To take your test taking skills to the next level, you will need to implement speed reading, visualization, and test strategy skills. When you add these tools to your normal test preparation you will see great results. These skills should only be used if you have the basics of test preparation understood. By constant application of these tools you can see long term results.

First, speed reading has been used for many years for lots of different purposes. It comes especially in handy when preparing for an exam. Speed reading allows you to cover vast amounts of information quickly and easily. By being able to cover material quickly you can have time to go over the material several times.

There are lots of great speed reading courses out there. Find one you like and try putting this skill into use right away.

Another tool to add is visualization. Visualizing how you do on your exam has been shown to help improve your grades. Try to start this several weeks ahead of time, but even doing this a few days before the exam helps too. To do visualization, just run through your mind how the exam room will look. Try to fill in as many details in your mind as possible when doing this. What temperature is the room? What time of day is it?

Visualize yourself being calm and relaxed throughout the exam and confidently answering each question correctly. Just a few minutes a couple of times a day can work wonders.

Having a good test strategy is the final step in taking your test preparation to the next level. There are lots of resources on the internet about strategies for different types of exams, ranging from multiple choice to essay. It is best to start working on your test taking strategy a week before the exam.

By combining a few more tools like speed reading, visualization, and test strategy, you can take your grade to the next level. In today’s competitive world a few extra points and mean the difference of getting into the schools of your choice or getting that degree.

What Kinds of Private Scholarships are Available? While it might seem surprising, almost every kind of scholarship exists that can be imagined. There are private scholarship funds set up by feminist groups for working mothers, ones set up by firefighters for the children of firefighters, scholarships for children of Vietnam Veterans, for first generation immigrants, etc. If you can think of it, a scholarship probably exists.

How Do I Find a Private Scholarship? There are several ways to go about finding private scholarships. The first and most simple is to contact your university’s office of financial aid and ask them. They usually have a list of private scholarships that are available. Next, go to the web. Using Google or a similar search engine type in your special interest and the word “scholarship”. You’ll be amazed at what comes up!

How Do I Secure a Private Scholarship? There is no one answer to this question. Some groups ask that you write an essay, others ask for proof of eligibility (your dad’s discharge paper, for example), and some might ask for a personal interview.

There are literally millions of private scholarships out there! Go out and find them!

University scholarships are monies awarded through your college or university that you do not have to pay back. Universities use these monies to attract and keep students who have certain characteristics they wish to have within their collegiate community. There are three main types of scholarships available through universities. These are:

• Academic Scholarships: These are monies awarded on, you guessed it, academics. Some of these scholarships are available only to incoming freshmen, while others can be applied for each year you are in attendance. Contact your university’s financial aid office to find out more.
• Athletic Scholarships: These are monies awarded based on students’ participation in collegiate athletics. These are usually awarded upon the student’s enrollment to the university.
• Diversity Scholarships: These are monies awarded based on students’ ethnicity, gender, or financial situation. Although many of these are awarded in a student’s first year of college, many can be applied for throughout one’s college career. To find out more contact your college’s office of financial aid or minority affairs.

Remember, scholarships can be taken away just as easily as they can be given, so make sure you know what you are supposed to do (participate in activities, maintain a certain GPA, etc.) to ensure you get and keep your monies.

In order to be eligible for work-study programs, you must fill out a FAFSA. On the FAFSA, there is a question which asks if you are interested in work-study. Check yes. If, based on the FAFSA’s calculations, you are deemed eligible you will be contacted by your university’s work study office and given a list of potential jobs you can accept. Pick one that suits your needs and your schedule and get started!

Most work-study jobs are between fifteen to twenty hours per week and are arranged around your class schedule. This is not money you are given at the beginning of a quarter or semester, rather it is usually paid every two weeks like any other job. In order to receive these monies, you must go to work. Otherwise–just like any other job–you don’t get paid. So, make sure before you check yes to this option that you can commit to working.

Remember: Work-Study is a program through FAFSA in which you work 15-20 hours per week in exchange for monies that you don’t have to pay back. The monies are paid out every 2 weeks.

Unlike Stafford loans, the Pell Grant is money awarded by the government that does not have to be repaid. It is typically awarded to low-income undergraduate students pursuing their first degree, although in some cases it is awarded to students pursuing secondary degrees. This money is looked upon as a “gift”.

Student eligibility for a Pell Grant is based on three things:

• Income level
• Enrollment Status (full vs. half-time)
• Cost of Attendance

It is important to remember that although this is gifted money, you can lose eligibility if any of the above items change or if your GPA falls below the standards.

Remember: The Pell Grant is money awarded from the federal government that you do not have to repay upon graduation. This grant is awarded based on your responses to the FAFSA and factors in your income level, your enrollment status, and cost of attendance.

Subsidized Stafford loans are monies awarded to you as a student based on your personal financial need. This need is calculated from your responses to the FAFSA and take into account your current income level, your parents’ income (if you are under 24), the cost of the college or university you are attending, and the cost of living. Because these loans are based on financial need, interest is not charged until after your deferment period is over.

While subsidized Stafford loans are ideal, usually the amount available to you is less than what is available to you as unsubsidized. If you are able, however, it is better to accept more in subsidized loans than unsubsidized loans for the simple fact that you won’t have to worry about interest capitalizing while you’re in school.

To recap: Subsidized Stafford loans are loans granted based on financial need as determined through your responses to the FAFSA. Interest does not begin to accrue on these loans until after your six month deferment period. After this time, interest begins to accrue. Because these are basically interest-free loans, they are the best option as far as monies you have to pay back.

An unsubsidized Stafford loan is a loan that is awarded based on your responses to the FAFSA. These loans are not based on financial need and because of this, you are charged interest from the time these loans are taken. This interest is added to the overall amount you borrow and is capitalized quarterly.

Because a loan is money you have to pay back, you have the option of paying your interest quarterly. While it is not required that you pay it at this time, if you can swing it financially, it is advisable. Here’s why: If, for example, your interest on your unsubsidized loan is $100.00 U.S. every three months and you are in school for four years, you will wind up owing at least $1200.00 more at the end of college. This is a large sum of money. If, however, you choose to pay the $100.00 every three months, you potentially save yourself a lot of stress. Even though Stafford Loans have a six month grace period, unsubsidized loans still accrue interest during the deferment. Pay your interest as you go, and you save quite a bit of money!

To recap: an unsubsidized Stafford loan is not based on financial need and is awarded based on your responses to the FAFSA. You do have to pay this money back and interest does accrue starting the moment you sign the promissory note.

Question: Do I have to fill out the FAFSA even if I’m only interested in grants and don’t want loans?
Answer: Absolutely. The government uses the same application to award grants as it does to award loans. Also, most universities will not consider you for many scholarships unless you have already filled out a FAFSA.

Question: Do my parents have to fill out their financial information?
Answer: Unless you are 24 or legally emancipated when you are filing your FAFSA, your parents must fill out their portion. While it may seem unfair, this is the way it’s done.

Question: Can I fill out my FAFSA online?
Answer: Yes. Simply go here and begin. You may also be able to fill out a paper copy through your school’s financial aid office, although many schools are moving towards electronic filing only.

Question: Do I have to file my taxes before filling out the FAFSA?
Answer: While having your taxes filed is not necessary before filling out your FAFSA, it is helpful to do so, so that you will not have to make corrections later.

Question: Do I have to file a FAFSA every year I’m in college?
Answer: Yes, although after filing your first FAFSA all you have to do is fill out a renewal FAFSA for each subsequent year which takes less time.

Question: How do I find my school code?
Answer: You can ask your college or university or find it online at the FAFSA site.

Question: How long does it take for me to get my aid?
Answer: It takes about two weeks for your college to receive your FAFSA results upon its completion. After it is received it can take upwards of a couple weeks for your college to process.

Question: Do I have to file by a certain date?
Answer: Technically, you can file your FAFSA until June 30, although it is advisable to file prior to March 1 of the year you are planning to attend, as aid is given on a first come, first serve basis and people you file earlier tend to get more aid than those who file later.

Have more questions that weren’t answered here? Contact your college or universities financial aid department!

Federal Grants: This type of student aid is based on financial need and does not have to be paid back. Grants are often referred to as gifts due to the fact that they do not have to be repaid.

University Scholarships: This type of student aid is granted by the university or college that the student is attending and is usually based on academic performance or involvement in a sport. Some scholarships are for the entire time that the student is in attendance , while others must be applied for every year. Scholarships are like grants in that they do not have to be paid back. Some universities also have scholarship funds that are set up by alumni or members of the community that have special requirements for eligibility.

Independent Scholarships: This type of student aid is set up independently of the university and available to students who meet specific requirements. For instance, in Columbus, Ohio there is a scholarship fund available to children of fallen firefighters. These scholarships do not have to be repaid. They are often one-time gifts or must be reapplied for every year.

Over the next few posts, we will look at each of these types of financial aid in more depth. If you know you will need aid at sometime during your college education, try to read all of these posts, as chances are you will have a combination of several.

Faculty Involvement is crucial to establishing your fledgling organization as credible. The reason for this is simple: university faculty is already established as an integral part of the educational community and having one or two faculty members involved in your organization extends that legitimacy to what you’re trying to accomplish with your group. How do you go about getting faculty involved? Really, it’s not too difficult. Just ask. If there is a professor that you take class with that you feel would be beneficial to your cause, schedule a time to meet with him or her and clearly lay out your organization’s purpose and goals. Invite him or her to a meeting to see what the dynamic of a group is. If the first faculty member you speak to is too busy to be involved, ask another. Chances are, you can find a professor that has some interest in your organization of you look.

Scope out your local business owners and meet with the owners to explain what you are trying to accomplish in your organization. Don’t just pick any business; do your research and find a business or businesses whose values align with those of your group. For instance, if your organization is about feeding the hungry, meet with a local restaurant owner and see if they would like to help out in some way. Once again, the key here is persistence. If one business is unwilling to help, another might be. Gaining local support in your community will not only help your organization survive, it will also help its success.

Starting your own organization can take some time, but in the end it is worth it. Not only will you be able to say you started something that will exist past your time as a student, you will also be able to say you made a difference!