Financial Aid Applications Surge in 2008 As Employment Declines
In tough economic times, individuals often return to education and pursue financial aid opportunities. This year, slowdowns in the employment market and rising costs have created a record surge in such financial aid applications and some wonder if states and colleges have the money and resources to fund the continuing trend.
While businesses have been laying off workers or outsourcing jobs, they are still looking for more qualified job hunters to fill new positions created by advances in technology and shifts in marketing focus. Although customer service and some programming jobs are in decline, employers are seeking individuals with college educations in engineering, nursing, and some types of computer science. Many people who have been laid off see little choice but to return to school and advance toward a career in one of the fields with the biggest demand.
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Online Colleges Is Financial Aid Available?
One of the frequently asked questions about attaining an education is whether or not financial aid is available. This is a very legitimate question to ask in regards to online colleges.
Typically, online colleges participate in many of the same grant and loan programs as traditional colleges and universities. Financial aid programs, such as the Federal Pell Grant is designed to help students with tuition cost. Another program, known as the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, commonly referred to as “FSEOG,” is a grant program that is awarded and based on extreme financial need. This particular grant is often facilitated by students who are seeking a conventional or online degree.
Colleges online will frequently take part in loan programs like the Federal Stafford Student Loan, and additional loan programs as well. Just like any traditional schools, online colleges will provide information to students about filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online, and encourage prospective students to do so.
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The Science Education Belief In America
Political leaders, tech executives, and academics often claim that the U.S. is falling behind in math and science education. They cite poor test results, declining international rankings, and decreasing enrollment in the hard sciences. They urge us to improve our education system and to graduate more engineers and scientists to keep pace with countries such as India and China.
Yet a new report by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, tells a different story. The report disproves many confident pronouncements about the alleged weaknesses and failures of the U.S. education system. This data will certainly be examined by both sides in the debate over highly skilled workers and immigration. The argument by Microsoft, Google, Intel, and others is that there are not enough tech workers in the U.S.