Caveat Emport (Let the Buyer Beware)
As if $25,000 weren't enough. In addition to tuition, fees, and room and board costs, prepare yourself for an onslaught of hidden fees when you arrive on campus. Chances are, you'll have to pay up to $200 for phone installation (i.e., flipping a switch) and service, room connection fees for Internet service, and a post office box rental fee.
Then there are the academic costs. Expect to spend between $200-$500 on textbooks and course packets per semester, depending on your subjects. You can try to save money on books by hunting down used texts, which can cost a fraction of the price of new ones. Some campus bookstores buy back used books from students and resell them at lower prices the following year. You can also search for used book shops, take advantage of student book agencies, or find upperclassmen who are willing to give (yeah, right) or sell their books to you. These students often advertise in school publications or post ads around campus. Other academic costs may include a small fortune in materials fees for any art or photography classes you might be taking. Also, if you don't have your own printer, you'll have to factor the cost of printing cards into your budget.
In addition to utilities and academic costs, basic living costs can leave a mighty big dent in your wallet. Sooner or later (probably later), you're going to run out of fabric softener. Sooner or later (probably sooner), you're going to get a midnight craving for pizza. The point is, you'll have a lot more personal expenses and need a lot more cash than you bargained for, and you'll need someplace bigger than your piggy bank to keep it.
Also remember that social options such as joining at sorority or fraternity also cost extra, so you will need to budget appropriately.
