Creating complex passwords is your first line of defense. Aim for at least 12 characters, mixing letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessed information, like birthdays. Do not use the same password for very account, diversify your password selection. Consider a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for each account.
2. Be Cautious with Personal Information
Think twice before sharing personal details on social media or public forums. Even seemingly harmless information can be pieced together to create a complete profile of you. That information is what tech-savvy thieves use for scams, phishing, and account theft. Adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see your posts.
3. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly
It is crucial to keep an eye on all of your accounts. It is smart to look over your credit card and bank statements regularly in order to catch unauthorized payments. You can set up alerts for unusual activity in your accounts. Early detection is key to mitigating potential damage from identity theft.
4. Use Secure Wi-Fi Connections
Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. If you must use it, consider a VPN to encrypt your internet connection, making it harder for others to intercept your data. For your personal Wi-Fi it is recommended that you turn on your router firewall to protect your Wi-Fi from viruses, malware, and hackers.
5. Click with Caution
Be careful when clicking on unfamiliar links. Hackers and Cyberthieves will make fake links that install viruses and allow personal information to be leaked. When entering personal information into a website make sure it is a reputable and secure website. Secure websites will encrypt and scramble important information to ensure hackers cant obtain them.
As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, you have access to a ton of resources that can enhance your academic experience, support your well-being, and help you make the most of your time on campus—all at no cost! Here’s a rundown of some valuable free resources available to you.
1. Academic Support Services
Tutoring Services
The Academic Support Center offers free tutoring in a variety of subjects. Whether you need help in math, writing, or specific major courses, you can find tutors ready to assist you. Check their schedule for drop-in hours or make an appointment to get one-on-one help.
Writing Center
Need assistance with a paper? The Writing Center provides guidance at any stage of the writing process. Trained tutors can help you brainstorm, organize, and polish your work. This service is invaluable for improving your writing skills and earning better grades.
2. Health and Wellness Resources
Counseling Services
Mental health is just as important as physical health. UW-Whitewater offers free counseling services to help students navigate personal challenges, stress, or anxiety. Individual and group therapy sessions are available, ensuring you have support when you need it.
Health Services
The campus health center provides a range of services, including basic medical care, immunizations, and health education. Students can access these services without worrying about hefty bills, making it easier to prioritize your health.
3. Career Development Resources
Career & Leadership Development
The Career & Leadership Development office offers a variety of resources to help you prepare for your future. From resume workshops to mock interviews, these services are designed to equip you with the skills needed to secure internships and jobs post-graduation.
Career Fairs
Take advantage of the campus career fairs that occur throughout the year. These events connect you with employers looking to hire students. Plus, they offer a fantastic opportunity to network and practice your professional skills.
4. Libraries and Research Assistance
Andersen Library
The Andersen Library is not just a place to study; it’s a hub of resources. They offer huge book and journal collections, librarians are available to help you with research, citations, and using academic databases. Don’t hesitate to ask for help; it’s part of their job!
Technology Resources
Need a laptop or other tech equipment? The library offers free loaner laptops and other devices, ensuring you have the tools you need for your coursework. The 4U program also offers discounted computer hardware and discounted and free computer software. Plus, there are plenty of study spaces and resources to help you stay productive.
5. Campus Activities and Organizations
Student Organizations
Getting involved in student organizations is a great way to meet new people and develop leadership skills. Most clubs and organizations are free to join, offering a variety of activities that cater to diverse interests—from academic clubs to cultural and recreational groups.
Events and Workshops
Keep an eye on the campus calendar for free events, workshops, and guest lectures. These events not only enrich your education but also provide networking opportunities and a chance to engage with the broader campus community.
Conclusion
At UW-Whitewater, you have a plethora of free resources at your fingertips. Taking advantage of these services can significantly enhance your academic journey, support your personal growth, and help you thrive during your time at university. Make it a point to explore what’s available and don’t hesitate to reach out—your success is a priority
Amazon is allowing all 18-24 year old’s and students to purchase Amazon Prime for half the price. A Prime membership is originally $14.99 a month but is available to students at only $7.49 a month. Students are also able to start a 6 month free trial of Prime for 0$.
Get up to 5 tickets to all Monday through Friday Milwaukee Brewers games for $9 per ticket. By making a student account and logging in with your school ID you can get access to the $9 tickets.
Get YouTube Premium for the discounted price of $8 a month for just being a student. YouTube Premium is usually $13.99 a month and allows you to enjoy YouTube ad-free, along with many other benefits.
Save money by gaining access to the best local and national restaurants in your area with a 0$ delivery fee. The DoorDash DashPass is available to students at an amazing discount. The DashPass is originally $9.99 a month but is cut down to $4.99 a month for students.
With the purchase of a Mac or ipad from Apple you can get a $150 gift card. Buying a MacBook Air from Apple will also give you a $150 gift card. Buying an ipad Air from Apple will give you a $100 gift card
August is National Wellness Month, which was founded to encourage people to focus on their health – self-care, stress management, and healthy routines. But financial health is a big part of a person’s overall wellness too. Financial issues contribute to stress, put strain on relationships, and diminish self-esteem. Addressing your finances during National Wellness Month can help you address the core causes of your personal wellness challenges. As you participate in National Wellness Month, take time also to focus on your finances – commit to taking action on at least one financial area that you feel may have impact on your overall health and well-being.
Going to college for most is large financial commitment, according to an article written by Mealanie Hanson for the Education Data Initiative, the average student loan debts for students are as follows:
The average undergraduate student loan debt balance is $37,337 The average debt among master’s degree holders is $83,651 The average debt among PhD holders is $125,276
Below is a list put together by Methodology, of the top majors ranked on average starting salary, with 1 being the highest and 163 being the lowest:
Petroleum Engineering: $107,954
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: $91,562
Nuclear Engineering: $86,112
Computer Engineering: $79,540
Chemical Engineering: $78,322
Computer Science: $77,223
Actuarial Science: $76,528
Electrical Engineering: $75,120
Mechanical Engineering: $73,133
Applied Mathematics: $72,565
Aerospace Engineering: $72,070
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering: $71,593
Materials Science: $71,467
Economics: $70,590
General Engineering: $69,172
Finance: $68,916
Statistics and Decision Science: $68,213
Materials Engineering and Materials Science: $68,206
Biological Engineering: $67,843
Miscellaneous Engineering: $67,815
Business Economics: $67,790
Biomedical Engineering: $67,239
Management Information Systems and Statistics: $67,232
Construction Services: $67,183
Civil Engineering: $66,658
Architectural Engineering: $64,345
Operations Logistics and E-Commerce: $63,712
Engineering and Industrial Management: $63,266
Public Policy: $63,145
Information Sciences: $63,024
Electrical Engineering Technology: $62,647
Miscellaneous Engineering Technologies: $62,470
Engineering Mechanics Physics and Science: $62,311
Environmental Engineering: $61,170
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies: $60,869
Mathematics: $60,704
Computer and Information Systems: $60,101
Nursing: $59,569
Accounting: $59,014
Computer Administration Management and Security: $58,943
Physics: $58,623
Nuclear, Industrial Radiology, And Biological Technologies: $58,345
Transportation Sciences and Technologies: $58,018
Industrial Production Technologies: $57,144
General Business: $56,918
Computer Programming and Data Processing: $56,578
Engineering Technologies: $56,556
Miscellaneous Business and Medical Administration: $56,070
Miscellaneous Social Sciences: $55,710
International Business: $55,273
Marketing and Marketing Research: $54,908
Agricultural Economics: $54,696
Food Science: $54,117
International Relations: $53,927
Business Management and Administration: $53,422
Medical Technologies Technicians: $52,910
Computer Networking and Telecommunications: $52,425
Agriculture Production and Management: $52,130
Political Science and Government: $52,064
Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration: $51,934
Architecture: $51,911
Medical Assisting Services: $51,722
Advertising and Public Relations: $51,656
Electrical, Mechanical, And Precision Technologies and Production: $51,241
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: $51,171
Cognitive Science and Biopsychology: $50,571
Human Resources and Personnel Management: $50,302
Astronomy and Astrophysics: $49,648
Industrial and Organizational Psychology: $49,521
Multi-Disciplinary or General Science: $48,838
Chemistry: $48,692
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology: $48,626
General Agriculture: $48,568
Miscellaneous Agriculture: $48,483
Communications: $48,087
Pre-Law and Legal Studies: $47,899
Neuroscience: $47,815
Biochemical Sciences: $47,542
Molecular Biology: $47,107
Genetics: $46,795
Geosciences: $46,614
Physical Sciences: $46,421
Microbiology: $46,397
Plant Science and Agronomy: $46,311
Health and Medical Administrative Services: $46,230
Journalism: $46,015
Miscellaneous Education: $45,945
Geography: $45,833
Criminal Justice and Fire Protection: $45,819
Geology and Earth Science: $45,792
Hospitality Management: $45,709
Intercultural and International Studies: $45,357
French German Latin And Other Common Foreign Language Studies: $45,323
Health and Medical Preparatory Programs: $45,317
Soil Science: $45,304
Public Administration: $45,296
Commercial Art and Graphic Design: $45,273
Miscellaneous Biology: $45,251
Other Foreign Languages: $45,028
Criminology: $44,971
Oceanography: $44,952
History: $44,736
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: $44,639
Philosophy and Religious Studies: $44,629
Forestry: $44,339
Clinical Psychology: $44,336
Sociology: $44,075
Communication Technologies: $43,883
United States History: $43,674
Mass Media: $43,455
Physiology: $43,441
Botany: $43,437
Miscellaneous Fine Arts: $43,407
Area Ethnic and Civilization Studies: $43,295
Treatment Therapy Professions: $43,289
Environmental Science: $43,187
Art History and Criticism: $43,098
Nutrition Sciences: $42,845
Biology: $42,325
Natural Resources Management: $42,053
Liberal Arts: $41,843
Mathematics Teacher Education: $41,767
General Education: $41,528
General Social Sciences: $41,303
Physical Fitness Parks Recreation and Leisure: $41,228
Community and Public Health: $41,224
English Language and Literature: $41,149
Miscellaneous Health Medical Professions: $40,971
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies: $40,918
Psychology: $40,807
Film Video and Photographic Arts: $40,764
General Medical and Health Services: $40,623
Special Needs Education: $40,464
Physical and Health Education Teaching: $40,178
Secondary Teacher Education: $40,048
Animal Sciences: $40,040
Science and Computer Teacher Education: $39,647
Fine Arts: $39,404
Language and Drama Education: $39,336
Art and Music Education: $38,858
Teacher Education: Multiple Levels: $38,834
Social Science or History Teacher Education: $38,775
Cosmetology Services and Culinary Arts: $38,654
Linguistics and Comparative Language and Literature: $38,558
Miscellaneous Psychology: $38,273
Family and Consumer Sciences: $38,102
Humanities: $38,006
Educational Psychology: $37,543
Human Services and Community Organization: $37,533
Elementary Education: $37,509
Composition and Rhetoric: $37,287
Anthropology and Archeology: $37,187
Music: $37,092
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services: $37,088
Ecology: $36,862
Social Work: $36,751
Counseling Psychology: $36,672
Theology and Religious Vocations: $36,515
Zoology: $36,325
Early Childhood Education: $36,233
Studio Arts: $35,812
Visual and Performing Arts: $35,787
Drama and Theater Arts: $35,477
With all this information, and starting salaries, we can see how important it is to pick the right degree. Choosing the wrong education can have a negative financial impact on you, holding you accountable to pay student loans well beyond the typical 10-year period. However, choosing a degree with a higher paying average salary can set you up for financial success and freedom in the near future after graduation. With that, this list is not to deter you away from your dream job or major that you enjoy, but to give you a better perspective and understanding of the expected finances one will have when starting their dream job, so they can continue striving for financial freedom.
What is your major, and why? What do you plan on doing upon completion of your education, and why?
No, not holiday season but scholarship season! UW Whitewater’s scholarships for 2024-2025 school year will open on December 1, 2023. The scholarships are now viewable in the students WINS account and can be searched by the students college (Letters & Sciences) or non applicable. We suggest students search in both areas to maximize their opportunity for scholarships and apply for all they can. Scholarships are free money and who wouldn’t want free money to go to school! PLUS the more scholarships awarded the less student loans a student will need.
But…don’t stop the search there! Students check with your family members to see if the company they work for has any scholarships available. Check with in your home town to see if any business’s, local Moose Lodge, VFW Hall etc. are awarding scholarships.
In a recent survey Sarah O’Brien a Personal finance reporter found that 45% of the respondents know they are overspending since last reported in April 2021. Credit card debit is at nearly $1 trillion in 2021 and is climbing. Below are some tips to help/curb the overspending urges:
1. Start a budget or if you already have a budget it is time to re-evaluate your current budget.
2. Think about your goals: to be debt-free, go on vacation, buy a home and write them down and before you act on your spending look over your goals.
3. Leave the item in your shopping cart for at least 24 hours. Do you have the strong need for the item or have you forgotten about it?
4. Unsubscribe from marketing emails.
5. Take your credit cards off of your apps on your cell phone.
Pick one, two or all of the above tips and implement a plan to work towards your goals and improve your overall financial wellness. Take charge of your finances now to set yourself up for future success and freedom. For more information or to set up a financial coaching session, contact the UWW Financial Literacy Center.
The recent release of the Higher Education Relief Grant, which will hopefully help students truly in need of financial support, the application deadline is March 15th. This grant is meant to assist students in need of money for costs such as tuition, housing, food, health care, child care, and any type of emergency costs.
When applying for the grant, which is the student’s responsibility and has been emailed to all students, make sure you follow the guidelines provided, and are in need of the money. Everyone who applies may not receive the grant as it will be based on the student’s FAFSA. Although, if you do not apply and believe you are in need you will not receive the grant. When receiving this grant, first make sure you accept the offer, then when the check is sent your way make sure you deposit it as soon as possible!
As a grant, it is not money that you will need to pay back. With this in mind, many may think it will cover the costs for a vacation, clothes, accessories, and whatever non-essential costs that may arise. Instead, this is an opportunity to pay off current expenses, costs, and future debt. It may seem very enticing to take that trip, but this could cause for future stress and create a financial burden that will hurt in the long run.
If you are in need of assistance as to how to allocate this money with your expenses, need help building a budget, or even want overall guidance financially, I urge you to visit the Financial Literacy Center.
Although the 2020-21 academic year is just getting started, it’s time to start thinking about your financial aid for next year. As of October 1, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is available. Although not required, students are encouraged to complete the application early (before January 1).
The FAFSA can be accessed using your FSA ID at studentaid.gov. The UW-W Financial Aid Office is available for questions related to the FAFSA and federal financial aid process.
Remember, the Financial Literacy Center is here to help you navigate your personal finances while at UW-Whitewater. For more information and options on paying for your education, schedule a coaching session and/or visit our website today!
