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Learning & Education
Continuing
Help with Financial Aid If you haven't already, now's the time to begin the often labor-intensive task of applying for financial aid. ... Whether you're a parent, or an independent student, the tasks associated with applying for financial aid are not only time-consuming, they are time sensitive. One application, filed even slightly later than another, can often make a considerable difference in the amount of funds awarded. And even where that may not be the case, an earlier application is sure to offer some peace of mind, resulting in the kind of concrete details you need in order to plan your educational finances. ... So, if you think it's too soon to file, think again. ... In order to help with all the details, DownStreet is continuing to run this series on Financial Aid, which we'll up-date monthly through our May issue. You should already be well along the way ... At it's web site, VSAC -- the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation -- has a Monthly Planner to help step you through the financial aid process. For February, VSAC lists the following tasks for students & parents:
Of course, if it's not that you're a high school senior nor the parent of one that has you thinking about financial aid, then you're probably one of more than half of the college population that's often enough referred to as an 'adult student'. VSAC has some links for you, too, though, even in this day and age, when adult students account for what keeps many colleges and universities going, the emphasis is still on seniors & their parents. Nonetheless, you'll want to check out what's available there, as well as in our other Links to On-Line Financial Aid Resources. But, no matter what your status, the point here is simple really:
Being Resourceful ... With applications to the feds, to VSAC, and, in most cases, to the college, too, many students, not to mention their parents, find the financial aid process cumbersome, confusing, and time-consuming. Programs change -- in the amounts they provide or offer, and even their names. Some are phased out. Others are phased in. ... VSAC is there to help, as are the guidance offices of most high schools, and even the college financial aid offices. All do a decent job, and you should definitely contact each of them if you haven't already ... and stay in touch throughout the process. ... But you are the one who has to gather the info, fill out all the forms, meet the deadlines, etc. And in this world -- where, especially if you have more than one child who'll be going off to college, you can end up with more debt than your mortgage -- it pays to be as informed and self-help oriented as you possibly can. It also wouldn't hurt to save time where possible. ... That's where going on-line comes in. ... What's Available On-Line ... Once upon a time, financial aid help was limited. There was the guidance office, government pamphlets, Peterson Guides, eventually VSAC, and, if you were lucky, a friend or relative who went through the process the year before. Now, however, with the advent of the internet, there is more information, and more tools -- including scholarship searches and forms -- to help you find and apply for financial aid. In this month's Links to Learning & Education On-Line, we decided to forego the usual format of reviewing 3 quality links in favor of providing you with as many quality links as we could to We scoured the net for sites we found useful. And, not for nothing, with a combined thirty-five-plus years of higher ed experience between two of us on the staff here at DownStreet, including some fifteen years in Student Support Services, we have a pretty good idea of what's useful and what's not. ... So, we invite you to take advantage of our efforts and check out some or even all of the links. After all, it's financial aid time, and you can use all the help you can get. ... lmc & lbw . ******* ******* If you would like to submit something for our Learning & Education section, don't hesitate to let us know. Simply e-mail us at learn@downstreetmagazine.com. The e-mail should contain your name, address, and a phone number where we can reach you. You may also send a copy of your proposed article. The text can either be included in the body of the e-mail, or you can send it as an attachment in just about any word processing format. If your piece is accepted, we will pay a small honorarium for your interest & your time. [See Freelancers Wanted for more details.] ******* ******* If you would like to advertise in this section, or throughout the magazine, please visit our Advertising Info Pages ... or call, write, or e-mail ads@downstreetmagazine.com. ******* ******* . |
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