When it’s time to estimate the expense of a college education, the majority of teenagers and their parents always add up the cost of tuition and room and board. However what about the additional costs of college?
The real costs, when it comes to light, can be a big shock for parents and the teenagers. By having a look at the big picture well ahead of time, preferably while teens are still in the early years of secondary school, parents can be much better prepared to afford the real expense of today’s college education.
Textbooks for classes average about $800 per term nowadays, with some majors needing books and laboratory devices that cost far more. If you’re going to major in engineering, you can anticipate paying as much as $1,500 some semesters throughout your upper-level courses. Include printing supplies, notebooks and all the other school requirements as well to the tune of another $500 for the year.
There is another expense that people overlook, In College many students live in close proximity to each other, and it is only natural that they will get sick from time to time. Particularly freshmen. Research studies have revealed that the typical freshman college student spends about one hundred dollars a year on products like cold treatments, tissues, cough syrup and other nonprescription medications.
The dining halls might have a lot to offer. However, no student can go without pizza and burgers for too long, so we’ll note this as a necessity. Add on a couple of hundred dollars each semester for take-out and delivery food. Be truthful and adjust appropriately if you’re truly into eating out. Some people like to eat at a good restaurant once a week; others are great with McDonald’s all the time.
What about transport? Will you be keeping a car on campus? Then you’ll most likely have to spend for a university parking license. Will you be driving home regularly on the weekends to see your family and friends? Taking trips with your new college friends? You’ll need money for gasoline, maintenance on your vehicle and car insurance. If you are going to school thousands of miles from home, it can be fairly pricey to fly home for vacations, so see to it you book flights well in advance to get cheap tickets and save cash.
Computers are as necessary as textbooks for students today. Make sure you consult your college or university to see if they advise a particular 
brand name or design; some offer special prices that can save you hundreds of dollars.
Web access is another sensible cost that you’ll probably need to consider if you live off-campus in a house. While there will be free internet access at many points on campus, consisting of libraries and class, it’s a lot easier to work from home, so the cost of about $20 a month is worth it.
Entertainment, including movies, dances, and shows, are popular on college campuses. Luckily, the school focuses on providing them at a subsidized price to save students a little money. The occasional new game cartridge, CD or MP3 download should also be budgeted for. Again, be truthful with yourself when estimating how much you’re most likely to spend so that you’re prepared.
When getting ready for the hidden expenses of college, students have to sit down with their parents and honestly assess just how much cash they believe they will require. Prepare ahead to include these to the more apparent costs of tuition, room and board. The resulting figure they come up with will give them a more precise idea of the real expense of a college education.