Expect to need more money than the costs of tuition and room and board.
"I wish I had known there are a lot of expenses you don't think to account for, even after tuition/housing/meal plan/etc. Even if you take full advantage of your meal plan, there's still going to be late-night pizza orders or off-campus birthday dinners.
"A lot of clubs have dues as well; I remember being surprised at the $60 fee for swim team, but it makes sense we'd need a budget to pay for pool time, meet fees, and t-shirts.
"My school also had a great concert board, so there were always shows and events going on that required tickets.
"These are by no means huge expenses and can easily be budgeted/managed, but I remember slipping into a mindset that once all these major costs were out of the way (tuition, books, dorm) that college was taken care of. Life lesson: There are always hidden costs."
— Emmie Martin