College students spend a lot of time worrying about their studies that sometimes they can forget the importance of taking care of their health. While college life involves new challenges, responsibilities and excitement, it can also be a stressful time. Students often deal with the social pressures of drinking, drugs and sexual activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following tips for staying healthy and safe while in college:
- Eat a balanced diet
- Get enough sleep
- Get regular physical activity
- Maintain your health with checkups and vaccinations
- If you decide to have sex, practice safe sex
- Make smart choices about alcohol and drugs
- Get help if you are stressed or depressed
Physical stress from sleep deprivation, making poor eating decisions, substance abuse and more can lead to stress in relationships, classes and overall well being. Knowing who and where to look for help when feeling overwhelmed is one of the first steps to taking control. The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health is offering free publications for college students on topics ranging from sunscreens and tanning, sexual health, depression and much more.
View and order free publications on college students’ health.
Image description: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education developed this Financial Aid Shopping Sheet to clearly and simply explain to students how much their college education will cost.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to college and university presidents asking them to adopt it as part of their financial aid awards for the 2013-14 school year.
The U.S. Department of State offers a number of exchange programs and scholarships for American high school students to study abroad.
If you’re interested in studying abroad, one of these programs could help cover expenses for your trip:
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth offers merit-based scholarships for overseas study of these foreign languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian and Turkish.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad Program offers scholarships to spend a semester or an academic year in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Thailand, and Turkey.
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program offers students a fully-funded year abroad in Germany.
The American Youth Leadership Program offers opportunities for students and educators to travel abroad on a three- to four-week-long exchange program.
Learn more about these student exchange programs.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Department of Education have sketched out an idea that they think could improve the way schools communicate financial aid offers to students. They want to know what you think. Share your comments and rank features to improve student financial aid.
If you’re struggling to pay your student loans, the student debt repayment assistant may be able to help. Answer a few questions about your loans and ability to pay, and the assistant will help you find the best repayment option.
