FAP406: Do It Yourself in the Mail Bag, UCLA Followup, News from around the country, Jill Parr

Student Financial Aid News
+ The discussion of the UCLA YouTube incident exploded last week
+ 112 comments on the Web site
+ No matter how you feel, thanks for participating
+ Incoming Missouri Auditor Susan Montee said this week that one of her first acts of 2007 will be an audit of the stateâs student loan authority. The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority has been embroiled in controversy this year, ever since Gov. Matt Blunt proposed the sale of a portion of the agencyâs student loan portfolio to fund campus construction projects. The plan ultimately failed in the General Assembly. Lawmakers are expected to consider the sale again next year. Critics of the agency have also claims it conducted secret meetings and gave preferential treatment to certain vendors.
+ From Inside Higher Ed: Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who will head the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the 110th Congress, laid out his priorities for higher education and other areas under the committeeâs domain Thursday. In addition to proposals other Democrats have put forward for increasing spending on Pell Grants and cutting interest rates on student loans, Kennedy also reiterated his plans to increase oversight of lenders, particularly providers of private loans, focused on deals they strike to appear on collegesâ preferred lists of alternatives for students.
+ Alternative student loans at AlternativeStudentLoan.com
+ An investigation by The Boston Globe found that some colleges are getting increasingly tough on collecting the debts owed by students or former students. The newspaperâs review of court records found that Boston and Northeastern Universities file an average of 200 lawsuits a year against former students.
+ The average interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased eight basis points to 6.24% as of Nov. 15 -- an 11-month low -- according to a weekly survey of financial institutions conducted by Bankrate.com. The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped four basis points to 5.98%, while the average rate on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages was three basis points lower at 6.13%.
+ Means it's a pretty good time to refinance a variable rate mortgage to a fixed rate one
+ Also a good time to refinance those student loans with StudentLoanConsolidator.com or call 877-328-1565

Scholarship Update
+ UCLA Regents Scholarship Program
+ 100 awards worth full tuition, $5,500 honorarium, free parking
+ Must maintain a 3.0 GPA and 12 units
+ Top 1.5% of high school class are invited to compete
+ You'll know if you're eligible in a letter in February
+ Details at our free scholarship web site

Mail Bag
+ Hi, my name is Stephen and I am a new listener to your program. I was recently listening to your September 6th, 2006 broadcast regarding starting up my own private scholarship search and building your own database and network of people. I am a junior in high school, trying to get an early start on this process, but feel powerless and intimidated by large pools of students applying to large scholarships. I heard you talking about emailing companies local to my city and was wondering if you were referring to emailing companies that already offer scholarships, or ones that don't have any yet. If you could help me out in any way during this difficult time, I would appreciate any knowledge you have regarding financial aid, especially grants and scholarships.
+ Scholarship search secrets e-book - automatically included when you subscribe to the podcast - check your iTunes
+ Collaboration!

Podsafe Music
+ Jill Parr, Do You Hear What I Hear
+ 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.
+ 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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