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	<title>Paying for College</title>
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	<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com</link>
	<description>SCHEV's Blog on Financial Aid for Higher Education in Virginia</description>
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		<title>Paying for College</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com</link>
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			<item>
		<title>Virginia Prepaid Tuition Plan Offers Open Enrollment</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/virginia-prepaid-tuition-plan-offers-open-enrollment/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/virginia-prepaid-tuition-plan-offers-open-enrollment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:13:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[529 plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Virginia College Savings Plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=166</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Beginning December 1, the Virginia Prepaid Education Program (known as VPEP) is offering open enrollment for new participants. The enrollment period, which lasts through March 31, 2010, means that VPEP contracts are available for newborns through 9th-graders, as long as the child or the account owner is a Virginia resident at the time the contract [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=166&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/virginia-prepaid-tuition-plan-offers-open-enrollment/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">schev</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>Recent News Coverage</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/recent-news-coverage/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/recent-news-coverage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:08:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=163</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A recent article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia will ask the General Assembly to appropriate an additional $58.7 million in undergraduate financial aid over the next two years.  Council members hope this increase will offset the decrease in state support that has resulted in higher tuition, which is [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=163&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/recent-news-coverage/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">schev</media:title>
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	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free College Admissions Workshop at SBC</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/free-college-admissions-workshop-at-sweet-briar-college/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/free-college-admissions-workshop-at-sweet-briar-college/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:13:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[admissions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sweet Briar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workshop]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=159</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Saturday, October 3, Sweet Briar College will host a free how-to clinic on the college application process for high school students and their parents. The College Admissions Workshop will be held from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. at the Florence Elston Inn &#38; Conference Center on the Sweet Briar campus.
Admissions and financial aid professionals from [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=159&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/free-college-admissions-workshop-at-sweet-briar-college/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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		<item>
		<title>New Benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/new-benefits-of-the-post-911-gi-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/new-benefits-of-the-post-911-gi-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:59:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal Aid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GI Bill]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=156</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Post-9/11 GI Bill expands the number of people who qualify for education support from the VA.  For the first time in history, service members enrolled in the program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children starting Aug. 1, 2009.
Children of service members:

May start to use the benefit only [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=156&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/new-benefits-of-the-post-911-gi-bill/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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		<title>Stafford Loan Rates are Falling</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/stafford-loan-rates-are-falling/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/stafford-loan-rates-are-falling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:40:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Federal Aid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=153</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Good news for students who anticipate using federal Stafford loans this fall as part of their financial aid package. On July 1, the interest rate for new subsidized Stafford loans for undergraduate students will drop to 5.6% from the current rate of 6%. This rate, which applies to loans issued between July 1 and June [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=153&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/stafford-loan-rates-are-falling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">schev</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>Unemployed? The Trade Act Could Help You Go Back to School</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/unemployed-the-trade-act-could-help-you-go-back-to-school/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/unemployed-the-trade-act-could-help-you-go-back-to-school/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:33:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Unemployment is unfortunately rising across the nation, and many affected wage earners are considering going back to college to increase their skills or otherwise redirect their careers.  The federal Trade Act is available to help, though it is restricted in its use.  By law, the Trade Act extends benefits to students whose qualified [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=148&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/unemployed-the-trade-act-could-help-you-go-back-to-school/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
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		<item>
		<title>Cautious Optimism about 529 Plans</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/cautious-optimism-about-529-plans/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/cautious-optimism-about-529-plans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2009 19:06:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[529 plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VCSP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=146</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Despite the recent economic roller coaster, many experts argue that investing in a 529 plan is still a good long-term strategy for college savings.
Independent investment research firm Morningstar Inc.’s sixth annual survey of the best and worst 529 college-savings plans provides great news for Virginians. Specifically, Morningstar named both the Virginia Education Savings Trust (Virginia [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=146&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/cautious-optimism-about-529-plans/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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		<item>
		<title>Scholarship Questions Answered</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/scholarship-questions-answered/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/scholarship-questions-answered/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:22:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial Aid Terms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scholarship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=142</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We recently asked SCHEV staff member, Tierney McAuley, to respond to questions about scholarships. 
 
SCHEV: How does a scholarship differ from other forms of financial aid?  
Tierney: A scholarship is different from some forms of financial aid in that it is considered to be gift aid—money that does not have to be repaid.  Scholarships are [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=142&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/scholarship-questions-answered/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
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		<item>
		<title>Have you been to see the Wizard?</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/have-you-been-to-see-the-wizard/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/have-you-been-to-see-the-wizard/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:21:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Careers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial aid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VCCS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wizard]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On March 11, Virginia&#8217;s Community Colleges (VCCS) unveiled a new online tool for career and higher education planning: the Virginia Education Wizard,  (www.vawizard.org) a one-stop, online resource that brings together information about careers, curriculum and financial assistance. 
Users can visit the Wizard to get tailored information about where they are in their career journey and [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=135&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/have-you-been-to-see-the-wizard/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">schev</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">VA Wizard </media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Put more PEP in your step – VPEP, that is</title>
		<link>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/put-more-pep-in-your-step-%e2%80%93-vpep-that-is/</link>
		<comments>http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/put-more-pep-in-your-step-%e2%80%93-vpep-that-is/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:53:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>schev</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial Aid Terms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[529 plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VCSP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Virginia College Savings Plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VPEP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vafinancialaid.wordpress.com/?p=132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Virginia College Savings Plan recently announced that it is extending the deadline for enrolling in prepaid college-tuition plans by two weeks. It will now accept applications for contracts under the Virginia Prepaid Education Plan (VPEP) through March 15, 2009.
VPEP is one of the Section 529 qualified tuition programs offered by the Virginia College Savings [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=vafinancialaid.wordpress.com&blog=3225635&post=132&subd=vafinancialaid&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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