Parenting

Saving Time And Money At College

Posted: 12/5/2010

Increasingly, students want to get their degree on time or in less time than usual, since that can help them save money.

(NAPSI)-A successful college experience doesn't happen by accident. Experts agree it takes a plan and commitment--particularly if you want to get your degree as quickly as possible.

Increasingly, students want to get their degree on time or even in less time than usual, since that can save them money.

To help, here are some tips:

Pick the Right School

• Make sure you are applying to colleges that offer the programs you are interested in--even before you declare a major.

• Learn the difference between majors that sound alike--such as computer programming and software engineering, or dietetics and food/nutrition.

• Find out which high school courses are recommended for the majors you like.

• Identify schools that allow you to combine bachelor's and graduate programs to get an advanced credential in five or six years. Hundreds of such programs are listed in the College Board's "Book of Majors," along with the information you need to follow the tips above.

Get a Head Start

There are a number of special options available that are designed to help speed the graduation process along.

• Accelerated study--See if the major you have selected has a program in place that gets you through college in less than four years.

• Credit by examination--Many colleges award credit for AP or CLEP or have their own tests to determine your knowledge. You can get some credits under your belt this way.

• Distance learning--Check out your college's distance learning options. You may be able to take courses over the summer to stay on track or get through college sooner than usual.

Information on these and other programs is available in the College Board's "College Handbook 2011."

Listen to Advice

Be sure to use the college's advising services. Most colleges assign each student an adviser. They can help you put together course work that will help you move through your college years in a meaningful way--meeting both general requirements and degree and major requirements.

To learn more about books from the College Board, you can visit store.collegeboard.com.