FAP449: 5 tips for graduate student financial aid, FAFSA tips, who is a dependent student on the FAFSA, Wyoming Scholarship, Paul Holcomb

Student Financial Aid News
+ Hey, I won a Seagate drive!
+ What does this mean for you?
+ More video!
+ Health insurance subsidy does more for college education than tuition subsidy
+ 5 great tips for graduate students seeking financial aid from the Mississippi Sun Herald
+ Don’t wait to ask for financial aid. Fellowship, scholarship and assistantship decisions are usually made at the university’s departmental level, and they’re made early in the process. So request aid early - and don’t worry, it won’t hurt your admissions chances. If you’re giving up a salary to go back to school, let the school know.
+ Network as much as you can. Talk to professors in various departments and look for individuals willing to lobby for you. If you’re not applying until next fall, make contacts at various programs to ask for guidance. They’ll pay off when you’re in the thick of the application process.
+ Enhance your resume. Your admission will depend heavily on your undergrad grade point average and the quality of the institution, your recommendations and other accomplishments. And so does your chances for financial aid. Play up strengths as much as you can and call attention to the ones that your transcript may not necessarily display.
+ Consider going all the way. If it makes sense, go for a Ph.D. instead of just a master’s. Doctoral candidates have higher chances of getting free money.
+ Look for outside funding. Find a company or organization that might benefit from your research and sell yourself to them. It may even lead to a job in the end.
+ California students looking at 10% tuition increase at state schools in CSU/UC system
+ From NASFAA: “Texas lawmakers have filed at least four bills that would abolish a groundbreaking state law that allows [illegal immigrants] to pay cheaper in-state tuition rates and receive financial aid at UH,” reports the Houston Chronicle. “The law’s opponents say it’s unfair to reduce tuition for undocumented students when not all citizens are eligible for the same discount.”
+ Puzzling legislation in Wyoming - to opt in or out of Hathaway Scholarship

Scholarship Update
+ Hathaway Scholarship at the University of Wyoming
+ $400M endowment
+ Up to $3,200 per year based on academic performance plus need-based component
+ For residents of Wyoming
+ Secondary scholarship
+ Application is part of applying to the UW system
+ Details at our free college scholarship web site

Mail Bag
+ Kelly writes in: i appreciate that you stop by my crazy site that it is. im wondering if there is a way you could help me out. i’ve already applied to a school .. that i’m intersted in going too. and i’ve been denied before with fasfa only because i went to school once and screwed up and they are sayin my grades are not good. i’m determine to go back to school, but i don’t know where to begin. i’m in between jobs and i can’t sign up for loans, is there any other way that i can still sign up for my school and get help for college.
+ The FAFSA is not merit based aid - it’s need based
+ Common reasons for your FAFSA being declined include errors or insufficient information
+ File your FAFSA anyway, it’s free
+ College Goal Sunday USA
+ Stafford federal student loans
+ Parent PLUS loans
+ Private student loans
+ Rachael writes in: Any insights or advice in applying for graduate school to get my MBA?
+ Let’s defer to next week on that
+ Steller writes in: Dang I wish I ran into you before I racked up all this figgin school loan debt. Could I qualify for scholarships that will go toward my school loans?
+ Check out the loan forgiveness section on StudentScholarshipSearch.com
+ Cindy writes in: We have a son in college. At this time we are claiming him as a dependant on our fafsa. When should he start filing as a single student, living on his own income?
+ Who is a dependent on the FAFSA?
+ You were born before January 1, 1984.
+ You will be enrolled in a master’s or doctorate program (beyond a bachelor’s degree) at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.
+ You’re married as of the day you apply (or you’re separated but not divorced).
+ You have children who receive more than half their support from you.
+ You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply and through June 30, 2008.
+ Both your parents are deceased, or you are (or were until age 18) a ward or dependent of the court.
+ You’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Podsafe Music
+ Paul Holcomb, Series of Tubes Ted Stevens Techno Remix
+ Music via the Podsafe Music Network
+ Stop by our MySpace page!

Reminders
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ FAFSA form online filing at FAFSAonline.com
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 877-328-1565 x529 or 206-350-1208. AIM: FinAidPodcast Add me to your iTunes by visiting http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com/itunes/

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