Most people aren’t likely to put a lot of thought into their dining experience. It’s as simple as visiting, eating, paying your check, and heading out. But under close scrutiny, there’s so much more at work, from specials to nutritional tricks, and menu engineering. Check out our collection of marketing secrets restaurants use, and you’ll be wiser next time you go out to eat.

1. Specials aren’t so special: Less than fresh items may be hiding under sauces and soups on the specials menu. Although there are legitimate items like seasonal ingredients and new dishes on the specials menu, look at it with a wary eye.
2. Homemade doesn’t mean house made: Desserts on the menu might be listed as homemade, but that doesn’t mean it’s made in-house. Instead, it could be homemade from a bakery miles away.
3. The special drink we’re out of might just be too time consuming: Restaurants often market special frozen drinks, but your waiter may tell you that they’re out of it because it’s hard to make. Of course, they may suddenly find the ingredients if you decide you’d rather have water, not wanting to lose your drink on the bill.
4. Low fat doesn’t mean healthy: Restaurants often advertise low fat items, but those same items can be loaded with calories and carbohydrates. For example, Applebee’s low-fat chicken quesadillas have 90 grams of carbohydrates and 742 calories.
5. Restaurants practice menu engineering: The way restaurants list items and prices can influence how you order. For example, listing prices in the same font as descriptions and not adding a dollar sign can minimize the cost. High-markup items will take center stage at the upper right of the menu, where the eyes are naturally drawn.
6. Your fish may not be what you think it is: Distributors and restaurants may mislabel fish, selling you a snapper but actually giving you tilapia. Additionally, endangered fish may be listed under a different name, like when restaurants sell "toro," actually giving you Chilean sea bass.
7. Calorie counts aren’t always spot on: Many restaurants now list calories and other nutrition facts on their menus, which is nice for diners who are watching what they eat. But don’t rely carefully on this information, because it can be thrown off by differences in preparation and generous portions.
8. The second-cheapest wine has the biggest markup: Restaurants know you don’t want to look like a cheapo and order the cheapest wine on the menu. So they mark up the second cheapest bottle of wine, knowing you’ll go for that one.
9. They’ll still leave a space for a tip even if it’s included: Most restaurants automatically charge a tip for large parties, but there’s typically still a spot for you to leave one on the bill. Be careful not to double tip, unless you’d like to leave an additional tip for great service.
10. All natural is anything: There is no FDA definition of "all natural." That means you can find artificial flavoring in "all natural chicken" and high fructose corn syrup in "all natural smoothies."
11. The table next to you may be getting a better deal: Groupon, Restaurant.com, and other deal sites make dining out cheaper if you’re in the know. But restaurants will gladly charge loyal customers full price.
12. Fruit can just be flavoring: Even if a fruit’s name is in the title of a dish or drink, there may not actually be fruit in it. Sometimes, it’s just a flavored corn syrup.
13. They won’t tell you if they don’t like a dish: Servers can’t tell you if they don’t like a dish. If you ask about a dish and get a generic response, it’s probably not a favorite.
14. Stay well within posted hours: Restaurants will stay open up to and sometimes past their advertised hours, but actually dining at that time isn’t always a great idea. Not only are servers not appreciative of last minute diners, the kitchen has often begun cleanup for the night, which means your food is being prepared with food that was prepped long ago, in ovens and fryers with the buildup of a whole night. Additionally, when there’s cooking and cleaning happening at the same time in the kitchen, your food may end up getting sprayed with kitchen cleaner.

1. Be ready for growth: Businesses and relationships can both start out small, but grow quickly. Always have a plan for what you’d like to do with future growth.
2. Build trust: Businesses must be trustworthy to win and keep clients, and the same is true in relationships. Build trust within your relationship so that you’ll have a strong foundation.
3. He who cares least, wins: This saying is true in negotiations as it is in relationships. Be careful not to invest too much into a new relationship too fast, while the person you’re dating cares less than you do.
4. Find a mentor: It’s a great idea to have a mentor for your career, but there’s great value in having one for your dating life as well. Enlist a trusted friend who has been there to offer advice and emotional support.
5. It costs much more to get a new customer than it does to retain an existing one: Saving a relationship that’s worth working through is usually better than starting over from scratch.
6. Interview lots of customers (dates): This is particularly true in online dating. Cast a wide net, and pick out only the best.
7. Get involved in the community: Businesses can improve their profile by interacting within their communities, and those who are dating can benefit from this as well. Getting out there and being involved in your community can be great for meeting new people and enriching yourself.
8. Never sleep with your boss: This rule is true in business and dating — it’s just too messy to sleep with a coworker, especially your boss.
9. Use an appropriate tone in correspondence: When writing business emails, it’s important to consider how what you’re saying may be taken-and the same is true for dating.
10. Don’t leave customers in limbo: You wouldn’t leave a customer hanging with a need or a complaint, so make sure and resolve issues within relationships as well.
11. Listen to your employees: Business owners can’t get far without paying attention to the needs of their employees, and your relationship won’t do well if you don’t listen to your partner’s needs, either.
12. First impressions are important: When meeting someone for the first time, pay attention to how you may be coming across.
13. Show off your best work: Businesses like to highlight their best projects and most satisfied customers. Do the same in dating by highlighting your best attributes.
14. Under-promise and over-deliver: Businesses make their customers happy by exceeding expectations, and this concept works in the dating world, too. Surprise your date with something delightful and unexpected.
15. Remember to participate: Conversations work two ways, so listen and respond meaningfully.
16. Address problems promptly: Businesses can do well by finding and resolving problems quickly. In relationships, this is important as well, keeping small issues from becoming big ones.
17. Be consistent: Businesses must keep a consistent look, feel, and rules. When dating, make sure that you’re always your genuine self any time you’re interacting with others.
18. Stay flexible: In order to stay in business, it’s important to adapt to the needs of your market. In dating, you must be willing to be flexible and compromise in a relationship.
19. Get over it: Don’t let resentment and anger keep you down, whether it’s with a customer or your date.
20. Be honest: Businesses that engage in shady ethics often don’t stay in business very long, and the same is true for relationships. Be open, honest, and always tell the truth.

News and Information

These blogs offer some basic news, information and articles to help you learn more about filing bankruptcy.

1. Bankruptcy Blog: If you need help with bankruptcy or debt, give this blog a read. You’ll find the latest news about bankruptcy issues as well as guides that can help you deal with foreclosure, understand the laws and even file if you need to. Recommended post: "Importance of Being Credit Worthy in the United States."
2. Total Bankruptcy: Whether you’re looking for insightful stats on bankruptcy or are in need of legal advice, check out this blog to help you navigate the situation. Recommended post: "Credit Cards After Bankruptcy."
3. WSJ Bankruptcy Beat: Taking a look at bankruptcy from the business perspective, this blog follows companies that are on the brink of going out. Recommended post: "Baby Boomer Bankruptcies on the Rise."
4. The Online Bankruptcy Blog: With posts on consumer protection laws, types of debt, foreclosure and filing for bankruptcy, you’ll find a wealth of information here. Recommended post: "Can I Clear An IRS Debt Through Bankruptcy?"
5. Bankruptcy HQ: From the essentials of bankruptcy to the intricacies of its laws, this blog covers all the bases when it comes to providing readers with the best knowledge on the subject. Recommended post: "Am I going Bankrupt? – Sure Fire Signs You’re Headed For Chapter 7."
6. Better Bankruptcy: No matter what kind of questions you have about bankruptcy, you’ll find helpful answers in the posts found on this blog. Recommended post: "A Legal Problem That Might Come Back to Haunt You."
7. Bankruptcy News & Analysis: Through this blog you can find the biggest court cases and news concerning bankruptcy. Recommended post: "Diabetes America Files For Chapter 11 Protection in Texas."
8. In the RED: If you want to take a look at bankruptcy for businesses, this blog can be one of the best sources of information on topics like law, resources and more. Recommended post: "Are "Termination On Bankruptcy" Contract Clauses Enforceable?"
9. Weil Bankruptcy Blog: Is your business heading towards financial ruin? Read through this blog for advice on how to save it or handle the often complicated issues of filing for bankruptcy. Recommended post: "Amendments to the Bankruptcy Rules Go into Effect Today."
10. Caveat Emptor: Whether you need help with debt or bankruptcy, you’ll find some amazingly helpful articles here that can make managing your financial nightmare a little bit easier. Recommended post: "How to Avoid Ending Up in Jail for Debt."
11. Clear Bankruptcy: Get advice on this blog from attorneys and other bankruptcy experts on how to manage your financial problems and get back on your feet. Recommended post: "FTC Warns Providers of Fake ‘Free’ Credit Reports."
12. Credit Slips: Covering all aspects of credit, readers of this blog will find insights into managing everything from small debts to filing for bankruptcy. Recommended post: "Bankruptcy and the Crisis: Why so Few?"

Attorneys and Law

Get advice on bankruptcy from the pros with these blogs written by lawyers and legal experts in the field.

13. Bankruptcy Prof Blog: Law professor Jonathan Hayes shares his expertise in the field on this blog. Read through it and you’ll find out how bankruptcy can affect your finances in the long term and gain a better understanding of the latest relevant legislation. Recommended post: "Top Ten Parts of BAPCPA Congress Needs to Fix."
14. Nolo’s Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Blog: This well-known publisher of law books also offers a website to help you through the legal aspects of bankruptcy and debt, from garnished wages to state-specific regulations. Recommended post: "More Money for Foreclosure Prevention: Will It Help?."
15. theBKBlog: Attorney Jonathan Ginsberg offers up some help to those facing bankruptcy on this blog, crammed with helpful legal advice anyone in financial trouble should read. Recommended post: "How Can Filing Bankruptcy Impact My Children?"
16. The Bankruptcy Lawyers Blog: Keep up with changes in bankruptcy law through the news on this blog by attorney Kevin Chern. After you’re done reading, you can also find an attorney and see if you meet the requirements to file for bankruptcy. Recommended post: "Bankruptcy Job Discrimination."
17. The Bankruptcy Litigation Blog: Through this blog, you can read updates about bankruptcy litigation cases and other legal issues. Geared perhaps a bit more towards the professional attorney crowd, the posts are helpful to see how the process works all the same. Recommended post: "US Supreme Court Drops Bombshell "Summary Disposition" Vacating 2d Circuit’s Chrysler Decision."
18. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Blog: Follow this blog to stay in the know about bankruptcy law and legislation and creditor’s rights. Recommended post: "Bankruptcy Court Allows General Growth’s ‘Bankruptcy-Remote’."
19. Two Lawyers and a Bankruptcy Blog: If you feel you’re headed towards filing bankruptcy, this blog can help you understand the fundamentals you’ll need to get the process started and recovering afterwards. Recommended post: "Homeowners’ Association Dues When Filing Bankruptcy."
20. Bankruptcy Law Network: Filled with news and information on bankruptcy, this site is one of the best resources for those in dire financial straits. Recommended post: "Don’t Let The IRS Secret Lien Ruin Your Retirement!"
21. Reed’s Blog: Whether you work in bankruptcy law or are soon going to be facing it head on, this blog offers some helpful news and information that can make the process of filing a little easier. Recommended post: "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Your Rights."

State Specific

While these blogs are geared towards specific states, they often offer advice and information that can be applied nationwide.

22. The Bankruptcy Blog: Learn a bit more about bankruptcy law and news in the state of California through this attorney-written blog. Recommended post: "Predatory Loan Modifications."
23. Florida Bankruptcy Law Blog: Check back with this blog regularly to read more about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy laws in the state of Florida. Recommended post: "Bankruptcy Debtors Often Try To Hide Their Own Claims And Potential Lawsuit Recoveries."
24. New York Bankruptcy Help: Law firm Shaev and Fleischman shares helpful advice on what it means to file for bankruptcy in the different areas of New York through this blog. Recommended post: "Westchester Chapter 13 Bankruptcy? Attorney Gives 9 Tips For Success."
25. San Diego Bankruptcy Law Blog: Keep up with news, changes to California law and current legal issues surrounding bankruptcy on this legal blog. Recommended post: "You’re Unemployed and in Debt. Bankruptcy or Debt Negotiation?"

General

Get an introduction to bartering here.

1. Know what you need: Don’t be wishy washy about what you expect to receive-directly ask for it, and be just as direct about what you have to offer.
2. Do it in person: Establish better trust by bartering in person whenever possible.
3. Pay attention to the season: Remember that Halloween costumes will move better in October than November, and vintage dresses around homecoming or prom.
4. Offer time during lulls: Schedule barter work only during times when you have lulls in your regular hours.
5. Set a time frame: Bartering isn’t worth much if you never actually receive the product or service you’re exchanging for-be sure to specify when your transaction will incur.
6. Just ask: Don’t hesitate to pop the question if you think it’s a good deal.

Barter Partners

Get set up with bartering partners by following these tips.

7. Get started with people you know well: When you’re trying to learn the ropes of bartering, start out with people you know and trust.
8. Check out websites: Take a look at websites that specialize in bartering or swapping.
9. Post bartering requests regularly: Stay on the radar and keep posting about the barter deals you’d like to make.
10. Research: Look for word of mouth recommendations and references when finding someone to barter with.
11. Put the word out: Let anyone and everyone know that you’re looking for bartering partners.
12. Display a We Barter sign: Advertise that you’re open to bartering in your business with a We Barter sign.
13. Be selective: Choose your trades carefully, selecting businesses and people that can represent your brand and reputation.
14. Get recommendations: Be sure you can trust the person you’re bartering with by asking for recommendations.
15. Find local people: Use sites like craigslist and Meetup to find local swappers.
16. Communicate: Stay in good contact with your bartering partner.
17. If you wouldn’t pay them, don’t barter with them: Don’t enter into a bartering relationship with someone you wouldn’t otherwise do business with.
18. Join a Time Bank: With a Time Bank, you perform services and earn a time dollar that can be redeemed for other services on the site.
19. Check the fine print on barter networks: If you’re joining a bartering network, look out for entry feeds, percentages of transactions, or minimum trades per year.

Value

Without actual money exchanging hands, it’s easy to lose sight of the real value-follow these tips to stay on the right track.

20. Be attractive: Ask for a product or service that your bartering partner would be happy to exchange.
21. Have a specialty: Make your bartering more valuable by specializing in something others may have a hard time getting.
22. Know your costs: Be sure that you understand the true cost of what you’re trading.
23. Know your value: Be sure that the service you’re offering is as valuable as what you’re trying to receive.
24. Be realistic: Be careful not to over-promise what you can deliver.
25. Be confident: Don’t be wishy washy with potential barter partners, or undersell yourself.
26. Be fair: It’s tempting to get the most out of a deal as you can, but it’s better for your bartering relationship if you simply strive for an equal exchange.
27. Don’t cross the line: Be careful not to insult your bartering partner with a ridiculously unequal trade.
28. Talk about it afterward: After the bartering is complete, check in to make sure that both parties are happy.

Offers & Needs

What exactly will you be bartering for? Use these tips to make your consideration.

29. Take a look at your overheads: Stumped on what you can barter for? Take a look at what you pay for regularly, like creative design, couriers, accounting, and SEO.
30. Think beyond things: Remember that experiences like vacations can be traded.
31. Barter for gifts: Even if you can’t personally use an item, keep in mind that bartered items can make great gifts for valued clients.
32. Ask yourself what you have to offer: Look beyond your business and think about items you have, hobbies you can teach, crafts, or chores you can swap.
33. Stick to needs only: Only barter if you actually need the service being offered.
34. Provide a list of things to choose from: Even if your offer doesn’t pique the interest of a provider, offer a list of other things they can get.
35. List your needs: Just as you should list what you’re offering, have a list of what you’d like to acquire in exchange.

Conflict Prevention

Avoid unnecessary stress and conflict by following these tips.

36. Be very appreciative: Keep a positive bartering relationship by showing your appreciation for your partner’s hard work.
37. Establish boundaries: Make sure you have clear goals and outcomes in any bartering relationship.
38. No is an acceptable word: If you’re approached with a trade that isn’t beneficial to you, don’t be afraid to politely decline.
39. Create an "out": Don’t leave a bartering relationship open ended, and be sure to have an option to end the contract if either party isn’t happy.
40. Agree on conflict resolution: Decide ahead of time what will happen if one person is satisfied, but the other isn’t.

Paperwork

These tips will keep your paperwork on the straight and narrow.

41. Don’t forget the IRS: Make sure that you keep proper bartering records for tax time.
42. Write a contract: Stipulate exactly what you’re exchanging in writing, preferably with a contract.
43. Talk to a CPA: For larger barters, be sure to bring in a CPA to ensure that you’re getting the documentation correct.
44. Zero out at the end of the year: If transactions aren’t complete at the end of the year, you may have to pay or receive a tax credit-avoid this situation by zeroing out all exchanges by the end of the year.

Swaps & Communities

With these tips, you can create swaps and communities in your own neighborhood or circle of friends.

45. Share petsitting with your neighbors: Save money on boarding by getting neighbors to pet sit for you while you’re out of town, and return the favor.
46. Create a babysitting co-op: Save hundreds of dollars on babysitting with a co-op, and build a community and friendships.
47. Swap homes for vacation: Instead of paying for a hotel or rental home, arrange to swap homes with someone for your next vacation.
48. Set up a service bank: Get together with friends and create a service bank to do work for each other.
49. Plan a clothing swap party: Plan a party to swap clothing items and jazz up your wardrobe.
50. Exchange books: Start or join a book club that allows you to meet and exchange books, or swap online through the mail.

1. Web Design: Nearly every competitive company — or business that wants to be competitive — has a great website. If you’re able to create attractive, user-friendly designs, use HTML coding and CSS, and manipulate images and even video so that content, products and services are clearly communicated to customers, you can greatly increase your chances of getting hired or getting a raise. Smaller companies that don’t have in-house designers and developers should be especially happy to snag your talents. Also think about learning how to design mobile- and iPad-friendly sites, too, if you can’t already.
2. Blogging and Journaling: Blogging isn’t just a way to increase your own personal brand or start your own business. It’s a valuable opportunity for you to network and collaborate with others in your industry, amping up your chances of getting a great job. Additionally, all kinds of businesses are looking for employees who can blog on their websites for marketing, PR and customer service purposes. If you’re able to demonstrate that you’re familiar with writing for the web (and can use basic blogging software) by creating SEO-friendly, interesting and succinct posts, you’ll be a great add-on to any business, even if your principal specialty is in finance, HR, or consulting. Journaling is another helpful hobby, as it improves your communication skills and can help you articulate your feelings and goals.
3. Acting/Improv: Besides working on your public speaking and confidence skills, acting and improv can be a valuable hobby for those interested in propelling their business career. As an actor, your job is to consider situations, people and feelings from a new perspective, constantly keeping an open mind as to how to solve problems and deal with others. Improv especially prepares you for real-world curveballs, and by practicing with a group of friends or a formal troupe, you can train yourself to be actively engaged in any conversation or situation at work. Patricia Ryan Madson, author of Improv Wisdom explains in an interview with Brand Autopsy that "to "improv" or "improvise" is a way of doing things, a methodology that involves paying attention, responding supportively, and acting constructively." You’ll quickly become accustomed to using positive feedback and listening more attentively.
4. Reading: Reading gives you a broader perspective on how the world works, from human nature, motives and actions to historical and current events to emerging cultural trends to contrasting cultural ideals. Whether you read magazines, novels or blogs, you’ll be constantly replenishing your mind with fresh ideas that you can apply to work. Creative problem solving skills, insight into public opinion, and possibly even tips about your competition’s strategies can all be positive effects of reading. Scientists believe reading is also one of the best ways to relax and reduce stress.
5. Photography: Photographers — even amateur snappers — train themselves to look beyond the obvious and capture people, landscapes, animals and other subjects that reveal hidden emotions or messages. Being able to uncover these layers is a useful skill in dealing with other people and analyzing projects, ideas or problems. And besides your insightfulness, your boss may like the idea of hiring in-house when your company needs a professional photographer to cover an event or take official portraits.
6. Computer repair: For some techie minds, there’s no greater pastime than taking apart and putting back together computers and other gadgets. And if you’re particularly adept at computer repair or smart phone maintenance, don’t hide your hobby from your boss. A full-time IT guy could be expensive for a small company, and you could earn extra money — or at least, valuable brownie points — if you’re able to quickly patch up computer problems at the office in addition to your regular duties.
7. Crossword puzzles: If there happens to be a crossword competition at your next industry conference, this skill will impress your boss, but there’s an even greater significance to this hobby. Staying mentally active by doing crossword puzzles and other brain teasers improves your critical thinking skills, memory and overall brain function. Scientists believe that good brain function also leads to better decision making skills and a stronger ability to focus.
8. Party planning and hosting: Party planning isn’t a frivolous past-time. In fact, if you’re able to pull together an attractive, budget-friendly dinner, office party, happy hour or major event that impresses clients and makes your boss look good, your skill can be extremely important to promoting your company’s overall brand. Getting stuck with guest lists, invitations, menu and venue selection, RSVPs and other party planning details can be a real pain, but if you love it, are good at it, and have a repository of valuable contacts, you’ll make everyone’s lives easier.
9. Bargain shopping: If you have a healthy appreciation for finding a good deal, you know how to quickly shop around to save money. Your boss should appreciate this frugality, especially if you’re put in charge of booking flights, arranging conferences, or refilling office inventory. Some people might be too lazy or overwhelmed to look for deals, but if you can save your office money — without sacrificing quality — you’ll be greatly appreciated at work.
10. Travel: Traveling in any capacity can really boost your career, proving to your boss that you’re open-minded, organized and up for new challenges. If you can speak another language besides English, that can greatly help your business expand to new markets and clients, too. Extreme travel, backpacking and hostel hopping demonstrate your penchant for being adaptable and budget-minded, and most frequent travelers present themselves as being social, confident and lifelong learners, too.

Get your notes together and organized. You don’t want to be hunting around for essential papers the night before an exam. By pulling together your information early on, you’ll have a chance to borrow notes from classmates if you’ve lost any of yours and to locate any misplaced papers. It can make study crunch time for finals a whole lot less stressful.

Have a study schedule and stick to it. It’s easy to plan to study for your exams a few weeks early but much more difficult to actually motivate yourself to do so. Don’t cut yourself any slack, however. If you make a plan to study, stick to it.

Stop procrastinating. Procrastination is your enemy when it comes to studying for and doing well on finals. Cramming for exams isn’t going to help you so start early and work through the weeks leading up to finals to get the best results.

Ask for help from classmates and professors. When you start preparing earlier, you might notice things you don’t understand from class or have questions about. Use this time before exam craziness to ask professors and classmates for help so that you’ll be much more confident come test time.

Make study tools early on. Don’t wait until the night before your final to make flashcards or outlines of your notes. Do these things early so you can use them for several days to study and get your brain thinking about the topics covered by your exams.

Find out what you need to know. It’s essential that you determine what your final is going to cover and the format it will be given in. You’ll need to study differently for an exam that focuses on memorization than for one that focuses on writing an essay. Know what you’re going to have to tackle and make a plan to do so in advance.

Taking final exams may not even constitute as fun, but it can be an fulfilling way to show off what you’ve learned throughout the semester. Studying hard, preparing early on and using good test-taking strategies are all ways to help ace your finals and move you with confidence into the next semester.

Apply for more. There is power in numbers when it comes to applying for scholarships. The more you apply for, the better your chances are of getting at least one or two to cover some of your costs.

Do your research. You also need to know what scholarships are out there. Sign up for an online scholarship search engine and canvas your local community to see if any businesses are sponsoring programs for college students. You may find awards that are perfect for you or that you didn’t even know existed.

Get help. No one says your scholarship journey has to be undertaken alone. Ask for help from your school counselor, parents and friends. You’ll have a much easier time finding awards to apply for, honing your essays to perfection and keeping it all organized when you have a little help in the process.

Review everything carefully. You don’t want to waste your time applying for scholarships for which you don’t qualify or simply forget to put required materials in at the last moment. Always read over scholarship requirements carefully before applying and double check that you’ve included all the required materials before mailing anything in.

Deserve them. The best way to get more scholarships for school? Be a standout student or leader or better yet, both. After all, why should foundations and companies want to give you money if you’re only halfhearted about your desire to go to school or pursue a career. Work hard and you’ll reap the rewards when it comes time to pay your college tuition.

There is no surefire way to guarantee that you’ll get scholarships for college. There are, however, a number of ways that you can improve your chances and give yourself an edge. Try out these methods to help you whip your scholarships into shape and get you on the road college sooner and without such a heavy financial load to bear.

Know the process. Find out when and where you need to start making an appeal. When you know the details of the process, it will be a whole lot easier to start making the contacts and getting together the documentation you’ll need.

Talk to financial aid advisors. These individuals are often the ones in charge of making the big decisions about financial aid offers, so set up a meeting or phone call to initiate contact and to express your interest in asking for more aid.

Make your case a strong one. You’re not going to get the help you need if you can’t make a strong case for why you need the money. Be willing to share details of your financial circumstances, especially if there have been changes since you first applied to school. Some colleges may be understanding and will offer additional help to encourage you to attend their school.

Show other offers. If you’ve gotten better offers of financial aid from other schools, but want to try to get a similar offer at your top choice school, there’s no harm in asking. Don’t be shy about showing what other schools are willing to give you and asking for a bump in aid from your school of choice.

Understand when you have a better chance. Private schools often have more money to go around when it comes to aid packages and can be better places to try to negotiate. This doesn’t hold true for Ivy League and highly selective schools, however, which have plenty of students who would be willing to take your place if the cost it too high for you. Additionally, if you’re a less than stellar student, a school probably isn’t going to compete with other schools to let you in.

Always follow up. Don’t simply make your case and forget about it. Follow up with advisors and decision makers at the school to ensure you stay on their minds and that they let you know their decision as soon as possible.

While some schools simply might not have extra aid to go around, it never hurts to ask if you’re in financial dire straights and still want to attend a great college. Who knows, you might even get a better deal than you ever though possible.

Pull together all of the necessary paperwork. Find out what you’ll need to show to the school to which you plan to transfer and compile a list. Bring together all of the requirements as quickly as possible. This might mean ordering transcripts or getting letters of recommendation which can take take, so start early.

Don’t slack on college courses. All of your A’s in high school won’t matter now that you’re transferring. You’ll need to focus on bringing up and maintaining your college grades if they’re not already high. This will greatly improve your chances of being able to transfer into the school of your choice.

The sooner you transfer, the better. Waiting to transfer can be a big mistake. It gets a lot harder the further you are into your education as each school has its own set of required courses. The longer you wait, the more time you’ll have to spend in school and the more credits you might lose, so if you know you want to transfer, do it now.

Know the rules of each college on transferring. Every school will have different rules about what credits can transfer in an which you will have to sacrifice. Make sure you find this out ahead of time to ensure there are no surprises when you start your semester.

Ask for help from professors and advisors. They will be able to help guide you through the process of transferring and can even write you letters of recommendation. Plus, it’s always wise to leave a school (or job) on good terms.

Get your education on track by moving your studies to the school where you really want to be. Transferring can be a long and often not fun process, but the results can be worth it in the end when you get the resources, education and degree you’ve been dreaming of.

1. Apple: Today, consumers will wait in line for hours just to get their hands on some of Apple’s latest products, but once upon a time this electronics giant was a mere blip on the technology industry’s radar. Back in 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniack and Ronald Wayne started a business out of a garage in Cupertino, CA, putting together one of the first prototypes of their personal computers. Over the next decades, the company would introduce several more models, including their Macintosh line in 1984, arguably what turned them from a struggling startup into a fully fledged business. Today, the company manufactures much more than computers, has almost 50,000 employees and brings in revenues of over 14 billion each year.
2. Google: Google might be a household name today, but back in 1998 the search engine giant was just starting out. Their corporate headquarters? A Menlo Park, CA garage. For the next five months, Google’s staff of three would work out of this garage, perfecting their search algorithm, indexing web pages, and raiding the refrigerator of their friend’s attached home. By the next year the company had outgrown the garage and eventually moved into what is today known as the Googleplex. To celebrate their 8th birthday, Google purchased the garage and intends to preserve it as a lasting legacy to the humble beginnings of their business.
3. Mattel: Mattel wasn’t always the toy maker we know it as today. When the Handler’s got their start in the 1940’s in a Southern California garage, they were making picture frames, not toys. Ruth Handler began taking the scraps of wood from those frames and making doll furniture, a side business which proved quite successful. Because of this, the entrepreneurs decided to change their focus to toys instead. In 1959, they introduced the first Barbie, and afterwards became a household name. Today they’re home to big names in the toy business like Fisher Price, Hot Wheels, American Girl and a number of board games.
4. HP: Back in 1939, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard decided to establish their own electronics manufacturing company. Based out their garage in Palo Alto, CA, with an initial investment of only $538, the two helped establish the technology hub that would become Silicon Valley. When they started out, they made everything from high-tech electronics to agricultural products but by the 60’s were homing in on the tech market exclusively. Today, the company is an electronics giant, with some of the highest quality personal computing products on the market. They have opted to preserve the garage where they got their start, making it into a museum.
5. Amazon: In 1994, Jeff Bezos laid the foundations for what would be the online retailing giant Amazon in his garage, hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow garage entrepreneurs HP. With a strong foundation, the company grew very quickly, and before long was in need of a much bigger space to house their operations. Today, there are few people who haven’t shopped with the online retailer, buying everything from food to televisions to electronic media. This small business had become one of the leading retailers in the world, with billions of dollars in sales each year.
6. Disney: While he would go on to build an animation and entertainment empire, Walt Disney’s first studio was a tiny, one car garage in Hollywood. There he worked on a variety of animation products, setting up a makeshift studio in the space, while he waited to see if his Alice in Wonderland pilot would be picked up by any major distributors. It was, and the company quickly moved out of the garage into a proper studio. These days, Disney is an entertainment giant for kids and adults alike with movies, theme parks and products around the world. That tiny garage was almost torn down, but the dedication of a few interested citizens helped to save it and interested visitors can go there today to see where it all began.
7. Microsoft: In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, with just a few resources and an available garage space. Unlike Apple who developed both software and hardware, Microsoft homed in on the software market. Working with IBM, the company licensed their first OS for a mere $80,000. Later, they would go on to develop more sophisticated operating systems that would evolve into those we know as Windows today. The business would grow to be one of the most profitable and powerful in the world, dominating the personal computing market.
8. MagLite: Anthony Maglica started his dream of owning a business by working long hours to earn the money it would take to put a down payment on his first lathe. Working in a Los Angeles garage, he began to design and build precision parts for industry, aerospace and the military. By 1974, he was incorporated as Mag Instrument and the company was gaining a reputation for the quality of their products. In 1979, MagLite released their first flashlight, the product they are best known for today. It would help them to become a household name and secure their place in the market.
9. Yankee Candle Company: Unable to afford a present for his mother, young Michael Kittredge created his first scented candle from some melted crayons in his garage. Neighbors saw the candles and began purchasing them from him, eventually motivating the high school student to found a business with two high school friends. Kittredge sold the company in 1999 after a cancer scare, but it has gone on to even greater success and is now sold at many major retailers and a number of its own standalone stores.
10. Harley Davidson: It makes complete sense that a company selling vehicles would get its start in a garage or outbuilding, because that’s where those products eventually end up. Harley Davidson did just that, starting out in 1901 with a small business that built engines for bicycles. Of course, it wasn’t long before they started developing the motorcycles for which they are known, and in 1903 they had already released their first racing bike, constructed in a small wooden shed. Buoyed by the popularity and speed of their motorcycles, the company expands, constantly rethinking the best ways to build a bike. Today, they’re still known for producing some of the biggest, best motorcycles on the market and have become a household name.