College Awareness And
Preparation (CAP) Committee
The college admission and financial aid process can be
overwhelming. That’s why IDAPP is a sponsor of Illinois’ College Awareness and Preparation (CAP) committee. The CAP committee is made up of financial aid officers, college admission representatives, high school guidance counselors, ISAC staff, and hundreds of community volunteers. Together, the group works to organize and promote events that provide the people of Illinois with practical, timely and accurate information on finding, applying and paying for college. A major focus of the committee is improving student, family, and community awareness of the wide range of college financial aid opportunities that are available.
IllinoisMentor
IllinoisMentor is an interactive tool where students can explore careers, research and choose a college, apply for admission, and request their transcript be sent electronically to the college(s) of their choice. Through the  sponsorship of ISAC and IDAPP, these services are available to all Illinois high school and college students absolutely free.
“Our outreach mission is to ensure that all Illinois students are aware of trusted resources that help them plan, find, apply, and pay for college,” said Claude Walker, Director of State Relations for ISAC. “IllinoisMentor can be a big help for students as they prepare for college.” To learn more, click here.
9th Annual College Illinois! Enrollment Period Opens October 23
College Illinois!, the state’s 529 prepaid tuition program, opens its ninth annual general enrollment period on Monday, October 23. College Illinois! allows you to lock in the cost of tuition and fees now, protecting you from future tuition inflation. Your plan is not affected by stock market volatility. It’s extremely secure and backed by the  state of Illinois.
This year, the program will stay open three weeks longer than previous enrollment periods. Those interested in the peace of mind that owning a College Illinois! plan provides can purchase a contract through April 23, 2007. College Illinois! is truly the worry free way to pay for college. For more information, click here.
IDAPP gradplus Loan
As of July 1, 2006, Graduate and Professional students are  now eligible to borrow through the Federal PLUS Loan Program. This new loan available through IDAPP is called a gradplus loan. It allows students to fill the financial gap between the cost of education and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Stafford limits. Unlike Stafford loans, gradplus loans do not have a maximum loan limit. The borrower can borrow up to the cost of education, minus any other student aid. If you’re a graduate or professional student, we encourage you to take advantage of this exciting new feature! Click here to learn more.
Consolidation Loans
People don’t like to wait. Be it at stoplights, in long lines at the store, and especially for their consolidation loans to be processed. Now, you can consolidate your loans in an extremely fast method online! With immediate responses and no waiting involved, it’s the quickest way to move along this important task. Don’t underestimate the benefit of having to only make one student loan payment. Plus, after 36 consecutive on-time monthly payments, you receive a 1 percent (1%) interest rate discount. An additional .25 percent (one quarter of one percent) interest rate discount is given for payment through the IDAPP Direct Debit Program.
We would like to remind you of two changes that the Federal Government made on July 1, 2006 regarding Federal Consolidation Loans. First, spouses can no longer combine their loans together as one. Second, the “in-school” consolidation will no longer be an option. Loans eligible to be consolidated must be in “Grace” or “Repayment” status. If you are interested in consolidating your loans, or finding out if consolidation is an option for you, simply click here to find out more information.
New interest rates
Effective July 1, 2006, the interest rates have changed on the Federal Stafford and Federal PLUS Loan Programs. The new fixed interest rate for Federal Stafford Loans guaranteed after July 1, 2006 is 6.8 percent (6.8%) and 8.5 percent (8.5%) for Federal PLUS Loans. Check out the Rate Zone for more details on interest rates and how this will impact your monthly payments. IDAPP has an outstanding borrower benefit program that will reduce the interest rate on your loan up to 2.25 percent (2.25%) through prompt payments and payments through your bank account. Check out the Borrower Benefits section at idapp.com.
Notice to Borrowers Who Do Not Plan to Borrow after July 1, 2006
If you do not plan to borrow a new Federal Stafford, Federal PLUS, or Federal Graduate PLUS Loan after July 1, 2006, please take the time to read the important notice posted online.
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Wireless Internet Hotspots
Doesn’t it seem like everybody has a laptop computer these days? Wireless Internet connections have become the norm and why not? With no need to “plug in” students can check their email messages from nearly anywhere. Some establishments charge a small fee for accessing their Wi-Fi, while others offer it as a complimentary service. Learn where you can access the wireless Web for free by checking out this list.
Internships
Landing a great internship might be the best way to
position yourself for that job you’ve been eyeballing once you graduate. Internships are instrumental in providing “real world” experience that can’t be learned in a classroom. It is pivotal to stay informed about what internships are available. Stay ahead of the pack by browsing through some great opportunities here.
How to ask for
a pay raise
Asking your boss for a pay raise isn’t an easy, everyday task. It is something for which you should be well researched and informed. Ensure you approach the meeting with your boss in a professional, courteous, yet assertive manner by reading through these tips provided by IDAPP.
Mac vs. PC
Before you purchase that new laptop, make sure you’re purchasing the right machine for your needs. See how they performed when tested here.
Higher educational “quick facts”
The Watterson Towers at Illinois State University are the tallest dormitories in the world. The 28-story complex, which was built in 1967, holds over 2,200 students.
Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, has the largest dormitory system in the United States. Approximately 16,000 students live within 23 different undergraduate buildings, one graduate hall, and three apartment villages. Freshman are required to live on the 45,000+ student campus for at least their
first year.
The largest dormitory building is Bancroft Hall at the United States Naval Academy. It has 1,700 rooms, five miles of
corridors and 33 acres of
floor space.
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