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* New On Students.gov // New sites to students.gov this month // __________________________________________________________ -
MIT OpenCourseWare - Revolutionizing higher education! < http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html>
- Graduate Student Fellowships/Grants (Natl Science Foundation)
<http://www.nsf.gov/home/menus/grads.htm>
- Robert Gee Internships - Technical Internships
<http://www.ma.mbe.doe.gov/pers/gee/index.htm>
- Adult Student Center - Going back to school
<http://www.adultstudentcenter.com>
Students.gov is always adding great sites. For more,
visit
www.students.gov.
Featured Sites
// Great web resources from Students.gov //
__________________________________________________________
FINANCIAL
AID: It's that time of year again to think about
financial aid! Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) online, or update an existing application, after January 1st.
(1) The FAFSA is
*the* starting point for the federal and state
financial aid process, and virtually every school uses it to determine
a student's financial need.
- The online FAFSA makes it easy to get considered
for grants, loans,
work study, and more!
<http://www.fafsa.ed.gov>
- The Step By Step Guide to completing the FAFSA is
always available if you run into trouble.
<http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA/instr02-03/step1.html>
- Still have questions? Try the new Student Aid Portal,
an excellent guide to the financial aid process.
<http://studentaid.ed.gov>
(2) CONSUMERS BEWARE: Given the opportunity,
many
people will try to profit from your financial aid planning.
Pay careful attention to scams with these sites:
-
"Six Signs Your Scholarship Is Sunk" from the Federal
Trade Commission is a must-read for any students
applying for scholarships.
<http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/sixsigns.htm>
- Before you hire that financial aid consultant, learn how to
avoid scams. Pay attention to these tips from NASFAA.
<http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2000/consultantsservices.asp>
(3) Discover more helpful resources for financial aid
at
students.gov! <http://www.students.gov>
News Briefs
// Selected issues
in higher education //
__________________________________________________________
RATE CUTS ARE GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS
WITH LOANS
This past July, interest rates on government-backed student loans fell to their lowest levels in 20
years! In particular, Stafford Loan interest rates are now 4.06%, a decrease from the 5.99% rate.
What do rate
cuts mean for you? When interest rates decrease, it's a good time to consider loan consolidation.Loan consolidation
allows students with several loans to combine them into one large loan. For students with a lot of debt, loan consolidation
can help by stretching out the repayment period.
Learn more about how interest rate cuts affect your loan and
find out if loan consolidation could be the right choice for you.
FIND OUT MORE:
- US Dept of Education Loan
Consolidation Program
<http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov>
- FinAid.Org - Loan Consolidation Information
<http://www.finaid.org/loans/consolidation.phtml>
- Student loan resources from students.gov
<http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/link_search/SG_Ctrl.jsp?Topic=0202>
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TeRM TaNGlE // Understanding acronyms and terms // __________________________________________________________ EFC
(Expected Family Contribution) The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the way a family's ability to pay for
college is calculated. The EFC is subtracted from the cost of your college expenses to determine how much financial aid
you're eligible to receive. The amount of the EFC is based on an official calculation that takes family income and assets
into account. Students and parents are expected to con-tribute the amount of the EFC toward your total educational costs. Once
the FAFSA is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) with the EFC listed. That number is used by many schools
in offering financial aid packages. Your school's financial aid office can take into account extraordinary circumstances
that would otherwise not be reflected in your EFC. Be sure to communicate with your financial aid counselor about your
EFC if you have any concerns. FIND OUT MORE: - US Department of Education < http://www.ed.gov/pubs/collegecosts/handbkp11.html>
- Details on the formula
<http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/attachments/EFCIntro.pdf>
- Estimate your EFC (FinAid.org)
<http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml>
* Career SpOtlight
//
Options and ideas for your future //
__________________________________________________________
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER:
Some of the hottest careers in the Federal Government today are the opportunities in law enforcement. A variety
of agencies are actively recruiting a wide range of students, including the new Transportation Security Administration and
the FBI.
A career in federal law enforcement is a great opportunity for students just graduating. It's a great
way to serve your country, especially in this time of need.
The jobs are rigorous, and require extensive training
to deal with the many complex issues faced by officers today.
Learn more about the individual agencies and their available
opportunities by visiting their web sites:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
<http://www.fbi.gov/employment/employ.htm>
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
<http://www.atf.treas.gov/jobs/>
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
<http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/theme_home2.jsp>
- Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
<http://www.ins.gov/graphics/workfor/>
- Customs Service
<http://www.customs.gov/career/career.htm>
- Find information on other careers in students.gov's
Explore Careers section:
<http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/link_search/SG_Ctrl.jsp?Topic=0404>
__________________________________________________________
*
C O M I N G N E X T M O N T H . . .
- Credit card debt is a problem for many college
students. We'll help you get out and stay out of debt!
- Your money: Learn how easy it is to purchase
government bonds. Also, can the IRS save you money?
Learn about Lifetime Learning Credits and the HOPE
Scholarship.
Stay tuned for these features and more in the next edition!
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