FAP422: The Overflowing Mail Bag, News, Anita Borg Google Scholarship, Hydrogyn

Student Financial Aid News
+ A financial aid officer reports that a consolidation lender is using public records laws to force a college to turn over its student database so that they can pursue the students as customers
+ Eww.
+ Houston area real estate agent Julie Upton has decided to throw down on the competition. Like any good salesperson, Upton is always looking for new ways to attract customers. Recently, she struck upon what she thinks is some tantalizing bait. Instead of a free toaster, TV or a stay at a luxury hotel, Upton, of Realty Associates, is offering buyers a free Glock pistol with any home purchase of at least $150,000.
+ In the wee hours of Saturday morning, the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in passing legislation that will extend a slew of popular tax breaks, including two with coveted by colleges. The measure, passed by a 79 to 9 margin in the Senate, is on its way to President Bush, who is expected to sign it.
+ One provision would extend through 2007 a tax deduction for âqualified higher education expenses,â which is available even to taxpayers who do not itemize deductions on their federal returns. The provision, which expired at the end of 2005, applies retroactively to the current 2006 calendar year.
+ Indiana University at Bloomington has become the latest flagship institution to improve aid packages for low-income students. The university announced Friday that it would provide the balance of tuition and fees for students who receive Pell Grants, score 1,150 or higher on the SAT, and maintain a 3.0 grade-point average while enrolled at the university.

Scholarship Update
+ It's been the talk of the town since it was announced
+ 2007 scholarship application period now open
+ The Google 2007 Anita Borg Scholarship
+ Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of candidates' academic background and demonstrated leadership. A group of female undergraduate and graduate student finalists will be chosen from the applicant pool. The scholarship recipients will each receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic year. Remaining finalists will receive $1,000 each.
+ Candidates must be entering their senior year of undergraduate study or be enrolled in a graduate program in 2007-2008 at a university in the United States.
+ be Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field majors.
+ be enrolled in full-time study in 2007-2008.
+ maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 4.5 on a 5.0 scale or equivalent in their current program.
+ Complete the online application form and submit the requested documentation via mail. All applications must be postmarked by Monday, January 15, 2007.
+ Expanding the scholarship program to women students in Europe. These recipients will each receive a â¬5,000 (or equivalent) scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic year, and are invited to a retreat at the Google office in Zurich, Switzerland. Applications for the Google Europe Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship are due Friday, January 12, 2007.
+ Details at our free scholarship search site

Mail Bag
+ Julian from MySpace writes in: i heard a lil of your show for the first time and it was very informative. i have a question for you. i am wanting to go back to school and get a degree and i haven't been to school for about 7yrs. does that affect my chances to try and get help with school. i am working a sub-par job and wanting to further my life and do something i enjoy. how would i go about doing so. i cant afford school and so i might have to take 1 class since i cant afford a stronger schedule. i would appreciate your feedback if you can help me out. thank you for listening.
+ Pete from MySpace writes in: do u do anything for us students in the UK, preferrably England
+ Gary Lofurno writes: I am returning to school in January at UMass Boston to get a MS in Accounting. I am not your traditional student in I have been out of school for 20 plus years (yes, I am an aging baby boomer). I have taken a few courses recently in the last year in accounting to brush up on the subject.
+ I would like to try and get some scholarships to pay for my graduate education. Since my wife and I are working full time, have a house, savings, etc., and we do pretty well financially, I am leary to fill out the FAF or other government forms because many times they require you to go through your savings before you can get aid.
+ Obviously, my wife and I are saving for our retirement, and since its a lot closer off in terms of years than say your average listener, we do not want to have to tap into any of that money or our emergency savings funds.
+ I know the mass society of accounts or something like that has a schollarship for returning students like myself, and, I am registed on findaid.com, but, do you have any suggestions as to where I can look for scholarships that would be appropriate. I have very good grades, and certainly, we can afford to pay for it, and I have help with tuition reimbersement from my company, but a scholarship award or two of even a little money would help us be able to save more for retirement now since we need to catch up in our retirement saving to be ready to retire.
+ Any help would be greatly, appreciated.
+ Alicia Thompson calls in
+ The basics of the Financial Aid Process:
+ Get tips and tutorials, then file your FAFSA at FAFSAonline.com
+ Find scholarships with our scholarship site, StudentScholarshipSearch.com
+ Get a Stafford federal student loan at StaffordLoan.com
+ Get a private student loan at AlternativeStudentLoan.com

Podsafe Music
+ Hydrogyn, Breaking Me Down
+ 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/itunes/

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