As I gear up for college, I'm trying to minimize costs as much as possible. I've heard that there are ways to get free stuff as a student, but I'm not sure where to start. Are there any legit resources or tips you guys can share for scoring free books, software, or even services? I'd love any advice from other students who have managed to snag some great free student deals!
Absolutely, there are a variety of ways to obtain free resources as a student. One of the common mistakes many students make is overlooking the resources provided by their institutions. Universities offer a remarkable amount of resources to their students, especially in terms of digital services—you just have to make sure you're taking full advantage!
Starting with software, many schools provide access to important applications like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Anti-virus software, and more. Also, your college email address can score you free cloud storage, as many colleges have deals with cloud service providers like Google Drive among others.
If you're into reading and research materials, your college's library likely gives online access to paid academic databases like JSTOR, EBSCO, ProQuest, and others. Furthermore, they often have interlibrary loan programs where they can get books from other libraries—and ebooks are typically included too.
For physical books, it's worth talking to your professors as well. They often have old versions of textbooks or may be willing to let you borrow a copy for the duration of the course. Some students even pool money together to buy a single copy of a book and make photocopies.
There are also several companies that offer student discounts or free access to their products:
- Amazon offers a 6-month free trial of Prime for students, which comes with perks like free shipping and access to Prime Video, and you get a discount on your membership after the trial.
- GitHub offers a Student Developer Pack which includes free access to a multitude of development tools and programs.
- Spotify provides a discounted student plan that includes Hulu and Showtime access as well.
Moreover, there's a multitude of websites offering online courses for free or at a significantly discounted rate such as Coursera, edX, Khan Academy, and even YouTube channels.
Remember, when you are trying to find free resources, it's important to stick to reputable sources and ensure they are legitimate before providing any personal information.
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