There's no reason to throw money away while you're trying to get an education.

Application, school and living expenses inadvertently can add up to more than you need to spend. It might be that daily latte, too much take-out food or a late registration. But some costs can be controlled.

Here are some tips to help you get your money's worth:

• Use online applications. Some schools let students apply online for free.

• Take college courses in high school. College credits are cheaper if earned by doing well on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or College in High School exams.

• Consider an early housing deposit. Some schools place incoming freshmen into residence halls based on the date they make a housing deposit. In some cases, these deposits are refundable if you decide not to attend. If one of your choices has this policy, plunk down the housing deposit when you're accepted so you have a better chance to get your first choice.

• Register as early as possible. Some incoming freshman may find classes they want or need are sold out at some schools if they go to the last week of orientation. Try to go to the earliest session possible to have maximum choice. Upperclassmen should be certain to register as soon as they are permitted. A filled required class can result in students having to go to school longer.

• Take enough credits. One of the most expensive ways to get a college education is to take 12 credits each semester. At the end of four years, you'll have only 96 credits, but many schools require at least 120 credits to graduate. You'll find yourself paying for at least 24 additional credits -- and spending another year in school at the pace of 12 credits a semester. Schools usually charge full-time students the same, whether they take 12 or 17 credits a semester, so you could have taken those remaining courses for free.

• Take summer courses at community college. If you need some extra credits to stay on track or graduate on time, try the lower-cost community college courses. Just be sure to check in advance that they will transfer to your school.

• File a FAFSA each year. Some schools require students to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid even if they're just trying to a merit scholarship. And the FAFSA is required for low-cost federal student loans, some of which even Bill Gates could qualify for. Forms become available after Jan. 1 each year.

• Meet financial aid deadlines. Make sure you are familiar with state, federal and institutional financial aid deadlines to maximize your chances. Apply as early as you can. Some colleges award the best grants to students who apply for admission by a certain date. If you miss a deadline, you may lose out on grants -- free money -- or lower-cost loans.

• Look for scholarships. Scholarships aren't just awarded to incoming freshmen. Apply for as many scholarships as possible each semester, especially to ones that come from within your major's department. The more you accomplish in your major, the more likely you are to win the scholarships it offers.

• Buy supplies in summer. Many local stores discount pens, pencils, paper, notebooks and other back-to-school supplies in July and early August. Those same supplies often will cost more if you wait until you get to the campus bookstore.

• Use your student ID. Your student ID may get you a lot of perks: free museum admissions, free bus rides, student discounts at restaurants and stores, etc. Use the discounts as much as possible (but only if you were going to buy the item anyway).

• Go to campus events. Most colleges offer a variety of free events on the weekends. Go to them.

• Share dorm expenses. Divide your expenses for your room with your roommate(s). Do you want to have a fridge for four years? Then offer to buy the fridge. If having a television is more important to you, then offer to buy the TV.

• Share cleaning supplies. You will not need a broom, vacuum, Swiffer, sponges and Ajax more than once a month. You can save quite a bit by splitting the cost of these items with your suitemates or neighbors in your hallway.

• Set up a movie library. Organize a movie library in your residence hall. See if you can get your hallmates to submit a list of the DVDs they own, then post the list in the hallway. If you feel like staying in and watching a movie, you don't have to leave the dorm or pay money at a movie store -- just ask to borrow one.

• Use college career services. Many colleges have career counseling offices that will help students with resumes, prepare them for job interviews and host recruiters. Usually these services -- which can be pricey on the open market -- are free or low-cost to students.

• Pass courses the first time. Many students fail a required course and have to repeat it to move on. It's cheaper to just buckle down and learn it the first time instead of paying for the same course twice.

• Use campus tutoring services. Find out whether the college offers free tutoring in any of your courses. Use the tutoring services regularly throughout the term when you can get more attention, not just around tests or finals when they get crowded.

• Understand health insurance impacts. Know how many credits you need to take to be considered full-time, usually a requirement for staying on parents' health insurance policies after a certain age. If you drop a course and end up below the minimum credits for a full-time student, you'll loose your health insurance.

• Secure your belongings. It's not unusual for laptops to disappear from dorm rooms. Reduce your risk with a laptop security lock. Keep your room locked, even if you are just going to the restroom.

• Buy your books used on Amazon.com or similar sites. You'd be surprised how many books -- especially for English majors -- you can buy for only $.01 plus shipping and handling.

• Keep books in good condition. Take good care of your books so you can sell them when the semester's over. To get the best price for them, sell them on Amazon or directly to other students.

• Buy only the books you need. Look closely at your syllabus before buying your course books. If a textbook will be one of the foundations of the course you're taking, definitely purchase it. But if you're only reading one or two chapters from a book during one week of class, try to find it from a library or borrow it from a friend.

• Save dining hall food for snacks. Does your dining hall allow you to take an item with you when you leave? If so, do it, after every meal. A piece of fruit or a brownie can serve as a snack later in the day.

• Make your own coffee. You can spend lots of money on late-night cups of coffee without ever noticing. Get your coffee in the dining hall, where it's free. Or, if your discerning palate requires a more sophisticated standard of joe, invest in a coffee maker that will still save you money in the long run.

• Don't eat too much pizza. Though it may seem like only a few bucks here and there, take-out food can be deceptively disastrous for your bank account. All those nights of Chinese food and pizza begin to add up much sooner than you'd think. Instead, get fresh produce that will spice things up and still last you more than one day.

• Drink tap water. Buy a re-usable drinking bottle and keep refilling it with tap water instead of buying bottled water. You'll help the environment too.

• Bring clothes for next season. If you're attending school someplace cold, make sure to bring your cold-weather gear when you first get there. It'll probably get cold soon after school starts, and you don't want to have to buy a whole new winter wardrobe if you already have one at home but just didn't pack it along.

• Get anti-virus software. Buy and install virus protection for your computer. It could save you money in virus clean-up later. Check with your school's computer folks to make sure your anti-viral software is compatible with the system.

• Think ahead. Sure, you have a lot to do today. But if you plan ahead, you'll have a better shot at the best dorm, the best apartment, the cheapest books and the best summer jobs.

• Keep track of your progress. Although you have an adviser, it's your responsibility to meet any requirements. If there's a mistake, you're the one holding the bag.

• Share a ride. The commute back and forth to college for breaks can become costly. If you live close enough to campus, try to carpool. If you're heading a significant distance home, find older students from your area and ask if they have a seat for you on the way back. Tell them you will pay for some of the gas and tolls. If you are a student with a car, look for potential carpoolers so someone can chip in for the gas and tolls.

• Pack light. Don't pack a lot when you go home for breaks, if home is a plane ride away. Now that almost all airlines charge for checked baggage, taking a large suitcase home for a few weeks can cost about $100 in total. Instead, leave some clothes at home for when you come home in the winter and spring, and just pack a small carry-on for those trips.

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