Loans Web Sites

Important Web Sites Because Web links can change, please visit www.usafunds.org/lifeskills for the most up-to-date list.

Web sites that provide important information about all aspects of financial aid www.usafunds.org/borrowers This Web site will help you keep track of your loans and will assist you in the repayment process. www.usafunds.collegeanswer.com This Web site offers authoritative advice about how to plan for and pay for your education. You’ll find step-by-step tutorials about the entire “Go-to-College” process, from preparation to getting and repaying loans. This site also offers interactive tools that let you estimate college costs, your expected contribution, and student-loan repayment costs. www.fafsa.ed.gov This Web site permits you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The FAFSA is the key application required for federal and many other sources of financial aid. www.finaid.org This Web site has information about various types of financial aid, including links to scholarship search engines targeted to minorities, regions or research interest. The site also provides information about financial-aid scams. www.finaid.org/otheraid/grad.phtml Finaid has links to several major scholarship search engines, as well as information particular to business-, law- and medical-school students. www.studentclearinghouse.org/students This Web site helps you track your student loans, offers information about the entire deferment process, and provides loan-servicer phone numbers.

Resources directed toward profession-specific student loans Medical and other health-care-related professions bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/pcl.htm The Primary Care Loan (PCL) program is offered to medical students who are going into primary health-care practice. This low-cost federal loan program offers an interest rate of 5 percent that begins to accrue following a one-year grace period. The PCL also offers deferment options not found in other loan programs. www.aamc.org/students/medloans/start.htm The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) sponsors the MEDLOANS Program, a comprehensive program of federal and private student loans designed exclusively for allopathic and osteopathic medical students. These programs include the MEDLOANS Stafford Loan, MEDLOANS Alternative Loan Program (ALP), MEDEX residency relocation loan and the MEDLOANS Consolidation Loan. Any U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident is eligible to participate in the MEDLOANS Program if enrolled or accepted by an AAMC member allopathic institution or an osteopathic institution as a full-time student. For additional information and application instructions, please visit the Web site or contact the MEDLOANS Customer Service Team at (800) 858-5050. bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/hpsl.htm The U. S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Bureau of Health offers a Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) program to full-time, financially needy students pursuing degrees in dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine or veterinary medicine.

Important Web Sites (continued) Resources directed toward profession-specific student loans (continued) Medical and other health-care-related professions bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/nsl.htm Similarly, the Department of Health and Human Services offers a Nursing Student Loan (NSL) program to full-time and half-time, financially needy students for a variety of nursing degrees, including graduate degrees. 12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.FUNCTIONAL_PROGRAM_TXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_names=func_cat_cd&p_ arg_values=GM Students can also check the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance for information about nursing loans and other student financial aid. Many states also provide specialized loans and financial aid, often targeting students enrolled in nursing, teaching and needed medical specialties. For example, the Board of Trustees of State Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning has a Nursing Education Loan Scholarship Program that provides loans to students who are pursuing a graduate degree in nursing. For information about Mississippi’s loan program, see www.ihl.state.ms.us/ financialaid/complete.html. You can also check the Internet for other state-sponsored loan programs. Business www.gmac.com/gmac/SchoolServices/FinancingforStudents/MBALOANS.htm The MBA LOANS program offers Stafford loans as well as private business education loans. This is the only MBA loan program endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council. www.mba.com/mba/MakeYourDecision/ You can find additional information about MBA loans, scholarships and grants for underrepresented groups of students at this site. Law www.usafunds.collegeanswer.com/financing/content/f_alt_law.jsp LAWLOANS are available to law students enrolled at least half time in any American Bar Association-accredited degree program. www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=lsac/financial-aid-introduction.asp www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/financial-aid-publications.asp These sites contain additional sources of financial aid, grants and scholarships for law students.

Important Web Sites (continued) Web sites providing general graduate-student support www.nagps.org National Association of Graduate-Professional Students: News, listservs, job bank, thesis- and dissertation-writing resources and information about various types of insurance. www.asgs.org Association for Support of Graduate Students: Chat and e-mail boards for students writing a thesis or dissertation. www.psu.edu/dus/mentor The Mentor: Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Excellence in Academic Advising’s free online journal about mentoring. www.rackham.umich.edu/StudentInfo/Publications/StudentMentoring/contents.html How to Get the Mentoring You Want: A Guide for Graduate Students at a Diverse University: A downloadable manual about mentoring, from the University of Michigan’s Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

Web sites providing salary estimates by profession, level and region of the country www.salary.com www.monster.com www.vault.com (use the Salary Wizard tool) www.hotjobs.com