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Despite the hefty sticker price associated with all Ivy League institutions, estimated yearly costs are actually quite affordable. In fact, Ivy Leaguers graduate with less debt than their peers who attended less prestigious schools. How? Turns out healthy endowment funds play a huge role in aiding low-income, middle-income and even upper-income students with tuition costs. Score!

According to statistics from U.S. News & World Report, many of the best colleges in the county are relative steals for the lucky few who earn admission. For example, Princeton University students graduate with about $5,096 of debt for all four years – the lowest sum for alumni leaving a national university with debt. Amy Laitinen, a former White House education adviser now at the New America Foundation, said, "Folks look at the sticker price and assume that's what everyone is paying. The truth is that the more elite schools have more resources."

But with acceptance rates hovering at less than 10 percent, gaining access to those Ivy League dollars is fiercely competitive. Do you think it’s fair for students who don’t meet the Ivies’ steep admissions standards to be saddled with crippling debt or should the few that do be rewarded with an affordable, brand name education? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

With so much riding on whether or not you get in, applying for college can cause even the most confident students some serious anxiety. And with so many factors to consider like high school rankings, SAT/ACT scores, GPAs and community service hours, it’s important to understand that more often than not, colleges are also factoring in a student’s ability to pay...even when they say they’re not. Insert outrage here.

Just last Friday, George Washington University’s website claimed to evaluate applicants without considering their financial need (also known as a need-blind admissions approach) but now they’re clarifying that policy: It now reads that while applications are first reviewed without consideration of need, “at the point of finalizing admissions decisions, we must balance a student’s financial resources with the university’s aid budget. This practice of being need-aware allows us to meet as much need of as many students as possible.” Why the sudden transparency, GWU? Turns out that the school’s new senior associate provost for enrollment management’s recent interview with The GW Hatchet revealed that she characterized the university’s policy as need-aware as opposed to need-blind. The problem? By being need-aware for years and suggesting otherwise, the university appears to not only have violated the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admission Counseling but encouraged low-income students to apply (and pay a hefty application fee!) on the false pretense that the university was need-blind. (For more on this story, click here.)

The ability to pay for college has long been a major factor when it comes to gaining admission but to blatantly advertise otherwise is undeniably uncool. What do you think of GWU’s current predicament? Should the university face serious repercussions? Let us know in the comments section.

Established in 1987, the National Peace Essay Contest is an annual contest open to high school students that provides the opportunity to do valuable research, writing and thinking on a topic of importance to international peace and conflict resolution. This year’s topic is Security Sector Reform, Political Transition and Sustainable Peace. To participate, students are asked to answer the question: Transitioning to peace and democratic governance raises challenging questions about how to handle security forces. What do you do with a police force that has been trained to serve a repressive government and protect the status quo? What do you do with an army that has been fighting in a civil war? What do you do with rebel forces that may know how to fight but know very little about civilian life?

For more information on this scholarship and other scholarship opportunities, conduct a free scholarship search today!

Sure, we’ve discussed the skyrocketing cost of college tuition on a daily basis and considering every other add-on you’ll have to endure when it comes to paying for college – room and board, books and supplies – having to pay an outrageous application fee is downright cruel.

According to the U.S. News & World Report, the average application fee to apply to colleges is $38.39, which is a steal compared to the fees charged by the institutions listed below. At the top 28 schools with the highest application costs, the average application fee is $77! Check out the list below and share your thoughts. Let us know if these hefty fees will ultimately decide where you’ll apply.

• Stanford University $90
• Boston University $80
• Columbia University $80
• Dartmouth College $80
• North Carolina State University at Raleigh $80
• University of Southern California - $80
• Villanova University - $80
• Brandeis University $75
• Brown University $75
• California Institute of Technology $75
• College of New Jersey $75
• Cornell University $75
• Duke University $75
• George Washington University $75
• Harvard University $75
• Kean University $75
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology $75
• Northeastern University $75
• Rice University $75
• Texas A&M University – College Station $75
• University of Chicago $75
• University of Delaware $75
• University of Massachusetts – Amherst $75
• University of Notre Dame $75
• University of Pennsylvania $75

It’s that time of year: admission decision time. Those daunting, time-consuming and incredibly necessary applications that you sent off months ago have yet to result in anything concrete and you – like many high school seniors across the country – are now playing the waiting game. The process is now, for all intents and purposes, out of your control. (I found myself in this situation when I applied for college and have recently returned to the game as I wait to hear from potential employers.) Worried? Don’t sweat it. Here’s what to do while you wait:

• Keep those grades up. This goes out to you high school seniors: There is a myth that once you’re in, you’re in for good...and it’s simply not true. You get the fat envelope because the school wants you there and thinks you will bring a good work ethic and dedication to campus. Slacking off will only prove them wrong and could cause them to rescind your acceptance. Senioritis is tough (trust me, it occurs as a senior in college as well!) but your hard work will pay off.
• Continue applying for scholarships. Every little bit helps when funding your education so if you find an award for which you qualify, apply! Also, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships in college – there are lots of awards out there for undergraduate and even graduate students!
• Weigh your options. Once you get in, don’t instantly say yes – do your research! Look into the college culture, the activities, the campus, the surrounding city, the class size, etc. I’m sure you’ve done the majority of this research before applying but keep at it until you are 100-percent sure the school is the place you want to live, study and socialize; if it’s not, you still have time to consider your other choices.

Mike Sheffey is a senior at Wofford College double majoring in computer science and Spanish. He loves all things music and has recently taken up photography. Mike works for an on-campus sports broadcasting company as well as the music news blog PropertyOfZack.com. He hopes to use this blogging position to inform and assist others who are seeking the right college or those currently enrolled in college by providing advice on college life, both in general and specific to Wofford.

As we mentioned last month, financial aid application deadlines are fast approaching for the coming fall.  While students technically have until June 30, 2010 to complete a FAFSA on the Web for the 2009-2010 school year, state aid deadlines happen much sooner with some occurring as early as February--this February.  So if you're waiting to do your taxes first or just generally procrastinating on your application, check the deadlines below to make sure you don't miss out on state or campus-based aid programs. 

 
• Alabama:   Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Alaska:  April 15, 2009
 
• American Samoa:  Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Arizona:  March 1, 2009
 
• Arkansas: 
   
  • For Academic Challenge - June 1, 2009
   
  • For Workforce Grant - check with your financial aid administrator
   
  • For Higher Education Opportunity Grant - June 1, 2009 (fall term); November 1, 2009 (spring term)
   
   
 
• California: 
   
  • For initial awards - March 2, 2009
   
  • For additional community college awards - September 2, 2009 - date postmarked (additional forms may be required)
   
   
 
• Colorado: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Connecticut: Priority deadline February 15, 2009 (additional forms may be required)
 
• Delaware: April 15, 2009
 
• District of Columbia: June 30, 2009 (additional forms may be required)
 
• Federated States of Micronesia: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Florida: May 15, 2009 - date processed
 
• Georgia: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Guam: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Hawaii: Check with you financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Idaho:  Opportunity Grant - Priority deadline March 1, 2009 (additional forms may be required)
 
• Illinois: 
   
  • First-time applicants - September 30, 2009
   
  • Continuing applicants - Priority deadline August 15, 2009
   
   
 
• Indiana: March 10, 2009
 
• Iowa: July 1, 2009
 
• Kansas: Priority deadline April 1, 2009 (additional forms may be required)
 
• Kentucky: Priority deadline March 15, 2009
 
• Louisiana: July 1, 2009
 
• Maine: May 1, 2009
 
• Marshall Islands: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Maryland: March 1, 2009
 
• Massachusetts: Priority deadline May 1, 2009
 
• Michigan: March 1, 2009
 
• Minnesota: 30 days after term starts
 
• Mississippi: 
   
  • MTAG and MESG Grants - September 15, 2009
   
  • HELP Scholarship - March 31, 2009
   
   
 
• Missouri: April 1, 2009
 
• Montana: Priority deadline March 1, 2009
 
• Nebraska: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Nevada: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• New Hampshire: May 1, 2009
 
• New Jersey: 
   
  • June 1, 2009 if you received a Tuition Aid Grant in 2008-2009
   
  • All other applications - October 1, 2009, for fall and spring terms;
   
  • March 1, 2010, for spring term only
   
   
 
• New Mexico: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• New York: May 1, 2010 (additional forms may be required)
 
• North Carolina: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• North Dakota: March 15, 2009
 
• Northern Mariana Islands: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Ohio: October 1, 2009
 
• Oklahoma: Priority deadline April 15, 2009 for best consideration
 
• Oregon: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Palau: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Pennsylvania: 
   
  • All 2008-2009 State Grant recipients and all non-2008-2009 State Grant recipients in degree programs - May 1, 2009
   
  • All other applicants - August 1, 2009 (additional forms may be required)
   
   
 
• Puerto Rico: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Rhode Island: Priority deadline March 1, 2009
 
• South Carolina: Tuition Grants - June 30, 2009
 
• South Dakota: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Tennessee: 
   
  • For State Grant - Priority deadline March 1, 2009
   
  • For State Lottery - September 1, 2009
   
   
 
• Texas: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• U.S. Virgin Islands: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Utah: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Vermont: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Virginia: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 
• Washington: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• West Virginia: Priority deadline March 1, 2009 (additional forms may be required)
 
• Wisconsin: Check with your financial aid administrator
 
• Wyoming: Check with your financial aid administrator (additional forms may be required)
 

By now you've probably been told at least once to be careful what information you put online.  A survey conducted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling serves as a reminder of just how many people might be viewing your online presence, and just how high the stakes can be.

According to results published in Inside Higher Education, 26 percent of colleges admit to running students' names through search engines, while 21 percent use social networking sites, such as Facebook.  While this is far from everyone, it's still a significant portion of schools, and if you apply to even four or five, there's a chance that at least one of those schools has a policy of checking up on at least some prospective students.

This doesn't mean you need to agonize over the psychological implications of every single status update, though.  Schools that report viewing students' online profiles do so primarily in the context of reviewing candidates for prestigious scholarship awards or highly competitive degree programs, mostly to make sure nothing potentially embarrassing to the program surfaces when your name is announced.  Setting debates over privacy and potential discrimination aside for a moment, this information should give you an idea of what you should and should not post, and why.

If you're applying for scholarships or your college search is skewing towards the prestigious and highly competitive, you may want to have a chat with your friends about any incriminating photos they've tagged you in.  Similarly, you may want to avoid publishing any highly offensive or objectionable content on anything that appears high in a list of search results for your name.  All of this is good practice for life, since admission officers are hardly the only people who may think to look into your online life before offering you something you want.  Scholarship providers, internship programs, and future employers may all check out this information.

So before starting your scholarship search or writing your college application essays, do a search for your name and see what comes up.  If it's something that may embarrass you or hurt your chances of winning scholarships or gaining admission to your dream school, consider deleting it.  Maintaining a professional image online is going to benefit you in both the short and long term.

For most college and high school students, summer is either here or right around the corner.  Summer vacation typically brings with it an increased amount of free time, especially since finding a part-time job has gotten increasingly tough in this economy.  While it's nice to enjoy a break from studies, enterprising students can still find ways to make the most of their summer, even if they aren't employed.  Beyond working or landing a summer internship, summer is also an ideal time to search for scholarships, build your résumé and strengthen your scholarship applications.

Though many deadlines have already passed, some scholarship opportunities are still available for fall 2009 (including the Scholarships.com Resolve to Evolve Essay Scholarship).  However, the majority of scholarship contests are annual affairs, meaning that even if you missed a deadline this time around, you may still be eligible to apply next year.  This is especially true for rising high school juniors and seniors.  For most students, their junior and senior years of high school will be their busiest, as classes get more challenging and the college and scholarship application processes begin.  So if you're going into your junior or senior year of high school, why not get a jump start on scholarships now?

Do a free college scholarship search and make note of the awards for which you'll qualify next year.  Some scholarships may be right up your alley, but might require extensive reading, writing, research or labor that you may not have time for during the academic year.  Others may be looking for substantial volunteer and leadership experience, and summer is a great time to get involved or more involved in activities that will help you really shine in those categories.  This advice also applies to current and incoming college students. There are enough scholarship opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds that regardless of your circumstances, it's a good idea to clear some time in your summer schedule to begin searching and applying.

As we mentioned yesterday, the 2008-2009 school year is winding down, and people are preparing to flip over to a new academic calendar and a new college application cycle.  However, that doesn't mean that students still seeking admission or financial aid for 2009-2010 are completely out of luck.  There are still colleges and scholarships accepting applications right now.  In fact, there are some substantial scholarship awards that you can still win this summer, and to prove it, we're listing a few of them below.  To learn more about these awards and others with upcoming deadlines, you can do a free college scholarship search on Scholarships.com.

HANDS Essay Contest

Hands Along the Nile is accepting applications until July 4 for its $5,000 scholarship essay contest. To apply, students are asked to compose an essay of no more than 2,500 words in response to the question, "How is community development in the Middle East important to the U.S.? Why is it particularly crucial to focus on Egypt?" This scholarship is open to high school seniors and full-time undergraduate and graduate students at colleges in the United States.

Blade Your Ride Scholarship Program

Through June 30, current undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about the environment are invited to create a video webcast for a chance to win up to $9,000 towards their college education.  Videos should focus on the global climate crisis and creativity is encouraged.  Applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA and must be attending college in the United States, but citizenship is not required.

SPENDonLIFE Credit Challenged Scholarship

High school and college students who have been declined for student loans due to the credit crunch have until June 15 to apply for a scholarship of up to $5,000 to help cover their college costs.  To apply, students are asked to write a 500-word essay describing the impact of the economic downturn on their lives. This contest is open to U.S. residents between the ages of 17 and 25.

The Calm-a-Sutra of Tea $15,000 Scholarship Competition

The Tea Council of the USA is looking for videos about the health benefits of tea, and you have until August 2 to create one.  Applicants ages 16 and older who are legal residents of the United States or Puerto Rico are invited to upload a video about tea to YouTube, then share the link with the Tea Council.  One winner will receive a $15,000 college scholarship.

Scholarships.com College Scholarships

Scholarships.com is also accepting applications for three of our scholarship awards.  For a chance to win $1,000, you can apply for the Resolve to Evolve Essay contest, the College Culinary Arts Scholarship, or the College Design Scholarship.  Other Scholarships.com college scholarships are available throughout the year, as well.

Want to get into college but don't have the best grades?  Consider making friends with some prominent politicians, then apply in Illinois.

Earlier this month, The Chicago Tribune revealed the existence of a special admissions list at the University of Illinois main campus that consisted of politically connected applicants.  Now, records from University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University have been subpoenaed in the ongoing federal investigation of corruption charges against former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Investigators want to determine whether Blagojevich recommended candidates for admission into state colleges in exchange for money or favors.

While going for the wow factor of a big name is an understandable strategy when it comes to letters of recommendation, it looks like more may have been going on with some applications in Illinois. There are concerns that some well-connected applicants received extreme advantages in admissions, in some cases getting in seemingly solely based on who they knew, even over the objections of the admissions officials reviewing their college applications.  The University of Illinois has suspended its special admission list and claimed to have not followed practices out of line with what other colleges do in considering applications.

The practice of relying on political connections in the college application process is not unique to Illinois, but in light of recent scandals in the state, it is garnering a lot of attention.  Using clout to get into college is still a  highly contentious practice in any case, whether the applicant is connected to university officials or state government figures.  Hopefully, this scandal will influence colleges to think twice before overlooking merit in favor of connections in future admissions decisions.