Pell
grant increases for 2003-2004
Good news for students who are eligible to receive federal
Pell grants. The budget for 2003-2004 includes funds that will increase
the maximum grant to $4,050 from the current $4,000. The extra $50 may
not seem like a great deal of money but remember that every little bit
helps. In a time when tuition costs are increasing and city/state
budgets are extremely tight, any increase in financial aid is a positive
thing.
Comparing
Financial Aid Awards
You've been admitted to several schools of your choice
and received financial aid award letters from each. Comparing awards may
be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the types of aid listed on the
award letter. A recent study by two Harvard University researches found
that some students were more likely to accept financial aid awards that
had a 'name' attached to them - even if they provided the same amount of
money as other awards. Some students even showed a tendency to select
loans and work-study over grants. Two online tools can help you
calculate your 'out of pocket' costs for each college and gain a better
understanding of your financial responsibilities at each school. Try
these tools from US
News or the College
Board.
New Online Resource: Learn-A-Test,
an interactive test preparation
resource for the entire community includes online practice tests, instant scoring and individual analysis.
Use it to try out the SAT or ACT or one of the math and reading
skills tests. Anyone with a D.C. Library card can use the system FREE!
To try it, go to www.dclibrary.org
and look for the Learn-A-Test link.
