"The Experience"
Need Financial Aid ? See What Your School Can Do for You
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
Within your own country and around the world, there are all sorts of places to inquire about possible financial aid for your education in the United States. However, don’t forget that some of the easiest resources to check out are the schools themselves. Whether you’re still deciding on a school or you’re already applying, make sure you find out if the schools you’ve chosen have programs available to help you pare down your tuition bill.
Don’t listen to rumors
While it’s true that the financial aid pot for international students is smaller than the one for American students, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything available at all. If financial aid is something you really need to pursue an education in the U.S., dig a little deeper and explore the opportunities at a variety of schools. You may need to consider attending a different school or plan to spend some time working in addition to studying, but the payoff will be worth it! Read the rest of this entry »
Financial Aid for International Students
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
If you intend to seek financial assistance for your education, you must submit a financial aid application. The policies for financial aid vary from school to school. Unfortunately, when it is available, it is quite limited for international students. It is a good idea to review each institution’s policy carefully and gather the necessary documentation early in the application process.
If you are admitted to an institution, you will be asked to submit documentation of your family’s financial resources to help schools determine how much aid you will need. Students will typically be asked to submit the institution’s financial aid form. In addition, some institutions may require the Foreign Student’s Financial Aid Form. This is provided by the college and is administered by the College Scholarship Service of the College Board. A bank statement indicating the family’s financial resources is also required. Read the rest of this entry »
Extra Tuition Assistance for Veterans
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
Beyond GI Bill assistance, there are additional benefits available for veterans of active military service. You may or may not be able to combine these with your other VA benefits, but they’re worth a gander if there’s a chance that they can help reduce the overall cost of your education.
Requirements and eligibility for these programs vary, so be sure to check with the Veterans’ Administration at www.gibill.va.gov for additional information.
Accelerated payment for MGIB-AD
If you’re pursuing studies in a technical field, you may be able to receive a large portion of your overall benefit up front, in the form of a lump-sum payment. This benefit aims to help you pay for a high-tech education, which is often more costly than a non-technical program. Read the rest of this entry »
Education Benefits for Dependents of Veterans
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
If you have experienced the heartache of losing your spouse or parent during the course of their military service, or if they have suffered permanent disability, you may be eligible to receive education assistance from the government.
Whether it’s a college degree, cooking school, or on-the-job training, you could get benefits for up to 45 months as a child of a veteran.
As a spouse, the government might cover the cost of your correspondence courses, or in some cases, remedial or refresher classes. This benefit is known as the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, or DEA.
Read the rest of this entry »
GI Bill Education Benefits
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
If you conducted a survey about postponing college, you would probably find many college grads who would tell you that when they started college, they just weren’t ready. Perhaps they lacked discipline or the desire at the time, or maybe they wanted to see the world a bit. Many might also say that they would have been better off if they had waited a few years.
For some people, postponing college is the right thing to do.
The money factor
For many students, postponing college comes down to one very simple reason — they just can’t afford it. With no scholarships or grants, and not enough cash in the bank to cover what financial aid doesn’t, college may seem to be a distant dream.
Read the rest of this entry »
National Call to Service and Education Benefits
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
Whether you’ve been discharged from the military or you’ve never been in the service, recent recruitment efforts offer new educational incentives if you’re willing to enlist or re-enlist now.
Only a recruiter can fill in the complete details, but you’ll most likely be required to complete at least a three-and-a-half year commitment in one of the following areas: the armed forces, Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, Peace Corps, Americorps, or another national service program approved by the Secretary of Defense. Read the rest of this entry »
The Military as a Source of Financial Aid
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
Army ROTC is a college program that enables students not only to graduate with a degree in their chosen college major but also to receive officers’ commissions in the U.S. Army, the Army National Guard, or the Army Reserve. Read the rest of this entry »
Repayment Benefits of a College Perkins Loan
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
Owing money on a loan can be a burden, but if you took out a Perkins loan, you may be able to pay it off without a dime coming out of your own pocket! Some employers may pay off your loan (or at least part of it) and depending on what you do for a living, you may be able to have your debt “forgiven” altogether. Not everyone who takes out a Perkins loan is eligible for this benefit, but it might be an option for you. Make sure to check out whether or not you can benefit from this great opportunity!
The Department of Defense
If you enlist in the Armed Forces, you may be able to negotiate a repayment agreement as part of your enlistment contract. In exchange for your service in specialty areas of the U.S. military, the Department of Defense may repay some or all of your Perkins Loan for you. If you have questions or aren’t sure if you qualify, contact your local recruiting office for more details. Read the rest of this entry »
The World of Private Loans: Alternative Financing Options
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
by Richard Woodland, Director of Financial Aid, Rutgers University Camden Campus
For many families today, regular financial aid programs come up short in meeting the tuition bill each semester. Rather than using savings, many families are turning to private or alternative loans to help pay the cost. The private/alternative loan financing market is the fastest growing source of financial aid today.
The most common source of alternative funding is the federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students, usually referred to as PLUS loans. These are federally insured loans that offer creditworthy borrowers significant funding at reasonable interest rates. The key word here is “creditworthy”. To qualify, you will need to pass a credit check. Read the rest of this entry »
The Reality of Student Loans
Author: petersons, Category: College Scholarships & Financial Aid, Scholarship Contest
Student loan debt is often a reality for students who are pursuing a higher education. Over the past decade, the amount of debt carried by graduating students has more than doubled! This is largely due to a parallel trend in the rising cost of tuition: it simply costs more now than it did a decade ago. Plus, recent changes in laws regulating federal student loans may mean even more money coming out of your pocket in the years to come.
Fees on the rise
According to a recent report by the State Public Interest Research Group, tuition fees across the country have risen steadily. On average, you’ll pay 33 percent more for a public school and 44 percent more for a private school than you would have if you had been born just 10 years earlier! Mom and dad are more likely to take a hit in their pocketbooks as well; the average household income has only increased by 12 percent during the same period. Read the rest of this entry »