Upon entering college I instantly realized that there were things I needed to know that mom and dad forgot to teach me. I am certain that thousands of other college students were in that exact same situation I was. Now, I'm definitely not your mother, but I trust that the following information will be of great use to you.

I cannot cover everything a student needs to know before entering college in an article like this, however, I will give an overview of a few things that I consider to be very important: money management, obtaining financial aid, cooking, and time management.

These are my three tips for managing your money.

1- Create your budget. This can be difficult at first but it'll really reduce your stress in the long run. If you don't even know where to start, search the internet or ask your friends or parents to help you.

2- Never spend more than you make. If you're in the habit of spending more money than you are making you either need to increase your income or reduce your expenses. There are loads of ways to reduce your expenses, but you may need to get creative.

3- Pay your bills when their due. Just do it. Don't get into more debt than you have to.

The most common way to obtain financial aid is through acquiring scholarships, grants, and loans. Scholarships can be found at the school you are planning to attend, on the internet, through clubs, businesses, and churches. Open your eyes to scholarships and you'll find that they are everywhere.

The most popular way to obtain a grant is through the government. In order to do this you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can do this online or through your school's financial aid office.

You have two options for student loans: Federal and private. The Stafford, Perkins, and Parent PLUS loans are a few examples of Federal loans. A private loan may be taken out through a financial institutions.

Contrary to popular belief, cooking doesn't have to be complicated. There are plenty of simple recipes that anyone can put together. In fact, loads of recipe books have been written specifically for college students! Consider investing in one of these recipe books.

When you don't want to pull out the recipe book simply look at the food you have, choose items that would taste good together, and toss them into a frying pan. Most meals are meat based with vegetables and sometimes noodles or rice.

Time is precious, manage it wisely. Here are some of my time management tips:

1. Prioritize- As long as you get the really important things done, nothing else matters.

2. Schedule- Each person needs an individual schedule that matches them. Try out different schedules to determine which one works best for you. Without a schedule the majority of college students end up loafing, being pulled away by friends or distracted by events and consequently, getting behind in their studies.

3. Follow your Schedule- When you are in class, BE in class. Don't dose off or text your friends. If your teacher is really boring, do homework for a different class. When it is time to study, study. Don't go to the library for an hour just to end up gazing out the window for forty five minutes. When it is time to relax (and you definitely need to take time to relax), relax. Do what you need to do when you need to do it.

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