CollegeRecruiter.com Insights by Financial Aid Experts Blog

10 Ways Parents Can Cut College Costs Now For Their Senior High School Student

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:24:13 -0600

Although some colleges and universities, like Harvard and the University of California system, have introduced programs to ease the burden of tuition on their students, paying for college in today's economy is still tough. And going to college in Canada, where tuition costs are considerably lower than they are here in the U.S., isn't an option for everyone. The following tips from Marc Hill could be helpful.

1. Apply early in your senior year - which means apply now! Colleges go under extreme amounts of pressure to meet early deadlines for enrollment goals. To help meet their goals, some institutions will award merit scholarships to students who apply early in their senior year. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce the cost your family pays out of pocket for college. So get busy filling out college applications now.

How To Pay For College

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:43:17 -0600

Like many parents with college bound students, we saw our daughter's 529 college fun dip after last fall's stock market fiasco. Luckily, she had applied herself the summer before her senior year started, and was awarded a full-ride scholarship. Students, finding a scholarship is like [finding] a job. You're getting paid to go to school, so it takes time and effort to hunt down, apply and interview for scholarships. Apply the same amount of work and goals as [you would] if you were working and saving to buy a car. The goal is to be debt free, not debt ridden before you go to school. Continue reading ...

Lisa Hill is an Education Technology consultant. She maintains an education technology review blog at www.SchoolTechTalk.com. A picture tells a thousand words. A face launched a thousand ships. What will your story effect?

Are you a single mother looking for help with college costs?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:38:06 -0600

Beware of scams. Free college almost always involves a few strings attached. But there are options that can help bring down the cost of college, and many of them don't require that you pay the money back. No student loans to pay back.

College Work study is a good option. Students can go to college and get work experience at the same time? College work study can help pay your tuition while giving you the skills you need to move into a new job. Those who are in college work study can often qualify for other resources. The work study might not pay for everything, but it will definitely make reduce the cost.

Economic Downturn Makes Paying for College Tougher for Some

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:29:52 -0600

Attending college means an increased chance of finding a good paying entry level job after graduation, but more and more students are finding it difficult to afford college. Financial aid has been a way for many college students to attain a degree, but some recent changes have reduced the financial aid packages for some families. Most states saw their state allowance for financial aid from the federal government drastically reduced.

The biggest affect of these changes has been inflicted upon middle class families. The biggest impact for some students in terms of financial aid would be with their Pell Grant awards. Some students would see decreases in their awards and some would lose their allocation entirely.

Many college students are turning to alternate ways of making money, such as obtaining paid internships and co-ops. These internships and co-ops not only provide some income for the students, but also help them to get real world experience, which will prove valuable in their job searches when they graduate.

College students have also found that even unpaid internships provide great dividends. As they conduct their searches for entry level jobs, a lot of recent graduates have seen that the experience they gained from their internships helps them secure the best, highest paying jobs in a competitive market.

Recent graduates of today face more challenges than graduates from the past decade, thanks to the downturn in the economy. Reduced financial aid packages will make it tougher for future graduates to repay student loans. Fortunately, schools like Harvard University and the University of California system are doing what they can to ease the financial burden of higher education.

Article by freelance writer

Financial Aid for Occupational Therapists

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:08:14 -0600

Everyday day life comes up with its own twists and turns. The ability of to overcome certain situations depends upon the means that are used. Earning a degree in Occupational Therapy can be a gateway to a variety of profitable career opportunities, but there is a problem in how people get to that degree. Education is expensive, and for a graduate student, it might not be easy to afford the fee required to pursue education. Thus financial assistance has been made available to graduate students throughout the country as a way to cover the costs associated with university attendance. The financial aid available is either in the form of a grant, a scholarship, a fellowship or a loan. Continue reading ...

Richard Hemby is a writer who regularly writes about online degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website.

Financial Aid Basics

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:39 -0600

Many families would not be able to afford to send their children to colleges without financial aid. Usually, the government and separate private and public organizations award financial aid to students, known as federal aid and private aid, respectively. Students are generally considered for grants and scholarships, but if you wish to apply for a student loan or a work-study or service program, you must indicate it on the applications. Grants and scholarships award a certain amount of money to students, which the student doesn't have to repay. Student loans, on the other hand, award a student a certain amount of money that accumulates interest over a period of time, depending on the type of loan; the student must then repay the amount of the loan plus the interest after college. If none of these financial aid options seems appealing, there are two other ways to pay for college. The work-study and service programs both help students attend college for little to no price if the student works while attending school or participates in a service program during or before attending school. For more information on the different grants, scholarships, and loans, and for the schools and organizations that participate in work-study and service programs, read the informational articles in this section. Continue reading ...

Richard Hemby is a writer who regularly writes about online degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website.

50 Free Resources to Find a College Scholarship, Loan or Grant

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:31:37 -0600

Hi All,

I was contacted by a blog UniversityOnline.org because they thought their article entitled "Top 50 Free Websites to Look for Scholarships" would be of interest to my readers. Their blog focuses on resources to obtain an online education, but this article is not specific to scholarships for online educational institutions.

Here's the intro to the article and a few of the college scholarship resources on their list. To see the entire list of 50, click here:

Trying to find a scholarship to fund your college education can seem like the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. Besides, don't scholarships only go to the super smart, over-achiever types? Not necessarily.

Use these free search tools and website to find lots of scholarships, financial aid and information on applying for scholarships the right way. Sign up for a free email account to use specifically for scholarship searching. It will save you time and headaches if you use a separate email address because you could end up with a bunch of junk emails as you give out your personal information to some websites.

General Scholarship Search Tools

1. FastWeb - Fast Web allows students to search for scholarships based on their year in college, interests, major and region. Not only can students search for scholarships for free, but Fast Web has loads of articles on financial aid, student life and internship opportunities.

2. Scholarship Experts - Scholarship Experts was named "best scholarship search engine" by Forbes in its Best of the Web Review. Fill out the required information and you're on your way to finding a scholarship that fits your needs.

3. College Scholarships.org - College Scholarships.com has been helping students find money for college for free since 1999. The web site also has student loan and grant information available.

4. College Scholarships.com - College Scholarships.com allows students to search for scholarships and review scholarship essay samples for free.

5. Scholarships.com - Search for over 2.7 million scholarships with Scholarships.com's free search tool. Or students can create a profile and have matching scholarships and grants sent to them from the database.

6. College Board: Scholarship Search - College Board allows members to access, save and compare scholarship information from its database. Just sign up for a free account and start looking for free ways to fund your education.

They list 44 more in the article, so check it out!

Bye for now.

Article by Lisa Orrell, Millennial & Generation Relations Expert and courtesy of Lisa's Generation Relations Blog

Have You Been Denied Financial Aid? Appeal!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:23:12 -0600

If you have been denied financial aid, did you know you can appeal to your college's financial aid office and explain why you need financial help? Christopher Penn, founder and host of the Financial Aid Podcast, says an appeal has a better chance of succeeding if you can prove that you need aid for one of the following three reasons:

1. The student's cost of attendance is higher than the college figured, perhaps because of expenses like child care or unusual transportation needs.

2. There has been a loss of income due to the student or parent losing a job or taking a pay cut.

3. There has been a special circumstance. This would be a recent divorce or medical emergency.

Article by, College Parenting Expert, Dr. Debi Yohn, whose advice on successfully getting college students through college with an emphasis on graduation and rewarding employment is sought by parents from around the world. Now for the first time, she reveals 27 Winning Strategies for Success - a guidebook geared to parents of new college students. Get her free e-Book now at http://www.collegeparentsadvice.com/ and improve your child's chances of a successful college experience.

SolvayCARES Scholarship Contest Celebrating 17 Years of Helping Students With CF Pay for College

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:39:01 -0600

Around this time last year, I wrote an article about Solvay Pharmaceuticals' annual SolvayCARES "Thriving Student Achiever" scholarship contest, which has been helping students with Cystic Fibsosis - an inherited, chronic disease of the lungs and digestive system - to realize their dreams of going to college for the past 17 years. This year, it seems Solvay has found a way to make everyone a winner.

In addtion to all forty finalists receiving $2,500 to use during the academic year, Solvay also awarded $500 scholarships to every qualified applicant, so no one went home empty handed. To honor the contest's 17th anniversary, Solvay will award this year's scholarship winner with $17,000 to pay for college expenses.

This year, the students wrote an essay entitled "My dream for the future is ..." in addition to submitting works of art such as poems, photographs and original songs.

Voting, which began on September 15, 2009 and will conclude just before midnight on October 15, 2009, can be done online at www.SolvayCARESScholarship.com, by calling 888-305-9808 and following the instructions, or by texting VOTE1, VOTE2, etc - depending on the finalist chosen - to 30364. Only one vote per phone number or email address will be accepted; however, a person can vote once online, then once again either by phone call or text message for his/her favorite finalist.

Click here to learn more about voting and contest rules.

Tips on Paying for College

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:42:41 -0600

For some, saving money for a child's or grandchild's college education seems nearly impossible. Before you give up the battle, however, consider this: A high school graduate will earn an average annual income of $26,416. A college graduate will earn an average annual income of $34,000 to $74,000. For someone who works 40 years, that can add up to an additional $320,000 to $1.92 million in earnings. That's quite a return on an investment in a college education!

Saving for college may seem like a monumental task, but you don't need to save the entire amount overnight, and, chances are, you won't need to finance the entire expense yourself. Today, there are a multitude of loans, work programs, tax credits, and so forth designed to help put college within the grasp of nearly everyone. With a little homework, you can find all the options available to you.

Eight Financial Tips for College Students

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:38:47 -0600

If you're a college student, you're learning about a lot more than what's inside your books. Living away from home is a veritable laboratory for life lessons. This year, in addition to whatever courses you may be taking, try to master some financial lessons, as well.

Of course, many students already have at least one foot in the "real world," because, in addition to taking classes, they're working many hours a week to help pay for school, rent, and living expenses. But even if you're a full-time student, living on campus, and paying for school through a combination of grants, loans, savings, and help from your parents, you can learn some financial basics that will help you throughout your adult life.

6 Tips for Repaying Student Loans

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:03:12 -0600

Student loans are debt. While this may seem to be self evident, many young people tend to regard student loans as a nuisance left over from their student days. These loans are lightly regarded until it is too late, and their credit standing has been compromised. For the recent graduate, it is wise to assess the total accumulated debt from college and establish a plan to repay it quickly.

Although the combined amounts of the student loans can be astoundingly huge, the government who backs the loans tends to make even the largest loans manageable for the borrower. The good news is that most college graduates are able to find decent jobs and have little other debt to contend with at this point. This means that with another couple of years of tight living, most of the student loans can be eliminated.

See if any government programs exist in your field to reduce or write off student loans.

Jobs that deal in social areas like education, often have programs that target them to help pay off student loans. Usually, these programs require the young worker to stay in the field for about 5 years to reduce the loan to zero. A percentage of the loan becomes a write off each year and no payments are required during this time. Many times, loans of $10,000 to $20,000 can be repaid in this fashion. Continue reading ...

Article by, Allen Teal and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

What New Graduates Should Do If They Can't Repay Student Loans

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:52:19 -0600

The ceremonies are over. The cap and gown is hanging in the closet. The parties are done, too.

What isn't over is repayment of perhaps tens of thousands of dollars of student loans. And if you're a recent grad without a job in hand, it's a huge reality.

Washington Post financial columnist Michelle Singletary suggests that new grads should do just about anything they can to start paying off those loans. This means downsizing that cell phone contract when it's up for renewal, getting a roommate, moving back home or even taking a second job if you're already employed.

But what if you have no income? Singletary says that graduates who even suspect that they'll have difficulty repaying their student loans should get in touch with the respective lenders right away to discuss their dilemma. The options vary according to whether the loans came from Federal or private sources.

Many students who graduate without a job offer in hand are tempted big time to go directly to grad school. Singletary states that this is in most cases a bad idea because advanced degrees don't guarantee big salaries. Students who borrowed to finance an undergraduate education will most likely have to do so to finish a graduate program, incurring tons of additional debt in the process. And with the tightening of criteria for student loans, they might not even be able to borrow more money. Continue reading ...

Article by, Vonda Sines and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

Synopsis on College Loans

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:48:18 -0600

I have a wonderful friend who offers the most complete information on college loans, Steve Sterling of www.mycollegecalendar.org He wrote me the following when I asked him a personal question... Where does a young person start, especially a student interested in the teaching profession? So, here is Steve...

First, here's a summary table of available loans:

http://www.mycollegecalendar.org/explore/pdf/student-loans-summary-table.pdf. This summary table is up-to-date for the 2009-2010 academic year and is a good starting point for understanding loan options. Another helpful summary table published by the Feds is http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/Loan_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009.pdf.

Your student should pursue the Federal Gov't. Loans first (of course!); they have the best interest rates and repayment options. IMPORTANT: the student probably will have to enroll at least as a half-time student (minimum 6+ credits each semester) to be eligible for the loans (check the loan eligibility criteria). The student also should research loans/grants/scholarships given by his/her state gov't (To find a state agency go to: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SHE ).

Regarding private loans, the largest (and easiest to use) lender for private loans is Sallie Mae ( http://www.salliemae.com/ ). Also, your student should call the financial aid office at the college he/she will attend to ask for a list of preferred private lenders and ask for suggestions/advice.

Also, your student may be eligible for future teacher-type grants from the Feds ( http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/Grant_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009.pdf ).

Lastly, if your student is planning to enroll in college in fall 2009, he/she should immediately complete the online FAFSA ( http://www.mycollegecalendar.org/explore/seniors/FAFSA-get-started.aspx). If he/she doesn't complete the FAFSA he/she won't be eligible for government (Federal and State) loans.

Arkansas Parents Question Financial Aid Tactics

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:33:59 -0600

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of non-traditional students on college campuses was 40.9% totally 6.2 million students. A non-traditional student is one who is at least 24 years of age; normally between the ages of 24 and 69. They are married and single and many of them are parents! Some have been to college before, left and are now returning after a number of years; others went straight into the workforce. A new group of non-traditional students are popping up on college campuses all over the country. Those are the students are attending class alongisde their children!

I am one of those in the new classification. I am a junior, my youngest daughter is a freshman. I am pursuing a degree in Advertising/Public Relations,as she majors in Early Childhood Education. I want to go on and get my Master's while she wants to teach Kindergarten after graduation. I have a Pell Grant and she doesn't.

What?

Lauren lives on campus, her dad and I support her, and pay for the portion of school that her scholarships don't. Yet, I receive Pell money and she doesn't. It makes no sense to me, but this is the way that the system was set up.

The first thing you must do is fill out FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which is required for all students seeking any kind of financial assistance for higher education. One of the steps to this process is to figure your Expected Family Contribution. It asks for your student status: Are you full or part time? Are you dependent or independent student? Then it asks for your family size and wants to know how many are in college.

At this point, it says "Parents are not included in the college figure but instead must contact the school for a professional judgement review." Seems simple enough, yet, I've not spoken to anyone who has ever come out on the positive end of a professional judgement review. We certainly didn't. Continue reading ...

Article by, Paula Carpenter and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.