The U.S. Sequester may pose financial aid hardships for college students this year and next

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Are you worried about financial aid since the Sequester? It seems you may have good reason.

Photo by Photoloni on Flickr.

I have read that work-study programs may be curtailed in the future. I hope not, because many students depend on these programs.

Today I found out that ALL student aid may be in jeopardy if things continue as they have been going.


On the good side, Western Washington University said on Feb. 26th that their school will "pull money out of its reserves" to assure that their students keep their financial aid this year and next year.

WWU vows to protect students from U.S. budget cuts

And Federal Pell grants seem to be"safe from sequestration", an article in the Marquette Tribune from Feb. 28th asserts.

Student Financial aid faces large cuts from sequestration.

They go on to explain that major cuts could be possible though, for grants and work-study programs, and interest rates for student borrowers could increase another 7.6 percent.

I would say it can't hurt to make sure that you have filled out your FAFSA form anyway, and watch the news carefully, as I will also be doing.

Wouldn't it be great if all schools could tap their reserves to cover what might be a shortfall? But that assumes that schools all have a reserve. And I'll bet some don't.

Better yet, it would be even better if Congress could work something out so that hard-working and deserving students didn't have to face hardships because our government refused to work together.

That is my two cents!

I will keep my fingers crossed. I agree with many people, it's time our government did its job. Period.

What are your thoughts about this?

Betsyanne

FYI: Here are other blog postings about the FAFSA too:

The Redesign of the FAFSA page

The FAFSA - when should you apply for next year?
(This posting has a link where you can check your state's deadlines)

And be sure to check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

There is more to every Scholarship, internship, and grant search.

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More and more sites are now social. 

A social network - from Clker.com

There is the search first. You find some great sites. What do you do then?

After the crucial search step, you get the site, and maybe keep the link to come back later. That is important to do. You will be able to sign up for the site then, and check for news.

It's also vitally important to be socially connected to these sites to hear about new scholarships and more. If you are not yet connected (except for having their link), try to connect to a Facebook page or to a mailing list.

Also see if the sites have Twitter, LinkedIn, or direct email signups or Facebook pages.

Then check your email and social pages often.

You can get a solid filing system (on or off your computer) going AND a good system for checking your email and links too.

Decide how often you want to check. Make special automatic email folders, or copy information to files or folders on your desktop.

You can also print out hard copies and make a hard copy filing system. It's totally up to you.

Here are a few sites, postings, and ideas for doing just that.

#1. Get Organized - and keep track of your scholarship and grant applications

#2. Treat Looking for Scholarships like a Job

#3. Are you Signed up with Fastweb yet?

#4. Scholarship postings about scholarships and grants (you can run a search today too)

#5. FAFSA deadlines - do you know them?

Thanks for coming by to my blog today. And good luck on your scholarship search.

-Betsyanne

And here are my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

The Google 2013 K-12 Doodle 4 Google Scholarship sounds very exciting.

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"What is your young artist's best day ever?"

The deadline for this interesting Google K-12 Doodling scholarship is in about a month. So get drawing, students!!

Here is the website: http://www.google.com/doodle4google.

and the theme is: My Best Day Ever.

Here is their ad from YouTube about it:



You go to the website to download the form and find out more.

Good luck!!

Betsyanne

And here are my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

And thanks for visiting my blog today!

Welcome to this blog, Nontraditional Students!

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I wrote about this blog today on my Nontraditional Student blog. 

Students on computers. From garryknight on Flickr.

As you probably already know, a nontraditional student is a student who is going back to school after a break.

There are many opportunities today for nontrads to obtain scholarships. Often, "regular" scholarships and sites also have scholarships for nontraditional students available.

Just go to the Search area here and search for the kind of scholarship you want, to see other postings too. (the box is at the right side, near the top.)

And here are some postings to help nontraditional students and others get started on their scholarship search.

Fastweb: This free site is one of the BEST scholarship search sites on the internet.

The Fatomei Site also has some awesome links to free money. Of course, there are scholarships here, but there are also links to internship possibilities, graduate school money, fellowships, and lots more. Scroll down to see these.

And here are the five MOST POPULAR postings here on the site.

Veterinary School Scholarships

Unusual, odd, wacky, and unknown scholarships and sites to explore

35 Scholarships Anyone Can Get - from College Degree.com

Some Interior Design Scholarships (U.S.)

Scholarships, grants, and more links for Native Americans

Good luck on your scholarship search, nontrads and other scholarship seekers!

Betsyanne

And be sure to check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Scholarship Links on Squidoo

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Are you on Squidoo? If you are not familiar with this site, it is a site where people can write about their passions - and make money too.

Vector Squid by Greekgeek, based on Squidoo logo.

Here are some Scholarship lens pages there that might interest you. My page is highlighted in yellow.

#1. Find Free College Scholarships (my lens!)

#2. How To Pay For University/College? Student Bursaries/Scholarships 

#3. Types of Technology Grants and How to Get Them  

#4. College Information for High School Students
(many of these links can also be used by older students too...)

#5 Odd Sports Scholarships - there is some good information on what is offered at different schools on this lens page.

#6. Bowling Scholarships

That's it for this week. Good luck in your scholarship search!

-Betsyanne

Are you interested in writing your own Squidoo lens page? Click here to join me!
 
And here are my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One
and
Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Some Scholarship blogs, and a link for Eagle Scout Scholarships

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I went to search for "scholarship blogs" and found some interesting ones today.

It looks like people can save money for college on the UPromise Blog.

http://www.upromise.com/welcome. This blog is made by Sallie Mae.

Scholarships.com also has a blog here:

Scholarships.com blog

The only thing about this one is you can't sign up for it to get updates. I think they should add that.

The Top Scholarship Blog has some good links on it.

But you need to bookmark it (like the Scholarships.com one) because there is no signup here either.

___________________________

And here is something interesting - it's a link to "Where to find scholarship money for Eagle Scouts." This could be handy.

Good luck on your scholarship search, everyone!

Betsyanne

Check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

The most popular posting here this week is: Veterinary School Scholarships

Live in Iowa? The Friendly House Opens Scholarships

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From the Quad City Times:

"Friendly House is accepting applications for three scholarships that have an April 1 deadline.

The Ivory/Optimist Scholarship is for graduating seniors from the Davenport Community School District who plan to attend a licensed or accredited trade/vocational school, college or university.

****<The> Micka Scholarship provides funds to nontraditional students age 21 or older..."

Read more at the article.

And good luck in your scholarship search.

Betsyanne

And these are my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Time for Twitter Postings! And how to join.

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Here are just a few of my Twitter postings on the Nontrad Twitter page and also the Find Scholarships Twitter Page. I hope you like them.

If you are not already on Twitter, you can join here.

TWITTER - TWITTER - TWITTER - TWITTER

7 mistakes of Distance Learners http://goo.gl/7VsgQ  #college #GED #nontrads #education

Vets face confusion using GI Bill at state schools - http://goo.gl/qC7Gu  via @YahooNews #veterans #college #scholarship

RT ‏@CHRISVOSS A goal is a dream with a deadline. Napolean Hill #quote #happynewyear #inspiration

Nontraditional students, did you notice a change in college when you went back? I did. http://goo.gl/nRkrQ  #nontrads #college #changes

Nontraditional students: are you recharging your batteries? http://goo.gl/b6HYR  #nontrads #college #GED #education

Richard Branson's 10 top tips for list-making: http://virg.in/list  #branson #lists #cooltips

A few music scholarship pages (U.S.) to check out http://nblo.gs/HAr0f

Teachers, teacher ed students: get free lesson plans at the Betsyanne site. http://goo.gl/E3nJl  #lps #lesson plans #teaching

Look Up! 13 Must-See Stargazing Events in 2013 http://goo.gl/Cal6u  via @YahooNews #stars #comets #stargazing 

Add nontrads (for nontraditional students, going back to school after a break) and scholarsgrants to your Twitter feed and get some good links that way.

I am also betsyanne there. http://www.twitter.com/betsyanne

Betsyanne

Also: Check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

A few music scholarship pages (U.S.) to check out

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Love music? You can find music scholarships at many colleges across the nation.

Photo by Dumbledad on Flickr.

Check a school near you. It is possible you can audition with voice or instrument to get a scholarship. Just ask someone in the music department.

Secondly, apply for a Music Scholarship at your choice of school.

The FAFSA application (see here for a great new tips video about that) is your first avenue. They have scholarships and grants that they will tell you about when you fill it out if you qualify.

Here are just a few links to get your started on that dream music scholarship.

Financial Aid at Juilliard (Dance - Drama - Music)

Interlochen Center for the Arts  Programs (grades 6-12)

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is very prestigious. Check out their scholarship page too.

Check out the Wikipedia listing of colleges and university schools of music in the United States. You can click on your state to find out more.

What is your favorite music college? Just go to the site, and check their Scholarships and Financial Aid pages. And good luck!

-Betsyanne

The very best on your scholarship search.

And check out my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

You may also like these popular postings:
Finding Scholarships and Grants
Online vs. Face-to-Face classes: Which are better?
Websites and Tips to help you study for that exam or test

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

My Scholarship page on Squidoo - check it for links and more.

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I have a Scholarships Squidoo page here:

Get a Free Scholarship

Like the Scholarship pages on my Nontraditional Students website, this site lists free scholarship link pages that offer custom searches and many great links too.

It's worth a visit.

Until next posting, have a GREAT day and good luck on your Scholarship Search.

-Betsyanne

Also check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

You may also like these popular postings:
Finding Scholarships and Grants
Online vs. Face-to-Face classes: Which are better?
Websites and Tips to help you study for that exam or test

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Egyptology and U.S. Foreign Service Scholarships

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Less Well-Known and U.S. Foreign Service Scholarships

I think if I'd known about some of these scholarships earlier, I might have applied for them.

Love Egyptology? Check out these College Scholarships for Study Abroad in Egypt:

http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/country/egypt.htm

Want to be in Government Intelligence? Go to these sites to see what is available for you.

Broaden your world - - work for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Cyber Security Scholarships (AFCEA.org)

The American Foreign Service Association (has Scholarship opportunities)

More State Department Scholarships

More Foreign Service scholarships (from the West Texas A & M site)

Learn more about "Intelligent Intelligence" programs from the Washington Diplomat website.

Good luck in your scholarship search!

Betsyanne

Check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:
Scholarships Links and Tips Page One
Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two
You may also like these popular postings:
Finding Scholarships and Grants
Online vs. Face-to-Face classes: Which are better?
Websites and Tips to help you study for that exam or test
Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Scholarships for Teachers - some great list sites

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Want to be a teacher? These scholarship sites are handy.
  

Photo by VividImageInc on Flickr with a CC by 2.0 attribution license.

My advice? Apply for as many of these as you can.

1. The Teaching Tips site has 10 teaching scholarships listed from 2008.

2. The College Scholarships.org site has 20 more.

3. The Dr. Torres/Fatomei site features 51 sites to help people find scholarships for teaching.

4. The Teachers Count site has a scholarships page with 13 more scholarships listed.

5. Want more? Try these 9 teaching scholarships at the OEDb (Open Education Database) site.

and here is another helpful Teaching Scholarships posting from this blog:

U.S. Teaching Scholarships - - and where you can find them

Good luck on your Teaching Scholarship search!

-Betsyanne

Check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:
Scholarships Links and Tips Page One
Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

These pages are most popular here this week:
Veterinary School Scholarships and
Unusual, odd, wacky, and unknown scholarships and sites to explore

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Don't fall for these scholarship scams!

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BEWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS...

Yes, nefarious nogoodnicks are out there, preying on scholarship seekers.

The FinAid site warns: never give money to get a scholarship. It's a sure sign of a scam.

Here is the full article:

Scholarship Scams

The popular Scholarships.com site also warns of processing fees and small awards on their Scholarship Scams Page - advice from Scholarships.com. Another red flag is an email telling you that you have won an award when you didn't apply for it.

The Federal Trade Commission also has a good page to read so you don't get scammed. You can also report any suspicious scholarship sites or activities by scrolling down to their report links.

On the whole, I find that most scholarship sites are on the level, and won't scam you. But it pays to be careful.

Good luck in your scholarship search!

Betsyanne

Check my Nontrads Scholarship pages:

Scholarships Links and Tips Page One

Scholarships Links and Tips Page Two

And here are the top three articles here for this week:

Veterinary School Scholarships v. 1

Unusual, odd, wacky, and unknown scholarships and sites to explore

and

New Scholarship sites, Canada, Easy Scholarships, more

See you next posting! And thank you for visiting today!