Bear Essentials: Alternative ways to pay for college

As any college student will tell you, getting a higher education is expensive. Scholarships help, but sometimes they are not enough to fund your education. Never fear, because there are several alternative ways to pay for college.

Sell Your Roommate’s Stuff on eBay

Roommate has not used that stereo in a while? You can probably make a nice chunk of change on eBay. Okay, that is actually a terrible idea, but the same principle applies to your own stuff. Haven’t played that game recently? “Freshman Fifteen” make you not fit in those clothes anymore? There are plenty of online shoppers willing to pay for your gently used items especially if they are retro or hard to find at present.

The Reverse Vampire

Did you know that there is a market for your bodily fluids? There are places that will accept several types of fluid, but The Biomat Plasma Collection Center on First Street. will pay for you to donate plasma for those who need it most. While not a great option for the squeamish, if you want some extra dollars while helping someone out, this is one way to do so.

Create the Next Hot Selling App

The mobile game Flappy Bird made headlines recently for its simple gameplay and addictive nature. Before creator Dong Nguyen took the game down, it was estimated that the game was generating $50,000 in ad revenue per day. The game was offered for free, but Nguyen is making large profits thanks to advertising. If you have the ability to create the next game that goes viral and creates a new addiction, perhaps you too can pay for your tuition in a single day. Don’t have the computer skills to do so? Find a Computer Science student to help you make the game and split the profits. Now that Flappy Bird is off the market, there is always room for Flappy Bear.

Stripping

Anyone who has done this job can tell you that it is not easy. It takes a lot of effort to do it perfectly and efficiently. Stripping wires is hard work, but necessary if you work in such a field that requires it. Such a job, even if labor intensive, can help pay for college and some of the bills that come with the educational experience. If physical labor is not an option, there are office jobs that could be more suited for your needs. There are a plethora of on-campus jobs provided by Mercer in addition to those around Macon.

Work for the Cluster

Did you know that anyone with the desire to write or take photographs in a professional environment can work for The Cluster? Many students use the student paper to not only take part in student media and let their voices be heard, but to also earn some extra cash. That is right, The Cluster pays too! Meetings are every other Wednesday at 10 a.m iin The Cluster Office. For more information, you can contact any of The Cluster’s numerous editors and staff writers.