ENTRIES FROM 2008
WEEK OF DECEMBER 29, 2008
Facing a home foreclosure crisis? Call the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis at 314-615-3600 to speak to an on-site counselor in the Foreclosure Assistance Program.
For college and high school students: It is time to start thinking about filing the FAFSA for the 2009-2010 school year (either online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or by mail). The federal deadline is June 30, 2009, and the deadline for state aid is April 1, 2009. However, it’s best to be ahead of the game by filing the FAFSA as early as possible before the deadlines. A large number of grants and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first- served basis. Furthermore, the institution you are applying to may have a different deadline for the FAFSA, so make sure to check with the colleges and universities you are applying to in order to file the FAFSA in a timely manner. You don’t want to miss out.
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On February 8, 2009 financial advisors will be available for College Goal Sunday to provide professional help in filing the FAFSA. One $500 dollar scholarship will be given away at each College Sunday location. Just follow the link http://www.collegegoal
missouri.org/ for more information. And make sure you have the following information in preparing to file the FAFSA no matter where you file it:
2) Your Social Security Number and your parents’ Social Security Numbers if you are under the age 24 and not married
3) Your driver’s license number if you have one;
4) Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a
U.S.
citizen;
5) 2008 federal tax information or tax returns (including IRS W-2 information) for yourself and spouse if you are married, and for your parents if you are providing parent information. If you have not yet filed a 2008 income tax return at the time you complete your FAFSA, you can still submit your FAFSA but you must provide estimated income and tax information.
6) Records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, welfare benefits (e.g., TANF), and veterans benefits, for yourself, and your parents if you are providing parent information; and
7) Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for yourself, and your parents if you are providing parent information.
WEEK OF DECEMBER 15, 2008
Want more information on scholarships? Visit Scholarship America at at
www.scholarshipamerica.org. The new FAFSA Worksheet on the Web is now available online fo the year 2009-2010. Beginning January 1, 2009 you can go on the following link to access the worksheet:
WEEK OF DECEMBER 8, 2008
Read this amusing article on the dangers of procrastinating in college:
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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gives scholarships to low-income minorities entering their first year of college--including community college! For an interesting article regarding the Foundation and and community colleges, click on this link:
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For information on applying for the scholarship, there's still time!
Want more assistance with the ACT? Visit this website:
WEEK OF DECEMBER 1, 2008
Here's a helpful tidbit regarding financial aid:
FAFSA4caster is an online tool that helps students and parents determine their current eligibility for federal student aid. Check out www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov to learn how much aid you would receive if you applied today.
MyFSA is an online account that provides students with access to college and scholarship searches, career and self-assessment tools, and other valuable resources regarding college and financial aid. You can set up MyFSA accounts by visiting www.studentaid.ed.gov and clicking on "MyFSA." To learn how to use and take advantage of MyFSA's various functions, you can click on "Introduction to MyFSA."
Going on a job hunt? Let the United States Census 2010 help you out! If you're looking for good pay, a job close to home, flexible hours, and paid training, you can work up to 40 hours in a temporary, part-time job. For more information call the United States Census Bureau at 1-866-861-2010 or visit the website at www.2010censusjobs.gov.
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 24, 2008
Note to high school seniors:
Create a schedule or master calender so you don't overlook important admission or financial aid deadlines. Attend financial aid nights and college fair events in your community. If you’re still undecided, schedule school visits for your top choices. Our Institution, Program, and Degree Search can also help you determine the schools that have programs in fields that interest you.
Explore the wide variety of financial aid opportunities available to students. The MDHE administers several grant and scholarship programs, and many private and community organizations also provide scholarship funds. If you are exploring student loans, use federal loans first because interest rates tend to be lower and are capped.
Complete college applications and work on any required admissions essays. Request letters of recommendations to submit with your application for admission. Make plans to take the ACT or SAT again if you are not satisfied with your score. The students in the class of 2009 will need to score 31 on the ACT or obtain a critical reading score of 790 and a math score of 780 on the SAT in order to qualify for the Bright Flight Scholarship. The deadline for the national test date for the qualifying scores of seniors is June 2009. Scores achieved as a sophomore and junior on national test dates will also be accepted.
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 17, 2008
Check out these informative links that can help you make the best of your post-secondary education:
www.cappex.com to learn about unique college opportunities, create a personal profile to find a college match, scholarships, and find out your chance of admission into a certain college/ university.
www.half.com to find textbooks at discounted prices, and also to sell old ones
www.meritaid.com has $11 billion merit-based scholarships by individual school and goes up through the graduate level.
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3, 2008
Colleges and universities want students to get in and be successful. More than 225 offer special programs and scholarships for students who are the first in their family to attend college. There are also scholarships that celebrate the diversity students would bring to campus. To learn more about these programs and scholarships, check out the Center for Student Opportunity. And take a sneak peek at their College Access & Opportunity Guide. Students can ask their teachers and counselors to borrow their hard copy.
For high school students: this November offers an innovative way to visit a college fair. During November 12-13, 10AM-8PM, www.CollegeWeekLive.com is holding a one-of-a-kind virtual college fair.With booths from over 200+ colleges, video presentations, instant messaging between students and school representatives, a resource center and much more, this virtual college fair is a wonderful tool to use as you plan for college. To access the virtual college fair simply register for free at
www.CollegeWeekLive.com. So keep those dates in mind!
WEEK OF OCTOBER 27, 2008
Financial Classes for Women: Starting in November and going into December, Redevelopment Opportunities for Women (ROW) is offering free money management classes for women. The dates for the classes are 11/25/08, 12/02/08, 12/09/08, and 12/16/08. All the classes are from 5:15PM to 7:30PM. Call Sonja at 314-803-4772 to RSVP. The classes are at CAASTLC on 2709 Woodson, St. Louis, MO 63114.
A college freshman:
Now that you’ve had a chance to settle into life at college, be sure to keep your focus and maintain your priorities.
1) While you may have more freedom in deciding whether or not you attend class, don’t fall into bad habits. You’ve paid for these classes, so get the most out of them. Plus, future employers may just take special notice of your first semester grades.
2) Remember to stick to your budget to make sure spontaneous events and activities don’t throw a wrench in your financial plan. Use credit cards with discretion. Mapping Your Future’s debt/salary wizard can even help you look ahead to paying off your student loans.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 20, 2008
Scholarships Available!! The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. is providing college-bound students from the St. Louis area scholarships. To learn more about the requirements of the scholarships, visit the link http://www.ulstl.org/scholarships.aspx to the Urban League's website.
For students who are currently being funded for the 2008-2009 school year can expect to have their checks mailed out on November 21st, 2008.
Attention Women: On November 5th, Redevelopment Opportunities for Women (ROW) is holding a car buying class from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. The classes will be held at 2229 Pine Street , St. Louis, MO 63103. For questions call 314-588-8300.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 6, 2008
JOB FAIR ANNOUNCEMENT! We at the Scholarship Foundation would like to remind you that the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. is holding a fall job fair Thursday, October 16th, 2008 from 10 AM to 2:00 PM. The job fair will be held at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, 3400 Pershall, St. Louis, MO 63135.
It's always good to be informed! Read these articles full of good tidbits for new and continuing college students:
Do you need help learing new computer skills? Are you worried about foreclosure? Go to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc's website, http://www.ulstl.org/, to take computer classes, get foreclosure assistance, and much more.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2008
If you are a current recipient of a Scholarship Foundation loan, or you are already in college but missed the renewal/ application deadline of April 15th, don't forget about spring funding for the spring of 2009. The deadline for spring funding is November 15th. We will not accept anything after the deadline. So if you are interested in spring funding it's a good idea to start preparing your application now.
For high school students: this November offers an innovative way to visit a college fair. During November 12-13, 10AM-8PM, www.CollegeWeekLive.com is holding a one-of-a-kind virtual college fair.With booths from over 200+ colleges, video presentations, instant messaging between students and school representatives, a resource center and much more, this virtual college fair is a wonderful tool to use as you plan for college. To access the virtual college fair simply register for free at www.CollegeWeek
Live.com. So keep those dates in mind!
We at the Scholarship Foundation have recently added new links to our website. Simply visit information/ other links to access 30+ new links.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
Are you a high school student looking for some good advice before starting college? Or are you a college student just starting out? Or are you already an old pro at college? Whichever you are, here is a good site with a lot of good advice, including tips from college students themselves:
Are you a high school student looking for a more extensive list of colleges and universities throughout the country? Check out this link to "US News and World Report":
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
JOB FAIR ANNOUNCEMENT!! Keep the date of Thursday, October 16th, 2008 open. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. is sponsoring a job fair consisting of both for-profit and non-for-profit agencies and organizations. The event will be held at:
St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley
3400 Pershall
St. Louis, MO 63135
Keep checking in on Free Advice for future information regarding this event.
Are you an international student? Read this article for important advice on loans.
And don't forget to check previous Free Advice weeks-- you never know what helpful tidbits you may have missed!
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
Student Reminder: If you missed the April 15th deadline now is the time to apply for the August 1st - November 15th cycle for the spring of 2009. Check it out on our website or call the advisor, Julia Lucas, at 314-725-7990 x 310 or by e-mail at julia@sfstl.org.
Want information on political platforms regarding student aid and higher education? How about information on financial scams aimed at student aid? Or you can join blogs and forums regarding your stories and opinions on finacial aid. Check out these four informative links:
WEEK OF AUGUST 25, 2008
Student Reminder: If you missed the April 15th deadline now is the time to apply for the August 1st - November 15th cycle for the spring of 2009. Check it out on our website or call the advisor, Julia Lucas, at 314-725-7990 x 310 or by e-mail at julia@sfstl.org.
Feel you may have missed out on valuable advice, inluding financial issues? Scroll down the column to read information from past weeks -- you never know what you may find!
Students may feel some homesickness when returning or beginning school. Some try to combat this by making frequent calls back home to family and friends but, often times, these calls only increase homesickness. Instead, make an effort to get more involved with the students around you. Studies show that students heavily involved on campus and with campus friends are more likely to be happy during their first year at school. Be careful, however, not to overtax yourself, especially if you are also working.
WEEK OF AUGUST 18, 2008
Student Reminder: If you missed the April 15th deadline now is the time to apply for the August 1st - November 15th cycle for the spring of 2009. Check it out on our website or call the advisor, Julia Lucas, at 314-725-7990 x 310 or by e-mail at julia@sfstl.org.
Are you ready to live like a college student? Here are some very simple steps you can take now to help ease future financial burden. Keep track of everything running through your student account so small purchases don’t unexpectedly add up. Begin school with a budget in place. Make sure to keep track of your money, and concentrate on “needs” over “wants.” Keep the budget simple and realistic. Furthermore, be smart with credit cards. If you don’t pay off your balance each month, interest will be added to the total amount you owe, making it more likely that you will go into credit card debt.
WEEK OF AUGUST 11, 2008
When communicating with college couselors, advisors, recruiters, scholarship organizations, etc. it is important to make a good first impression. Here is what to do to create a good first impression, for high school and throughout college. 1) Create an e-mail address that is as professional and straightforward as possible, such as johndoe3@.....". 2) Make sure your voicemail message is also straightforward and professional. Keep your voicemail message as simple as "Hi, this is _ , I am not at my phone presently, so please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible." Stay away from messages with music and tricky messages. 3) Edit your written communications and essays to make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors, and use professional layouts in communications such as trancripts and e-mails. 4) Monitor your online profiles such as facebook, myspace, zinch, etc. to make sure there is nothing that may be deemed offensive or that may reflect badly on you.
News about college loans: Read this article with important information concerning student loans!
Are you a woman 40+ years of age and looking for more scholarship opportunities? Check out the site http://www.aarpfoundationwlc.org/ for informaiton on a scholarship for female non-traditional students such as yourself.
WEEK OF AUGUST 4, 2008
Facebook and Myspace: Free advice isn't the only way to obtain valuable information. The Scholarship Foundation has pages on both Myspace and Facebook where students may interact with another to share useful tips and advice on how to survive college. For Myspace, type in the url http://groups.myspace.com/scholarship
foundation and join the group. You must have a Myspace account to do so. For Facebook, enter through your account and type in SFSTL under "search," and simply join the group. You must also have an account under www.facebook.com in order to join. We welcome any and all of our students to join and share experiences in creating a helpful dialogue. The websites are excellents forums for discussion. We welcome you to join our network and branch out to your fellow Scholarship Foundation students.
MODELS NEEDED!
On September 25, 2008, the Scholarship Foundation is holding a volunteer luncheon/ fashion show to honor the volunteers who work throughout the year at the Clayton and Webster Grove Scholarshops. The 2008 volunteers of the year will be announced along with volunteers with milestone anniversaries. This year’s them is “Dreams Really Do Come True.” The volunteers not only love the fashions they work with but also the students whom they are helping. What better way to support our volunteers than with a fashion show, modeled by recipients of the Scholarship Foundation? It would be an honor for everyone at the luncheon for you to be a model in our fashion show. You will also be a guest at the lunch and you will only have to model one set of fashions. A short bio of you will be written up and we would love to hear of your “Dreams Really Do Come True” stories. The luncheon will be held on September 25, 2008 beginning at 11:30 and ending no later than 1:30. It will be held at Ces and Judy’s Catering – Le Chateau Village, 10405 Clayton Road. If you are interested in being a model please contact us 314-725-3456 x 353 and ask for Ganelle, or e-mail Tina@sfstl.org (volunteer coordinator). Thanks!
Dealing with summer heat: Summer is in full swing, and for those who don't have air conditioning or are at high risk for heat stroke now have assistance to help cool down. Visit the site http://www.ameren.com/meettheheat for tips on how to stay cool. Another good resource to beat the heat is Cool Down St. Louis, an organization that provides donated air conditioners to those in need. Contact the organization at 314-241-7668.
WEEK OF JULY 28, 2008
Don't make these finacial mistakes!
Are you struggling with the rising cost of food prices? Share foods is a non-profit food cooperative that works as a cheaper means of buying food. Each month a different box of food is prepared for about $18.00, and extra optional boxes are available. The only requirement is that one eats! Menus include vegetables, fruit, meats and other food items to suppliment and greatly reduce a month's cost of groceries.
There are two locations in St. Louis that offer Share Food:
Timothy Lutheran Church Share
6704 Fyler, St. Louis 63139
314-781-8673
The registration deadline (the time to to decide what packages you want and then pay) is August 10th, and the time to pick up groceries is August 23rd. Call the site for more information.
The other location for Share Foods in St. Louis is:
Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
4246 Shaw, St. Louis, MO 63110
314-771-5714
WEEK OF JULY 21, 2008
Important News for College Freshman, please read all the information:
If you are a recent high school graduate…
If you received a letter from the MDHE stating we received conflicting information that currently renders you ineligible for Access Missouri or Bright Flight funds for the 2008-2009 academic year, you must submit necessary corrections by the deadlines noted below. July 31, 2008 – the preferred deadline for Access Missouri and Bright Flight. The MDHE cannot guarantee that corrections to Access Missouri eligibility made after July 31 will be received in time to affect your final eligibility.
September 30, 2008 – the deadline for Bright Flight students who took the ACT in June 2008 or missed the July 31 preferred deadline. If you do not provide all necessary information to the MDHE by September 30, you will be considered a late applicant and your award will be subject to funding availability, even if you have previously received an approval letter.
If you filed a FAFSA, corrections can be made through the FAFSA correction process. If you did not file a FAFSA, corrections can be made by contacting your college or the MDHE. PLEASE NOTE: The FAFSA is required to apply for the Access Missouri program; Bright Flight students are NOT required to complete the FAFSA but may choose to do so to apply for need-based aid. If the FAFSA indicates you are no longer an undergraduate student, Missouri resident or U.S. citizen, your Bright Flight eligibility can be affected.
Contact your school’s health center to find out about health care procedures on campus. Some schools require a physical in addition to immunizations such as the meningitis shot or a tuberculosis test. Also, plan for transportation; some schools do not allow freshmen to have cars. Whether it is the bus, a bike, or even walking, make sure that you have a plan for getting around campus, as well as around town.
Scholarship opportunities may still exist to help you finance future academic terms. Check out the National Association of Student Aid Administrators’ “Tips on How to Get Scholarships” to learn more. Know all the facts before signing on the dotted line for an “alternative” student loan. The Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education, recently published guidance for “How to Spot Deceptive Private Student Loan Practices.”
Having problems paying for college books? Learn how to save money with this article on innovative strategies for obtaining cheaper textbooks.
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WEEK OF JULY 15, 2008
Check out this helpful link with information on how to avoid scholarship scams:
WEEK OF JULY 7, 2008
Check out these links for advice and new information on federal financial aid:
Do you know…
The difference between an unsubsidized and subsidized loan? The conditions of a PLUS loan?
All
Stafford
Loans are either subsidized (the government pays the interest while you're in school) or unsubsidized (you pay all the interest, although you can have the payments deferred until after graduation).
These days the PLUS loan is referred to as either the Parent PLUS or Grad PLUS loan. The original name, Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students, is no longer used, not even in the Higher Education Act. Repayment begins 60 days after the funds are fully disbursed, and the repayment term is up to 10 years. There is no grace period as there is with the
Stafford
Loan program. PLUS loans are the financial responsibility of the parents, not the student. If the student agrees to make payments on the PLUS loan, but fails to make the payments on time, the parents will be held responsible. You can learn more about PLUS loans for parents from Citi Student Loans or www.finaid.org under loans.
The interest rates on existing variable rate
Stafford
and PLUS loans will continue to change annually on July 1, based on the last 91-day T-bill auction in May. The current interest rates on the
Stafford
Loan are 6.62% during the in-school and grace periods and 7.22% during the repayment period. The current interest rate on the PLUS Loan is 8.02%. These rates are expected to decrease significantly on July 1, 2008. FinAid recommends that students who have not yet consolidated their variable rate loans wait until after July 1, 2008 to do so. Interest rates are likely to drop enough by then to make it worthwhile to wait to consolidate. There are only 7 days left before interest rates change. Remember, do not consolidate your Scholarship Foundation loan.
WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2008
Looking for more resources for student loans? Check out the webpage www.myrichuncle.com and learn how you can receive federal and private funding. The website is also full of imformation to better help you understand the financial aid process. You can also call them at 1-888-MY-RICH-UNCLE.
Looking for more resources for student loans? Check out the webpage and learn how you can receive federal and private funding. The website is also full of imformation to better help you understand the financial aid process. You can also call them at 1-888-MY-RICH-UNCLE.
WEEK OF MAY 26, 2008
- If you are a recent college graduate and borrowed a federal student loan, you have a 6-month grace period before your first payment is due. Use this time to get prepared for successful repayment. Make a plan for saving a portion of the money you earn at your summer job, and be ready to head back to school in the fall with a personalized budget in place. Make a plan for saving a portion of the money you earn at summer jobs. To see how money in your savings account can add up over time, check out this savings calculator
- If you are taking summer courses, you already know that it's a great way to keep on track and make sure you graduate on time (or even early). It also provides the opportunity to let you really concentrate on just one class at a time, which can be ideal for tough courses. If you're not currently enrolled in summer classes, keep an open mind for future summers. Stay active and involved in extracurricular activities. Summer is also a great time to join community organizations.
- After you've explored all other methods of financial aid – grants, scholarships, work-study – that do not have to be repaid, you should make any decisions about taking out a student loan very carefully. Know your rights as a borrower:
o You have the right to choose your lender. Schools have a "preferred lender list" but you have the right to choose a different lender if it is a better deal for you.
o You also have the right to choose the guarantor of your loan. All FFELP (Federal Family Education Loan Program) loans must have a guarantor – which really just means they “guarantee” payment to your loan holder by agreeing to buy the loan if you default. The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) is
Missouri
's designated guaranty agency. When you choose the MDHE as your guarantor, all earnings are reinvested into the state of
Missouri
, not corporate shareholders or stakeholders in another state.
o Be informed and know which providers have the best interest rates, borrower benefits, repayment plans, and customer service. Helpful calculators can help you keep the information organized. You should also investigate whether a lender offers discounts or forgiveness plans for your particular field of study. Note: Schools are required to work with ALL eligible lenders.
