10 Scam Warning Signs, Courtesy of FastWeb
Knowing these warning signs can keep you from being a scholarship scam victim.
1. Fees: You shouldn't have to pay to search for or apply for scholarships.
2. Credit card or bank account information needed: You should never
have to give credit card or bank account information to award providers.
3. Scholarship guarantee: No one can guarantee that you'll win a
scholarship because no one can control scholarship judges' decisions.
Also, be wary of "high success rates"—they usually do not refer to actual award winners.
4. No work involved: You can't avoid putting in time to fill out a
scholarship application.
5. No contact information: Legitimate sponsors should provide contact
information upon request. If the sponsor does not supply a valid e-mail
address, phone number and mailing address (not a PO box) after you've
asked for one, that could the sign of a scam.
6. Unsolicited scholarships: If you are called to receive an award for
which you never applied, be alert—it's most likely a scam.
7. Pressure tactics: Don't allow yourself to be pressured into applying
for a scholarship, especially if the sponsor is asking for money up front.
8. Claims of "exclusive" scholarships: Sponsors don't make their
scholarships available through only one service.
9. Sponsor goes out of their way to sound "official": Scammers sometimes use official-sounding words like "national," "education" or "federal" or they display an official-looking seal to fool you into thinking they are legit. Check with your school if you question a scholarship provider's legitimacy.
10. Your questions aren't answered directly: If you can't get a straight answer from a sponsor regarding their application.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tip of the week - December 20, 2010
What to Do While Waiting for Admission Letters
Tips for keeping track of your college applications and keeping admissions officers in the loop. It may not look like it after you put your 10 pounds' worth of college applications in the mail, but the hard part starts once you've forked the applications over. For the following three or four months you will feel the stress of the infamous college waiting game as anxiety builds and the days go by without a letter of reply. But a little guidance and a heads up about what to expect can help you play that game like a pro. So until the mailman comes back carrying a university letter with your name on it, here are some answers to questions you may have along the way, compiled by U.S. News with the help of admissions counselors across the country.
How do I know the university has received my application? You should receive an acknowledgement E-mail that your application has been received. If you apply online, you should get this E-mail within a day or two. When it hits your in box, make sure that all information entered on the application (name, home address, etc.) is correct. Don't hesitate to call the admissions office if you accidentally entered the wrong information or if you don't get the E-mail at all. Every school's admission guidelines vary, so be sure to review the admissions requirements online before and after you turn in your application to avoid delaying the time it takes for them to consider your application.
How can I check the status of my application, and how often should I check it? Most colleges have status checks through their undergraduate admissions offices website. The confirmation that tells you they have received your application usually will have a website login and password so only you can see at what stage of the process your application is. Receipts of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores are sometimes noted on these status pages, so check back regularly to make sure the required parts of your application have arrived.
How are admissions decisions made? There are so many factors that go into colleges' decision-making process that it's hard to ever really be certain about why any particular applicant gets accepted. Larger schools often break applicants into geographical sections and assign one or two people to inspect the applications from that region. Smaller schools might employ a board of admissions counselors who make the final cuts. In addition to your transcripts, essays, references, and everything else you've slaved over to meet the application deadline, admissions officers receive a high school profile with information about your school's test scores, curriculum, and college acceptance history, among other things, to better judge whether you are well suited for their college's academic intensity.
What should I do in the meantime? It's easy to become an application-status stalker as you count down the days until you know if you got in, but this in-between period is also a good time to alert the universities of changes or additions to your files. You also should use time to wrap up campus visits and do a sufficient amount of research on each school so that you can make more informed decisions once the acceptance (and rejection) letters start to roll in.
When will I find out if I got in or not? Ah, the million-dollar question. If you applied for early decision (deadlines are usually the end of October, beginning of November), you will most likely be notified before New Year's rolls around. Although you should check the university's website for its specific dates, if you apply for regular decision you will know by at least the beginning of April.
When should I start to worry if I haven't received a response? Give colleges about three weeks. If you haven't gotten a receipt from the school of your application by then, you should call the admissions office to double check. "Each year we hear from a few who thought they applied back in the fall, but they waited to call us in April, after notification letters have gone out, to ask why they didn't hear back, only to find out we never received their completed application," says Amy Widner of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Virginia Tech, which receives 19,000 freshman applications a year. "This is way too late!"
Do I have to wait for a letter in the mail to know if I got in or not or will I find out online? Many colleges send decisions electronically and follow up with a letter of reply.
How long until I receive a response if I turned in my application late? Trick question! Very few schools accept applications past the due date. If you do, however, turn in a late application, be sure to call the admissions office to make sure your application has been received.
What if I'm wait-listed? If you're wait-listed, you should be informed by that college what your chances are for being admitted and the date you will receive final word. You may be asked to call the admissions office or declare online whether you wish to stay on the list or be removed for good.
What if I am accepted to one of my safety schools before I hear from one of my top choices, and the safety school needs a response? You don't have to respond to a school right away, but your commitments to admission and financial aid offers should be given to the schools by the end of April. If you need more time, give the college a written request for an extension. This is one of the biggest decisions of your life, and colleges understand that. Make sure you give yourself enough time to weigh all the options.
Tips for keeping track of your college applications and keeping admissions officers in the loop. It may not look like it after you put your 10 pounds' worth of college applications in the mail, but the hard part starts once you've forked the applications over. For the following three or four months you will feel the stress of the infamous college waiting game as anxiety builds and the days go by without a letter of reply. But a little guidance and a heads up about what to expect can help you play that game like a pro. So until the mailman comes back carrying a university letter with your name on it, here are some answers to questions you may have along the way, compiled by U.S. News with the help of admissions counselors across the country.
How do I know the university has received my application? You should receive an acknowledgement E-mail that your application has been received. If you apply online, you should get this E-mail within a day or two. When it hits your in box, make sure that all information entered on the application (name, home address, etc.) is correct. Don't hesitate to call the admissions office if you accidentally entered the wrong information or if you don't get the E-mail at all. Every school's admission guidelines vary, so be sure to review the admissions requirements online before and after you turn in your application to avoid delaying the time it takes for them to consider your application.
How can I check the status of my application, and how often should I check it? Most colleges have status checks through their undergraduate admissions offices website. The confirmation that tells you they have received your application usually will have a website login and password so only you can see at what stage of the process your application is. Receipts of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores are sometimes noted on these status pages, so check back regularly to make sure the required parts of your application have arrived.
How are admissions decisions made? There are so many factors that go into colleges' decision-making process that it's hard to ever really be certain about why any particular applicant gets accepted. Larger schools often break applicants into geographical sections and assign one or two people to inspect the applications from that region. Smaller schools might employ a board of admissions counselors who make the final cuts. In addition to your transcripts, essays, references, and everything else you've slaved over to meet the application deadline, admissions officers receive a high school profile with information about your school's test scores, curriculum, and college acceptance history, among other things, to better judge whether you are well suited for their college's academic intensity.
What should I do in the meantime? It's easy to become an application-status stalker as you count down the days until you know if you got in, but this in-between period is also a good time to alert the universities of changes or additions to your files. You also should use time to wrap up campus visits and do a sufficient amount of research on each school so that you can make more informed decisions once the acceptance (and rejection) letters start to roll in.
When will I find out if I got in or not? Ah, the million-dollar question. If you applied for early decision (deadlines are usually the end of October, beginning of November), you will most likely be notified before New Year's rolls around. Although you should check the university's website for its specific dates, if you apply for regular decision you will know by at least the beginning of April.
When should I start to worry if I haven't received a response? Give colleges about three weeks. If you haven't gotten a receipt from the school of your application by then, you should call the admissions office to double check. "Each year we hear from a few who thought they applied back in the fall, but they waited to call us in April, after notification letters have gone out, to ask why they didn't hear back, only to find out we never received their completed application," says Amy Widner of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Virginia Tech, which receives 19,000 freshman applications a year. "This is way too late!"
Do I have to wait for a letter in the mail to know if I got in or not or will I find out online? Many colleges send decisions electronically and follow up with a letter of reply.
How long until I receive a response if I turned in my application late? Trick question! Very few schools accept applications past the due date. If you do, however, turn in a late application, be sure to call the admissions office to make sure your application has been received.
What if I'm wait-listed? If you're wait-listed, you should be informed by that college what your chances are for being admitted and the date you will receive final word. You may be asked to call the admissions office or declare online whether you wish to stay on the list or be removed for good.
What if I am accepted to one of my safety schools before I hear from one of my top choices, and the safety school needs a response? You don't have to respond to a school right away, but your commitments to admission and financial aid offers should be given to the schools by the end of April. If you need more time, give the college a written request for an extension. This is one of the biggest decisions of your life, and colleges understand that. Make sure you give yourself enough time to weigh all the options.
Monday, December 13, 2010
TIP OF THE WEEK - December 13, 2010
"A MUST READ FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY CORPORATION"
QUESTION - Are my parents responsible for my educational loans?:
Parents are NOT responsible for any FEDERAL Student Loans (Stafford and/or Perkins). However, they are responsible for the Federal PLUS loans and any other alternative loans that require a co-signer. In general, the student is solely responsible for repaying their FEDERAL educational loans. You do not need to get your parents to cosign your federal student loans, even if you are under age 18, as the 'defense of infancy' does not apply to FEDERAL student loans. (The defense of infancy presumes that a minor is not able to enter into contracts, and considers any such contract to be void.)
There is an explicit exemption to this principle in the Higher Education Act with regard to federal student loans. However, lenders normally will require a cosigner on any type of private student loan. If your parents (or grandparents) want to help pay off your FEDERAL loan(s), you can have your billing statements sent to their address. Likewise, if your lender or loan servicer provides an electronic payment service, where the monthly payments are automatically deducted from a bank account, your parents can agree to have the payments deducted from their account. But your parents are under no obligation to repay your loans. If they forget to pay the bill on time or decide to cancel the electronic payment agreement, you will be held responsible for the payments, not them.
QUESTION - Are my parents responsible for my educational loans?:
Parents are NOT responsible for any FEDERAL Student Loans (Stafford and/or Perkins). However, they are responsible for the Federal PLUS loans and any other alternative loans that require a co-signer. In general, the student is solely responsible for repaying their FEDERAL educational loans. You do not need to get your parents to cosign your federal student loans, even if you are under age 18, as the 'defense of infancy' does not apply to FEDERAL student loans. (The defense of infancy presumes that a minor is not able to enter into contracts, and considers any such contract to be void.)
There is an explicit exemption to this principle in the Higher Education Act with regard to federal student loans. However, lenders normally will require a cosigner on any type of private student loan. If your parents (or grandparents) want to help pay off your FEDERAL loan(s), you can have your billing statements sent to their address. Likewise, if your lender or loan servicer provides an electronic payment service, where the monthly payments are automatically deducted from a bank account, your parents can agree to have the payments deducted from their account. But your parents are under no obligation to repay your loans. If they forget to pay the bill on time or decide to cancel the electronic payment agreement, you will be held responsible for the payments, not them.
Monday, December 6, 2010
TIP OF THE WEEK – December 6, 2010
VOLUNTEER / COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
With the holiday season upon us and winter break approaching, now is a great time to start thinking about volunteer/community service projects! Taking up a service project for a few hours, days or weeks will help you to give back to your community helping those in need, but is also a great opportunity for you to discover something new about yourself or learn a new trade. In addition to building character on-going community service shows a commitment that many colleges value and could give your application the extra edge over competition needed to be admitted to the college of your choice. There are also many scholarships available that are based on community service. So between spending time with your family, hanging out with your friends, and catching up on some much needed rest and relaxation, take a little time to help those less fortunate than you.
With the holiday season upon us and winter break approaching, now is a great time to start thinking about volunteer/community service projects! Taking up a service project for a few hours, days or weeks will help you to give back to your community helping those in need, but is also a great opportunity for you to discover something new about yourself or learn a new trade. In addition to building character on-going community service shows a commitment that many colleges value and could give your application the extra edge over competition needed to be admitted to the college of your choice. There are also many scholarships available that are based on community service. So between spending time with your family, hanging out with your friends, and catching up on some much needed rest and relaxation, take a little time to help those less fortunate than you.
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