FAP403: Huge mail bag today, FSA Ombudsman, Big Education, Second Life, ATT Fellowship Program, Brother Love

Student Financial Aid News
+ Harrisburg University of Science and Technology received some nice coverage in InsideHigherEd.com
+ From CNN: The classroom of the future isn't on a college campus. It's in the virtual world of "Second Life." A growing number of educators are getting caught up in the wave. More than 60 schools and educational organizations have set up shop in the virtual world and are exploring ways it can be used to promote learning.
+ From Fortune Magazine: In the corporate world, there's a short list of obvious suspects who may face tougher times under a Democratic Congress, including Big Pharma and Big Oil. Then there are the not-so-obvious suspects - like what might be called Big Education. Last spring Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) introduced a Student Borrower Bill of Rights. Among its tenets are a cap on loan interest as a percentage of a borrower's income. "A Democratic majority will definitely have an opportunity to change student-loan law," says Michael Dannenberg, who directs education policy at the New America Foundation, a Washington think tank.

Scholarship Update
+ AT&T Labs Fellowship Program
+ All educational expenses during the school year, including tuition, books, fees, and approved travel expenses.
+ Education expenses for summer study or university research.
+ A stipend for living expenses (currently $2380 per month, paid for 10 months of the year, plus a $500 book allowance).
+ Support for attending approved scientific conferences.
+ A mentor who is a staff member at AT&T Labs. The program emphasizes personal interaction with your mentor. For the typical recipient, this component of the program is often the most important one of all.
+ Students must be seniors graduating in the current academic year or in their first or second year of grad school.
+ They must be female or members of a minority underrepresented in science fields (Hispanic, African-American, or Native American).
+ They must be enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a graduate school program leading to a PhD.
+ They must be U. S. Citizens or permanent residents.
+ The student's major field must be in computer science, math, statistics, electrical engineering, operations research, systems engineering, industrial engineering, or related fields.
+ Detailed information on our student scholarship search site

Mail Bag
+ Olin Hyde from JustIQ writes in: We love your blog and podcast. It inspired us to start one of our own⦠We build IT systems for student loan companies. Just so you know who we are and what we do⦠http://www.justiq.com/ Our white paper might give you some grist for your prolific blogging mill. Many thanks and hope we run into each other at an industry event.
+ Scott from Banner Plumbing writes in: I have been listening on podcast for about 30 shows or more. I burn to disc everyday at work and listen on 1-2 hr drive home in Chicago. Problem is I have to save the disc to re-listen to write down what you. Thatâs my problem. I have a junior daughter in high school. Your show is great I have not been able to pass on the show to others. It seems like financial aid is a charity word and close friends want to talk about each other personal financial information in dollars and cents with close friends. Please continue with you show. I will continue to try to pass on your show as I do with other podcast burned to cd for less technical people.
+ Thanks so much - by the way, the iPod Shuffle is only $79.
+ Cheddar Doc wrote on YouTube: It's funny that I should see this video. BEWARE of ACS. The 1st 9 consecutive payments on time get you a 1% rebate. They claimed they never received my 6th. I have the torn stub still and check number. It was never cashed, but my payments have never crossed in the mail with any creditor in 9 years of paying bills, either....I've never been late on a bill. I have A-1 credit; and although I'd like to think that this is just one of those things, I'd be more inclined to believe I'd been sabotaged.
+ Ed writes in from YouTube: the dept. of ed. does things like that. Never ever under any situation get a student loan. I dont care if you have to work three years to save money for college. never get a student loan. d.o.e sells your loan. everytime the sell it. they tack on another 25% in fees and cost to the principle and interest. they will sell your loans and very often. eg. $7200 in loans over 10yrs will probably6 cost you $25-35,000
+ FSA Ombudsman at 877-557-2575 or Ombudsman.ed.gov
+ Loans do that - any kind of loan does that.
+ Stafford Federal Student Loans at StaffordLoan.com
+ Student Loan Consolidation at StudentLoanConsolidator.com
+ Yolanda writes in: Please send me updated information for Graduate School as well as grants or loan for K-8 Private schools.
+ Free scholarship search at http://www.StudentScholarshipSearch.com
+ Scholarship contest at http://www.ScholarshipPoints.com
+ Graduate student loans at http://www.gradloans.com
+ K-12 student loans for parents at http://www.privateschoolloan.com

Promo
+ Brother Love at Slate

Podsafe Music
+ Brother Love, There She Goes
+ 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.
+ My personal blog
+ 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/subscribe/

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