FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
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Apple Federal Credit Union is a cooperative institution that serves the financial needs of its defined membership by providing loan, deposit, and other consumer services with high quality and efficiency, not for profit, but for the economic benefit of members. For information about the services provided by Apple Federal Credit Union on campus visit http://www.gmu.edu/univserv/apple.html.
The Financial Management Association (FMA) exists to enhance the educational, social, and professional opportunities of all students with an interest in the field of finance. FMA strives to offer social events, informative guest speakers, and hands-on trips to better grasp the dynamic world of finance. It also introduces and emphasizes the various career opportunities available to finance students upon graduation. The organization fosters networking through personal and online interaction while increasing awareness within the finance department and the general student population. Finally, it undertakes opportunities that help build a solid reputation and character for both FMA and George Mason University. Visit http://www.gmu.edu/org/fma/index.html for more information.
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides a variety of services to help students finance their education. These services include financial counseling, referral and information resources, and financial assistance. Student financial assistance consists of grants, work-study, and loans. Awards are based on financial need, although some alternative financial aid resources are available for those who may not qualify for need-based financial aid. To apply for financial aid students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Financial aid counselors are assigned to students by the student’s last name alphabetically and are available by appointment. Please refer to http://apollo.gmu.edu/finaid/.
The Self-Help Resource Library provides a collection of audio and video tapes, CD-ROMs, books, and handouts on growth and academic topics available to students at George Mason University that are available for use in the Resource Library during business hours. Programs in the Self-Help Resource Library are organized around categories including assertiveness, decision-making, emotions, money management, problem solving, and time management to name a few. View all resources at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/csdc/media.htm.
United Bank Student Accounts guarantees no service charge regular checking accounts, no minimum balance requirements, no minimum opening deposit, and no monthly maintenance fees to undergraduate and graduate school students. Find out more about United Bank on campus at http://www.gmu.edu/univserv/united.html. <back to top>
Virginia Consumer Credit Counseling Centers are committed to bringing Virginia residents credit counseling information needed to make wise credit decisions in Virginia. They provide articles and links to information on credit counseling, debt reduction, and debt consolidation to help identify the strategies needed to eliminate credit card and consumer debt, and help users save save money. They also help identify predatory lenders, as well as illegitimate credit counseling companies in Virginia. http://www.consumer-credit-counseling-center.org/state.asp?state=VA <back to top>
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is the application to be considered for virtually all types of federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. One must file the FAFSA application for every school year. The FAFSA is the application used by most colleges and universities to determine a student's financial aid eligibility. All students are encouraged to apply and can get more information online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The American Express Student Services Budget Calculator is developed to help provide a clearer picture of money needed throughout the school year and is online at http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,661,00.asp.
College Student Budgeting by FurtherYourEducation.com addresses the costs associated with transferring from a two-year college to a four-year college including higher tuition, higher room and board, higher textbook charges, etc. College student budgeting is very important and if a student didn't have to deal with some of these expenses prior to transfer, the student is going to have to do some serious budgeting now to be able to handle increased living costs. Suggestions and tips are available online at http://www.furtheryoureducation.com/transfer/nontraditional-college-student-resource/college-student-budgeting.shtml.
College Students: Prepare for Credit Card Deluge is one of five articles about college life and money (http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/19980803.asp). This series is hosted by bankrate.com to provide students and their parents with financial tips to keep them on top of the money management game. Read the collection online at http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/special/College1.asp.
The Federal Student Aid Budget Calculator helps to determine expenses and estimates one’s total available income. To identify personal resources and the total cost of an education, use the budget calculator which lists most of the important expenses and resources including tuition, books, and scholarships at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/BudgetCalc/budget.html.
The FinAid Student Budget Calculator calculates the difference between expenses and income, identifying when spending beyond a student’s means. Start planning today at http://www.finaid.org/calculators/studentbudget.phtml.
Student Budgeting Tips explores college life expenses like tuition, books, school supplies, accommodations, food, etc. By budgeting carefully, a student can be successful by using some of these tips from Scotia Bank online at http://www.scotiabank.com/cda/content/0,1608,CID534_LIDen,00.html.
Student Credit Cards: Establishing an A+ Credit History is a page on StudentMarket.com that explores a credit history as a financial "reputation." Lenders use information on how someone has have handled their financial obligations in the past when determining whether to approve or deny a credit application. In addition to helping lenders determine if a student is "creditworthy," the credit report can be reviewed by any company or individual with a "legitimate business need." Find out more at http://www.studentmarket.com/studentmarket/student-credit-card-basics.html.
Student Credit Card Debt: A Survival Guide for Students advises students on how to relieve the stress of money management on campus and focus on academics. This article relates the real life experiences of having little money for late night pizza or downloading the latest hit single, and still not worrying about paying a cell phone bill or the college loan that is allowing them to get an education. Read more at http://www.cardratings.com/studentcreditcarddebt.html.
Student Credit Card Education is most helpful before deciding to apply for student credit cards and identifies the basics of credit and how it works. Credit should be taken very seriously and not "applied for" because someone on a college campus is offering something free. Many companies provide secure online student credit card applications so students can apply for the best student credit cards when convenient and when ready. To learn the basics of building GOOD credit before applying for student credit cards, check out this web site: http://www.schoolwork.org/student-credit-cards.html.
Tips for Building and Maintaining a Strong Credit History is a page of StudentMarket.com that offers thoughtful suggestions on how to lay the foundation for a strong credit history. Begin planning today by incorporating these tips at http://www.studentmarket.com/studentmarket/student-credit-card-tips-for-building-and-maintaining-a-strong-credit-history.html.
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MONEY specifically focuses on money management, entrepreneurship, careers,
investing, technology, travel, and entertainment topics. Begin financial
planning at http://www.youngmoney.com/money_management. <back
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