ONLINE EDUCATION | EDUCATION | CAREER ADVICE

A few weeks ago, I put together an article entitled "Celebrity Actors & Their College Majors," which catalogued what celebrities had studied in college before they got their big break. Evidently, someone at Forbes.com was thinking along similar lines in putting together, "Celebrity First Jobs," which recounts what a few Hollywood celebrities did before they were on the A list. Notables include:

Johnny Depp. Supported himself fronting a Kiss tribute band, which at one point opened for the B52s and Iggy Pop, and by selling pens over the phone — a feat which Depp supposedly called his "first acting job" because of all the different voices he used to alleviate his boredom.

Teri Hatcher. Before landing her first role as a mermaid on The Love Boat, Hatcher was a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers.

Quentin Tarantino. The Grindhouse director actually began his career in film in a “grindhouse” of another sort. He was an usher at a porno theater in Southern California.

Chris Rock. Actually started his comedic career as a busboy at a Red Lobster.

Danny DeVito. Worked for eighteen months as a hair dresser in his sister’s salon before enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to pursue his true passion — makeup and cosmetology.

What I find most appealing about this article — and why it’s appropriate for a forum dedicated to Education & Careers — is that it proves that first jobs are just that: first jobs. They’re not supposed to be ideal. They’re not accurate predictors of success or satisfaction.

Most of all, they’re not lifelong commitments. At best, they are simply placeholders — just something to keep us occupied until a better job comes along. The real question is: what do you do when something better doesn’t come along? In a sense, that’s precisely the focus of this forum. Hopefully, we’ll be able to answer that question in the coming weeks and months as we examine specific concerns people have when it comes to furthering their education, or enhancing their career.

After all, you can only stand outside in a giant chicken costume waving frantically at passing cars for so long, right? Then again, if that does describe your first job, at least you’re in good company. That’s how Brad Pitt started.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

With the cost of tuition on the rise, college students are seeking new ways to save a buck while going to school. "Scholarships Around the US" has compiled a number of such ways — 118 to be precise — that can help offset the cost of higher education. While the entire list ought to be required reading for any co-ed, I’ve excerpted the ten that I thought were most effective and most striking, and then I added the one that they forgot: getting a Costco Membership.

1. Borrow Textbooks. If you can’t borrow, buy used. If you can’t buy used and have to buy new textbooks, check for an “international” edition. International editions are nearly identical, except for maybe some Chinese characters on the front, and it will be exponentially cheaper.

2. Brew your own coffee. Your daily latte, cappuccino, or mocha from a coffee house will run you between $2.50 and $3.50. Seven days of that routine costs you $17.50 per week, $70 per month, and around $280 per semester. Making your own coffee or drinking less could save you $500 over the course of a year.

3. Kick the bottled water habit. Support your local tap water and drink for free. Get a filter if you want better-tasting water.

4. Two words: Ramen Noodles.

5. Decline extended warranties on computers. Your computer should be under manufacturer’s warranty for the first year anyway. Companies dupe you into believing the plan is worthwhile and become rich off your extra cash.

6. Don’t buy ink cartridges from the manufacturer. Instead, purchase cartridges online where you can compare prices and get free shipping. Better yet, refill your own cartridges (refills can cost as little as $5 per cartridge).

7. Save money on utilities. Living on an upper floor will typically keep you warmer in the winter, but it’ll get hotter in the summer. So, if you go to school in a region where winters are longer, then try to get a room on the upper floor, otherwise live low. Also, try to find an apartment where utilities run on natural gas (stove, hot water heater); it’s generally more cost-efficient.

8. Don’t shop hungry. This goes for any kind of shopping. If you’re in the grocery store, you’ll grab more and spend more; if you’re somewhere else you’ll probably spend more than you planned getting something to eat. Carry a snack in your purse or backpack.

9. Get your haircut at a cosmetology school. They charge much less for cuts, highlights and color in exchange for the use of your head.

10. Two more words: donate plasma.

Finally, there was one idea that didn’t make the list but which — I know from personal experience — is a gold mine. Get a Costco membership. The reason for the membership is not so you can buy in bulk, which, frankly, can mislead customers into thinking they are saving more than they really are. Rather, the real perk of membership is access to the free samples.

Let’s be honest: a Saturday morning trip to Costco is a trip to an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord. You can taste a variety of cuisines without ever having to commit (like you do at a restaurant). That’s the beauty of samples — you never get bored. If you don’t like something, toss it in the garbage. On the other hand, if you really like something, take a lap around the aisle and get back in line for seconds or even tenths (believe me, it’s possible).

Truly, there’s no better place to get full and explore the subtle nuances of your palate than Costco. And the best part of it all is that you can go as often as you want — every Saturday or every day. Trust me, whatever you invest in your annual membership will be more than repaid, even if you have to earn it back by the tablespoon.

What is your best money-saving tip?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

Recently, The New York Times published an article entitled "For Achievers, a New Destination" in which they noted that community colleges are no longer a last resort for unmotivated or underachieving students. On the contrary, more and more community colleges are becoming an attractive alternative to students looking to earn their core academic credit at a significantly reduced cost before transferring to a four-year school to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Citing the College Board, The New York Times observed that the average tuition at community colleges is less than half the cost of a state school ($2,272 compared to $5,836) and almost one-tenth of what it might cost at a private school, which, on average, is upwards of $22,000. As a result, the face of community colleges is beginning to change — to be more precise, it is getting younger. Quoting The Times:

Many two-year colleges are now recruiting students who fit the traditional profile of baccalaureate undergraduates: 18- to 24-year-olds who have strong high school records and are moving directly into higher education full time. Such students are helping to lower the average age of community college students, which has steadily declined: 42 percent taking courses for credit are under 22, compared with 32 percent a decade ago, according to a 2005 federal study. No longer wed primarily to a work force-training mission, these colleges consider it a major, if not predominant, goal to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions.

The article also notes that many community colleges are becoming increasingly successful in placing graduates in top-flight four-year schools. In other words, top-flight schools are beginning to recognize that students from community colleges are academically competitive, which means that community colleges offer a comparable education to that of four-year institutions.

If this report is true — if you really can get a competitive education at half the price — then it means that community colleges offer more bang for a student’s buck than either state or private schools. Sobering thoughts. I wonder if we’ll be reading a similar article about online education soon …

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.