SayEducate

Campus Talk Has Just Gotten A Whole Lot Better!

nBuy Associates, the owner of this blog, is proudly announcing the introduction of its newest blog, SayCampusLife. This blog covers just about everything related to college life from admission, to living, education, sports and more.

SayCampusLife is geared toward university students, alumni, friends and family members as well as to fans of collegiate sports. Krayton M Davis and Matt Keegan, the two bloggers associated with SayEducate, will be the bloggers for the new blog too.

SayEducate will no longer include topics related to college, instead from this point forward those topics will appear on SayCampusLife. All of the college-related articles currently featured on SayEducate will remain in place.

We will be covering a variety of topics on SayCampusLife including:

• NCAA football — the 2007 -2008 bowl season just now getting underway.
• College admission tips and advice.
• Surviving dorm life.
• Paying for college without paying for it forever.
• Conference chat — which college basketball conference is the best and why.
• Preparing your first resume.
• And more!

Like SayEducate, SayCampusLife will be updated on daily basis, so please check back in often, feel free to register with both blogs, and leave related comments where applicable.

We hope to see you there!

Consider These Memorable Gifts For Christmas

Christmas is coming and maybe you are just now beginning to shop for your loved ones. If you are a parent of a high school senior, this holiday season can be a great time to start buying some items your college bound student will need for school right now. Your student can make use of that new desk or laptop computer months before leaving for school and they’ll have one less item to shop for later. College-themed gifts can be a great way to prepare your student for college months before they leave your home.

7 Gift Giving Ideas Sure To Please

Clothing — Students who applied and were accepted early for college know where they will be attending school next year. Why not reward them for all of their hard work by ordering a college sweatshirt, cap, and matching pants to wear right now? Just in time for the football bowl season and college hoops your student will look fashionably correct as they cheer on their future alma mater.

Linens — Grandparents, siblings and other family members can get into the game by purchasing bed linens, towels, even a throw rug for the dorm room. You already know his or her favorite colors, so why not help everyone by sharing some gift-giving ideas?

Computers — Will it be a PC or will it be a MAC? Most schools require students to bring along a computer and the best deals can be had during the holiday season. Make sure that you order one with tons of memory to last your student for the full four years of her undergrad studies.

Tickets — With the basketball season in full swing, chances are your student is avidly rooting for their team. Maybe a trip to see an on-campus game is in order, an opportunity to cheer on the home team and do a follow up tour of the campus.

Furniture — Some dorm rooms come fairly well equipped while others are stripped. A reclining chair, computer desk, table, or small bookshelf are thoughtful gifts for any occasion including at Christmas.

Electronics — Music systems have changed dramatically over the years and you may find it difficult to get the right gift in this area. No worries, the major retailers issue gift cards which can be redeemed for the right item after the holidays and for year end prices too! Also, if your cell phone plan is set to expire, why not add your son or daughter to our new plan and spring for that Apple iPhone your student has had his eye on since last summer?

Transportation — Going off to college means that your student will need a way to get around campus, make trips home, and attend the occasional away sporting event. If your budget allows it, year end car sales have driven down the price of everything from a Chevrolet Aveo to a BMW 3-Series. If a new car is a bit too pricey, consider a young used car sold by Hertz, CarMax, or a certified late model vehicle from off the dealer’s lot.

Shop And Compare

Shopping online can make comparing prices a breeze, saving you a bundle on all of your purchases. Your son or daughter won’t be leaving for college for many more months, but shopping for items they can use now or store for later is a smart way to celebrate the season.

College costs are continuing to rise and at a pace higher than the rate of inflation. This trend, which shows no sign of abating, is a cause of concern for plenty of parents including those with young children. Suddenly, being a part of the Marquette Class of 2022 doesn’t seem all that attainable never mind Georgetown 2012.

For parents wanting their children to attend the school of their choice, coming up with a plan to cover college costs is essential or settling on some lower cost schooling options may be the way to go. Let’s take a look at ways you can turn the college financing nightmare into a good dream come true.

Unless your son or daughter is already a high school junior or senior, the following information could change by the time your child reaches college age. For parents of younger children, setting aside funds in a 529 account which is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future college costs, is a good place to start. There is no telling what college costs will be by the time your child is ready for college and what other relief will be available at that time.

Your Financial Aid Road Map

We’ve developed an eight-step guide to help parents finance and pay for college. One or more of these steps can be used to finance your child’s education and help you understand the financial aid options for undergrads. The steps are as follows:

1. Review Financial Aid Steps — Before applying for aid, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and submit it to the federal government. Based on the information provided, the government will create a Student Aid Report (SAR) which will be submitted to the student’s college of choice and a copy to sent to the student’s family.

The college then takes the SAR and creates a financial award letter that lists the aid the student will receive. The difference between the cost and the award given is the family’s expected contribution towards the cost of education. Once that information is known then the student and his or her family will be able to determine the steps they will need to take provide the remaining funding.

2. Scholarships — Billions of dollars in scholarships are awarded annually therefore scholarships are an important way for families to close the funding gap. Scholarships can depend on financial background, race, ethnicity, course of study, school attended, and a host of other factors. Apply for as many scholarships as eligible as this can be an important way to finance higher education.

3. View Financial Aid Charts — Trying to estimate college costs beyond school expenses can be difficult. Using supplied online tools can help you keep everything in order.

4. Apply For Federal Stafford Student Loans — The federal government is a huge funder of higher education and Stafford Student Loans (SSL) are a great way to help pay for education. However, eligibility requirements are tight, therefore you will want to learn if your son or daughter is eligible as soon as possible.
5. View Other Aid Options — Grants, using your home equity, 529 funds, withdrawing IRA money, tax credits, military service, work-study programs, and loan forgiveness are options worth exploring.

6. PLUS Loans for Grads and Parents — These are government guaranteed, fixed rate student loans that can cover up to 100% of a dependent child’s cost of education, less any financial aid awarded.

7. Use Private Student Loans to Close the Gap — Families can borrow up to $30,000 annually and in some cases up to $40,000 thanks to private student lending. Private student loans are easier to get than Stafford Student Loans with a higher interest rate charged, but favorable pay back options available.

8. Manage Your Money During School — Finally, once your child is in school managing college money is essential toward collegiate success. A budget can go a long way to helping maintain financial accountability.

Once you have gone through the college admission process, then following the financial aid road map will help you achieve your goals in a timely manner. College costs are rising, but a well executed plan involving a combination of choices could be the way to go.