Student Loans and Homework Help Library

The Search For Scholarships

Schoolwork.org — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:02:00 +0000

Students who are about to graduate from high school are already looking ahead toward planning for their first year of college. With this comes the concern for paying their way through college and the search for scholarship opportunities.

So what are scholarships, where do you look to find them, how do you apply and what do you need to watch out for so that you don’t get scammed?

There are a variety of scholarships offered. A scholarship is a gift to a student, one that does not have to be repaid, and is usually given do to the student’s grades, achievements or the student meeting other eligibility requirements. There are popular scholarships that attract a lot of attention and that are quite competitive and there are the off-beat scholarships that require a little more digging to discover, yet are less competitive.

One myth about scholarships is that you have to have a perfect grand point average. There are many scholarships for average students that focus on qualities besides academic merit. There are also many community service scholarships.

To start your scholarship search, first make a list that includes all of your hobbies, clubs and extracurricular activities. Having this information at hand will help when it comes time to ask for letters of recommendation during the scholarship application process. Teachers and counselors can better sell students to selection committees if they have thorough resumes and background information.

You can now match your specialties to eligibility requirements. Don’t waste your time and the institutes by applying for a scholarship you are not eligible for. For instance, if the scholarship is for children of veterans of war, be sure you have proof of this.

There are many small scholarships out there. There's no scholarship that's too low to apply for. The $200 and $300 scholarships add up.

Another way to search for scholarships is to contact schools that you are interested in and inquire about their scholarship programs.

When applying, save your applications so that you can revise them each time rather than having to recreate them. This applies to essays as well. You can make minor tweaks to essays and then use them to apply for multiple scholarships.

Where are the obvious places to start looking for scholarships? To name a few: Online; banks and credit unions; churches, alumni associations at schools the student's parents attended; local Rotary, Elks and Lions clubs; departments that offer the student's intended major, since they may have awards not handled through the university's financial aid and scholarships office; any fraternal or community organization to which the student and immediate family members belong; college and university foundations and student's and parents' employers.

And last, if a particular scholarship sound too good to be true, it usually is. Learn how to recognize and protect yourself from the most common scholarship scams. The number one tip: If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam.

Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Tips for Starting College

Schoolwork.org — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:01:00 +0000

You are a senior in high school and you will be starting college soon. There will be some concerns you and your parents will need to look at before starting your first semester?

For parents, you can begin working on helping your student as early as August through December, before your child even graduates from high school. The first thing you want to begin focusing on is pulling together as much information for FASFA or the United States Department of Education Free Application for Federal Aid, as possible. You can begin by collecting documentation you will need to complete the FASFA application and you can even attend a financial aid presentation. Be sure to save your last pay stub for the year in December as well so that completing the FASFA paperwork will be easier. By January you will want to have the application completed and filed, the sooner the better as financial aid can run out.

As parents you also may want to prepare and file your federal income taxes as early as possible so that you can verify income for financial aid.

For seniors in high school, your responsibility starts with signing up for your SAT and ACT tests as early as August. Between August and December you will want to visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements. Start collecting personal references from teachers, school counselors or employers early in the year, or at least two weeks before application deadlines. Attend a college fair and begin applying for admission at the colleges you have chosen. Find out if you qualify for scholarships at each college you have applied to and start the financial aid application process. Between January and May you will want to visit the colleges that have invited you to enroll. Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork and of course continue looking for scholarship opportunities.

College is an exciting time and as a freshman you may be wondering what it is you will need for your dorm.

To start, remember that dorm rooms are very small so take only the essentials. Freshmen typically get the worst rooms in the dorm as the upper classmen get to pick the best rooms before the year is over. Make sure you find out everything there is to know about your dorm and what it has and does not have. For instance, if the dorm does not have carpeting, you may need to take a rug. If the room isn’t air conditioned, taking a fan might be an option.

Find out what is allowed and not allowed in the dorms as well. Some schools do not allow microwaves, hot plates, candles and more. Most schools provide beds, some provide mattresses, and of course most require you to buy your own sheets. Types of items that you might consider taking include: TV, pillows, radio, rug, water filter, hangers, tape, tools and posters.

Freshmen are typically assigned roommates, so try contacting your roommate before the first semester. Moving in can be stressful and annoying so by talking to your roommate ahead of time you can find out what kind of person they are, what you have in common and what you each can bring or leave home.

Last, remember to save your money so that you have some spending cash. You will want to live frugally but there will be an occasion when you need your own money for those extra things.

By addressing all of your concerns before you arrive your first day of college, you won’t find this large life transition so difficult.

Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Going Back To College

Schoolwork.org — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:12:00 +0000

If you have been out of high school for a while and are tired of working in a dead-end career, you probably have considered going back to college. If you are intimidated about going back as an adult and are worried about being the only person over 25, don’t despair. According to statistics, since 1998 the number of adult learns has increased 41 percent making over 2.9 million students over the age of 35 going back to college.

If you are planning to go back to college, here are a few things to consider:

1. Flexibility is key. Many colleges and universities offer flexible course scheduling with classes offered nights and weekends. This means that if you are holding down a job while going back to school, you can often tailor your courses around your work. If you have children, many institutions offer campus childcare services. A third thing to remember is that you do not have to go back to school full time; your course load can remain minimal. But, if you are looking for financial aid, you may be required to take a specific amount of hours.
2. Make more money. The higher your education the higher your salary. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, employees with a high school diploma averaged $27,915 a year while those with a bachelor’s degree earned $51,206. Individuals with master’s degrees averaged $74,602. Statistics also show that seventy five percent of future positions will require at least some type of certification or licensure.
3. You didn’t graduate from high school. If you did not graduate from high school but received your G.E.D., don’t despair. Over 97 percent of colleges accept students with a G.E.D. diploma.
4. How will I pay? Paying for college through scholarships and financial aid is much of an option to adults as it is those just graduating from high school. There are various forms of grants and low interest loans that are offered regardless of your grade point average, financial need or credit history.
5. How will I get there? If your community does not have a college and you don’t have time to commute, there are now options. Courses today can be taken online or through distance learning programs. Check with the college or university you are interested in to discuss these options. Remember, if you take distance courses through institutes outside of your state, it may be more costly. You will get a financial break staying with a school in state.
6. Do your homework. After identifying what school you would like to attend, make an appointment with the academic advisor. Be prepared to have a few things with you such as old transcripts – that is if you have attended any college prior. Also, do some homework on what field of study you are interested in. The Occupational Outlook Handbook can help you develop an idea of what types of jobs are out there.
7. Testing. Be prepared to take entrance exams. Although you are not required to take admissions tests such as the SAT or ACT, there are placement tests colleges require for English and Math.
8. Check if your life experiences count for credit. Last, ask whether the institute you want to attend offers credits for life experience. Many schools do this through exams such as CLEP or DANTES. These are called ‘life experience credits’.

Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Why go to college

Schoolwork.org — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:00:00 +0000

We hear about it all the time, multi-millionaires who succeed despite not having a college education. So you might be asking yourself or your child might ask, why should I go to college?

To start off, statistically, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Labor has shown that a high-school diploma alone is not sufficient for students to access jobs that pay above average. If you are looking for a position with any kind of technical expertise, it is most likely that job will require either a two year degree, four year, masters or at least graduation from a certificate program.

With the various ways an education can be had today, whether it’s through your local community college or online, it has become easier than ever to go back to school or earn your degree.

What are the benefits of attending college?

1. Greater Knowledge. A college education will give you an overall understanding of all of the sciences, which are all necessary for critical thinking skills. In college you are also required to articulate your thoughts through writing reports and papers, which later on assist you in expressing yourself clearly on and off the job.
2. Potential To Earn More. Studies have shown that a college graduate earns approximately $18,000 more a year than someone without a degree. Even a two-year degree will earn you more money than having nothing at all.
3. More Potential. With some basic courses and skills the potential to land a job or find an employer that will provide you with training is greater with a college degree.
4. More Job Opportunities. The better paying jobs certainly are more technical today than they have ever been. Life experiences just don’t translate into technical know-how. Attending college you will gain the latest information on new technology and software systems being integrated into the work place.

Financing your education has become easier today as well. With scholarships, loans and federal assistance, with a little bit of homework done on your end, you will find the perfect financial provision out there for your needs.

What are the options?

Scholarships: There are two types of scholarships, undergraduate and graduate fellowships. A scholarship is a gift in that it does not have to be repaid like a student loan. Because the money is a gift, the funds are generally reserved for students with specific qualifications such as academic, athletic and so on.

Student Loans: Student loans are like any type of loan in that it must be paid back. Education loans are broke down into three categories – Student Loans (Stafford and Perkins Loans), Parent Loans and Private Student Loans. Federal laws set the maximum interest rates and fees that can be charged.

Military Student Aid: For students who are interested in pursuing careers in the military, there is military student aid. Aid such as the Montgomery GI Bill covers about three-fifths of your college education and is good for up to ten years from the date of your last discharge or release from active duty or training. The Montgomery GI Bill is for those who are enrolled in the Select Reserve of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the Army and Air National Guard.

Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Learning Strategies Made Easy

Schoolwork.org — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:18:00 +0000

We all could use a little help in making learning a little easier. With simple strategies, you can help yourself or your child learn to perfect test taking and improve study skills.

Studies have shown that from late elementary school into college, studying and test taking is often a major hurdle for children. And if your child already has a learning disability, the difficulty can be even more pronounced. If your child’s test scores have fallen during this time period and their stress level has increased, there are a handful of ways you can help. Questions to ask include:

1. Does your child know what to study? If your child appears to have difficulty discerning what to remember during a lecture or in reading a textbook, ask them these few questions: a) Have they checked in with the teacher about the content of the test? b) Has the teacher provided a study guide or practice test? c) Does your child have a plan for studying?

Helping your child recognize verbal cues the teacher may give that will signal the information’s importance is also important. If the teacher says, “Write this down”, “Let Me Summarize”, “This Is Important” or “I’ll write this on the board”, the student should make note of the information. Review information in your child’s textbook with them as well, going over chapter and section headings, words, phrases or sentences that appear in bold, sidebar information and questions at the end of each chapter.

2. Does your child know how to study? – Show your child strategies in organizing, remembering, and prioritizing information. Make sure your child is also doing nightly reading assignments and using a system to record information. Have your child summarize to you what they have learned and help your child organize their materials by cleaning out binders and folders, or setting up sections with tabs. Showing your child tricks in remembering information through sentences or acronyms, rhymes or relating information known to something unknown, can be helpful. Drawing pictures or cartoons is also helpful to many students, especially if they are a visual learner.

3. Does your child know how to monitor their work?– As a student, you need to have necessary skills to check your work. Ask your child to look through graded homework assignments and previous tests to find patterns of mistakes. Another solution is to help your child make a personalized checklist of test taking techniques, looking back to see if any questions were missed or if the answer to the problem was properly spelled out and answered accordingly.

4. Does your child know how to set goals and pace their work?– Does your child rush through studies? You can help your child set goals and pace their work. Ask them to create and review a study plan, setting a timer for a certain study period. Make sure your child builds short breaks into their schedule. Encourage your child to focus on their strengths and emphasize their efforts and that you are proud of them.

Practice these four strategies with your child or even with yourself and you will find that such practices will follow you through a lifetime and reward you over and over again.

Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Financing your student’s education

Schoolwork.org — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:08:00 +0000

So your child is ready to go off to college and you are perplexed over how you will pay for their education? If you are like most parents, you have heard of scholarships and loans but when it comes to the details, here is where you get hung up. If this is the case, here is a short synopsis of how to interpret college finance terminology.

Scholarships: There are two types of scholarships, undergraduate and graduate fellowships. A scholarship is a gift in that it does not have to be repaid like a student loan. Schools, individuals and various sponsors help fund such scholarships so that students who qualify can be rewarded or students who can’t afford to pay for school out of their pocket can attend college. Because the money is a gift, the funds are generally reserved for students with specific qualifications such as academic, athletic and so on. Some scholarships are set up for students who are interested in a particular field of study or are just plain need of financial assistance.

Student Loans: Student loans are like any type of loan in that it must be paid back. Education loans are broke down into three categories – Student Loans (Stafford and Perkins Loans), Parent Loans and Private Student Loans. Federal laws set the maximum interest rates and fees that can be charged. Many student loans offer flexible repayment terms. In some cases there are loan forgiveness programs in which a student pays off the loan in exchange for volunteer work or military service. Private student loans can help you fill the gap between federal, state or school assistance loans or scholarships. Private loans are often called alternative student loans and are based on your credit. These loans must be used for specific educational expenses. Many websites offer financial calculators so that you can estimate your monthly payments and what your debt will be.

Military Student Aid: For students who are interested in pursuing careers in the military, there is military student aid. Aid such as the Montgomery GI Bill covers about three-fifths of your college education and is good for up to ten years from the date of your last discharge or release from active duty or training. The Montgomery GI Bill is for those who are enrolled in the Select Reserve of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the Army and Air National Guard. If you are in active duty, you accept a pay reduction of $100 per month for twelve months; when you use your benefits you can receive $1,101 monthly for a maximum of 36 months of educational benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job-training and correspondence courses – if the veteran is enrolled full-time. Part-time students receive less but can stretch out their funds longer. Reserve veterans have their own unique benefits.

Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

College Housing

Schoolwork.org — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:32:00 +0000

The next most important step after you’ve been accepted by a college and have secured your finances, through financial aid, grants, student loans or your trust fund is to find a perfect roommate and place to stay. If you decide to live on campus, you’ll probably have to fill the infamous housing questionnaires. This is where you answer a swath of questions ranging from your choice of music to your religious views and food preferences. Even though the questionnaire is very detailed, most colleges are only capable of matching your basic needs: do you smoke, are you willing to live with one?, do you want to share a room or not. This is a very important decision as the perfect roommate can make or break freshman year; so its important to make the most of the options available to you.

Most colleges have different housing facilities available based upon your needs. Some of these choices may be single-sex dorms, co-ed dorms, honors dorms, quiet dorms, all-freshman dorms, graduate dorms, etc. Most freshman prefer living in an all-freshman dorm for the simple reason that most people on the dorm floor are pretty close to your age group and are craving the same college experience. You’ll find people “chilling” in the common areas, gossiping, working on homework, and trading life stories with their new friends. The benefit of an upperclassman dorm is that you’ll probably get more information on professors, classes and the college in general. They also may tend to be a little more aloof due to old friendships, commitments and generally more schoolwork.

The next order of business is to choose whether you would like to have roommates or not; and if so how many? You can always choose the privacy of a single room, but the costs involved in that could be prohibitive. If you have student loans you might have to consider the cost more closely than those who have grants or parents or other sources of funding. The twin sharing room is the most commonly available and economically viable choice. In most colleges today twin rooms are big enough to give both people enough living as well as working space. Some roommates get creative and set up bunk-beds to create more “living” space in their rooms! Another popular choice is the Quad; where four or more students share a larger living space. This living arrangement is sometimes only available in fraternity or sorority houses, but there are some colleges that do offer quads. These are fabulous for meeting new people and bonding. And you also have a one in three chance of finding someone you can connect with and not be stuck with a roommate you can't get along with.

With admission, finances (including grants, financial aid and student loans) and your roommate situation taken care of, the next order of business would be course selection and academic advising.

About the Author: Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit http://www.schoolwork.org

Paying for College

Schoolwork.org — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:56:00 +0000

You don’t have to be a mega spender or a gambling man to blow through most of your cash by the end of Freshman Year! Its not that you didn’t budget, its just the fact that this is your first time living alone and managing your finances. Without the right tools this can be a huge hassle. Spending you weekly allowance or money that you made working a summer job is a lot easier than having to deal with college tuition, rent, trips back home, transportation, food and entertainment, student loans and not to forget, making good grades!

A good way to get the ball rolling is by making a detailed budget of all your expected expenses and then adding a 10-20% cushion to it. The second step would involve seeking out financial aid. You should fill out the FAFSA and send it to the colleges you’re applying to. The form details information on your parent’s and your incomes, liabilities and assets and is used to determine your financial aid package. While being mostly need based, your financial aid package usually has three parts: Grants, Student Loans and Work-Study. Grants are free gifts, which unlike student loans, you never have to repay! Student loans come in various forms. They could be subsidized; meaning the interest rate charged on it could be lower than the prevailing market rates. Or they could be un-subsidized. They may even be loaned to your parents to pay for your education. Regardless of the kind of student loan you get, you do not have to start making payments on them until a few months after you graduate. Work-study gives student access to specific jobs on campus that are paid for in part by the federal government. Do pay close attention to your financial aid package each year. Even though your financial aid package total is the same, the distribution of grants, student loans and work-study may change on an annual basis.

There are various other forms of aid that you may be eligible to receive. Unlike need-based financial aid, Colleges usually have some funds available for high achievers on a merit basis. There is Private, non-college aid that you may be eligible for. You may even think about serving the country and joining the Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC or the Marine Corps. Along with excellent training programs the armed forces may pay for a bulk of your tuition!

And if you haven’t struck gold with either of these resources, you can always go to a private lender and apply for student loans. The process is generally hassle free and most students, when applying with a co-signer, like their parents, are approved for student loans covering the entire cost of their education with favorable payments terms. You do not have to start paying on almost all private student loans until about six months after graduation.

About the Author: Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit http://www.schoolwork.org/

Advantages of Student Loans

Schoolwork.org — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:18:00 +0000

If the budget is tight, student loans and financial aid are great ways to obtain a college education. Students have the best circumstances they will ever have for obtaining a loan due to the many public and private loan programs designed specifically for students that provide loans for tuition, books, supplies, lodging, meals, and any other expenses. School loans are possibly the most important loans a person can take. With an education, young people have the opportunity to increase their knowledge and experience so they will be successful and productive citizens, proving student loans to be a great investment. Consider a student who takes out a forty thousand dollar loan for medical school, and in five years they are making $150,000 annually. That is a quite a return on their investment, regardless of interest.Like personal loan programs, educational loans operate under similar terms. The interest rate is determined by the current prime interest rate along with individual credit history. If there are any credit issues, a very small percentage will be added to the prime rate. The interest is usually adjusted monthly according to shifting rates. Most young students have little or no credit history, so the interest rates of school loans are usually basic prime rates. When it comes to paying the loan off, the great thing about student loan payments is that they are often on a sliding time scale or are deferred for a number of years. This allows a student to launch their career without the hassle of making loan payments immediately, or at least until they graduate. It can be really difficult to make loan payments while trying to study and take care of classes.Almost any further educational programs can be covered by student financial aid. Some common student loans include funding for junior college, technical school, public and private undergraduate programs, career training, graduate school, medical school, and law school. Anyone in the United States should never feel limited by money to get an education. Though loans may seem like a financial burden, the education you will receive in return is priceless. Because many younger students do not yet have a credit history, a student loan is a great way to start one. A student loan is considered a responsible credit endeavor and any delinquencies affect credit scores minimally. This is the perfect scenario for developing a responsible credit history. A shortage of money should never be a barrier to education. Getting a solid education can change the entire course of an individual’s life, paving the way to a life of success and financial freedom. If you are considering further education, find out what kinds of student loans you qualify for.

About the Author: Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit http://www.schoolwork.org