Great Graduate Gifts for College-Bound Students

Of all the events that people celebrate in their lives, high school graduation is one of the best! Graduation often marks the passage from childhood to adulthood, and is frequently a chance for friends and family to say “Bon Voyage!” as students head off into life.

If you’re looking for a meaningful or helpful gift for a graduating high school Senior who is headed into college, here are some suggestions:

Prepaid Phone Card/Phone

If the student is going out of town or away from family for the first time, a pre-paid calling card or pre-paid phone is a great gift. Whether it’s simply to keep in touch with family back home or emergency calls to a parent (“Do I wash black socks and white t-shirts together, Mom?”) the gift of communication is meaningful and helpful.

Bookstore Gift Certificates

College books are expensive, and students often don’t realistically account in their budget for how much they might cost. A gift certificate to a college bookstore or a reputable online source is a great gift for students. Want a more meaningful gift? Consider asking the student for his/her complete book list and spend the summer tracking down book bargains to help offset the cost of college, and sign each one with an encouraging message to the new college student.

Household Items

For students moving away to college, the cost of simple household items can quickly add up. Things as simple as a coffee maker, ironing board, or a microwave are taken for granted when you’re living at home with your parents, but can be sorely missed when you’re suddenly on your own.

A Cleaning Kit

Alright, it’s not necessarily the most meaningful gift, but it certainly is helpful! Collect a wide array of cleaning products (mop, bucket, tea towels, laundry detergent, bathroom scrubber, etc) and package it all up for the new college student. They might think it’s funny but they’ll certainly appreciate it by the beginning of October when they realize that their parents are no longer around to keep their house clean!

Grocery Store Gift Cards

We’ve all heard stories of students who run through their term funds too quickly and are reduced to eating ketchup soup in December. A gift card to a national grocery store chain can help ensure that the student in your life is well-fed, or give them a little boost for something fancier than cafeteria fare.

Cash

If the high school Senior in your life is facing a financial shortfall for college, cash to be applied towards tuition and fees can be the most meaningful gift of all. Every dollar you give might be one less dollar the student has to take on in student-debt. Giving the gift of a debt-free future after college is truly meaningful and helpful; even if the student doesn’t realize it for years to come.

How to Avoid Senior Year Burnout

With your senior year winding down, or being faced with starting your senior year this fall, it’s important to keep your grades up, but also to have a healthy perspective.  Here are a few things to take into consideration to avoid unnecessary stress and burnout in your senior year.

Get Plenty of Sleep This may be the hardest step to follow-- your mind is racing with information on future college living, senior prom, graduation and, most importantly, how to spend your last remaining moments with high school friends and family.  Remember that your body and mind both need plenty of rest to function properly. Not only will lack of sleep add to your stress levels, it can contribute to other health issues, too. Try to get at least six to eight hours of good sleep every night.

Stay on Top of Your Classes You may think that once you are accepted to a college, the school work is over. Wrong! Most colleges will expect to see your final grades and may even rescind their offers of admission if your grades drop dramatically at the end of your senior year. Now is definitely not the time to become a slacker. Be sure you have recorded all important testing dates and have scheduled time to complete all papers and projects due prior to graduation. Attend all classes and maintain your grade point average. You’re almost there, so don’t drop the ball now.

Challenge Yourself Students often feel like the final weeks of school are dragging along. Take this time to challenge yourself. Start volunteering somewhere to stay motivated and engaged. Are you still undecided about your college major? Take this time to find internships or job shadowing opportunities at various companies or organizations to see if something clicks. You may just find your calling!

“Me” Time If you find you are having problems concentrating, sleeping, or are feeling depressed, be sure to take a break. Take a run or go for a walk or try some deep breathing exercises. Just a few moments away from your everyday grind can give you a renewed energy and alleviate some of the stress you are feeling.

Before you know it, graduation will be here and the summer will be flying by. But before you can start the next chapter of your life, you need to make sure you finish high school on a high note. Keep focused on your homework and be sure to prepare for your AP, IB or AICE exams. And one last thing: celebrate your high school successes…you’ve earned it!

The Value of a College Education

Going to college is one of the biggest decisions in a person's life. The high cost of getting a college education can make it a daunting prospect, but with lots of financial aid available in the form of loans or grants it is often not impossible and is very valuable. Here are some reasons that the decision to go to college is a good one.

·         It is the best investment anyone can make. Most graduates get a huge return on the cost of college during their life. Also, the value of a college degree never decreases so you will always have it to fall back onto when looking for a job.

·         College graduates are generally more well-rounded people because of the experience that they gain. Nothing beats the college experience for developing social skills that will be useful wherever you go and whoever you meet.

·         The chance to meet and network with people who share the same interests. This should not be underestimated--building contacts can help greatly in the future when you're looking to get a job, as well as providing a stepping stone into different industries.

·         College helps a student to become an expert in their field. This allows them to contribute to their subject's future in a meaningful way, while learning about the subject they love and enjoy.

·         The social skills picked up at college are used throughout the student's life. Being able to meet new people is one skill that will be useful no matter which field of work you go into.

·         College helps to make students more aware of the country they live in and gives them a sense of what is right and wrong. College graduates tend to be a lot more willing to stand up for what they believe in because of this.

·         The chance to meet and make friends for life. To be happy, we all need good friends around us and college is a great place to find some. This is because lots of the people you meet will be motivated and share the same interests as yourself.

·         A college education is one commodity that will only ever increase in value. No matter how many years go by, your college education will always be of value wherever you go.

·         A college education opens up many doors in the workplace that otherwise would have been unavailable. This is especially true today when more and more people are going on to higher education.

·         Going to college is investing in a student's own future. When you go to college you are giving yourself the best possible chance to succeed.

There are plenty more reasons for going to college, some are financial, some social and some personal. Going to college is, for many people, the best decision that they will ever make!

Tax Credits 101

In 2010, the American Opportunity tax credit expanded and changed the older Hope credit along with a few other aspects of other tax breaks for college families. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 extend the amended college expenses tax credit through 2012. This law allows parents and independent college students to obtain deductions or credits from taxes owed based on certain expenditures on higher education. There are several opportunities to save on your annual tax payment.

Above-the-line Deduction

This tax break is allowed for fees and tuition paid for higher education by the tax filer for them or a dependent child. Up to $4,000 can be deducted above-and-beyond the standard deduction, even without itemizing. A smaller $2,000 deduction is also possible for some taxpayers depending on adjusted gross income.

Student Loan Interest Deduction

Changes were also made in the rules regarding the deduction possibilities for interest paid on student loans. This is not only important to college graduates but for those with current expenses. Because the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) allows for immediate repayment any family choosing that option over deferring until after the student's graduation could potentially utilize this tax break. 

American Opportunity Tax Credit

The American Opportunity credit allows families or independent students to claim up to 100% of the first $2,000 paid in tuition and fees plus 25% of the next $2,000. Therefore, the maximum tax break from this program is $2,500 and is only available during the first four years of a student's academic career.

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit

Still around from the past is the Lifetime Learning credit, which is less restrictive than the American Opportunity Tax Credit and is mainly intended to help defray college costs after the first four years, when AOTC eligibility expires. It is available for an unlimited number of years and does not have any minimum enrollment requirements. Continuing education and graduate courses are included as applicable expenses.