Whether you’re headed off to college for the first time (congratulations!) or back for a second, third, or last time—or going back to high school or middle school, our back to school roundup has everything you need to make the transition as smoothly as possible.
Here’s a roundup of our top back to school stories. For more, make sure to check out our Back to School tag page.
The Perks of Student Health Centers You May Not Know About
Depending on where you go to college, there’s a good chance you shell out good money every semester for student health services. Those services and on-campus clinics include more than just quick visits with a nurse or doctor. You usually get loads of other benefits you’ll want to take advantage of.
Little Known Perks of University Fitness Centers
Fighting off the freshman fifteen doesn’t mean your choices are limited to treadmills and weights. University fitness centers are filled with surprising, fun amenities to help you get in shape, develop healthy habits, and even de-stress before a big exam. Best of all, for many students it’s all free.
Use These Student Discounts to Save on Everything You Need for College
Your first year of college is expensive. You’ll need clothes, textbooks, gadgets, toiletries, food, maybe even furniture and a place to live. Essentially, a ton of crap that your parents paid for your whole life. Luckily, your sweet student discounts can ease that transition.
The Sneaky, Hidden Costs of College Life (and How to Save)
College gets more expensive every year. And crazy tuition aside, there are a number of sneakier, hidden costs that can drain your wallet when you head back to school. These costs can add up fast, but there are some simple ways to cut them and save big. At the very least, knowing about them can help you can budget a little better.
How to Make the Most of Your New Dorm Room’s Tiny Space
Welcome to your new digs, college students. Hope you enjoy sharing a tiny space with one (or more) roommates. Before you move yourself in, here are a few tricks you can use to make your little area go a long way, especially in a shared living environment.
The Best Exercise Equipment for Your Dorm Room
If you live in a small space, you may think your at-home exercise options are limited to no-equipment, mostly bodyweight workouts. However, a suspension system or a couple of dumbbells can open the door to tons of new exercises without taking up a ton of space or stretching your student budget.
How to Eat Healthier in College (and Avoid the “Freshman 15")
Have you heard of the infamous “Freshman 15” (or 20, or 30)? It’s named after a phenomenon where new college students reportedly gain on average 15 pounds by their second year. While there are numerous explanations for this weight gain, chief among them is poor dietary choices. Don’t worry, we’ll help you ace that.
How to Eat Healthy When Your Roommate Eats Like Crap All the Time
If you’re trying to eat healthy in college, there are a lot of forces working against you: a tight budget, limited choices in the dining hall, and of course, your friends and roomies. We’ve helped you eat on a budget and navigate the college cafeteria. Now we’ll help you eat well around your Pac-Man roommate.
The Best Note Taking Apps for Students
Whether you’re in high school or college, you spend a lot of time taking notes. You have several excellent options for doing so, and which works best for you depends a lot on your note taking style. It’s best to pick software and stick to it so you don’t to worry about moving stuff around later. Here’s how to make the right choice from the outset.
The Lifehacker Pack for Students
Every year we put together a list of our Lifehacker App packs for each operating system. In the spirit of those lists we figured it was time to put together a list for students getting ready for school. Whether you’re onWindows, Mac, Android, or iPhone, we’ve got you covered.
Top 10 Ways to Stretch Your Back to School Budget
Whether we want to admit it or not, it’s back to school season. That means that parents and students alike are all gearing up to spend a ton of money gearing up for class with laptops, school supplies, clothing, and accessories. Here’s how to save where you can and keep the cash in your wallet.
How to Get Your Kids Back Into School Mode Before Summer Ends
The lazy days of summer are coming to a close, which means it’s time to start preparing your kid for a more scholarly mindset. Here are a few tips to get them out of lazy mode and ease the transition for both of you.
Don’t Freak Out If Your Kid Gets Head Lice
If you hear that your kid (or one of their friends) has head lice, your first reaction might be a mixture of disgust, panic, and an urge to disinfect everything in your house. That would be overkill. Head lice aren’t a health hazard, and even medication-resistant “super lice” can be eradicated with proper treatment.
How to Make Your Kid’s Lunch Fun, Even If You Have Zero Artistic Ability
These days, parents seem to treat lunch-packing like a competitive sport, producing some truly artistic mid-day meals for their youngsters. Not all parents are gifted in the ways of ham origami, but that doesn’t mean their children should suffer from lackluster presentation. Follow these tips, and you’ll craft a lunch that will really impress.
How to Pack a Healthy Lunchbox for Your Kids
A kid’s packed lunch has a big job to do: it has to fill their belly, be appetizing enough not to get thrown in the trash, and be healthy enough that you don’t feel that juice-and-twinkie guilt.
The Complete Guide to Saving Money on Textbooks
With student loan debt at an all-time high, the high costs of text books hurt even more. This year, save yourself a ton of money by buying your textbooks the right way.
How to Choose the Perfect Back-to-School Laptop
It’s a great time to buy a laptop. Back to school deals are on now, and new models are hitting store shelves. We’ve talked about how to pick the perfect laptop, but if you’re headed to college, or even back to school, and aren’t sure what you’ll need, you have it tougher. Don’t worry, we’ll help you through it.
Are Chromebooks Good Laptops for Students?
There’s a lot to like about Chromebooks. They’re budget-friendly, have a lot of options, and are powerful enough to get things done. If you’re a student shopping for a laptop for school, they may be pretty attractive. For some students, Chromebooks are a savvy purchase, but for others, it’s a nightmare waiting to happen. Let’s see where you fall.
For more tips and tricks to make your first days back in class a little easier, your first time away at College more manageable, or to make your kids’ first day in either place easier on everyone, head to our Back to School tag page and read more!
Title image made using Aquir (Shutterstock) and Mettus (Shutterstock).