Applicant #21: Danielle Patton

Danielle Patton is a 22-year-old from St. Louis.

Danielle's video application:

Danielle online:

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Danielle's current situation:

I graduated from Washington University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. I currently work in an independent bookstore. I spend time with my family, blog, travel and enjoy St. Louis social life in my spare time. I also write but mostly do Public Relations for my friend's online magazine, College Femme.

Danielle's blog post:

Let's face it; school is expensive. I went to two colleges and found that regardless of what school I was attending, I had to find ways to save money. I compiled the list below of the best insider savings information that I picked up during my collegiate career.

The Practical

1. Go to your school's financial aid office Be transparent. Tell any and all colleges that you are considering your financial needs. They will do their best to help you because they want you at their school. Speak with the office before you commit to a school. By doing that, you will have more time to apply to scholarships. Remember scholarships are free money!

2. Buy your books used or online. I have found that it is best to shop around for everything and especially when it comes to school books. Buying brand new textbooks is not economical because you will only be using them for one semester (considering that you pass the class). Amazon became an extremely helpful website for me when searching for books. I compared the prices in my school's bookstore with the ones on the website. When you buy online, make sure you buy early because you have to consider the arrival time of your shipment.

3. Be smart about loans Do not search online for loans as a first resort. Loans that you find there seem easy to obtain but can have huge interest rates. I recommend speaking to your school or personal financial institution about loans. Usually, they have lower interest rates.

The Absurd

Eating in college became one of my expenses that I easily reduced. I found that my and friends' reductions occurred in ridiculous ways.

1. Share off your friend's plate Invite yourself to a meal with your friend. When you get there tell them you're not eating and rather order water. When their food comes, ask to try it. Trust me they will let you. If it is finger food, continue talking as you grab from the plate. The other person will be so enthralled with your speech that they will not even notice that you're a mooch.

2. Attend any meetings/events that mention free food Many organizations on campuses know that free food is a powerful motivator for student attendance. It does not matter what the organization is about. Everyone deserves a fair shot at being heard and who knows, you might even join the organization. Even if you end up hating it, again free food is awesome.

3. Befriend underclassmen and share their meal points Yes, it may be considered using someone. But honestly, it is not. The upperclassman is doing the freshman a favor. The freshman learns of campus society and the upperclassman, of course gets a free meal.

I learned how to save money during my collegiate career. Higher education can be expensive but it is definitely an investment in the future. Consider your options and be smart with your finances.

Danielle