With the 2008-2009 school year just around the corner and the credit crunch tightening lenders' belts, students are turning their pockets inside-out to find adequate finances for their education. But the latest in lending alternatives might surprise you. Some private companies are utilizing the social networking phenomenon to aid students in their quest for financial aid.
Sites like Fynanz provide "peer-to-peer" lending services for students and private lenders alike. Students are encouraged to create a profile indicating their educational and personal goals, as well as their anticipated finances. Individual lenders, whether private benefactors, family members, friends, or alumni, can contribute to students' loans in an interactive online marketplace.
According to this article about the twist on student loans from eSchoolNews.com, "Fynanz, which debuted in March and currently operates in 16 states, called itself the first such service to target student loans. The site evaluates students for credit risk and matches them with an individual investor or investors, who bid to finance the loans."
For more information about financial aid, go to eCollegeFinder's student loan page.
College is a time to grow, learn and… emulate the greats? Of course it is! Hollywood films have been glorifying the college experience for generations. From the newfound independence to the forum-type classes, every high school student couldn’t wait to move to universities after seeing any of the top 10 college movies.
1.Animal House – In 1962, the Delta house is the worst fraternity at Faber College, and Dean Wormer is determined to expel them for good, if only he can stop their hilarious hi-jinks from continuing. In the words of Dean Wormer, “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.”
2. PCU – After pawning off a visiting high school senior on his housemate, Droz, a seven-year student at Port Chester University goes about his daily activities, which include disrupting a political rally and throwing meat at vegans. Most memorable is the worldly advice Droz gives to Tom, his visitor: “Well, here's all you need to know. Classes: nothing before eleven. Beer: it's your best friend, you drink a lot. Women? You're a freshman, so it's pretty much out of the question. Will you have a car? Someone on your floor will. Find them and make friends with them on the first day.”
3. Old School – After a bad break up with a cheating girlfriend, Mitch moves into a house on a college campus, a perfect solution to the problem his friends currently face: how to reclaim their college years while still being adults. As they create their own fraternity of students and middle-aged men, Mitch and his friends remind audiences of the glory days of college, “because this is a very big idea my friends. We're talking about a non-exclusive egalitarian brotherhood where community status and more importantly age have no bearing whatsoever.”
4. Revenge of the Nerds – This 1984 classic shows the degrees of vengeance nerds will go to to get back at the jocks who humiliate them. The high-tech warfare waged by Gilbert and Lewis at Adams College is just what’s needed for nerds everywhere to take back their freedom from the hands of all jocks. Jocks beware: “Those nerds are a threat to our way of life.”
5. Back to School – “When I used to dream about going to college, this is the way I always pictured it.” This is what Thornton Melon states just as he’s about to embark on his college experience – with his son! When millionaire Thornton Melon enrolls at university with his son, as a way to convince him that college is a good idea, no one expected him to become the Big Man on Campus, but is that the best way to pass college?
6. Rudy – Rudy spent his whole life dreaming about leaving his small mill town to play football for Notre Dame. Unfortunately he’s smaller than all of the other players, and his athletic skills are considered sub par. Rudy knows that “having dreams is what makes life tolerable,” and with endless energy and determination, Rudy makes his dreams become reality as he gets the chance of his lifetime to play for the Fightin’ Irish.
7. Dead Man on Campus – Cooper and Josh are in danger of flunking out of college. When they hear about an urban legend implying that any student whose roommate commits suicide receives straight A’s due to their grief, the twosome goes on a man hunt looking for the perfect roommate. Eventually, just like every other college student, they learn that “there's only one thing that can save you now. You need to study.”
8. Legally Blonde – After being dumped by the love of her life for not being serious enough, Elle Woods decides to show her ex just how wrong about her he is – by getting into Harvard Law School! Warner is surprised to see Elle at Harvard, not believing that she, of all people, would get in. When Elle glibly responds with, “What? Like it’s hard?” everyone knew she’d be the top dog in her graduating class. Though Harvard is a far cry from Beverly Hills, Elle is determined to come out on top.
9. Road Trip – Josh and Tiffany have been together practically forever, but when he makes an inappropriate tape with another girl and accidentally mails it to his girlfriend, hi-jinks ensue. Josh and his friends decide that that only way to stop Tiffany from seeing that tape is to take a road trip and get to the video before she does. Guys laughed through this movie as girls wondered, “Are there any guys out there who are just normal?”
10. Higher Learning – A group of students from a variety of races, religions, and backgrounds are forced to integrate as they all matriculate at Columbus University. All of them face adversity and discrimination in a multitude of forms. They learn, in the words of their professor (quoting Frederick Douglass) that “without struggle, there is no progress.”
If you think we missed something, or if you disagree with our choices, leave a comment to let us know what you think should be added or removed from this list!
According to a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, distance education students may be in for an 'invasive' awakening.
A small portion of a 1,200-page Higher Education Act suggests that distance education providers must require spy cameras in students' homes.
Though the bill has not been voted on by Congress yet, few strong objections have been voiced.
In order to maintain the advantages of online education (taking classes anytime, anywhere), the bill outlines measures to decrease cheating. Some colleges have already embraced these efforts by reading students' fingerprints, installing Web cameras or recording keystrokes.
The proposed bill will certainly raise concerns regarding individual freedom versus institutions' ability to discourage and prevent cheating. We'd love to hear (read) your thoughts in the comment section below!
Since the Women's Movement, the number of women entering the work force has been steadily climbing - until this decade, that is. Economists chalked up the
decreasing number of working women to the motherhood movement just two or three years ago, when they first started to notice the decline. Originally thinking that many women were going home to take care of their children, economists are now saying that women are facing the same problems as men in the work place: layoffs, downturns, outsourcing, stagnating wages, and the prospect of an outright pay cut. Women leaving the work force in the same numbers and manner as men have potentially dangerous consequences for families and their lifestyles. These trends are just about the same in well- and less-educated women, married and never-married women, white and black women, and women with teens as well as women with children under 6 years old. As a result, women with an
associate's degree, or no degree at all, find themselves back at school in hopes of finding a higher paying job after graduation.
If you had a choice between going to class and watching your favorite TV show there’s really no contest is there? With flexible schedules built by college students looking for lots of free time between classes, it’s easy to get lost in the story lines of a favorite program, especially an entire season if the series of choice is available on DVD. Here’s a look at 10 TV shows any college kid would gladly miss class for.
1. Arrested Development – Michael Bluth is forced to take over the family business after his father is sent to jail for questionable accounting practices. But with the family business comes the entire dysfunctional family. While the family assets are frozen, Michael needs to figure out what do with his siblings and their families as well as take care of his 13-year-old son, George-Michael.
2. Entourage – Often referred to as the male version of Sex and the City, Entourage follows rising film star Vinny Chase as he tries to navigate the shark-infested waters of Hollywood. Coming from humble beginnings, Vinny’s “entourage” includes his childhood friends as well as a professional agent.
3. Lost – After crashing on a seemingly deserted island, the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 discover that getting along with each other is not the only thing they need to cope with as they wait for rescue. Lost has been recognized as a top drama for its intricate plot twists involving character flash backs, flash forwards, and other violent inhabitants of the island.
4. The Daily Show with John Stewart – John Stewart and his co-anchors put a comedic spin on the news of the day. With topics ranging from politics to religion to Hollywood gossip, viewers see the quirks of the real world with a sarcastic edge and lots of laughs.
5. Saved by the Bell – High school was tough, especially for Zach Morris and his five friends. The crew of six really knew what it meant to have a good time, and what it meant to have to dig yourself out of a hole or two.
6. Weeds – After her husband suddenly dies of a heart attack, leaving her and her children with nothing, Nancy Botwin turns to the seedy world of marijuana to support her family. Nancy soon finds out though that each up wind brings down fall, and she repeatedly finds herself thinking of a new plan in order to take care of her sons.
7. Three Sheets – Comedian Zane Lamprey travels around the world with a camera crew documenting the drinking customs of different countries and cities. He also provides his viewers with a few hangover cures after the hardest nights.
8. Nip/Tuck – Who knew Miami’s world of plastic surgery was so hot? Drs. Christian Troy and Sean McNamara try running a normal practice but are always being pulled into new, sometimes dangerous, ventures. From the black market to infidelity, the twosome deals with every scenario under the hot Florida sun.
9. Curb Your Enthusiasm – Larry David, the brain child of Seinfeld, stars as himself in a humiliating comedy based on his own life. Audiences are continually shocked with Larry’s actions and seriously wonder how his wife and friends put up with him.
10. Grey’s Anatomy – Surgical residency is proving more difficult than Meredith Grey and her fellow interns ever expected. As Meredith and four other interns at Seattle Grace Hospital traverse operating rooms, triage sites, and their romantic lives, viewers are physically unable to take their eyes off the screen.
Don’t agree with us? Let us know what TV show you’d cut class to watch by leaving a comment below.
The federal government annually evaluates the rates for federal loans. Despite this year's dismal economy, the government has cut interest rates and fees for federal loans, putting more money back into the pockets of student borrowers. New rulings for specific loans and grants include the following:
Stafford Loans (subsidized):
New loans (the first pay out between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009) are offered with 6.0% interest.
Pre-exisiting Stafford loans taken out prior to July 1, 2006 and not yet entered into a loan consolidation program are offered a 4.1% interest rate, 3 points lower than its original 7.22% interest rate.
Stafford Loans (unsubsidized):
The maximum amount that an undergraduate can borrow in any one year is now $2,000.
Stafford Loans (both):
Total maxmimum loan limits for both unsubsidized and subsidized Stafford loans is $31,000 for students who claim dependent on a parent or guardian's tax return. For independent students, the loan amount has increased to $57,000.
TEACH Program:
The 2008-2009 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education program offers $4,000 to eligible students who teach
after graduation in schools serving low-income students.
Loan Forgiveness:
For
college graduates entering the public service industry, the government
has instituted a new loan forgiveness plan. Employment in this industry must be by one of the following: federal, state, local, or tribal government; the
military; the public school system; or non-for-profit organizations.
Find out more about student loans!
Former Vice President Al Gore is urging Americans to abandon the use of electricity generated by fossil fuels within the next decade and rely solely upon "
environmentally friendly sources of power, or risk losing their national security as well as their creature comforts." Gore recently gave a speech at an energy conference that reiterated the issues of Global Warming and Greenhouse emissions he made in his Oscar-winning documentary
An Inconvenient Truth as well as the potential risks national security faces should we continue using electricity as opposed to natural energy sources. His work to stop Global Warming, the former VP has also won a Nobel Prize.
We’ve all been there. Sitting online, staring at the Facebook page of someone we don’t even know, or shopping online when we’ve sworn we wouldn’t spend money until our next paycheck arrives, or just wasting time on our PCs. Like everybody else, we’re capable of partaking in idiotic activities online. When you to think of all of the silly things you’ve done online in the past, and you become red with embarrassment all over again. But then again, aren’t there some things you’d hands-down admittedly do online if you could? Like order a cheeseburger and have it delivered to you immediately by the internet gods to your hands? We’ve created a list of the “shoulds” and “should nots” of what to do online.
- Should: Be able to vote. Though election days are few and far between, the voting process would be so much easier if we didn’t have to scramble to make it to our district’s polls before they closed. Plus, who really feels a sense of privacy behind that flimsy curtain? As you stand there pondering which lever to pull, you’re worrying about the people in line behind you thinking you have no clue what you’re doing because you’re taking so long. Online voting not only eliminates the need to rush to the polls, but gives you a sense of privacy and anonymity. Online polls should be available through your e-mail provider and the sites of all major news papers.
- Should not: Spam. We’ve all received the “pass this on to find your true love” emails. Nobody likes them, yet somehow, despite a top of the line spam-blocker, they find their way into our inbox. Instead of racking your brain to come up with a list of friends, family and exes to forward these junk e-mails to, you could be more productive, spending more time playing Soduku and perusing tmz.com. Computer and internet programs should notice spammy e-mails as they’re being constructed and block them from being sent.
- Should: Renew expired drivers’ licenses. Just like going to the polls is a hassle on Election Day, heading over to the DMV to renew an expired or almost-expired license is no one’s cup of tea. Not only is it time-consuming to sit at the DMV for upwards of an hour before being helped, you always get that half-smile half-grimace from the person behind the console. License renewals online should be easy – fill out a quick form with your information and request that your current picture from the database remain on your new license or upload an appropriate one from your Facebook profile.
- Should not: E-mail or IM above a certain BAC. We aren’t allowed to drive with a Blood Alcohol Count above .08 for good reason: alcohol impairs judgment: Similarly, we shouldn’t be able to e-mail or IM when we’ve had too much to drink. What we drunkenly perceive to be casual flirting is in reality a bunch of gibberish with a few “I love you”s and “I miss you”s thrown in when they shouldn’t be. Just as your friends have learned to take your phone away from you, they should put locks on your computer to save you from embarrassing yourself with an ex or a current flame.
- Should: Be able to primp online. Finding time to get in a massive work-out or get a hair cut can be difficult when we work full time and prefer to spend our weekends relaxing with friends and family. And everybody dreams of having the body of their favorite celebrity whether it’s Madonna’s or Brad Pitt’s. How great would it be if we could get it all done online while we’re at work? Having the virtual you work out at the online gym or make an appointment with the internet esthetician could save us time, and money, and especially pain! Our virtual selves would do all the work while we reap the benefits: burn the calories, lose the weight and get the fabulous hair without having to miss work or family time.
- Should not: Be allowed to download bad music. It’s always so upsetting to learn that a friend has horrible taste in music, a curable addiction that is only being fed by the always-growing selection available on iTunes. And you would rather have your ears chopped off than listen to cheesy soft-rock songs on the radio when every other station seems to think that an over-abundance of commercials is just what their listeners want. There should definitely be a computer program that blocks the downloading and listening of bad music; this includes boy-band revivals and migraine-inducing heavy metal.
- Should: Enroll in an Online program. Though it's already available, earning your online degree is one of best uses of your time! Beginning a program online enables you to work at your own pace, complete the coursework from the privacy of your own home, and eliminates the extra finances associated with driving to an on-campus program or hiring a babysitter in order to get out of the house. Whether you're interested in business, teaching, healthcare, or technology, be sure to check out all available specialty areas available to find one thats right for you.
Foreign and American policies spilled into the world of education recently as three
Gazan Fullbright scholars were denied access into America by Israel, deeming them "too dangerous." The students, all former scholars or teaching assistants of the Islamic Univeristy of Gaza were denied entry into the US and had their awards revoked by Israel. The university is a stronghold of Hamas, the radical group currently in control of Gaza. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice publicly stated that the Fullbright program was a vital part of American policy and reinstated visas for the students. They are currently undergoing detailed security checks. Should foreign policies bar students from other countries from pursuing an American education?
Many students need financial assistance in order to pay for tuition. When considering student loans, there are many options including federal and private loans. Before applying for a loan, it is important to consider
which loan is right for you.
Federal Loans: The Options
- Stafford Loans: regulated by the government; usually accompanied by low interest rates; interest is paid until end of pre-determined grace period
- Perkins Loans:smaller than Stafford loans; must apply for a Pell grant first; interest rates generally around 5%, and payment period is negotiable
- PLUS Loans: not federally subsidized and therefore have higher interest rates
Parent PLU: these loans cover total amount of tuition; repayment is soley the parent's responsibility
Graduate PLUS: for those that are in graduate or professional-level degree programs, this loan is ideal; repayment is soley the graduate student's responsibility
Private Loans: The Options
- Loans given by private institutions, individual lenders, or banks
- These loans vary and eligibility is determined by the individual's creditworthiness
- Interest rates vary
- Payment period determined by individual lender; either payable immediately or payment upon graduation