Aside from going over several personal statement examples for their writing their admission essay, students should also seek information on how they can best qualify for financial aid. For many students who are trying to get through college, financial aid is one of their best friends. With a little help from scholarships and grants, students can worry a little less about how to pay for their tuition and instead focus more on their studies at hand. Basically, financial aid helps students pay for tuition, room and board, books and supplies, as well as other school fees.(1) Here are some helpful information that they should know:
Freshmen have a better chance at getting good offers
Usually, freshmen have a better chance at getting good financial aid offers. This is normally the case, because many school have specific financial aid programs for incoming first-year students. Since freshmen still have a good four or more years of study in the school, they can be given long-term financial aid plans at lower rates. This information shouldn’t discourage non-freshman students from finding a good deal, though.
You can negotiate for a better package
Perhaps the best way to get the most out of a financial aid deal is to negotiate. Most lenders are willing to strike a deal with you, but they will probably wait for you to make the first negotiations. There are a number of ways in which you can negotiate your financial aid. One way is to ask for lower interest rates, which can shave off a considerable amount from the fees and costs of your loan. You can also try to get a longer grace period on your repayment schedule, so that you have more time to work out how you’re going to pay your bills. Also, you can negotiate for a higher loan in case the initial offer made by the lender is not enough to pay for your schooling fees.(2) What other students do is get ideas from personal statement examples so they can provide details in their admission essays on how they want to acquire college education despite their financial situation.
Students should not accept the first offer but should wait until they get accepted to more schools
Another strategy is to wait until you are accepted to more schools before finalizing your loan deals. While waiting for a better offer, what applicants can do is to learn as much as they can from well-written examples of personal statement so they can have better chances of getting admitted to more colleges and universities. A personal statement example can help boost your applications even if you don’t have excellent grades.
When it comes to federal loans, it is important for you to wait until you are accepted to more schools, because these loans are often linked to the school that you are attending. You will then have more leverage to negotiate your financial aid. Just remember not to wait for too long, otherwise you may lose all your chances as you get closer to deadlines for financial aid applications.(3)
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_financial_aid
(2) http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/negotiation.phtml
(3) http://www.chaminade.edu/financial_aid/
Harvard University is one of the most reputable and well-known educational institutions in the world. Year after year, students apply to Harvard, hoping to get into the prestigious and historical university. While a minority of the applicants get accepted into the school, there is a large number of Harvard applicants who get rejected. All is not lost if you are one of the people who did not get into Harvard. Aside from the fact that you can still go to one of the many other great schools around the world, here are some other reasons why you shouldn’t go to Harvard University:
Infamous Harvard graduates
Harvard has produced some of the most influential people in the world, including numerous Nobel laureates, a range of Pulitzer Prize winners, and no less than eight US Presidents.(1) Aside from some of these role model figures, however, some Harvard alumni have gained fame through their not-so-admirable feats. Theodore Kaczynski, for example, received his Harvard undergraduate degree only to go on and become the world-famous Unabomber. Kaczynski’s neo-Luddite philosophy ultimately resulted in him carrying out numerous bombings on airliners and universities around the country.(2) Isoroku Yamamoto, who studied in Harvard from 1919 to 1921, later became the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Yamamoto played a crucial role in planning and executing the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway.(3) Some other infamous Harvard alumni include Charles K. Lee, who embezzled over $100,000 from a charity for children with leukemia, and Ernst Hanfstaengl, who became a close friend and confidant of Adolf Hitler.(4,5)
A Harvard education in exchange for an arm and a leg
Another reason you may not want to attend Harvard is because the school’s tuition cost too much. Sure you’re getting premium education, but does that mean you have to sell off your arm, leg, and both kidneys to pay for tuition? In 2007, the school had a tuition increase of about 3.9%, bringing the tuition to over $31,000.(6) In February, 2009, the school announced a 3.5% increase on tuition for the 2009-2010 school year, which means that the tuition would cost over $33,500.(7) Before you break your bank, you may want to look into other, more affordable academic institutions.
Snobbish student body
Harvard is full of snobbish and spoiled rich kids who can be quite arrogant. Aside from the annoying name-dropping, you will probably also have to deal with a bunch of high-brow peers who act as though something is stuck up their behinds. You can probably find a few friends you can get along with, but, for the most part, you’ll probably be dealing with a bunch of brats who are used to getting their way – even if it means having to step over you.
Just want to graduate
Yes, we all know that Harvard has produced a bunch of graduates who have helped to change the world, inspire world peace, or make some great change that has affected the lives of many. Not everyone is planning to be on the list of the 100 most influential people though. If all you want is an education, then you may want to settle for a different school. All of the hype about making the world a better place may just not be your thing. Next time you feel bad about not studying in Harvard University, take a quick peek back at this list and rest assured in the fact that Harvard has its downsides too.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Harvard_University_people
(2) http://edition.cnn.com/US/9604/03/unabomber/index.html
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoroku_Yamamoto
(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chas_Lee
(5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Hanfstaengl
(6) http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/03.22/03-tuition.html
(7) http://www.news.harvard.edu/r/tuition.html
One of the most significant decisions that you have to make after graduating high school is whether to attend a university or a community college. It is important to take your time when making this decision because it will have a large impact on the next two or more years of your life. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between going to a university or a community college:
Cost
Most community colleges cost considerably less (sometimes even half) than the cost of tuition in universities. However, if you still decide to go to a university even though you may not have the money to pay for tuition, keep in mind that you may be able to get scholarships or other forms of financial aid.
Location and housing
Another important consideration is the location of the campus. If the campus is far from home, you may need to dorm or get an apartment somewhere nearby. Universities often have a number of housing solutions for students. Community colleges, on the other hand, rarely have dorms or housing. Of course, one of the reasons students go to community colleges is their proximity. Most students enrolled in community colleges live near the campus so they don’t need special accommodations.
Transition from high school
Attending a university straight out of high school may be rather hard to deal with and adapt to. Many students decide to go to community college because it helps them deal with this transition period better. Because community colleges are smaller and less populated than universities, students can have an easier time progressing into this next stage of their lives. Some students enrolled in community colleges also have plans of continuing their education in colleges or universities.
Degrees of separation
Universities offer degrees of all levels in numerous fields. In some community colleges, you will only be able to earn an Associate of Arts degree. Many community colleges have educational programs with universities around the area or state. This is a great option for those who still can not make up their minds.
Whether enrolling into a community college or a university, you will probably be asked to submit a personal statement. Check out some examples of personal statements for ideas, topics and themes for your paper. Examples of personal statements will give you an idea of what to do and what not to do. Be sure to use examples of personal statements to help you land a spot in the community college or university of your liking.
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