How to Avoid Dorm Damage Fees

By Juliet O'Reilly | May 14, 2012 – 9:30 am

Orientation Weekend 2010 – Nazareth College, Rochester, NY

Moving out of your dorm at the end of the semester is a bittersweet experience.  While it can be sad to leave behind college friends for the summer, frequently summer plans and goals trump all apprehensions about leaving campus.  With the stress of finals and the desire to embark on your vacation, sometimes packing up your room becomes a mindless test of speed and efficiency, making it easy to overlook minor faults and damages to your room.  Usually the worst outcome of this is a suitcase full of dirty laundry and a possibly broken desk lamp, but it isn’t uncommon to run into more serious consequences: room damage fees.  Below is a list of ways to help avoid being confronted with dorm damage and moving fees.

1. Don’t overlook the condition card!

At the start of the semester during move-in your college residence advisor most likely handed you a condition card where you could indicate current damages and issues with your room assignment.  These cards are of the utmost importance as they serve to gauge the severity of changes to the condition of your room when it is reviewed after you move-out.  It is important to be as specific as possible on these cards, and to include even the most minor issues with your room to make sure that you are protected against future potential for charges.  If your school does not provide condition cards, speak with your residence advisor about the condition of your room to make sure that its condition is taken note of prior to the start of your semester.

2. Maintenance is your friend!

If something goes awry in your room be sure to call maintenance in a timely fashion to report the incident.  Accidents happen, and if you are proactive about fixing an issue, you are far less likely to incur dorm damage charges than if you did not alert maintenance to the issue and left it to be discovered post-semester after you had moved out.  Similarly, if you notice a problem in a common area of your dormitory, don’t hesitate to call it in! Reporting problems without hesitation can save both you and your neighbors from fines; some schools even have anonymous tip lines which you can call or text regarding condition issues in campus buildings.

3. Move out should mirror move in!

Possibly the most important piece of advice is to ensure that you leave your dorm at the end of the semester looking exactly as it did when you first arrived last fall.  Schools are very strict about the furnishings they include in the room, so be sure not only to double check that everything which came with your room is there, but I would also recommend leaving the furniture arranged in the way in which you found it.  This allows for an easier examination of your room after you leave, and helps to prevent additional fees.  Also, make sure to donate and/or dispose of any items you do not wish to take back with you; it would be very frustrating to receive a fine due to forgetting to empty your trash or similarly neglecting to drop off winter clothes at your local charity.

Before moving out, be sure to clarify with your residence advisor your dorm’s specific rules and regulations regarding move out procedures and expected room condition.  This can save you from possible fines and make the move out process run smoothly for you. If you’re worried about having to pay for damages at the end of the semester, you may want to consider a renters insurance policy, which may cover the expenses incurred if there are damages.

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5 More Things Your Commencement Speaker Won’t Tell You

By Jenn Sheehan | May 9, 2012 – 1:45 pm

Cal State San Marcos Graduation

I read an article this morning by Charles Wheelan entitled “10 Things Your Commencement Speaker Won’t Tell You.”  As a somewhat-recent-grad, I found a lot of helpful takeaways (and some bordering on absurd) in this piece, and it inspired me to reflect on the “real-world” knowledge I’ve gained.  Here are 5 more things you may not hear at commencement, but are useful nonetheless, inspired by Mr. Wheelan.

1. Your money was well spent.

Dismal statistics concerning college grads are all over the news these days, however, a degree DOES pay off in terms of employment. The unempoloyment rate for college grads is far lower than those without degrees, sparking this article in the Atlantic, “What’s More Expensive Than College? Not Going to College.” You may have racked up some debt paying for your education, but education is one of the wisest investments you’ve made in your life. Read More »

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Subletting Tips

By Juliet O'Reilly | May 7, 2012 – 9:30 am

apartment keys!

With the semester nearing an end and summer just around the corner, you may find yourself confronting a move.  Whether moving to a new city for a summer internship, a new job, or because mom and dad decided to make your old room into a home gym, you could end up looking for a sublet. At the surface, subletting can be an overwhelming and horribly unorganized process. That being said, it can actually bring positives with it: renting a sublet is a great way to test the waters of a new neighborhood or new roommates due to the shorter than usual lease terms.

For those looking to sublet their current apartment, have no fear: the summer frequently brings an influx of individuals looking for shorter-term leasing, and if you rent near a college campus, then many colleges run summer programs where both the university’s students and students who usually attend other universities come and study for the summer.  Below are some ideas for ways to navigate the process from both sides of it, so that you can get your summer off to a great start in a fabulous sublet! Read More »

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#CrushStudentDebt

By Jenn Sheehan | May 2, 2012 – 11:02 am

Crush Student Debt

Student debt has been popping up all over the headlines lately. Whether its about the impending Stafford Loan rate increases, more unemployment statistics, more dismal news about recent grads entering the job market, or further commentary on how student debt has now topped credit card debt in the U.S. – reminders of and information about student debt is everywhere these days. And most of it is not pretty.

The average student debt hovers around $25,000. Combined with a weak job market, it’s enough to make any recent grad’s stress level skyrocket. Starting out on your own managing debt isn’t easy – but a new way to juggle those costs has come to our attention. SmarterBank and Simple Tuition are giving away up to $25,000 in payments to one lucky winner’s student debt with their #CrushStudentDebt sweepstakes!

Amaze! While you check out their sweepstakes, check out SmarterBank’s new online checking account, which hooks students and graduates up with rewards that can help them pay down their student debt – that does sound smart.

You can check out the sweepstakes here and learn more about SmarterBank and Simple Tuition. Good luck! (And don’t forget to follow #crushstudentdebt on Twitter!)

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Packing Tips for College Move Out Day

By Jenn Sheehan | April 26, 2012 – 9:23 am

Packing Tips for College

How bittersweet this time of year is – summer is approaching, meaning no more classes or exams or deadlines, but you have to say goodbye to your friends, professors, clubs and parties. Although this can be a fun time get distracted and to get ready for the warm weather and summer fun again, it’s also a time to make sure you’re prepared to be on time for your flight or ride when moving out of your dorm or apartment.

Between finals, nice weather and saying goodbye to friends, it can be difficult to get everything packed in an organized and timely manner. However, it helps everyone to do a little bit over time, so the whole task never seems too overwhelming. What do you need to do before you leave? Where should you begin? Check out this list! Read More »

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GradGuard at NAFSA 2012!

By Jenn Sheehan | April 25, 2012 – 2:11 pm

I'm Exhibiting at NAFSA!

The NAFSA Annual Conference is quickly approaching! There’s just over a month to go until it’s start on May 27th. We will be attending and you can come find us at booth #142 to learn more about our services, college risk and why universities and students alike should consider protecting themselves with the help of our different insurance plans.

Be sure to look for us at the conference and for our #nafsa12 Tweets on Twitter. You can follow us at @nextgenins, @GradGuard, @JohnTFees, @WentworthDennis for updates during the conference!

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What the Possible Stafford Loan Rate Spike Means

By Jenn Sheehan | April 25, 2012 – 12:26 pm

Student loans have begun garnering attention in the media lately, as time ticks ever closer to July 1st. They’ve become a hot ticket on the campaign trail, even making their way onto late night television. Why all the fuss? And what does it all mean for students, young adults and their families?

What are Stafford Loans?

As stated on their website,  Stafford Loans are:

federal student loans made available to college and university students to supplement personal and family resources, scholarships, grants, and work-study. Nearly all students are eligible to receive Stafford loans regardless of credit. Stafford loans may be subsidized by the U.S. Government or unsubsidized depending on the student’s need.

Students must be in school at least half-time to be eligible for Stafford Loans, and students may borrow up to $20,500 per year, depending on their status. Stafford Loans have a fixed interest rate, meaning the interest rate will not change over the loan period. The money for these loans is lent to the student from the U.S. Department of Education and taxpayers. Read More »

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The Most Expensive Schools in the United States

By Tori | April 25, 2012 – 9:06 am

Boston College

Going to college is a fun, exciting time for both students and parents. But when it comes to education, things can get a little pricey. Private and public universities are becoming more and more expensive each year–even while the economy continues to struggle. Last year, the United States College Board identified 123 as costing more than $50,000 a year. So which schools serve as some of the most expensive in the country? Take a look to find out:

Harvey Mudd College: This school, located in Claremont, CA, is one of the country’s most expensive finds–tuition, room and board topped $56,000 in 2011. The college prides itself on state-of-the-art research centers, specializing in the sciences, math and engineering. Students have the opportunity to experiment with model rockets due to their revised courses that take place in their new labs. Read More »

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How Parents Can Help Their College Student Get Through Finals

By Jessica Jacovino | April 24, 2012 – 8:49 am

Study Time

Finals are a very stressful time for college students but they can also be a difficult time for parents who are desperate for a way to help their child. Being so far away makes it harder to be an understanding and supportive figure for students. But here are some tips to help any college parent be as helpful as possible during finals.

  1.  Encouragement- Every student gets anxious around finals about getting good grades and the last thing they need is more pressure so the best thing to do is just encourage your student to do their best. Remind them that while finals are important they are not the end of the world. You can also give them some useful tips for dealing with stress, such as making a list of everything they have to do and then prioritizing it. Or any great tips for studying that you may have learned over the years. Just remember to stay positive!
  2. Send them something- Nothing brightens up my day more than when I get something from home and this goes double during a stressful time like finals. It can be anything from a card, a funny email, or a care package of their favorite snacks and goodies. All of these things will make your child feel loved and remind them that there is a world outside of finals.
  3. Don’t stress them with stuff from home- Although it’s important to keep your student informed, adding unnecessary stress about stuff going on at home is only going to make them feel worse. There probably isn’t much they can do since they are away from home anyways. Just think about whether it can be put off until after they finish finals and if it can then talk to them about it then.

  4. Plan your travel around their final schedule- If you are coming to the school or are trying to buy the ticket for your child to come home make sure to check when their finals end before making plans. Often professors can’t or won’t move finals due to travel so make sure that they don’t conflict. Also, if you plan to be at the school while your student is taking exams feel free to spend some time with them, but do it around their schedule and don’t take up too much of their time. They probably have a lot to do or, at least, a lot to study and need time to do this. Remember, in a few short days you will have them for the whole summer.
  5. Be Patient- This point is probably the hardest and most important. If you think that you’ve dealt with the worst when you grounded your student from the party in high school, then you have never dealt with them in college when they are desperate for a good meal, sleep-deprived, and stressed out. Just remember that they are going through a lot and they need you to be their rock. Unfortunately, tensions will be high and they will be at their nerves end. Try to be patient and remind them to be patient as well.

Hopefully these tips will help you and your student get through finals with the least amount of stress possible. Remember that it will be over soon enough and summer is right around the corner!

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Top 10 Most Expensive Majors

By Lauren Murphy | April 23, 2012 – 8:51 am

089/365 Money...What Money

Are you wondering if your ideal program of study is going to cost even more than an average tuition?  Following are some of the most expensive majors for college students.  However, it is important to keep in mind that some majors, especially those requiring extra years of study, generally pay off in the long run.  And don’t let an expensive option hold you back from pursuing your dream job.  As Chinese philosopher Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Read More »

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