Dear counsellor,

I was hoping to start my university studies early next year, however I’m confused about how i will get tuition. My parents left me a plot of land, so i was wondering whether i should sell it to raise tuition or wait until i get a job to start school. Please advise me.

Yours, Patrick

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Education is the supreme food for your brain and a recipe for a bright future which shouldn’t be compromised by anything no matter how exigent it seems to be. The more you know the better your brain responds in unfavorable situations and prosper in the environment without harming others. As an orphan student, you should do anything possible to navigate through your university education and graduate with your degree to live a successful life. If the only asset available to sell and pay your university tuition is the land, then be sure to sell part of it and pay your tuition but the question is how long will it take you?

The wise thing for you is to plan in accordance with your financial capabilities. Make a budget and stick to it all the time in order to set financial limits, make sound decisions and avoid making fiscal mistakes. Setting a spending limit doesn’t necessarily prevent you from making impulse purchases, but it should simply give you a pause to assess whether or not a certain item is really necessary at a given time for your academic success.

Try to ignore certain unnecessary social activities, such as outdoor concerts, performance events or adventure trips which would otherwise consume most of your tuition fees and embark on catering for the most essential items like books, housing, and perhaps food plans. Look for Student Discounts and become masters at exploring the ways your educational status can save you money.

Nonetheless, you could also apply for a student loan and paying interest later after your studies. The government has made deliberate efforts in helping to promote students’ education through offering such loans and this can benefit you greatly. Similarly, you can apply for scholarships to finance your education. Scholarships come in a variety of forms and dimensions. Some are offered by the governments, others by private charitable organisations and companies or individuals and the most common ones are offered by the universities/institutions mainly on a need-based or merit-based criterion. Don’t miss out if you have the chance. Apply as many as you can and you’d be amazed to learn that you have won one for yourself.

Getting a holiday part time job is yet another important opportunity to get you an income and acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills. Earning an income can boost your confidence and allow you to have fun within the limits of your paychecks which you could use to buy a text book, pay part of you tuition of meet some life essentials. This will groom you into a better adult as you learn to focus on things that add value to my life. Never give up with your education.