Scholarships for Artists

It used to be that parent’s discouraged their kids from becoming artists. Now, the world of art is broad and can be very lucrative. And if you need another reason to convince your parents you want to go to art school, there are many schools offering scholarships and funding.

Art scholarships run the gamut from drawing to painting to photography to design and even include art of the culinary, musical and literary variety. Many art scholarships are specific to a particular state, county, or even a college in addition to the art major or art interest/ability requirement.

To get you started, here are some resources:

• Your University: Most Art Departments offer scholarships to students attending their schools, either directly through the school or through business, benefactors and foundations that support the school. Many schools also offer them to prospective students.

If you're attending or planning to attend a university, contact your Program Advisor to ask what scholarships may be available through the school or department (if you're already attending, definitely check in with your Art Instructors, too!). Don't forget to look for scholarship opportunities on the university department's web site or on a bulletin board near the Art Department office on-campus, where they also are often posted. Here are some typical departmental scholarship listings:

Baum School of Art
Birmingham Southern College
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Goshen College
Hendrix College
St. Lawrence University

Most universities do offer scholarships to students attending their schools. That's because they really, really want to keep you there. These kinds of scholarships are the easiest to find out about, but somehow overlooked by many students who could benefit greatly from the funding...and from the prestige of winning!

Just to reinforce this idea of funding from your university or college, the Department of Education reports that at public universities, scholarship and fellowship expenditures have risen consistently from 1980 through 1995.

This may be an indication that there are opportunities waiting for you. Again, at the very least, you should ask your Advisor about other sources if there are none available at your university for your circumstance.



• L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of The Future Contest. Established in 1988, the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of The Future Contest is an ongoing merit competition for new and amateur artists. Run on a quarterly basis, an eligible entry is comprised of three science fiction/fantasy illustrations done in a black & white medium rendered from the artist's imagination. Should the artist win with this entry, he is then sent a story from the companion L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest for which to render an illustration. This illustration then becomes his or her entry in the yearly Grand Prize competition. More

• Liberty Graphics Art Scholarship - Liberty Graphics is a Maine company, designing and printing t-shirts with concern for the environment. We are committed to the local economy and wish to encourage local talent. Liberty Graphics conducts a yearly juried art contest, and presents the winner with a $1000 award. The contest is open only to high school seniors who are a resident of Maine. Each year the contest theme may change. This year the contest title is "Art and Our Natural Environment". Entries should reflect an appreciation of our natural environment. More

• NFAA Arts Recognition and Talent Search ARTS (Arts Recognition and Talent Search®) is NFAA's core program. ARTS identifies high school seniors and other 17 and 18 year old artists in the disciplines of Dance, Film and Video, Jazz, Music, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice and Writing for scholarships and financial support. Through ARTS, NFAA annually awards up to $900,000 in cash awards (with individual awards ranging from $10,000 - $100)and makes available $3 million in scholarship opportunities to America's most outstanding high school senior-age artists through its Scholarship List Service (SLS). More

• The Scholastic Art Awards -The Scholastic Art Awards honor students currently enrolled in grades 7-12, recognizing about 50,000 regional winners. Nationally, 800 young artists' individual works receive Gold and Silver awards in each of 14 art categories. Art Categories are: animation, ceramics & glass, computer art, design, digital imagery, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and video & film. Graduating high school seniors seeking scholarships must submit a body of eight works of art or photography for Portfolio Awards to their regional office of The Awards. More

• The WorldStudio Foundation Scholarship - Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in the fine or commercial arts, design or architecture – one or more of the design/arts disciplines below – and plan to enter a career in the creative professions. Applicants must be matriculated (or planning to matriculate) at accredited colleges and universities in the United States for the fall of the coming academic year and intend on maintaining full-time status for the entire year. International students studying at accredited colleges and universities in the United States may apply. More

• Charitable Foundations - The competition to receive funding from charitable foundations is pretty stiff, even from the local ones. That's because they do a very good job of soliciting applicants, and the awards are often larger than the smaller groups. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of these organizations giving away millions of dollars every year. If you know of any locally, you should inquire. Or, you can take a glance at these, too:

• National Foundations -Andy Warhol Foundation, Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts, Jackie Robinson Foundation
You can see that there's a lot of work involved just to find these opportunities...but that's nothing compared to the work you'll need to put in to win them.

Bottom line: There's plenty of scholarship money available in the arts. You just need to show that you're worth the investment. And, if you are dedicated to pursuing a career in the arts, you may even enjoy the work it takes to stand out from the crowd anyway.

Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

Faith Based Funding for Students

Your spirituality is very important to you, so much that you want to apply it in your career or maybe you just want to attend a Christian or Faith Based College. If so, here are a few places to look for funding.

1. Your College – Before checking any place else, check with the school you are interested in. Since a great many of these are awarded to students that are enrolled at the institute that they are offered at, you should schedule an appointment with your financial aid advisor and request information from her/him concerning what awards would be available to you.

2. Churches – Ask your pastor or head of your church if they offer grants or scholarships. Your church may not offer a specific scholarship, but church members may be willing to help fund a portion of your college education.

Additionally, church foundations offer scholarships, such as the United Church of Christ's scholarships. Ask your clergyman for the list of scholarships available from your organization. Many exist for those wishing to enter the clergy or do missionary work and several exist for those applying for general scholarships in both graduate and pre-graduate studies.

3. The Government - Another place Christian teens can find money for college is the government. There are government supported loans and grants that many college students opt to use to pay for their college costs. Grants are the better option, because they do not need to be paid back, but federal loans should not be discounted if scholarships and grants do not cover all costs. Every U.S. student, no matter how much contribution they receive from their parents, should put in a FAFSA application.

4. Private Lenders -Not every Christian teen will be eligible for government-backed loans and grants, and those same students may not receive as many scholarships they need. Another option for those students could be private loans. Several private lenders are now offering loans to students or their parents in order to help pay for a college education. However, these loans often come with higher interest rates and less flexible repayment options, so other options should be explored first.

Want to explore some more specific organizations that offer funding? Try these:

• Women's awards are also available for Christian women and minorities. Two notable ones are the Women's Missionary Union Scholarships and Lee Frances Heller Memorial Award.
United Church of Christ.

• The UCC offer the Brown Scholarships, which award awards up to $10,000 annually for students seeking pastoral degrees. This award is administered by the seven seminaries of the United Church of Christ and the Council of Racial and Ethnic Ministries (COREM).
• American Bible Society -Scholarships for Education, Medical and Seminary Students. The American Bible Society has received two endowments to fund scholarships.
• The William and Alice Brown endowment will provide a $3,000 scholarship for outstanding academic accomplishments and leadership potential in the fields of Medicine and Education.
• Lt. Colonel Robert and Mrs. Rae M. Goodridge, USAF Reserve Retired, Phd, have made possible four scholarships of $3,000 each, only for residents of Hawaii, who are full-time students in a post-graduate Protestant seminary or divinity program.
• Woman's Missionary Union - The WMU offers a number of scholarships to women or children of women missionaries and clergy. The foundation seeks to advance the support of Christian values through charity, educating and missionary work. Most of the awards are under $1000.
• R. Keith Parks Scholarship Fund: For post-graduate work for students wishing to enter the foreign missionary field.
• Carolyn Weatherfod Scholarship Fund: Another post-graduate award for students entering foreign missionary work.
• Julia C. Pugh Scholarship: This is for children of international and North American missionaries.
• Mattie J. C. Russell Scholarship: Another award for children of North American missionaries
• Lee Frances Heller Memorial Award

This is a scholarship sponsored by Julie Ann Johnson and awarded to a Christian transgendered student and can be used at any college or University for religious studies. Ms Heller made her life's work seeking to educate people in the Christian faith, focusing on her sisters of the transgendered community. This scholarship does require an essay of how your transgender identity and your membership in a church have related to one another. They also ask you to submit your home church and any other related leadership experience. Successful applicants will receive the scholarship in the amount of $1500.

Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

Take the Most Effective Notes in College

Organization and diligence are paramount to success in college courses. It is up to you, the student, to understand the course material that is presented through various avenues including class lectures, textbook readings and assignments. Attending class lectures is extremely important because professors often emphasize valuable information that is critical to succeeding on the test. Taking detailed, accurate and legible notes will help you grasp the organization of material and will benefit you greatly at study time. Below are some simple note-taking techniques you can employ to help boost your test grades:

-Keep notes organized with lecture dates and chapter numbers. Staying organized helps ensure that you are not missing important material when you study for a test. Writing the date on all of your notes will help you stay organized should the pages get out of order, and also help remind you if you have missed any class meetings for which you need to get the notes. Likewise, noting the chapters being discussed in each lecture will help keep your notes organized and make it easy to reference material for which you need clarification or reiteration.

-Summarize important points and abbreviate words. Professors often speak quickly when lecturing. As a student, you will likely not have enough time to write down the lecture word for word, which is why summarizing material and abbreviating words is helpful. Rather than attempting to write down the lecture verbatim, summarize the most important points being covered by the professor. Be sure to include key terms, dates and names in your summary. If you create abbreviations of your own, be sure to make them obvious or make a side note of what each abbreviation means to avoid confusion later.

-Revisit your notes after class. After a class session of note taking, it is a good idea to read through your notes while the lecture material is fresh on your mind. The point of doing this is to be sure that your notes will be legible and understandable when you revisit them later. Many students find it beneficial to take this process a step further and rewrite or type their class notes. Not only does this give you a more streamlined set of notes to reference later, it reiterates the material, making it easier to learn.

-Read between the lines. Sometimes professors make note taking easy by specifying “this will be on the test.” When you are given such a valuable piece of information, be sure to highlight or otherwise notate its importance in your study material. Professors often provide insight into test material in more subtle ways as well. For instance, a professor may repeat a certain concept more than once, or mention “this is important,” “be sure to know this” or “you will see this again.” These clues should be noted as well to help ensure that you study the appropriate material. It is also a good idea to study heavily concepts that are emphasized in both lecture and the textbook.

-If appropriate, make recordings of lectures. For professors who approve, recording lectures is a good way to ensure that you do not miss important material covered during class. While you should still take notes during the lecture, a mini-recorder can help you fill in the blanks in your notes later if there is something you have missed. Listening to key parts of recorded lectures may also help you study, since material presented in a variety of ways is easier to remember.

Successful note taking is a skill that may take some practice to master. Developing and fine-tuning your own approach to thorough note-taking will help improve the quality of your notes as well as your grades.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

Studying Abroad

You have always wanted to see other countries, learn first hand about their architecture, people, languages, land…..whatever your reason, studying abroad is a good way to do this.

Studying abroad can be a fun and safe experience but it is important to realize that you are subject to the laws and customs of another country. Here are some tips prepared by the Office of Overseas Services to help keep you prepared and safe.

* Although most trips abroad are trouble free, being prepared will go a long way to avoiding the possibility of serious trouble.
* Become familiar with the basic laws and customs of the country you plan to visit before you travel.
* Remember: Reckless behavior while in another country can do more than ruin your vacation; it can land you in a foreign jail or worse! To have a safe trip, avoid risky behavior and plan ahead.


Preparing for Your Trip Abroad

Apply early for your passport and, if necessary, any visas: Passports are required to enter and/or depart most countries around the world. Apply for a passport as soon as possible. Some countries also require U.S. citizens to obtain visas before entering. Most countries require visitors who are planning to study or work abroad to obtain visas before entering. Check with the embassy of the foreign country that you are planning to visit for up-to-date visa and other entry requirements. (Passport and visa information is available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov .)

Learn about the countries that you plan to visit. Before departing, take the time to do some research about the people and their culture, and any problems that the country is experiencing that may affect your travel plans. The Department of State publishes Background Notes on about 170 countries. These brief, factual pamphlets contain information on each country''s culture, history, geography, economy, government, and current political situation.

Read the Country Specific Information. Country Specific Information provide up-to-date travel information on any country in the world that you plan to visit. They cover topics such as entry regulations, the crime and security situation, drug penalties, road conditions, and the location of the U.S. embassy, consulates, and consular agencies.

Check for Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts. Travel Warnings recommend U.S. citizens defer travel to a country because of dangerous conditions. Travel Alerts provide fast-breaking information about relatively short-term conditions that may pose risks to the security of travelers.

Register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization.

Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States. (U.S. embassy and consulate locations can be found in the country''s Country Specific Information.) If your family needs to reach you because of an emergency, they can pass a message to you through the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 202-647-5225. This office will contact the embassy or consulate in the country where you are traveling and pass a message from your family to you. Remember consular officers cannot cash checks, lend money or serve as your attorney. They can, however, if the need arises, assist you in obtaining emergency funds from your family, help you find an attorney, help you find medical assistance, and replace your lost or stolen passport.


Find out what information your school offers. Find out whether your school offers additional information for students who are planning to study, travel, or work abroad. Many student advisors can provide you with information about studying or working abroad. They may also be able to provide you with information on any travel benefits for students (e.g. how to save money on transportation and accommodations, and other resources.)

Before committing yourself or your finances, find out about the organization and what it offers. The majority of private programs for vacation, study or work abroad are reputable and financially sound. However, some charge exorbitant fees, use deliberately false "educational" claims, and provide working conditions far different from those advertised. Even programs of legitimate organizations can be poorly administered.

Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

How to Save Money in College

Living with little money in college is no picnic. Almost all students go through college this way. When your paycheck or allowance barely covers your expenses, it can be a struggle to afford all of those extra things that you need in college. Saving money where you can will make a big difference in the long run. Little by little, you can save up a substantial amount.
Overspending is a big problem among college students. Most are experiencing freedom and independence for the first time in their lives. Avoid impulse items at the checkout and avoid the mall at all costs. Shopping thrift stores and trading up outfits with friends can save you a lot on clothing. Be a bargain shopper and go straight for clearance racks. Save those pricier items that you really want for your Christmas and birthday lists! Learning patience with yourself will be one lesson that will serve you for your whole life.
Making extra money can be very helpful as well. When you do not have too much studying to do, take over shifts for co-workers or ask for a little overtime. Do not hesitate to fill out applications at places that might pay you more or give you better experience for your major. Clothing can be sold at consignment shops, books can be resold to the campus book store and household items, as well as name brand clothing, can bring in more money than you might have realized on online auction sites.
Think about your skills and determine what types of services you might can offer on the side. Are you good at painting, lawn care, babysitting or housecleaning? You may be surprised what people are willing to pay for these services. People are generally happy to help out college students over professionals in these areas as well. You can even make flyers or signs to attract people’s attention. Some other ideas include washing cars, tutoring, cleaning gutters, cutting grass, typing term papers, or delivering groceries for those who do not have time.
Saving money on your frivolous purchases is job number one. If you depend on fast food calculate how much you are spending every month and figure out how much you can save by cutting it down to once a week. Calculating how much you save every month will serve as a great motivational tool.
Saving on transportation can make a huge difference with gas prices soaring through the roof. Start a carpool, take the bus, train or subway, or simply ride your bike to work and school. Find other ways to lower your bills. Compare cell phone services, cable, home phone and internet bundle services. Cut back on the energy that you use in your home. Do not leave the TV, radio, or phone chargers plugged in when you are not using them. They still drain power even if they are turned off.
Stick to a budget. This is the hardest part! Figure out how much money you make and overestimate what your bills will be. If you really are in over your head, you might consider student loans. Make your payments on time and build your personal credit.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of student loans and information on how to get private student loans as well as consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net.

A Generation of Convenience-How Does this Affect College Students?

Kids are growing up today with a world of modern conveniences at their fingertips. Instant gratification is of the norm. Everything is automated, from retrieving money from the bank, to having your bills automatically withdrawn on time. When you need gas, you just wave a tiny keychain device in front of the pump. We can remotely crank our cars, control the doors or open the trunk. No more going to the library for information, just type in a question online and a world of knowledge just pops up in front of you. Enormous record collections are all stored in a tiny device that you can drop in your purse. Our lives are jam packed with conveniences and luxuries that our parents never dreamed of. Food delivery, microwaves, convection ovens, we can have great meals in a snap, without gardening for the entire summer, canning vegetables and hunting for all of our meat.

Some would say that this generation is spoiled rotten. They have never had to work for anything. They have never had to develop patience. Anything they want, they can pretty much instantly get. Cell phones and remotes ensure that we are not inconvenienced in anyway when we need to make a call or change the channel. We can even fast forward through every commercial. The big question is, how has this automated world affected the psyche of college students? Will they be able to handle the pressures of the real world? Will they learn to be patient and responsible with their money? Will it be harder for them than it was for us?

College students have had their entire lives automated and geared for convenience. They now have easy access to student credit cards and online payday loans to help keep the convenience and instant gratification coming. As a parent of a college student, it is up to you to teach your child to be responsible with money and credit. This is not something that they learn in class, it is usually a trial by fire. More and more college students are learning the hard way how to manage their money.

Qualifying for loans and credit cards is incredibly easy now days. In fact, when they show up for college orientation, they will most likely encounter many kiosks offering t-shirts, book bags and other appealing free gifts to students who fill out a credit card application. Credit card companies have figured out that they can nab people early in life, take advantage of inexperienced money handlers like college students, and get a customer for life simply by offering a free magnet or insulated cup. Make sure that your student is prepared to reject these offers and find more responsible ways of building their credit.

If they need enough extra money to warrant carrying a credit card, then you might have them consider a student loan. Interest rates are low and the loan terms are geared to fit a student’s lifestyle. Many offer payback options that do not start until after graduation. Student loans are helpful when it comes to building credit. Payments begin after your student has learned a few life lessons and is not as likely to blow off payments for a new pair of shoes. Talk with your child and utilize the benefits of student loans.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of student loans and information on how to get private student loans as well as consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net.

Creating Your College Budget

Budgeting can be new territory for students. Managing money will be one of the biggest new responsibilities for most students. Many students have not had any guidance or education about managing their money. Most people end up learning the hard way and costing themselves a bundle in the process. It is up to you to educate yourself about budgeting and other money matters.
You may be surprised to find out that many college students do not even know what the word budget means. If you think about it, they have, for the most part, never had to worry about budgeting any kind of money because they have always lived at home. At worst, they might need to figure out how to make their gas money last another week.
Adults know how hard it can be to stick to a budget and you should realize that your son or daughter in college will struggle with this as well. It helps to remember that this may be the first time in their lives that they have to discipline themselves, something some adults struggle with.
When preparing your child for college, simply explain what budgeting is in terms that they can understand. Give them an example using a monthly income and a list of bills. Figure out together how much is needed for gas, food, electricity, phone and school. Whatever is left over needs to be divided into savings, emergency money, and fun money. It helps to figure out the monthly budget and then divide the total amount of accessible money into a weekly allowance for yourself. It may help if you open more than one account to keep money separated. A simple way to explain budgeting is to say that it is a plan that lists all of your money coming in and money going out.
Create a template spreadsheet that your child can use to track unexpected expenses month to month. They should note any extra expenses that pop up during each month. Things like oil changes, auto repairs, medical expenses, buying clothes and other unexpected expenses can be planned for to a degree. Keeping track monthly will help them look back and determine if their emergency funds are enough.
Keeping up with the budget will be challenging and you should not expect them to be really consistent. Expect setbacks and be supportive of the efforts that are made. Offer remedies for mistakes, such as taking out cash on payday instead of using a debit card or checks is a very effective way to stick to a budget. When the money is gone, you know that you are not allowed any more. Encourage your child to leave their debit card at home so that they are not tempted to spend any money from their bill or emergency funds. If there really is not enough money to get them through, then you may consider student loans to bridge the gap.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of student loans and information on how to get private student loans as well as consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net.

How to Financially Get Through College

When you go to college, you have your future on your mind. Choosing a major, meeting new friends and enjoying your new-found independence can make college a very exciting time. Books, car payments, tuition, life necessities, travel and lab fees can also make college a very expensive part of your life. Many students need a little help along the way. In fact, the majority of students are now taking out student loans to get them through these expensive years.

When you start shopping around for student loans, there are a few things you should know. In the past, loans have been very hard to obtain. Students could just about never qualify due to the fact that almost every lender required a high-paying steady job. Very few college students have the time or the experience to get a qualifying job. Today, the rules are a lot more lenient. Lenders recognize that students may not have money now, but they are in college working on starting a career. Since college educated employees should make considerably more money than their non-educated peers, the potential for college students to pay back loans is much higher than other people without that high-paying steady job.

Be smart about the amount that you take out. Keep in mind that lenders may be counting on your lack of experience with dealing with money. They may have hefty penalties for late payments. They may try to sneak in some yearly or monthly fees on top of your annual percentage rate (APR). Make sure that you read the fine print and compare many loans before accepting one. Check payment schedules and pay attention to dates. Many companies have a 28-30 day billing cycle, making your monthly payment due just a little earlier each month. Over time, you may find your payment due at the beginning of the month instead of the end. Little traps like this are legal and it is up to you to pay attention to the terms of the loan.

Make every payment on-time and pay more than the minimum if at all possible. When you are in college, you are just starting out on your personal credit journey. When your credit is fresh, one late payment can be a major blemish on your record. This can bar you from future car loans or mortgage loans. Use student loans, which generally have better terms and payback options than conventional loans, to build your credit and show your responsibility on your credit.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of student loans and information on how to get private student loans as well as consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net.

How to Manage Bills in College

Students generally find it very challenging when learning to pay their own bills. It is just new territory and setting limits on yourself is not always the easiest thing to do. Until college, your parents probably took care of all of the financial responsibilities of the family. Learning to teach yourself how to budget and make responsible on-time payments is easier said than done.

College is about more than getting your degree. It is literally about learning to live a responsible adult life. Getting your degree is only the first step in setting yourself up for a financially secure future. Paying your bills on-time may sound like a small part of college, but really it can have a long-lasting affect on your life.

Many students blow off a bill to take a weekend trip with their friends, go shopping, or in some cases, buy groceries! The truth is, many people only become educated about the ramifications of missing payments by actually missing them. This can take a very long time to recover from and it really is not worth learning the lesson the hard way.

Unfortunately, many people are under the false impression that a penalty fee is the only repercussion to paying a bill late. This may even seem true for a little while, until it is too late. You go to buy that first car or home and you simply get denied. This is because utility bills, rent, credit card bills and student loan payments all flag your credit when you miss a payment. After a couple of flags, you suddenly are labeled as a person who overextends themselves financially and then does not manage their time or money well. Once you are seen this way, it can take years of on-time payments to prove otherwise.

Even one late payment can blemish your record. This means that if you do qualify to buy that house or car, you will end up paying a lot more than your peers. This is because banks and loan institutions will require a lot more money down to cover the loan. They will also charge you a much higher interest rate than people that pay their debts on-time. Many mortgage companies require that all bills be paid on-time for at least one solid year before they will approve a loan at any interest rate.

The bottom line is that you really have to take every single bill seriously. Keep your credit as clean as possible so that you can eventually qualify to buy a house or car at low enough rates to afford it. Make sacrifices to pay your bills on-time. Have your paychecks direct deposited if possible and have your bills automatically withdrawn the day after your paycheck clears. Open a second bank account that is specifically for money other than your bill money so that you do not accidentally dip into your bill funds before you get the chance to pay them. Take every precaution necessary to keep your credit card payments, student loans, and utility bills paid in full and on-time.

Do I Need a Stafford Loan?

College can cost more than most parents prepare for. The cost of college has been steadily on the rise for many years. Most experts agree that college costs will continue to increase unless something drastic happens. Historically, college expenses and tuition has risen about seven percent a year and it is expected to continue to do so. This has many people turning to student loans for help. One type of loan, which we will discuss here, is called a Stafford Loan.

Stafford Loans are student loans configured in a way that allows you to defer your payments until after you graduate. There are multiple payment plans to choose from and the interest rates are considerably lower than other types of loans.

When trying to qualify for a Stafford Loan, your income will be considered. In addition, the number of people in your family, other children enrolled in college, your assets and your retirement accounts will also be taken into consideration. All of these things will be put into a formula which will estimate the amount that your family will be able to financially contribute to college. Once that amount is determined, the Stafford Loan amount will be calculated based on the outcome.

To start the process, you need to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. You can get a hard copy from your school or fill this application out online. The FAFSA application can be filled out by either the parents or the student. You will need to fill it out every year that you would like to receive financial aid. The FAFSA application will determine how much financial aid you are qualified to receive from the government and from the school that you will be attending.

After the form is examined, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. The SAR will explain your eligibility based on all of the information that you provided. If you find no mistakes on the SAR, then all of the information will be sent to the school or schools that you selected on the FAFSA application. This form is called the ISIR. The ISIR is not only sent to the schools of your choice, but also to the state government organization responsible for determining any financial aid amounts that you may qualify for from your state.

Next, you will receive financial aid award letters from the schools detailing financial aid amounts that you are eligible for and how you can go about collecting the money. You must fill out the acceptance portion of the award letter and return it to the school that you wish to attend.

You do not necessarily need to be a low-income family to receive a Stafford Loan. Many other expenses are taken into consideration. It is generally accepted that the Stafford Loan is the first loan that you should apply for before exploring the options of other parent or student loans. Discover more about Stafford Loans, other student loans, private student loans and parent loans at www.student-loans.net.

The Transition from High School to College

The transition from high school to college reflects a major lifestyle change as well as a symbolic passage into the responsibilities of adulthood. No longer is your educational direction dictated by others or mandated by law. No longer will your teacher kindly remind you that you neglected to turn in homework assignment #4. The transition to college from high school brings with it numerous opportunities disguised as challenges, and persevering when faced with these challenges will open the door to the abundance of opportunities afforded by a college education.

You have probably followed essentially the same routine from kindergarten through graduating high school – arriving early in the morning, attending class throughout the day and being dismissed in the afternoon. College classes, on the contrary, are often two to three days per week, for varying lengths of time, beginning at practically any time of the day. With the guidance of an advisor, you will be responsible for dictating which classes you take and when, and managing your schedule throughout your college career. While at first glance your college schedule may appear less grueling than in high school, be aware that college demands much more time out of class which you must manage effectively and consistently in order to succeed.

College will also vary greatly from high school in the classroom as well. While high schools typically adhere to uniform attendance policies, you will find that each college professor may have a different policy regarding attendance. Good class attendance in college is important because you have to comply with policies, but its advantages are far greater. Attending each class meeting will help you stay abreast of important dates and test material that are critical to academic success. While high school made it easy to make up a missed test after an absence, the same is not true in college. College professors expect you to take deadlines seriously and respect the guidelines set forth by the course. Additionally, you are responsible for taking detailed notes as the professor lectures and keeping up with required reading and assignments outside of class. Test material is often taken from a combination of textbook material, lecture material and skills acquired through projects and assignments.

Often, high school grades are calculated based on a combination of tests, projects, homework and other assignments. A high school student performing poorly on tests may manage to pass a class by completing all other assignments. Although you may receive credit for assignments in college, tests usually account for a majority of the weight of your grade. Professors expect you to fully grasp the concepts taught by the course, and demonstrate your understanding through performance on tests. Some class grades are calculated strictly from tests, and some even rely solely on a midterm and a final. If you have historically scraped by with lackadaisical study habits, now is the time to change them. College tests usually cover a lot of material, and procrastinating until the night before to study will only set you up for a rude awakening.

Succeeding in college takes dedication, organization and perseverance. You must maintain focus on short term goals such as preparing for next week’s test, while steadily working toward longer term goals such as fulfilling the requirements of your degree and building a career in your field. College requires you to set your own goals and then do what it takes to achieve them.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

Tips for Surviving Dorm Life – Happily!

Living in a college dormitory is a unique, once in a lifetime experience. While some students certainly make themselves miserable by focusing on the negatives such as limited living space, little privacy and community bathrooms, having the right mindset can make your stay in the dorm one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of your life. Here we provide tips for making the most of your time living in the dorm:

-Establish and maintain open communication with your roommate. Sharing an already small living space with a roommate may be the biggest challenge in dorm living. Whether you are living with a friend or have just met your roommate for the first time, it will behoove you to discuss important issues up front. Some examples may be the time each of you goes to bed and gets up, whether you are comfortable sharing food or clothes, and your perspectives on visitors. Be sure to respect your roommate. Remember that school is the reason you are there in the first place, and do not interfere with your roommate’s ability to sleep and study. While mature, effective communication skills may take some time to learn, they will benefit you in countless situations in the future.

-Be sociable. Building friendships is perhaps the most beneficial, long-lasting perk of dorm life. Living in a dorm is probably the only time in your life that you will live so closely to so many people your age who are going through the same life experiences as you are. You never know when the next person you meet is going to end up a lifetime friend, so keep an open mind and do not hesitate to say hello to your neighbors in the elevator.

-Keep your eye on the prize. At times, living in a dormitory surrounded by other students your age can be a little too much fun. Remember that if you want to graduate college, academic commitments come first, and socializing comes second. One thing for certain when you live in a dorm is that there will always be something going on, and it can be tempting to participate in every social event and let academics fall by the wayside. Many college freshmen only make it through their first year for this very reason, so make friends, but study first.

-Keep a sense of perspective. Try not to dwell on the minor inconveniences that inevitably come with dorm life. Sure, you have to wear flip flops in the shower and share a bathroom, and your furniture only consists of a bed and a desk. But remember, you are going to college so that you are able to create the career and life you want for yourself in the future, something no one has ever achieved without making sacrifices. There is a time in life for everything. You have plenty of time to live alone in a nice apartment or house, have a full set of furniture and a luxurious bathroom. But to get there, you have to start somewhere, and the convenience and cost-effectiveness of dorm life is truly a great place to start.

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

Get Organized and Boost your College GPA

Staying organized can be a major challenge in college, especially for students to whom organization has never come naturally. In college, where demands and deadlines come at you from every direction, disorganization can quickly lead to high stress and low grades. Perhaps you have never had to deal with so many obligations at once, or maybe you have historically been disorganized and accept that as part of who you are. Either way, becoming organized in college is easier than it sounds. All you need is the right tool and guidance on how to use it. No surprises here, the tool you need is a calendar planner. Purchasing your planner is the easy part, and here we offer guidance on how to use your planner in college to boost your grades and reduce stress.

First, in selecting your planner, ensure that there is sufficient space to write a few lines for each individual date. Make sure you purchase a planner that is a convenient size, so that you may easily take it along with you to classes, the library and lab meetings.

A common mistake many students make is purchasing a planner with the best of intentions, only to have the February through December pages never see the light of day. Once you have your planner, it is time to develop a habit of taking it with you and, of course, using it! Your planner should be the one place where you consolidate all of your obligations. By updating your planner with deadlines, test dates and due dates for every class, you can see at a glance how much you have to do in a particular week. Then you can adjust your study schedule accordingly. For example, if this week is mostly free, but next week you have three tests, it is best to utilize some of the extra time this week preparing for next week’s tests. Planning ahead in this way will reduce stress significantly as opposed to realizing on Monday that you have a test each day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Here we outline some tips to help you get in the habit of using your planner to its maximum potential:

-Use the planner on the first day of class. Many professors provide the complete schedule for the class on the first day, down to details such as the date of each test. Go ahead and enter the dates of any assignments, tests, projects and other deadlines immediately. Be sure to update your planner as dates change throughout the semester. To stay on top of things, you must always attend class.

-Consult your planner ahead of time. Checking out what you have to do for the week on Monday is not enough. Always be aware of what is coming up at least two weeks in advance.

-Keep your planner current throughout the semester. Even if you think you’ll remember, note in your planner every important date that comes out of your professor’s mouth. No class one day? Write it down. Quiz next week? Write it down. You get the idea. Having all of your responsibilities compiled in one place gives you an overall impression of your workload and allows you to adjust accordingly.

-Plan beyond academics. If you have a job without a set schedule, enter your work schedule into your calendar as soon as it is available. Managing your time includes not just staying current in all of your classes, but also using your time wisely in all aspects so that you make time to focus on academics. For example, if you see that you have a big test on Wednesday, but you have to work Monday and Tuesday nights, you know that you should start preparing for the test further in advance.

Perhaps the most difficult part of utilizing a planner to get organized in college is developing the habit of using it. Once you are used to the convenience and reduced stress of knowing all of your responsibilities ahead of time, you will wonder how you ever survived without it!

About the Author: Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net