2007 was a heck of a year. Here’s some photo highlights from this incredible year.

FAP704: How to achieve your goals in 2008

Listen now:

Student Financial Aid News
+ FAFSA filing opens tonight at midnight
+ Download our FAFSA filing guide

Scholarship Update
+ The Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship was created in 1988 by the Bigelow family to aid students from New England who are seeking a career in horticulture. The scholarship was dedicated initially to one of the family’s children, the late Timothy Bigelow. At Palmer W. “Bill” Bigelow’s death, the name of its creator was added. The Bigelow family considers student scholarships the most important commitment the horticultural industry can make to insure the growth and development of the nursery and landscape industry. In recent years the scholarships have totaled $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 to three graduate or under-graduate students to New England universities.
+ April 1 deadline of each year
+ Details at our free college scholarship search site

Setting Goals for the New Year
+ Originally part of the goma-kan, a Tendai Buddhist ritual
+ Figure out your goals - specific, measurable, with deadlines
+ Write them down
+ Figure out what external resources you will need to achieve your goal or goals
+ Determine what external factors will stand in your way
+ How will you get around them?
+ Figure out what internal resources you will need to achieve your goal or goals
+ Determine what internal factors will stand in your way
+ How will you get around them?
+ From your goals and meditations, create a timeline and plan to achieve your goals
+ Find a way to create a task that helps you achieve your goal every day and execute it without fail
+ Measure frequently and allow for slippage
+ Learn more about this ritual’s origins from master instructor Stephen K. Hayes

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Direct MP3 file download: Click here to download the MP3

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

Auld Lang Syne is the song everyone recognizes and no one knows. Here’s the lyrics, courtesy of Wikipedia. Written by Robert Burns in the 18th century.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup !
And surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin’ auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gies a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie-waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Here’s a modern English version, again using Wikipedia’s translation.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

FAP703: Paying for financial aid info, Free Stuff Friday

Mail Bag
+ Jim writes in: Hi Chris! A couple of months ago we listened in on a tele seminar sponsored by NSHHS (we think!!) talking about college finacial aid,all the forms involved and the gentleman said his company would work with you to maximize your scholarship/loan qualification numbers. This would be done for a fee of course. We got cut off at towards the end of the call. Would that have been you or someone else from your organization? We are looking for more info.
+ Unequivocally, no. We do not charge money for financial aid information
+ In general, it’s better to avoid paying money for financial aid information since so much of it is free
+ Check out our free FAFSA guide at FAFSAonline.com

Scholarship Update
+ Carl Albert Center Graduate Fellowship
+ The Carl Albert Center offers an attractive five-year fellowship leading to a Ph. D. in political science. During the first three years, fellows serve as teaching or research assistants while engaged in coursework. Students spend the fourth year in Washington D.C. as congressional fellows, and the fifth year back on campus, completing the dissertation without any additional responsibilities. Currently the stipend for the first three years on campus is $1,445/month ($17,340/year). The stipend in Washington, during the fourth year, is currently $2,800/month. During the fifth year, when the student returns to campus to complete the dissertation, the stipend is $1,625/month.
+ Details at our free college scholarship search site

Free Stuff Friday
+ Open Source Living
+ SavvyGraph for Amazon
+ Springnote for taking notes
+ Learn investing with StockTrak
+ ImageSorter
+ Free FAFSA guide

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Direct MP3 file download: Click here to download the MP3

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

FAP702: Student Loan Television: Social Media Job Search Jobcast

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to address a class of college seniors at Emerson College about using new media and social networks to land a job. This brief 15 minute video is a recording of the lecture. Many thanks to Amanda Mooney for helping to arrange the opportunity.

Direct file: iPod version

Click To Play

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

FAP701: Student Loan Television: Financial Aid 101

I recently had the opportunity and honor of speaking to a class of seniors at Trinity Catholic High School about the basics of financial aid. In this recording, you’ll hear the lecture as delivered. Many thanks to Emily Samek for the invitation to speak.

Direct file: iPod version

Click To Play

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

FAP700: Christmas Day 2007

Today I present the audio version of the Holiday Gift Guide. These gifts are all free, so they’re appropriate to give any day of the year. 5 for others, 5 for you. Get the PDF here.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or whatever you deem most appropriate, and thanks for listening to the Financial Aid Podcast.

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Direct MP3 file download: Click here to download the MP3

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

FAP699: Christmas Eve 2007

It’s December 24, 2007, and virtually all the news sources, including the Financial Aid Podcast, are on holiday break. This is the show for today, a simple, quiet thank you from me to you, and the very best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season. Whatever your circumstances, wherever you may be, I wish you well now and even better in the days, weeks, and months to come. Whether times are good or bad, may they be even better, and may you have the wisdom and will to make them so.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or whatever you deem most appropriate, and thanks for listening to the Financial Aid Podcast.

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Direct MP3 file download: Click here to download the MP3

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

FAP698: Student Loan Radio CoverCast - Matthew Ebel Set 3

Six more covers from Matthew Ebel tonight:

+ Train, Meet Virginia
+ Billy Joel, New York State of Mind
+ Tom Petty, Free Falling
+ Bob Dylan, the Watchtower
+ Ben Folds, Brick
+ Tom Cochrane, Life is a Highway
+ I Will Wait For You, from the album Goodbye Planet Earth

Pick up a copy of Goodbye Planet Earth today! It’s a great stocking stuffer.

Did you enjoy today’s show? If so, please consider subscribing for free to get it delivered to you. Subscribing for free means you don’t have to remember to download it every day.
+ Click here to subscribe for free by email
+ Click here to subscribe for free in iTunes
+ Click here to add the Financial Aid Podcast to Google Reader or your Google Homepage

Direct MP3 file download: Click here to download the MP3

Reminders
+ Financial Aid Podcast Show Notes at FinancialAidPodcast.com.
+ Discuss this episode at the Financial Aid Forum!
+ FAFSA form tutorials and free help at FAFSAonline.com
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student loan consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Private student loans available at any time - visit AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ The Financial Aid Podcast is a publication of the Student Loan Network.

I want to hear from you! Email me at financialaidpodcast {at} gmail {dot} com, visit http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com, or call 206-350-1208.

Technorati Tags: financial aid financialaidpodcast

Here’s my first take on the OLPC and its usability:

Takeaways:

• Small keyboard for little kids hands
• Does what it’s designed to do very well
• People who complain when comparing it to a MacBook are comparing Apples and walnuts