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Still Time to Apply for Junior Year Abroad Reality Webshow

If you plan to study abroad this fall, check out this show that NBC Digital Studios has planned. You still have a week to get your audition in — this would be a great way to pay for your time abroad!

WHAT IS J.Y.A.?
J.Y.A. (Junior Year Abroad), a new show from NBC Digital Studios, chronicles the first-person travel escapades and cultural discoveries of ten college students living and studying in all corners of the globe. With camera-wielding students in five unique continents, the show will capture all facets of life abroad, as lived and breathed by our cast. Our audience will experience the journeys vicariously through our young travelers, while learning interesting country facts and meeting colorful locals along the way. J.Y.A. and its accompanying website will soon become the definitive on-line destination for anyone with a penchant for global travel and a voracious appetite for adventure!

WHO IS THE CAST?
Could be you! Are you planning to study abroad in the fall of ’06? Do you love to be in front of the camera? Do you thrive on the adrenaline of foreign travel? Do you have charisma oozing from your ears? Then we want YOUR audition tape! NBC Digital Studios is currently casting for the premiere season of J.Y.A.. We’re searching for bright, articulate college students who wish to self-document the adventure of a lifetime. Cast members will receive cameras, tape stock, monetary compensation, and possible cash bonuses. Sound too good to be true? It isn’t!

Click here for more: http://www.nbc4.tv/jya/index.html

Better Resources for US Students Abroad

US students that want to spend their college career overseas have difficulty finding funding at the right levels. Here’s the press release where InternationalStudentLoan.com made a splash with higher loan limits of $50,000 per year for undergrads, and $70,000 per year for grads. Stafford loans alone just don’t do the trick.

InternationalStudentLoan.com Announces Higher Loan Limits for Foreign Enrolled Students
To see the original release, go to: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/6/prweb399787.htm

For US students that enroll directly in a foreign school for their undergraduate or graduate education, costs are higher and funding options are much more limited than for domestic study. Federal loans can only cover a portion of the cost, and other aid is often not available. To address escalating funding needs, InternationalStudentLoan.com has introduced higher funding limits for the Foreign Enrolled Loan for US students studying at approved foreign schools, allowing students to borrow the full cost of their international education.

Quincy, MA (PRWEB) June 20, 2006 — For US students that enroll directly in a foreign school for their undergraduate or graduate education, costs are higher and funding options are much more limited than for domestic study. Federal loans can only cover a portion of the cost, other aid is often not available, and the weakened dollar puts many already expensive but popular destinations for US students, like the United Kingdom and Western Europe, out of reach. Private student loans have become an increasingly popular and available method to finance an international education.

We are delighted to offer a loan with higher funding limits that are more realistic considering all of the costs associated with an international education. Although we encourage students to avail themselves of federal aid and scholarships whenever possible, the shortfall can be quite dramatic. Our Foreign Enrolled Loan can fill the gap, or can be the sole funding source when necessary.

To address escalating funding needs, InternationalStudentLoan.com has introduced an improved Foreign Enrolled Loan for US students studying at approved foreign schools. The Foreign Enrolled Loan now has high funding limits of $50,000 per year for undergraduates and $70,000 per year for graduate study, allowing students to borrow the full cost of their international education. Keith Clausen, President of InternationalStudentLoan.com, commented “We are delighted to offer a loan with higher funding limits that are more realistic considering all of the costs associated with an international education. Although we encourage students to avail themselves of federal aid and scholarships whenever possible, the shortfall can be quite dramatic. Our Foreign Enrolled Loan can fill the gap, or can be the sole funding source when necessary.”

Hundreds of foreign schools are approved for the Foreign Enrolled Loan, including medical, dental, business and law schools, with more schools being approved all the time. There are no application fees or out-of-pocket costs, borrowers can apply online or by phone, and the entire process can be completed in as little as 2 weeks.

“As the value of an international education continues to grow, and demand for internationally-trained graduates soars, more and more US students are enrolling directly in foreign schools. These students need realistic financing options. With deferred repayment, competitive rates and a simple application process, foreign enrolled students can access private loans just as readily as domestic students.” added Mr. Clausen.

Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for the Foreign Enrolled Loan at http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/foreign_enrolled/ or by calling (800) 926-3069.

Contact Keith Clausen at e-mail protected from spam bots for more information.

InternationalStudentLoan.com is owned and operated by Envisage International Corporation and has been helping students from all over the world achieve their goals of international education since 1998. InternationalStudentLoan.com is a proud member of the International Student Network and the Student Loan Network, which can be found on the web at www.InternationalStudentNetwork.com and www.StudentLoanNetwork.com.

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Private Student Loans for International Students

Financing an education in the United States is difficult, even for a US student. For international students, paying for college in the US is even harder. Almost two-thirds of all students enrolled at private four-year US schools receive loans of some type. US students can receive loans guaranteed by the government (Stafford loans, among others), but these valuable loans are not available to international students. Luckily, private student loans are available to international students on the same terms received by US students.

Before applying for a loan, you should exhaust the following potential funding sources:

1. Apply for international student financial aid from your school. Here’s a searchable list of schools awarding financial aid to international students: http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/

2. Research and apply for international student scholarships on your own: http://www.InternationalScholarships.com

3. Carefully evaluate how much money you or your family can provide towards your education. Every dollar you can pay directly is one less dollar you have to borrow.

Some international students can fund their US education simply using the sources above. However, like US students, most international students will need to fund at least a portion of their US education, if not the entire amount, with loans.

· US Co-Signer Required. International student loans require a US citizen or permanent resident (Green card holder) as a co-signer. The loans are credit-based, meaning the co-signer must have good credit history, good employment history (or other income history if the co-signer does not work), and must have lived in the US for the past two years. Although not everyone can find a family member, friend or other US citizen or permanent resident to co-sign for them, for those that do, they can access private student loans on the same basis as US students.

· Funds Paid Directly to You. Loan funds are paid to you, not to the school. This is a great feature in that you can use the funds for living expenses – but it also means that it is up to you to use the funds responsibly. Pay your tuition, room and board, health insurance and books first – anything extra is a luxury!

· Repayment. Repayment of an international student loan can be deferred while you are in school, and for six months after you finish school. After that, you will have up to 20 years to repay the loan, with a payment due every month. You are also eligible for hardship extensions if you run into unexpected circumstances that prevent you from being able to repay the loan for a short period of time.

· Proof of Finances. One nice feature of international student loans is that you can use the initial loan approval to satisfy the school and visa requirement of showing one year’s financial resources. You can apply for the loan without the proof of enrollment from your school, and receive conditional approval. Then you can provide your school with the conditional approval from the lender, and the school will see you have the necessary funds. Typically, a financial aid officer or international student advisor at a US school is quite familiar with this process and will help you. After admission and enrollment, you can complete the loan process and receive your funds.

· Interest Rates. Interest rates are variable, based on the LIBOR plus a margin. LIBOR is always several points below prime, so the margin is from 3.5% to 7.75%, and will be set by the lender based on the credit history of your co-signer and the repayment plan you select. The better your co-signer, the better your rate! LIBOR changes monthly, up or down, so the rate will be reset monthly. Click here for repayment examples for a $10,000 undergraduate international student loan: http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/international_student/undergraduate/rates.php

· Online Application. You can apply online or by phone, and receive an almost immediate response as to whether you are conditionally approved for the loan. Then, you will need to sign the promissory note, and provide proof of enrollment and immigration status to receive your funds.

· No Application Fees. There are no application fees to apply for an international student loan. There is an origination fee if you actually receive the loan, but that amount is rolled into the loan amount and does not have to be paid out of pocket.

For more information on international student loans, visit InternationalStudentLoan.com: http://www.internationalstudentloan.com