COLLEGE BOUND
4F Sunday, April 8, 2012
The Daily Nonpareil
Dorm designs Comfort, space saving style at college without the cost METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
As any parent knows, the cost of college continues to rise. According to CollegeBoard.com, the average costs at a four-year, private university for the 2009-10 school year exceeded $26,000. That figure is daunting on its own, but when combined with the nation’s struggling economy the sticker price is even more shocking. While parents are fully aware of the costs associated with college, they might not be aware of the many ways in which they can cut college costs. Though there’s little parents can do about lowering tuition, there are myriad ways to save on other costs associated with college. Perhaps no tactic better serves parents than planning ahead. While many high school seniors don’t know what to expect when they first step on campus, there are a few givens parents can plan for when it comes to college life. One such given is furnishings. While dorm rooms aren’t akin to a 5-star hotel, parents who plan ahead when furnishing their children’s room can save substantial amounts of money. For instance, dorm rooms are generally smaller than a kid’s normal room, requiring some careful planning if he or she plans to bring most of their things along to college. Parents of college bound youngsters should consider the following tips courtesy of StudentMarket.com, the premiere online resource for parents seeking to provide their college bound sons and daughters with all the comforts of home at a fraction of the cost. ■ Shop for multi-functional items. While college kids might not know what a compact disc is, that doesn’t mean they don’t need a
While dorm rooms might not provide the most square footage, the ceiling heights are often average size. That makes dorm rooms ideal for going vertical. Consider bookcases and dressers that stretch vertically instead of horizontally, enabling students to save space and money. place to store all those DVDs and video games. When shopping for storage items, consider multi-functional items that serve more than one purpose. For instance, StudentMarket.com features more than 1,900 TV stands, many of which boast ample storage space ideal for college kids living in a crowded dorm room. But multi-functional items don’t stop at storage. For those college kids lucky enough to have room for a couch, futons make the ideal addition to any dorm room, acting as a couch during the day time and doubling up as a fold-out bed for those weekend visits from friends back home. ■ Go vertical. While dorm rooms might not provide the most square footage, the ceiling heights are often average size. That makes dorm rooms ideal for going vertical. Based on consumer demand, StudentMarket.com offers a wide
array of items allowing students and parents to do just that, including hundreds of bookcases in varying styles, and name brand dressers that stretch vertically instead of horizontally, enabling students to save space and money. ■ Hook it up. Hooks are another good friend of those who call dorms home. Instead of using up valuable dresser and closet space to hang coats, hangers and even bath towels, hooks hung up on the back of the dorm room door or inside the closet door make use of existing space many college kids don’t routinely use. ■ Think small. Furnishing a dorm room is not the same as furnishing a first apartment. When shopping for dorm rooms, think small. StudentMarket.com boasts hundreds of nightstands and innovative furniture products ideal for making over the cramped style of the average dorm room.
Submitted photos
StudentMarket.com helps college bound kids furnish their dorm rooms without breaking the bank.
WHY GO ANYWHERE ELSE? “The most important thing that I get from my program ogram is the knowledge andd ompetent experience to be a competent te from pilot. When I graduate ve a Iowa Lakes I will have cense commercial pilot’s license ertified and I will also be a Certified Flight Instructor.” vin - Gavin
“The multiple class offerings at Iowa Lakes have allowed me to maintain the flexible schedule I need to be both student and parent. - Matt
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