With most graduate school entrance exams, you're able to arrange your test date based on your schedule, or there will be multiple test dates throughout the year. Create a timeline that works for you. Still on the fence about grad school? Here's what to consider.

Add to Calendar 01/01/2021 12/31/2021 America/New_York Graduate School Entrance Exams

Top strategies to help get ahead this summer

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Published March 18, 2021

Check out these ideas to help get ahead academically and financially while school is out.

When school lets out for summer, your first instinct may be to spend the next few months relaxing after a busy semester, but the summer can be a great time to get ahead academically — and financially. Here are a few ideas to make the most of your summer break. 

Continue your coursework

Summer can be a great time to get ahead on your degree by knocking out some of your core requirements or retaking a class if you need to. By taking classes during the summer, you may even be able to graduate early. This could save you some money since tuition for summer sessions is often much lower than if you attend a full semester; there may even be scholarships or work-study programs available to help you pay for your summer session. Check with your financial aid office to see what programs your university offers.  

If you’re looking to make your money go even further, consider taking classes closer to home at a local university or community college. Both of these options may come with the opportunity to live at home, if you don’t already or pay lower tuition. Online classes from your current or a different school are another choice that can give you the freedom to choose your location and schedule, as well as potential access to subjects you can’t find during other school terms. Just be sure to check ahead of time that your school allows transfer credits from the institution where you want to take classes. 

Get real-world experience

Use your summer to get a jump-start on your future. Consider completing an internship or summer job, both of which will help your resume stand out come graduation. Many immersive internship opportunities are paid, so you can improve your job prospects while also making money during the summer. 

Besides internships, summer jobs can be a useful indicator of what majors or future jobs you may enjoy. For example, helping out with admin tasks in a local office may show you have a knack for accounting or writing. Or working at a summer camp might teach you if you like working with children, leading you to consider an education major.

Working a summer job has the benefit of helping to pad your finances for the upcoming semester. That extra cash could ease some financial concerns you might have about being able to afford textbooks and late-night frozen yogurt runs. Just make sure you have a strategy in place to save your money — tools like direct deposit and automatic transfer can be particularly helpful for making your saving automatic. 

Think outside the classroom

Taking college classes isn’t the only way to get ahead over the summer. Certification courses are an affordable alternative to for-credit classes. Earn a tech certification in cybersecurity, finish a sales skills program, or get another type of specialized license that could make you a more attractive applicant in your future career field. These types of qualifications can strengthen your resume and can give you a boost to jump into a field more easily postgraduation. 

Apply for scholarships

You could also use your summer vacation to apply for scholarships to help you pay for everything you need for the upcoming semester. Since you may have more free time than during the school year, you can spend that time researching and applying for scholarships that could finance anything from tuition to textbooks. Use TFS Scholarships to search over 7 million scholarships, plus get advice from real scholarship recipients on how to find and land scholarships. 

Travel internationally

This one requires some planning, but you could consider taking part in a school-sponsored trip, enrolling in a study abroad program, or traveling with a volunteer-based organization. Not only will you want to explore what types of programs your university offers, but you should check to see if you qualify for a financial aid package to help finance the trip. These types of programs are a great way to broaden your horizons culturally; check with your International Programs office to see if you may be able to receive academic credit for your time overseas.  

Whether you’re hitting the books hard this summer or making a little extra cash, use these strategies to make the most of your summer opportunities. 

Another way to keep learning this summer is to attend the Beyond College webinar series.

Learn more

School/ Online

Share

The Point Community College Program inspires LGBTQ community college students to fulfill their ambitions of graduating with an associate’s degree and/or transferring to a four-year college or university. Students accepted into the program will receive between $2,000-$4,800 in scholarship support each year, admissions counseling, coaching and financial education at the Point Community College Transfer Symposium in Los Angeles, and access to the Point Foundation network of LGBTQ scholars, more than 300 alumni, and many others dedicated to seeing LGBTQ students succeed. Sponsored by Wells Fargo

Add to Calendar 03/01/2021 05/03/2021 America/New_York The Point Community College Scholarship

Top strategies to help get ahead this summer

• LinkedIn
• Email
• Print

Published March 18, 2021

Check out these ideas to help get ahead academically and financially while school is out.

When school lets out for summer, your first instinct may be to spend the next few months relaxing after a busy semester, but the summer can be a great time to get ahead academically — and financially. Here are a few ideas to make the most of your summer break. 

Continue your coursework

Summer can be a great time to get ahead on your degree by knocking out some of your core requirements or retaking a class if you need to. By taking classes during the summer, you may even be able to graduate early. This could save you some money since tuition for summer sessions is often much lower than if you attend a full semester; there may even be scholarships or work-study programs available to help you pay for your summer session. Check with your financial aid office to see what programs your university offers.  

If you’re looking to make your money go even further, consider taking classes closer to home at a local university or community college. Both of these options may come with the opportunity to live at home, if you don’t already or pay lower tuition. Online classes from your current or a different school are another choice that can give you the freedom to choose your location and schedule, as well as potential access to subjects you can’t find during other school terms. Just be sure to check ahead of time that your school allows transfer credits from the institution where you want to take classes. 

Get real-world experience

Use your summer to get a jump-start on your future. Consider completing an internship or summer job, both of which will help your resume stand out come graduation. Many immersive internship opportunities are paid, so you can improve your job prospects while also making money during the summer. 

Besides internships, summer jobs can be a useful indicator of what majors or future jobs you may enjoy. For example, helping out with admin tasks in a local office may show you have a knack for accounting or writing. Or working at a summer camp might teach you if you like working with children, leading you to consider an education major.

Working a summer job has the benefit of helping to pad your finances for the upcoming semester. That extra cash could ease some financial concerns you might have about being able to afford textbooks and late-night frozen yogurt runs. Just make sure you have a strategy in place to save your money — tools like direct deposit and automatic transfer can be particularly helpful for making your saving automatic. 

Think outside the classroom

Taking college classes isn’t the only way to get ahead over the summer. Certification courses are an affordable alternative to for-credit classes. Earn a tech certification in cybersecurity, finish a sales skills program, or get another type of specialized license that could make you a more attractive applicant in your future career field. These types of qualifications can strengthen your resume and can give you a boost to jump into a field more easily postgraduation. 

Apply for scholarships

You could also use your summer vacation to apply for scholarships to help you pay for everything you need for the upcoming semester. Since you may have more free time than during the school year, you can spend that time researching and applying for scholarships that could finance anything from tuition to textbooks. Use TFS Scholarships to search over 7 million scholarships, plus get advice from real scholarship recipients on how to find and land scholarships. 

Travel internationally

This one requires some planning, but you could consider taking part in a school-sponsored trip, enrolling in a study abroad program, or traveling with a volunteer-based organization. Not only will you want to explore what types of programs your university offers, but you should check to see if you qualify for a financial aid package to help finance the trip. These types of programs are a great way to broaden your horizons culturally; check with your International Programs office to see if you may be able to receive academic credit for your time overseas.  

Whether you’re hitting the books hard this summer or making a little extra cash, use these strategies to make the most of your summer opportunities. 

Another way to keep learning this summer is to attend the Beyond College webinar series.

Learn more

Online

Share

The month of April is Financial Literacy Month. A 2019 study by Ohio State University found that nearly half of college students feel stressed about their personal finances. Subscribe to the CollegeSTEPS newsletter to get tips and insights on making the most of college, managing your money, and starting a career.

Add to Calendar 04/01/2021 04/30/2021 America/New_York Financial Literacy Month

Top strategies to help get ahead this summer

• LinkedIn
• Email
• Print

Published March 18, 2021

Check out these ideas to help get ahead academically and financially while school is out.

When school lets out for summer, your first instinct may be to spend the next few months relaxing after a busy semester, but the summer can be a great time to get ahead academically — and financially. Here are a few ideas to make the most of your summer break. 

Continue your coursework

Summer can be a great time to get ahead on your degree by knocking out some of your core requirements or retaking a class if you need to. By taking classes during the summer, you may even be able to graduate early. This could save you some money since tuition for summer sessions is often much lower than if you attend a full semester; there may even be scholarships or work-study programs available to help you pay for your summer session. Check with your financial aid office to see what programs your university offers.  

If you’re looking to make your money go even further, consider taking classes closer to home at a local university or community college. Both of these options may come with the opportunity to live at home, if you don’t already or pay lower tuition. Online classes from your current or a different school are another choice that can give you the freedom to choose your location and schedule, as well as potential access to subjects you can’t find during other school terms. Just be sure to check ahead of time that your school allows transfer credits from the institution where you want to take classes. 

Get real-world experience

Use your summer to get a jump-start on your future. Consider completing an internship or summer job, both of which will help your resume stand out come graduation. Many immersive internship opportunities are paid, so you can improve your job prospects while also making money during the summer. 

Besides internships, summer jobs can be a useful indicator of what majors or future jobs you may enjoy. For example, helping out with admin tasks in a local office may show you have a knack for accounting or writing. Or working at a summer camp might teach you if you like working with children, leading you to consider an education major.

Working a summer job has the benefit of helping to pad your finances for the upcoming semester. That extra cash could ease some financial concerns you might have about being able to afford textbooks and late-night frozen yogurt runs. Just make sure you have a strategy in place to save your money — tools like direct deposit and automatic transfer can be particularly helpful for making your saving automatic. 

Think outside the classroom

Taking college classes isn’t the only way to get ahead over the summer. Certification courses are an affordable alternative to for-credit classes. Earn a tech certification in cybersecurity, finish a sales skills program, or get another type of specialized license that could make you a more attractive applicant in your future career field. These types of qualifications can strengthen your resume and can give you a boost to jump into a field more easily postgraduation. 

Apply for scholarships

You could also use your summer vacation to apply for scholarships to help you pay for everything you need for the upcoming semester. Since you may have more free time than during the school year, you can spend that time researching and applying for scholarships that could finance anything from tuition to textbooks. Use TFS Scholarships to search over 7 million scholarships, plus get advice from real scholarship recipients on how to find and land scholarships. 

Travel internationally

This one requires some planning, but you could consider taking part in a school-sponsored trip, enrolling in a study abroad program, or traveling with a volunteer-based organization. Not only will you want to explore what types of programs your university offers, but you should check to see if you qualify for a financial aid package to help finance the trip. These types of programs are a great way to broaden your horizons culturally; check with your International Programs office to see if you may be able to receive academic credit for your time overseas.  

Whether you’re hitting the books hard this summer or making a little extra cash, use these strategies to make the most of your summer opportunities. 

Another way to keep learning this summer is to attend the Beyond College webinar series.

Learn more

Online

Share