Since social media influencer James Charles lashed out at a woman for asking for donations after losing her job due to the closure of Spirit Airlines, I’ve been thinking a lot about privilege and financial literacy. If you are privileged enough to have a parent or guardian pay for your tuition, do not be ashamed. Still, every college student should work toward financial literacy no matter how scary it seems.
Dorms
Knowing the price of your tuition is important for room selection, budgeting, meal plan selection and more. For most freshman housing, traditional quad rooms are the cheapest option. For students living in River Park, an apartment style room is the most expensive option. You can check your specific tuition details under your Ohio Guarantee.
The Ohio Guarantee ensures you have a fixed tuition cost during your time at Ohio University. Without it, significant changes occur in your tuition bill. The Ohio Guarantee also goes beyond affordability by offering a graduation plan and alumni-only scholarships for furthering education post-undergraduate.
All dorms are equipped with essentials, and are renovated over time; any rumors of “bad” rooms is a myth at Ohio University. For example, the back end of South Green, or “Back South,” has a reputation for being the worst dorm option because they are the oldest and farthest from the center of campus. Aside from that, the photos look very similar to South Green’s front four. It's simply who you’re living with that makes or breaks the dorm, even if some halls have private bathrooms or better airflow.
Dining
It's important to choose your meal plan based on how you prefer your dining options. If you have specific restrictions, you can attend forums to connect with food service at OU to understand dining options and changes or even opt out of the meal plan.
Opting out can save you money because you purchase your own food, although you don’t have access to the dining hall without payment. Whether you choose flex, traditional or opt out of your meal plan, it’s good to understand the cost so you can spread out your meals effectively without wasting money at the end of each week.
Scholarships and Loans
It's very important to stay up-to-date on what scholarships are available and how federal funding for education is being changed. Changes to what loan programs are being offered can significantly affect students who rely on Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA can change year to year based on your financial income, so it’s also important to work with your OU financial advisor for any questions regarding your aid.
Scholarships are available through OU and other outside sources. It’s important to apply to these frequently, even if there is a low chance of receiving them. It's a guaranteed loss if you do not apply.
Significance
During room selection in the spring, I overheard girls saying their tuition was cheaper because they had moved down to the traditional ten meal plan, which gives them 10 swipes a week. They also mentioned they were going to be living in the River Park apartments, which are $6,000 per semester. I questioned them on if they knew that was truly cheaper. I didn’t pry any further once I realized they simply didn’t know their dorms were more expensive than the previous year.
It’s OK if you don’t understand everything right away – money and finances are hard to understand. No one has figured it out. So many TikTok videos are posted with suggestions on how to save or how to properly use credit. It all comes down to how frugal you are with your money to pay off loans while simultaneously using your money for living expenses. Understanding finances and doing what works best for you when it comes to saving and using money is great to begin in college.
Make sure to research and work with your financial advisor and parents or guardians to know where your finances are. Oh well, your roommate makes or breaks the worth of your living expenses.
Cassidy McClurg is a freshman student studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassidy about their column? Email cm303824@ohio.edu
