Collegebound Advisory Choose a student loan Federal Loan Options Federal student loans almost always cost less and are easier to repay than private loans. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for federal student loans. Perkins Loans Subsidized with a fixed 5% interest rate, administered through your school, and awarded based on financial need If you are eligible, you should take this loan first Direct Loans Either subsidized or unsubsidized Everyone is eligible for the Unsubsidized Direct Loan, and Subsidized Direct Loans are awarded based on financial need Parent or Grad PLUS Loans Available to graduate students and parents Parents with PLUS loans are responsible for repaying those loans Private Loan Options There are many different private loan options, with different interest rates and costs. Borrowing beyond your federal loans could mean high levels of debt. However if you need a private student loan, you should know that there are some unexpected places to look for deals. School Loans
4 Overlooked Ways to Pay for College Paying for college is rarely easy. Ideally, it's a longterm process of building and using a collection of savings, institutional aid, free money, and—if necessary—loans. [Discover more ways to accumulate money at the College Savings Center.] But with so many avenues for financing your education, it's often difficult to sort out what might work best for you, given your situation and time frame. Exhaust your federal options: Because federal loans (Stafford and Perkins) are cheaper and have more flexible repayment options, students with financial need should always exhaust their federal options before looking to private loans, says Kevin Walker, cofounder and CEO of SimpleTuition.com. "Some families might believe, 'We're upper middle class; our income is upper level so we wouldn't qualify,'" Walker notes. [Learn more about the benefits of federal student loans.] Consider 529 plans: If you have some time before college, a 529 savings plan may be an attractive route for you.
Student Aid on the Web Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. What kinds of scholarships are available?How do I find scholarships? What kinds of scholarships are available? Some scholarships for college are merit-based. Many scholarships are geared toward particular groups of people; for instance, there are scholarships for women or high school seniors. A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition, or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. How do I find scholarships? You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. Try these free sources of information about scholarships: Top When do I apply for scholarships? That depends on each scholarship’s deadline.
Avoiding Scams Before you apply for financial aid, learn how to spot potential fraud, avoid paying for free services, and prevent identity theft. Save Your Money: Don’t Pay for Help to Find Money for CollegeTry These Free Sources of InformationDon’t Pay for the FAFSA® Save Your Identity: How Does Identity Theft Happen? Report Fraud and Identity Theft: Report Financial Aid FraudReport Fraudulent Activity by a CollegeReport Identity Theft Save Your Money Don’t Pay for Help to Find Money for College Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1,000. If you're unsure whether to pay a company for help finding financial aid, stop and think for a minute: What's being offered? "Buy now or miss this opportunity." Top Try These Free Sources of Information Types of Federal Student Aidother federal agenciesa college or career school financial aid officea high school or TRIO counselor your state grant agency the U.S. Don’t Pay for the FAFSA® Save Your Identity How Does Identity Theft Happen?
Get Organized for College Scholarship Application Season - The Scholarship Coach February 1 through the end of April is the busiest season for college scholarship applications. That means if you're planning to head off to college next fall, you'd better get cracking. Follow these tips to stay organized and ahead of the game during scholarship application season. 1. Search for scholarships in a variety of places: We've posted about scholarship search engines in the past, as well as other places to look, but here's a refresher: • Check in with the counseling office/career center at your high school, and let your counselor know you are interested in going to college and finding available scholarships. • Ask your local Dollars for Scholars chapter or other community foundations about scholarship resources. • Consult with postsecondary institutions you are considering attending. • Last, but not least, you can do a scholarship search on the Internet. [Learn more about paying for college.] 2. • Make a list of all the scholarships for which you want to apply. 3.
State & Regional Associations NASFAA works in partnership with six regional associations of financial aid administrators to deliver excellence in student aid administration. These regional associations in turn work closely with state associations representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Pacific Islands. While we work at the national level, state and regional associations play an important role in advocating for and serving students in their communities. We support local associations through activities such as: Background NASFAA was created as an outgrowth of regional associations of financial aid administrators and maintains a healthy working relationship with the regions to this day. While NASFAA and the six regional associations share many commonalities, they are independent non-profit organizations with their own governance.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund Writing College Scholarship Thank You Letters Make Them Glad They Did Scholarships make it possible for thousands of students every year to attend college. For many college-bound students, the right scholarship can mean the difference between continuing their education or abandoning their personal and professional ambitions. One thing scholarship recipients tend to overlook, is the follow through. A letter of thanks to the scholarship board, or scholarship provider, does more than simply show the student’s appreciation for receiving the funds they needed to pay for college. Tips for Thank You Letters After you have received your scholarship, it is important to take some time to compose a short letter of thanks to the donors and/or review board. Sending scholarship thank you letters should be handled through traditional mail. When composing your scholarship thank you letters, keep the following tips in mind and try to hit all of the salient points as naturally as possible. Who, What, Where and When
Tips for Writing Your College Essay - Ace Your College Entry Essay One of the Most Important Steps to Getting into College College hopefuls face a series of tests on the path toward higher education. Finances and credit are tested by budgeting challenges and financial aid pursuits. Admission to colleges and specific university programs requires aptitude and proficiency testing. SAT and ACT placement exams prove daunting for determined students with their sights set high on prestigious academic programs. Essay topics fall across a broad range of subjects that are not always what you’d expect from college admissions offices. Brand Yourself Everyone is capable of filling- in the blanks on a college application, but college admissions essay questions pose unique challenges. The tone of your college entrance essay should be genuine and uniquely your own, but your approach must remain academic and professional. Be Original Some colleges generously allow students to select their own admissions essay question subject areas. Proofreading, Rewriting, and Editing
Writing College Application Essays: How to Choose a Topic « Applying To College I was speaking to the Joel Barlow High School PTSA in Redding today (thanks, PTSA!) about writing college application essays, and was asked a great question: Do I have any suggestions for the student who’s having trouble deciding what to write about? Yes! Choosing a topic for a college application essay can be a daunting, if not downright intimidating experience. Many students think that because nothing big or dramatic has happened to them in their lives they don’t have anything to write about. Wrong! You don’t have to be the best athlete, have won lots of awards, or had a big “moment of revelation” to write a great college application essay. Remember, colleges look for 3 main things in a college application essay: How well you writeHow well you organize your thoughtsYou. When you’re choosing a topic you want to find an experience — a story — that will reflect what’s unique about you. 1. 2. 3. Start with these questions. Like this: Like Loading...
How to Apply For College Video A lot of you may be asking what you should know when applying to Graphic Design School. This short video by Jeannie Borin answers general questions about college admissions and what steps you should take before applying. Click the image screen twice to start - This video is brought to by VideoJug.com Tips and General Information Students should apply for college in the Fall of their senior year. Students applying for early decision usually submit their applications by the end of October of their senior year. Graphic Art Schools in Your State If any of these professions interest you and you would like to find a school in your area where you can learn these skills, click here to find the school that's right for you.