5 Things You Need to Know About the FAFSA

Suppose there were one form which could open all kinds of scholarships, grants and financial aid, and completing that form was both free and relatively straightforward? Suppose it only took an hour or so? Would you fill it out? Would you complete it and get your foot in the door?

There is such a form. It’s called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and millions of college students each year ignore it at their financial peril. The FAFSA has been around for years, and in terms of financial aid, no one form controls more aid than the FAFSA. Filling out the FAFSA is relatively easy as long as you’ve done your taxes; approximately 80% of the FAFSA paperwork just pulls numbers off federal tax forms. There are two basic ways to file a FAFSA - by mail and online. Both are available from the Department of Education’s FAFSA website, www.FAFSA.ed.gov.

Here are some secrets, tips, and hints for filing the FAFSA. You can find a more comprehensive list at www.FAFSAonline.com.

Step 1: Gather your stuff. One of the reasons students don’t fill out the FAFSA is that they don’t have all the information handy. They say they’ll get to the form, but never do, and pass up free money. Before you begin, here’s a list of some key things to have on hand.

You’ll need the previous year’s paperwork, including your parents’ tax paperwork if you are a dependent student. If you plan to file a FAFSA for this calendar year, you’ll need relevant tax information from last year . For example, if you’re filing the 2008-2009 FAFSA, you’ll need tax information from 2007.

+ Your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card)
+ Your driver’s license or state ID (if any)
+ Your W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
+ Your Federal Income Tax Return (IRS form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ)
+ Federal Income Tax Return supplementary documentation
+ Your parents’ Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
+ Your untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
+ Your current bank statements
+ Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
+ Your alien registration or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Step 2: Do your taxes first. One of the easiest ways to get through the FAFSA form is to do your federal income taxes first, as about 80% of your FAFSA data comes right off federal tax forms like the IRS 1040. Do your federal tax forms first, even if you don’t plan to file your income taxes right away. If you need help with federal tax forms, many small community banks and credit unions offer complimentary or low cost access to professional, certified financial planners and accountants who can advise you on your taxes and personal finances. Many fee-based preparation services also offer free federal tax return preparation if your annual income is below a certain amount, so shop around to see what help is available.

Step 3: Do a practice run. It’s not uncommon to feel a certain amount of apprehension when completing the FAFSA form, particularly if you’re filing online. To ensure the fewest errors possible and the least amount of stress, download a printable copy of the FAFSA form and do a “practice” round of the form. Understand and be comfortable that you’ll probably make a few errors as you fill out the practice form, and make several photocopies so that you can refine your answers. Having a printable form also makes it easier to take with you if you need to consult with your financial aid administrator about questions you have.

Step 4: File early. When should you file your FAFSA form? As early as possible after January 1st of each calendar year, keeping a careful eye on your state and school deadlines. Why? Because the FAFSA application controls access to student financial aid and grants, and the earlier your FAFSA gets processed, the more eligible you are for grants and scholarships which have a limited pool of money that is distributed on a first come, first served basis. File early.

Step 5: Get Help. If you have questions on the FAFSA, there’s plenty of help available. Ask your school’s financial aid administrator, visit www.FAFSAonline.com, or attend a College Goal Sunday (www.CollegeGoalSundayUSA.org) event for help in completing and filing the FAFSA.

More information visit www.financialaidnews.com

General Cultural Scholarship Scheme(GCSS) from Government of India

Government of India, through the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme (GCSS) administered by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), has announced the grant of 20 scholarships for Indonesian students and 10 scholarships for students from Timor Leste for the academic year 2008-2009 in the fields of Arts, Architecture, Literature, Commerce, Law, Politics, International Relations, Islamic Studies, Science, etc. and degree courses in Engineering, Pharmacy and Agriculture. The scholarships are also extended for doctoral and post doctoral courses.

Interested and eligible candidates may download the Application Form, General Instructions to applicants and Instructions to Candidates for filling the Application Form. The last date for receiving application forms duly completed in all respects in 6 (six) copies alongwith all supporting documents is 31st January, 2008. All candidates will be required to appear in a test in the English language which will be held on 9th February, 2008.

Candidates applying from Sumatera may send their applications to:
Mr. M.S. Mandhaiya
Consul General
CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA - MEDAN
19, Jl. Uskup Agung A. Sugiopranoto
Medan 20152, Sumatera Utara
Ph. 061-4531308, 4556452

Candidates applying from Bali may send their applications to:
Mr. Awanish Tiwari
Deputy Director
INDIAN CULTURAL CENTRE BALI
Jl. Raya Puputan No. 42-44
Renon - Denpasar - Bali
Ph. 0361-241978

All other candidates from other parts of Indonesia may send their applications to:
Ms. Anju Ranjan
Second Secretary (Press, Info, Education)
Embassy of India
Jl. H R Rasuna Said Kav S-1
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan -12950
Ph. 021-5204150/52/57

For further information of different scholarships please visit:
Embassy of India Jakarta:
http://www.embassyofindiajakarta.org/content.php?sid=54
Wordpress PPI-India: http://ppiindia.wordpress.com

Master in Public Policy (MPP) Programme - National University of Singapore

Master in Public Policy (MPP) Programme provides a strong foundation in conceptual and analytical skills for future public service leaders and individuals with an interest in understanding and influencing how public policy choices are made.

Master in Public Policy (MPP) students benefit from the School’s growing network of exchange arrangements of up to 1 year with public policy schools worldwide. The School also conducts an active programme of seminars and public lectures by political, not-for-profit and business leaders to enable all students to complement their formal learning with the opportunity to interact with distinguished individuals who are shaping the future.

Master in Public Policy (MPP) Programme Requirements:
The minimum candidature period for the MPP is 18 months and the maximum is 3 years. Within that time, you must earn at least 72 graduate-level modular credits (MCs) by completing at least 16 modules, comprising 7 core modules (28 MCs) and 9 electives (36 MCs), plus a Policy Analysis Exercise (8 MCs). Most MPP students read 4 modules per semester and complete the requirements in 4 semesters spanning 2 years. You may apply to read electives (up to 12 MCs) taught in other programmes within NUS. You may read a maximum of 5 modules per semester.

To graduate with the Master in Public Policy (MPP), you must obtain a CAP of at least 3.0 for 72 graduate-level MCs, including the MCs for the 7 core modules and the Policy Analysis Exercise.

The application deadline for applicants applying for scholarships or grants is 31 January 2008. For applicants not seeking financial assistance, the application deadline is 31 May 2008.

For the online application booklet please click here.

A list of Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) is also available.

For any other enquiries, please email LKYSPPmpp@nus.edu.sg

http://www.lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/

Australia: PhD Scholarship in Wave Modelling, Swinburne University of Technology

PhD Scholarship co-sponsored by Swinburne University of Technology and Woodside Energy Ltd Wave Modelling within Extreme Tropical Cyclones Physical Oceanography, Victoria, Australia.

BACKGROUND:
Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Woodside Energy Ltd (WEL) are seeking a suitably qualified student to undertake post-graduate study to develop a wave forecast model suitable for extreme tropical cyclone conditions.

About Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is a large multi-sectoral and multi-campus institution with a stated mission to be a pre-eminent entrepreneurial university from the Asia-Pacific, thriving on new ideas and knowledge and exploiting its intersectoral heritage to create value for its stakeholders.

The Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences is host to most of the engineering activities at Swinburne as well as key programs in aviation and photonics. The Coastal Engineering and Physical Oceanography group of the Faculty specialises in research of deep-water and finite-depth wave dynamics, spectral modelling of wind-generated waves, wave breaking and dissipation, air-sea interaction, wave-bottom interaction and turbulence.

About Woodside Energy Ltd
Woodside Energy Ltd. (WEL) is Australia’s largest offshore oil and gas producer and operator of the North West Shelf project. Over a period of 20 years, WEL has been conducting and sponsoring applied and fundamental oceanographic research. The issue of enhancing understanding of extreme tropical cyclones, and in particular improving the wave forecast under such conditions, is among the current priorities of the research sponsored by the company.

PROJECT ABSTRACT:
Accurate wind wave models are essential for all elements of extreme air-sea interaction, including loads on structures, upper-ocean mixing and bottom boundary layer formation. At present, physics of such models is mostly based on theory and experiments applicable to moderate wind/wave situations, which physics is then extrapolated to extreme conditions. Since air-sea interaction at such tropical cyclones is known to be different, the models manifest inconsistent results. This is a major concern for engineering design applications. The project is intended to produce, parameterise, implement and test new energy source/.sink functions for the wave forecast models, based on direct measurements in the extreme tropical cyclones and on recent theoretical advances in this field.

SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Honours degree in Physical or Mathematical Sciences (essential)
2. Strong analytical and mathematical skills (essential)
3. A good working knowledge of programming (desirable)

Commencement Date: March 2008

Scholarship: A$24,815 per annum, tax exempt. Duration – three years

Application Deadline: 31 January 2008

Contact:
Alexander Babanin
Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
Swinburne University of Technology
PO Box 218 Hawthorn VIC 3122
Australia

Telephone: +61-3-9214 8033
Fax: +61-3-9214 8264
Email: ababanin[ at ]swin.edu.au

Sweden: Scholarships for Master in Electronic Government, Örebro university

Örebro university, Sweden, is now accepting applications for our Master Programme in Electronic Government, for start September 2008.

We can now offer a few scholarchips for master students from developing countries who apply to our eGov master program (see below). Grants are subject to competition. To be eligible the students must:

1. Provide a recommendation letter from her/his university
2. Apply before February 1st, 2008, providing information as of below.
3. Grants are subject to the student going back to work isn her/his home country after graduation.


The application deadline for Non-EU Applicants is February 1, 2008.

Further information is given by Dr. Anders Avdic: anders.avdic[ at ]esi.oru.se

For more information, please visit the official announcement.