Q: Use a pasta with lots of nooks and crannies, such as: bow ties, corkscrews, penne, wagon wheels, macaroni, or small shells. You will need the extra space so that you can add your ingredients and toss it. This will be enough to give your salad some extra flavor, color, and texture. If you do not want to add any meat, then double the amount of other extra ingredients you will be using. Here are some ideas of what you can add into your salad:  Cooked, chopped chicken breast, steak, or shrimp Cubed ham, roast beef, or salami Drained and flaked canned tuna Chopped hard-boiled eggs Chopped baked tofu Choose two different types of vegetable or bean. You will need 1 cup (150 grams) of each. Any vegetables you add should be chopped, slices, or diced. Here are some types of vegetables or beans you can add:  Blanched vegetables, such as: broccoli florets, peas, corn kernels, green beans, or asparagus. Raw vegetables, sliced or diced, such as: celery, cucumber, red onion, red or green bell pepper, carrots, or cherry tomatoes. Drained, canned beans, such as: chickpeas, black beans, or white beans. Certain items, such as cheese, will need to be added at the very end, just before you serve the salad. Here are some ideas to get you started:  Chopped sun-dried tomatoes Chopped roasted red peppers Pitted and chopped olives Shredded or crumbled cheese, such as: mozzarella, cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, feta, Parmesan, or goat Toasted and chopped nuts such as: pine nuts, cashews, or peanuts Toasted seeds such as: sesame (use less than 1/3 cup/50 grams) or sunflower Cooked/fried and crumbled bacon The best way to prepare salad dressing is in a jar. Simply put all of the ingredients into a jar, close the jar tightly, and shake it. Some of the creamier dressings, however, are best prepared in a cup and beaten with a fork. Here are some dressings you can make:  To make a simple vinaigrette: combine 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar, 1 minced shallot, ½ teaspoon of salt, and a dash of pepper. To make a creamy dressing: combine 1/3 cup (85 grams) of mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons of sour cream, 1½ tablespoons of lemon juice, add ½ cup (15 grams) of chopped, mixed herbs. Add a dash of salt and pepper. To male a creamy parmesan dressing: combine ¼ cup (65 grams) of mayonnaise, ¼ cup (65 grams) of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of finely grated garlic, and ¾ cup (75 grams) of grated parmesan. Add a dash of salt and pepper. If you are going to add cheese, set it aside for now. It is better to add cheese just before serving the salad, or it will become soggy. Cover the bowl with a sheet of plastic cling wrap and place it into the fridge. Give the salad a final toss to mix everything in.
A: Cook and chill 8 ounces (228.57 grams) of pasta of your choice. Transfer your chilled pasta to a large bowl. Choose three types of vegetables or protein to add to your salad. Consider adding in 1 cup (150 grams) of some protein. Consider adding in two cups (300 grams) of vegetables or beans. Consider adding 1/3 cup (50 grams) of a mix-in. Prepare the dressing. Toss the pasta with the dressing and other ingredients. Chill the salad for up to three hours. Add garnishes such as cheese and herbs just before serving.

Q: As a rule of thumb, you should not take out so much in student loans that you will pay more than 10% of your monthly income post-graduation. Research the average salaries of the field that you would like to enter and divide by twelve to estimate your monthly earnings. Do not take out a loan that would require you to pay more than that per month.  Student loans are typically considered a “good” form of debt, because college should increase your earning power enough to pay back the loans. Just be careful that your career choices are compatible with the amount of debt you might incur. Be cautious when taking out loans to attend a for-profit university. Tuition at these institutions is very high and their graduates have had difficulty obtaining jobs. One major chain of for-profit universities is currently being sued for its practices.  Do not let student loans deter you from pursuing a degree in highly profitable fields like medicine. Tuition can be particularly high in fields that require postgraduate degrees, but the earnings are more than sufficient to cover student loans. When in doubt, closely and intensely study statistics for your profession of choice. If you are entering a postgraduate program, it should also be able to give you statistics on student placement. Ask for these to confirm that the program is competitive and that it will secure you a job commensurate with the average wages in the field. If you meet certain requirements for long enough, the remainder of your debt will be forgotten. Specific types of student loans, including Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans can be forgiven if you make 120 on-time payments while working for a public service organization. Such organizations include the federal, state, or local government and not-for-profits designated as tax-exempt by the IRS. Find an Employment Certification Form on the federal student aid website. Submit it annually to verify that you are meeting requirements for loan forgiveness. Employers are often willing to commit some money to paying off student loans in fields that require specialized skills, including tech, nursing, engineering or finance. You should raise the question when you and your employer are scheduled to discuss compensation. An example would be during hiring negotiations. If you are already working for a company, wait for your annual review. Expect to forego a higher wage and commit to work for the company for a set years of time in return for the student loan payment. This can be a mutually beneficial arrangement because it will save your employer money in wages over the long term, while shaving off interest on your loans. You can save money by claiming a tax deduction on interest paid for student loans. You cannot claim a deduction for the principal on your student loan. Call your lender to ask what portion of your payment was toward the interest on the loan and what was on the principal. You can only claim this deduction if your modified adjusted gross income as an individual was less than $75,000 or $150,000 as a couple. The deduction also only applies if the loan was taken out for educational expenses. Consult an accountant to verify that you qualify. This is an exception to the general rule that you should pay off high interest loans first. Private loans offered by banks are often “variable” loans, which means the rate of interest changes with the general circumstances of the economy. Right now, the interest you pay on these might be lower than what you pay on your federal loans. However, as the economy improves, these rates are likely to go up.  Save yourself the risk of rapidly growing credit bills by putting whatever extra money you allocate to student loan repayment toward paying off your private loans.
A:
Do not take out student loans if college will not significantly increase your earning power. Seek student loan forgiveness. Ask an employer to pay off your student loans. Claim your tax deduction. Pay off private student loans first.