| Vol.
I, No. 4 |
January
Thaw |
Jan.
19th, 2001 |
Links to Learning & Education On-Line
The amount of info on the web
is enormous, as anyone who's ever tried to run a search can attest
to. And, to put it all in context, best estimates say that
only a fraction, maybe 20 - 40 % of what's out there is actually
making its way to the search engines.
Well ...
Here at DownStreet, we'd like to try to
help. So each issue, we post a few links in House & Home
to sites that might interest you. Sometimes the links will
be related to one another ... sometimes we'll just
offer up a somewhat random sampling. In either case, we
think we might be able to help you find the kind of site you've
been looking for.
Of course, while we can't vouch for the fact
that every link we provide will be of interest to everyone, we do
our best to filter out the noise and the bustle. ...
Links to On-Line Financial Aid Resources As
we mentioned this month's Learning & Ed. feature article -- "Need
Help with Financial Aid?" -- this time we're foregoing our usual format
of links to three quality web sites in order to provide you with as many quality
on-line financial aid resources as we can. In this light, know that each
of these sites rates at least **** [4 stars]. ...
We'll start off with the VSAC -- Vermont Student Assistance
Corporation -- sites, since, among other reasons, they are a source of
financial aid, as well as a clearinghouse for fed and other financial aid
info. ... VSAC Resources ...
The VSAC site is fast & informative. However, be aware that not all
features work with Netscape browsers. ...
-
V S A C-- Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
This is the VSAC Home Page. ...
-
V S A C What's New Monthly Planning Tips
This is VSAC's monthly calendar to help you stay
on track with the application process.
-
V S A C FAQs
VSAC's Frequently Asked Questions page ... We wish
they'd've played at least 20 questions. But the 10
questions they do answer are useful and common.
-
V S A C Request Information
Instead of using the Post Office, you can go
on-line to request info or ask a specific question --
either using their on-line form or e-mail address.
-
V S A C Pathway
-- On-Line Loan Applications
Includes links to both VSAC grant application and
the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid). We also provide a direct link to the latter,
below.
-
V S A C Pathway
-- Calculators
Links to 2 calculators ... a Loan Calculator that
shows total payments, and interest, for different types of
education loans ... and an EFC [Expected Family
Contribution] Calculator that steps you through a series
of questions to determine how much your family will be
asked to contribute yearly towards college expenses.
-
V S A C Pathway
-- Grants
Basic info about grants available, including
Vermont Incentive Grants, Vermont Part-Time Grants,
Vermont Non-Degree Grants, Federal Pell Grants, and
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).
-
V S A C Pathway
-- Loans
Basic info about Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and
EXTRA Loans.
-
V S A C Pathway
-- Scholarships
Links to some VSAC info about scholarships,
including some we have listed below at the source.
-
V S A C Pathway
-- Work-Study
A brief over-view of the College Work-Study
program.
Dept. of Education
Resources ... For a gov't site, the ED web is
pretty fast. All IE, Netscape & AOL browsers 4.0
and above are supported for the on-line application.
...
-
U.S. Department of Education (ED)
This is the Dept. of Ed. Home Page. ...
-
FAFSA on the Web
This is the 1st page of the FAFSA [Free Application for Federal
Student Aid] on-line application form. You can save your info, so you
don't have to complete the entire app in one sitting.
-
Getting Started --
FAFSA on the Web
This is a very useful page, especially, but not only, for those
using the FAFSA on-line application. Links to info on an Overview of
the Process, Deadlines, and Records Needed.
-
Frequently Asked Questions --
FAFSA
This page provides answers to dozens of questions about the FAFSA
process.
-
SFA - Finding Out About Financial Aid
Links to lots of useful info, including Funding Your Education,
Student Guide, Tuition Tax Credits, Direct Loans, students.gov (Access
America), Accrediting Agencies, Closed School Information, Looking for
Student Aid, State Information, and Other Federal Aid Sources.
-
ED-OSFAP Direct Loans
This page provides links to lots of info on fed loans, including
on-line counseling, calculators, school links, and publications &
guides.
-
Student Guide 2000-01
This is last year's Student Guide, the only one we found on-line at
this point. But it still contains lots of useful & pertinent info.
-
What Do I Need?
{Records Needed} -- FAFSA
This is a direct link from the Getting Started Page, in case you'd
like to start here by gathering the necessary info together.
Other Financial Aid Resources ...
The remaining sites -- all very useful -- include both fed and private
resources. ...
-
IPEDS College Opportunities
On-Line [COOL] Search Page
This link, actually from NCES [the Nat'l Center for Educational
Statistics] provides a very useful tool for college and other postsecondary
searches. You can narrow your choices geographically by region, state,
city, or max distance from you zip code. ... Or by type of institution
or instructional program. ... Or by size of the school {number
of students enrolled. You can also search for specific schools, as
well as Title IV-eligible {meaning fed financial aid participating}
institutions. The site is very fast! {On one search for all New
England institutions offering a program in Education, the COOL database
returned 132 schools in about 5 sec. on a 56k modem.} The initial
results page provides info for each school by name, location, and
size. Click any school name, and you go to a page of more detailed
info, including: mailing address; phone numbers for gen'l info, financial
aid & admissions; web address {where applicable}; Carnegie
Classification; type of institution; fed aid available; degrees &
certificates offered; application fee; and ... probably most important in
this context ... Academic year prices for full-time, first-time
undergraduate students, including tuition & fees, books & supplies,
and on- & off-campus room & board and other expenses, including
family accomodations.
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Peterson's - Financing Education
Long one of only a few of THE college guides to reference,
Peterson's now has lots of on-line financial aid info available, including:
The Future of Financial Aid, Financial Aid Negotiation, The Financial Aid
Story, Trends in Financial Aid, Scholarship Myths, Admissions Calendar, Q
and A on Financial Aid, Glossary of Financial Aid Terms, Tips from Parents,
and Quick Quotes from the Experts.
-
College Board Online Scholarship Search
From The College Board, this site provides an on-line form you can
complete to track down scholarship funds available. You can help focus
the search by year in school or non-degree awards ... "awards
based on competition, talent, or interest" ... aid based on
federal aid programs, financial need, or academic achievement ... research
grants, loans, or internships ... state of residence ... religious or ethnic
background ... proposed major ... parents' affiliation with specific
employers, clubs, or other organizations ... military service ... and even a
misc. category, including primarily disabilities.
-
Financial aid home page U.S. News
U.S. News provides a solid & pretty comprehensive financial aid
site. You can check out Articles & Features by topic {Where to
Start, Students Loans, Scholarships, and Parents} ... use their Interactive
Tools {to do a Scholarship Search, Predict College Costs, Compare Aid
Awards, or use a Loan Repayment Calculator} ... or check out their Best
Value Rankings for schools rated best for highest quality at the lowest
cost. {Note: They also list schools by the amount of debt
students leave with -- most and least. UVM ranked 13th among National
Universities for students leaving with the most debt.}
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FinAid! The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
A solid general resource with info about loans, scholarships,
military aid, other types of aid, financial aid app's, an 'Ask the Aid
Advisor' feature that offers personalized help rather than an FAQ,
calculators, and related info, like testing & admissions.
-
Family & College Home - MSN MoneyCentral
This site, part of the Microsoft Network, includes step-by-step
guides, scholarship searches, links to news sources, and more. There
are also Quick Reference sections for Children • Death • Divorce •
Marriage • College Planning • Financial Aid • Saving for College •
and Scholarships.
Good luck!
.
.*******
*******
If you know of any links that you think are
worthwhile, why not send them along to ...
links@downstreetmagazine.com
...
If we agree, we'll be happy to include them
in an upcoming issue to pass the word along. ...
Thanks.
*******
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