Archive for category College Board

Finding Scholarships Online – Five Free Sources

Every student would love to find a scholarship, apply for it and win. But many students don’t even know where to start look for scholarships that are relevant to their personal career objectives or family situation. If you are only looking at the local level or at the high school guidance department, you are missing potentially hundreds of other scholarship opportunities.

By visiting the sites below and following their step by step process, you might be pleasantly surprised by the results. Remember that even if you only win one scholarship, the amount of money that you save will help to reduce any student loans or other costs associated with the high cost of a college education. To find these sites, just Google the name and click their link.

Source One: College Board

The College Board has its own scholarship search engine that will help to find a variety of scholarship opportunities for any student. By visiting their website and going to the “paying for college” section, you will find a tab for scholarship search. Just follow the steps to see what you qualify for.

Source Two: Kaarme.com

This site was established in 2006 and has a lot of great information for high school, college and graduate students. This site was developed to allow students or parents to search without having to register their personal data. They do this because some sites sell your contact information to others as part of their marketing efforts. The site has a nice layout and is easy to use.

Source Three: Scholarships.com

This site is devoted to just scholarships and matching qualified students with the appropriate programs. Finding scholarships is easy once you enter your profile information and follow their step by step process.

Source Four: Fast Web

Fast Web is a service that offers plenty of information on scholarships as well as financial aid, jobs and military related college information. You will need to join, which is free, and follow their three-step process to establish your personal profile. Read the rest of this entry »

A Closer Look at Florida Colleges in Today’s Economy

Students at Florida colleges can choose from a robust network of colleges, universities, and technical schools and enjoy a wide range of program offerings. Many schools also offer established classroom-to-career transitional assistance. And that’s not all. Here’s why you should give serious consideration to Florida universities.

An Overview of Florida College

The Florida College System reports that the state’s 28 colleges operate 183 sites around the state providing educational opportunities within commuting distance to almost all of Florida’s residents. The state awarded 76,445 degree and certificates in 2008-2009.

The Florida College System also gives you a comprehensive view of the Florida university student. As of 2010, the state serves 867,308 students– 40 percent full-time and 60 percent part-time. The average student age is 25 and 60 percent of students are female while 43 percent are minorities.

If you’re planning on earning a bachelor’s degree, Florida’s State Pathways to Success report offers you some eye-opening statistics. According to the report, Florida’s 2 + 2 System–the state’s combination of community college to four-year degree–guarantees you the opportunity to earn your bachelor’s degree after completing your associate’s degree.

Average Costs and Financial Aid at Florida Universities

Central Florida News 13 cites a report by The College Board that reveals the cost of attending Florida colleges and universities ranks third lowest in the nation, at an average tuition expense of $4,886. One mitigating factor might be the annual monetary commitment of the Florida Lottery. The Lottery transferred more than $1.24 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Funds in 2009-2010, adding to the $21 billion in donations since its inception. Read the rest of this entry »

The Right Online College is Waiting For You!

It’s time to shop. You’ve researched online schools and decided to invest in an education, joining students of all ages and backgrounds who reside all over the world. And it’s likely you want to spend your money on an online college program that’s the right “fit.”

With any college search, advisors recommend that students look toward schools with programs and reputations best suited to their educational and career goals. Pursuing an online college education allows for taking that search one step further: by looking for programs that meet your individual lifestyle and scheduling needs. Some schools offer entire degree programs online, while others combine that with campus-based classes or class components. Taking a campus tour is likely to involve browsing the web site that is part or all of a college campus.

Browsing the wide array of online school offerings, you might “try schools and programs on” for size and comfort. In addition to determining course requirements, you might find out about areas that can improve your learning experience and keep you working to achieve your goals. Consider how flexible deadlines are and, in some instances, if they keep time zones in mind. Determine how accessible online college instructors are and if they provide timely, meaningful feedback. Consider also how online college classes are taught and whether they provide opportunities to interact with the “classroom” community via chat rooms and similar offerings. Here are online college shopping guidelines, modified from U.S. Department of Education and non-profit College Board information:

• Start shopping. In addition to touring college web sites, you might review any promotional e-mails and print and digital brochures that online colleges and traditional colleges with online offerings send you. Is a college fair planned in your area? Consider attending it as a means of finding out more information about online college offerings. In addition to speaking with college representatives, you might be able to gain input from college students. Read the rest of this entry »