Author: Janet Maltbie

Janet Maltbie is a career counselor and adjunct professor at Lorain County Community College. Since 1985 she has helped students and people in transition decide on a college major and a career that is right for them. She is also the host of RadioWannabe on LCCCradio.com.
Podcast #57: A Beginners Guide to Transferring, Podcasts

EP#57: A Beginners Guide to Transferring using the University Partnership Program.

Janet Maltbie
Photo by Leon Wu on Unsplash
Brenda Hitchens discusses college transfer tips.

Transcript

Janet Maltbie discusses a beginners guide to transferring to a college or university using the University Partnership Program with Lorain County Community College (LCCC) Student Senate Representative,  Brenda Hitchens. 

Brenda holds an A.A. degree from LCCC and is currently working on her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology through the  University Partnership program with Cleveland State University and LCCC. 

Brenda joined the Student Senate because she wanted to help students  advocate for themselves and seek appropriate solutions to assist their way through college.

Brenda’s tips to transferring:

  1. Ask a lot of questions, especially financial aid questions. Financial aid does not last forever. Don’t waste it taking unnecessary classes.
  2. Make an appointment with your academic advisor. Make sure you are taking the right classes.
  3. If you plan on transferring to a 4 year college, know your major and have a plan. Meet with a transfer coordinator early so all your Community College classes transfer and fulfills your major requirements at the 4 year college or university. 

Reach out to the LCCC transfer center through Lorain County Community College by calling  440-366-4949. Brenda Hitchens can be reached directly through the Student Senate by calling 440-366-4036. 

Finally, if you’re unsure about your career direction, and want help on completing a degree debt free, Janet Maltbie can be reached at noloanzone.com/contact. She teaches a totally online career exploration class through LCCC called Career Exploration and Life Planning , SDEV 103.

Podcast #56: Avoid College Debt: Transfer, Podcasts

EP#56: Avoid College Debt: Transfer and Get Aid

Janet Maltbie
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash
Billie Sirn discusses college transfer tips.

Transcript

This week on the No Loan Zone Podcast we look at how to avoid college debt by transferring and getting aid. Today on our program my special guest is Billie Sirn. Billie is the Lorain County Community College Transfer Coordinator who helps students apply and transfer to 4 year colleges, professional and graduate schools. 

Ms Sirn has worked at a variety of colleges to include, Ashland University, Northeast Ohio Medical University and Miami University where she worked for 18 years as a Study Abroad Advisor for the Luxembourg Program, and a Financial Aid Advisor.

Tips on easing the transfer process:

  1. Start with the end in mind. Don’t assume your college credits will transfer.
  2. Reach out to your current college advisor, transfer coordinator.Tell them where and when you want to transfer.
  3. Obtain the requirements for the transfer school of your choice. Work with the transfer coordinator of that school as early as possible. 
  4. Don’t go it alone. 

My guest, Billie Sirn, can be reached through the Lorain County Community College Transfer Center at 440-366-4949 or by going to the LCCC Transfer Center website at: https://www.lorainccc.edu/admissions-and-enrollment/transfer-information/

Also, if you are unsure about your career direction and want help on completing a degree, debt free, you can reach me, Janet Maltbie, at noloanzone.com/contact. I meet with students and adults in transition so they can reach their career goals.  I also teach a totally online career exploration class through LCCC, called Career Exploration and Life Planning, SDEV 103. 

Podcast #55: The New LCCC Scholarship App, Podcasts

EP#55: The New LCCC Scholarship App

Janet Maltbie
Sarah Nau discussed the new LCCC Scholarship App.

Today we discuss ways of avoiding debt by using the new scholarship app through Lorain County Community College (LCCC) with Sarah Nau, Financial aid specialist of LCCC. 

Sarah Nau has over 27 years experience helping students and parents navigate the financial aid system by making the complicated application process easy to complete. One of her current projects is overseeing the new scholarship app at Lorain County Community College. 

Here is important information about using the app:  

  1. Click on this link to go the LCCC Scholarships app: https://myscholarships.lorainccc.edu/
  2. If you are a current student, use your LCCC email address and password to login.
  3. Not all scholarships require an essay!

If you are currently enrolled in college or are thinking about enrolling in the fall, I encourage you to take some time to seek out scholarship opportunities and look for ways to complete a degree, debt free. And if you are a Lorain County Community College student, I invite you to check out the new scholarship app on at myscholarships.lorainccc.edu. 

Finally, if you are unsure about your career direction and want help on completing a degree, debt free, you can reach me, Janet Maltbie, at noloanzone.com/contact. I meet with students and adults in transition so you can reach their career goals.  I also teach a totally online career exploration class through Lorain County Community College, called  Career Exploration and Life Planning, SDEV 103. 

Podcast #54: Biggest Financial Aid Miistakes, Podcasts

EP#54: The Biggest Financial Aid Mistakes Students Make

Janet Maltbie
Sarah Nau speaks on financial aid.

Paying for college can be expensive and frustrating. Many take out student loans while every year millions of dollars in scholarship money goes unawarded. 

Today we discuss ways of avoiding the biggest financial aid mistakes students make with Sarah Nau, Financial aid specialist of Lorain County Community College. 

Sarah Nau has over 27 years experience helping students and parents navigate the financial aid system by making the complicated application process easy to complete.

One of her current projects is overseeing the new scholarship app at Lorain County Community College. 

Here are ways to avoid making big financial aid mistakes:  

  1. Don’t assume you won’t get aid. Complete the FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
  2. Apply for scholarships even in the spring semester: Don’t assume it is too late.
  3. Update your contact information. Check your school’s email regularly.

If you are currently enrolled in college or are thinking about enrolling in the fall, I encourage you to take some time to seek out scholarship opportunities and look for ways to complete a degree, debt free.

And if you are a Lorain County Community College student, I invite you to check out the new scholarship app on at myscholarships.lorainccc.edu. 

Finally, if you are unsure about your career direction and want help on completing a degree, debt free, you can reach me, Janet Maltbie, at noloanzone.com/contact.

I meet with students and adults in transition so you can reach their career goals. 

I also teach a totally online career exploration class through Lorain County Community College, called  Career Exploration and Life Planning, SDEV 103. 

Podcast #53: Turbocharge your Career/College Experience, Podcasts

EP#53: Turbocharge Your Career/College Experience with an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Janet Maltbie
Neo Launch Net Rocket photo
Launch your business idea with Matt Poyle of Neo LaunchNet

Completing a degree during the Covid pandemic can be challenging and frustrating. This week we look at how to Turbo charge your career or college experience with an entrepreneurial mindset. With me today is my special guest, Matt Poyle. Matt is the Program Coordinator for Neo LaunchNet on the campus of Lorain County Community College. 

Matt holds a Masters degree in business administration, is a successful entrepreneur and has helped many students start their own business. He is also the author of two books: The Ultimate Memory Improvement Guide and the Entrepreneur’s Power.

When Matt works with a student he encourages them to:

  • See what’s possible everywhere and question everything. 
  • Ask, could this business be better? Could I be better at doing this? What is annoying me? Or, how could I make that less annoying? 
  • Becoming an intrapreneur, someone who works for someone else within their company and thinks about new ideas and is not afraid to try things out, fail and to pitch new ideas.

If you live on the Westside of Cleveland and would like more information on starting a business, Matt can reach at lccclaunch@lorainccc.edu.  The name of his book is called Entrepreneur’s Power and can be found on Amazon.com.  Finally, if you have questions or are unsure about your career direction,  your can reach me, Janet Maltbie at noloanzone.com/contact. I meet with students individually and I teach a totally online career exploration class through Lorain County Community College, called Career Exploration and Life Planning, SDEV 103.