How to Party at The University of Texas –Without Going Broke
Considering college in Texas? Well you are in luck if you like to party. According to the Princeton Review and Playboy Magazine, Texas is among the top four states with colleges rated as “Best Party Schools”. If you want to party at the University of Texas, but are worried about the cost, here are some options for getting the full social experience without going broke or into major debt. 
Full-time tuition at the University of Texas is about $5,000 per semester for Texas residents (double that for out-of-state tuition). If you choose to live on campus, a shared dorm room will cost you about $8,000 per semester (or $2,000 a month). Some people may consider 40k a small price to pay for four years of endless Frat parties, on-campus fast-food restaurants (handy for just rolling out of bed after a night of drinking) and not having to pay utility bills, but what if you don’t want to start your life in the red? Here are three smart ways to party like University of Texas student without actually enrolling there.
Enroll in a nearby community college
For a fraction of the cost of the tuition at UT, you can take classes at Austin’s Community College. It is not ranked in Playboys “Best Party School” list, but who said anything about partying there? You’re just taking classes. Go party with students from the University of Texas while you get your education on the cheap. If anything, you can get your “core classes” out of the way then transfer later. That’s about two years worth of tuition you’ll save on basic requirements.
Rent an apartment with a roommate
Many students believe that college dorms are over-rated. When you live in a dorm, you have very little privacy. Sharing space with a bunch of other party college students may sound fun, but be careful what you ask for. In a college dorm (especially a party college dorm), you are susceptible to loud music, stinky hallways, cruel pranks, and endless interruptions at any time of day or night. Not to mention it’s expensive. Renting an apartment with a roommate will not only save you a bunch of money, but it has other advantages too. With an off-campus apartment, you have options. You can choose to remove yourself from the party scene and only make an appearance on your terms (smart move) or, with all the extra space, a full kitchen, and perhaps a nice deck or patio, you can host the party yourself!
Get a job
You’re going to need some cash to fund the beer, snacks and other various party supplies. If you think relying on your student loan check is a good idea, think again. Getting a part-time job in college is smart. Not only does it provide you with some much needed income, it will give you something to put on your resume when you finally graduate and start looking for a job. If you’re in no hurry to graduate college (and who can blame you if you live near a top ranked party school), then working full time as you attend college part time is another smart option. You really win here because you get a full time paycheck and you double your time in college. Way to drag out the party years!
Photo by: Steve Berger Photography on Flickr Creative Commons
AUTHOR INFO
April Lentini writes for http://San-antonio.apartmentguide.com
