Tag Archives: Financial Aids

DoSomething Financial Education Scholarships

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SCHOLARSHIP OVERVIEW

To apply for this scholarship, follow the instructions on the scholarship’s website

To qualify for these scholarships, students must run a financial education workshop. DoSomething will provide students with three pre-made workshops to choose from. Every student who runs a workshop and tells DoSomething about it will be entered to win a $7,500 scholarship. See website for details. Students must be 13 years of age or older. They must also be residents of the United States or Canada OR US or Canadian citizens living abroad.

HOW EASY IS IT TO APPLY?

Painful

This scholarship has application requirements that could take a lot of time and effort.

HOW MUCH COMPETITION IS THERE?

Heavy

There will be a lot of competition for this scholarship.

DETAILS

DEADLINE: Jun 19
AVERAGE AWARD: $7,500
AWARDS GRANTED: 3

CONTACT INFORMATION

DoSomething.org and H&R Block

http://www.dosomething.org/

REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM AGE:
  • 13

Thiel Fellowship Program Invites Applications From Young Entrepreneurs – “20 under 20”

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Thiel Fellowship Program Invites Applications From Young Entrepreneurs

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Peter Thiel has announced that his Thiel Foundation is accepting applications for a new class of “20 Under 20” Thiel Fellows.

Thiel Fellowships provide two-year grants of $100,000 to twenty people under 20 years of age so that they can leave the classroom and pursue innovation.

Since the Thiel Fellowship began in 2011, more than sixty young people have been awarded fellowships for project ideas in fields ranging from nuclear and alternative energy, to robotics and biotechnology, to finance, 3-D printing, gaming, and software.

During the two-year fellowship, the Thiel Foundation and its network of mentors provide guidance and support to help fellows build their scientific, technical, and entrepreneurial ideas. While fellows are expected to work on their innovative ideas full-time, they determine their own specific paths; this might mean starting a company but could also mean doing freelance work, developing a social movement, interning at another company, or pursuing research and development independently.

Although applicants may already have an idea for a scientific, technical, or nonprofit innovation, Thiel Fellowships are not limited to those with established companies or developed innovations. Teams of up to four may also apply.

To be eligible, candidates must be 19 years old or younger as of December 31. Candidates from around the world are encouraged to apply.

Fellows are encouraged to move to the San Francisco Bay Area for the opportunities and resources that the area provides. However, fellows are welcome to work on their projects from any location. Fellows are asked to take two years off from college so that they can fully focus on their projects without the time and expense of college.

Complete program guidelines, application procedures, and information on previous fellows’ projects are available at the Thiel Fellowship Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

5 Tips for Filling out the FAFSA

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You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

For so many families with college-bound students, understanding exactly what the FAFSA is, and how it works, can seem daunting at first.

It is true that the college financial aid formulas are complicated. Our goal, though, is to make it easy, and make it worthwhile.

For starters, every single college-bound student should make use of the FAFSA (which is just the acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.)

Doing so opens the door to federal student loans, grants, and even – in some cases – college work-study programs.

Now let me give you 5 important insights into filling out the FAFSA… including how you can use it to reduce your overall college costs.

– Scott

#1: File early and on time.

Financial aid is given out on a first come, first serve basis. Those who submit the FAFSA form on time and correctly are placed in the front of the line for any eligible aid.

Priority filing dates vary by state but typically fall around February 15th of the year your student will be filing for aid.

#2: List at least 5 schools on the FAFSA.

The problem with listing only one school? That lone school that receives your FAFSA information sees that you are not applying to other schools.

This gives your (one) school less of an incentive to give your more aid. Make sure and include at least 5 schools on the FAFSA form.

Even better, make sure to include at least several schools that compete for the same type of students.

3: Highlight any unusual circumstances.

After submitting the FAFSA, families should let the colleges know if they have any unusual circumstance. Examples include a layoff, divorce, salary reduction or expensive medical bills.

The college will then determine that the unusual circumstance merits an adjustment, and may revise the student’s award offer. Keep in mind you will need to provide documentation, such as a copy of the layoff notice or unemployment benefits.

By the same token, if you’ve had an unusually good year financially (for example, a large bonus or a lot of overtime pay) you can write to the college’s financial aid office to explain that income was “unusual” and unlikely to recur.

#4: Fill out all additional forms.

For example, many schools use the CSS Profile form as a supplement to the FAFSA. Many times it is to determine non-federal financial aid, such as scholarships and grants.

Keep in mind a few things: it’s very important that you are consistent with your information on all forms. And also know that there is a $25 fee for filling out the CSS (and $16 for each additional school).

#5: Everyone should fill out the FAFSA (even high-income earners).

We see this mistake all the time. Many families think they make too much money – this is very common.

Yet there is money available for kids who don’t qualify for aid. But the only way to prove you don’t qualify for traditional need based aid is through the FAFSA form.

Plus, a family’s financial situation could change and make them eligible for aid. By having the FAFSA already on file, it is very easy to then get a “change of circumstance” form filled out, submitted, and then get a financial aid package based on the new and reduced income number.

To your successful college pursuits,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

The 3-step Process That Can Drastically Cut College Costs

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Dear College Made Simple Reader, No question about it – figuring out how to pay for college is a major stress for so many families. It’s not just the ever-rising tuition costs, either. There’s all the attached spending and “hidden costs.” Plus, if you have two or more children in school at the same time, the costs of going to top schools can really appear prohibitive. Today let’s take a 3-step process than can drastically reduce your overall college costs – and make even the best schools more affordable. – Scott

1. Go to the Schools “Where You’re Wanted” What I’m talking about here is matching up your student’s particular skill, interest, or background with a school that needs it. It’s not just about star athletes, either. It might be that your child is involved in an extracurricular activity that’s highly valued at a particular school… or at a school that’s grossly under-represented in that field. In some cases, schools could be looking to enroll students from regions where they simply don’t have enough students. The point is, most college admissions are driven by a desire for diversity as much as by quality screening. And if you spend the time to identify what your star qualities are, and where they’ll be most appreciated, you’ll find that colleges are willing to pay top dollar for these attributes. That means bigger financial aid rewards for you – and a stronger bargaining position, if it comes to that. Which brings us to the second point…

2. The Financial Aid “First Offer”: Take a Moment… Many families don’t realize that financial aid offers often aren’t the end of the discussion. They can simply be the starting point of a negotiation. Now, to be clear, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes a school has a set formula, and won’t stray from it. Sometimes the school will have a plethora of applicants with your star qualities, and thus won’t extend themselves to keep you in the mix. At times, though, a simple letter explaining why you think you deserve greater help can result in a better offer. You’ll need to do your homework. Research what your school’s average financial aid package is, and see how yours stacks up. If yours is smaller than average, you’ve got a great bargaining chip. Likewise, if another school has made a stronger offer, you can use that as leverage. In this instance, a safety school offering a full scholarship isn’t as effective as a school of similar rank offering a better package. And, while it doesn’t need to be mentioned in any letter challenging your financial aid package, it will always help if you know you’ve got the star qualities the school seeks. (By the way, as a client of College Planning Network we would address this negotiating process in an appeal to the school.)

3. Cut Down On Your Years in College The best way to cut down on college expenses is to cut down on the time you spend in college. How can you do that? Most schools accept AP credits in lieu of college courses. That means, if you take the AP test and school above a 3 or 4 (out of 5), you’ll get credited as if you’d taken the relevant course at the college. This can reduce the number of classes you need to graduate – thus reducing the amount of time you need to spend in college. Each school treats AP credits slightly differently, so make sure you know how your preferred university rewards AP credits. Don’t want to graduate early – prefer to have the full college experience? AP credits can still come in handy – you might be able to attend your senior year part-time, for instance, and save nearly as much. The important thing to remember is this: most colleges charge by the course credit. The more credits you have in the bank heading in, the more you can save. Follow these three steps, and you may be able to save thousands on the total cost of college. To your successful college search, Scott Weingold Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Japanese Language Program in winter 2014, with scholarship opportunity

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Japanese Language Program in winter 2014

in:  Camps   |   30.09.2013

Introduction

Following up on it summer 2013 program, the Meiji University Japanese Language Education Center will offer a short-term Japanese Language Program in winter 2014.

The program cultivates study of Japanese language, culture and society from various aspects.

Highly motivated participants can expect Meiji University’s up-to-date educational, media and support facilities to meet their every need. Japanese students will support your study of Japanese and join various events with you.

Why not come to central Tokyo and Meiji University this winter to learn “living” Japanese and Japanese culture?
Get ready for the exciting new experience that awaits you!

 

Apply Here

  Application Period: 2 September <Mon> -10 October <Thu> , 2013

 

Program Leaflet  –  Download Program Leaflet.

Program Length

13 February <Thu> – 27 February <Thu> ,2014

Eligible Participants

Undergraduate or Graduate students

Scholarship

Japanese Language Program has been selected as one of Student Exchange Support Programs (Scholarship for Short-term Study in Japan) sponsored by JASSO.
Meiji University will offer a scholarship on the last day of the program to participants who are either undergraduate or graduate students of Meiji University’s partner institution and meet requirements set by JASSO.

After applying for the program we will send the application materials to your e-mail address within 2 weeks. To apply for the scholarship, applicants need Official Transcript of the previous semester (With seal of your university on it. It has to be written in Japanese or English.)

Please be advised that JASSO’s final decision if the applicants can grant the scholarship or not will be done at end of January 2014. We cannot inform if applicants can grant the scholarship or not before paying the fee of the program.

Program Levels

Beginner’s 1 Class: 
For students with very basic knowledge of Japanese who can read Hiragana and Katakana. Can understand and use the basic Japanese. JLPT N5 level.
Beginner’s 2 Class: 
For students with basic knowledge of Japanese, able to understand and use beginner’s level Japanese.
JLPT N4 level.
Intermediate 1 Class:
For students understanding beginner’s level Japanese and who have started studying intermediate level Japanese. JLPT N3 preparatory level.
Intermediate 2 Class: 
For students understanding Japanese which is used in everyday situation for a certain degree. JLPT N2 preparatory level.

*JLPT: Japanese Language Proficiency Test
*The class will be decided at the placement test conducted on the orientation.

Number of Participants

55 students
(13-15 students/class. A class will be cancelled if there are fewer than the minimum required number of participant. )

Program Contents

  • Japanese Language Class (45min×42classes)
  • Field Study/Activity (3hours×2times)

*We will issue certificates of completion to the participants of the program.

Student Supporter

Undergraduate and graduate students of Meiji University will support throughout the program. They will join the Japanese class and accompany the participants to the field study and activity.
Offering an opportunity to communicate with students on the same generation is a big feature of this program and attracts favorable comment from participants from the past year program.

Supporting the affected areas hit by the earthquake and tsunami through sending the picture books

In the program participants will study about the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11, 2011. Participants will send a picture book with a letter to the kindergarten located in the affected areas to support the areas and the people.
We would like to ask your cooperation to bring the picture book (no second hand book) from your country with you and help the post-quake reconstruction.

Schedule (tentative)

 

Fee

 

*We may not be able to arrange the homestay due to your special requirements or circumstances. In that case, we will inform you one month before the program starts. Homestay Company will arrange a hotel instead and extra charges will be added. It is different from Course A’s hotel.
*You cannot change the course after paying the fee.

Application

  1. Please apply online from this website
  2. To decide which class is appropriate for you, please take Online Japanese Level Check Test. Meiji University will send you the information about the test to the e-mail address that you have registered. Please take the test within one week. (Scheduled date of sending the Japanese Level Check Test: 15-18 October, 2013)
  3. Applicants will be informed of the application result and the payment procedure via E-mail by middle of November. The due date of the payment will be within 7 days after receiving the e-mail.
  4. After the payment, we will send the homestay application form to students who have applied homestay. Please send it to the homestay agency.

Cancellation Policy

Please be advised that once your application has been accepted and you have paid the  fee, the following cancellation policy applies.
If you notify Meiji University in e-mail by:

・Nov 15, 2013 (Fri) <Japan Time> you will be reimbursed for 100% of the fees.
・Jan 15, 2014 (Wed) <Japan Time>you will be reimbursed for 50% of the fees.
・Feb 5, 2014 (Wed) <Japan Time>you will be reimbursed for 20% of the fees.
・Feb 6, 2014(Thu) <Japan Time>you will not be reimbursed of the fees.

– The cancellation policy applies for any reason whatsoever.
– Any handling or service fees incurred for refunding the fee will be borne by the applicant.
– It will take 2-3 months to reimburse the program fees.

 

Visa

Meiji University will not provide assistance in obtaining a visa except in the case of students of Meiji University’s partner institutions.

Please check the website of Ministry of foreign affairs before applying the program.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

* Cancellation policy will also apply for the cancel for not being able to take obtain the visa. Please confirm about the visa before paying for the program.

Notes

  1. In the event that maximum capacity has been reached for a particular class or program, you may be unable to enroll.
  2. The program schedule printed on the promotional leaflet may be subject to change.
  3. Participants in the program are required to purchase at their own expense traveler’s insurance to cover the period of their stay in Japan. Please Submit the copy of insurance certificate before the arrival.

Past Programs

Japanese Language Program (summer 2012)

Japanese Language Program (summer 2011)

Japanese Language Program (winter 2011)

Japanese Language Education Center/ International Student Office, Meiji University
1-1 Kanda-Surugadai,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo,
101-8301,Japan
TEL：+81-3-3296-4488
FAX：+81-3-3296-4360

Key Tips for the Financial Aid Application Process

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You are receiving this email as a part of your free subscription to College Made Simple.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

Did you know one of the most common mistakes families make in the financial aid application process is waiting to file taxes before completing the FAFSA?

We see it every year. Families wait until April – income tax month – to complete their FAFSA form.

Because financial awards are often first-come first-serve, you’ll want to fill out the FAFSA as close to January 1 as possible (that’s the earliest you can submit your FAFSA).

In other words – if you want the best shot of getting state or federal money, the sooner you submit a correct application, the better.

Of course that also means filing your taxes as soon as possible. I’ll talk more about that, and offer a few more important tips, in today’s College Made Simple.

– Scott

Key Tips for the Financial Aid Application Process

Taxes. As I mentioned, the earlier you submit your FAFSA, the better. That means providing your best approximations and estimates of income and taxes — based on pay stubs, W-2s, etc. Consider using your prior tax returns and current year-end pay stub to get estimated figures.

Remember, you can always make changes to your FAFSA — after your taxes are finalized. You do that by going online to the FAFSA web site and filling in the correct numbers.

By the way, a common tax error is reporting your taxes due instead of your total income tax. They sound similar but there is a difference.

Read the instructions carefully, and always consult a licensed tax advisor for any tax-related issues.

Follow the directions. While the FAFSA can seem confusing to many people at first, detailed instructions are provided for most questions.

Take note: Make sure you don’t leave any items blank on the FAFSA form. If the appropriate response is zero, then enter zero. Blanks could delay the processing of your financial aid information.

Also, when reporting income or writing dollar figures, do not write cent value. The reason: the extra digits can be counted as dollars. For example, $432.95 is read as $43,295.

Understand the EFC, income and assets. As you are probably aware, income typically counts against your Expected Family Contribution (your “EFC” – which is the amount of money the Department of Education believes you have available to pay for schooling) much more than assets do.

You’re expected to pay a higher percentage of income than of assets – exactly how much depends on who is doing the paying – the student, a parent, or another family member.

In other words, the smaller you can legally make your income, the better your financial aid package will likely be.

Also keep in mind that it’s the student who is expected to pay the highest percentage of income and assets – so reduce these (money that your child/student has) first.

Be honest. You may be tempted to fudge the numbers – even just a little bit – on the FAFSA. Just know this: the government could impose fines and up to 5 years of jail time, AND you could be required to pay back moneys received.

Worst of all, you may be declared ineligible for any aid going forward. In the end it’s just not worth it.

Finally, when it comes to the financial aid process, by all means, do as much research as you can.

And if you’d like the feedback of professionals who understand the “ins” and “outs” of the financial aid space, feel free to take us up on our Free College Funding Analysis, which we make available to help families determine a proper course of action as to what would be best for them in their particular situation.

It’s 100% free, and the worst case scenario is that you’ll learn exactly where you currently sit – and if there’s anything at all you can do to better your family’s situation.

To your college success,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Tuition Saving Tips

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from Fastweb.com

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Tuition Saving TipsSeptember 04, 2013

Oh, tuition. Some consider it a nasty word and rightfully so. It’s expensive and can hang over a student’s head throughout college and for years to come.

But there are ways to save on tuition – you just need to become savvy about it. It takes time and effort, but when you’re talking about that much money, it’s more than likely worth what you put into it.

Here are some simple ways to save money on college tuition:

1. Apply for Scholarships and Grants

Since you’re on Fastweb, that’s half the battle! Now you just need to apply for as many scholarships as possible.

Remember, the trick with scholarships is, the more you apply for, the more likely you are to win one!

Doubtful? Students really do win scholarships through Fastweb and we have a Wall of Fame to prove it.

Check it out – you could be the next winner!

Make sure you apply to any of your scholarship matches on Fastweb – it’s a great resource that matches you to the scholarships so you don’t have to do any searching on your own!

There are millions of scholarships available and, no matter what type of student you are, there are scholarships out there for you! You just need to take advantage of the opportunities provided and keep applying.

So many scholarships remain untouched every year because of a lack of applicants, which means the money is out there, you just need to put in a little effort to obtain it.

Similar to scholarships, grants are often considered “free money” because it’s essentially financial aid that doesn’t require repayment.

The main difference between a grant and a scholarships is that a grant is more likely to be need-based, while a scholarship is more likely to be merit-based or have more specific eligibility qualifications.

Both grants and scholarships can come from federal or state government, the college you’re attending or, even, private and non-profit organizations.

Find out the types of grants you’re eligible for and apply for all grants you meet the requirements for. After doing some research, you may be surprised at how many you meet the eligibility requirements to apply.

There is one stipulation with grants and scholarships, alike. Some require partial or full repayment if, for example, you drop out or don’t finish the semester the grant or scholarship was awarded.

In addition to Fastweb, your teachers, guidance counselors and financial aid office will be able to assist you in any questions you may have regarding where to apply, how to find grants and scholarships and evaluate your eligibility.

2. Summer Enrollment

If you enroll in summer courses each year, the length of time you’re in college will decrease. Also, you’re more likely to graduate within four years, which many college students are not able to do. This certainly saves money in the long run!

Depending on the college, summer courses are often cheaper than those in the fall and spring semesters.

3. Take More Credits Per Semester

This may not sound like it will save you money, but if you take the maximum amount of credits each semester, you’ll be sure to graduate on time, if not earlier.

Make sure you balance your course load in terms of difficulty level so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.

But, remember, the closer you are to graduation, the closer you are to no longer having to pay tuition bills. Graduation means no more tuition, which is a great thing!

4. Financial Aid

Ever heard of the FAFSA? If you haven’t, the acronym stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

While the government giving you money sounds like a great idea, keep in mind that it’s usually in the form ofstudent loans that need to be repaid.

However, the good news is that taking out financial aid won’t charge you interest until you’ve graduated, which likely means you’ll be in a better financial situation (such as having a job) to repay the loans.

Fastweb has many resources on how to evaluate the right types of financial aid for you and answers to common financial aid questions so that you are able to make smarter student loan decisions.

5. Work-Study Programs

Many students don’t realize that they qualify for work-study. Actually, most do. Begin the process of finding out if you qualify by filling out the FAFSA form and meet with a college financial advisor to go over your options.

Most work studies consist of a few hours a week, working for the college at a reception desk or tutoring underclassman.

The money you would typically earn from whatever hours you put in the job is usually applied as a credit to your tuition bill. It’s really not a bad gig, especially considering you can earn tuition money from it.

So, why not just get a part-time job instead? Work study programs ensure that the money you earn goes directly to paying tuition, so you don’t have to deal with decisions of how to spend the money. Basically, it eliminates the temptation to spend your earnings on frivolous items.

It does take time and effort but you can save on tuition. Just research, apply and repeat as necessary!

Save back-to-school shopping receipts for tax time

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Dear partners,

Did you know that saving back-to-school shopping receipts could save families money at tax time? Not many people are thinking about their taxes in August, but it’s a good time to start.

Join us to spread the word about the important K-12 Education Credit that can help eligible families save! You can do so by distributing this flyer electronically or by ordering free education receipts envelope — simply reply back to this email.

The K-12 Education Credit/Subtraction offsets the education costs parents incur, ranging from everyday school supplies to computers and musical instruments. The credit allows parents to get 75% of qualifying expensesback in refunds, while the subtraction decreases their tax liability.

How to claim the credit or subtraction: Parents must save their receipts for tax time to claim their expenses. This simple step can help eligible* families save on their educational expenses.

Thanks for your partnership!

Mekdelawit Bayu
Outreach Coordinator
mbayu@accountabilitymn.org
651-262-2160

*For details about eligible income and expenses on the credit/subtraction call 651-296-3781 or visitMinnesota Department of Revenue’s website.

 

Comparing Financial Aid Awards: What you need to know……..

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Free Webinar: It’s Time! Comparing Financial Aid Award Letters and Making the Best Decision for You

Congratulations — acceptance letters and financial aid award letters are in your hands. But now what? How do you keep cost in perspective when making a decision? This webinar will provide you with the information and tools needed to analyze your award letters and to understand the financial impact each might have.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Understand the components of an award letter.
  • Assess an award letter, including a review of three to four real award offers.
  • Use and interpret results of the BigFuture Compare Your Aid Awards tool.
  • Put cost in perspective with other key factors of the college (such as academic programs and campus life) so you can make the best decision for you.

Presenter: Myra Baas Smith, Executive Director, Financial Aid Services, College Board; former Director of Student Financial Aid, Yale University and Smith College

Sign up for one of the two dates below.

April 3, 2013
7–8 p.m. EST
Register now

April 9, 2013
9–10 p.m. EST
Register now

FREE FAFSA webinar

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Join us at our next FREE financial aid webinar from BigFuture™.
Completing the FAFSA: What You Need to Know
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the application required by colleges and states to award federal financial aid dollars such as grants, loans and work-study. You must fill out the FAFSA in order to be considered for federal financial aid. In addition, most states and colleges use information from the FAFSA to award nonfederal aid. At this webinar, you will:

  • See a complete preview of the application
  • Learn what information and documents you’ll need before you begin
  • Discover available resources and tools to help you through the process

Your presenter will be Susan McCrackin, director of financial aid methodology at the College Board.

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013
7–8:30 p.m. EST

 Register Now
Can’t make this time? 
This webinar will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing after the event. Please email us atbigfuture@collegeboard.org and we will notify you as soon as the recording becomes available.

For more information on paying for college, visit bigfuture.org.

We hope you’ll be able to attend or view this informative event.