Happy Thanksgiving and leftovers

November 27, 2008

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, please consider this super-easy leftovers tip: whatever you don’t need, whatever’s extra, please donate to a local food pantry, soup kitchen, or homeless shelter. Even just an extra can of cranberry sauce or can of coffee makes a difference, and it’s so easy to do.

Don’t know where the nearest one is? Use this Google Maps query. Go to maps.google.com and type:

food pantry near your town, your state / zip code

Example:

food pantry near 02169
food pantry near Quincy, MA

You might want to call ahead and ask if they accept actual leftovers; some pantries require food to be unopened for safety.

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Reminders
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+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
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FAP888: Rachel Schmidt, Cleveland State University Interview

November 26, 2008

FAP888: Rachel Schmidt, Cleveland State University Interview

Listen now:

Expert Interview

I had a chance recently to speak with the director of financial aid at Cleveland State University, Rachel Schmidt, about all kinds of financial aid advice, from finding scholarships to College Goal Sunday to appealing your financial aid award for more aid. A terrific 27 minute interview!

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Daily Aid 42: Tuition and preparedness, jobs, mailbag

November 25, 2008

Daily Aid 42: Tuition and preparedness, jobs, mailbag

Student Financial Aid News

A few days ago, the state of South Carolina’s student loan agency announced that it would no longer be able to meet private student loan needs beginning as early as spring of 2009. As always, feel free to check out www.PrivateStudentLoans.com, a Student Loan Network site, for additional options.

One of the quieter discussion topics at the recent MASFAA conference was on the topic of preparedness for college. It was pointed out by many that if you’re academically unprepared for college, you’re better off doing some preparatory work in a community college or other transitional program rather than pay full tuition and expenses for an extra year of catching up to other peers. If you’re not sure you’re ready for college, take an online course or even a free course in iTunesU to judge for yourself. If you feel lost after even just a couple of sessions, it may be an indicator that you need to do some transition work - and you won’t have to pay full price.

From NASFAA:

“The national and regional recession is putting many college students in a stagnant position: They may not be able to afford college because their family households are losing income, but then they may struggle to find jobs once they do graduate,” The Citizen-Times reports. “According to Marjorie Ellis, director of career planning at Appalachian State University, the job market is down, and it’s showing on campus. The Career Development Center has had a couple of companies cancel interviews citing the current state of the economy and the effect it is having on their business.”

Changing times require changing measures to stay ahead of the pack. Make sure you check out our Killer Cover Letter eBook and LinkedIn techniques video to keep your career prospects moving ahead.

Scholarship Update

Today’s feature is the Amigas Latinas for College directory, a well organized niche scholarship directory focusing just on Hispanic women’s scholarships.

Details at our free college scholarship search site.

Mail Bag

Fawn writes in:

I am an US citizen but I would like to go to grad school abroad, can I still qualify for financial aid?

It depends on the graduate school. A select few schools are Title IV certified, which means they’re recognized by the US government and US financial aid can be applied there. Some other foreign schools also have tuition agreements with US universities, where you pay your bills at a US school but attend overseas. Check with the school you’re thinking about attending for more information.

Adri writes in:

What paper work is required to show to prove that I am supporting myself?

Typically, for a professional judgement override, a financial aid administrator will ask to see rent, utilities bills, and other forms of identification which establish you living on your own at a separate place from your parents.

Mel writes in:

I am a 22 year old student. I have been living on my own for 3 years and yes I have had the FAFSA problem. I say if I am old enough to gamble money in Vegas, I should be old enough to be considered an Independent person. Who made this law? Why 24? My parents don’t pay anything for me nor do they have the money to pay for school. I tried the override thing but schools are tougher than ever and I didn’t get any help. I have a friend who had parents pass away and I am helping her. She lives with me and I am supporting more than 50%. Will this be considered in my FAFSA? Have any advice?

The law was made by Congress in the Higher Education Act and regulatory interpretation set up by the US Department of Education. If your financial aid advisor was unable to help, you may want to approach your school’s director of financial aid with the appropriate documentation and make your case there. Be prepared with tons of paperwork!

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How to Set a Price to Sell Your Home

November 24, 2008

Selling Your Home in Today’s Market

If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, then you’re probably well aware of the housing market’s current plunge. Fortunately, even during these dark times, you won’t necessarily be forced to sell your home at 80% of its value. By playing the market correctly and setting the right price for your home, you should still be able to get a decent return on it. Every local home market is different, but there are some general tips you can follow for setting the right price for your home.

Tips for Setting a Price to Sell Your Home

As mentioned before, every local housing market is different, so it pays off to do some research in your market. Find out what other homes in your area are going for and how long they typically stay on the market. Also look for what types of homes are in demand and if the neighborhood is on the rise or decline.
It may cost a little, but consider getting the help of a professional appraiser to find out your home’s actual value. With so many homes mispriced and ending up stuck on the market for months, more and more people are realizing why it’s worth it to get your home appraised. You’re unlikely to get the full value of your home in the current market, so most people shoot for a figure that’s about 5% less than the appraisal.
For most people, it’s recommendable to have the assistance of a real estate agent when pricing and selling your home. It may be a do-it-yourself society these days, but a seasoned realtor may be the difference between selling your home at 95% of it’s value and selling your home at just 93% it’s value.
In the current sluggish housing market, you really do have to consider all offers you receive on your home. Even when they seem absurdly low, these offers at least give you a jumping off point and a chance to get into negotiations.
Do you have a time frame of when you need your home sold by because you’re moving to a new home, going through a divorce, or some other compelling reason? You may want to consider dropping your asking price half a percentage point to begin with as buyers will be certain to take advantage of your situation.
Are you planning on buying a home elsewhere after your home has sold? Turn around is fair play, now you’re the buyer instead of the seller in the buyer’s market. You have the leverage in negotiations so make the most out of it.

Yes You Can: An open message to my colleagues

November 24, 2008

The #1 question I receive at conferences and events from financial aid administrators and others is, “Can we share your stuff/link to your web site?”.

Yes, you can.

In fact, I encourage you to do so. Please free free to share the Scholarship Search Secrets eBook at www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/ebook. Please feel free to share the Financial Aid Podcast. Please feel free to share our many resources at the Student Loan Network. Feel free to link directly to any of our web sites.

As I write in our eBooks, explicit permission is granted to anyone employed at an institution of higher education, non-profit agency, or advocacy group to share with your audience any of the resources we’ve made public and link to any of our web sites. You don’t need to ask in advance to link to us or download & share our eBooks and other materials.

Yes, you can.

5 most recent Financial Aid Podcast posts

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Loan-Topics.com

Happy Thanksgiving and leftovers

FAP888: Rachel Schmidt, Cleveland State University Interview

Daily Aid 42: Tuition and preparedness, jobs, mailbag

How to Set a Price to Sell Your Home

Selling Your Home in Today’s Market

Tips for Setting a Price to Sell Your Home

Yes You Can: An open message to my colleagues

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