FAP382: Revisiting the one page budget with Google Spreadsheets, MRU, GradLoans.com, print scholarships, iscintilla

Click the blue arrow to listen: MP3 file

Student Financial Aid News
+ A woman from Ambridge, Pa. is accused of forging a bankruptcy court judge’s signature so she could obtain federal student loans. While the court was considering her bankruptcy petition, Catherine Jeter copied the signature of Judge Judith Fitzgerald from a previous order to the court to create a bankruptcy discharge letter that was sent to student lender American Education Services. A bankruptcy trustee assigned to Jeter’s case uncovered the fraud. Jeter, who has four children and was attending Point Park university, is facing five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
+ Rather than commit fraud, we recommend honesty and Act Education Loans at ActEducationLoans.com or 866-229-8900
+ New York-based education finance company MRU Holdings Inc. on Thursday announced it has been approved to list securities on the Nasdaq stock market. The company’s shares began trading this morning at $5.90 each, under the symbol UNCL. As of 10:11 a.m. ET, shares were up to $6 each.
+ Disclosure: MRU powers our graduate private student loans at GradLoans.com or 800-926-2716
+ A report released by the American Council on Education Monday summarizes data on the enrollment of foreign students, and suggests that American dominance in enrolling the best and brightest is endangered. The report features data both on the United States and other countries that enroll students from outside their own borders.
+ Officials at Princeton University have told the Daily Princetonian that 45 percent of the computers bought through the campus bookstore this year were Macs. That’s a university record, and it’s a sign that Apple’s academic growth spurt has not ended: In 2003 Macs accounted for just 15 percent of the computers bought at Princeton, and last year they made up 38 percent of the university’s sales.
+ Investment advisor Martin Krikorian recommends against 529 savings plans because of language about required expenses. According to Section 529(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, “qualifed education expenses are the tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment that are ‘required’ for enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution.” And so far, the IRS and U.S. tax courts include the word “required” in their determination of what is considered a qualified expense as well. In a recent case, things such as computers and dorm room furnishings were disallowed as qualified expenses because they are not required by the university.
+ Dave LaMorte at Teaching for the Future is interviewing the crew of the No One’s Listening Podcast on Friday – send your questions about media literacy to him!

Scholarship Update
+ Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation Annual Scholarship Competition
+ 300 awards of $1,500 each
+ Interested in a career in graphic communications.
+ A high school senior or a high school graduate that has not yet started college.
+ A college student who is enrolled in a two- or four-year college program.
+ All scholarship students must be full-time students. Scholarships are not awarded for part-time study.
+ Scholarships are renewable annually. Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, continue at the school in which they originally enrolled, and continue to major in graphic communications. If a student’s grades fall below 3.0, funds will be withheld.
+ Deadlines are March 1 for High School Students and April 1 for Enrolled College Students.
+ Detailed page at Student Scholarship Search web site

News You Can Use
+ Revisit the one page budget
+ This time with Google Spreadsheets!
+ See the Financial Aid Podcast One Page Budget
+ Combine with the Hipster PDA
+ A pack of index cards with a binder clip on them and a small pen or pencil
+ Always available, never runs out of batteries
+ Take them home, scan, copy, or photo them so you have records

Podsafe Music
+ i:scintilla, capsella
+ Music via the Podsafe Music Network

Reminders
+ Private student loans
+ Federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.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. AIM: FinAidPodcast Add me to your iTunes by visiting http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com/subscribe/