Financial Aid Resources

Opiate Withdrawal Help: What Are Opiates

2014-05-05T16:26:00.001-07:00

Opiate Withdrawal Help: What Are Opiates

What's New in College Financial Aid?

2009-12-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

The college financial aid system rivals only the IRS in its complexity. But change is on the way. This week, we've asked visiting blogger Sandy Baum, professor of economics at Skidmore College and special consultant to the College Board, to bring us up to speed on college financial aid. Here are the six most important developments:

1. More generous Pell grants. The Pell grant is the cornerstone of federal student aid: The government provides grants to dependent students with family incomes up to about $50,000 and to independent students with low incomes. The maximum grant is set every year by Congress and has not kept up with the price of college. In 2008-09, the maximum grant was $4,731; in 2009-10, it will be $5,350.

2. Income-based repayment for federal student loans. As of July 1, the federal government has a new system that will limit monthly payments on federal student loans to a reasonable percentage of the borrower's income. Those whose incomes are below 150 percent of the poverty line for their family size will not have any payments due; others will owe no more than 15 percent of the amount by which their incomes exceed this level.

This system is not perfect. The government will pay the interest for some borrowers whose payments don't cover it, but others will see their debts grow as interest accrues. After 25 years, remaining debt will be forgiven, but unless Congress makes a change, this will be a taxable event. And it's important to remember that only federal loans—not loans from private lenders that don't come with a federal guarantee—are covered by this important new program.

3. A simpler FAFSA form. In order to be eligible for federal financial aid—or for need-based financial aid from states, colleges, universities, or other sources—students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Department of Education has announced that this process will become simpler with increased reliance on "skip logic": Students will no longer have to sort through questions that do not pertain to their circumstances. The Obama administration is also requesting that Congress reduce the amount of information required to compute federal aid eligibility so that the form can become even shorter and easier to complete.

4. Transfer of income tax data. Students who apply for aid late enough in the calendar year for their previous year's income tax data to be available will be able to have data transferred directly to the FAFSA. Until and unless the program is expanded, it will not help students applying for aid for the fall semester. However, many people believe that if this experiment is successful, future students will not have to complete separate financial forms at all but will be able to rely on tax data to apply for financial aid.

5. Changing sources of college loans. Many students have to rely on loans to finance part of their college education. Borrowing for college is sensible, since education is an investment that usually pays off for a lifetime. Reasonable amounts of debt can be paid off out of future earnings.

In many cases, it makes sense for parents to take Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), diminishing the amount of debt students will have when they graduate. But when students themselves borrow, the most important thing to know is that federal Stafford loans are a much better bet than private loans. Private loans are widely marketed on the Internet, often with a boast that students can borrow as much as they need without completing the FAFSA, but the interest rates on these loans are likely to be much higher than those on federal loans. Also, the protections for economic hardship that come with federal loans are absent from private loans.

It's easy to get confused about what is actually a private loan. This is because, at least for now, the same private lenders (such as Sallie Mae and banks) provide both private loans and federally guaranteed Stafford loans. Congress is currently debating doing away with private sources of federal loans, but in the meantime, students should be clear about what they are getting.

6. Increasing financial aid (in some cases). Even as colleges and universities, both state and private, are struggling with financial realities, many are nevertheless increasing their financial aid budgets. The school with the highest price tag might actually be the least expensive to attend when financial aid is taken into consideration. And almost all states provide their own grant aid. Even in California, where pervasive stories about the state budget crisis include predictions of the demise of the generous and well-established Cal grant program, valuable state grants are quite likely to remain available to students. Students should be sure to get information about aid from all sources and to find out what they have to do to qualify.

The Obama Administration Gives Mothers Federal Funding For College

2009-12-03T00:47:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought in a few short years the economy would have went from one of the most amazing spurt of economic growth and to the recession that we have now. No one could have predicted its occurrence, just like no one could have predicted that the stimulus package was going to help single mothers go back to college.
If you would like to avoid the backlash of this current recess of time, this time to consider making good choices that will lead you in a direction of financial security. Single mothers should make a decision to earn a college education that, despite our economy, will be paid for in full by the federal government.

You have heard the saying that we need to be thankful for what we have. This is also true in regard to what is available for college students today. The Pell Grant has been increased to over $5000 per student allowing most students, male or female, to go to college without any concern or need to pay back a long because this grant money is 100% free. Think about that. A complete two-year college education but you don’t have to pay for.
The Obama administration wants to send the public back to school. Without an education, the future may not be as bright. That is why all students, specifically single mothers, are part of the unified front by this administration to send these women into the university system to earn your college degree. Now more than ever, more funding is available than ever before.
Through using scholarships and grants, you don’t have to pay for tuition, books, or unit fees. To take advantage of this aspect of the economic stimulus package, applied for this free grant and Scholarship money as soon as possible. Without any question, this is one of the best times in history to be a college student. Apply for college funds, and once you have received the government money, you will be on your way to success.

Visit our sites for more information on finding federal funding for single mothers or obtaining scholarships for college students through the Obama administrations stimulus package.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Thompsan

10 Tips for Getting More Financial Aid

2009-12-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

Schools are approving a record number of appeals and giving more aid

By Kim Clark

Posted June 16, 2009

During the boom years, the nation's college financial aid officers used to swap tales about trivial, selfish appeals for more aid that students and parents occasionally filed, like the father who wanted more grants for his daughter because he'd just spent $25,000 on another daughter's wedding and the mother who demanded more scholarships for her child so the mother could spend her savings on a cruise.

Not this year. Colleges say they are being flooded with all-too-serious appeals for additional aid. And many colleges say they are scraping together extra grants or scholarships for the vast majority of appealers who can document a decline in income or an increase in expenses. But financial aid offices warn anyone with hidden income not to assume that appeals are risk-free: Appealers whose tax and other documents show that they falsified aid applications can lose all their aid and be fined or even sent to prison.

Mary Smith-Hammond, who retired from her job as a financial aid officer for the University of California-Berkeley in 2007, was called back this year to help with a big jump in appeals. She estimates that she has approved more aid for about 85 percent of the appeals she has processed so far, up from a historical average of about 50 percent. "The unemployment rate wasn't as high back then. And we had different standards," she says. Smith-Hammond, who long ago denied the appeal from the mother who wanted to save her money for a cruise, says she is even approving appeals for students whose parents last year reported incomes of about $400,000 but this year are collecting unemployment insurance. "Their stocks are gone, their 401(k) is gone. They may only keep their house for another year," she says. Some have seen their industries get wiped out, reducing the chances they'll find another high-paying job. "I have not seen an appeal that was frivolous" yet this year, Smith-Hammond says.
Normally, colleges award financial aid for each academic year based on a family's financial situation in the previous year, as reported by the family on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. But the U.S. Department of Education this spring asked colleges to help those whose parents have lost their jobs or suffered a pay cut in 2009 by estimating a family's need for aid based on this year's lower income instead. Aid officers are also taking into account expenses that aren't reported on the FAFSA, such as medical bills.
Students or parents who feel they have a real need for extra aid will have more luck if they follow these Dos and Don't's suggested by Smith-Hammond and several other veteran aid officers.

Do:

Make sure you've filed all the necessary aid applications. If you haven't done so already, fill out the FAFSA. If your college is one of the 300 or so that also requires the College Board's CSS/Financial Aid Profile, fill that out as well. If you have filed the aid applications, check them to make sure they accurately represent last year's finances.

Check your college's financial aid Web page. Some have instructions or forms for filing an appeal. If you don't see any instructions, call the office and ask for help.

Send a letter to your college's financial aid office asking for a "professional judgment" review of your award. Give specific reasons why you need more aid. "Give actual numbers. Don't just say, 'My medical expenses are high,' " explains Patricia Williams, director of financial aid at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. "Detail what the medical costs are, how much insurance paid, and how much you paid. We work with formulas that require real numbers."

Provide documentation for your claims, such as copies of W-2s, tax forms, hospital bills, and the like.

Send the appeal and documentation as soon as possible. Some aid is first come, first served. "When the money has been committed, the school may not be able to offer (latecomers) any assistance," says Pat Watkins, director of financial aid for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Don't:

Lie or shade the truth. Most aid officers demand lots of corroborating evidence, and they scrutinize it. And the government can take back your aid, fine you, and even send you to prison for lying on the FAFSA.

Let shame, embarrassment, or ego stop you from filing a legitimate appeal. You've got lots of company right now, notes Smith-Hammond. "It is your right. You are a taxpayer. You need help, and we are here to help you," she adds.

Demand grants to replace student federally backed Stafford and Perkins loans or earnings from a work-study job. Although a handful of schools are promising enough grants to allow low-income students to graduate debt-free, the vast majority of schools can't afford to give out that much aid. "The basic premise of financial aid is that the student and family will do all they can first. Taking out loans is how the student does his or her part," McDaniel's Williams says.

Expect a bankruptcy filing to guarantee you more aid. Since bankruptcy typically wipes out debts, colleges may conclude that you now have more money to spend on tuition, notes Eckerd's Watkins.

Have your appeal filed by your accountant. Financial aid officers say the most persuasive appeals are filed by students themselves. Letters from parents also are often rewarded. If you can still afford to pay an accountant big bucks, aid officers may suspect you can afford more tuition, too.

Grads to Get a Break on Student Loan Payments

2009-12-02T11:43:00.001-08:00

If you’re struggling to make your monthly student loan payments on your measly first-job salary, you’re not alone. The good news is, the government is taking notice — and changing the game to make sure monthly payments don’t cripple college grads.

Even better, whatever you haven’t paid off after 25 years may be forgiven.

With this new option, instead of calculating monthly payments on the total amount a borrower owes, payments will be based on a percentage of the graduate’s discretionary income. It’s called Income-Based Repayment (IBR), it’s available for federally-guaranteed student loans and direct student loans, and it starts July 1, 2009.

If you’re looking for the lowest monthly payment for low and moderate-income borrowers, you’ve found it.

Payments Based on Income, Not Debt

Income-based repayment is similar to “income-contingent repayment” (ICR), but with some key differences.

• First and foremost, IBR is available to more grads. Income-contingent repayment is only available to borrowers in the direct loan program, while income-based repayment is available in both the federally-guaranteed student loan program and the direct loan program.
• IBR uses a smaller percentage of discretionary income and a smaller definition of discretionary income — that means they’re taking a smaller chunk out of the cash you have left over after your other bills are paid. In fact, IBR payments will be as much as 30% to 50% lower than ICRpayments.
• Borrowers do not have to consolidate their loans to get access to this plan.

With IBR, you won’t have to shell out any more than 15% of your discretionary income in loan payments.*

For example, if a borrower owed $40,000 in federal education loans and made $30,000 a year, they’d wind up making the following monthly payments under the different repayment plans:

• $171.94 a month with an IBR plan
• $277.63 a month under an extended 25-year repayment plan
• $319.50 a month under income-contingent repayment
• $460.32 a month under standard 10-year repayment plan

Under IBR plans, monthly payments are adjusted annually, based on the prior year’s federal income tax returns and any change in the family size. Borrowers can also request mid-year adjustments due to changes in financial circumstances, such as job loss. A borrower who is married to a spouse with high income can file as married filing separate in order to have the monthly payments based on only the borrower’s income instead of the combined income.

*Discretionary income is defined as the difference between adjusted gross income (AGI) and 150% of the poverty line for the family size. The example above is based on a single borrower who has $40,000 in federal education loans and an AGI of $30,000 a year, taking into account that the 2009 poverty line in the continental US is $10,830 (plus $3,740 for each additional family member), and 150% of that is $16,245.

Single Parents In College – How to Successfully Pay for College

2009-11-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Beth found herself in a hopeless situation. She was divorced, the sole provider for her family, and the mother of three little kids. Although she was determined to make it, every step she took ultimately meant trouble. Beth knew that a college education would afford her with more opportunities. She didn’t have the money. She wondered if her life would change.

Impossible Dream
Are you pursuing your own dreams or the pipe dreams of someone else? Do you want a college education but it appears impossible? Do you feel it is already too late? If you answer “yes,” this report can assist you in fulfilling your dreams by completing college. As a personal coach and online advisor to families, I frequently get questions from single parents on paying for college. However, it is really more than getting the money. How does a single parent get the emotional and physical support for completing college? The college experience is a challenge in itself; single parents also have to consider their children and in many cases, working a day job to make ends meet.
This article provides single parents with a proven method of getting financial and emotional support for obtaining a college degree. This strategy will be helpful to most individuals. However, if you want more details, I highly recommend you review my special books for a more comprehensive analysis. I have spent countless hours reading books, searching websites, and reviewing past advice to clients to provide my readers with credible solutions to paying for college. Let’s explore this matter more closely.
The Financial Aid Mystery
Understanding the process of federal financial aid can appear like a jigsaw puzzle. The first step for most federal financial assistance begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at your local college or high school. You can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You should complete this form even if you feel you don’t meet the financial need requirement, based on your income. The U.S. government Financial Aid program includes Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Plus Loans, Federal Consolidation Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Perkins Loans. Scholarships and grants are not paid back by the student; however, loans are expected to be repaid by the student to the lending institution. It is important to work with the financial aid office where you plan to attend college. Remember, the process can appear to be difficult. However, it is to your benefit to be patient and follow through with the process.
The Single Parent Strategy
To be successful in obtaining free money, single parents need to develop a strategy. However, the problem is that many single parents get discouraged in the face of their hectic life and the additional stress of embarking on a college education. If a person had his or her own personal planner, life would flow a lot easier! In the absence of this assistant, having a strategy for college becomes even more crucial. After conducting extensive research and providing personal coaching, I have come up with a simple strategy for addressing these problems:

Check out www.fastweb.com to set up a profile for possible scholarships.
Contact your potential online college or a local college in your area for financial aid advice.
Check out the latest college scholarship books at your library, such as Peterson’s Scholarship.
Check out more non-traditional colleges. Go to Jonnie’s Distance Learning Website at http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/dluniv.html.
Submit at least 100 scholarship applications.
Send letters for financial help to friends, co-workers, and other key people.
Write a letter or call local community groups in your area and ask them about scholarships.
Be persistent and patient.

The Path Forward
Paying for college is possible for the single parent if he or she is committed to his or her goals. The process of attending college is not an easy one. However, you have determined that you need additional education to improve the quality of life for yourself and your child or children. This is one of the biggest decisions that you will make. With my approach you have a simple strategy for success. Do you have the energy and the desire? This is the critical question you must ponder now. Start today and improve the quality of your life.

Daryl and Estraletta Green, who have been noted and quoted in USA Today and AP, provide personal advice all around the country. Want a better life? Get a copy of FREE copy of Paying for Single Parents College at http://www.lulu.com/content/892452
You can also contact them at http://www.darylandestraletta.com

Free Government Grants For College

2009-11-30T06:50:00.000-08:00

As you look around and notice the skyrocketing college costs, do you wonder how so many people are getting their education paid for by free government grants? The federal government allocates over $30 billion every year to give away as free money.
These programs are a lot like Student Loans, except you never have to pay them back. In other words, it’s free money from the government that you can use to pay for your education expenses. This money can be used to pay for tuition, cover the costs of your textbooks, and many other expenses that you incur as a student.
Money is available for all types of students as well. Returning adult students, new students, and even students currently enrolled in college can obtain education funding. This is money that must be given out, and since most students are unaware that this assistance exists, it can be pretty easy to have a check sent to cover your college expenses.

It’s part of the government’s effort to “Keep America Strong.” If you can’t afford college, the economy suffers, so it is in the nations interest that you earn a degree.
While there is a significant amount of money available, it is your responsibility to ask for it in order to receive these funds. This is as simple as signing a form and dropping it in the mail. In a couple weeks you could receive a check in the mail for several thousand dollars.
This free money will be given away to those who know where to go and ask for it, and it doesn’t end with just education grants. You can apply for as many grants as you like, including free government funds to pay off your debt or to start a business. There are over 3,000 grant programs to choose from.

If you don’t claim some of these grants for students someone else will. Secure this free money now http://www.govfunds.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Austin_Warty

Obama's Funding For Moms

2009-11-30T05:52:00.000-08:00

You should not feel that since you are now mom, you cannot study. This is certainly not true. Yes, it is quite true that as a mom, you have a lot of burden on you. But you can still study. This is what our president Obama has pointed out. He has made it quite clear to the authority that they should do something for the moms. He feels that the moms should not be forgotten and they should be rewarded for the pain they bear.
As per the Obama's stimulus plan, around $10000 has been fixed for each mom in America. Thus all the moms are entitled to get this money from the government. Hence, they can now sit back and then continue their study.
It is really quite sad that most of the single moms cannot continue their studies. They have to put their studies on hold. Hence the president Obama has certainly made it quite clear that they are quite important. They need some sort of compensation. We all know that his stimulus program has definitely become quite popular. It has something for all the people. He has not forgotten the mom as well. The amount of $10000 is not a small one. All the moms can use it to pay back their fees and also spend something on their family. In this way she will be able to take care of her studies as well as their families.

There is none other point. However, the survey suggests that most of the moms want to go to their college. We have seen in the past that so many ladies have done such a good thing for the country. You can find young ladies in almost every field. But do you feel that without studies they will be able to do what they are capable of doing. They will definitely not be able to do anything. This is certainly a big concern. If I am not wrong then around 30% of the populations are moms.
All of them are definitely quite capable of doing something extra ordinary. But most of them lack higher education. Generally they are married at the age of 21 and they still lack the higher education. Then question hence arises that how will they be able to continue their studies. This is a very big question and you need to solve it. This is what our president Obama has actually done.

Did you know you can get a $10,000 scholarship for Moms just for registering? Apply right now for free: Scholarships for Moms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Parker_II

Tip to Scholarship Success: Master the Basics

2009-10-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Patti Ross knows what makes a successful scholarship application. It’s
not necessarily the intricacies of a scholarship application essay.
Rather, it’s mastering the basics of applying. Ross highlights the
following essentials:

Research—know the DEADLINES
Personal awareness—take a personal survey
Accuracy on application
Feedback from others

Ross can’t stress deadlines enough. Nothing looks worse for an applicant
than to turn in their materials too late. Also, make sure your students are on
top of all the required materials. Oftentimes, it helps students to create a
folder for each scholarship they’re applying for and to place the name of
the scholarship as well as the amount and deadline on the cover. Encouraging
your students to stay organized will keep them better focused and less
stressed during the college and scholarship application season. It’s also
a great time to teach them valuable time management skills.

COMMENTS
FeiruzA2

26 days ago

My interest now is to obtain a Master Degree in mechanical engineer .My heart's desire is to obtained this Degree. Further, obtaining an advance degree will allow me to have opportunities to improve my life and situations.
IhsanB

about 1 month ago

Hello

My interest now is to obtain a Master Degree in Human Recourse Management or Human Recourse Development . My heart's desire is to obtained this Degree. Further, obtaining an advance degree will allow me to have opportunities to improve my life and situations. I envision my role as a Human Recourse Officer, journey through various programs for services and resources in order that they receive the very best with care. I will ensure people are not allowed to wander simply because they have come to believe no one cares about them or their well being. I will serve as an Advocate for People when necessary to ensure they receive the services and programs best for them.
2. Academic Qualifications:-
Bachelor Degree in Organizational Management – Ahfad University for Women In 1997.
* March 1997 – December 1998
Women Development Officer
Enhoud Cooperative Credit Project (IFAD)
Duties and responsibilities:-
• Prepare the manual plans for the WID rural council.
• Formation and organizing the women in- group.
• Training the contact farmers and jubaraka extensionist and extension agents.
• Improve the women skills (hand – craft, saving, food processing soop making, and cheese making).
• Monitoring the loans for income generating activities and working group and repayment.
• Organization of health education training.
* April 1999 up to April 2000
(Volunteer) Community Development
Area Development Scheme - Elobied- UNDP/GOS
Specific duties and responsibilities:
Preparing /organizing workshops, seminars and community audit (visit) sessions.
Empowering of community groups.
* April 2000 up to October 2000
Women Development Officer
Specific duties and responsibilities:
• Mobilize women to play an active role in rural development.
• Assist village community in identifying their needs, which can be implemented through sandoq system.
• Assist monitor on-going sub-project and sandoq activities through reports.
• Assist women in addressing their social and economic problems.
• Prepare revolving funds loans payment.
• Advice & assist CBO & VDC members in preparation of visibility studies.
• Drug revolving fund (UNICEF).
• Schooling revolving fund (UNICEF).
• Improved lavatories (UNICEF).
* 10 October up to 2003
(Team Member)
DAT (Development Action Team)
Specific duties and responsibilities:
• Draw village maps.
• Village movement maps.
• Village daily routine.
• Village economic activities.
• Village problems.
• Living conditions analysis.
• Future vision analysis.
• Problems analysis.
* November 2003 up to date South Kordofan Rural Development Programmer (SKRDP)-IFAD- Kadugli
Assistant of women development officer
* 1 January 2003 up to 1 November
Coordinating Activities – Hand in Hand for Peace and Development
Specific duties and responsibilities:
• Mobilization of war – affected communities.
• Integration of marginalized groups.
• Mobilization of resources.
• Emphasize the effect of gender culture on development.
• Improve productive capacities of communities.
3. Employment Records And Experience:-
* 25 July to Friday 29 Ministry of Social and Cultural Affairs - UNICEF Kadugli
Working With Adolescent Girls To Address Their Concerns ( As Facilitators )
Specific duties:-
• Assist in the identification and recruitment of up to 12 Adolescent Girls, seeking relevant permissions for their participation.
• Actively participate in both orientation and debrief sessions to increase their own knowledge of protection issues and participatory research methodology.
• Assist in translation as necessary, particularly during the orientation and debrief sessions.
• Accompany the peer Advocate teams to their daily group discussions and meetings in the community , providing technical and emotional support and guidance.
• Assist peer Advocates with note-taking and reporting.
• Participate in meeting held at the end of each day during the exercise with the consultant and peer Advocate to address any problems that arose that day and provide assistance, guidance and support to to those who required it.
• report any conflict or concern the consultant.
michaelknudsen

2 months ago

Patty's great, I like her a lot...
tz2elohim

2 months ago

This is some great stuff. ;-) Super excitedd to have known about it. :-)
Avaden

2 months ago

Good advice to consider.
toddandtoby

3 months ago

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you. I appreciate you immensely as you receive and accept my need for financial support for college.

My name is Pecola Colby. I will begin my second year at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington, September 21, 2009.

I will have all requirements satisfied with South Puget Sound Community College, Fall 2010 for an Associate of Arts Degree. From there I will transfer to the University of Washington - Tacoma my ultimate goal is a Doctorate Degree in S ocial Work.

I am unemployed. I lost my home five years ago to foreclosure.

As a single/divorced, head of household, African American woman and sixty-four years old, I am testimony to the challenges and yes resilience related to me being socioeconomically and ethnically challenged when comparing me to the dominant culture. My observation and/or perception with social services programs is that of a system at times, lacks fairness, responsiveness and accountability to some of the families they serve. I believe it is imperative that social workers remain accessible to families for support, to establish at all costs, courtesy with integrity and respect for all people regardless of race or culture. Trust is essential and that is one way to build trust. Further, it is necessary to take appropriate and necessary steps to become as proficient as possible on cultural beliefs with protocol, respect, sensitivity and with care, to recognize cultural barriers, to embrace cultural differences and to learn how to best develop the relationship in order to provide the best possible service care.

My interest and passion then and now is to obtain a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. My heart's desire is to become a Social Worker because I am caring, compassionate, sensitive, and believe all families/people are significant, their voices count and should be heard. Further, obtaining an advance degree will allow me to have opportunities to embrace all families and cultures including attending to their needs and providing multiple levels for services with care. I envision my role as a Social Worker to be a voice for families as they journey through various programs for services and resources in order that they receive the very best with care. I will ensure families are not allowed to wander simply because they have come to believe no one cares about them or their well being. As a Social Worker, I will serve as an Advocate for families when necessary to ensure they receive the services and programs best for them. I will work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources; to support family development and to make certain families are on solid grouind; to allow for flexibility; and to recognize emerging family needs and community issues.

I began my educational pursuit with Fort Steilacoom Community College, now Pierce College in 1981-1982. It was an honor and privilege to begin my educational journey with Fort Steilacoom Community College. The instructors were personal, engaging and worked as closely as necessary with students to ensure successes in the classrooms. However, without family support, eventually I became overwhelmed in my attempt to carry alone all the family and household responsibilities and I had to place my educational dream pursuit on hold until NOW. At this time in my life, however, there are no obstacles to deter or distract me from achieving a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. My vision is clear. I am determined to succeed AND I know I will be an asset as a Social Worker to any organization or organized structural body.

From May 2004 to July 2008 I was employed with the Family Support Center in Olympia, Washington. I served as the Family Resource Specialist and assisted in meeting the needs of low-income families. My responsibilities were to work with families and support them in identifying and prioritizing their needs. I helped them identify the most appropriate resources to meet those needs and empowered them to follow through in accessing those resources. I also served as an Advocate for families when necessary and worked with case managers from other agencies to ensure a complete network of services.

My volunteerism also demonstrates my commitment to families and communities. I serve as a Volunteer with my church, New Life Baptist Church in Lacey, Washington in many roles and functions. I have successfully brought for five years with the assistance and support of medical and non-medical volunteers, multiple services and programs to the immediate and surrounding communities in Thurston County, e.g. The Smilemobile, a mobile dental unit for children in low-income families and for children fifteen years old and younger, a "FREE" Back to School Physical Examination Day, Health Fairs, Walk-a-Thons, etc. I served as Chair-person for the Unity for Excellence Tutorial Program. I also serve as Chair-person for the Senior Adult Ministry. I am an Usher.

My efforts were recognized in the community. In April 2004, I received the Making a Difference in The Life of a Child Award from Thurston County and in June 2004, I received the Unique Achievement Award from the Thurston County Council on Cultural Diversity.

Again thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my thoughts. Please note I am available to respond to any queries you may have for clarification. Further, please note any amount of financial support is most appreciative.

Please contact me if necessary at: 9225 Windsor Ln., NE
Apt E-103
Olympia, WA 98516

OR my email address is: pediandsons@comcast.net

Respectfully,

Pecola L. Colby
bslangow

3 months ago

Matt2009, talk the school's financial aid office and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid aka FAFSA, that awards grant money and federal loans. Fill out your profile through this website and apply for all your scholarship matches!
matt2009

3 months ago

Hello, I'm Matthew Knight. I think I deserve a scolarship because I'm very smart and diligent, and anything that people give me to do I do it. I'm hoping to go to El Camino College in less than a month, to major in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Me and my family are in a financial wreck. My Dad has been laid off since summer of last year, and my mom only works 4 nights a week at a dead end job. So I was wondering if you will please help me, it would just be a blessing. Trust me, you wont regret it.
AnnaG167

3 months ago

I agree well-preparation, good presenation, self-confidence and approval by others is important.
lafemmeartiste

3 months ago

I dream of qualifying for one of these... the videos help delineate what information details are important, in order to get one's self organized. Thank-you for taking the time to provide this access!
ccswasey1994

3 months ago

Thank you; thank you; thank you!!! This will help so much, not only with scholarship applications but with college ones too! Thanks again! These videos are probably going to become my Bible in the next couple of years! :)
YaotseTettehN

3 months ago

It is so wonderful taking a look at your vidios, thank for those motivational messages.

Financial Aid News 162: Save $100 a year on fees

2009-10-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

From NASFAA:

“The City Colleges must scrap its fee-laden debit card program for student loans because the fees are illegal, the U.S. Department of Education said in a recent letter to the district,” Chi Town Daily News reports. “In a July 7 letter, the agency wrote that students can’t be charged fees for using an ATM or visiting a teller to get their money … The letter comes two months after the agency first said the existing program was fine. Stephanie Babyak, a spokeswoman at the Education Department, said it reversed its own decision after asking the City Colleges some more questions about the debit card program. While the program was running, the first withdrawal from an ATM or a teller was free but future visits to an ATM cost $2 and talking to a teller cost $10. In May, the Department of Education told the City Colleges the program was acceptable since students had other ways of getting their refund money. They could wait for paper checks or get the funds direct-deposited into a bank account, the agency noted … Though the City Colleges does not face any sanctions for running the debit card program as it did, the Department of Education said it wants a response from the district about how it will fix the program.”

Commentary

With luck, the trend will spread of eliminating fees of any kind on debit cards for tuition rebates and student financial aid disbursements. These fees line the pockets of banks and schools with no measurable benefit to students other than not having to cash a physical check. Moreover, the disbursements themselves are usually the proceeds of a student loan, which means that students are paying additional fees on borrowed money, in effect paying twice for money that they’re already paying money on.

News You Can Use

One of the most insidious ways you can lose money, a little bit each day, is to do business with a major commercial bank that nickels and dimes you to death with fees. Everything ranging from fees for checking accounts to ATMs to Internet home banking to overdraft fees can add up to hundreds of dollars a month if you’re not careful.

Here’s an example – I recently went to withdraw money at a local ATM:

I walked away after seeing a $3 fee, knowing that the local convenience store ATM fee, just a few doors down, was $1.75.

There are three concrete steps you can take to protect your own wallet and deliver a strong message to commercial banks:

1. Don’t bank with a commercial bank. Look at community banks and especially credit unions for banking services that rival or exceed what commercial banks can deliver (often with much better service!) and no fees or very few fees. I’ve been a customer of a federal credit union for almost a decade and can happily say that my credit union (where the staff greets me by name) has no fees on 95% of its services. The SUM network of ATMs means no fees any time I use a SUM ATM, so I save money there. No fees for Internet home banking or Internet bill pay. I used to pay probably about $100/year in fees after all was said and done when I banked with a commercial bank long ago. Since then, banking with a credit union has saved me all those fees – over the span of a decade, $1,200. Who wouldn’t want $1,200 more free money?

2. Don’t patronize commercial bank ATMs. Every time you pay their inflated fees, you implicitly endorse their business practices and give them every reason to continue or increase their ATM fees. Go Google for ATM locators and find ATMs nearby that offer low fees or no fees. Join a credit union that’s a member of the SUM network and look for no-fee ATMs around you.

3. If you need to withdraw a small amount of cash – under $100 – and there no no-fee option around, go to any supermarket that offers cash back at the register and buy a pack of gum or some other consumable. You’ll pay about the same amount as an ATM fee but you’ll have something to show for it.

Finding a credit union is easy. Go to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and use their search tool to locate a credit union near you. The NCUA is identical to the FDIC in terms of guarantees on your savings, so any money you have with an NCUA insured account has identical safety and coverage to FDIC insured bank accounts.

Additionally, many colleges have credit unions right on campus. Usually they’re set up primarily for employees of the college, but many allow students to bank with them as well. A commercial bank will almost always have an ATM on campus in a prominent place with high fees to sucker unaware students, but campuses with credit unions on campus almost always have a no-fee ATM as well. Save yourself some money and find it on your campus if you have one.

3 Ultimate Benefits of Government Grants For Single Moms

2009-09-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Single moms face face a lot of tough challenges raising up a family all alone. Kids need to go to school, bills need to be paid, food must be prepared on the dinner table and silently warming up the family is no easy task. We all understand what single moms are going through, especially the government. This is why there are quite a number of government grants for single moms available out there.
No Financial Burden
Government grants for single moms is a totally different form of finance source as compared to a household loan. Repayments are not required and I would say this is the best benefit for single moms out there. Raising cash will be an issue now and probably in the future. Thus, applying for a grant is always better than raising cash through loans that require repayment and interest payments.

How much will be the amount that you might be granted? Well, over the past few years, people are being granted from a couple thousands to a few hundred thousands depend on the type of grants that they applied for.
Higher Approval Rates
The government is lenient when it comes to approval of single mom government grants. All you need to do is to prove that you are indeed a single, which is by providing the birth certificates of your kids, proof of divorce or death of husband and you are very likely to be rewarded with the grant.
However, due to the widespread of the information that you are currently reading, the terms of government grants for single mothers may be tighten. Thus, you may want to prove to the department that you really need the grant to improve the quality of life of your family.
More Than One Application
Case studies have shown that there are indeed people who receive grants from the government for more than one occasion and this might happen to you as well. There are multiple government grants for single moms out there and if you are able to satisfy the terms stated, it will definitely be a plus to apply for all of them.
Also, if you run a small business or you have kids that are currently studying, you can always apply for government grants for small businesses and government grants for education. On the other hand, if you find it hard to pay your health insurance bills on time, there are always health care government grants available for application.

Looking for a complete database of government grants for single moms that are available for application? Click on apply for free government grant now and get the FREE government grant report today.
Of course, knowing the database is not enough. How about revealing to you the top methods that people have been using over and over again to get their grants approved? Second doubts now and the report may be gone forever due to high demand. Click on http://www.supergreatoffer.com/apply-for-free-government-grant-free-us-government-grants/ to check it out today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neil_Bradley

Top 10 Tips for Financial Aid

2009-08-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Tip 1:

Prioritize your efforts, starting with the federal government. Then turn to the private sector for additional assistance. Visit http://financialaidstop.blogspot.com/ to learn about all your funding opportunities.

Tip 2:
Learn all you can about the college financial aid process. Be sure to meet your aid administrator and establish a relationship.

Tip 3:
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov, even if you don’t think you qualify for aid. Being rejected for federal aid is sometimes a prerequisite for private awards. Submit the FAFSA even if you didn’t qualify last year, as criteria change every year.

Tip 4:
Apply for aid as soon as possible after January 1. Do not wait until you’ve filed your taxes or been admitted. The early bird always gets the worm — and sometimes the scholarship!

Tip 5:
Inform financial aid administrators about atypical expenses or unusual financial circumstances. Certain adjustments may be made to assist you.

Tip 6:
Take advantage of tuition prepayment discounts. Some colleges offer up to a 10% discount for early payment.

Tip 7:
Money from grandparents should be paid in your name directly to the school. This avoids gift tax liability. But sometimes it is better for grandma and grandpa to wait until after you graduate to help you pay off your student loans, since money paid directly to the college may reduce your need-based aid eligibility. See Why Your Grandparents Could be Your Meal Ticket to College for other advice for grandparents.

Tip 8:
Investigate company-sponsored tuition plans. Many employers will invest in the education of their employees.

Tip 9:
Apply! You can’t win awards or receive funds for which you do not apply, so pay attention to deadlines.

Tip 10:
Use free scholarship matching services like FastWeb at www.fastweb.com to help you find the private sector assistance you need!

Teach Grant Program

2009-08-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. If, after reading all of the information on this fact sheet, you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled.

Conditions

In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a
full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students (see below for more information on high-need fields and schools serving low-income students). As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education. You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed. Note: TEACH Grant recipients will be given a 6-month grace period prior to entering repayment if a TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Student Eligibility Requirements

To receive a TEACH Grant you must meet the following criteria:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^SM), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program.
Be enrolled in course work that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such course work. Such course work may include subject area courses (e.g., math courses for a student who intends to be a math teacher).
Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).
Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (see below for more information on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve).

High-Need Field

High-need fields are the specific areas identified below ?

Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition.
Foreign Language.
Mathematics.
Reading Specialist.
Science.
Special Education.
Other identified teacher shortage areas as of the time you begin teaching in that field. These are teacher subject shortage areas (not geographic areas) that are listed in the Department of Educations Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing. To access the listing, please go to http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.doc.

Schools Serving Low-Income Students

Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Educations Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.

TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve

Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve that is available electronically on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve Web site. The TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve specifies the conditions under which the grant will be awarded, the teaching service requirements, and includes an acknowledgment by you that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were disbursed. Specifically, the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve will require the following:

For each TEACH Grant-eligible program for which you received TEACH Grant funds, you must serve as a full-time teacher for a total of at least four academic years within eight calendar years after you completed or withdrew from the academic program for which you received the TEACH Grant.
You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher at a low-income school. The term highly-qualified teacher is defined in section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or in section 602(10) of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.
Your teaching service must be in a high-need field.
You must comply with any other requirements that the Department of Education determines to be necessary.
If you do not complete the required teaching service obligation, TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that you must repay, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

If you receive a TEACH Grant but do not complete the required teaching service, as explained above, you will be required to repay the grants as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement.

Next Steps

If you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled to find out if they will participate in the TEACH Grant Program. For a listing of the TEACH Grant eligible institutions, click here.

Disclaimer

This page provides a preliminary summary of the TEACH Grant Program based on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. The information on this page is subject to change and is not binding on the Department of Education.

Stafford Loans (FFELs and Direct LoansSM)

2009-07-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

In addition to Perkins Loans, the U.S. Department of Education administers the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL^SM) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Both the FFEL and Direct Loan programs consist of what are generally known as Stafford Loans (for students) and PLUS Loans for parents and graduate and professional degree students.

Schools generally participate in either the FFEL or Direct Loan Program^SM but sometimes participate in both. Under the Direct Loan Program, the funds for your loan come directly from the federal government. Funds for your FFEL will come from a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the program. Eligibility rules and loan amounts are identical under both programs, but repayment plans differ somewhat.

How can I get a FFEL or Direct Loan?

For either type of loan, you must fill out a FAFSA^SM. After your FAFSA is processed, your school will review the results and will inform you about your loan eligibility. You also will have to sign a promissory note, a binding legal document that lists the conditions under which you're borrowing and the terms under which you agree to repay your loan.

How to Choose and Evaluate Lenders

You'll need to choose a lender if you obtain a FFEL Stafford Loan. (If you have a Direct Stafford Loan, the federal government through the U.S. Department of Education is your lender.) Schools that participate in the FFEL Program will usually have a list of preferred lenders. Student loan borrowers may choose a lender from that list, or choose a different lender they prefer (for example, a credit union). Here are a few things to think about when selecting a FFEL lender.

How much can I borrow?

It depends on your year in school and whether you have a subsidized or unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. If you're eligible for a subsidized loan, the government will pay (subsidize) the interest on your loan while you're in school, for the first six months after you leave school, and if you qualify to have your payments deferred. Depending on your financial need, you may borrow subsidized money for an amount up to the annual loan borrowing limit for your level of study (see below).
You might be able to borrow loan funds beyond your subsidized loan amount even if you don't have demonstrated financial need. In that case, you'd receive an unsubsidized loan. Your school will subtract the total amount of your other financial aid from your cost of attendance to determine whether you're eligible for an unsubsidized loan. Unlike a subsidized loan, you are responsible for the interest from the time the unsubsidized loan is disbursed until it's paid in full. You can choose to pay the interest or allow it to accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, added to the principal amount of your loan). Capitalizing the interest will increase the amount you have to repay.
You can receive a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period as long as you don't exceed the annual loan limits.
If you're a dependent undergraduate student (excluding students whose parents cannot borrow PLUS Loans), each year you can borrow up to:

$5,500 (for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) if you're a first-year student enrolled in a program of study that is at least a full academic year. No more than $3,500 of this amount can be in subsidized loans.
$6,500 (for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) if you've completed your first year of study and the remainder of your program is at least a full academic year. No more than $4,500 of this amount can be in subsidized loans.
$7,500 (for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) if you've completed two years of study and the remainder of your program is at least a full academic year. No more than $5,500 of this amount can be in subsidized loans.

If you're an independent undergraduate student (and a dependent student whose parents have applied for but were unable to get a PLUS Loan (a parent loan)), each year you can borrow up to:

$9,500 (for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) if you're a first-year student enrolled in a program of study that is at least a full academic year. No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
$10,500 (for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) if you've completed your first year of study and the remainder of your program is at least a full academic year. No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
$12,500 (for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008) if you've completed two years of study and the remainder of your program is at least a full academic year. No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

If you're a graduate or professional degree student, each year you can borrow up to:

$20,500. No more than $8,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

When you graduate with a graduate or professional degree, the maximum total debt allowed from Stafford Loans is $138,500. No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. This maximum total graduate debt limit includes Stafford Loans received for undergraduate study. However, the aggregate loan limit for graduate and professional students enrolled in certain approved health profession programs is $224,000. These amounts are the maximum yearly amounts you can borrow in both subsidized and unsubsidized FFELs or Direct Loans, individually or in combination. Because you can't borrow more than your cost of attendance minus the amount of any Federal Pell Grant you're eligible for and minus any other financial aid you'll get, you may receive less than the annual maximum amounts.

How will I get the loan money?

For both the Direct Loan and FFEL programs, you'll be paid through your school in at least two installments. No installment may exceed one-half of your loan amount. Your loan money must first be applied to pay for tuition and fees, room and board, and other school charges. If loan money remains, you'll receive the funds by check or in cash, unless you give the school written authorization to hold the funds until later in the enrollment period.
Generally, if you're a first-year undergraduate student and a first-time borrower, your school cannot disburse your first payment until 30 days after the first day of your enrollment period. This practice ensures you won't have a loan to repay if you don't begin classes or if you withdraw during the first 30 days of classes.
A school with a cohort default rate of less than 10 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available are not required to delay the delivery or disbursement of the first disbursement of a loan for 30 days for first-time, first year undergraduate borrowers.

What's the interest rate?

For all unsubsidized Stafford loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, the interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent. The interest rate for subsidized Stafford loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2009 is fixed at 5.6 percent. This change from a variable to a fixed interest rate does not affect a borrower's variable interest rate on loans made before July 1, 2006.
For Stafford Loans first disbursed between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 2006, the interest rate is variable (adjusted annually on July 1st) but will not exceed 8.25 percent. (You'll be notified any time the variable rate changes.) The interest rate for these loans in 2009-10 is 2.48. (These rates apply to loans in repayment status; the rate may be lower during grace and deferment periods.)

Interest Rate Reductions

Over a four-year period beginning July 1, 2008, the interest rate on subsidized Stafford Loans made to undergraduate students will be reduced. The applicable interest rates for loans made during this period are as follows:

First disbursement of a loan:		Interest rate on the unpaid balance
Made on or after	And made before	Interest rate on the unpaid balance
July 1, 2009	July 1, 2010	5.6 percent
July 1, 2010	July 1, 2011	4.5 percent
July 1, 2011	July 1, 2012	3.4 percent

These changes apply to subsidized Stafford loans first disbursed on or after July 1 of each year through June 30 of the next year. This change does not affect any prior loans made to borrowers; the terms and interest rates of those loans remain the same. These reduced interest rates apply only to subsidized loans; any unsubsidized Stafford Loan for the same undergraduate borrower would continue to be made at the current fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent.

Other than interest, is there a charge for this loan?

For Stafford Loans that are first disbursed between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, there is a fee of up to 1.5 percent of the loan, deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement. For a FFEL Stafford Loan, a portion of this fee goes to the federal government, and a portion goes to the guaranty agency (the organization that administers the FFEL Program in your state) to help reduce the cost of the loans. For a Direct Stafford Loan, the entire fee goes to the government to help reduce the cost of the loans. Also, if you don't make your loan payments when scheduled, you may be charged collection costs and late fees.

New interest rate cap for Military Members

Interest rate on a borrower's loan may be changed to six percent during the borrowers active duty military service. This applies to both FFEL and Direct loans. Additionally, this law applies to borrowers in military service as of August 14, 2008.
Borrower must contact the creditor (loan holder) in writing to request the interest rate adjustment and provide a copy of the borrower's military orders.

When do I pay back my Stafford Loans?

After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month "grace period" before you begin repayment. During this period, you'll receive repayment information, and you'll be notified of your first payment due date. You're responsible for beginning repayment on time, even if you don't receive this information. Payments are usually due monthly.
During the grace period on a subsidized loan, you don't have to pay any principal, and you won't be charged interest. During the grace period on an unsubsidized loan, you don't have to pay any principal, but you will be charged interest. You can either pay the interest or it will be capitalized (added to your principal loan balance, thus increasing the amount you'll repay).

How do I pay back my loans?

You'll repay your FFEL Stafford Loan to a private lender or loan servicer. You'll repay your Direct Loan to the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Loan Servicing Center. Both the Direct Loan and FFEL programs offer four repayment plans you can choose from, but the terms differ slightly. You will receive more detailed information on your repayment options during entrance and exit counseling sessions your school will provide.

What if I have trouble repaying the loan?

Under certain circumstances, you can receive a deferment or forbearance on your loan, as long as it's not in default. During a deferment, no payments are required. You won't be charged interest for a subsidized FFEL or Direct Stafford loan. If you have an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, you are responsible for the interest during deferment.
If you're temporarily unable to meet your repayment schedule (for example due to poor health or other unforeseen personal problems), but you're not eligible for a deferment, your lender might grant you forbearance for a limited and specified period.

Can my Stafford Loan ever be discharged (canceled)?

Yes, but only under a few circumstances. Your loan can't be canceled because you didn't complete the program of study at the school (unless you couldn't complete the program for a valid reason the school closed, for example), or because you didn't like the school or the program of study, or you didn't obtain employment after completing the program of study.

Federal Work Study

2009-07-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the recipient's course of study.

Will I be paid the same as I would in any other job?

You'll be paid by the hour if you're an undergraduate. No FWS student may be paid by commission or fee. Your school must pay you directly (unless you direct otherwise) and at least monthly. Wages for the program must equal at least the current federal minimum wage but might be higher, depending on the type of work you do and the skills required. The amount you earn can't exceed your total FWS award. When assigning work hours, your employer or financial aid administrator will consider your award amount, your class schedule, and your academic progress.

What kinds of jobs are there in Federal Work-Study?

If you work on campus, you'll usually work for your school. If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest.
Your school might have agreements with private for-profit employers for Federal Work-Study jobs. This type of job must be relevant to your course of study (to the maximum extent possible). If you attend a career school, there might be further restrictions on the jobs you can be assigned.

PLUS Loans for Graduate and Professional Degree Students

2009-06-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Graduate and professional degree students are now eligible to borrow under the PLUS Loan Program up to their cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance in both the Federal Family Education Loan Program^SM (FFELP^SM) and Direct Loan Program^SM. The terms and conditions applicable to Parent PLUS Loans also apply to Graduate/Professional PLUS loans. These requirements include a determination that the applicant does not have an adverse credit history, repayment beginning on the date of the last disbursement of the loan, and a fixed interest rate of 8.5 percent in the FFEL^SM program and 7.9 percent in the Direct Loan Program. Applicants for these loans are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^SM). They also must have applied for their annual loan maximum eligibility under the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program before applying for a Graduate/Professional PLUS loan.

How to ask for more financial aid

2009-06-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

Focus on Financial Aid

Is there such a thing as negotiating your financial aid award package? Yes and no. No in the sense that your school’s financial aid office is not like a car dealership with a dean of admissions in the back room who will give you the manager’s Wednesday special. Yes in that if you can prove beyond question that your financial need and circumstances are greater than what’s provided via the usual financial aid paperwork like the FAFSA, schools can be flexible.

Before we get started, I recommend strongly reading this article on StudentLoanNetwork.com about how to read a financial aid award letter.

Get Your Budget In Order

If you don’t use any kind of personal finance software, be it a desktop application like Quicken or a web-based application like Wesabe, Mint, or Geezeo, I strongly recommend starting with one. The web-based applications are free, so if you’re trying to save money from every angle, start with one of those.

Start by importing any electronic records of your finances and your family’s finances for at least 90 days. You’ll want to take the time to categorize your expenses in terms of mandatory and discretionary, followed by breaking them out into individual categories, like mortgage or rent, utilities, etc.

Once you’ve got your budget broken out, you’ll want to compare it against your award letter, especially looking at what kind of discretionary income you have compared to the expected family contribution, or out of pocket expenses. If your EFC from your award letter divided by 12 (for what’s essentially a monthly EFC) is greater than your discretionary expenses budget (dining out, entertainment, etc.) then you’ve got a good starting point for a conversation about what you can and cannot afford.

Get All Your Paperwork Together

If you’re going to be asking for more financial aid based on changed economic circumstances, have ample paperwork available to back up your claims and requests. Did someone lose a job in the family? Have termination notices, unemployment insurance, or other papers ready. Did your income change? Use any of the budgeting software described above to graphically illustrate your monthly cash flow, along with things like pay stubs, tax returns, etc.

Know What To Ask For

It’s not enough to ask for more money. That’s way too generic. Ask for specific amounts, ask for specific assistance, and try to know some of the different types of things financial aid administrators are permitted to do. Financial aid administrators are permitted to make professional judgement overrides on:

- dependency. If you can prove that you are an independent student due to the involuntary dissolution of your family (i.e. parents in jail, social services removed you from the home due to abuse, etc.) a financial aid administrator can override the dependency requirements for undergraduate students, letting you complete the FAFSAand other financial aid paperwork without parental income information.

- future earnings and income. If you can prove that you or your family has had a significant change in income that impacts your ability to pay for college, a financial aidadministrator can grant you more assistance. Be prepared with termination notices, tax returns, and every scrap of paper you can find to make your case.

Updated April 2, 2009: The Department of Education has offered additional guidance for this scenario. See this post at FinancialAidNews.com about the changes.

- cost of attendance. If you can prove that expenses in your student budget (transportation, medical, disability, dependents, and a few other select cases) do not reflect your situation, a financial aid administrator can alter your student budget, allowing for additional aid. If you pursue this override, again, be prepared to document every step of the way to show why, for example, traveling to and from your school requires a transportation budget greater than allotted.

- special circumstances. In some cases, parents divorce during the financial aid award year, but the FAFSA cannot be changed to reflect the divorce. With appropriate court documentation noting the dissolution of the marriage, a student can ask for a special circumstances override that will let them use the income of the custodial parent.

There are other, more narrow circumstances that apply as well. If you don’t know what to ask for, haul as much documentation to your financial aid administrator as possible so that they have as complete a picture of your finances as possible.

Be Polite

The single thing that will do the most good or harm in getting additional aid is how you approach the financial aid office. The best time to approach them is before you need their help, as is the case with virtually all professional networking. Stop by from time to time casually, and say hello. Ask if there are any new scholarships that have been posted. Check in. If you find a scholarship that you’re not eligible for but other students at your school might be, let someone in the office know about it so it can be posted in the office. If you want a real education in financial aid, apply for a work study job in thefinancial aid office.

If you know your parents are, shall we say, less than diplomatic, then try to mediate any discussions with the financial aid office so that overly aggressive or insistent requests don’t harm your chances of getting help.

Check Your School For Scholarships

One of the tips in our Scholarship Search Secrets eBook talks about using keywords for finding scholarships in Google. Another tip is to restrict your search to your school’s web site using the site: restrictor. Go to Google.com and try out this search:

scholarship site:yourschool.edu

For example, if I wanted to search for scholarships at Franklin & Marshall College, I’d type:

scholarship site:fandm.edu

This restricts the search only to F&M, showing scholarships for this particular school. I’d bet that the financial aid staff at F&M probably know about half of these – and even the individual professors in the departments awarding the scholarships may not necessarily know about them.

Try it at your school to see what’s lurking on the college’s web site that could help you pay.

Ask!

Above all else, ask. Ask politely, ask frequently, but ask. There’s an old joke about God and winning the lottery:

One Sunday, Shane walks into a church and kneels down at the altar and begins to pray to God, stating that he owes many people money and asks to win the lottery. After he is done praying, he gets up and walks out. The next Sunday he goes to the same church and pleads with God through his prayers to let him win the lottery so that he can pay these people back.

The next Sunday comes around and Shane enters the church very upset and close to tears, he kneels at the alter and asks why God is doing this to him and say’s that he has asked to win the lottery for three weeks now and nothing. Suddenly there came a loud bang of thunder and God spoke, “Shane, meet me halfway: Buy a bloody ticket.”

If you don’t ask, you’ll never get the opportunity for more financial aid. Schools andfinancial aid offices are swamped right now with people needing additional help – make sure you ask for help if you need it!

The Financial Aid Stop: Campus Based Aid

2009-05-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Financial Aid Stop: Campus Based Aid

College Scholarship Application Process

2009-05-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

The process for applying for college scholarship is virtually similar to applying for college. First, you have to learn as many scholarships grants as possible and create a shortlist of possible prospects that fit you and your need. Then, you create the most compelling application letters or essays that state your achievements together with interviews and other supporting letters such as recommendations. And finally, if you are lucky enough, you can go to college for less or for free.
Mentioned above is the ideal way of winning college scholarship, however, the task is still yours if you want to succeed winning your most wanted tool towards the degree. So to increase your chances of success, here are ways you can do:

Start your search early. Most scholarships are only open for a specific time period. After the application process closes, you have to wait for another year to file your application. Starting your search early would not only give you better chances of finding the best scholarship awards that suite you, it also gives you better chances of applying for several scholarships that in turn give you better chances of winning a scholarship.
Read the requirements carefully. It must be remembered that among all the scholarships available, there are only few that would suite you. To know this, read carefully the requirements including the eligibility standards of the scholarship you want to apply. If you find out that you do not fit, search for another one.
Do not apply if you do not qualify. Since it is assured that your application will be taken for granted, applying for a Scholarship that you don’t fit it is a complete waste of time.
In the events that there are things that should be clarified, never hesitate to contact the scholarship sponsor.
Complete your requirements. While you are searching for college scholarship, you must already be preparing the requirements. Never wait for the sponsor to ask before you prepare the requirements.
Write a compelling application essay. It does not mean that you dramatize your life story. It means that you convince your “would-be” sponsor that you need the scholarship more than anyone else. You should also fill up the application with honesty and sincerity. Never write false information just to pass the application process.
After all these, don’t forget to submit your application early and hope that the sponsor would consider you as one of their scholars. Good luck!
Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/college-scholarship-application-process-58595.html

3 Responses to “College Scholarship Application Process”

foxyroxy Says:
September 17th, 2009 at 8:20 pm college application and scholarship process?
im not to sure of what i want to be when i grow up..im a sophomore in hs. right now but i feel like i should know and i feel as if i should like maybe be applying for scholarships already. so is it to early to start applying or how old where you when you started applying?

Lovelystar Says:
September 18th, 2009 at 1:22 am OMGosh lol. I feel the same way and im a sophmore too. But I know what I wanna be though. Well, I dont think its too early. Remember, HS years fly and by the time were juniours we’ll be ready to apply to colleges anyways so, its not bad to prepare ahead of time
References :
Same way

Miko Says:
September 18th, 2009 at 1:24 am careers.scienceontheweb.net – try this site. It has info about different US scholarships for college students and their grades requirements.
References :

The Financial Aid Stop: 10 Tips for Getting More Financial Aid

2009-04-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Financial Aid Stop: 10 Tips for Getting More Financial Aid

Institutional Grants

2009-04-19T05:48:00.000-07:00

There are other grants in addition to ours. Colleges provide institutional grants to help make up the difference between college costs and what a family can be expected to contribute through income, savings, loans, and student earnings.
Other institutional grants, known as merit awards or merit scholarships, are awarded on the basis of academic achievement. Some merit awards are offered only to students whose families demonstrate financial need; others are awarded without regard to a family's finances.
Some grants come with special privileges or obligations. You'll want to find out about the types of grants awarded by each college you are considering.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

2009-04-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest EFCs will be the first to get FSEOGs. Just like Pell Grants, FSEOGs don't have to be paid back.

How much can I get?

You can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you apply, your financial need, the funding at the school you're attending, and the policies of the financial aid office at your school.

If I am eligible, how will I get the FSEOG money?

If you're eligible, your school will credit your account, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine these methods. Your school must pay you at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year.

Federal Perkins Loans

2009-04-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5 percent) loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Federal Perkins Loans are made through a school's financial aid office. Your school is your lender, and the loan is made with government funds. You must repay this loan to your school.
Your school will either pay you directly (usually by check) or apply your loan to your school charges. You'll receive the loan in at least two payments during the academic year.

How much can I borrow?

You can borrow up to $5,500 for each year of undergraduate study (the total you can borrow as an undergraduate is $27,500). For graduate studies, you can borrow up to $8,000 per year (the total you can borrow as a graduate is $60,000 which includes amounts borrowed as an undergraduate). The amount you receive depends on when you apply, your financial need, and the funding level at the school.

Other than interest, is there a charge for this loan?

No, there are no other charges. However, if you skip a payment, if it's late, or if you make less than a full payment, you might have to pay a late charge plus any collection costs.

When do I pay it back?

If you're attending school at least half time, you have nine months after you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time status before you must begin repayment. This is called "grace period." If you're attending less than half time, check with your college or career school to find out how long your grace period will be. For more information on repaying and your obligations as a borrower, click on the "Repaying" section of this Web site.

Updated rules for appealing for financial aid

2009-04-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

The US Department of Education just issued a new “Dear Colleague Letter”, which in financial aid industry jargon is usually a regulatory change or a change in how regulations and laws are supposed to be interpreted. In the April 2, 2009 Dear Colleague Letter, the Department of Education has offered additional flexibility to financial aid administrators.You can read the original letter here.

Financial aid administrators are now permitted to use a 12 month window for projected future earnings and base family income, a departure from the traditional calendar year/tax year.

Example: if you lose your job in November of 2008, for financial aid appeal purposes, instead of the financial aid office using calendar year 2008 for determining your aid eligibility, they are now permitted to use December 2008-November 2009 projected earnings as the basis of how much aid you’re eligible for.

Why this is important: given the current economy, people are out of work and remaining out of work longer than average; some families are using up their entire unemployment insurance allotment, which is half a year. Being able to use a drastically reduced income estimate will qualify more students for aid and assistance.

Financial aid administrators were also urged by the Department to steer students away from private student loans unless all other federal financial aid options were exhausted, and to do more aggressive outreach to families to let them know that they can appeal for additional aid and at the very least can help connect more families to the federal Stafford loan if they’re not already taking advantage of it.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

2009-03-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

The Academic Competitiveness Grant was made available for the first time for the 2006-2007 school year for first-year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second-year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005.

How Much Can a Student Receive?

An Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year. Note: The amount of the ACG, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student may be ratably reduced.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program;
be a first or second-year undergraduate student or a student in a certificate program of at least one year in a degree program at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student); and
if a first-year student — not have been previously enrolled in an ACG-eligible program while at or below age of compulsory school attendance; or
if a second-year student — have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale as of the end of the first year of undergraduate study.

Recognized Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study

For qualifying for an ACG, any one of the following programs meet the "rigorous secondary school program of study" requirement:

Rigorous secondary school programs designated by state education agencies (SEAs) and state-authorized local education agencies (LEAs) and recognized by the Secretary of Education.
Advanced or honors secondary school programs established by states.
Secondary school programs identified by a state-level partnership recognized by the State Scholars Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) of Boulder, Colorado.
A program for a student who completes at least two courses in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program with a score of four or higher on the course examinations or at least two Advanced Placement (AP) courses with a score of three or higher on the College Board's exams for those courses.
A secondary school program in which a student completes, at minimum:

Four years of English;
Three years of math, including algebra I and a higher level class such as algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics;
Three years of science, including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry, and physics;
Three years of social studies; and
One year of a language other than English.

For each calendar year, the Secretary publishes a list of all rigorous secondary school programs of study. Click here for the list of rigorous secondary school programs for each year of graduation.