Free San Francisco Bay Area College Planning Workshops

Bay Area College Planning Workshops will help you to learn about the many issues College financial aid funding can typically present to a family. We will present useful information which can assist in safeguarding your families future. Our San Francisco Bay Area College Planning  Workshops will teach your family about:

CLICK HERE FOR FREE COLLEGE PLANNING WORKSHOPS

•  Tax Scholarships: What are they?

•  Ways to get Thousands of Free dollars from the Colleges of your choice.

•  How to keep on top of college admissions, FAFSA and scholarships.

•  How some families have reduced their out of pocket college expenses by thousands.

•  How some middle and or upper-middle class families send their kids to college for free.

•  How to double or even triple your eligibility for Financial Aid.

•  How to pick colleges that give the best Financial Aid packages. 

•  Unlocking the unknown – How to win at the College funding game.

•  The 5 myths concerning College funding.

•  How to help your student find direction in the College search process.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE COLLEGE PLANNING WORKSHOPS

December 2009 Workshops
 
Alameda Free Library Workshop
1550 Oak Street,
Alameda, CA 94501
Date: Tues Dec 8th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm
 
Redwood Christian High School Workshop
1000 Paseo Grande, 
San Lorenzo, CA 94580
Date: Tues Dec 8th
Time: 7pm-8:15pm
 
Webinar: “Learn the Insider Secrets to Get Free Financial Aid for College!”
Click on the link to register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/734644299
Date: Wed Dec 9th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm PST
 
Moraga Library Workshop
1500 St. Mary’s Road,
Moraga, CA 94556
Date: Sat Dec 12th
Time: 11am-12pm

Find out about the many more College funding secrets many Colleges hope you will never discover.  

 - Prior registration required for all workshops and teleseminars -

CLICK HERE FOR FREE COLLEGE PLANNING WORKSHOPS

 

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, Banks, Bay Area, California Colleges, Campus Lifestyle, Career Path, Career Search, Classes, College Financing, College Planning, College Workshops, Consultants, Graduate School, Graduation, High School, Home Schooling, Internships, Junior College, Law Schools, Major, Med School, Nursing, Out of State Tuition, Parental Guidance, Public Service, Recruitment, Refinance, Scholarship, Students, Tax Credits, Tuition, Universities, athletics, ncaa, single parent families , Admissions, Choosing Universities, Classes, College, College Applications, college expenses, college funding, College Planning, College Workshops, financial aid, money, parents, planning, Workshops

Information For Single Mothers About Financial Aid For College

By Denise Bergeron

Looking for student loans and financial aid for single moms not easy. Take solace in knowing that you are not the only one in this situation. Many single mothers want the opportunity to go back to school as they see their own children growing up and
going to school as well. Whether the reason for going back to school is to update your skills to keep up with changes in the workplace or a career change, the benefit of continuing your education is a worthwhile endeavor. Sometimes it’s not as easy to make the transition back to school if you are older but there are plenty of others doing the same thing.

It’s a known fact that the majority of single parent women work full time while at 45, so do not let age deter your quest to return to the classroom. As you may be aware, the costs associated with returning to school are not cheap. And as a single mother, you have other costs to consider in addition to school related fees. Moms with younger children need to consider childcare costs. These costs are often 1/3 of a woman’s weekly pay and if she has two children the cost nearly doubles. In spite of these difficulties many single parent women return to school while working full time. So now, you will be faced with the same questions that other incoming college students face - how will you pay for your education? Here are some ideas to help you find the funding you need.

One way to start to virtually open doors to many different student loans and scholarships for single mothers is by filling out and submitting the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This can help determine sources of financial aid such as Pell Grant, Cal Grant, scholarships and low interest student loans. After submitting your FAFSA you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which includes the answers you put in your FAFSA but will also include your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a measurement of your financial strength, and is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. The school you are attending will use this number to figure out how much aid you will get based on the fees associated with the school.

If you are working, discuss your intentions to return to school with your employer. Many employers have put programs in place to help pay a portion of tuition for employees provided certain criteria are met. The Wal-mart Foundation is one such example. They provide a scholarship program for employees which is very popular. Chances are if your company is a Fortune 500 company they would have similar programs. Either way, it’s worthwhile to talk with your employer about it.

Pursuing other scholarships and grants is a good idea as well. Some of these are more competitive to get than others but it can’t hurt to apply for them if you qualify. How do you find out about other grants and scholarships? Start by doing your research online and possibly making a trip to the local library. In addition, stop by the financial aid office at your community college campus and seek out assistance with the process by speaking with a financial aid officer. They can help uncover other possible options available to you.

Another option to consider is to pursue continuing your education online. Online degrees have become more popular over the last few years due to the low cost factor and the convenience of working on it on your own time in your own home. Online degrees are highly regarded, so don’t think that you are getting any less of an education by studying online. Even Yale and other top universities are offering free materials online.

Keep in mind that while student loans and scholarships for single mothers are available, some qualifications and eligibilities do exist and are in place to protect the funds from abuse. Nevertheless, this process is just a stepping stone to help fulfill your educational endeavors and no doubt you will reap the benefits later in life.

About the author:
Get more information on Student Loans and School Grants at School-Grants.org

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, Banks, Career Path, College Financing, College Planning, Parental Guidance, Scholarship, Tuition, Universities, single parent families , Admissions, Career, Career Change, Career Path, Career Search, Choosing Universities, College Applications, college expenses, College Financing, college funding, college planning tips, employment, Female students, financial aid, Higher learning, money, parents, planning, Scholarships, self help, self improvement, single mothers, Single parent financial aid, Tuition, Universities

Scope of Accounting Degrees

By Cindy Londrie

In every small or big organization there are separate department for accounting. Accountants are essential part of any organization. Key responsibilities of an accountant is managing an organization plan, checking of ledgers, preparation of financial statement and forecasting and budgeting. Any corporate financial decision is considered incomplete without input from the accountant.

As key decisions of organizations are incomplete without accountant department input, the scope of accounting degrees are always good. Few decades back people do not consider accountant as a career. But in previous few years it is considered one of the key components of an organization and their value is increasing rapidly. Accounting is not confided to one type of organization, accountants are required in every industry like, manufacturing companies, service industry, government organization and public accounting firms.

Accounting is very interesting field as you work with numbers. You will never lose your interest in this field because every year there is amendments in different provision which keep your interest in this field. Normally people think that accountants only do account work and maintain records of income and expenditure which is wrong. Accountants have major prospect of growth in their field. From book keeping to major company’s decision, accountants play an important role.

As technology advancements take place, accounting is also affected. Now only degrees are not enough you should know about accounting software’s. These software’s are specially designed for making company accounting systems easy. If you know about these software’s and have some expertise in these then it will be considering your additional quality.

From time to time scope of accounting is increasing. There are many fields of accounting in which you can do specialization. CPA and CMA are professional courses of accounting beside masters. Chartered accountants are highly paid employees in this era. Their starting salaries are very handsome and they earn a good salary package.

If you get a masters degree of accounting then you would get a managerial level job in any organization. Chartered accountants work in auditing department generally. Cost and management accountant work in budgeting department. They all take part in key managerial decisions.

Before going to take admission in college, try to do some searching on this. Many universities and colleges are conducted these courses. Before jumping to any conclusion, try to find out the best university and college in which you can take admission in your interesting field. Courses are available online and off line for those who can not take classes due to their jobs.

About the author:
Cindy Londrie is the Webmaster of http://www.accountingdegreeshelpline.com/, a website that specializes in providing information on online business accounting schools that you can research on the internet.

Filed under: Accounting, Banks, Branding, Career Path, Career Search, College Financing, College Planning, Graduate School, Graduation, High School, Hiring, Major, Master's Degree , academic quality, Accounting Degrees, Career, Career Path, Career Search, Choosing Universities, College Planning, economic forecast, employment, jobs, Major, self improvement

Twelve Tips for Cutting College Costs

By Susie Watts

Who isn’t feeling the economic crunch? “Budget” is a new word in most of our vocabularies. College funds have dwindled, investments have taken a hit, and job layoffs add to feelings of economic instability.

Going to college in a recession has raised concerns for many families.

It has led some parents to discourage their children from applying to schools they don’t feel they can afford, even with financial aid and scholarships.

“The dream of going to college doesn’t need to turn into a nightmare. No one wants a student to be saddled with debt, but there are creative ways to avoid that, even in these tough economic times,” said Susie Watts, founder, College Direction.

Twelve tips Watts has for parents to cut college costs include:

1. Encourage high school students to study hard and make the best grades possible in challenging classes. Students should also try to get the best SAT and ACT scores. Often times merit scholarships are based on these two factors.
2. Start searching for scholarships early in high school. Many are available to students from 9th through 12th grade.
3. Make sure students meet all deadlines for signing up for the SAT and ACT as well as for scholarships. Don’t incur late fees or lose out altogether.
4. Look at schools where your student can graduate in four years. Most students take five or six years. This can add two additional years of tuition and living expenses.
5. Help students find schools that are a good match. Transferring to another school can lead to lost credits and additional expenses.
6. Consider a wide variety of schools, including both public and private. Some families have found private schools to actually cost less than some public universities.
7. Borrow all the federal money you can before turning to bank loans.
8. Help your student find textbooks that are used by looking online. Students sometimes can even share a book with another student.
9. Explain unusual circumstances to the financial aid director in a letter or negotiate a financial aid package.
10. Allow your student to take more responsibility for his or her education by contributing summer earnings or money made from part-time jobs for college
    expenses.
11. Consider a community college. Students can take their core requirements and then transfer to a four year school or add to their college credits by taking courses in the summer. Community college is a real bargain.
12. Teach your college-bound student to budget for weekly, monthly, and yearly
    expenses. This will not only save you money, but it is an important lesson that will last a lifetime.

About the author:
Susie Watts is the founder of College Direction. She has been working with students for more than twenty years preparing them for the SAT and ACT and providing college search, applications and admissions assistance. Our goal is to help students become successful college applicants.

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, Banks, College Financing, College Planning, Junior College, Public Service, Scholarship, Students, Tuition, Universities , Admissions, Choosing Universities, College Applications, College Financing, college funding, College Planning, Community colleges, financial aid, money, planning, Scholarships, student financial aid, student loans, Students, Summer Jobs, Tuition

How Would You Fix the Economy?

Over the weekend I read this article from the St. Petersburg Times Sunday Newspaper . The Business Section’s question to the public was

“How Would You Fix the  Economy?”

The following was, by far, the BEST idea submitted.

Dear Mr. President,
Patriotic retirement:

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force – Pay them  
$1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:

1.They retire immediately. Forty million job openings – Unemployment  fixed.

2.They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered -Auto Industry fixed. 

3.They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – Housing Crisis  fixed. 

It can’t get any easier than that!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members in Congress and their  
constituents pay their taxes…

Filed under: Banks, Branding, Consultants, Social Networking, Uncategorized , Awareness, Choice, Decisions, Economics, employment, job search, jobs, life, planning

UPromise College Savings Credit card Program

Upromise, Inc. is an American corporation launched in April 2001. 

Upromise is the largest private source of college funding contributions in the United States. To date, Upromise and its partners have contributed $450 million to their members’ Upromise college savings accounts. 

Members receive contributions when making everyday purchases of products and services at more than 21,000 grocery and drug stores, 14,000 gas stations, 8,000 restaurant, as well as thousands of retail stores, and more than 600 online shopping sites. Upromise partners include CVS/pharmacy, Citicorp, ExxonMobil Corporation, Bed Bath & Beyond, McDonalds, JCPenney, LandsEnd, Sears, iTunes, and hundreds of others. In addition Upromise college savings rewards can be used to help pay down eligible student loans. Upromise is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts and has more than 350 employees.

Upromise provides marketing services and incentives to establish brand loyalty in college students and their families on “everyday” credit card purchases.

Sign Up Now

Filed under: Banks, Branding, College Financing, Out of State Tuition, Public Service, Rewards programs, Students, Tax Credits, Tuition, Universities , College, college expenses, College Financing, college funding, financial aid, High costs, money, Scholarships, student financial aid, Trust, Tuition, Universities

Stimulus tax break to ease College Costs

Families with college students could benefit from a new tax break passed with the federaleconomic stimulus package signed this week by President Barack Obama.

The massive funding measure includes a provision to more than double the current college tuition tax break to $2,500 per student per year.

Officials are hoping the tax break provision will help alleviate the costs of sending students through higher education, as well as some of the debt students face after graduation.

Nationwide, private, four-year college tuition rose 6.3 percent last year while public four-year school tuition rose 6.6 percent, according to figures from the College Board. In Ohio, about 67 percent of students graduating faced an average debt of about $22,000, ranking the state No. 14 nationally for the amount of debt, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.

 

The new tax credit:

• Can be used for more than one student in the household;

• Is partially refundable, meaning that families with incomes too low to owe federal income taxes can still claim a partial benefit;

• Has income limits that are slightly higher than current law, reaching zero at $90,000 for singles (up from $80,000 previously) and $180,000 for married couples (up from $160,000 previously).

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, Banks, Bay Area, California Colleges, Campus Lifestyle, Career Path, College Financing, College Planning, College Workshops, Consultants, Home Schooling, Out of State Tuition, Scholarship, Students, Tax Credits, Tuition, Universities , coll, college expenses, College Financing, college funding, economic forecast, financial aid, student financial aid

Fear of Money: Is “The Paycheck” Forcing You To Choose The Wrong Major and Ultimately The Wrong Career?

Students and Parents pay attention to this story. . . Susan Hanshaw is an author, keynote speaker, and certificated minister. But Susan first began her work life in corporate America. She spent 20 years building a very successful career in the Direct Marketing industry culminating in a position as second in command of her firm with the title of Vice President.

Included in this rise to corporate stardom, was a high 6 figure salary, a stress level in line with the pressure an air traffic controller experiences, and the type of corporate “burn out” that plagues at least 50% of American workers according to Forbes: unhappy lives due to their jobs or the lack of purpose the job is missing.

As high school, junior college, college and university students–NOW–is the time to make the right decisions. Before basing the happiness of your life on your personal bank account, perks, or the prestige you believe will make you happy–take a closer look.

Examine your passions, your love of “what” you love, and investigate how you can turn a passion or love for something into a career that will energize your life.

Research your passion and create an intended action plan that will help you identify the correct major, identify the best career for your happiness, and that will ultimately help you attain this goal.

Filed under: Applications, Banks, Campus Lifestyle, Career Path, Career Search, Graduation, Major, Students , Career Path, change, Choice, Classes, College, intention, life, Major, money, parents, passion, paycheck, Purpose, Students, university, work life, work-life balance