Thank you for your support of our campaign to keep student loans local and preserve student choice!

As you may know, Congress announced on Monday, April 27, 2009 agreement on the President’s budget for 2010. We are pleased to see Congress included the following “Sense of Congress on College Affordability and Student Loan Reform” in the President’s budget proposal:

“It is the Sense of Congress that –

(1) nothing in the resolution should be construed to reduce any assistance that makes college more affordable and accessible for students, including but not limited to student aid programs and services provided by nonprofit State agencies and private lenders;

(2) private and non-profit lenders, originators, and loan servicers help students plan for, apply to, and pay for post-secondary education and training;

(3) any reform of the federal student loan programs to ensure that students have reliable and efficient access to federal loans should include some future role for the currently involved private and non-profit entities, including state non-profits with 100% FFEL lending in the State, and capitalize on the current infrastructure provided by private and non-profit entities, in order both to provide employment to many Americans during this time of economic distress and to maintain valuable services that make post-secondary education more accessible and attainable for many Americans; and

(4) therefore, pursuant to any changes to the student loan programs, loan processing, administration, and servicing should continue to be performed, as needed, by for-profit and non-profit entities.” – FY10 Concurrent Budget Resolution, sec. 605.

While specific details are not yet available, we are encouraged that our message was heard and many of the valuable benefits and services contained in the FFEL Program will continue. Our thanks to the thousands of individuals who have voiced their support for CSLF and other FFEL institutions nationwide.

Please continue making your voice heard in Washington. Communicate frequently with the Congress and the President. Thank them for their support and remind them of their promises to Connecticut’s schools, families, and students. Our task now is to work together to push for the broadest interpretation possible of the Sense of Congress.

SENATE:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=CT

Web Form:  http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130

Web Form:  http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/

HOUSE:

http://courtney.house.gov/email/

Office Hours in Killingly:

Representatives from Congressman Courtney’s office also hold office hours at Quinebaug Valley Community College every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

http://delauro.house.gov/contact_form_email.cfm

http://forms.house.gov/larson/contact.html

https://forms.house.gov/chrismurphy/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

http://himes.house.gov/?sectionid=54&sectiontree=54

White House & President Barrak Obama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

The Connecticut Student Loan Foundation is a non-profit corporation that administers, guarantees, and finances loans within the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). CSLF promotes access to higher education by helping students and their families plan for and pursue a postsecondary education. CSLF has more than 40 years of experience providing assistance to students, parents, and industry partners.

• For information about CSLF as a guaranty agency, visit the Guarantor Services section of our Web site

• For information about CSLF as a student loan lender, visit the Education Loan section of our Web site

• For information about CSLF college planning services, visit the College Planning section of our Web site

• CSLF Mission Statement

• CSLF Student Loan Business Practices

• CSLF 40 Year History

Here are just three sites to get you started:

1. Free Money Finance

This free site aggregates post relating to everything “money” – here are just some of the categories:

http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/budgeting/index.html

2. Make Love Not Debt

Make Love Not Debt is a site that describes itself as a “relationship finance blog” and I have to say, I really love this idea.  Not only does this site cover a plethora of debt and money-related topics, but it does so in the context of being in a relationship, whether that’s your P.O.S.S.L.Q. (person of the same sex sharing the same living quarters), your spouse, or your whole family.  Great idea. Someone should teach “relationship finance” in high school along with home economics; I think the divorce rate would plummet.

Budgeting: Or How We Learned Not to Kill Each Other

3. My Dollar Plan

Whether you’re a college student new to budgeting or trying to get all your “dollar ducks” in a row, Financial Literacy month is a great time to commit to understanding and de-mystifying your personal finances.  The combination of “math and money” often intimidates both the college-bound and their parents, but with so many tools online to assist you, you can breathe a sigh of relief. You’re not alone in trying to figure it out and there’s a very supportive online community to help you get a leg up on your financial understanding and to keep you on top of things.

For students and their families, one of the most overwhelming parts of figuring out financial aid is figuring out the actual cost of attendance.  To get a realistic grip on how much you’ll spend that first year, factor in all the incidentals, not just tuition, room and board.

Students must consider the direct costs associated with a college education, such as tuition, fees, room, and board as well as the indirect costs of an education. These indirect costs can include books and supplies, living expenses (if living off-campus), telephone, transportation, clothing, entertainment, medical, and other necessary personal expenses. To calculate your direct and indirect college costs, use our online calculator and budget worksheet.

Now, don’t forget to go to http://financialliteracymonth.com and check out the rest of the tips. There’s even a place where you can print out a pledge to approach your finances consciously and responsibly –

Most students agree that some of their most positive experiences are due to the relationships they develop in high school.  National Education Longitudinal studies show that these relationships have a significant influence on a student’s decision to pursue higher education. For example, low-achieving students can improve their grade point averages when they network with higher-achieving students.  In fact, according to one far-reaching study, a friend’s wishes to attend college increased the likelihood of enrollment by their peers by 60 percent. It’s also not surprising how significant a role parents can play. Parents can help prepare their children for college, not just academically, but socially as well.

Here are 5 ways parents can help their child develop an interest in attending college:

1. Take an interest in your child’s friends.

Help promote an academically positive, pro-college culture in your home by listening to what your child and their friends have to say about school and attending college. Tell them about your experiences and encourage them to believe that higher education can be within their grasp. Praise academic achievement and effort. See the numbers on how relevant parents are to their children’s academic achievement and later college attendance:

http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/publications-series/family-involvement-research-digests/adolescence-are-parents-relevant-to-students-high-school-achievement-and-post-secondary-attainment

2. Get to know your student’s teachers.

At least twice a year, your child’s teachers set aside time to meet with you in person, which is an excellent chance to get to know them and make plans to support your student’s success. Most teachers are open to calling and emailing,  and would be delighted if you let them know how they could assist your student.  Click here for some great questions to ask at parent-teacher conferences, over the phone or in electronic communications with your student’s teacher(s):

http://school.familyeducation.com/parents-and-school/parent-teacher-conferences/38586.html

3. Encourage independent thought and expression in your child.

As your child moves through high school, a major part of their growth will be developing a healthy sense of self and the ability to resist negative peer pressure. Allowing free expression lets young adults assert their opinions and explore unfamiliar concepts without the negative consequences of bowing to peer pressure. For a great article about listening to your teen and allowing them freedom to express themselves, visit

http://life.familyeducation.com/teen/communication/42914.html

4. Establish a relationship early on with a school guidance professional at your student’s school.

Today’s school counselors are vital members of the education team. They guide all students in the areas of academic achievement, career, personal and social development, helping to ensure that today’s students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.  To learn more about how Connecticut School Counselors are helping students to succeed, visit their web page.

http://www.ctschoolcounselor.org/

5.  Discuss career options and aspirations with your child.

Though most majors don’t have to be declared until your student’s sophomore or junior year in college, it’s never too early for you to discuss career preparation with your student. Talk to your child about a variety of professions, the type of education needed for different careers, and the potential earnings associated with them.  Job shadowing, internships and volunteer work can also help your child discover different career paths too.  Take time with your child to explore websites that highlight the benefits of a college education and that offer insights into a wide variety of occupations.

Click to begin - keep your eyes on the road to success and plan your trip well!

This article was written by Mariana Evica with contributions from Carolyn Karno, Susan Hanchard and other staff members of CSLF’s Early Awareness & College Planning Division. For more free information on college planning and financing, visit http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/resourcecenter.htm or call 1-866-PLAN-4IF.

Mariana Evica writes for the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation and has been serving students and their families since 2003.  Join in the discussion about education, college planning, admissions and financing on Twitter by following Mariana at http://twitter.com/mariana_66 or by becoming a fan of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation on facebook at http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Rocky-Hill-CT/Connecticut-Student-Loan-Foundation-CSLFSusie-Mae/7001899781

Please leave a comment or send us an email at alternativeoutreach (at) mail (dot) cslf (dot) org.

~~~~~~~~

The Connecticut Student Loan Foundation has been providing podcasts on Financial Aid for over a year, posting them to our MySpace site, connecting with students, families, educators and financial aid professionals. We hope that you’ll take advantage of this free service to help you understand the process of applying for and repaying student loans. Please let us know if you’d like us to cover any particular topic and we’ll try to do it!

Senator Dodd to host “Ready for College” planning session at MCC

From the Journal Inquirer

MANCHESTER — Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., will host a “Ready for College” information session for high school students and their parents on Sunday, Feb. 22, at Manchester Community College.

Dodd, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, will be joined by a panel of higher education and financial aid experts.

They’ll field questions from students and parents about how to navigate the financial aid system and other aspects of the college application process.

Other expected to attend are: Mark McQuillan, Connecticut’s education commissioner; Jennifer Fuhrmann, director of student financial assistance, University of Hartford; Richard Bishop, director, Financial Aid Office, Central Connecticut State University; Michael P. Meotti, state commissioner of higher education.

The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in the Culinary Arts Center on the second floor of MCC’s Lowe Building.

Those who are interested in attending are asked to call Dodd’s office at 258-6940 or e-mail readyforcollege@dodd.senate.gov.

http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/02/20/towns/manchester/doc499edf292830e350088059.txt

Q:  “What if I can’t make it to the session?”

A:  “The Early Awareness and College Planning Division of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation has a Resource Center and staff ready to help you. They can help you in your college search and selection, assist in completion of the FAFSA or College Profile, and advise you on ways to plan for and finance your higher education.”

Give them a call at 866-752-6443

or email them at plan4if (at)mail(dot)cslf(dot)org – they’ll be happy to make an appointment for you to come in or to advise you over the phone!”

In the mean time, please make use of the rich resource of our website, with many links to helpful sources on your path to a post-secondary education!

http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/planningforcollege/index.htm

Mirrored here, for easy access, are additional websites you won’t want to be without. Don’t forget to bookmark the page so you can come back, since you won’t want to explore them all in one sitting.

Web sites for Your College Search

www.aihec.org: The American Indian Higher Education Consortium Web site.

www.ajcunet.edu: For students looking for Jesuit colleges and universities, this Web site includes a search service for Jesuit schools with links to each college’s site.

www.catholiccollegesonline.org: A Web site sponsored by the National Catholic Colleges Admission Association.

www.chci.org: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute has information in the Education Center Section. From there, click on Education Resources for more helpful ideas.

www.christiancollegementor.org: a student services Web site representing the Christian colleges and universities of Nation Association of Christian Colleges Admissions Personnel (NACCAP) and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

www.collegeboard.com: In addition to its college search database, this site is loaded with information on every facet of college planning. You can register for your SAT online, make use of their online college applications, and do a free scholarship search.

www.collegenet.com: This site includes college and scholarship searches and also provides some links to college Web sites.

www.collegeview.com: You can search for college scholarships, find the colleges with the best fit, and do a career search by logging onto this site.

www.ctdhe.org: The Connecticut Department of Higher Education Web site is a complete source of online information about Connecticut’s outstanding system of higher education.

www.ctcl.com: A Web site that has information about 40 Colleges That Change Lives. Learn why author Loren Pope thinks these colleges are important to consider and the Web site has links to each school.

www.ed.gov/index.jhtml: The United States Department of Education Web site with links for students and parents to useful Web sites dealing with college planning and financing a college education.

www.edonline.com: This site has good links including one for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

www.fastweb.com: This Web site provides you with access to free college and scholarship searches.

www.finaid.org: This Web site provides information on scholarships and financing a college education including a scholarship search.

www.hillel.org: A Web site sponsored by Hillel that includes a Guide to Jewish Life on Campus.

www.mappingyourfuture.org: This Web site has information on career planning, college planning, and paying for college.

www.nacac.com: This is the Web site for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the professional organization for the admissions officers and counselors. Look for the links to College Fairs for information on college fairs along with other interesting and valuable links. Interested in Visual and Performing Arts College? The link is on that page.

www.petersons.com: This Web site will not only help you find the right school, but also provides a scholarship search engine, financial aid and scholarship information, and free SAT questions.

www.princetonreview.com: In addition to using their college search engine, try using their “Counselor-O-Matic” to answer any of your questions on the college selection process.

www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/eduhome.htm: If you’re looking for a comprehensive Web site that contains a college search database, a college ranking guide, and a “best buy” index, check out this site.


FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in an effort to advance understanding of political, economic, and higher education-related issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Mark Montgomery is a busy guy.  He spends his time researching info germane to college selection, admissions, financial aid and as he likes to call it, mapping college journeys.  Any parent, prospective student or guidance counselor knows that it is a journey, one best traversed with a knowledgeable guide.  Mark is just such a guide:  associate dean at the University of Denver, admissions counselor for Fort Lewis College, external evaluator for teaching and learning programs at other universities, including the Yale University and University of Kansas.  And that just scratches the surface.  I know you’ll want to find out much more about what makes him tick as well as what makes him an internationally respected authority on leadership and education; when Mark asked us to contribute to his twice-monthly Carnival of College Admissions blog we couldn’t refuse!

This edition celebrates Mark’s trip to China with a nod to the Chinese New Year, but his trip is not just for fireworks and dragons: Mark spoke yesterday to Chinese families exploring a US education for their college bound children!

The Carnival of College Admissions concentrates on more domestic college transition issues, though. You won’t want to miss the contributions from experts offering wisdom on how to pick the best college for your budget and your career aspirations, on how to navigate the admissions process (don’t miss University of New Haven’s Gil Rogers’ post called, aptly READ THIS! – a timely reminder to actually read what an admissions office sends you!), plus much, much more.

Thanks again for having me and CSLF as a guest, Mark. We look forward to more.

Mariana Evica

CSLF Early Awareness & College Planning

Governor Rell requests lawmakers review proposed budget before raising tuition

Associated Press

February 10, 2009

STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut officials have put off a debate on whether to increase tuition and room and board fees at the request of Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who says it’s a bad time to raise prices.

The school’s Board of Trustees was to discuss the proposed increases Tuesday afternoon, but delayed the discussion to March 10. Plans call for boosting tuition and fees in the next academic year by 7 percent for in-state students and 8 percent for out-of-state students.

Rell says it’s premature to discuss raising the tuition because lawmakers have just started reviewing her proposed budget. It remains unclear how much money the state would get from the federal stimulus package.

The governor says it’s the worst time to raise college costs because of the troubled economy.

AP-ES-02-10-09 1244 EST

How to get Financial Aid in Connecticut:

• Get free help completing the FAFSA! Make your appointment today:     http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/fafsablitz.htm
• Learn how to pay for college: http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/payingforcollege/index.htm
• Find out about different kinds of financial aid:  http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/payingforcollege/typesoffinaid.htm

Scholarships:

http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/pdf/tipScholarshipSearch.pdf

Ask questions about financial aid and getting into college:

Find us on Facebook! Just search for our page under Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, and be sure to friend Mariana Evica, who is also taking financial and college planning questions on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mariana_66!

Find us on MySpace! Come read the blogs and listen to the podcasts on your most frequently asked financial aid questions!  Become a friend of The Loan Geek and CSLF at http://www.myspace.com/first_rate.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in an effort to advance understanding of political, economic, and higher education-related issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Last Chance FAFSA Assistance Blitz!

Connecticut State Deadline for Filing is February 15th

Hours will be between 9:00 am and 7:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, February 9th – February 12th, at CSLF’s Rocky Hill office at 525 Brook Street.

All services are free of charge.

Call now to book your appointment!

You can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov at no charge.

• You must complete the form each year your student is attending college.
• Students may apply as early as January 1st of their senior year.
• Students and one parent must register for a 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov . The PIN is used as your electronic signature.

For more FAFSA completion tips visit http://www.cslf.com/investinyourfuture/pdf/tipFAFSATipSheet.pdf

Keep in mind that some private institutions may require you to complete an additional form when considering your student for institutional funds. The CSS/Financial Aid Profile is used by over 200 private colleges. Also, some private schools use their own supplemental form. Since most seniors are applying to multiple institutions, your student needs to find out what forms are required and the deadlines for submission.

Need FAFSA or CSS Profile completion assistance?

Make an appointment with the CSLF resource center at (866) PLAN-4IF or

email us at plan4if@mail.cslf.org today.

Sponsored by

The Connecticut Student Loan Foundation

and Susie Mae

Greetings parents, students and financial aid professionals! Here is our first podcast! For borrowers entering repayment after graduation or periods of forbearance, its crucial to know the “rules of repayment”.

Listen to this episode in a new window

Click to listen to The Rules of Repayment

Listen to the podcast or read on for a guide on:

• grace periods
• dealing with the servicer of your student loan
• forbearance
• repayment options
• avoiding delinquency and default
• Consolidation

Hope you’ll join us for more information on our MySpace profile, found at http://www.myspace.com/first_rate – great place for updates, links to these podcasts and more.

Don’t hesitate to drop us a line at alternativeoutreach (at) mail (dot) cslf (dot) org. We love answering questions and might feature yours in our next blog!

Find us on WordPress, now as well, where anyone can read, comment and subscribe to our features – http://cslf.wordpress.com

We’re chock full of information on our primary domain, as always, at http://www.cslf.com – a great place for students and families. Thanks for stopping by!

Mariana Evica “the loan geek”

Transcript Follows:

Amie: Podcast 1 – Student Loan Essentials for New Graduates

Mariana: Welcome to the first edition of CSLF’s informational podcast series.

The Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, or CSLF, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to funding for higher education through customized and high-quality service.

We hope to be able to provide you with regular installments of useful, accurate and up to date student loan and financial aid information

Please feel free to contact us with your questions and comments at our myspace profile at www.myspace.com/first_rate or visit our website at http://www.cslf.com.

We are your hosts, Mariana Evica –

Amie: — and Amie Aragones

Graduation season is here!

Many new graduates have spent several years acquiring student loans, but have not had to give much thought to what happens once they have graduated

Today’s podcast will tackle what new graduates must know about their student loans

Mariana: Graduation is an important and overwhelming time of your life. You have just accomplished a great deal to get there. You are preparing for a new career, and possibly moving to a new location.

Within your new responsibilities is your need to begin repaying your student loans.

Amie: You must pay back your student loans. When you signed your loan documents, you signed a promissory note, indicating that you understand that you must pay these loans back. You must pay them even if you did not complete your education, or are disappointed with the outcome. This applies even if you were under 18 when you signed.

There are some limited circumstances where your responsibility to pay your loans is cancelled, or your loans are “discharged”, but these circumstances are rare. We will not address loan discharge in this podcast, but you may learn more online or by calling your servicer.

And in most cases where you file bankruptcy, your student loans cannot be included.

Mariana: Federal Stafford and Perkins loans have a grace period, or a period of time in which you are not required to make payments. This buffer before you make your first payment typically begins the day after your final class, and lasts 6 months for Stafford loans and 9 months for Perkins loans.

If you have ever entered repayment on your loans before, for instance having taken extended time off from school, you may have exhausted your grace period already.

Amie: There may be several companies involved in your student loans. When you are entering repayment on your loans, you should contact your loan SERVICER.

The servicer keeps the most up to date records on your student loan account, processes your payments, and helps answer questions on the status of your loans. They’ll inform you how much you owe per month, and when payments are due, as well as other pertinent information on a loan disclosure statement and repayment schedule.

The servicer may be the same as your lender. If you’re unsure, your lender should be able to tell you who is servicing your loans. Or, you can check the Department of Education’s federal student loan database, the National Student Loan Data System, or NSLDS, at www.nslds.ed.gov or call 1(800) 4FEDAID.

For a Perkins loan, the school is your lender, and you should contact the financial aid or student loan office for repayment information.

Mariana: Even if you do not receive statements or bills, you’re required to make your payments, in full, every month.

Also, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure your servicer has your current contact information. If you move or change telephone numbers, you must provide that information to the servicer of your loans, or you may not receive important information.

Amie: You may be wondering what happens if can’t make a payment to your loans.

Mariana: Many loan borrowers encounter situations where they may be unable to make their student loan payments temporarily. This may include periods of unemployment, financial or medical hardship, and other major changes in living circumstances, such as active duty military service or returning to school.

If you find that you may not be able to make payments, be sure to contact your student loan servicer. They will tell you about DEFERMENT and FORBEARANCE.

Different kinds of deferment or forbearance apply depending on your circumstances and when you originally took out the loans.

Some are limited by time and can be eventually “used up”.

Deferment or forbearance essentially give you “time off” from paying your loans. Payments are not expected, and nothing is reported to the credit bureaus.

Amie: Always check with your loan holders for your deferment or forbearance options rather than NOT paying. These tools exist to help you!

Skipping payments and becoming delinquent has negative consequences for your credit.

If you neglect to make payments for an extended period of time, you may go into default, which has many more negative consequences, including wage garnishment, withholding of your federal income tax refunds, and suspension of your professional licenses.

Mariana: If you think you may need help with your Stafford Loan payments for an extended time period, you may want to consider alternate repayment schedules.

Standard Payments for Stafford loans begin with a maximum repayment term of 10 years, with even, monthly payments for the life of the loan (with the possible exception of the final payment)‏

Graduated payment begins with low payments, which increase over a fixed period of time, usually 10 years, usually at 2 year increments.

Extended payment allows some qualified borrowers with over $30,000 in loans to extend the repayment of their loans over a longer period of time, possibly up to 25 years

Income sensitive or Income contingent payment takes into consideration your annual income to determine payment amounts. You’ll have to submit salary documentation, such as current pay stubs, to verify your income.

Remember, there are consequences to choosing non-standard payment plans.

The longer you take to pay off the principal of your loan, the more you will end up paying in interest over the life of the loan

Of course, if one of these options is best for you, it is best to go ahead and choose it rather than to become delinquent or to go into default!

You may choose to change these repayment schedules later on, if your circumstances change.

Perkins loans do NOT have alternate repayment schedules

Amie: Another major option to consider once you have graduated is Federal Student Loan Consolidation, which allows you to combine all of your federal student loans into one loan, for ease of payment and different terms and benefits, including possibly lowering your monthly payments

We’re going to focus on Consolidation in podcast # 2 of our series, so tune back in for the details on how Consolidation can help you

Mariana: You need to be well informed to be a good consumer and responsible borrower. Making mistakes with your loans can have serious consequences for your future. Luckily, there is a wealth of information available to you, especially on the internet. If you have trouble navigating this often changing and confusing information, you should feel comfortable contacting your student loan provider for assistance with understanding your student loans.

Amie: This is the end of CSLF’s podcast #1, the student loan essentials for new graduates.

Thanks for listening!

Tune in next time for Podcast #2, where we help you navigate the benefits of Federal Student Loan Consolidation in a two part podcast.

Mariana: To get immediate updates on new podcasts, remember to add the loan geek as a friend by visiting our profile on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/first_rate

Amie: This podcast has been brought to you by CSLF, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation.

The purpose of CSLF is to improve the education opportunities of individuals who wish to obtain a postsecondary education. CSLF supports its purpose by promoting access to higher education, by providing services designed to educate individuals about higher education opportunities and by offering affordable financing solutions that best meet the education funding needs of families.

Mariana: For more information, visit our website http://www.cslf.com or our blog on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/first_rate , where you can provide feedback and ask questions.

Information in this podcast was accurate at time of production. CSLF is not responsible for changes in federal regulations, which modify program guidelines or requirements.

Amie: This CSLF podcast is copyright of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, all rights reserved. May 2007.

Financial aid.  Many parents feel overwhelmed just considering preparing their child to attend college – helping their child achieve in high school, helping them find a school that suits them, and helping their child look at career paths that will allow their child to repay student loans. One of the most common questions posed to college planning counselors is “Where do we begin?”

For parents with a child in high school, the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation (CSLF) has customized a free email service. Parent College Planning eTips subscribers will receive monthly emails tailored to the grade level of their child – Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. Parents with multiple children can subscribe to as many grade levels as they desire.

Here’s what to expect in your eTips tool box each month!

• timely suggestions for leveraging local and national resources
• monthly activities to enhance your college planning
• customized tips on applying for Financial Aid
• monthly checklists
• links to free online resources to help you

Click here to subscribe for free!

CSLF provides on-site early awareness services as well:

Please visit us to experience our college planning resource center, make use of our parent and student publications and one-on-one college counseling.  We provide a toll free hotline for getting help and staying connected: 1 – 800 – PLAN 4 IF  (800.752.6443)

All of CSLF’s college planning services are provided free of charge!

Don’t miss one of most recently updated free publications:  CSLF’s Parent Guide to Financial Aid – get help with the FAFSA, understanding different kinds of financial aid, eligibility and more.

When we speak to parents on the phone, we frequently hear that it would help to have information on college planning and financial aid “all in one place” or “made easier to understand” – and that’s what CSLF is doing.

We would like to know what else you need: What would make the college planning and financial aid process easier to understand and less stressful?  Where do you want to access that help?

Leave us a comment here on the blog, or send us an email at alternativeoutreach (at) mail (dot) CSLF (dot) org.

ABOUT CSLF – The Connecticut Student Loan Foundation (CSLF) is a national, non-profit agency that administers, guarantees, and finances loans within the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and alternative student loan programs. CSLF has more than 40 years of experience providing assistance to students and parents seeking to finance a higher education. CSLF promotes access to higher education by helping families plan for and pursue their postsecondary education and by assuring that low-cost funding options remain available to eligible students and parents. Learn more about CSLF at www.cslf.com.