SavvySugar

10 Ways to School Yourself Post Graduation

SavvySugar — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:25:16 PDT

Education and intellectual growth shouldn't stop when the final bell rings and you walk across the stage to accept your diploma. Continuing brain development, mastering your chosen field, and sharpening your reading comprehension should be lifelong projects. Not only will it keep your brain active and sharp, but you'll have a leg up on the competition. You should learn something new every day, after all. Here are some ways to sneak smart activities into your tight schedule.

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.

5 Tried and Tested Tools For Learning Spanish

Nancy Einhart — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:15:19 PDT

Studying a foreign language could make you smarter. According to a new study from the University of Chicago, people make more rational decisions when thinking in a foreign language, because it forces us to use the more analytical side of our brains.

If you're looking to learn a language, you could certainly do worse than Spanish. It's the third most-spoken language in the world, and Hispanics make up more than 16 percent of the US population. So, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, here are five tools I've found super helpful in my quest to learn Spanish as an adult.

App: Larousse Spanish-English Dictionary ($4.99) The free Spanish-English dictionary apps I tried left a lot to be desired, and this $5 app is well worth the price. It quickly translates almost any word from my phone, and it also has tons of verb conjugations - a must have for beginners! Plus I can do my homework on the go.
Podcast: Discover Spanish (free) This series of 10-minute Spanish lessons is great for travelers, because it teaches commonly used phrases while also explaining a bit of the grammar, so you're more likely to remember. It's also a great supplement to in-person Spanish lessons. After a while, I found the hilarious music and overly enthusiastic host "Johnny Spanish" quite endearing.

Three more Spanish tools after the break.

A New Source For Student Loans

LearnVest — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:15:03 PDT

LearnVest talks about a new way to get your student loans: from the school's alumni.

It’s the newest thing in student loans: a social lending service where alumni can help finance the education of current students.

SoFi, a service brought to our attention by Mashable, lets alumni “buy a share” of the students at a school who currently have loans. As the students pay off the loans, the contributing alumni are paid back as well.

Interestingly, Dan Macklin, the cofounder and VP of business development at SoFi, says that students are more likely to prioritize paying back their loans through the service because they know exactly who is lending them money.

Here is how it works, via Mashable:

“Alumni invest money in their particular school’s funding, and then students apply just as they might to any other college loan. Loans are given to students for a 6.24 percent interest rate (5.99 percent if they sign up for auto-pay), alumni earn five percent back on money they’ve invested, and SoFi keeps roughly one percent. Alumni can invest with cash or can invest funds through their IRA.”

SoFi announced Monday that it would expand to 40 schools after launching last year at Stanford. There is a student ambassador for the service at every participating school, and a social networking component where lenders and lendees create online profiles where they can connect to see career goals and course loads (lendees) as well as potential connections for jobs and internships (lenders).

Considering that student loans make up the bulk of debt across generations, we can’t help but think that any innovation is good innovation.

Check out these smart stories from LearnVest:

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7 Smart Ways to Pay for College

Kiplinger — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:20:07 PDT

Does paying for college overwhelm you? Here's a helpful post from Kiplinger.

College students who borrow graduate with an average of $25,250 in debt. That's the equivalent of a new-car purchase or a down payment on a home. Even if some borrowing is inevitable for you, first explore other options to help you pay for college.

Coverdells, 529 plans and Roth IRAs come with tax advantages for college savers. Private scholarships are sources of free money. Custodial accounts offer investing flexibility. You just need a little lead time and some background on the alternatives.

We rounded up the best payment strategies, based on Kiplinger's extensive coverage of college values, college savings and student loans. We've highlighted the pros and cons of each option, as well as resources to help you get started. Check out our list of seven smart ways to pay for college.

529 Savings Plans

Pro: Tax breaks galore

Con: Portfolio limitations

Sponsored by 50 states and the District of Columbia, 529 plans let your savings grow tax-free, and the earnings escape federal tax completely if the withdrawals are used for qualified college expenses, including tuition, fees, and room and board. Two-thirds of states give residents a tax deduction or another tax break for contributions. You are permitted to invest in other states' 529 plans.

The appeal of 529 plans lies in their easy access as well as their tax benefits. The plans set no income limit and have a high limit on contributions. If your kid skips college, you can change the designation to a sibling without losing the tax break. But use the money for non-college expenses and you'll be on the hook for taxes and a penalty on earnings.

Another drawback of 529 plans: You lose direct control. After you pick a portfolio, usually from a limited pool of investment options, you must wait 12 months before you can change the mix or transfer the money to another plan. And a state-appointed firm manages the account, not you.

Read on for more.

Udacity and 14 Other Free Sites For Online Learning

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:51:42 PST

After seeing the success of a personal experiment offering a free Stanford University-certified artificial intelligence course (23,000 people completed the class!), Sebastian Thrun left his prestigious professor position to dedicate himself to teaching on a much larger scale. His new program, Udacity will offer free university-level computer science classes to anyone interested in advancing their tech knowledge.

The two courses currently up for the taking are "CS 101: Building a Search Engine" and "CS 373: Programming a Robotic Car." But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to free online classes. Here, a list of places to point your web browser for free classes online, so you can soak up all the knowledge your brain can handle.

Yale Open Courses - Named one of Time magazine's top 50 websites of 2011, Yale's classes allow anyone to browse through lectures and course materials in subjects including engineering, chemistry, astronomy, sociology, Spanish, history, and more.
MIT OpenCourseWare - With over 2,000 courses available at your fingertips, MIT OpenCourseWare should be your first (and maybe your only) stop in online learning.
Online Education Database - This website offers up a list of 200 free classes you can take online. Take some physics classes and learn about the phenomenon of superconductivity, or retake that algebra class you struggled with in high school.
OpenCulture - This website offers up a list of free classes from top universities like Stanford and UC Berkeley, and even some video lectures you can find on YouTube.
Harvard Open Learning - Watch videos of lectures on computer science and abstract algebra, among others
Princeton Web Media - Browse through and take in archived lectures from Princeton's math, science, and engineering departments, and lots, lots more.

See more websites to get your online learning on after the break.

Final Exam Tips For Mom Students

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:27:15 PST

Need to cram for an exam? Whether you're a mom or just a full-time student, check out these tips that OnSugar blogger marybabysteps shared on The College Mom.

Wow, the end of the semester is actually here. Where'd the time go? I'm sure you're saying the same thing. With so much on your plate, you may be wondering how in the world you're going to find time to prepare for final exams, never mind how you'll actually manage to survive them. Trust me, mama, you can do this. Take a deep breath and consider these tips to help you get a handle on your test anxiety during this crazy time.

Schedule Study Time

I've talked about this aspect of time management, but it's especially important at finals to make sure you've set aside plenty of time for study. Write it down in your agenda or planner, and be sure to stick to it - just like any other appointment. You'll find that you're far less stressed if you know you've got the time set aside.

Break It Down

Decide which subjects are most difficult and tackle those first in your study session when your energy level is highest. Also keep in mind that it's impossible to study absolutely everything. Decide which topics are most likely to be on the exams and focus on those. Often professors will provide you with study guides. Take a moment to review the study guides, highlighting the topics that are toughest for you. Breaking things down always makes them seem less overwhelming.

More tips after the break.

5 Steps to Rocking Your Grad School Interview

Emily Co — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:05 PST

Many of my friends are applying to business schools right now and a couple are interviewing. I've picked up a number of useful tips from friends and people with graduate degrees, so read on to find out how you can prep for your interview.

Know Your Reason For Going. Why do you want to go to school? You need to figure out your reason for going because it'll help in your interview and essay-writing process. Go into your interview with a clear objective and be sure to have examples to back it up with. You need to be convinced before you can start convincing the admissions officer why you really want to be accepted.
Showcase Your Diversity. There are going to be a lot of people with similar backgrounds so try to dig deep to find that extra something that will make you stand out. Is there a cause you're passionate about? A side project that might surprise (in a pleasant way) interviewers? Think long and hard and it'll make your case even stronger if you can display some leadership abilities.
Practice Makes Perfect. You should practice with a couple of people before interviewing. Alternatively, you can learn a lot from the interviews you do with the other schools you're applying for.

For more tips, read on.

Do You Qualify For Obama's Student Loans Program?

Emily Co — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:00:11 PDT

Last week, President Obama announced the "Pay as You Earn" plan, which is supposed to make it easier for about 1.6 million students to pay back their loans. Right now, the student loan debt in the US totals up to over $1 trillion, which is even more than credit card debt. And the burden seems to keep growing - students who graduated in the Spring of last year had about $25,250 in loans each, which is up five percent from the previous years, reported The Project on Student Debt.

What is it exactly?

In 2014, borrowers will be allowed reduce their loan payments toward all major types of federal student loans to 10 percent of their discretionary income through the Income-Based Repayment plan. The IBR was passed last year, and the "Pay as You Earn" plan that was proposed by the president on Oct. 26 is the accelerated and improved version of it.

With the "Pay As You Earn" plan, 1.6 million students can start to cap their loan payments next year, and after 20 years of payment, their balance will be forgiven. Further, six million borrowers will be allowed to consolidate loans and reduce interest rates in January.

Who qualifies for it?

You qualify for it if your student loan debt is high compared to your income and family size. There's an online calculator at the US Department of Education website in which you can plug in numbers to see what your chances are. The calculator comes up with your monthly payment under the plan, and if it is lower than the monthly payment you're going to be paying on your eligible loans under a 10-year standard repayment plan, you will be eligible to repay your loans under the income-based repayment plan.

Read on to find out how to start.

Is New York's Sex-Ed Too Sexy?

Tara Block — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:22:00 PDT

Beginning next year, sex education is going to be mandatory for middle school and high school students in New York City, but the new sex-ed curriculum includes some controversial lessons. The Department of Education's recommended workbooks include:

Comparisons of prices and features of different condom brands at stores.
Research of the confidentiality policy at clinics that provide birth control and STD tests.
Discussions about the safety and risks involved in having sex with a condom, mutual masturbation, French kissing, oral sex, and anal sex.
Resources like Go Ask Alice, which covers sex positions, sadomasochistic sex play, fetishes, bestiality, and more.

The Department of Education claims the curriculum enforces that abstinence is the best option for avoiding teen pregnancy and STDs, but parents are upset that it may go into too many sexy details for preteens and teens. The question is, would it be more preferable for kids to learn about safe sex practices in a healthy, school environment than the possible misinformation they'd receive from their peers and TV? How much is too much?