Daily Aid 47: Financial aid crunch, photo scholarship, DIY Holiday Cards

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Daily Aid 47: Financial aid crunch, photo scholarship, DIY Holiday Cards

8 December 2008 1 views No Comment

Daily Aid 47: Financial aid crunch, photo scholarship, DIY Holiday Cards

Student Financial Aid News

Last night’s Sunday Night Financial Aid went very well. Lots of great questions from the audience, lots of great feedback. As soon as I can, I’ll convert the video and have it posted. My thanks to everyone who participated – we’ll definitely do it again!

There’s been a LOT of stories like this one from the LA Times about students and families having to rethink how to pay for college. Absolutely, many will have to consider what the value of an education is, and whether the price tag of the more expensive schools justifies the investment.

A big piece of the financial aid puzzle is making sure you apply for as much aid as you’re eligible for, and in the right order. The short version?

1. Scholarships as soon as possible. Use our free eBook and free scholarships to get you started.

2. File the FAFSA as soon after January 1 of each year as you can. Again, use our free eBook to get you started.

3. Work. Student income up to $3,750 a year is protected in financial aid formulae; earn just that much to pay for a part of school.

4. Apply for federal student loans first like the Stafford loan and the Parent PLUS loan.

5. Fill in any gaps with private student loans.

6. Keep hunting for scholarships! Every dollar you find in scholarships is a dollar you can either pay back for what you’ve borrowed or can be applied to tuition.

From Inside Higher Ed:

In times of economic instability, enrollments at community colleges typically balloon. Those left without jobs, however, often cannot afford to further their education even at relatively low-cost institutions. Now, amid rising unemployment nationwide, some community colleges are waiving tuition for their local jobless.

Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., announced Monday that, as of next semester, it would begin waiving tuition for those recently laid off because of local business or industrial plant closings. These individuals will be able to take a maximum of 12 tuition-free credits or the financial equivalent in non-credit courses.

Commentary

I applaud NCC for helping out in its local area. They’re putting the community in community college.

Scholarship Update

A photography scholarship today. youngARTS is NFAA’s core program. It provides recognition and awards to young artists across the country. We are the only organization that encourages and recognizes artistic excellence in nine art forms: dance, cinematic arts, jazz, music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. Each year, approximately 6,000-8,000 students register for the youngARTS program and approximately 10 percent receive cash awards. youngARTS Winners share over $500,000 in cash awards. $10,000 Gold Awards $5,000 Silver Awards $3,000 Level I $1,500 Level II $1,000 Level III $250 Honorable Mention Awards* $100 Merit Awards* Hundreds of youngARTS participants share over $500,000 in cash awards. youngARTS Finalists share a total benefit package valued at $1 million including an all-expense-paid trip to Miami, Florida, in January for youngARTS Week and individual cash awards ranging from $250 to $10,000. Our panelists select up to 150 students each year as youngARTS Finalists and bring them to Miami for youngARTS Week for master classes, showcase performances, exhibitions, enrichment programs, and final adjudications.

Details and applications at our free college scholarship search site.

News You Can Use

Here’s an idea for those still sending paper holiday cards. I was at the store yesterday and was shocked at the price of even generic, bland greeting cards. Why would you pay $4.99 for five holiday cards when you can take photos and have them printed? There are places online – tons – where prints are 8 cents per print for 4×6 prints. I don’t mean the gimmicky holiday cards, just straight photo prints that you can write on the back of.

If you take the photos yourself, you’re making a custom gift with personal involvement AND saving a ton of money over regular holiday cards. Use free photo editing software like Photoshop Express (understanding that there are intellectual property issues with it, like giving up some rights, but for holiday cards, who cares?) and make some cheap yet thoughtful holiday greetings.

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