Ever wondered what perks you have as a college student? Here are 10 college student benefits you didn’t know you had!
Before we start, you should note that some colleges and universities offer different benefits. You might not have access to 1 or 2 of the offers that are going to be mentioned.
Hopefully you learn something new that you can take with you into college in order to reap all those benefits!
Let’s get started…
Free Stuff
A lot of people understand that college students are broke. That’s why there are a few college student benefits to getting free things around campus.
Here’s what college students can get for free:
- Food
- Online Subscriptions
- Club Memberships
- Mental Health Counseling
- Gym Access
- News Sites Access
- Legal Counsel
- Free Bus Transport
- Safe Taxi Services (in the case of being intoxicated)
- Microsoft Office 365
- Bank Accounts (at some banks)
- JetBrains (free coding site)
- Library and Computer Lab Access
Keep in mind, a lot of these perks are being paid by your tuition, but they are technically free while you’re on campus or have a student ID.
To check for free food, search online for “food pantry” in your college town and see if they host any weekly food giveaways. It should save you on some grocery expenses!
Student Discounts
Student discounts should be milked until stores rip your student ID out of your hand!
You usually just need your student email for online discounts and a student ID for in-store discounts.
Here are a few companies that offer student discounts:
- Amazon (Prime Membership)
- J.Crew
- Banana Republic
- Apple
- Sprint
- Sony
- Subway
- Chick-Fil-A
- AMC
- Allstate
- Geico
- Spotify
- Hulu
- Adobe
There are thousands of companies that offer some form of discount. All you have to do is… ask!
Never be afraid to ask (or look up) if a store offers a deal for being a college student. The only bad thing that can happen is you pay the same price you were already going to pay!
Related Post: 10 College Dorm Essentials Every Student Needs
Groups and Communities
While you’re in college, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of clubs, communities, groups, and more!
Take advantage of these by joining groups that you’re interested in. Not only will it help you with networking, but it’s also a great pass time and way to make new friends.
You’ll find most of these clubs just by walking around campus. You should also check out Facebook groups for extra opportunities outside of your campus.
If there’s a club that you’re looking for, but can’t seem to find… start your own! I bet there are a bunch of other people in your same position.
Hobbies are important during a time of constant pressure from studying all the time. Make sure you find time to do the things you enjoy (or at least search for them).
Making Friends
Making friends is the key to networking, having fun in college, and building lifelong relationships with people!
Easier said than done, I know. There’s plenty of ways to go about doing this, but it starts with you.
Keep in mind that everyone else is probably in the same boat as you. Everyone wants to make friends, but might be too scared or simply don’t know how.
If you’re already going to college with a friend, use each other as a confidence booster to meet even more people.
Challenge yourself to make at least 1 new friend in every class you’re in. This can also help when it comes to study time or completing homework assignments.
Maybe social anxiety has taken over. Regardless, friends are easiest made by talking over things you share in common.
If there’s a club that you can join and talk for hours about, chances are that there’s others that can talk for hours about it as well. From there, focus on building a foundation with just a few friends.
Related Post: How to Make More Friends
Grants for Funding Businesses
While this may not be for everyone, some colleges offer grants to those determined students who need help funding a business idea.
It is most commonly found in entrepreneurship, but these grants are usually available in most fields (such as STEM)!
If you ever have a business idea that is ready for growth, but needs funding, be sure to search through your college’s resources for grants to pay for it.
These funds get used every year and are only available for college students who want to get their creative idea off the ground.
Professor & Student Relationships
One of the best college student benefits is access to brilliant professors.
Having a professor by your side can give you many advantages. Try getting close with professors that you respect. Maybe you like their teaching style, or have a passion for what they teach.
Professors are (usually) there for students to ask questions, give them advice, and expand your mind.
I had a professor who would offer me free coffee in the morning just because we were friends. Believe me, I was no teacher’s pet either. Some connections just happen naturally when you’re engaged in a subject and want to learn more.
I know people who have received job opportunities (yes, a job!) from a professor who needs research help and other small tasks. Better yet, a professor can also write excellent recommendation letters for job applications which you’ll be needing very soon!
Related Post: 10 Money Saving Tips for College Students
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is a huge perk of being a college student! Here’s why…
You can study the same things you’re already studying in a completely different country. The best part is… it’s usually around the same price as tuition!
What better way is there to explore the rest of the world while continuing on with your education? It doesn’t get better than that!
Don’t miss out on the incredible opportunity to travel to amazing countries, explore new cultures, and make new friends while you’re still in college.
Plus, the professors when studying abroad are usually much more chill about the amount of learning you do. It’s like free credits for doing less.
Explore Creative Hobbies
Most colleges and universities offer you access to try out creative hobbies for cheap (when they would otherwise be expensive).
Sometimes the hobby is offered for completely free as well.
Here are a few creative departments that offer cheap/free hobbies in college:
- Ceramics
- Woodworking
- Photography
- Fashion
- Screen Printing
- Glass Blowing
Most of these creative hobbies would cost you a fortune to get started with. Plus, you don’t even know if you like them yet!
This is a great opportunity for you to relax and enjoy some quality free time, learning a new skill and eventually find a new hobby.
Related Post: 15 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting College
Internship & Mentorship Opportunities
The greatest college student benefits are the ones that offer you a bright future, such as internships and mentorships.
Most of them are offered only to college students, so you’re already in a smaller percentage of prospects to be hired!
You’ll have a lot more time to explore different career paths and try out new things because you’re in college. You would be going straight into the workforce without a real idea of what you enjoy otherwise.
Use resources like LinkedIn, Handshake, your college’s career center, or your major’s newsletter to find internships and mentorships!
These opportunities will likely only stick around while you’re still enrolled in your university, so take advantage of them early.
Freedom
Up until now, you’ve most likely been living under someone else’s roof, following someone else’s orders, and having to go to classes that were assigned to you.
That’s not how it works in college. You’re on your own pal, but that’s a good thing!
Your independence will give you a chance to work on yourself, explore new things, and figure out who you truly are.
You’ll now have the freedom to create your own schedule, sleep when you want (most of the time), and take care of your own responsibilities.
Setting yourself up for the real world never hurts. Learn from your newly found independence and take advantage of the college student benefits that were given to you!
Hopefully you’ve learned something new that you can take with you into your next semester. If you’re a freshman… good luck on your first year!
If you have any comment, questions, or suggestions leave them down below. Thanks for reading!
