Michael Gennaro
North Bureau Chief
The beginning of fall term introduces thousands of high-school graduates to the college experience. College is undoubtedly very different than high school, and new students may struggle to adapt to those differences.
Unlike in high school, students are responsible for footing the bill on books and other academic materials. Preparing for a semester can skyrocket a student’s stress level and poison what would otherwise be an exciting beginning to freshman year.
Fortunately, Broward College has many programs and perks that can ease those fears and erase the costs and stress that a first semester brings.
First-time college students are going to want to start with an ID card. ID cards are available at any Student Life office on any Broward College campus.
Once a student has an ID card, they can then access many of the resources that have been put in place to help Broward College students get the most out of their college education.
Microsoft Office is a necessity for many classes at Broward College. The computer program, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and a cloud-based storage system to store files, retails at $99.99 for a single year of use.
All BC students get it for free, however, through their BC email. Log onto your email, click on the settings tab in the right-hand corner, and select “Office 365 Settings” to begin the process of downloading this program for free.
Outside of Microsoft Office, Broward College students receive discounts on many other computer products. Popular brands such as Lenovo, Apple and HP offer student discount programs on their website. Students can visit the student discount tab on the Mybc website to learn more information.
The perks don’t end at computer programs. Every student at Broward College is also eligible for an Amazon Prime Student account. After providing proof of college attendance by sending a picture of a class schedule and /or student ID, a student will receive a free Amazon Prime account for 6 months. After 6 months, the student will receive a 50 percent discount off Amazon Prime’s $119.99 price tag.
With a Prime account, a student receives access to all Amazon services such as Prime Video, Prime Music and free two-day shipping on any eligible item. Students are also eligible to rent books from Amazon at greatly reduced fees; after the semester, the student can simply mail the book back. No more buying books that become useless as soon as the semester ends!
After a hard week of studying, your student ID can also be used for leisure.
The Tigertail Lake Recreation Center in Dania provides kayaking, windsurfing, canoes, sailboat rentals and much more to every BC student, free of charge. Students are also eligible for discounts on Tigertail adventure trips and first-aid, CPR, and lifeguard courses.
Students looking to stay in shape can use their ID to access any fitness center on any BC campus.
Art exhibits, music performances, and any other campus event can usually be entered free of charge with an ID card as well.
Burnt out after a day of classes? Check-in with you ID at any student activity center and enjoy the pool tables, video game tournaments and other activities.
Looking to wind down with some music after a test? A Spotify Premium account is 50 percent off for all college students.
The perks of being a college student are too many to list.
Some restaurants offer discounted meals and drinks.
Newspapers like the New York Times offer greatly reduced student rates.
Always make sure to check if any service you regularly use provides a student discount!
It will go a long way to making your first semester move along smoothly.
For more details on student ID perks, visit https://www.broward.edu/studentlife/Pages/Photo-ID-Office.aspx
gennm2@mail.broward.edu