Increase in tuition puts dent in students' pockets

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This puts the average fouryear college student at a disadvantage because lie or she only has access to $17.125. The government holds an additional $5,500 for the occasional fifthyear college student.

Bush's new plan would increase the amount of money available per year, but the overall federal loan would remain at $23,000.

PELL grants, undergraduate need-based funds that do not need to be paid back, and federal PLUS loans, unsubsidized fixedinterest loans issued to parents of college students, will also be available supplements, according to The Chronicle.

Critics have expressed disappointment in the plan, arguing that the lack of increased funding leaves low-income students unfunded despite the $33 million according to The Chronicle.

The Coalition for Better Student Loans is calling for a new ceiling of $30,000 to be set. The new limit would allocate $4,000 to first-year students and $6,000 to sophomores. Thirdand fourth-year students would have "flexible borrowing accounts," up to $ I 0,000 each year that they can borrow or leave, depending on their need, according to The Chronicle.

The National Association of tuaent 'Pinancial Aid Administrations proposed an allowance of $7.500 a year for four years, totaling $22,500. This is just one among thousands of lobbying groups who propose new plans to extend federal loan limits each year.

Raising the allowable limit on federal loans would come at a cost of S20 billion because the federal government is required to pay the interest on subsidized federal loans and the difference in the interest on loans with rates higher than 8.25 percent, according to The Chronicle, and with a deficit that will increase more than $475 billion this year alone, many are reluctant to increasespending.

Democratic presidential frontrunner John Kerry, D-Mass., proposes a plan of augmented federal assistance to middle-class families.

Tax credits, reimbursements for money paid, would be offered for amounts up to $4,000. The first $1,000 would be covered in its entirety, and half of everything up to $3,000 after that would be

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refunded on a year-to-year basis, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Kerry also endorses the "service for college" initiative, which rewards students who are committed to service, be it community or military-based, with college assistance. "For every young person who gives two years of service, America will pay the cost of four years of their state's college tuition," according to. Kerry's campaign website.

Private schools will qualify for assistance under Kerry's plan as well.

Funding for the added student aid would come from the elimination of the corporate loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying taxes as well as the repeal of the Bush tax cuts of 2001, according to The Chronicle.

With the possible rise offederal borrowing, there is a great fear that college tuition will dramatically rise nationwide, according to Mike Colahan, director of financial aid. "This college would be very resistant to that," Colahan said. "At Cabrini, people work hard to keep prices down. It would be inconsistent of this college to raise prices simply because another source did."

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skills and other aspects of a professional transformation.

"This event is great for any student, of any major," Hutchinson said. "It can benefit anyone who is making the change from student to professional. They will learn how to interview, how to speak; they will learn a lot because every student is in the same situation."

Two of the featured speakers at the event will be Pamela Holland and David Bontempo. Holland, an author, will be representing Brody Communications in Jenkintown and Bontempo, who is a private consultant, will be speaking on behalf of his own staffing company.

THE CHARLOTTEOBSEJ>.VERiKRT the real world and how to prepare for that at the event. Students will learn how to compose a resume, a cover letter, correctly conduct a job search, enhance interview

"Both individuals have a really good sense of what specifically to talk and not talk about," Hutchinson said. "Appropriate attire, etiquette, and other issues will all be discussed."