FAP823: Merit based financial aid, free stuff Monday

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Student Financial Aid News
+ Inside Higher Ed: Despite increased pressure to move more money away from merit-based aid programs and into need-based grants, there is little sign of such a shift happening across the nation as a whole, according to a report released today.
+ The annual report, issued by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, shows that need-based grants made up about the same proportion of total grants awarded in 2006-7 as they did in 2005-6. Need-based grants constituted about 72 percent of the total grants awarded last year, which was actually down slightly from 73 percent in 2005-6.
+ The association’s report comes as a growing chorus of critics call on states (as well as private institutions, for that matter) to place their grant dollars in programs that might help needy students enroll in college who might not otherwise, instead of merely changing the enrollment patterns of those who could still otherwise afford a college education. Grant aid, which is measured in isolation within the report, is particularly coveted for needy students because it does not have to be paid back.
+ IHE: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick plans this week to revive his idea of making community colleges free for state residents, The Boston Globe reported. The proposal is expected to be included in broad plans to reform education at all levels in the states.
+ Trying out a new mic!

Scholarship Update
+ OXY Cash for College Scholarship
+ $25,000 first place
+ Resident of US
+ Fill out the form on their site
+ September 28 deadline
+ Ages 13-19
+ Funds deposited in a 529 plan
+ Details at our free college scholarship search site

Free Stuff Monday
+ We missed Friday due to Podcasters Across Borders
+ Burt’s Bees seeds
+ Gillette Body Wash
+ Teddy Grahams
+ Lego Digital Designer
+ My Media Player + Hulu
+ How to predict weather based on clouds

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Reminders

+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidNews.com.
+ Free scholarship search secrets eBook at StudentScholarshipSearch.com/ebook

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+ Student credit card information at StudentPlatinum.com
+ FAFSA tutorials and free help
+ Financial Aid discussion forums

+ Stafford loans | Other federal student loans
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.