Links and Resources

Netpartner.cim.edu - NetPartner is CIM’s online financial aid system. Students must be an active applicant for admission to CIM or be a current CIM student to have a NetPartner account. This system is active for the 08-09 academic year only. Applicants and students can log on to view their student specific items for their aid file and see the receipt status of each.

www.fafsa.ed.gov online FAFSA form (only for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens). The CIM FAFSA school code is 003031.

www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp Dept. of Education PIN Registration (needed to file your FAFSA electronically, sign an online promissory note, or to view your loan history at NSLDS)

www.nslds.ed.gov NSLDS (National Student Loan Data System) this site allows you to view your complete federal loan and Pell grant history

www.finaid.org//calculators/finaidestimate.phtml EFC calculator

www.ed.gov/index.jhtml US Department of Education

www.finaid.org/loans/scripts/interest.cgi Direct Loan Interest Rates

www.regents.state.oh.us/students_parents.htm Ohio grant aid - site for student and parents

http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SEA Link to all states higher education offices/websites. See if your state offers grants for study at CIM!

www.campuspartners.com Campus Partners (formerly AMS) - Services Perkins and CIM Loans

www.dlssonline.com Direct Loan Servicing Center

www.dlssonline.com Direct Loan entrance and exit counseling

studentaid.ed.gov Overview of financial aid

www.finaid.org Overview of financial aid

www.students.gov Overview of financial aid

studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html The Student Guide - comprehensive booklet about student financial aid.

studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/aideligibility.jsp?tab=funding Explains Financial Aid Eligibility, Cost of Attendance, and Special Circumstances

mapping-your-future.org Overview of all financial aid - good link for student and parents

www.gibill.va.gov Veterans Educational Benefits

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/misused/index.html Protect yourself against identity theft.

dlenote.ed.gov/empn/mpnwizard.jsp Online Direct Loan Master Promissory Notes (for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Direct Loans, PLUS Loans)

www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov/borrower/borrower.shtml Direct Loan Consolidations

Loan Consolidation - A Smart Choice for In-School and Graduating Borrowers - downloadable brochure from Direct Loans

www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

www.cwru.edu/provost/registrar/calendars/5year.html CIM/CASE 5 year calendar

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2006_2007/sources.html EFC calculation worksheets and tables.

www.irs.gov/individuals/students/ IRS Tax Information for Students.

www.xe.com/ucc/ Currency Conversion Calculator.

www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/pubs/entrcounselguide.pdf Direct Loan Borrowers Entrance Counseling Guide - to complete Entrance Counseling (this is not the interactive online version, which is preferred to this) - print out last page and give to CIM Financial Aid Office to confirm you have completed the Counseling and understand your Rights and Responsibilities.

nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/FinancialAid.asp?UNITID=202073 CIM Required public disclosure consumer information as reported to IPEDS/National Center for Education Statistics. Contains statistics on Enrollment, Awards/Degrees, Financial Aid, Graduation Rates, Admissions, Accreditation, and Campus Security.

College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps students and parents complete the universally required FAFSA financial aid application form. One day each year, traditionally a week or two after Super Bowl Sunday, qualified volunteers (including college financial aid administrators) fan out to selected community sites across a state to help families fill out the FAFSA. College Goal Sunday is currently offered in 18 states and the District of Columbia. To learn more, visit the College Goal Sunday Web site at http://www.CollegeGoalSundayUSA.org Web site.

Cash for College offers basic facts on the student aid programs and application procedures. Cash for College is updated as the programs change, usually once a year.

Parent and Student Guide to Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition and Fees provides guidance to help explain two tax credits offering federal income tax relief for college expenses--the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit--as well as available tax deductions for tuition and fees. Updated for Tax Year 2005!

Becoming Credit-Wise: What Students (and You!) Should Know is an article that was published in NASFAA's Student Aid Transcript magazine. While written for aid administrators, the article provides excellent guidance for students, who need to understand their student loans and manage their spending well. Understanding how credit works is an essential part of that, especially for students who must supplement their federal loans with private, credit-based loans.

Scholarship search tools:

• www.fastweb.com
• www.srnexpress.com
• www.collegenet.com
• www.college-scholarships.com
• www.theoldschool.org
• www.scholarships.com
• www.collegequest.com
• www.wiredscholar.com
• www.scholarshipamerica.org

ombudsman.ed.gov Office of the Ombudsman for dispute resolution regarding federal student loans

Financial Aid Resources for International Students:

• eduPASS gives guidance to international students who wish to pursue a postsecondary education in the United States.
• www.internationalstudent.com - a variety of resources for international students
• www.globalslc.com - provides loans to international students
• www.internationalstudentloan.com/intl_student/ - loans require US cosigner
• www.edupass.org General international student information site
• studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/intl.jsp International student information site from US Dept. of Education.
• www.internationalscholarships.com

For Parents and Students from the U.S. Department of Education

• An E-Mail Hoax is circulating with false statements regarding graduation requirements and the No Child Left Behind Act, the Department of Education announced. The bogus e-mails discuss the "Certificate of Completion" and potential problems with it, and include false statements regarding the ability to receive federal loans.
• The Student Guide is a comprehensive resource on federal student financial aid.
• FSA Student Aid on the Web Home Page offers help for every stage of the financial aid process, whether you're in school or out of school.
• FAFSA on the Web is the means by which you apply for federal student financial aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is also required by many colleges if you want to be eligible for aid offered by the college. You can complete the FAFSA on-line or file a paper copy. A pre-application worksheet is available to help you organize your information before completing the FAFSA. A FAFSA "Tip Card" can be printed out and attached to your computer, providing a handy guide to the steps necessary to complete the FAFSA. You can perform a Federal School Code Search to obtain the school codes required on the FAFSA.
• Repaying Your Student Loans explains available repayment options so you can successfully repay your debt. It also tells what steps to take so you won't get behind in payments or go into default.
• Department of Education Provides Details on Financial Aid Scam
• Direct Loans: Financial Aid to Students discusses applying for federal Direct Loans, options for repayment, use of interactive calculators, downloading Direct loan deferment and forbearance forms, information about Direct Consolidation loans, and using FAFSA on the Web. Among the information and tools available on-line from the Department of Education are interactive calculators, the Direct Consolidation Loan application page, and Options for Postponing Repayment to avoid defaulting on a Direct Loan. Direct Loan Servicing helps you manage your federal Direct Loans on-line.
• The PIN (Personal Identification Number) Web Site. serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. At this site you can learn about the PIN, apply for a PIN and request a duplicate PIN if yours is lost or stolen.

Saving for College

• NASFAA's State Savings Plan Summary Chart provides basic information on state prepaid tuition plan and "529" savings plans, including links to the official state sites for each plan.
• College Savings Plan Network provides additional details on state savings plans. The College Savings Plans Network is an affiliate of the National Association of State Treasurers. As the financial aid process has become more complex, there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals and organizations offering professional financial aid services to students and their families. As a wise consumer, you should exercise caution to avoid being taken advantage of and be sure you fully understand the services that are offered.
• Guidance on Financial Aid Consultants and Search Services NASFAA offers advice for students and families who are considering using a financial aid consultant or scholarship search service.
• $cholarship $cams The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers guidance on recognizing and avoiding scholarship scams.
• College Readiness for All from the Pathways to College Network is a toolbox to help school and college outreach practitioners increase college preparation and access for all students. Any practitioner responsible for student achievement and college preparation can and should use the toolbox, including school leaders, high school counselors, outreach program professionals, and teachers. School district administrators, postsecondary administrators, and community leaders may also find the information in the toolbox helpful as they work with people at the school level.
• The College Track: America's Sorting Machine is a 3-part public television series that shakes up conventional notions about who is "college material." The series, which was broadcast on public television, explores America's commitment to equal access to higher education through the stories of students struggling to become the first in their families to attend college.

Debt Management Websites

Access Group (www.accessgroup.org/Student-Loans/learn-about-loans/importance-of-good-credit.htm) General student loan debt management information

National Foundation of Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org) List of Consumer Credit Counseling Service offices, which provide counseling on credit, debt management, and budgeting at no cost or for a reasonable fee.

Nellie Mae (www.nelliemae.com/calculators/) Award letter comparisons, budget worksheets, capitalized interest, prepayment savings, and loan repayment plans

US Department of Education (studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/repaying_loans/2003_2004/english/index.htm) An overview of federal student loan repayment terminology and requirements

USA Funds (www.usafunds.org/financial_aid/debt_management/index.html) Loan repayment calculator, loan consolidation calculator, general debt management information

Free Credit Reports
A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide consumers, including students and parent borrowers, with a free copy of their credit report, at their request, once every 12 months, from https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp or by calling 1-877-322-8228. AnnualCreditReport.com is a centralized service for consumers to request annual credit reports. It was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Links to each of these three companies may be accessed via AnnualCreditReport.com. Monitoring and periodically reviewing your credit report is an effective tool in fighting identity theft.