Financial Aid Podcast Free MP3 Internet Radio Show

FAP776: US News and World Report, Free Stuff Friday

April 11th, 2008

FAP776: US News and World Report, Free Stuff Friday

Listen now:

Student Financial Aid News
+ Hey, we’re in US News and World Report!
+ An article by Kim Palmer and a followup blog post by Richard Mondello
+ I thought it was a good piece, informative, except for this paragraph:
+ “But consumer advocates are concerned that students may not realize or consider that these educational messages are coming from people who want their business, not unbiased sources. “It looks a little bit too much like disinterested information when in fact it is a student loan company…. There’s a conflict there,” says Robert Shireman, executive director of the Project on Student Debt, of the Student Loan Network’s website and podcast. (Penn says the company affiliation is always clearly displayed.)”
+ I just want to check with y’all - is anyone not clear that this podcast is published by the Student Loan Network, that the Student Loan Network is a student loan company, and that when I plug student loan services, they’re services of the Student Loan Network?
+ Do I need pimp music? Yes I do! (some tongue in cheek humor)
+ Stafford federal student loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Parent PLUS loans at ParentPLUSLoan.com
+ Graduate student loans at GradLoans.com
+ Private student loans at AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ Of course not. Only smart, highly motivated people listen to the Financial Aid Podcast
+ In all seriousness, there have been in the past some marketing practices that were deceptive by other student loan companies - at the height of student loan consolidation craziness, I got mailings that looked almost like Department of Education notices, bills, credit cards, offers for iPods, phones, free iTunes, you name it.
+ If you want to see a few samples, here’s a link to our Wall of Competition.

Scholarship Update
+ ScholarshipExperts.com is now accepting online applications for the ScholarshipExperts.com Do-Over Scholarship. Five scholarship recipients will be chosen to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Winners will be notified via email and/or postal mail on or around August 30, 2008.
+ Applicants must: Be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application Be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia Be currently enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2013) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher education Submit an online short written response (250 words or less) for the question: “If you were given one ‘do-over,’ would you: (a) use it for yourself; (b) give it to another person; or (c) choose not to use it?” Please explain your choice.
+ Application Deadline: June 30, 2008 at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Saving Time
+ Details at our free college scholarship search site

Free Stuff Friday
+ Free reusable tote bag - hat tip to Freebie Fridays
+ Free survey software - inside Google Docs, of all places
+ 9 free digital organizers
+ I’ve been using Things for the Mac lately - it will not be free once it comes out of beta, but boy is it useful
+ DelayCast - timely!
+ Free WiFi Finder
+ I’ve covered it before but it’s worth re-emphasizing - TED Talks is one of the best video podcasts ever. If you’re just tuning in, check out Al Gore’s newest talk, plus Dr. Jill Taylor
+ Timely: Free IRS tax filing online for AGI < $54K
+ Timely: Free IRS filing solely if you want to claim your economic stimulus
+ Please consider doing something useful with your stimulus check
+ Open a savings account and sit on it
+ Donate it to a charity
+ Invest it for the long term in an environmental company like wind or solar

Free Song of the Week
+ Natives of the New Dawn, Good Day

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.
+
+
+