How to fund your college degree program

It’s not a surprising fact that college education is an expensive investment to make. This is the primary reason why most young students end up opting for jobs straight after high school. But, limited financial resources doesn’t mean that pursuing a college degree is impossible. If you happen to be in a similar situation, there is no need to be perplexed. To help you get organized and started, here are some effective strategies for funding your college degree.

Student loan – The most common remedy for alleviating the burden of college fees is taking loans from financial institutions. Usually, these are offered to students after scrutinizing factors like parent’s or guarantor’s income, academic profiles, and courses applied for. If you have an ideal financial profile, then you may secure a significant amount of loan at a lower rate of interest. However, if this is not the case then, you can consider dropping an application in a co-operative institution or federal programs.

Merit-based scholarships – Almost all the colleges you will be applying too will have a scholarship program based on merit. If you have wonderful grades and an impressive overall performance in high school, they can significantly lower your financial strain by waiving a part amount of your fees. So, ensure that you begin preparing at least a year before the college starts accepting applications. This will give you an upper hand to work on all your areas of weaknesses and help you build a better academic profile.

Scholarships outside college – There are several institutions and corporate companies which offer paying for education if you perfectly fit in the prescribed criteria. Mostly, such scholarships not only take your merit into account but also consider your financial hardships and additional setbacks. These scholarships can be meant for a single discipline of study like engineering, liberal arts, mathematics, etc. or might fund all kinds of college degrees.

Part-time job – Funding your college also involves additional expenses like accommodation, food, books, etc. Therefore, if you can support miscellaneous costs like these by getting a part-time job. Although, in such cases, time management is everything as college schedules can be demanding. So, make sure that you don’t unnecessarily strain yourself by working in long shifts.

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    • Foods to eat in moderation: Eggs, cheese, poultry, and yogurt.
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    • Refined grains: Pasta prepared with refined wheat and white bread
    • Refined oils: Canola oil, soybean oil, and cottonseed oil
    • Trans fats: Margarine and other processed foods
    • Processed meats: Sausages and hot dogs, among others

    Food items that should be included in the Mediterranean diet:
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    • Vegetables: Tomatoes, kale, broccoli, onions, spinach, carrots, and peaches.
    • Fruits: Bananas, apples, oranges, strawberries, pears, dates, grapes, melons, and figs.
    • Legumes: Beans, lentils, peas, peanuts, pulses, and chickpeas.
    • Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, and hazelnuts
    • Tubers: Sweet potatoes, potatoes, yams, and turnips.
    • Whole grains: Brown rice, barley, oatmeal, corn, buckwheat, and whole grain bread.
    • Seafood and fish: Sardines, salmons, trout, mackerel, tuna, shrimp, clams, oyster, and crab.
    • Poultry: Duck, chicken, and turkey.
    • Eggs: Quail, duck, and chicken.
    • Dairy: Yogurt, cheese, and Greek yogurt.
    • Herbs and spices: Garlic, mint, basil, rosemary, nutmeg, sage, pepper, and cinnamon.
    • Healthy fats: Olives, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and avocado

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    Below is an example of a basic Mediterranean diet chart for one week but keep in mind that this is in no way a chart to be followed without first consulting a dietician or nutritionist because every body has different nutrient requirements and not fulfilling those can lead to grave results.

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    • Breakfast: Strawberries and oats with Greek yoghurt
    • Lunch: Any form of pasta
    • Dinner: Boiled salmon, brown rice, and vegetables

    Tuesday

    • Breakfast: Oatmeal
    • Lunch: Tuna salad
    • Dinner: Salad made with tomato, feta cheese, and olive

    Wednesday

    • Breakfast: Omelette with vegetables and one fruit
    • Lunch: A whole grain sandwich made with vegetables and cheese
    • Dinner: Lasagne

    Thursday

    • Breakfast: Sliced fruits with yogurt
    • Lunch: Lasagne
    • Dinner: Boiled salmon, brown rice, and vegetables

    Friday

    • Breakfast: Omelette with vegetables, fried in olive oil
    • Lunch: Strawberries and oats with Greek yogurt
    • Dinner: Salad with grilled lamb and baked potato

    Saturday

    • Breakfast: Oatmeal
    • Lunch: Sandwich with vegetables and cheese
    • Dinner: Whole wheat pizza with cheese, vegetables, and olive toppings

    Sunday

    • Breakfast: Omelette with vegetables and olives
    • Lunch: Whole wheat pizza with cheese, vegetables, and olive toppings
    • Dinner: Vegetable salad with potato and grilled chicken. You can have fruits for dessert as well.Snack items to have in between meals 
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    • Nuts
    • Fruit
    • Carrots
    • Grapes
    • Apples

    This is a sample list of what a typical Mediterranean diet looks like, but consulting a proper dietician can help you adjust it according to your needs.