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About CollegeProwler.com

CollegeProwler.com, a website run by students for students, features thousands of reviews of colleges and universities around the country.  These are not the scripted, watered down reviews that you would find on admissions websites. This is Real Tea. :-)  Actual students share recommendations, photos, video and in depth written reviews of the curricula, programming and culture of the colleges that they attend.  Colleges are graded on academics, computers, strictness/campus policy, athletics parking, campus housing, night life, local atmosphere, safety and much much more.  

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College Prowler, also provides comprehensive statistics and rankings that allow prospective students to do side by side comparisons of schools that they are interested in. The site also publishes current admissions statistics, tuition, average costs of books and supplies, student fees, etc.  This website is an excellent resource for students that are starting their search for the right college.

And another component of the CollegeProwler.com is a scholarship database that contains 3.2 million scholarships. Ain't that it! With all that free money out there, you are bound to find the right opportunity to get paid. Click the link below to create your CollegeProwler.com account and apply for this scholarship TODAY. 

Click HERE to Apply!

Back again with news of another awesome opportunity.  Church Hill Classics presents a creative way for students to earn extra money for college/graduate schoool. You can literally get paid for your vision board. I love this.  The theme of this scholarship contest is  "This is How I Frame My Future". Applicants are required to capture what they wish to acheive after college in creative, compelling and artistic ways.  Think about your personal and professional goals and aspirations and express them artistically.  Entry pieces are to be one page. They can be photographs, or a poem, a collage, graphic design piece, painting, scrapbook style piece, a drawing, an essay, etc.  All entries must be fully viewable/readable online/electronically and they must be contained in one image saved in a .jpg or .png format.  Applicants must also complete a brief online entry form  that includes a brief description of your entry piece. Descriptions are not to exceed 500 characters.  Entry pieces must be the applicants original work, stock images or images of acquired online are not permitted as entry piece in and of themselves.  These pieces can be incorportaed into the creative entry piece but any applicant that submits work that is not his/her original work will be disqualified. 

Five winners will be selected and one of the five winners will be selected as the grandprize winner.  Church Hill Classics will make a $1000 donation to the general scholarship endowment of the grand prize winner's college/university. Your scholarship can go on to help one of your classmates.  That's what's up.  I need all of my creative and super talented readers and supports to get into this.  This is a great way to sit down and give your dreams and the vision that you have for life some real thought.  I've done it before.  It's fun and so inspiring and you can get get paid $1000. Don't miss this bus children! Click here  to learn more about applying for the Frame My Future Scholaship Contest and submit your entry from.   Entries of previous winners are also available for your reviews. 

Photo Courtesy of http://www.fafsaexpress.comAs January ends and those final W-2’s and other tax documents come trickling in, tax season 2012 is well underway. After completing this year’s 1040’s and the like, all are encouraged to complete their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they haven’t already done so.  I’ve filed more than my fair share of FAFSA Forms so I’m here with some information that will hopefully help you navigate the process.  If you have a question about something not covered here, feel free to shoot me an email at Tykeia@TheGlamNERDs.com.  

This list is not in any specific order. I didn't want to list this informaiton in any particular way because all of it is of equal importance. Please read the list below and share it with others. Happy FAFSA Filing! 

1. File Electronically- Completing FAFSA forms online is much quicker and faster than filling out traditional paper applications and mailing them in.  Electronic forms also provide checklists and editing programming that are useful in ensuring you have completed your FAFSA thoroughly and correctly.  

2. Print Your Name- Be sure you print your name exactly as it appears on your social security numbers and birth certificates.  Include all middle initials and suffixes (Jr. II.) as well.  Incorporating aliases and/or nicknames is not acceptable and can lead to issues of mistaken identity and misappropriated aid. Addressing mistakes delays the processing of your application that could seriously impact the amount of aid you could receive.

3. They Are Talking to YOU- Remember, anytime the FAFSA refers to “you” or “your” they are talking about you the student and not your parents or guardians.

4. Include Yourself- When asked to report the number members of your household presently enrolled in college/graduate school be sure to include yourself.

5. File Your Taxes First- It’s best to file your FAFSA early but after you’ve completed your taxes from the previous year.   Filing early does increase your chances for receiving as much aid as possible however filing your FAFSA without your most recent tax information (1040 form) puts you at risk for making an error.   Making corrections and/or submitting adjustments to your FAFSA prolongs/complicates the processing of your federal aid application which, could impact the amount of aid you receive. .

6. Take Your Time- Another reason it’s best to file as early as possible is to ensure there is ample time to complete your FAFSA forms, carefully.   This is not something you want to rush through.  Read questions very carefully and proofread your response to ensure they are correct. Mistakes made on the FAFSA form are very undo.  Remember any delay in processing your paperwork could impact the amount of aid you receive.

7. Don’t Leave Anything Blank- I’ve heard many colleagues say that when filing the FAFSA “ 0 is the biggest number”.  If there is a financial question that you actual numerical amount to report, respond with zero.  Do not leave that question blank.  Remember your financial information is being entered into a formula designed to determing the level of your financial lead.  A blank question, disrupts that formula and confuses the computer system. 

8. What is a dependent? - Many students who are parents automatically claim their child as a dependent.  You will be asked to provide documentation confirming that information.  According to the federal government and the good folks that process your FAFSA a dependent is a person for whom you continually provide more than half of their support. Support is defined as housing, money, food, clothing, medical and dental benefits, gifts, etc. The child would be a considered a dependent of your parent.  If you pay court ordered child support and have documentation that proves that you provide more than half of the support and living expenses for that child, you can pay claim that child as a dependent. Also, please be advised, if you are a parent that lives at home with your parent/parents who supports both you and your child, you are not to claim that child as a your dependent. 

 9.  File ASAPTUALLY- I know that I’ve already said this but it bears repeating.  File your FAFSA as soon as you can.  Aid is disbursed in large lump sums and students across the country are all vying for the same pot of gold.  It’s first come, first serve. The longer you wait the smaller the pot gets thereby decreasing your chances of receiving grant and scholarship aid you qualify for.

Last but certainly not least, 

 10.  FAFSA’S For Everybody- Many students and families don’t file the FAFSA because they feel they won’t be eligible for any scholarships and/or grants aid.  BIG MISTAKE.  The FAFSA is a universal form for all types of student aid.  You may not qualify for federal government money but many state and local governments provide families with educational aid. Also most colleges and universities rely on the FAFSA to distribute institutional aid.  Many private funding sources and foundations that distribute scholarship require students complete the FAFSA.   Failing to file your FAFSA could be blocking a blessing.  Keep all your options open.  Also, even if you are not eligible for scholarships all students qualify for Stafford subsidized loans.  These loans are the best student loans available as they government pays your interest.  Besides it’s the FREE application for Federal Student Aid. You don’t have anything to lose in filing so why not  go ahead and file. 

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Interested students must visit this website to complete an entry from.  You will be asked to explain your recycling efforts.  This can be done via YouTube, Twitter and/or Facebook. 

For more information .. please visit http://www.castleink.com/_ink-scholarship-paperless.html 

The deadline for this scholarship is March 31, 2012. 

All applicants must register a screen name on The Science of Black Hair Forum.  They must also be enrolled in an accredited institution and/or program of study for the Fall 2012 semester.  ( Proof of acceptance/enrollment is required for disbursement of scholarship funds).  For more information and to submit your application please visit http://www.blackhairscience.com/scholarships.html.  

The Science of Black Hair (SBH) Movement began with freelance writer, health scientist and hair care enthusiast Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.  Ms. Audrey's best selling book is described as an educational intervention. where she shares her experiences and expertise in an authoritarian yet approachable and personable manner. Whether natural or relaxed or color treated The Science of Black here provides resources and useful information to support men and women of color in caring for  their hair. SBH acknowledges the breadth of impact that hair and hair care has on self esteem and how we as people of color view ourselves.  The book, forum and blog have cultivated a community committed to healthy living and healthy hair care has emerged. And to further solidfiy her fabulosity, Ms. Audrey is paying it forward with a deep commitment to education. The Science  of Black Hair offered it's first scholarships during the 2011-2012 academic year. Two students received grand prizes and four students were recognized with honorable mention. It's round two.  To learn more about The Science of Black Hair Book, Blog and Forum head over to BlackHairScience.com and get familiar. Make sure you tell her TheGlamNERDs.com sent you. 

Remember, the deadline for this scholarship is June 1, 2012. Don't miss the bus children! 

I know you're probably thinking.. " My parents have not filed their taxes." This is the case for most Americans. File your FAFSA anyway and do it today! While you're waiting for your parents to file their income taxes you can provide estimated information on your taxes.  Base these estimations on the previous years taxes.   Once your parents have properly filed this year's tax forms  you can go back into the system and provide  the official accurate information.  

The most efficient way to file your FAFSA is online, it is much faster and easier than completing and mailing the paper aplication.  The instructions for filing online are quite clear and easy to follow. Click here for the online FAFSA application.  If you need assistance there are tons of resources available online and through the guidance office at your high school. You could even contact the Finacial Aid office of a school that you are applying to for assistance. You could always send me an email as well :-) 

Also please remember that there are several FAFSA deadlines that you need to be aware of as well.  The FAFSA is a universal financial need assessment tool that all federal & state government agencies, colleges and universities use to assess your financial need. Consequentially there are federal, state and instituional deadlines that students must adhere to in order to receive aid monies.  You can read more about these deadline by clicking here to read that post. 

Also, remember indicate that you are interested in all forms of student aid especially for federal work study and for student loans.  Many students feel like they only want scholarships but these are valuable resources as well. Additionally, the FAFSA should not be something that you fill out on your own.  It requires the financial information of all the members of your family so if at all possible, it's best that you complete the FAFSA as a family.  I will do another post very soon that will include more tips for filing your FAFSA please be sure to check back in the coming weeks for that information. 

If you have any questions in completing your FAFSA and/or navigating this process, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.  I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you all for your patience and continued support.  Please check back in.. there is so much more to come.  

Each year, the AXA Achievement Scholarship, in association with the U. S. News and World Report, awards 52 high school seniors a $10,000 scholarship.  The 2012 application process launched as of September 1^st.  Don’t miss the bus children.

Applicants must be US citizens or legal residents holding residency in one of the 50 states, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia.  Applicants must also be high school senior with plans to enroll in an accredited two- year or four-year college or university for the 2012-2013 academic year.  Those students aspiring to attend college and universities outside of the US will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Applications must demonstrate student’s drive and ambition through academic achievement and service/leadership in one’s community.

The scholarship is non-renewable and must be put toward education related expenses for undergraduate study. The award can be distributed in small allocations throughout a student’s undergraduate career provided he/she remains enrolled in an undergraduate program.  From the 52 scholarship recipients selects, 10 students will receive an additional $15,000 for a total award of $25,000. 

To register students must create an account with AXA Achievement ( Click here for the link to do so ).  Please be sure to read the directions carefully and submit your scholarship application online.  Only applications received electronically will be considered.  Paper copies of additional application materials will not be accepted..  Students will be required to 

• list work experience, extracurricular activities, and community service,
• provide their cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) 
• submit an essay demonstrating their outstanding achievement. 

Further information can be found on this website. If you are  a high school senior or if you know a high school senior, please spread the word .  Tuition is ever increasing,  All students should commit to obtaining any and available subsidies and financial assistance.  $25,000 is nothing to sneeze at.  The deadline is December 1^st.   I repeat, don’t miss the bus children.   

Applicants must be enrolled as a full time student at an accredited college/university and be pursuing a degree in engineering. (Proof of acceptance to a School of Engineering may be requested).  Candidates must also have a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.  Only US Citizens, permanant residents, and/or resident aliens are eligible to apply.  Resident aliens must provide a letter of intent to apply for US citizenship along with a photo copy of the Alien Registration Card. 

Application materials can be obtained online by clicking HERE!  Student's must submit the Candidate Background Information form, essay, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation from a faculty person and/or research/field work supervisor. All application materials must be received by or before October 15th. 

This is an outstanding opportunity.  If you are pursuing a career in engineering and meets the eligiblity criteria, ACT LIKE YOU WANT THIS MONEY!  

Option 1- Loan Rehabilitation- This is a program that allows borrowers to work toward remedying their outstanding loans and eventually get their loans out of default. Once default status has been lifted , borrowers recover their eligibility for Title IV loan benefits, including, loan deferment, forbearance and possibly applying for future loans for further education. Typically borrowers sign a rehabilitation agreement through which they work together with lenders to agree on an affordable loan repayment plan for nine payments over a ten month time frame.  If all of these voluntarily rehabilitation payments are received on time the lender purchases your loan and you return to good financial standing to resume your loan repayment until your debt is paid in full.  Rehabilitation plans vary across all of the different loan service providers.  Be sure you understand and agree all of the conditions of your rehabilitation program before entering that agreement. 

Option 2- Consolidating Your Defaulted Loans-  Borrowers in default often elect to consolidate their defaulted loans into one new loan. Doing so has several benefits.  First, consolidated loans have fixed interest rates and they are calculated using the average of the interest rates of your existing loans. This could result in a lower rate of interest on your new loan.  Secondly, repaying one consolidated loan is often cheaper and easier than repaying several different loans at once.  Additionally, you can apply for a longer repayment period for your consolidated loan as to lower your monthly payments.  Most importantly, paying your defaulted loans with a new consolidation loan can remedy your credit.  Your credit report will be updated to reflect your new loan that starts in good standing.  If you maintain this good standing you have a fighting chance to save your fiscal life. You may also be able to qualify for payment relief (deferment/forbearance)  on your new loan in certain cases. Again, there are varying conditions and considerations given individual circumstances, however this is a good place to start.  Be sure to ask your lender consolidation is viable option for you. It’s really a great second chance to quickly remedy a bad situation. 

These two options are given aside from just paying your student loan in full and/or working with your lender to identify the best repayment plan for you.  Again, it’s important that you are honest with your loan service provider and that you acknowledge that you are willing to work with them if they are willing to work with you. Again, if you are presently attending college/graduate school and have yet to repay your loans, leep this information in mind and make sure you don’t end up in this boat.  It’s total preventable. 

I hope this series has been helpful.   As always keep it here because there is so much more to come!