FAP346: The Consolidation Controversy, something from the mail bag, KU scholarships, Frappr Map Update, Laura Clapp
Student Financial Aid News
+ “Tens of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students rushed to consolidate their federal student loans this spring and summer, trying to lock in lower interest payments before higher rates took effect on July 1,” The New York Times reports. “But frustrated students and executives at some of the companies that process the applications accuse big lenders like Wells Fargo, Wachovia and even Sallie Mae of violating federal regulations and slowing the …

FAP345: How do you calculate your credit card payment, college tuition data, textbook ads, Katrina, black journalists, Lee Coulter
Student Financial Aid News
+ Textbook pricing/ad survey results so far
+ 63% of students who responded said they would accept ads in textbooks in exchange for price reductions
+ For 10% off cover, 1 or 2 ads per book
+ For 25% off cover, 1 or 2 ads per section (every 100 pages)
+ For 50% off cover, 1 or 2 ads per chapter (every 25 pages)
+ For 75% off cover, tied between 1 or 2 …

My wife and I are walking in the Light the Night Boston 2006 walk. As part of that, I need your help. Even if you can only donate a tiny little bit, it’d be appreciated. Thanks.
Click here to donate: www.financialaidpodcast.com/light/

Who’s hot in new media and Web 2.0?
http://web2.0awards.org/
Fun stuff.

FAP344: Student loan consolidation can help you decide how much to borrow, national debt, Watson fellowships, podcasting in education, Lacuna Coil
Student Financial Aid News
+ Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt and the state’s legislative leaders have agreed on a university construction plan to be financed through the sale of $350 million of student loans.
+ The plan calls for $314 million from the sale to be divided among 22 construction projects at Missouri’s colleges and universities, with another $18 million going to community colleges, $15 million to a research endowment, and $3.4 million …

FAP343: So what should you spend your money on, Census data, UA, stagnant wages, Susan Govali
Student Financial Aid News
+ Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, in remarks at a press conference Thursday, said that rising college costs may encourage families to have fewer children, The Chicago Tribune reported. He said one solution might be to add a fifth year of high school, while cutting one year of undergraduate college programs.
+ The portion of University of Arizona students receiving financial aid outpaces the national average, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau …

A first look video tour of the site of PodCamp Boston, September 9-10, 2006. Also includes tips on what to bring and what not to bring!

iPod version (MP4 format)
Watch it on YouTube!

Reminders
+ Consolidate your student loans at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Student loans available at any time – visit privatestudentloans.com
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidNews.com.
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com. Add me to your iTunes by visiting http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com/subscribe/
Direct file download: MP4 …

FAP341: Free stuff Friday, Northwest Airlines, Academic Competitiveness Grants, Foreign Aid, Laura Clapp
Student Financial Aid News
+ New government grants have limited resulting in aid being given and revoked – particularly for students who have heavy courseloads exceeding the total number of allotted credit hours. Because after all, Academic Competitiveness Grants shouldn’t go to smart, hard working people, right?
+ “More and more parents and students are being forced to pocket the plastic each semester as fewer universities accept credit cards for tuition payments,” Bankrate.com reports. “Postsecondary institutions, ranging from two-year community …

FAP340: Top 50 Interview Questions in the Jobcast, undisclosed scholarship, privacy, PHEAA, credit cards, Lacuna Coil
Student Financial Aid News
+ Federal student aid — with its various needs tests — generally goes to low income students. But federal tax breaks for college costs, largely adopted during the Clinton administration, are having a significant impact on the amount of federal assistance going to wealthier students.
+ The average tax benefit received by families with incomes of $92,000 or more was greater in fact than the average benefit for those with incomes less than …

FAP339: Listener questions answered, Schwarzenegger, Bloomberg, discount rates, Cisco scholarship, Matthew Ebel
Student Financial Aid News
+ Portions of an Education Department student loan database revealed confidential information — enough to have enabled someone to commit identity theft — from Sunday through Tuesday, The Boston Globe reported. Department officials told the newspaper that a bug had created the problem and that they did not believe many people’s privacy had been violated.
+ Colleges increased their average discount rate slightly in 2005, following a slight decrease the previous year, resulting in the same average …