Category Archives: Uncategorized

04/15/2012 · 2:59 pm

The Five Year Plan; Why its OK to be a Super Senior

Don’t think that you must finish college in four 17 credit a semester no repeat, no mistake crammed years. Stuff happens…you know? On this blog from Scholarships.com Kayla Herrera from Michigan Tech talks about adjusting on the run and finishing in five. Read it…maybe you won’t be so stressed out.

You can find the full article on scholarships.com.

Everything is blooming and trees are awakening with widening leaves stretching up toward the sky. The birds are chirpingand don’t forget the sound of graduation gowns sweeping across the floor! I should be graduating this year but like so many other college students my age, I have been thrown more than a few curveballs in my time in school and I have another year to go before I can enter into the workforce full-time. I want to assure you that this is okay and completely normal!

Here at Michigan Tech, we have a five-year plan. In order to graduate from Michigan Tech in four years, one must take 18 credits every semester, not includingsummer semesters. Not a fan of killing yourself with books, papers, exams, labs and a part-time job and would prefer to enjoy your time in college? That mentality is adopted by most students atMichigan Tech, making those who graduate in four years or fewer the minority.

Let’s face it – things happen: You change your major and have some serious catching up to do in prerequisite classes, you have a death in the family, youbecome seriously ill and take a semester off, or you just want to study abroad for a while. And that’s all more than fine, people! Yes, money is a huge issue (you can combat this by finding as many scholarships and grants as possible!) but at least we didn’t develop serious illnesses because of stress in an overworkededucational environment!

My advice? Take it easy and give yourself time to soak in all of the newinformation you are learning. Remember, don’t let anyone make you feel inferior for needing to stay in school for an extra year or two. There are colleges out there, just like mine, where the majority of students are on five-year plans – you just have to find them.

In addition to being a Scholarships.com virtual intern, Michigan Tech student Kayla Herrera is a media coordinator for the Michigan Tech Youth Programs and is a writer for The Daily News in Iron Mountain, Mich., Examiner.com and WHOA Magazine. She love a tantalizing, action-packed video game and can’t get enough of horror movies (Stephen King’s books always have her in their grip, though she prefers the old over the new). Writing is what she has always done, and that is what she is here to do.

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Filed under NEWS on College & College Funding, Uncategorized

04/11/2012 · 6:08 pm

Students, Your Loan Rate is about to Double – WAKE UP!

Please go here for a detailed look at College Loans and Grants.

And go here to read how Congress is reducing its financial support for college students at the very time that tuition is rising through the roof.

Prepare yourself: on July 1, as many as 8 million college students will see their interest rates on federally subsidized student loans double, from 3.4% to 6.8%. According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, that increase amounts to the average Stafford loan borrower’s paying $2,800 more over a standard 10-year repayment term for loans made after June 30. It’s worse for those students who take out the most money. Those who borrow the maximum $23,000 in subsidized student loans will see their debt load upped by $5,000 over a 10-year repayment plan and $11,000 over a 20-year repayment plan.

This is an excellent example of why you need to pay attention to what is happening in Washington D.C. There is a huge difference between Democrat and Republican positions in regards to financing of higher education. The Republican House Proposed Budget 2012 is not only calling for an end to subsidized Stafford Loans for students of low-income families, it also advocates for lowering the qualification for the full Pell Grant from a family income of $32,000 down to $15,000. $15,000? That’s not enough to raise a family in much more than a cardboard box on the side of the street. After adjusting for inflation, a $15,000 income threshold would be the least generous automatic- zero EFC provision in the history of the Pell Grant program, at a time when tuition is at historic highs. The Obama Budget on the other hand, has proposed legislation to keep the 3.4% interest rate for subsidized Stafford Loans for needy families and advocates an increase in the Pell Grant maximum from $5500to $5635 in 2012/13. Again, in a country as wealthy as ours this lack of support for the students of higher education is abysmal, but its far better than the Republican alternative.

Hard economic decisions must be made in this country if we are to reduce a $14 trillion debt. You must make your own call on who you support at the state and national level in regards to this and many other significant issues that face this nation. However, political choices that balance the budget on the backs of young people who are already suffering from crushing college debt, must be recognized and called out.

It is important for you to understand and consider these differences when making your own political decisions. Time to get informed people. Time to wake up!

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Filed under LOANS & GRANTS - What YOU need to know, NEWS on College & College Funding, Uncategorized

04/09/2012 · 2:49 pm

Scholarships thru the U.S. Military

The United States Military provides extensive educational benefits for individuals who serve. The specifics can get a little confusing if you try to wade through them online. If you have an interest in joining the military and taking advantage of educational opportunities, it is suggested that you contact recruiters through the OHS Counseling Center.

What this sight will attempt to do is familiarize you with the lesser known option of R.O.T.C. – Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. When you join R.O.T.C. you are student of both the program and the college, and a member of the military branch which sponsors the program. If accepted into the program you qualify for scholarship funding. Upon graduation you join the National Guard, Reserves, or Active military as a Second Lieutenant. The Army, Navy, and Air Force all sponsor R.O.T.C. Programs. Check your college to see which program is offered.

Founded in 1926, ROTC stands for Reserve Officer Training Corps. It’s a college program offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military. In exchange for a paid college education and a guaranteed post-college career, cadets commit to serve in the Military after graduation.

ROTC officers serve in all branches of the U.S. armed forces. In 2010, ROTC graduates constituted 38.5 percent of newly commissioned U.S. Army officers, 1.8 percent of newly commissioned U.S. Marine Corps officers, 16.7 percent of newly commissioned U.S. Navy officers, and 38.1 percent of newly commissioned U.S. Air Force officers, for a combined 30 percent of all active duty officers in the Department of Defense commissioned that year.

Under ROTC, a student may receive a competitive, merit-based scholarship, covering all or part of college tuition, in return for an obligation of active military service after graduation. The U.S. Coast Guard offers a similar program to ROTC under a different name: CSPI

ROTC students attend college like other students, but also receive basic military training and officer training for their chosen branch of service, through the ROTC unit at the college or university. The students participate in regular drills during the school year, and extended training activities during the summer.

Go here to learn more about Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and United States Coast Guard ROTC Programs.

Go here to learn more about the history of ROTC.

Go here to locate Michigan colleges and universities that provide a ROTC option. Then for more specific information contact the program at that particular school. You’ll notice from the above link that Army ROTC sponsors more programs than the other branches. And you’ll also see that the Marines / Navy have a single program accessible through Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan.

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Filed under ROTC / U.S. Military / Scholarships, Uncategorized

04/06/2012 · 8:13 am

Sarah Fowler – 2003 Independent Travel Scholarship Recipient

from Sarah’s winning essay…

“Travel is important because it broadens your horizons. I think to be globally aware travel is a must. Without travel, we would not have the opportunity to experience other cultures. You do not even need to travel out of the country to experience this. Every state is a little bit different than the others. By traveling to any one of them, something new can be experienced. Americans need to travel out of the country if possible. We are an arrogant nation, and I believe that with more travel we could become more compassionate. If Americans experience other cultures, see how others live, then maybe we would not take so much for granted. We can better appreciate our country and the freedoms we have here. We can also feel compassion for those who are not as fortunate as us. We can come to a better understanding of the world, if we would just experience it…

I want to travel to Boston, Massachusetts. Angela Pastoor is going to be my travel partner. She has been my best friend for six years. Angela is also graduating this year from Oakridge. We are planning to leave in mid July. We will be gone for seven days.”

In July 2003 Angie and Sarah drove to Boston and spent a week on their first ever solo vacation.

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Filed under Building A Better World Scholarship, Uncategorized

· 8:07 am

Jennifer Stratton – 2003 Community Involvement Scholarship Recipient

from Jennifer’s winning essay…

“I have grown so much by taking the time out of my life to volunteer. I find that it is very important for me to help others. I think it is the best feeling in the world is to see a smiling face and to hear, the two little words, “Thank-You.” Knowing that you have made a difference in a person’s life is the best reward ever. One should not think of money as an incentive all the time, but feeling better about one’s self. I would recommend volunteering to everyone who wants to try to make a difference. It is easy to give one or two hours a week to help out a in worthy cause. There comes a day in everyone’s life that we might need help. Helping out now can lead to better things in the future.”