are three major kinds of scholarships.
- Working Scholarship
- Academic Scholarship
- Company Scholarship
Working Scholarship
Students under this kind of scholarship render service to a company. We usually call these scholars as working scholars. They are somewhat like a part-time employee but with less/ different benefits.
The company where the working scholar is connected with will be the one to pay the scholar's tuition fee or a percentage of the tuition fee, and they will also give a monthly allowance to the scholar. These privileges depend on the contract between the company and the scholar.
Working scholars render service with a lesser hour (usually four hours a day excluding weekend), they don't receive salary since the money will be directly given by their company to the school (others are in a form of check or in a form of contract between the company and school), and they don't get monthly deductions (like full-time employees and part-time employees do) such as income tax, PAG-IBIG contribution, SSS contribution, Philhealth, and Insurance (these monthly contributions are based in Philippine setting).
I was once a working scholar when I was in college. Good thing, I am a working scholar in the school where I was studying. So I got a full-free tution, and I am given a monthly allowance which is helpful for me to buy books. Because of that, I only need to prepare for my daily transportation and food expenses.
Academic Scholarship
Scholars under this kind of scholarship don't have to render service but they are required to meet a certain grade and average. Usually, Senior High School class valedictorian (or with highest honor) receives a full-free tuition while the rest of the rank will receive a certain discount on their tuition fee. Academic scholars need to maintain a certain grade per subject and average (per semester) to enjoy the privileges from beginning to end of the semester.
Academic scholars and working scholars privileges are different because of their job/scholarship description, obligation, and requirements.
In my opinion, I consider the students in state universities as academic scholars because they enjoy full-free tuition or discounts as long as they meet a certain grade in college.
Company Scholarship
Company scholarship is a scholarship but with stricter end goal. It's like an academic scholarship because they need to meet a certain grade standard. However, scholars under this program are studying in college with the course that is related to the company they are connected with, and become an employee in their company after they graduate. It's like a "study now, pay later" program: you study now, you pay them through your service after you graduate.
This scholarship program is very limited in nature: too few companies offer this, too few courses can be enrolled to (since the company will be the one to decide which course you are going to enroll), and too high standard that should be met by the scholars.
I also observed that the companies offering this kind of program are too big or are based/ managed internationally. Their scholars also receive a lot of privileges while studying and even when they graduate.
The best example I could give is the NSA Scholarship in our university. This scholarship is only limited to students who want to enroll in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering programs. They enjoy free lodging, free meals, free tuition, free books, free uniform, etc. Their graduates also will work with their company right after graduation/ trainings.
I would like to remind you that any privileges stated above differ from school to school. I advise you to check out with your university's scholarship office to know the different scholarship programs they are offering.
If you don't know if this office exists in your school, better ask your professors so that someone can guide you on how to apply or who to approach.
Tip no. 2: Mind Your Spending
It's also about time to mind and control your spending. College life ain't easy, dear. Aside from the books, transportation fare, and daily meals, you also need to prepare money for school projects.
School projects in college is not just limited to printing assignments and stuffs. There are times that you will be required for group meet-ups, field tour, community services and emersion, and a lot of researches. These are just few of some co-curricular and extra-curricular stuffs that you are going to encounter in college. So better prepare your mind as well as your pocket.
As early as now, practice spending less. Better revisit your priorities. Less night-outs, more saving.
Tip no. 3: Utilize Books in the Library
Every semester, you are required to buy books for your subjects. Another technique to save is to utilize books in the library. But why? If I can just read stuffs in the internet.
This tip is not just for you to save money but also for you to study wisely. Professors in college usually use books in the library because they are required to use the books in the library as regularly as possible. In fact, librarians communicate with your professors for them to know which book/s must be purchased for the semester or for the school year for them to update their collection.
Professors are also encouraged to create their own reference book so that they will be "called" as master of their profession. This can give a good standing/rating of the school and of the professor too. Once the professor have published a book, they usually provide a copy of their book to the library (depending on the school's guidelines). So you can use the books they have written during your classes.
In case of textbooks, the next tip may be applicable.
Tip no. 4: Borrow Books From Seniors
You can actually do this one for a reference books and or textbooks. Sometimes, references used by our professors can be found in the library or in bookstores. That's why, you can always borrow books from seniors. But what if the professor requires you to buy textbooks?
Textbooks contain activities after each lessons or chapters. If your professor requires you to buy book and you don't have money or you lack the money to buy, you can ask them if you could just borrow books from your seniors.
Since it's all used up last semester, worksheets on their books are already cut-off, so it's safe to use theirs. However, you need to ask permission from your professor to do this one so that he/she would know. You also need to ask permission if you can use a sheet of paper in answering worksheets from your book so that your professors won't be shock if your answer sheet is different from your classmates.
I have done this one during my college years, fortunately, most of my professors are too considerate with my situation. However, there are really some who weren't, that's why I don't have a choice but to buy the book/s, but at least, I have saved a little since I was approved by some professors.
And you know what, since I'm a working scholar, some professors who knew that they have working scholars in their class/es usually gave their spare books to us.
Tip no. 5: Seek Opportunities to Earn
It's also good that you will find ways on how to earn money. In this generation, we have a lot of ways to earn online. Number one example is this platform, Hive.
Another best side hustle for students in college is becoming a tutor. This does not require a lot of hours and a lot of preparation in a day but this can be a good source of constant monthly income.
Just be careful with the opportunities that you are planning to apply with. Make sure that it does not hinder your studies or affect your mental health. Though there are a lot of opportunities right now, but not everything is good for everyone.
Conclusion
Again, remember the five tips for you to survive college even with less budget:
- Apply for scholarship
- Mind your spending
- Utilize books in the library
- Borrow books from seniors
- Seek opportunities to earn
Please remember that there are many ways for us to do our "thing". So you can always modify these tips depending on your situation. You can try these or you can do your ways. Just work smartly and wisely!
I would also like to add that a good amount of support from your family and your friends is really helpful for you to do it. It's really empowering to know that someone is at our back while we are fighting for our dreams.
Surviving college will never be easy but I know that you can do it.
See you in my next blog!