re: If you had 5-10k to invest and you were in college now..

quote:

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If my brokerage offers a drip what is the difference between going through the company and going through the brokerage account?

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Usually Fees (through a broker, you pay the DRIP Fees, and the Broker Fees). Through an online broker, you have the advantage of buying/selling stocks at current market price, using options, calls, puts, etc.

A DRIP generally doesn't purchase your shares until 5 Business Days after they received your funds.

You can place a Day Limit order (an order to sell shares when and if the stock reaches a specific price on a specific day) or a GTC (good till Cancel order). But most DRIPs have a ridiculously high fee for this.