2011-12 VTAG Application Available

Have you been dreaming of attending a private college or university but think you will not be able to afford tuition? Good news! Virginia residents wishing to attend a private institution within the Commonwealth may be eligible to receive a Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG).

In 1972, the Commonwealth of Virginia created VTAG as a way to assist residents who attend accredited private, nonprofit colleges and universities in Virginia. VTAG is a non-need based grant and is available to undergraduate students as well as graduate students enrolled in health-related professional programs.

For a full list of participating institutions and program requirements, download the VTAG brochure from the SCHEV website.

The annual deadline to apply is July 31st.

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Share Your Experience

The Wall Street Journal has an interactive community where users can ask questions or share advice on a given topic. This week, the Journal Community is discussing the best way to pay for college. Feel free to share your tips here on SCHEV’s blog, or visit the WSJ website to see what their readers have to say.

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Fear the Bookstore No More

College students spend between $700 and $1,000 on new and used textbooks each year, according to the Student Public Interest Research Groups. If you are one of the many students looking for ways to economize on textbooks this year, we have good news. The college textbook market, which has long been derided for producing expensive textbook bundles with low resale values, may finally be exploring low cost alternatives for students.

 

In a recent column, Steve Rosen outlines how the Higher Education Opportunity Act requires publishers to “unbundle” textbook packages so that students can buy just the book or supplementary materials they need. The new law, which will take effect in July 2010, also requires publishers to disclose the price of textbooks to professors so they can make informed choices when selecting materials for their classes.

 

But some folks in higher ed aren’t waiting for the legislation to take effect. Check out this article in the New York Times about an economics professor at Cal Tech who is so fed up with shady textbook selling practices that he is putting his introductory economics textbook online for students and professors to download for free. The article goes on to list several online textbook repositories that permit the sharing of course materials.

 

Have you found other ways to get around high prices at your campus bookstore? Share your suggestions with us by clicking on the “Comments” button.

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