Scholarship season is hot right now and many of my fellow students are stressing out about collecting the needed documents and writing their essays. With all of the latest news about the potential difficulty with getting student loans, it made me realize how incredibly important scholarships are right now.

The good news is that there are still plenty of scholarships out there despite the grim economy. The even better news is that a lot of students don´t take the time to apply. Why? Students either don´t know where to find scholarships, are too lazy to put in the work, or don´t think they can win them. Either way, don´t deny yourself by NOT applying. Ask yourself this: Would you rather get free money or have to borrow? Worst yet, do you really want to ask your parents for money?

Here are some tips for your scholarship search. First, get connected with FastWeb (www.fastweb.com). FastWeb is a scholarship database that matches up scholarships based on a profile you create (major, hobbies, ethnicity, gender, etc.). The nice thing about FastWeb is they automatically send you email alerts of new scholarships that match your profile. Next, check out the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) (www.hispanicfund.org). HSF has awarded $13 million in scholarship since 1993! They are a great resource of information about college and scholarships. Make sure to sign up for their monthly newsletter to keep up to date with the latest news! Third, go to Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) (www.hsf.net). HSF also has a wide array of scholarships for Hispanics.
If you are in high school, make sure to visit your college career center. Your counselor has a wealth of scholarship resources. If you don´t have a career center, visit your guidance counselor. If your counselor doesn´t have the resources to help, make sure to visit the sites I mentioned earlier.

If you are already in college, make sure to visit the financial aid office. The office will have a broad range of scholarships available for their students. Don´t stop there though! Make sure to visit the sites I recommended above.
Above all, make sure to begin your search as early as possible since some deadlines cut off as soon as December.

Also, make sure to give those who will write your letters of recommendation plenty of time to write the letter.

Good luck!

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Hey everyone what do you think of this! Pretty crazy stuff! I don't think anyone is going to stop young people from partying but what do my fellow moms think?

At Virginia Tech, where tailgating and raucous apartment complex parties are time-honored rituals, university officials are turning increasingly to Mom and Dad to curb problem underage drinking.

This semester, the school in Blacksburg, Va., began notifying parents when their under-21 students are found guilty of even minor alcohol violations such as getting caught with a beer in a dorm room.

Although it's common for colleges to alert parents of major alcohol offenses — or when a student faces suspension — Virginia Tech is part of a small but growing number sending letters home on minor ones.

The debate about how much to involve parents in such cases is a balancing act for colleges and universities. Officials want to hold young adults accountable as they venture out on their own, are well aware that drinking is part of the college experience, and also recognize potential allies in a generation of hands-on parents who can help when things go too far.

"I think it helps students open up to parents," said Steven Clarke, director of Virginia Tech's College Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center. "And parents can be helpful in setting boundaries students might need."

The beefed-up parental notification policy is part of a broader strategy that includes alcohol-education classes and a "party positive" program that encourages responsible drinking.

The student reaction to the policy change, not surprisingly, has been less than enthusiastic.

"If you have one beer in the dorm and you get caught, I don't feel like parents should be notified," said Erik Pryslak, a junior engineering major. "Now that we're all in college, we're all adults. It's kind of your responsibility to take care of yourself. If you want to make your parents aware you're about to be kicked out of school, then it's on you."

Studies show that students who say their parents would disapprove of them drinking are less likely to drink heavily once they get to college, said Toben Nelson, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health who has studied campus drinking.

At Virginia Tech, the school has operated on a "three strikes" system for years: Students get one strike for a minor alcohol violation and two for a major one — things like getting a DUI or vomiting all over a residence hall bathroom. Three strikes and a student is suspended for at least one semester.

After a spate of alcohol-related deaths on college campuses, Congress in the late 1990s changed student privacy laws to lower barriers to parental notification in cases involving students under 21.

Schools took a wide array of approaches in response. Virginia Tech started notifying parents of under-21 students after major alcohol offenses or when a student had accumulated two strikes with two minor ones.

But some parents complained that because they had not been notified of minor offenses, they were in the dark until a student was suddenly facing suspension, said Edward Spencer, Virginia Tech's vice president for student affairs. Hence the change this semester — a move Spencer says also reflects changing times.

Parents of Generation X students were often reluctant to get involved when the school invoked an emergency clause in privacy laws and alerted them of alcohol problems, he said.

"The response would be, 'You know, I'm leaving on a cruise. I'm going to a class reunion.'"

But today, parents of millennials tend to be tethered by cell phone to children who studies show often idolize their parents — so it makes sense to go a step further in parental involvement, he said.

"We'd like to strike a happy medium," Spencer said. "We're grateful for the positive involvement of parents. We find it difficult when their involvement is over-involvement."

Research has found more than 40 percent of college students reported at least one symptom of alcohol abuse or dependance. One recent study estimated that more than 500,000 full-time students at four-year colleges suffer injuries each year related to drinking, and about 1,700 die in such accidents.

"When it comes to safety, there really is a fine line," said Max DiSesa, a sophomore from Durham, N.H. "I completely understand Virginia Tech and they want to keep people safe. But I think this might be overall detrimental to the growth of students."

Some universities already have found success alerting parents earlier. The University at Albany, State University of New York has seen a decline in repeat offenders since it began notifying parents of under-21 students of minor alcohol violations four years ago, said Laurie Garafola, director of residential life.

"I don't send many second letters out to parents," she said.

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the philosophy is different. The school — which like many others stresses shared responsibility to parents and students during summer orientation — does not notify parents of minor offenses. Parents, however, are notified before any under-21 student is suspended.

"Part of students coming to college is to learn how to be a responsible adult — and hopefully learn from their mistakes," said Patricia Leonard, vice chancellor for student affairs.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Hello. I just moved to the Miami area. I am looking for a solid company to help me with a refinance. I purchased the house from a short sale and had to do business over the phone because I was living in Az. I dont think that I got a good deal. My interest rate in now 6.99 percent. I think that I can refinance and get a much better deal. Please point me in the right direction.

I distinctly remember feeling tremendous frustration writing my essays when applying to business schools last year. Besides the normal requests for evidence of academic achievement, admission committees were looking for something else: accomplishments outside of the classroom.

My frustration manifested from having a lack of concrete material to discuss relating to quantifiable extra-curricular activities I had been involved in.

Volunteer work consists of providing services to various types of organizations, including non- and for-profit groups. No matter what organization you choose, the key to volunteer work is to become an active member. Take on leadership responsibilities such as a chairperson for an event, event organizer, or board member. Don´t fall into the trap of thinking that by simply being a member of a club and going to events is enough. Be active! Organize an event. Better yet, become the club´s president! If, for example, you cannot find a club on campus that interests you, start one on your own. Don´t look at volunteer work as something to put down on a college application or resume. Rather, think of it as an opportunity to show off your skills. Trust me, this platform pays its dividends when it comes to collecting letters of recommendation and writing college (undergraduate and graduate) essays.

For instance, last year a foundation organizer contacted me to thank me for my work as a volunteer chairperson for an event. She was so grateful for my help, that she offered a letter of recommendation! Active participation also furnishes an environment to enhance you professional skills. If you haven´t noticed, employers are looking for two main factors when deciding whether someone meets minimum qualifications for employment: education and experience. Well, luckily we are all on track in the education route. But what about the work experience? Don´t feel bad because it´s a problem we all face.

Active participation provides a solution to this by allowing you to take on a position that encompasses the job functions of the career you are studying for. For example, I aspire to be a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). To make myself a more competitive applicant, I volunteered to be my school´s student association´s CFO. Now, when I´m in an interview with a prospective employer, I have increased my chances of getting the coveted job offer! Active participation also allows you to build or increase your network. The more involved you are in an organization, the more people you are going to meet and interact with in a professional capacity. You´ve heard the saying, “it´s not what you know, but who you know.” Well, having a strong network plays right into that. Your network, the people you know, is a source of a variety of things including information and jobs. If your network is strong enough, chances are you´ll either know the right person or know someone who knows the right person. I made a commitment to myself when I began graduate school last Fall: become active. As a result, I now serve as board member for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (Chief Information Officer) and Loyola Marymount University MBA Student Association (Chief Financial Officer). Both of these experiences have strengthened my network, resume, and professional experiences. I hope that you make the same commitment to yourself and put yourself out there!

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I will need some letters of recommendations for my college application and i don´t know many people who have power and can recomend me. what can i do to get a good letter that convinces them to let me get in? I´m in 11th grade but i´m trying to plan.

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