So... I know it's still summer but I'm about to post a few textbook listings which made me think of a few tips. Don't go right to the bookstore unless you're using financial aid for books too.
Check Ebay and / or ecampus
You check these sites by typing in the title or isbn.
If you don't know what books you need your schools online bookstore can tell you
Or you can look at your syllabus
Check with people who have taken the class before
Find the format you want... With the way things are today technology is right there.
EBook
Regular Books
Books on cd / tape (great for visually impaired and those who hate reading)
If you do hit the bookstore choose used and save some money.
Take care of your books because the college bookstore will buy them back
I suggest selling them on ebay you get more money but end up saving someone else money
For example
You can pay 120 for a book from the bookstore. They may buy it back for 35... If you sale it on ebay you could get 85 and save someone else from paying the 120 you paid, get it?
So that's it as far as books go
PS: Try to have all books the week before classes begin.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
It's Always Something
I was so happy to have my Fafsa stuff situated but the past couple days have been frustrating.
My dog barked at me like he didn't like me and finally decided to warm up today and take a
nap with me. I was working on a video that wouldn't render properly and it frustrated me so
much. I just wanted to make it and turn it in, done deal but no. My workout regimen is so off
right now and I still haven't been to the beach yet.
Note to self: In the midst of a bad day there's still plenty to be thankful and grateful for.
My puppy is healthy, I have what I need to make the videos. I have what I need to workout, I have enough vision to see and appreciate pictures of the beach and it's possible to get there in an 1 hour.
I can't stand when people say it could always be worse... So I say to myself and everyone
else. Look how good it really is. I know the situation you're in may really be hectic, saddening,
stressful, scary, or any other negative adjective you can whip up. Say how much it sucks and add
up what makes it suck. When you add it up it won't seem so bad.
A guy once asked me if I had ever had a child who had been killed. No I haven't and my heart goes
out to all those who have. I told him that and asked if he'd ever asked a 30 year old barren woman with a husband who left her and a family who shunned her because of it the same question. He seemed quite perplexed.
My reasoning was. Yes, loosing a child is a terrible experience but at least they were able to have one.
They were able to experience at least the joy of being a mother for one moment. The joy some will never have. He understood and so do I. I can only imagine how hard someone else's life is and they can only imagine or have a glimpse through what I share but in the end we all have our own private
struggles and pains. If we truly look at the pain I believe it's possible to find peace in the midst of it.
My dog barked at me like he didn't like me and finally decided to warm up today and take a
nap with me. I was working on a video that wouldn't render properly and it frustrated me so
much. I just wanted to make it and turn it in, done deal but no. My workout regimen is so off
right now and I still haven't been to the beach yet.
Note to self: In the midst of a bad day there's still plenty to be thankful and grateful for.
My puppy is healthy, I have what I need to make the videos. I have what I need to workout, I have enough vision to see and appreciate pictures of the beach and it's possible to get there in an 1 hour.
I can't stand when people say it could always be worse... So I say to myself and everyone
else. Look how good it really is. I know the situation you're in may really be hectic, saddening,
stressful, scary, or any other negative adjective you can whip up. Say how much it sucks and add
up what makes it suck. When you add it up it won't seem so bad.
A guy once asked me if I had ever had a child who had been killed. No I haven't and my heart goes
out to all those who have. I told him that and asked if he'd ever asked a 30 year old barren woman with a husband who left her and a family who shunned her because of it the same question. He seemed quite perplexed.
My reasoning was. Yes, loosing a child is a terrible experience but at least they were able to have one.
They were able to experience at least the joy of being a mother for one moment. The joy some will never have. He understood and so do I. I can only imagine how hard someone else's life is and they can only imagine or have a glimpse through what I share but in the end we all have our own private
struggles and pains. If we truly look at the pain I believe it's possible to find peace in the midst of it.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
How I feel personally about Financial Aid
I really appreciate having financial aid. For many people with the recession and the amounts of marriages splitting up in enables many people to have a second chance. I worried so much about not being able to attend classes and have better for my family. It's a weight off my shoulders. I really want to stay focused and stick with it and as an adult I spend a considerable amount of time worrying about finances. Not because I'm deep in debt thank goodness I'm not but just the day to day choices. New tires or mortgage, new outfit for interview or food, they're all needs and things that help but I have to make responsible decisions and prioritize. I'm still doing scholarships and working on things to secure my college education at least financially. I'm also getting tools together to make sure I stay on task and don't slack off. Sometimes I get nervous and overwhelmed but I don't want to do that this time around because it won't help me progress.
What do you do to stay focused in your education or career?
What do you do to stay focused in your education or career?
Financial Aid Awards
Financial Aid Packages are arriving!! What is Financial Aid? In one word... Money! Sometimes it's money you can keep GRANT / SCHOLARSHIP and sometimes its money you can't LOANS (thumbs down, I'll explain in another entry) anywho.
How you apply for financial aid, you do this by filling out the FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid (click start here) on the website and put in your information to create your account. If it says something about your browser download Firefox 3.6, I had to this to access the site. Then select your academic year for example I selected 2011/2012 application because I need financial aid for Fall 2011 & Spring 2012. You'll need to fill out this form every year you plan to attend college. It looks like a long irritating process but it really isn't. If you don't feel comfortable doing it on your own you can contact the school's financial aid office & they'll be more than happy to help you or go to your local library maybe call first and one of the nice quiet people there would help. Also, if you have college aged children they can help too it they've been through it before. The process is probably fresh in their minds and they'll most likely feel really confident being able to help you. I do my best to keep my mom on track with hers although we're far away a reminder never hurts.
What you'll need before you begin the Fafsa, regardless of how you go about completing it you will need your completed tax info, Social Security Number (don't worry it's a government site as long as you have virus protection your private info should be fine), and if you aren't working or didn't have to file it's even easier. If someone claims you as a dependent you'll need them to put in their info. The great thing about the fafsa is the "save" option. You don't have to finish the whole thing in one sitting. With our busy lives we never know what will come up.
Completing the Fafsa in a timely manner is one key to the amount of financial aid you'll receive. My birthday being at the begining of the year helps me to remember when to complete mine. You can find out when your fafsa deadline is by calling the school or looking on the fafsa website. I'd just say to be safe have it done by Feb or June depending on your semester. The other reason time is key is first it has to be processed, then you may have corrections (you want to add a school or realize you marked your residency incorrectly), those corrections have to be processed, and you may get selected for Verification.
Verification think of it as the equivalent of being picked at the airport and they say "you've been selected" as if it's a good thing, so it's basically a double check if you will. You'll have to fill out 1-3 forms and maybe send a copy of your tax info. Now before mailing it if you have a printer that can fax (I use an Epson Artisan 800 like the one to the left, good price and cheap ink) or a library near by it will obviously be a more expedient which means a faster response. This year I was selected for verification. I mailed the forms (snail mail) back in May and just finally received my award letter. This may be something you never deal with and if so that's a great thing. I just don't want you to feel just because you've been selected that you won't get your financial aid.
Accepting and Declining Aid is your next step. You will either receive a letter in the mail or an email to your regular email address or Webadvisor Email (section on your school's website that keeps all your info and helps you register for classes and so much more) If within a week before classes you don't hear or receive anything contact your school's financial aid office give them your social or student id if necessary. Sometimes you get a little lost in the system but they find you when you call.
I hope this has been somewhat informative and helpful. If not, throw tomatoes at me and I'll plant them. You all enjoy the remainder of your summer and happy belated 4th of July.
How you apply for financial aid, you do this by filling out the FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid (click start here) on the website and put in your information to create your account. If it says something about your browser download Firefox 3.6, I had to this to access the site. Then select your academic year for example I selected 2011/2012 application because I need financial aid for Fall 2011 & Spring 2012. You'll need to fill out this form every year you plan to attend college. It looks like a long irritating process but it really isn't. If you don't feel comfortable doing it on your own you can contact the school's financial aid office & they'll be more than happy to help you or go to your local library maybe call first and one of the nice quiet people there would help. Also, if you have college aged children they can help too it they've been through it before. The process is probably fresh in their minds and they'll most likely feel really confident being able to help you. I do my best to keep my mom on track with hers although we're far away a reminder never hurts.
What you'll need before you begin the Fafsa, regardless of how you go about completing it you will need your completed tax info, Social Security Number (don't worry it's a government site as long as you have virus protection your private info should be fine), and if you aren't working or didn't have to file it's even easier. If someone claims you as a dependent you'll need them to put in their info. The great thing about the fafsa is the "save" option. You don't have to finish the whole thing in one sitting. With our busy lives we never know what will come up.
Completing the Fafsa in a timely manner is one key to the amount of financial aid you'll receive. My birthday being at the begining of the year helps me to remember when to complete mine. You can find out when your fafsa deadline is by calling the school or looking on the fafsa website. I'd just say to be safe have it done by Feb or June depending on your semester. The other reason time is key is first it has to be processed, then you may have corrections (you want to add a school or realize you marked your residency incorrectly), those corrections have to be processed, and you may get selected for Verification.
Verification think of it as the equivalent of being picked at the airport and they say "you've been selected" as if it's a good thing, so it's basically a double check if you will. You'll have to fill out 1-3 forms and maybe send a copy of your tax info. Now before mailing it if you have a printer that can fax (I use an Epson Artisan 800 like the one to the left, good price and cheap ink) or a library near by it will obviously be a more expedient which means a faster response. This year I was selected for verification. I mailed the forms (snail mail) back in May and just finally received my award letter. This may be something you never deal with and if so that's a great thing. I just don't want you to feel just because you've been selected that you won't get your financial aid.
Accepting and Declining Aid is your next step. You will either receive a letter in the mail or an email to your regular email address or Webadvisor Email (section on your school's website that keeps all your info and helps you register for classes and so much more) If within a week before classes you don't hear or receive anything contact your school's financial aid office give them your social or student id if necessary. Sometimes you get a little lost in the system but they find you when you call.
I hope this has been somewhat informative and helpful. If not, throw tomatoes at me and I'll plant them. You all enjoy the remainder of your summer and happy belated 4th of July.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
At A Crossroads
Welcome to my blog! I created this blog to document my journey back to college at 25. I was at a crossroads all this year about just giving up or really digging in. I chose to dig in and dig deep as Shaun T would say. I've decided to try one more time and really stick to college this time.
I want to be able to give others the motivation I never had and hopefully we all can share this journey together. My entries will cover the daily life of a college student but with all the responsibilities and frustrations of a typical adult. I'll discuss budgeting while in college, scholarships, coping with classmates (the range of maturity levels), real online colleges ( no degree mills), fashion (dressing studious and sassy when you're over 21), finance, family, and of course education.
I want to be able to give others the motivation I never had and hopefully we all can share this journey together. My entries will cover the daily life of a college student but with all the responsibilities and frustrations of a typical adult. I'll discuss budgeting while in college, scholarships, coping with classmates (the range of maturity levels), real online colleges ( no degree mills), fashion (dressing studious and sassy when you're over 21), finance, family, and of course education.
If you haven't already read how I ended up starting, college at 25 feel free to click the link above about my History. I use to want to major in Psychology and become a Clinical Psychologist but after more consideration as an adult I've decided on Business Administration, especially considering the recession and information gathered from yahoo, usatoday, and google searches about stable career areas without the 6+ years I'd have for Psychology. When you have a family things change ya know? I'll either concentrate on Human Resources or Economics. I know it won't be easy, I'm sure it may be fun. It's promised it will be hard but I'm sure it will all be worth it in the long run.
If you're a student regardless of your age questions and requests are always welcome.
Also this book to the left is a good tool, no I'm in no way calling anyone an idiot lol but if you're an adult going back to college it gives some useful pointers. I'm all about things being reasonably priced and informative. I'm able to review it if anyone would like that.
Also this book to the left is a good tool, no I'm in no way calling anyone an idiot lol but if you're an adult going back to college it gives some useful pointers. I'm all about things being reasonably priced and informative. I'm able to review it if anyone would like that.
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