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EP#52: Scholarships Made Easy: LCCC’s Scholarship App Explained by Financial Aid Pro Sarah Nau.

No Loan Zone
No Loan Zone
EP#52: Scholarships Made Easy: LCCC's Scholarship App Explained by Financial Aid Pro Sarah Nau.
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Summary:

College decisions stressing you out? Don’t let college costs hold you back! In our latest No Loan Zone episode, we explore tips to cut the cost of college by applying for scholarships the easy way. Our guest, Sarah Nau, shares insider info on the LCCC scholarship app! Find out how you can increase your chances of getting free money for college.

Timestamps:

Financial Aid Tips for Students and Parents: “Complete the FASFA. Free application for federal student aid should be the first thing that you’re doing.”— Sarah Nau 01:39-01:44

“Financial Aid Eligibility: they don’t look at just the income. There are quite a few other areas that they look at and goes into the calculation to determine that eligibility, and you don’t know unless you try it. So take a few minutes, get it filled out, and take a chance.” — Sarah Nau 02:44-02:58

Financial Aid Tips: “The most important thing is just to read each question thoroughly before you answer it.”— Sarah Nau 03:10-04:15

“My Scholarships app: The really cool thing about the My Scholarships app is that some of the scholarships are so easy to fill out that once you have that common profile done, all you need to do is pull up the application. Let’s just say it’s the Sarah Now music scholarship, and you wanna apply for that. It may be as simple as pulling up the application, and then all you need to do is sign and date it.”— Sarah Nau 04:25-06:29

“Scholarship Opportunities: Fill out as many as you qualify for. Give yourself more chances than less.”— Sarah Nau 07:09-07:12

3 key takeaways:

1️⃣ Scholarships Are a Game Changer: College can be expensive, but there are ways to cut down on the costs. Filling out the FAFSA form and applying for scholarships can make a significant impact on your financial burden.

2️⃣ Take a Chance, Apply Anyway: Don’t be discouraged from applying for scholarships just because you think you might not qualify. Many scholarships have different preferences and criteria, and you might still be eligible if you meet most of them.

3️⃣ Expert Guidance and Resources: If you need help navigating the maze of career choices or financial aid, the “No Loan Zone” podcast has you covered. Janet Maltbie, a career counselor with years of experience, shares valuable testing and career guidance services to help students gain clarity and confidence. Check out lifeworkcareerservices.com for more information.

Get Started with the LCCC Scholarship App

Connect with Janet Maltbie:

EP#51: Costly Legal Missteps to Avoid When Sending Children Off to College.

No Loan Zone
No Loan Zone
EP#51: Costly Legal Missteps to Avoid When Sending Children Off to College.
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Summary:

In this episode of the No Loan Zone podcast, host, Janet Maltbie explores the legal missteps that parents often encounter when sending their kids off to college, and the importance of having the right legal documents in place. She is joined by guest Matt Hallett, an attorney specializing in family protection planning, trusts, probate, and wealth preservation.

Timestamps:

“Even though their parent may be financially providing for them to go to college, the child has legal rights that may supersede the rights of their parent.”
— Matt Hallett [00:01:39 → 00:02:14]

“Unless your child elects with the university to give you access to their financial information at the school, through the school’s bursar, you don’t have access to it because that is their financial information – that’s even if you are a co signer on a loan. You cannot communicate directly with the bursar because you are not the student and they’re an adult. And that is their financial information. There are laws that protect them.”
— Matt Hallett [00:02:17 → 00:02:53]

“Generally speaking, most colleges will provide some type of mechanism to allow you to get that access, because the colleges do know that it’s important that parents are involved.”
— Matt Hallett [00:03:01 → 00:03:28]

“Being able to participate, not control, but participate in their college experience is necessary. Therefore, it is not unwise to be able to connect financially your accounts with your child, because you may need, or they may need you to financially be able to connect to them.”
— Matt Hallett [00:05:53 → 00:07:14]

3 key takeaways:


1️⃣ Legal documents are crucial: Many college students may not realize the importance of allowing their parents access to their college information. However, there are legal documents, such as financial power of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and healthcare power of attorney that grant parents the necessary authority to access and assist with financial and medical matters, ensuring peace of mind for both parties.


2️⃣ Communication and trust: It’s crucial for parents and students to have open conversations and establish trust before college. Building this foundation can help avoid potential problems and navigate issues that may arise throughout the college experience. Parents who provide financial support often want to have access to certain information so that they can assist if an unfortunate event arises but students must work with the college to grant this permission. 


3️⃣ Seek professional advice: Planning ahead and meeting with an attorney specializing in family law is highly recommended. They can guide parents and students in understanding their legal rights, addressing potential issues, and ensuring that the right legal documents are in place to protect everyone involved.

Connect with Matt Hallett

EP#50: Advice from a College Freshman…What Made My Year Successful.

No Loan Zone
No Loan Zone
EP#50: Advice from a College Freshman…What Made My Year Successful.
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Summary:

Are you a high school student planning to attend college in the fall? In the latest episode of the No Loan Zone podcast, host Janet Maltbie interviews Faith Talmage, a fashion merchandising major at Kent State University, on navigating freshman year!

3 Key Takeaways:

CREATE YOUR OWN SPACE: If you’re living with a roommate, you may struggle to find alone time. Faith shared how she used the space under her bed to create a personal spot, which she called her ‘cave.’

GET INVOLVED: Faith didn’t expect to join as many clubs as she did in college. However, attending a club fair and signing up for various clubs opened up new avenues for her. She even joined a club focused on fashion.

PLAN AHEAD: Faith knew what field she wanted to study in, and she took specific classes to prepare for her career in fashion merchandising. Taking entry-level classes that could be taken remotely gave her a head start.

Remember, college is expensive, and students should make sure it’s the right choice for them. The No Loan Zone podcast is committed to helping students complete a degree debt-free and Janet Maltbie provides career guidance to help students find the right fit through www.lifeworkcareerservices.com

EP#49: The Burden of College Loans: One Woman’s Story

No Loan Zone
No Loan Zone
EP#49: The Burden of College Loans: One Woman's Story
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On this episode of No Loan Zone, host Janet Maltbie brings on guest Kristyn Poltis to discuss the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on student loan forgiveness. Kristyn shares her own experience of taking out a student loan without fully understanding the impact it would have on her future. The discussion also covers strategies for making college more affordable, including choosing a lower-cost school or attending a career exploration boot camp. Listeners can learn more about the boot camp and other resources for debt-free degree completion by going to http://www.lifeworkcareerservices.com

EP#48: Beyond the Classroom: Top Books Every College Student Should Read.

No Loan Zone
No Loan Zone
EP#48: Beyond the Classroom: Top Books Every College Student Should Read.
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Summary:

What books would you recommend college students read? In this episode, Krista O’Neill, nationally honored Lorain County Community College advisor and Guided Pathways coach for the Success Center for Ohio Community Colleges talks with podcast host, Janet Maltbie about high impact books that help college students succeed. 

Check out these top book recommendations from your local library:

Krista’s Favorites:

  • Poems by E.E. Cummings and Walt Whitman
  • Educated by Tara Westover
  • The Book of Joy by the Dalai lama and Desmond Tutu
  • What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles

Janet’s Favorites: Top 10 Ebook 

  • The Holy Bible 
  • How to Find Your Mission in Life by Richard Bolles
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
  • Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte 
  • The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo
  • The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield 
  • What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles
  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Highlights:

In this episode, Krista O’Neill shares her love for reading and how it can help students succeed outside the classroom. As an English major who loves poetry, O’Neill suggests that if someone has a short amount of time, they should read a poem because it can be impactful in a short period of time. 

She also recommends the book “Educated” by Tara Westover, which emphasizes how privileged college students are to have the opportunity to learn and gain an education compared to people in other parts of the world. 

She also discusses, “The Book of Joy” by the Dalai lama and Desmond Tutu as exemplars of empathy. She suggests the book encourages people to see the world from different points of view. 

Finally, O’Neill likes, “What Color is Your Parachute?” by Richard Bolles, which helps students reflect on what they want out of a job and what is a good fit for them, considering factors like work values, skill set, and interests.

O’Neill advises students to always be learning, trying new things, and pushing themselves. She believes in continually improving skills by staying updated, attending webinars, and reading. 

The podcast concludes by mentioning the top 10 book recommendations developed by podcast host, Janet Maltbie. Maltbie also encouraging students to seek out resources and support by enrolling in her online career exploration class, SDEV 103 Career Exploration and Life Planning through Lorain County Community College. 

About Krista O’Neill:

Krista O’Neill has advised students for over 37 years at Lorain County Community College. In 1995, Krista was  honored by the National Academic Advising Association as one of thirteen Outstanding Advisors nationally. In addition to her role at LCCC, Krista serves as a Guided Pathways coach for the Success Center for Ohio Community Colleges. 

Connect with Krista O’Neill:

About the Podcast Host, Janet Maltbie:

Janet is a professional career counselor in the state of Ohio with over 20 years experience helping students and people in transition make wise career choices. Her work has involved guiding students in the career and college planning process as an academic counselor at Lorain County Community College. 

After 13 years at LCCC, Janet transitioned to an adjunct faculty position, exclusively teaching a Career Exploration and Life Planning class and meeting with clients individually while pursuing her work as the founder and host of the No Loan Zone podcast. 

Connect with Janet Maltbie: