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Links: A Guide For Students: "Twenty Things You Need to Know About Financing College" This link was developed by a work group sponsored by the College Scholarship Service (CSS). It provides a series of 20 questions that help students work through the process of financing college by grouping the process into three phases: 1) applying to college; 2) choosing a college; and 3) finalizing matters before leaving home. Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) for Future Teachers K-12: This link provides information from the California Student Aid Commission concerning eligibility criteria and application procedures for the APLE program. The APLE is a state-funded competitive teacher incentive program administered by the California Student Aid Commission. Designed to encourage outstanding students to become teachers and serve in critical teacher shortage areas in California public elementary and secondary schools. Assumption Program of Loans for Education (Graduate APLE) for Future Postsecondary Faculty: This link provides information from the California Student Aid Commission concerning eligibility criteria and application procedures for the Graduate APLE program. The Graduate APLE is a state-funded loan assumption program administered by the California Student Aid Commission. The program is designed to encourage individuals to complete their graduate education and serve accredited colleges or universities in California. California Student Aid Commission: This site contains comprehensive information concerning the various student aid programs administered by the Commission. California Center for Teaching Careers (CalTeach): This site contains a wealth of financial aid and additional information for prospective teachers. On the CalTeach web site, prospective teachers can locate information on teacher incentives including bonuses, forgivable school loans, home loan assistance programs and income tax credits. College Parents of America: This site is sponsored by the College Parents of America (CPA), which is the only national membership association dedicated to helping parents prepare and put their children through college easily, economically and safely. They are pleased to offer Money Talks, a free brochure designed to encourage and enable parents to teach college-aged students the financial facts of life. Money Talks shows parents how to help students develop and manage a workable budget, and how to manage banking products such as checking accounts, debit and credit cards responsibly. Perhaps most importantly, it helps parents instill good saving habits by differentiating between available credit and affordability, as well as guide students to look for the signs of overspending to avoid financial trouble. Completing the FAFSA: This site will explain how to properly complete the FAFSA, the purpose of the FAFSA questions, and how information should be reported in some unusual cases. There are also several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers for students. CSU, Bakersfield Web Site: A comprehensive site that provides information concerning problems and services offered by the University. CSU Mentor Page: This site is maintained by the CSU Chancellor's Office and is intended to assist students in selecting a CSU campus; planning to meet CSU entrance and academic requirements; applying for admissions and financial aid; understanding financial aid eligibility and opportunities; and establishing an electronic communications link between the student and CSU campus(es). Direct Loan Web Site: Additional information concerning the William D. Ford Federal DIRECT Loan Program can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Education DIRECT Loan Web Site. New services on the Direct Loan Web Site include:
FastWeb: This site was originally developed to use the Internet to help students find scholarships for college. Students develop a personal profile that enables them to find potential colleges and scholarships that fit their background. The free service has been expanded to include an extensive college directory of more than 4,000 schools with information on admissions, financial aid and general information. Free tools, such as calendars, e-mail, and cost calculators are also provided to help students succeed in school. FinAid -- The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid: This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive annotated collection of information about student financial aid on the web. Mapping Your Future: This link is sponsored by a group of guaranty agencies who participate in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and are committed to providing information about higher education and career opportunities. The site is intended to counsel students and families about college, career, and financial choices through a state-of-the-art public service web site. NSLDS: The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. It receives data from schools, agencies that guaranty loans, the Direct Loan program, the Pell Grant program, and other U.S. Department of Education programs. NSLDS provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and Pell grants that are tracked through their entire cycle; from aid approval through closure. You can use the web site to make inquiries about your Title IV loans and/or Pell grants. The site displays information on loan and/or grant amounts, outstanding balances, loan statuses, and disbursements. Peterson's: Welcome to the most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the web, brought to you by Peterson's--the nation's leading information services provider. Since its founding in 1966, Peterson's has helped connect individuals, educational institutions, and corporations with their goals through its critically acclaimed books, software, networking services, online activities, and special admissions services. (Read more about Peterson's history.) ScholarshipHelp.org: This comprehensive site is designed to educate students about scholarship access and the necessary requirements for achieving maximum scholarship consideration. The information is provided free of charge to help students and parents avoid scholarship scam operations that promise “secrets” to what is essentially public information about the many scholarship opportunities available throughout the country. The site includes detailed information concerning college cost facts, types of scholarships, judging the scholarship application, personal assessment, scholarship opportunities, evaluating opportunities, preparing the application, scholarship essay, letters of recommendation, the interview, scholarship renewal, an internet guide, and a college directory by state. Selective Service System: This site is maintained by the Federal Selective Service agency and is intended to assist students in registering for, and/or verifying their selective service status. By law you must register, or arrange to register, with the Selective Service to receive federal student aid. The requirement to register applies to males who were born on or after January 1, 1960, are at least 18 years old, are citizens or eligible noncitizens, and are not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. (Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau are exempt from registering). The California College Explorer: Students seeking career and academic advisement and other information on any college in California can find the information in this one comprehensive site. The website offers academic and career advice, financial aid information, campus tours, academic preparation guides, online applications, and other important facts about every public and private higher educational institution in California. The site is free of charge and is accessible 24 hours a day. The joint website is an initiative by the California Education Round Table and involved the collaboration of the California State University, University of California, California Community Colleges, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the California Department of Education, and the California Postsecondary Education Commission. The site includes several features to allow prospective college students wishing to attend a California postsecondary institution to learn about California colleges and universities including CSU, the California Community Colleges, University of California campuses, and independent colleges in California. The site complements CSUMentor by providing an opportunity for students to explore and compare all California colleges and universities to determine which ones meet their academic needs. In addition, the new site offers extensive services in career planning to help students decide on majors in which to study. Students are able to create a database on the website and transfer that information automatically to CSUMentor or to an online CSU application for admission. The Student Guide -- Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education: This link takes you to the most comprehensive resources on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. The Student Guide tells you all about the federal grant, loan, and work-study programs and how to apply for them. students.gov: This government-wide web portal makes it easy for college students to find any kind of federal service or information they need. The U.S. Department of Education is coordinating with other federal agencies to provide this "one-stop-shop" giving students access to information about financial aid, career development, education planning, consumer protection, and a wide variety of other topics. |
