FryTV: FOX

FOX

STUDENT FILMS & FILM SCHOOL CAN GET YOU ON FOX!

Let’s take a look at the different types of film projects, starting at the beginning with the student film. Everyone has to start somewhere, and film school is where many filmmakers start. It’s not a bad place to begin acting in front of a camera, either. You can think of student films as a sort of scene class for screen acting. Many people teach film acting with a single video camera on a tripod, but there is a limited amount that you can learn from that. In fact, some of what you learn from such an experience will not translate onto a set and into the film medium. I think that student film projects are a great place to work for a variety of actors.

• It’s a good place to start if you are a novice actor or have never acted in films.

• It’s a good place for actors who have been away from the business for a long time and want to start working again.

• I think it can also be a good place to hone those elements of your technique that you have not been satisfied with in your previous film work.

A student film is made by someone in film school who is making the film as part of the school’s curriculum. There are many different levels of these projects and it’s always a good idea to know what level and type of project it is before you get involved. There is almost never payment; it’s usually meals, transportation, and a copy of the tape. The meals will be bagels or peanut butter and jelly, the transportation usually an overcrowded secondhand car, and the tape (a copy of the film on VHS) may prove to be much more difficult to actually get into your hands than you ever could have imagined. That being said, these projects can be a lot of fun, very creative, and you might be lucky enough to create a lifelong friendship that will translate professionally later in your career. You are usually truly appreciated for being a participant, even if your director has no idea what to say to you as an actor. After all, you are really part of his dreams coming true. Following are some different types of student projects you might encounter. Most film schools are four-year programs for undergraduate or two- or three-year programs on the Master’s level. Obviously, the later the year, the more proficient the student.

Film schools have production classes, where the students learn all the jobs of the film crew as they shoot small projects. Usually, these are assignments with an instructor present during class time. In the second or third year, the production class starts to bring in actors from the outside; before that, the students shoot each other. It’s usually a simple exercise, like coming into a room, or a small scenario, lasting a minute or two of screen time. The shooting of such a project takes about six hours. The actor is usually responsible for her own clothing and makeup, all of which has been discussed and agreed upon beforehand. There isn’t a great deal of pressure to perform, because the emphasis of the production class is on the techniques of filmmaking, not on the performance and direction of the actor. It’s a good place to start if you have never been in front of the camera, because you can become accustomed to being on the set and start to decipher the crew positions. The atmosphere is generally very relaxed, because everyone is just learning what to do. You can also learn a great deal from the instructor if he lectures during the process. Call the school directly to inquire about how it finds actors for production classes

In 1948, George Marshall, the President of the Screen Directors Guild (which became the Directors Guild of America, Inc. in 1960) announced to its senior members that the Guild would begin an Awards program to honor directors for their directorial achievement. Awards would be given on a quarterly basis, and would culminate in the presentation of the Annual Award for the Best Directorial Achievement to the winning director at the General Membership Meeting.

The 1963 DGA Awards dinner and dance.
The selection process was envisioned as a Guild family affair, free from prejudice and unhampered by outside influence. It was determined that the senior members themselves were to be the judges and the jury because no person was better qualified to pass judgment on the creative ability of the director than the directors themselves.

The original members of the Awards Committee included George Sidney, Frank Capra, Delmer Daves, John Ford, Bruce Humberstone, Irving Pichel, Norman Taurog and Ex-officio George Marshall.

The quarterly winners in 1948 were Fred Zinnemann for The Search, Howard Hawks for Red River, Anatole Litvak for The Snake Pit and Joseph Mankiewicz for A Letter to Three Wives. The winner of the first Annual Award for Best Directorial Achievement in 1948 was Mankiewicz who was presented with his Award at the Los Angeles Roosevelt Hotel.
Six decades later, the Awards have grown to include television, documentaries, commercials, and Special Guild Service Awards including the Guild's highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Only twice since 1970, when the current method began of selecting five nominees from which one winner is chosen, has a director received two DGA Feature Film nominations in the same year. In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola was nominated for both The Godfather Part II and The Conversation (Coppola received that year's DGA Feature Film Award for The Godfather Part II); Steven Soderbergh was nominated for both Erin Brockovich and Traffic for the year 2000.

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been a near perfect barometer for the Best Director Academy Award. Only six times since the DGA Award's inception has the DGA Award winner not won the Academy Award:

1968: Anthony Harvey won the DGA Award for The Lion in Winter while Carol Reed took home the Oscar® for Oliver!. 1972: Francis Ford Coppola received the DGA's nod for The Godfather while the Academy selected Bob Fosse for Cabaret. 1985: Steven Spielberg received his first DGA Award for The Color Purple while the Oscar® went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa. 1995: Ron Howard was chosen by the DGA for his direction of Apollo 13 while Academy voters cited Mel Gibson for Braveheart. In 2001 Ang Lee took home the DGA Award for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, while the Oscar® went to Steven Soderbergh for Traffic. In 2003 Roman Polanski received the Academy Award for The Pianist, but the DGA Award went to Rob Marshall for Chicago.

THIS WEEKS TIP

Types of Employment Service Firms

When you're looking for help in finding a job, it's important to understand the differences among employment services. Many terms, such as employment agency, personnel placement service, executive search firm, or executive counseling service are used interchangeably. Find out what services a firm offers, how much the services cost, and who pays. If you're required to pay the fee, find out what you'll owe if the employment service fails to find you a job or any leads.

Six basic types of service companies/agencies offer consumers help in finding a job. They include: public employment services; employment agencies; executive search services; temporary help services; executive counseling services; and job listing services.

The federally-funded and state-operated Public Employment Service, also known as the Job Service, operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Employment Service provides internet access to America's Job Bank (AJB). On any given day, this national resource lists hundreds of thousands of job opportunities. It also provides links to numerous employment and training programs in each state, including programs for people with disabilities, minorities, older workers, veterans, welfare recipients, and young people. There are some 2,300 points of service nationwide; about 1,700 of them are full-time, full-service offices. The Employment Service provides its services free to both employers and job seekers. Openings range from entry level to technical and professional positions. Visit www.ajb.dni.us for more information.

Employment agencies or personnel placement services work to fill specific positions available within companies. Their purpose is to bring applicants and employers together. Often, the hiring company pays the placement fee, but when state law permits, you and the employer may share the fee or the fee may be billed to you after you've been hired. Employment agencies usually are licensed in the state where they do business.

Executive search firms or executive recruiters are hired by businesses to find the "right" person for a particular job within an organization. Recruiters sometimes are referred to as "headhunters." The executive who is hired doesn't pay the fee; it's part of the agreement between the hiring business and the search firm. Executive search firms usually subscribe to a code of ethics established by industry members; some firms are licensed by the states where they do business, as required by state law.

Temporary help services supply workers to businesses on a temporary or as-need basis. Businesses pay an agreed-upon wage to the temporary service for work performed by the employees. The temporary service firm pays the workers, not the temporary employer.

Executive counseling services or career counseling services help job seekers with career directions and decisions more than with job placement. They may offer services like skill identification and self evaluation, resume preparation and letter writing, and general information about companies or organizations in a particular location or job field. Fees can be as high as $4,000, and payment often is required before services are provided. You'll probably have to pay this fee even if you don't find a job. Placement is not guaranteed. State law dictates whether executive counseling firms are licensed.

Job listing services or advisory services sell information about getting a job in the U.S. or abroad. They often use pay-per-call 900-numbers to do this. They do not provide actual job placement. Information may include lists of job openings, general tips on conducting a successful job search or interview, and broad guidance in resume writing. These advisory firms often require an up-front fee for their listings

FINANCIAL TIPS FOR YOU

YOUR CREDIT

Your credit report and your credit score are the most powerful financial tools you have (besides your money). If you have a negative or bad credit history, you will pay more for everything—not just for one year, but for at least the next seven years and maybe even longer. You won’t be offered great deals on cards, and, what’s worse, you might be putting your family finances at great risk especially if you have a spouse. Bad credit history can haunt you for years to come.

The more positive and credit worthy you look on credit records, the less credit card rates are going to cost you, and the likely you will make money from them. Your rates on other loans and your premiums on your home, auto or life insurance policies can also be lower too. And the next time your credit is checked when you apply for a job or an apartment, you’ll likely pass with flying colors.

If the smallest thing happens to make you look worse on paper, you might go from just getting by to facing financial ruin. The rates on all your cards can go as high as 30%. Also, if you lose your job it could be harder to find a new one because your credit history may play an inportant factor in the decision made by employers. Ultimately you might be facing bankruptcy. But it doesn’t have to be that way You can change that possible outcome.

If you keep your credit report in good shape and as error-free as possible, your credit score—that three-digit number lenders use to decide how much of a risk you are— will be as high as possible. With a high credit score, you’ll have a powerful foot in the door for negotiating low-rate loans. A credit report in tip-top shape will also mean lower insurance premiums and better job opportunities. With so much at stake, it seems only natural that everyone would want to accurately maintain their credit profiles. But until the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)passed in 2003, that wasn’t an easy thing to do.

FACTA has helped consumers gain better access to their credit reports and, fortunately, it’s a lot easier now for you and I to manage our credit. In this chapter, I tell you what you need to know about credit reports. I explain how to get any errors on yours corrected and tell you how to keep your credit report in tip-top shape. Then I show you how to improve your credit score—which might be easier than you think, even if your credit is currently in bad shape.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized source for the free annual credit report that's yours by law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, and yet couldn't get it without paying fees or buying other services. TV ads, email offers, or online search results may tout "free" credit reports, but there is only one authorized source for a truly free credit report.

You can request your free report online, by phone or by mail. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or fill out the Annual Credit Report Request form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. No matter how you request your report, you have the option to request all three reports at once or to order one report at a time. By requesting the reports separately, you can monitor your credit more frequently throughout the year.

What is credit scoring?

Credit scoring is a system creditors use to help determine your credit worthiness and whether to give you credit. It also may be used to help decide the terms you are offered or the rate you will pay for the loan.

Information about you and your credit experiences, like your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, whether you pay your bills by the date they’re due, collection actions, outstanding debt, and the age of your accounts, is collected from your credit report. Using a statistical program, creditors compare this information to the loan repayment history of consumers with similar profiles. For example, a credit scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. A total number of points — a credit score — helps predict how creditworthy you are — how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments when they’re due.

Some insurance companies also use credit report information, along with other factors, to help predict your likelihood of filing an insurance claim and the amount of the claim. They may consider these factors when they decide whether to grant you insurance and the amount of the premium they charge. The credit scores insurance companies use sometimes are called “insurance scores” or “credit-based insurance scores.”

Credit scores and credit reports

Your credit report is a key part of many credit scoring systems. That’s why it is critical to make sure your credit report is accurate. Federal law gives you the right to get a free copy of your credit reports from each of the three national credit reporting companies once every 12 months.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) also gives you the right to get your credit score from the national credit reporting companies. They are allowed to charge a reasonable fee, generally around $8, for the score. When you buy your score, often you get information on how you can improve it.

To order your free annual report from one or all the national credit reporting companies, and to purchase your credit score, visitwww.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P. O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. For more information, see Free Credit Reports.

How is a credit scoring system developed?

To develop a credit scoring system or model, a creditor or insurance company selects a random sample of its customers, or a sample of similar customers, and analyzes it statistically to identify characteristics that relate to risk. Each of the characteristics then is assigned a weight based on how strong a predictor it is of who would be a good risk. Each company may use its own scoring model, different scoring models for different types of credit or insurance, or a generic model developed by a scoring company.

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a creditor’s scoring system may not use certain characteristics — for example, race, sex, marital status, national origin, or religion — as factors. The law allows creditors to use age in properly designed scoring systems. But any credit scoring system that includes age must give equal treatment to elderly applicants.

CREDIT CARD DEBT CONSOLIDATION:

When is Consolidating Credit Card Debt Not Beneficial?

The ultimate goal of debt consolidation is to lower the total amount paid on debts. If this primary outcome is not possible, then debt consolidation probably doesn't make sense for you. In simplified terms, if you can find a home equity loan or personal loan that offers a lower interest rate than your current credit card bills, then debt consolidation may be worthwhile. However, it is important to note the length of time allotted to the consolidation loan. Sometimes the additional years it takes to pay off a debt consolidation loan results in a higher total cost of interest, even if the rate is lower than what you currently carry.

Managing Debt Instead of Consolidating It

The main alternative to debt consolidation is debt management. Debt management simply requires you to look at your current debts and figure out the most efficient and cost-effective way to pay them off. To assist you in this process, you might consider using a debt management service. These services will help you dig through your financial history to build a simple, manageable plan for debt removal. They may also be able to speak directly with your creditors and help negotiate a reduced rate on your behalf. Regardless of the plan you eventually come up with, it is important to stick to it and make changes to your spending habits to ensure you make choices that lead to financial stability.

Negotiating Reduced Payments With Creditors

Negotiating reduced payments with your creditors serves as another potential alternative to consolidating credit card debt. In some cases, creditors may be willing to work with you to lower the amount owed to clear your debt. This takes patience and a lot of hard work on your end. However, depending on your circumstances, the end result could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

DO YOU KNOW WHICH CREDIT CARDS HAVE THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES?

According to credit bureau Experian, the national average credit score in the U.S. is around 750 out of a maximum score of 990. That's not too shabby of a score. For the average American, finding a low interest rate credit card shouldn't be too hard. Luckily for you, we've done some of the leg work.

First up is the Citi Simplicity card from Citibank. The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months as well as a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that first year and change, the variable APR is a low 12.99% for qualified consumers. The Citi Simplicity card also features no penalty interest rate increases when you miss a payment due date, and zero late fees.

For those who like to travel, the Capital One issued Venture Rewards card could be for you. This card offers 0% intro APR on purchases till August 2013. After that, consumers will be subject to a low variable APR of 11.99-19.99% depending on your credit worthiness. The kicker for the card is the amount of airline miles a consumer can accrue. The Venture card allows users to redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and other travel needs. Additionally, there is no limit on the amount of miles you can earn and those miles don't feature an expiration date. Currently, the card gives you 10,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 in the first three months. Consumers earn 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase.

For those looking for cash-back rewards, the Discover More card, issued by Discover Financial, is a great choice. The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases/balance transfers for 15 months and a low variable APR of 10.99% after that. The card provides 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories. Shopping online through Discover.com will also net you up to 20% in cash-back bonus rewards at popular retailers.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUILD GOOD CREDIT

Building good credit is very important, especially when you are just starting your financial life. But it can be hard to do: you need to show responsible use of credit to build a good credit score, yet it can be difficult to get a credit card or loan without a good credit history.

If that's your situation, consider a secured credit card, which is a credit card that is linked to a security deposit account as collateral. With a secured card, you'll still have to prove that you are able to pay for your credit card charges; however, you may qualify even if you have little credit history.

Here's how a secured card works: You deposit money in a security deposit account as collateral. If you have a fully secured card, your credit line is equal to the amount in your security deposit account. For example, if you put $1,000 into the deposit account, your available credit line will be $1,000. In turn, that security deposit provides credit issuers with the confidence that you will pay them back.

HOW TO CORRECT YOUR CREDIT REPORT:

The Federal Trade Commission has reported that more than 20% of all the complaints that it receives are about inaccurate credit reports. Complaints on the most frequent errors in credit reports include:

Errors cause by dumping incorrect computerized account records into the files of credit reporting agencies (CRA)

Errors in collecting information from bad public record information

Errors of information for the wrong person

Identity theft information is furnished to credit reporting agencies and entered under the victim's credit history

Errors entering information into the CRA's computer system (mixed up numbers, incorrect spellings, etc.)

Errors showing inconsistent information for the same person, for example showing both "current" and "in default" status for the same account.

Errors reporting incomplete credit information

Error Reporting and Investigation Procedures

If you believe that your credit report contains inaccurate or incomplete information, you can send a notice of dispute or a written request for reinvestigation to a credit reporting agency. The three major agencies are Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. Be sure to include:

Your name and address

Statements identifying the item or items you believe are inaccurate or incomplete

An explanation why you believe the information is incorrect

Include copies (not originals) of billing statements, cancelled checks or other documents supporting your dispute

State the corrective action you would like taken

Unless the credit reporting agency deletes the disputed information upon receipt of your request, the agency is required to conduct a reinvestigation of the disputed items. In conducting its reinvestigation, the agency must:

Send a notice of dispute to the party who furnished the information

Within five days of receiving the notice, the furnisher must conduct its own reinvestigation of the accuracy and completeness of the disputed information

The furnisher must report the results of its reinvestigation to the credit reporting agency and to all other credit reporting agencies in a timely manner

The reporting agency must complete its reinvestigation within 30 days of receipt of your notice of dispute, unless a 15-day extension has been approved.

Credit reporting agencies must act in good faith in conducting the reinvestigation and must check with the original sources and other reliable sources of the disputed information.

Reinvestigation Results

Within five days of completing its investigation, the credit reporting agency must send you:

Written notice of the completion of the reinvestigation

A copy of the corrected credit report

Notice of the right to request a copy of the reinvestigation report, including the address and phone number of the furnisher

You can have a statement of dispute included in your credit file. If the CRA has modified your credit file and you still believe that the information is in error, you may file another notice of dispute and the CRA must conduct another reinvestigation.

If the credit reporting agency deleted or corrected the error satisfactorily, continue to monitor you statements and credit report periodically. You don't want this information to reappear at a later date.

Credit plays an important role in your life — affecting the purchases you make and much more. The more insight you have about credit, the easier it is to strengthen your financial well-being. For more than a decade, Experian has been America's number one provider of credit information. In addition to credit reports, they offer credit help online to teach you how to successfully manage your credit rating and protect against credit card fraud.

Checking Your Own Credit Does Not Affect Your Credit Score

Your credit scores are determined by formulas that assess your creditworthiness. Lenders evaluate the risk of extending credit to you in part by using credit scores, which measures your credit risk — namely, how likely it is that you’ll pay them back and pay on time. Credit scores constantly adjust as the information in your credit report changes. You’ll benefit from knowing your Experian credit score and keeping track of changes and setbacks.

There is no fast way to improve a mediocre credit score if it is based on accurate information. Consumers sometimes find inaccurate information reflected in their credit report that could affect their credit score. It is easy to file a dispute with Experian or any other credit reporting agency, but you won’t be able to do this unless you have a copy of your credit report.

FACTS ABOUT BUYING GOLD
Regardless of the form of gold you may invest in, consider these universal truths:

The price of gold fluctuates over time. There is no guarantee that gold will increase – or even maintain – its value.
The prices coin dealers, banks, brokerage firms, and precious metals dealers charge for gold products, like bullion and coins, are almost always higher than the value of the gold the products contain. So it's wise to compare prices before making a purchase.

Some sellers say that the government may confiscate gold. Others say that "reportable" transactions lead to confiscation. Yet other sellers claim that modern bullion coins produced by the U.S. Mint are subject to confiscation while historic or collectible coins aren't. These claims sometimes lead people to buy historic coins at prices that exceed their value. No current federal law or Treasury Department regulation supports any of these claims.

Investigate Before You Invest
Whether you are buying gold stocks and funds, bullion and bullion coins, or collectible coins, the FTC says do your homework first:

If you are buying bullion coins or collectible coins, ask for the coin's melt value – the basic intrinsic bullion value of a coin if it were melted and sold. The melt value for virtually all bullion coins and collectible coins is widely available.

Consult with a reputable dealer or financial advisor you trust who has specialized knowledge.

Get an independent appraisal of the specific gold product you're considering. The seller's appraisal might be inflated.

Consider additional costs. You may need to buy insurance, a safe deposit box, or rent offsite storage to safeguard bullion. These costs will cut into the investment potential of bullion.
Some sellers deliver bullion or bars to a secured facility rather than to a consumer. When you buy metals without taking delivery, take extra precautions to ensure that the metal exists, is of the quality described, and is properly insured.
Walk away from sales pitches that minimize risk or sales representatives who claim that risk disclosures are mere formalities. Reputable sales reps are upfront about the risk of particular investments. Always get a receipt for your transaction.

Refuse to "act now." Any sales pitch that urges you to buy immediately is a signal to walk away and hold on to your money.

Check out the seller by entering the company's name in a search engine online. Read about other people's experiences with the company. Try to communicate offline if possible to clarify any details. In addition, contact your state Attorney General and local consumer protection agency. This kind of research is prudent, although it isn't fool-proof: it may be too soon for someone to realize they've been defrauded or to have lodged a complaint with the authorities.

FRYTV STUDENT LOAN INFORMATION

STUDENT LOAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID:

Information on college financial aid can seem overwhelming for many high school students. With all the choices and possibilities, it's hard to know where to start. Several types of financial aid exist, but it's easy to apply once you know how.

Information on the Types of College Financial Aid

Scholarships

Scholarships are a form of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. They may be "need based" or "merit based" depending on the policy outlined by the administrators. Scholarships are provided by private businesses, civic organizations, churches, individual estates, colleges and universities, and federal and state governments.

Need-based scholarships are given to students based on income level, and preference is ordinarily given to students who would not be able to pay for a college education themselves. Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on a student's grades, athletic participation, or involvement in student and community groups.

Some scholarships have very strict rules regarding recipients. Some are directed toward veterans or their children, for example, while others may be limited to students whose parents did not attend college or who are members of a particular organization.

Grants

Financial aid grants also do not need to be repaid. They are available from federal and state governments and from individual colleges. Unlike scholarships, grants are awarded exclusively based on financial need. Some grants also give preference to students of a certain ethnicity or religion or to students pursuing a particular career field.

Well known grants include:

Federal Pell Grant

Tuition Reimbursement Grant

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Federal Work Study Program

The Federal Work Study Program (FWS) allows students to work on campus as a means to partially pay for their educational expenses. The funds are provided jointly by the federal government and the college or university the student attends. Application for the FWS is made through the FAFSA (described below), and eligibility is determined by financial need.

Work study positions are ordinarily available in numerous departments. Students may work in the school's cafeteria, in a clerical office position, or in a janitorial position, for example. In some cases, the student may be able to work off campus as part of FWS. The hours that each student works will depend upon the amount of FWS funds provided.

Students interested in the FWS must file their FAFSA early. Some colleges require receipt of the FAFSA by February 15 in order for a student to be considered for work study.

Student Loans

Student loans are frequently backed by federal funds and are available based solely on financial need. Students are required to repay their loans regardless of whether they complete their education. Federal loans have the advantage of low interest rates and a long repayment period.

Federal Stafford Loans may be subsidized or unsubsidized by the federal government. The interest on subsidized loans is paid by the federal government while a student is enrolled in college or university, while students must pay the interest on unsubsidized loans even when attending school. Full repayment for both loan types begins six months after a student has left college.

Parent Loans

The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) also provides for the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Unlike student loans, PLUS loans are based on the parents' credit history not on financial need. Repayment of PLUS loans must begin immediately even while the student attends college.

Parents and students may, of course, obtain loans from private financial institutions though these loans will not have the same low rates and benefits as FFEL loans.

Information on How to Apply for College Financial Aid

Private Scholarships

Businesses and organizations that offer scholarship funds provide their own application forms and set their own deadlines. Students will need to research these scholarships and then file the applications before the deadlines.

High school guidance counselors usually have information about a variety of private scholarships and can help students select ones for which they are eligible. Students may also research on the internet and contact local businesses and organizations to find other scholarships.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form provided by the federal government that allows students to apply for a range of financial aid packages at once. With this single form, a student may apply for federal and state financial aid as well aid from colleges that she specifies. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for scholarships, grants, work study, and loans.

Students may file the FAFSA any time after January 1 of the year in which they plan to attend college for the fall semester and/or the spring semester of the following year.

Each college sets a deadline for receipt of the FAFSA with some being as early as March 1 (or February 15 for consideration of the FWS). Students should file the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.

College Specific Financial Aid

Almost all colleges and universities offer financial aid packages to their students. While the FAFSA will be forwarded to any school that a student specifies, many schools have their own financial aid application forms. Students should file these with their preferred schools in addition to filing the FAFSA.

After the various applications have been filed, a student will receive a college financial aid letter with information about the funds she can receive. If student or parent loans have been approved, the letter will explain how to apply for them. In most cases, financial aid awards will not be sent to the student but will be provided directly to the college or university instead.

***

In 2007, Congress created the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. Under this program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on their eligible federal student loans after they have made 120 payments on those loans under certain repayment plans while employed full time by certain public service employers.

What must I do to have any remaining balances on my Direct Loans forgiven under the PSLF Program?

You must make 120 on-time, full, scheduled, monthly payments on your Direct Loans. Only payments made after October 1, 2007 qualify.

You must make those payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

When you make each of those payments, you must be working full-time at a qualifying public service organization.

Only loans you received under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program are eligible for PSLF. Loans you received under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, the Perkins Loan Program, or any other student loan program are not eligible for PSLF.

If you have FFEL and/or Perkins loans, you may consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan to take advantage of PSLF. However, only payments you make on the new Direct Consolidation Loan will count toward the 120-month payment requirement for PSLF. Payments made on your FFEL or Perkins loans, even if they were made under a qualifying repayment plan, do not count as qualifying PSLF payments.

If you are interested in consolidating your FFEL or Perkins loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan, please visit www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov for more information and an electronic application. If you do not know what type of loans you have, please visit www.nslds.ed.gov.

On-time payments are those that are received by your Direct Loan servicer no later than 15 days after the scheduled payment due date.

Full payments are payments on your Direct Loan in an amount that equals or exceeds the amount you are required to pay each month under your Direct Loan repayment schedule. If you make a payment for a month that is less than what you are required to pay for that month, that month's payment will not count as one of the required 120 monthly payments. If you make multiple, partial payments in a month and the total of those partial payments equals or exceeds the required full monthly payment amount, those payments will count as only one qualifying payment.

Scheduled payments are those that are made under a qualifying repayment plan after your servicer has billed you for the month's payment. They do not include payments made while your loans are in an in-school or grace status or in a deferment or forbearance period.

You must make separate monthly payments. Lump sum payments or payments you make as advance payments for future months are not qualifying payments. There are special rules on lump sum payments for borrowers whose public service employment is with AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps.

Over the years, most student loans were provided by private lenders and guaranteed by a guarantee agency and then by the federal government—these are called Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs). The “guarantee” means that the government will reimburse your lender if you default, and can then pursue you to collect on the loan. In 1993, the federal government began providing loans directly to students—called Direct loans. As of July 2010, FFELs are no longer available to students. However, if you (like many Americans), took out a student loan prior to July 2010, you very well may have a FFEL. Through these and other programs, the federal government provides about 70% of all student aid.

Here are some of the details of FFELs, Direct loans, and other common federal loans. Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs) FFELs may be one of the following:

• Stafford loans, (previously called

Guaranteed Student Loans or GSLs or

Federal Insured Student Loans (FISLs))

• PLUS loans (loans to parents or to

graduate students)

• SLS loans, or

• consolidation loans.

Stafford loans are the most common loans that students take for their education; they help pay for college or graduate school education. These loans have been utilized by students since the 1960s. If a student qualifies for a “subsidized” Stafford, the student does not have to pay any interest on the loan for the time the student is in school or after leaving school, in the grace period. As of July 2010, FFEL loans are no longer available. So, if you got your loans after June 30, 2010, they are not FFEL loans.

Direct Loans

Direct loans were first made available in about 1993. These loans are made directly by the federal government, rather than by a bank or other lender. Direct loans may be a:

• Stafford loan

• PLUS loan, or

• a consolidation loan.

Direct loans have had a more favorable repayment option then FFELs for students who do not have sufficient income to pay the standard payments. But as of July 2009, both types of loans will have similar flexible repayment plans available. Most existing federal loans are either FFELs or Direct loans. (As mentioned above, loans made after June 30, 2010 cannot be FFELs.)

Perkins Loans

A Perkins loan is a low-interest loan for undergraduate or graduate students with very low incomes. These loans were previously known by several other names: National Direct Student Loans, and before that, National Defense Student Loans. The federal government guarantees repayment of Perkins loans but, unlike other loans, Perkins loans are made by the school with a combination of federal and school funds. This means that the school, not a bank or the government, is the lender.

ABOUT FEDERAL PERKINS LOANS:

Perkins Loans carry a fixed interest rate of 5% for the duration of the ten-year repayment period. The Perkins Loan Program has a nine-month grace period, so that borrowers begin repayment in the tenth month upon graduating, falling below half-time status, or withdrawing from their college or university. Because the Perkins Loan is subsidized by the government, interest does not begin to accrue until the borrower begins to repay the loan. As of the 2009-2010 academic year, the loan limits for undergraduates are $5,500 per year with a lifetime maximum loan of $27,500. For graduate students, the limit is $8,000 per year with a lifetime limit of $60,000 (including undergraduate loans).

The amount you can borrow depends on your financial need, the amount of other aid you receive, and the availability of funds at your college or career school. You should apply for federal student aid early to make sure you are considered for a Perkins Loan. Due to limited funds, not everyone who qualifies for a Perkins Loan will receive one.

If you are an undergraduate student, you may be eligible to receive up to $5,500 a year. The total you can borrow as an undergraduate is $27,500.

If you are a graduate or professional student, you may be eligible to receive up to $8,000 per year. The total you can borrow as a graduate student is $60,000, which includes amounts borrowed as an undergraduate.

PLUS Loans

These loans are available to creditworthy parents and graduate and professional students. These loans are either federally guaranteed or direct federal loans.

Other Federal Loans

There are many other types of federal loans, including loans for independent students, professionals, and nursing students. To find out more, contact your lender or the Federal Student Aid Information Center at http:// studentaid.ed.gov, 800-443-3243, or 800-730-

8913 (TDD). The Center offers a free booklet, “Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Financial Aid,” that explains many of the basic terms and rules governing federal loans.

Private Loans

Many students have private loans from banks and other financial institutions without the guarantee of the federal government. Their terms are usually much less favorable than federal direct or federally guaranteed loans.

Many graduate students and some undergraduates apply for federally guaranteed loans and private loans in one application package, but the private loans don’t have all of the options for repayment that government guaranteed or direct loans have. Many loans are made by the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) or by Nellie Mae, its subsidiary.

SALLIE MAE: The simple and smart loan option for undergraduate students

Choosing our Smart Option Student Loan® as your undergraduate student loan solution offers various financial and educational benefits, including competitive interest rates, a choice of repayment options, and rewards for paying your undergraduate student loans on time while in school. Plus, you can borrow up to 100% of your school-certified costs of education.

Deferred Repayment Option. Make no payments during school—or pay as much as you'd like—for maximum flexibility. Fixed Repayment Option. Pay just $25 a month2 while in school1, and you can benefit from an average savings of over 10% on your total undergraduate loan cost, compared to our deferred repayment option. Interest Repayment Option. Pay interest while in school and you can enjoy average savings of over 20% on your total loan cost, when compared to our deferred repayment option.

-Competitive Variable and Fixed Loan Interest Rates

-No origination fees and no prepayment penalties

-Get the money you need for school

-Borrow up to 100% of your school-certified costs of education (minimum $1,000)

-Get a Smart Reward® in your Upromise® account of 2% of your scheduled monthly payments that are made on time while in school, with the Interest or Fixed Repayment Options.4

-Get a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction while enrolled to make scheduled monthly payments by automatic debit.5

Sallie Mae has helped more than 30 million Americans pay for college since 1972. We encourage students and families to supplement savings by exploring grants, scholarships and federal student loans before they consider a Sallie Mae private education loan.

If you are overwhelmed by the cost of college, you are not alone. Like you, many college-bound students and their parents are wondering how to afford an education without becoming overburdened by debt. When you take advantage of all the financial aid options available from a variety of sources to help you pay for college, the cost of an education becomes more manageable.

To help reduce the overall cost to attend college, students are encouraged to research and apply for as many scholarships and grants as possible. These types of financial aid represent sources of money that do not need to be paid back.

Scholarships

Scholarships may be given to students who demonstrate or show potential for excellence in a certain area or discipline. Financial need and academic standing are not always part of the criteria for receiving scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships available through colleges, your state, and various companies, organizations, and clubs.

Most colleges automatically consider you for a college-based scholarship when you apply for admission. If you qualify, your school's admission office will notify you. As for the other types of scholarships, they won't find you – you have to find them. Search the Web and seek recommendations from friends, family, and academic advisors.

Student Scholarship Search provides students and parents with a FREE searchable database of college scholarships and grants. No registration is required and scholarships are updated daily.

Grants

Unlike scholarships, student grants are awarded to students who demonstrate a financial need based on formulas established by federal and state governments, or the school. Common sources of student grants include the following:

-federal and state governments

-colleges and universities

-public and private organizations

As you progress through the financial aid application process, you will know if you are eligible for a student grant and how much will be awarded.

Refinancing student loans initially may seem easy enough until you begin to dig into the details. What starts as a simple loan can suddenly feel like a pile of complicated paperwork and unending loose ends. If you decide that student loan refinancing is a good idea for you, get organized and make it easier to take control of your financial future with these tips to remember when refinancing student loans.

Managing your student loan payment is much like budgeting your other debts and just like any other debt you need to stay on top of your payments but in today’s difficult economy that’s not always easy. The good news is that you do have options that can help make your student loan more manageable.

Federal student loans will usually allow for more flexibility that will help you get back on track while renegotiating a private loan may be more difficult but by no means impossible. Whether you’re working with a federal student loan or a private loan you need to have a plan before approaching your lender for refinancing. You’ll need to prove that you have come up with a workable budget and you need to have an idea of how much you can afford toward your student loan payment.

Student Loan Payment Deferment and Forbearance

If you have a federal student loan you may be able to request a deferment. A deferment will let you put your student loan payment on hold for a specified length of time. Deferments are often granted for financial hardships, military service or a return to school. You’ll still be responsible for the loan but a deferment can buy you some time. You may also be eligible for more than one deferment.

You can also apply for loan forbearance. Forbearance may be an option if you’ve used up your available deferments or are not eligible for a deferment and can prove financial hardship. Unlike a deferment you will be responsible for interest that accrues during the forbearance period. Teachers, med students and military personnel may all be eligible for forbearance.

Student Loan Payment – When Consolidation is the Answer

If you’re like a lot of people, you probably have more than one student loan payment. In this case consolidation might be a good option. By consolidating your student loans you can usually get one lower payment, a lower interest rate and extend the time you have to repay the loan. If you have both federal and private loans, it’s important not to consolidate your federal loans with your private loans. Federal student loans come with a number of benefits that you will lose if you lump them in with a private loan consolidation.

Pages

FOX

FRYTV POSTS

THIS WEEKS TIP