SoFi Blog

As a college student, the period of time between the start of the school year and the end of the semester can often be challenging. Between classes, studying, extracurricular activities, work-study, and social activities the pressure can be overwhelming.

They say that you can either have good grades and a social life, or good grades and sleep—but we think it’s possible to have all three. If you’ve ever been left wondering “how to get through college,” we’re here to help. These tips and college life hacks will help set you up for success, so you can learn, enjoy all that campus life has to offer, and get some sleep.

You completed your courses. You walked across the stage in your cap and gown. You graduated! Now what? Leaving the comforts of college life behind for official adulthood is an uncertain time, and those last few months of school come with a long list of question marks: Where do I want to live? How much will it cost me to get there? What should my first job out of college be, and how do I find it? How much am I going to get paid?

When you add the stress of living expenses and the impending end of your student loan grace period, succeeding as an entry-level professional can seem like an insurmountable task. But as the saying goes, “Work smarter, not harder.” To help you make a smart post-grad start, we put together a list of considerations, to-dos, and tips, because landing the right first job after college is more important than you might think.

The new year is the perfect time to plan and think about all of the possibilities for the upcoming year. It is a time to celebrate, as well as to set new goals for health, personal improvement…and wealth.

“Doing better with money” almost always tops the New Year’s resolutions charts , along with eating healthy and getting more exercise. It’s a great goal, in theory, but there’s a problem—it isn’t specific and action-oriented.

Someone who wants to be better about managing their money can start with small, actionable goals that they can work toward in increments. One great way to start is to get your debt organized.

May and June may be known as graduation season, but this December some graduates will put on their caps and gowns and enter the job market before their other classmates. Amid the bustle of winter celebrations, however, many December grads are left wondering, “when do you have to pay back student loans?”

Traveling the world is high up on the bucket lists of many. And in today’s social media age that desire comes to life via endless accounts detailing idyllic tropical havens, bustling cityscapes, and high-adventure destinations.

From skiing the Alps to visiting Machu Picchu, there’s so much to see and do—but with all those adventures comes a price tag. Millennials are one of the most travel-focused generational groups. While other segments of the population are cutting back on traveling expenses, millennial families continue to spend on travel. According to the 2018 to 2019 Portrait of American Travelers Study , millennial families intend to spend 15% more on travel in 2018 than they did in 2017.

Millennials place a strong emphasis on travel, but they’re often left with the question of how to pay off student loans fast. According to the Pew Research Center , about four in 10 American adults under the age of 30 have student loan debt. While the amount each individual holds varies greatly, on average those graduating from a four-year college have approximately $32,731 in student loan debt.

All that said, we’re here to let you know that traveling the world while paying off student loans fast could still be an option. Here are our nine tips for how to pay off student loans fast while still traveling the world at the same time.