The Advisor is on Spring Break!

This means no new posts between March 21st and March 28th...

Phtot credit: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/

While I'm away enjoying a relaxing, fun, and safe Spring Break, here are some nuggets of wisdom for you to make your own Spring Break awesome:

• SafeSpringBreak.org: Safety tips
• Center for Disease Control (CDC): Health and safety tips

Have a happy and safe Spring Break!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day!

February 14th is not just Valentine's Day, it is also Anna Howard Shaw Day. This day honors the leader of the US women's suffrage movement and first female Methodist minister. Some feminists even celebrate Anna Howard Shaw Day as an alternative to Valentine's Day.

Anna Howard Shaw Day gained some attention last year when an episode of 30 Rock not only mentioned it but was named after it.

Photo credit: http://images1.memegenerator.net/

Why should you care about Anna Howard Shaw Day? Because as a first generation or low income college student, it is important to learn about yourself and others. This includes learning about holidays and events that you don't celebrate yourself. You might just find a new tradition to embrace.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Happy Black History Month!

February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, and that means its time for remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.

Photo credit: http://www.aclib.us/

One of the best parts of college is learning about yourself and others, so I highly recommend attending at least one Black History Month program or event for every first generation and low income college student, no matter what your ethnic or cultural background is. Many college campuses host activities and programs to commemorate Black History Month, so look out for events at your school.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

How to save money for the holiday season

As I drink spiced apple cider, deck my halls, and wrap gifts, I can't help thinking 'tis the season for gift-giving (and receiving, too). This can be a fun, exciting, and stressful time for many first generation and low income college students, especially if you are feeling pressured to give awesome gifts.

Photo credit: http://www.quizzle.com/

No matter what holidays you may or may not be celebrating, these tips can help you save money for the holiday season while giving those awesome gifts: 

DIY. Consider making gifts yourself on the cheap, like baking cookies, burning CDs, or writing a poem. If there is something that you are good at, use your skill to make personalized gifts.  

Plan for next year. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping for next year by hitting up the after-Christmas sales for some great deals. This is also a great option if you celebrate Kwanzaa. 

Opt out. You can always play the "poor starving college student" card and just not give any gifts. Most people will be understanding of this.

My apologies that these tips are too late for Hanukkah this year, but I'm sure these will be useful tips if you are giving anyone else gifts. You can also get more money-saving tips from our friends over at CollegesSholarships.org and their post 10 ways students can save money this Christmas.

No matter what you decide to do, make sure you stick to a budget, avoiding getting yourself into credit card debt, and have fun. Happy holiday!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

The Advisor says "Thank you!"

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! As you say thank you to those that helped you get to where you are today, I would like to give a big, heartfelt thank you for reading Ask an Advisor.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!

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Have a happy Thanksgiving. And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, have a lovely weekend. See you all on Monday.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Say "Thank you"

If you are a first generation or low income college student in the United States, chances are you are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. During this time when you sit around thinking of all the ways you are lucky and giving thanks for those things, don't forget about the people that helped you get to where you are today.

I encourage you to use this holiday to reflect on your journey to become a college student and thank the people who were influential in that process. Like, actually thank them. Yes, I mean tell them "Thank you!" for helping you make it to college.

Photo credit: https://wiki.smu.edu.sg/

Tell your friends and family, the high school guidance counselor or community member that believed in you, your mentor, or whoever it is. Just tell them.

Maybe you're an "actions speak louder than words" kinda person. So do something nice for the folks that helped you get to where you are. Offer to babysit for them, take them out for lunch, or bake them a cake. Show them how grateful you are for their support.

You can also spread the holiday spirit by giving back and volunteering for Thanksgiving-based projects, like food drives or soup kitchens.

So, say "Thank you" to someone important in your path to college and enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Resources for Veterans

November 11th is Veterans' Day, a day meant to honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces. And a fair number of first generation and low income college students are veterans.

People tend to have strong feelings--both positive and negative--about military service and college campuses are no different. Even so, chances are that your campus has some resources specifically for veterans and, in some cases, children of veterans who where killed or disabled during their service.

If you are a veteran or are receiving benefits because a parent was a veteran, look out for a veterans services office or a Veterans' Upward Bound program. If your campus doesn't have these types of services, sometimes a reentry student services office will have some good resources for veterans as well.

The financial aid office should be able to help you navigate your GI Bill benefits or other benefits you might be getting and how that plays into your overall financial aid package.

Some campuses even have support groups for students who are veterans. Even if your campus doesn't, you might be able to start one.

Lastly, if your campus offers an ROTC program, you might be able to learn about additional resources for veterans from the ROTC staff.

With these resources for veterans you can be a successful student, too!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Happy Halloween!

I'm a fan of Halloween because I love dressing up. Even when I was a low income college student, I would always dress up and go to class in costume. Instead of buying a costume, it can be quite economical (and fun!) to create your own. Plus, people will applaud your creativity.

Need some inspiration? Check out our friends at College Scholarships for 50 Halloween costume ideas for a broke student.

Here I am as Dr. Miranda Bailey from Grey's Anatomy:

This costume cost me only $4 dollars total at a thrift store, $2.50 for the scrubs and $1.50 for the "lab coat," which is just a man's dress shirt. I safety pinned a homemade name badge on and carried around a folder I already had as a "chart" for added impact. This costume was a big hit in 2006.

The Advisor wishes you a fun and safe Halloween!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.