Education

Help For College-Bound Students

Posted: 6/21/2010

(NAPSI)-Students and families starting the college search process have a place to turn to make the process a bit easier. A new guide for families helps simplify the process of getting college-bound students admitted to college.

The Alliance for Affordable Services produces the guide and sponsors a scholarship program to help make these tasks more manageable. The College Preparation Handbook, available free online at AffordableServices.org/college, shows students and their parents how to prepare for college during high school, choose the right college and navigate the admissions process.

It also offers assistance for finding loans, grants and scholarships to help pay the ever-increasing costs of a higher education. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the average cost of tuition and room and board for in-state students at a four-year public college for the entire academic year is more than $15,000.

"The Alliance for Affordable Services understands that the cost of college weighs heavily on hardworking Americans," says Paul Pevsner, M.D., president of the association. "That's why we make this handbook available to all college-bound students."

The College Preparation Handbook can help any student planning to attend a four-year university, community college or vocational/trade school. Filled with tips and checklists that guide students through the college search, admissions and financial aid process, it also provides links to websites, organizations and government agencies that offer more information and assistance.

The handbook complements the Alliance Scholarship Program, which is open to eligible 16- to 28-year-old dependents of Alliance members, and presents $2,000 to first-time recipients who are pursuing undergraduate degrees. Renewable scholarships of $1,000 per year are available for up to three consecutive years to scholarship recipients who maintain a 3.5 grade point average.

Since the program's inception in 1996, more than $1.4 million has been awarded; in 2009, the Alliance awarded $288,000 in scholarships to 201 college-bound students across the nation. The annual application deadline is June 15.

The Alliance for Affordable Services is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping its members live better and save more. The Alliance leverages the strength in numbers to negotiate significant savings on a variety of business, lifestyle and health care benefits for its 90,000 members.

Benefit availability is dependent upon membership level, package option and member's state of residence, and may be subject to change.

For more information, visit www.AffordableServices.org or call Alliance Member Services at (800) 733-2242.

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