Free College

MIT's free classes now run on free software

2010-07-07T01:07:00.000-07:00

Free is a claim that we've long been trained to be skeptical of, but the game here is starting to change.

In the world of information technology, it isn't that unreasonable to assume that the copy of a piece of data is pretty close to zero. Once it has been created the first time, duplicating it actually costs nothing (despite what the RIAA may claim about imaginary lost sales).

With this in mind, quite a few colleges have started to make their classes available online - for no cost to the student. Now, you can't get a degree this way (maybe someday), but you can learn a whole bunch of stuff that you can apply to your own classes or even just for self enrichment.

To take it another step further, MIT is now offering its free online classes from a free content management system (CMS). Anyone can download this CMS to build their own website, and if there's something about it they wish was different they're also free to make any modifications or addons they see fit. Chances are, the Plone CMS is even going to be run on a Linux server (a free and open operating system).

With the economy in doubt, the trend toward free information is at least one set of circumstances we can be enthusiastic about. Hopefully, more schools and more software platforms catch on, and maybe we won't be choosing between advancing our information & education potential or making the mortgage!

Make it a FAFSA weekend

2010-02-20T05:34:00.000-08:00

February is almost over, and that means time is running out to get your federal financial aid applications completed and turned in. If you haven't filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then this weekend is a great time to get started and finish it up.

Of course, if you haven't finished filing your taxes for the 2010 deadline yet, that should be the first step before you do anything else. If you're under 24, this also means you have to get your parents to hurry up and not wait for the last possible minute. Just make sure they know it won't cost them anything to apply for federal aid - the point is to get free money for college, after all!

Once the taxes are in, the next step is to head over to Fafsa.ed.gov to link the income tax profile to your student aid profile. With a few extra forms and clicks, you'll have all the required data and all that's left to do is sit back and wait to see how the government calculates your personalized financial need.

Just remember: These applications are time sensitive, and even if you're eligible you'll need to turn them in soon if you want to have it for your college before they run out of money!

Not all private colleges are worth the cost

2010-01-29T15:43:00.000-08:00

Among talk of expanding the federal Pell Grant programs available to help students pay for college, some attention could be paid to whether or not such funds are being spent efficiently by sending students to expensive private colleges that offer little or nothing that much cheaper public universities and colleges are able to provide.

Every year, billions of dollars in aid and subsidized student loans are provided, and much of this money finds its ways to relatively expensive schools with admissions policies that aren't exactly restrictive.

State and local public universities already receive assistance from those respective governing bodies that authorize them, and in many instances they provide a better value per student dollar than any but the most elite and competitive of ivy league universities. With an affordable alternative already available, should the federal government continue to fund the profitability of private institutions? Are the accreditation policies relevant to our nation's educational needs?

It would be hard for the government to get involved in the business of rating the worthiness of various colleges and universities, but they're already in the business of paying for them!

Remember to Apply for Financial Aid

2010-01-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

It is January again and that means applications for Federal Financial Aid are once again available online for students to complete for free. All applications are time sensitive, so even if you complete your submissions prior to the final deadline, you may have already waited too long! Schools receive a certain amount of funding to disburse in the order applications were received, so even if you're eligible and complete everything on time there might not be any funds left by the time you get to the front of the line.

The first step to applying for federal financial aid is to complete your taxes from the last year - so if you need documentation from your employers be sure to get in contact with them to remind them and let them know! Once you've got your IRS forms complete, it is easy to migrate this data into the FAFSA website and before you know it, you'll receive a report in the email confirming your aid eligibility and estimating the amount of money available to help you fund your college costs.

There's no reason to procrastinate - be sure to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible! The process is free and easy, so don't worry about all of those "specialists" who want to charge you tons of money to complete the forms. Thanks to some reforms and rebuilding of the online system, its never been easier or quicker to apply.

Students Increasingly Turn to Loans

2009-09-04T01:34:00.001-07:00

The latest numbers from the federal department of education show a huge spike in the number of students borrowing money for college - as well as a sharp increase in the amount of money they are borrowing.

Unfortunately, there isn't much of a surprise here, because tuition costs and on-campus living expenses have been rising much quicker than wages or even other costs. Many schools are saddled with their own excessive debts and have little choice but to constantly raise tuition to pay for projects begun many years ago at the peaks of the credit boom.

An interesting note from the government was that it appears as though more students are choosing the direct loans from the federal source. The interest rates on these loans tend to be a bit lower than comparable private student loan deals, so the rise in the actual amount of debt being paid back may be lower than the rise in principle borrowed. In a way, that means more money going to education per dollar spent on student loan servicing - and that's at least a small win for financial efficiency.

Free College - No One Said it is Easy

2008-12-29T04:31:00.000-08:00

Want to go to college for free? Seriously, do you want other people and organizations to pay for your tuition and possibly even your living expenses?

Its possible, but its not exactly easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it but instead most students rely on student loans and increasing levels of employment while enrolled.
As costs have steadily risen at an alarming pace, many students work full time while attending college and pursuing a degree.

Scholarships are out there - literally billions of dollars worth of awards - and the federal government is also providing billions of dollars in financial aid for financially needy students. Subsidized loans are still debt, but they have a lot of advantages over debt and in many ways serve as a source of free college money.

So why don't more students get free college funding?

There's a lot of work involved in finding the opportunities, being motivated, and staying determined despite the interruptions, rejections, and frustrations that are sure to be involved. Maybe its even safer to spend that time you could be chasing scholarships and grants with a solid job in the industry or sector you want to major in and pursue a career with. The value of that experience can not be measured with mere dollars - you might even realize from your work history that its not the exact sector you want to be in - or maybe you'll find the specialization within the business that interests you the most and reignites your passion for the subject.

To achieve free college funding, you'll need to focus in on the scholarships, grants, and contests that reflect your personal skills and talents. You have to balance the specificity of the award program with a large volume of applications. Most applications will get rejected, you may send out 10 or 20 for every award you can expect to actually receive.

If writing 100 or 200 financial aid applications sounds like something you can reasonably accomplish, then free college is a real possibility. If those numbers scare you, at least fill out a FAFSA to see if you can get some grants and cheap loans!

Free College Math Classes at Whatcom Community College

2008-06-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

Math is an essential skill in the modern world, whether or not you're sitting in a college classroom taking a calculus test. Whatever level or types of math we need for our jobs and daily lives, math is a powerful tool and the best way to gain skill is to practice using it. The bad news is that a typical math class costs money, but online you can get the same college level instruction and practice for free.

Whatcom Community College has an extensive Online Math Center with free college classes, reviews, interactive practice programs, and educational resources for younger students.

What? Math? Its Boring!

The mathematics we know today is based on observation of the manifestations of energy and matter in the world around us. As scientists observed nature, they made careful note of the exact measurements that they could calculate.

Over time, mathematicians began to notice patterns in nature and numbers or ratios that were commonly repeated in the shapes of the trees and animals. Geometry became a source of many seemingly universal truths, and human's first look at the infinite complexity of existence. The thing we consider a circle is essentially a function of a universal constant, Pi, a number so complicated, irrational that the suggestion of its very existence created a controversy.

And these numbers and patterns were brought to life in the human world as architectural towers, engineering feats, and early machines. Thousands of years later, astronomers would apply these numbers to the stars and planets, and they would discover the numbers and patterns of gravity and motion that could create factories, engines, and electricity.

The story of math does not end, and every chapter is more powerful than the one before it. I'm not sure how it could be considered dull if one remembers exactly what those numbers represent.

Students Hard Hit by Weakening Job Market

2008-06-07T01:12:00.001-07:00

As money and credit gets scarce across America, some of the hardest hit in terms of employment are students looking for a summer job. While the official unemployment rate has only hit 5.5%, part of this consideration is that very few young people have been able to enter the "labor force." By this calculation, anyone looking for that first job and unable to secure employment isn't actually unemployed - they're kind of hanging in a non-classified group of discouraged or "under-employed" individuals.

Still, the best way to secure a good job after school is to study in an in-demand field such as medicine, engineering, or anything essentially scientific and technical. Computer information technology might not be quite the secure career as it used to be, but computer literacy and internet proficiency are still valuable skills that can be applied to almost any sector of the economy. Financial job outlook is bleak, and maybe this isn't the best time to get a real estate license or an investment banking degree. On the other hand, accounting is still a stable growth career niche, as is leadership and organizational management.

Jobs do exist for people without degrees, as well. Current high school and college students might be able to find work by lowering their income expectations and reducing their cost of living. A big step toward preparing for a lower cost of living in the long term is to avoid taking out any student loan debt unless you're quite sure that the major you've selected can support the required job and salary growth for you to pay it back. With Wall Street announcing major layoffs and salary cuts, this might not be the best time to start an ivy-league MBA program that leaves you $200,000 in debt. Then again, $200,000 is an average amount of student loan debt for a new doctor, and the job prospects means more of those students will be able to pay that back without filing bankruptcy or living like a pauper.

Its also great to do something you love, and these days I feel the best way you're going to accomplish that is by working for yourself. Think about the thing in life you most enjoy, now can you create a business model around it? If you love to make art, can you find the buyers yourself? If you love to write, can you publish, connect to readers, and sell ads on your own? The internet makes a lot of this possible - and many college graduates are moving to make it happen with their own businesses.

Innovation is the only cure to an economic downturn - and education is the key.

Are selective student loans better than federal guarantees?

2008-06-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

A lot of student loan companies are getting out of the business - the federal subsidies and risk insurance simply aren't worth the risk in certain types of colleges. As the lenders move to private loans, they are raising interest rates and they are evaluating student borrowers on an individual basis. While the student and student's family credit rating will play a role, some lenders are also looking at graduation and employment rates of their colleges. Before long, student lenders are likely to consider employment outlooks and average starting salaries of the various majors and professions...

While Congress scrambles to figure out new ways to pump money and profitability into the student debt business, maybe they should be instead asking if this program serves a total net benefit to society. Guaranteed subsidized loans create a lot of demand for college enrollment - including students who aren't necessarily prepared for college and some students who are spending more than they otherwise would have been willing to spend. Instead of trying to save costs, many students are borrowing enough to feel completely unconcerned with later financial concerns they'll have to face.

There's an issue of rapid tuition inflation - some of this is from the general monetary inflation of the current American economy, and some of it is from this over-purchasing of higher education.
The current cost of maintaining the status quo is actually more tuition inflation, more government spending, and more debt for graduating college students and less money for them in the long run.

Currently, federally subsidized student loans are only based on income and parental income. If we shifted to a merit-based and need-based loan system, a lot of the risk inherent to the system would evaporate and we'd still be helping our most needing and talented students with money for college.

Free College Education - Minus the Degree

2008-06-02T03:53:00.000-07:00

One great aspect of the internet is the availability of free educational resources. Nowadays, this even includes lectures and class materials from some of the nation's most prominent universities and academic collections.

Carnegie Mellon
Free online courses at Carnegie Mellon

The following online courses are available for free to anyone through the Open Learning Initiative:

Engineering Statistics
Statistics
Causal & Statistical Reasoning
Modern Biology
Chemistry
Economics
French
Logic & Proofs
Physics
Empirical Research Methods
Computational Discrete Mathematics

Library of Congress
Free resources at the Library of Congress

The American Memory Collections provide an authoritative source of historical documents, analysis, and unique Library of Congress treasures:

Advertising
African American History
Architecture, Landscape
Cities, Towns
Culture, Folklife
Environment, Conservation
Government, Law
Immigration, American Expansion
Literature
Maps
Native American History
Performing Arts, Music
Presidents
Religion
Sports, Recreation
Technology, Industry
War, Military
Women's History

University of Washington
Free courses at University Washington

OpenUW provides internet users with access to University of Washington course materials:

The American Civil War
Energy, Diet and Weight
Greek Mythology
Gulliver's Travels
Hamlet
HTML Basics
History of Jazz: New Orleans
The American Revolution
Shakespeare's Comedies
Heroic Fantasy: Tolkien
World War II

Stay Local to Save College Costs

2008-05-31T03:23:00.000-07:00

With economic pressure growing, college students might opt to save some money and stay out of debt by staying closer to home and attending a local community college or state university. While gas is expensive, the short commute is almost certainly less expensive than paying for room and board when compared to living with the parents for a few more years.

Most local public colleges are subsidized with state or local taxes, so the price of tuition is almost certain to be lower than any comparably sized private school. Classes may be a little bit more crowded and the professors are probably less known, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the quality of education and opportunity isn't a good deal. Much of what you'll get out of college is directly related to the time and effort you put in - whether or not you read thoroughly, seek out additional sources of information, and/or participate in the organizational experiences the school offers.

Finding money for college through scholarships can be a lot easier at the local level, too. This is especially true if you've been active in the community and established a record of service and participation in events and projects and clubs. These groups love to recognize and assist their members who continue to grow professionally and support the causes that bring the individuals together - and a college education is one of the best ways to support a person's professional development. City and state funds might also offer public scholarships for residents, for example Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship pays for 75% or 100% of the tuition bill of Florida students who meet eligibility requirements (Bright Futures Scholarship).

If there's a specific school for a certain major or education niche that you're set on and completely dedicated to, then it might just be worth the extra cost. If you're looking for a general introduction to higher studies, then there's no reason to mortgage your future income through student loans so you can spend time in college classes trying to decide what you actually want to do.

Student Loans in Short Supply

2008-05-31T02:32:00.000-07:00

Economic problems and financial sector problems aren't only affecting the job market. Students looking for college loans might be in for a surprise next year as many companies and lenders leave the business altogether. After Congress reduced subsidies and the subsequent profitability of the federal lending program, a wave of credit defaults threatened to freeze all liquidity and usher in a new era of corporate and municipal bond failures.

While the deflationary doomsday scenario has been averted by creative (and expensive) Federal Reserve actions, many banks and student lending companies are hesitant to get into a risky loan business at low interest rates and few safeguards against the every increasing risk that many of these graduates won't necessarily find jobs that can afford to pay back their student loans.

The typical response of an investor (lender) under these economic circumstances is to raise interest rates for risky borrowers - and this means getting out of the federal program and getting into more private loan offerings. The downside is this becomes a lot more expensive for the student, and family credit history may end up influencing costs and eligibility.

If student loans become scarce, colleges may face declining enrollment. The chain would then reduce budgets, and force the institutions into cost-cutting measures. Perhaps if rationing needs to take place, it might make sense for it to be aimed at the most academically focused college students rather than the most financially secure. The best way to achieve this is to let the student loan industry operate in a free market without federal supports, and allow private and public merit-based and need-based scholarships provide an outlet for students needing financial assistance.

Like housing, perhaps its time for tuition prices to come down a bit. We like to think that spending more means better results, but sometimes the economic cycle calls for a contraction and a re-evaluation of priorities. Is our priority to make college so expensive that most graduates have student loan debt for 20+ years? I don't think so.

College Graduates Face Tough Job Market

2008-05-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year for another class of college graduates to celebrate the success of a completed diploma.

Unfortunately for many graduates, the transition from school to the working world might not be as pleasant as it has been for Americans in the past. Nominal wages are flat across the entire economy, and versus inflation that really indicates that wages are down relative to the cost of living. Entry-level wages are down in nominal terms, which means they're significantly down in real terms. Graduates in investment and financial sectors might not find many job openings after the recent string of layoffs, mergers, and cost-cutting in the banking sector. Real estate continues to slow down as well...But demand remains strong in medicine, education, and the sciences.

There's a risk of increased defaults on student loans, as the loans were issues when students were expected to enter an ever-increasing labor/wage market. Students without much debt can adjust consumption, costs, and expectations, but if they're loaded with loans already they may not have any way out of the cycle at this point. Unfortunately, this is just going to create an additional drag on financial sectors and lending companies!

Enjoy the graduation, the ceremonies, the parties. Don't get upset if you're not rich as soon as you graduated, its definitely not your fault that the economy is slowing down and under the weight of heavy public debt. Imagine, things would probably only be worse trying to secure a job without that degree.

Make use of all resources available, from online job searches to campus placement programs. It might not be too late to take on an internship if you can live at home for a few extra months. Jobs at the upper level of institutions will be opening up in the coming decade as more baby-boomers retire from the work-force.

Don't be Discouraged: Financial Aid can only Help

2008-02-08T16:34:00.000-08:00

Financial aid can be a time-consuming and complicated process, but try to not get discouraged. There are a lot of forms, essays, interviews, and research involved, but try to keep focused on what the real goal is. A college education is more than a piece of paper: Its a chance to meet new people, experience new things, and take your knowledge to the next level. College graduates will typically make a lot more money than those who don't get a degree, and all the extra opportunities you'll be able to afford in your lifetime will all just be residual benefits of your college diploma.

Even if you're working hard and keeping your grades up, money issues can get in the way of this goal and the financial benefits of your education.

FAFSA is like the entry point for the financial aid process, and many consider it the most frustrating, as well. Don't let the hype get you worried: filing a FAFSA online has never been faster or easier. Check out the link to the official federal FAFSA website, and make a note of the items you'll need before finishing the application. Mostly, you'll need last year's income and tax forms so you can offer proof of your income and/or your family's income if that applies.

Go ahead and register for your unique, individual PIN number. Although they have sped up the process this year, it can still take a little while for the request to be processed and the number issued.

Once you have your annual income statements and related financial information - and your PIN - you're ready to get the application going. It won't take long if you're prepared, and you can receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in just another day or two!

Remember, organize and prepare so you don't get frustrated. Don't dwell on horror stories or complaints from people who had troubles with it. Every cent of aid you get is helping you toward your goal and you can't get any aid without trying.

Ivy League Grades and Scholarships

2008-02-07T02:21:00.000-08:00

So, you say you want to go to an ivy league college? Well, you're going to need great grades. Heck, you might need perfect grades unless you have a good excuse like advanced placement (AP) and honors courses as well as a full list of extra-curricular activities.

Some good ideas are habitat for humanity, church and religious community organizations, and other groups with a charitable focus. Not only does working with and leading within these groups provide some functional real-world experience, it shows that the student (applicant) is interested in doing good for the society. Its not like that is a requirement, but it definitely helps!

How can I afford it? College Tuition is Expensive

Many Ivy league schools have significant scholarship funds set up for bright and ambitious students. Harvard and Yale recently updated their financial aid systems to be more generous to lower-income students. Unless your parents can afford the ivy league to begin with, you'll probably find a lot of tuition assistance from these schools. That is, if you can get in!

What are the most important ivy league admission factors?

Well, all of them! No two students have the same exact application and the top variables can change. Maybe MIT is more focused on academic scores in math and science classes, and Yale is probably more interested in seeing how you've gotten experience leading people and organizing projects.

Work on your weaknesses and take your strengths to the next level.

How Colleges Benefit from Financial Aid

2008-02-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

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Higher Ed/: Financial Aid is like Popcorn

After what looks like a small break from blogging, there's a great new post at HigherEd.blogspot.com

If you've ever wondered why higher education institutions are so willing and 'generous' with financial aid, please check out this link and review the graphs. Like any product or service, demand is highest at the lowest cost - but whoever is selling the product or service wants to maximize revenue by finding the best combination of price and demand.

Taken further, schools can apply what they know about demand and what they know about their applicants - matching the most cost-sensitive students with the best financial aid plans and by charging more to the students who are likely to be able to afford it.

I believe this post answers some questions about why colleges and universities have an incentive to provide financial aid - but it also raises more questions.

Is the net effect of financial aid to assist lower-income students, or just make a college education more expensive overall? The debate has been going on for a long time, and there's no easy answers to that one.

Scholarships for African Students in China

2008-01-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

China has an established relationship of building diplomatic ties in Africa. Like many growing financial powers, China has an interest in promoting education on a world-wide scale. As the economy of friendly nations grows, so does the economy of their trading partners. As one of the world's largest exporters, China is always looking for ways to build new markets and strengthen international friendships, and these scholarships have been a great part of that strategy.

A new day has come: China and Africa

Is America falling behind in global financial aid and international scholarships? Lately, it has become more difficult for foreign students to enter America on education Visas. Since the economy is global now, America runs the risk of isolating itself from other developing countries. Thanks to more scholarships than ever, America's competitors will be better educated and more financially stable than they have been in the past. This means America should be offering more scholarships and encouraging more students to come to America for college. Unfortunately, we seem to have the exact opposite going on!

In keeping with this theme, check out some of these other great scholarships for study in China. In the future, I will also be adding links to scholarship programs for Chinese students who want to travel abroad.

Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships Explained

2008-01-12T00:19:00.000-08:00

Grants, fellowships, and scholarships have a lot in common: primarily that they will all help you get money for school. Sometimes, there really is no difference at all, but others, there are subtle characteristics that are important to note. This list is a guide, and by no means explains every unique funding program that uses these terms.

Grants are sums of money donated to accomplish a project or a goal. Many times, grants will be used to fund research addressing a particular social or economic problem, or to build a facility or other community infrastructure. In terms of college financial aid, grants are usually government assistance payments or designed to further the cause of a specific academic subject or political movement by assisting like-minded intellectuals with their tuition or fees.
Fellowships are like grants in that they are helpful in advancing particular causes. The major difference is that a fellowship requires the recipient, or "fellow," to also represent the group that is providing the funding. Fellows might become mentors, or publish their research in the group's academic journals. If undertaking a fellowship, it is important to realize the public relations obligations that go along with it.
Scholarships are usually more generalized. They might have few eligibility requirements, or they might be looking for a very specific individual profile. Either way, scholarship recipients tend to have fewer long-term obligations to the sponsoring organization (By all means, you should pursue the opportunity to network with charitable organizations, but at the very least, send a thank you letter!) The main responsibility of a scholarship winner is to study, get good grades, and graduate.

$100,000 in scholarships and chess prizes!

2008-01-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

Susan Polgar Chess Blog: Over $100,000 in scholarships and chess prizes!

Here's an excellent tournament for any chess players in the Texas area. High school students need don't need to have a chess rating to play, and the winner of each section will walk away with a brand new computer!

1st through 5th place runner-ups will still receive some cash and maybe a tropy or a medal, too!

Adults can play in the adult section, but they will need a 1600 point rating to register.

Susan Polgar Events's blog has information about directions and finding a hotel with a discount for participants.

Diminished Expectations: Why Harvard costs so much.

2007-12-30T02:27:00.000-08:00

Diminished Expectations: Why Harvard costs so much.

Unfortunately, good intentions can sometimes have negative consequences. Specifically, government subsidy of higher education coincides with extreme tuition inflation.

Another possible explanation of why tuition rises faster than inflation is that inflation is under-reported thanks to manipulations of CPI and product substitution.

The Non-Traditional Student Blog: Getting the word out... and redoing the website!

2007-12-29T01:58:00.000-08:00

The Non-Traditional Student Blog: Getting the word out... and redoing the website!

There's a lot of great info for non-traditional and returning students over at the Non-Traditional Student blog. It can be hectic paying for school and taking care of a family at once, but its not impossible and there are many resources like this website that can help you out.

Top Ten List Scholarship

2007-12-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

There's a new scholarship program out for creative writers. Scholarship Experts is offering a Top Ten List Scholarship for anyone who wants to submit a list of 10 creative reasons why he or she needs money for school.

The scholarship contest is open to anyone 13 or older who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Winners will be selected on creativity, humor, originality, and overall quality.

December 2007

2007-12-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

The Fall 2007 semester isn't even finished yet, but its definitely time to start thinking about paying for 2008! A lot of big time scholarship providers like the Future Farmers of America or the Society of Women Engineers are starting to publish their annual scholarship booklets - and they don't give you a lot of time to apply.

And although FAFSA paperwork isn't available yet, its very possible to start collecting this year's paystubs and receipts in preparation for early tax and financial aid filing.