Wednesday, August 17, 2011

US Federal Student Loan

US federal student loans are financial aid funds guaranteed by the national Government for the sole purpose of helping a college enrollee get the necessary funding to complete his or her course of education. Qualifying for this financial assistance has advantages, but students are encouraged to also attempt aid from other sources when applying for a US federal student loan. Individual states within the United States oversee and administrate them. Students can get more information about government assistance, how to qualify, and their State's restrictions by searching online with the Internet.

There is a lengthy application and process to be completed when applying for this government student aid. Students can get a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at their college financial aid department or apply directly online. Students encouraged to search for additional grants and scholarships that can aid them with funding, however completing the FAFSA will evaluate the student's family's financial status and preapprove them for numerous types of financial aid. A US federal student loan should be used as a last resort in completing tuition and other costs. However, the availability of these funds guarantees that financing a college education is not the reason for anyone to not be able to go to college.

The Stafford Loan is one US federal student loan and also is a guaranteed form of funding. There are special interest fees and payment terms with Federal Stafford funding. With the Stafford US federal student loan, interest fees are waived for the time that a person is attending classes at least part time and for a six months period of grace after their enrollment drops below part time or they graduate. Guaranteed loans may have variable or fixed rates for interest fees once the grace period is terminated. The administrating institution determines their own rates based on government guidelines.

Monies extended to students through the college financial aid system are routed through the college which will deduct all fees, tuition and any other monies owed the college. The enrollee should keep in contact with the Financial Aid office and the administrating financial institution throughout the college years to stay aware of the amount of funds to be repaid after graduation. "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:1). Repayment of US federal student loans are not due until six months following the college graduation. Keeping these payments current will be very important. Although the government guaranteed the aid, the assistance still does have to be repaid by the borrower. There can be serious penalties charged that can including loss of tax refunds, paycheck confiscations and a damaged credit report when US federal student loans are delinquent.

Contact any college to get a FAFSA for assistance on college tuition. Applications can be submitted to the financial aid office or online, as well. Students will need to have their own, as well as parental information, from their tax return and personal assets, as the application calls for extensive financial information from students and their parents. Both should read all documentation and make sure that they completely understand the terms as set forth by the US federal student loans programs.


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Private Loans For College

Students seek out private loans for college to pay for expenses uncovered by scholarships, federal grants and other types of student aid. When a high school graduate looks at college, he or she often faces a huge, very daunting financial wall. Tuition and expenses for universities have increased annually, at a much greater rate than most families' annual salaries. In the meantime, with the increased cost of living, many parents are choosing not to assist or to provide less funds for their children's continuing education. Work-study programs are limited and often pay very little. Even with a full scholarship, students need money to cover additional expenses, such as housing, food, books, computers and other needed supplies. This increased gap has forced parents and students to look for alternative sources of financing education. The importance of education is beyond debate. "Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace." (Daniel 1:4) Private loans for college have recently soared in popularity, meeting this growing demand.

Unlike federal loans, which base awards on the financial needs of the applicant, private loans are credit based. Lenders look very closely at a student's credit history and scores. An applicant must have a minimum of 27 months of credit history in order to even be considered for private loans for college. Since most students enter college within a year after graduation, many have little or no credit history. However, independent financial institutions will consider a student like this if he or she has a valid co-signer who has a stellar credit history. By co-signing on this contract, that person holds responsibility for repayment if the student defaults or can't pay the installments required upon graduation. Also unlike federal financing that can be taken out for small amounts, private loans for college usually have a minimal amount that can be borrowed. This figure varies among institutions, but should be considered before deciding to borrow from independent financial institutions. Another difference is in the distribution of the loan. While government organizations disperse federal monies directly to the school, independent foundations often mail funds directly to the student. Money can be used for anything related to the student's education including room and board, books and computers, transportation or other living expenses that might occur while in school.

Many types or organizations offer various private loans for college to students and their parents. Sallie Mae, one of the most well-known financial aid institutions for colleges and universities, offers several different types of private financing, including the Signature Student Loan, the Tuition Answer Loan (enabling students to borrow between $1,500 and $40,000 per year), a Signature Student Loan specifically designed for students enrolled in community colleges, a Continuing Education Loan, and a Career Training Loan for students enrolled in technical or trade schools. All financing is credit based; students with higher credit ratings receive lower interest rates. Borrowers also have no prepayment penalties and have some flexibility in repaying what they have borrowed. Other organizations such as banks, credit unions and other independent financial institutions (Astrive Student Loans or Chase Student Loans) offer similar financing options for education.

Private loans for college are a great option for students who have exhausted every other financing opportunity and need extra funds to fill in the gap of their educational expenses. These lenders usually allow students to use the funds to cover more expenses than their federal counterparts. Applying is quick and easy and can usually be done online. The FAFSE application for all federal loans can be time consuming and take longer for approval. However, interest rates for private loans average much higher than government-sanctioned financing - ranging from 4-6% for applicants with stellar credit ratings to 20-30%, higher than many credit cards. Compare that with the fixed federal rate of 6.8%. And with higher minimums, students can easily borrow higher amounts from these independent foundations. More and more, state government officials are trying to regular private loans for college, pushing for caps on interest rates, full disclosure on rates, fees and penalties, and allowing borrowers 30 days to consider an offer without terms changing and three days to cancel. However, these lenders also do offer unique incentives for approved borrowers. Even students with solid credit histories often choose to use a co-signer to lower interest rates. After 48 months of regular payments after graduation, the borrower can sign a co-signer release, releasing him or her from all responsibility. Lenders also give students breaks in interest rates for graduating and improving their credit scores along the way. But in the end, students can end up paying double or triple the amount than they would through federal alternatives.

Independent lenders also allow more flexibility in repaying what was borrowed. Students can choose to begin making full payments while still at school, interest only payments while in school, or defer the complete amount of the loan until six months after graduation. Interest continues to accrue during this grace period and is added to the principal amount when the first installment comes due. Payments can also be deferred in case of an emergency or financial setback, but like the grace period, interest continues to accrue. Average payment installments are $50 per month for up to 25 years on private loans - a longer period of time than federal terms which average 10-20 years.

Private loans for college comprise about 10% of all financing for colleges and universities, according to Nellie Mae. Because many offer outrageous rates and promises, it is important to research organizations before signing on the dotted line. The best place to start is the school's financial aid office. Most schools and universities already have contacts with independent organizations that will assist students. Borrowers can also check with their parent's bank or credit union to see if it offers any special educational financing. The Internet is a great tool to search for details on all lenders and financing plans. Most websites will list all pertinent information from rates and fees to minimum amounts to borrow. Go in prepared to find the best deal available.


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Student Loan Consolidation Rates

Student loan consolidation rates are competitive and can be found online or through traditional lenders. The government also offers options with a student loan consolidation rate that is competitive with the private sector. Often, this rate is fixed, offering students the opportunity to make one payment monthly at a percentage that has been averaged and determined by the sum of all of the debt. Once a person has graduated or has ceased to be a full time student, the grace period of six to nine months allows them to obtain employment and financially prepare for payments. Consolidating and getting good student loan consolidation rates can help a student transition into a responsible bill paying consumer.

Consolidating can be done online through many different lenders offering great deals for various packages. Student loan consolidation rates can save students money by combining their debt into one lump agreement, at an average or lower student loan consolidation rate. Quotes are available online and can be price-compared just as any loan can be comparison-shopped online. The federal government also offers consolidation programs for federally funded lending programs. Finding which program to choose is often the most difficult part of consolidating.

Comparison shopping can be the best tool in finding the best student loan consolidation rate possible. This information is published throughout the Internet, and thousands of students are taking advantage of the competitive quotes and finding affordable payment plans. There are even brokers online that will price-compare student loan consolidation rates for the students, offering several quotes from different lenders to the enquirer within minutes, giving the individual a good idea of the percentage range available through consolidating.

The ability to consolidate debt is growing ever-popular as Americans continue to acquire debt at an alarming rate. Consolidations are one way of getting control over spending and effectively planning a budget. If an individual is graduating with several payments in their near future, they should consider consolidating debt to help manage finances. Searching online and gaining more information about a student loan consolidation rate, and speaking with several lending companies, will allow the individual to make an educated decision. It is also important to pray about all upcoming events in life. God has a plan and He, when sought, will reveal His will to a Christians heart. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3)


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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Student Loan Consolidation Services

Student loan consolidation services allow students to take all of the student loans they have accumulated for education and consolidate them into one payment. There are many benefits, not the least of which is that there is only one loan payment to make. Another benefit is a lower interest rate on the consolidated loan. The institution that originally lent money to students may offer a student loan consolidation service, or they could be offered by institutions that specialize in this area. Many students have found relief by inquiring about these services, so it is important to know all the facts before making a final decision.

Consolidation will help students who are having a difficult time making their payments and students who find that consolidation makes better financial sense in their situation. Any service will offer ways to get payments deferred if students have not found a means of income that will support the loan payment. A student loan consolidation service will also explain how to file for a different payment structure if the current monthly amount is too steep. The main objective of a student loan consolidation service is to find repayment terms that will fit into the student's budget to guarantee timely payments. Many people try to get out of paying back their student loans, but as believers, it is the lender's responsibility to repay debts. Each person needs to remember that they signed a document agreeing to pay back what was borrowed, and need to honor a signature. "That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Deuteronomy 16:20) If there is any question about what type and how much financing should be taken out, it would be wise to consult a professional.

The consolidation service will provide a number of different repayment options and all of them reward people who make their payments faithfully and on time. Be sure to plan ahead and mail the payment so that it arrives before the due date. This way a person will be rewarded at different times during the life of the loan. Student loan consolidation services can be paid on line if it is difficult to send the payments through the regular mail. Counselors do all they can to make paying back student loans easy and hassle free. If there are outstanding college loans, a student may benefit from researching different student loan consolidation services.


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Minority Student Loan

Minority student loans are available to provide financing for secondary education. People who qualify for this type of financing are defined as a student who is either African American, American Indian, Hispanic, or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U. S. after December 31, 1975. A minority student loan can help scholars earn a college degree when financial resources are limited. There are both federal and private lending institutions that offer a variety of minority student loans. This type of financing can be used to pay for tuition, books, computers, housing and a number of other expenses associated with a college education.

You can find reasonable terms and great interest rates as well as affordable monthly payments. With many minority student loan programs, a very low monthly payment will be required. At the completion of college, payment will go up and the interest rate may be adjusted monthly. Some minority student loan programs allow deferment of payment on the principal for a number of years; This could be dependent on the graduation date. Some lending institutions will not require payment on minority student loans until the course of education is complete.

A person receiving any sort of financing can get on the track to establishing good credit. Everyone has to start somewhere when it comes to establishing a credit history and a loan for education is a great way to begin. Many students often need a credit card, if nothing else, to have for emergencies while they are away school and this also helps to establish credit as long as the balance does not exceed fifty percent of the credit limit and the payments are made on time. God's desire is that each person manage his or her money responsibly. Proverbs 22:26-27 says it this way "Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" Basically if payment of the loan is impossible, don't take one out because it not only hurts the lender, but also the borrower.

This unique type of financing can make the difference between having a very successful career and having to settle for a job that is not suited for the student. There is no limit to the types of education that can be funded by minority student loans. Law school, medical school, community colleges, technical school, undergraduate education, parent education, career training, and many more are examples of different types of education that you can pay for with a minority student loan. College is one of the best investments you can make and financing is available to help get the most out of the money spent.


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Type Of Student Loans

Many types of student loans exist out there for people who need a way to fund their education. Some are government-funded. Other types of student loans include private education as well as amounts that are for specific courses of study such as law or medicine. These borrowing options can be very good; applicants simply have to find the type of student loan that will be affordable. Students need to remember to look for financial assistance in love. They should make this an enjoyable time of bonding with friends. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). It's an important choice that requires a lot of research and careful consideration.

A Perkins Loan is one of the types of student loans which is for people from low income families. It has very low interest and is government-funded. The Perkins does not have to be paid back until the borrower is nine months out of school. Then they have up to 10 years to pay it back. Borrowers also do not have to worry about paying any interest while attending school. The Perkins amount can be up to $20,000 dollars and will have a minimum payment of $40 a month depending on the actual amount.

Another option is private loans which are given to provide the rest of the student education when one lended amount does not cover it. They are primarily given by banks or other financial branches that are not the government. This type of student loan is one that students must apply for and provide proof of a financial need. Private assistance involves many different options depending on what kind of situation the applicant is in.

The other kind of education loan is the one specific to college majors. In order to look at these types of student loans, students will need to consult their college and their academic advisor. There are also books available which outline these borrowing opportunities. Students need to also think about local organizations that are tied to their course of study. For instance, a medical student may want to check with the local hospital to see if they offer financial assistance to future doctors. They may even offer pay-off programs which include agreeing to work for their hospital for a minimum term in exchange for debt forgiveness. If students look high and low for the right type of student loan, they never know how much money they will be able to get for their education.


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Consolidate Student Loan

To consolidate student loans is a great opportunity for college graduates to repay lenders and provides the option of possibly pursuing a lower interest rate and even one, smaller monthly payment over a longer term. Consolidation offers a major negative aspect which is the possibility that the borrower will actually pay more over the repayment term because of a variety of issues that may arise.

Consolidation should be considered and completed if it will provide a lower interest rate. If the interest rates on current loans are lower than the consolidated amount, however, there would be no need to consolidate student loans. The consolidation process provides a great opportunity for students, especially those just out of college with no job or limited resources to fund the payments.

Many college students, with lenders that need to be repaid, have a wide variety of payments. By choosing to go ahead with consolidation, the payment is often stretched over a longer period of time, allowing for more payments at a much smaller amount than originally thought. To consolidate student loan allows the individual with payments to focus on saving money or putting the money toward other bills. This is the wise thing to do. "Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun" (Ecclesiastes 7:11). After college, graduates can expect some time to pass before they find the perfect job. Any extra cash after they consolidate student loan will be helpful to staying afloat until the right job is available.

Consolidating may not be the most ideal option in all circumstances. When loans are consolidated, the interest rate does usually drop, but it provides a longer period or term of repayment. This longer period is usually twice as long as the original, often making the amount of total repayment of the consolidate student loans much higher than it would be without consolidation.

Consolidation is something that should be considered by college graduates with lenders to repay. In some circumstances, it is a great idea. Lower interest rates can be very appealing. Smaller monthly payments is also a great feature. To consolidate student loan may not be the best choice if the amount of money repaid over the period of time is greater than it would be without consolidation. The choice for consolidation will vary on a case-by-case basis, depending on the terms both before and after consolidation.


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Emergency Student Loan

Emergency student loans are designed to help students with urgent situations that might come up during the semester. Each university will have different guidelines and restrictions for their emergency student loan, but the concept is still the same. If a university chooses to offer this funding, the money is intended to be used on education related materials.

If a student feels that they may be eligible for urgent funding, they will need to contact the admissions office for more information. When an individual takes out an emergency student loan they need to understand that the amount needs to be paid in full by the beginning of the next semester unless other arrangements have been made. Emergency student loans differ from fast cash or payday advances because the individual is not charged a flat rate and the period is longer than what is intended for a cash advances.

It is important to understand all information about emergency student loans before heading to the admissions office. It is possible that the student will qualify for funding, but after becoming educated on the subject, they may find a smarter way to receive assistance. This will all depend on the individual situation. When researching the emergency student loan, the individual will need to go no further than the school's website or admissions office. It doesn't do any good to explore options at other schools. One of the requirements is to be in good standing at the particular university in order to receive this financial assistance.

Not only is it important to understand everything about urgent funding, but it is also important for the individual to understand what their financial need really is. Before seeking monetary assistance that may land the person deeper in debt, they may want to try to evaluate their budget to see if there are solutions that can be utilized without seeking outside help. It is also important to note that an emergency student loan is only granted to students who are in unusual situations and can prove that they will eventually be able to pay the full amount back.

Even if the individual is unsure about their actual need for the money, it doesn't hurt to ask about emergency student loans. Seeking financial advice from experts either at the school or through a financial counselor will allow the individual to see how they can change their current situation. Learning how to budget spending, save money, and remedy current financial problems will be great lessons to learn from an expert. "He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding" (Proverbs 15:32).


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Fixed Rate Student Loan

Fixed rate student loans make higher education possible for students who want to grow intellectually but who need help affording concentrated full-time academic study. These borrowed funds guarantee that tuition costs will be paid per semester in exchange for a promise to pay back that money later. "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed" (Ecclesiastes 5:4). The same goes for even earthly debts. Before borrowing, students should exercise caution. It may be the first time they have ever tried to borrow. It isn't free money; lenders should be chosen carefully and the amount of the fixed rate student loan should not exceed exactly what is needed. A fixed rate student loan generally has lower interest rates than a conventional one. Shopping around for the lowest interest will help educate students on how lending and credit ratings work, plus relieve them of unnecessary costs after graduation.

The federal government makes some fixed rate student loans possible, such as the Federal Stafford; for parents to pay for their child's tuition, books, and college living expenses; and federal consolidation. Most will require a FAFSA form (Free Application of Federal Student Aid). The benefit of the fixed rate student loan is that the government pays the interest on it until graduation; repayment begins 6 months later or when the academic load is below half-time. Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) can be used with or without a Stafford up to the total cost of the education not yet covered by other options. If a student has several fixed rate debts for multiple years of school, these can be consolidated into one debt that can sometimes be repaid over the course of 30 years. This has an added benefit of locked in rates, no penalty for prepayment, and multiple discounts. However, if you extend your repayment that long, the total amount of interest paid will also be higher.

A private fixed rate student loan is also available but this usually has a higher interest rate (because they are not federally secured) and may require a co-signer with good credit. Even during deferment, interest still accrues (unlike federal ones) so private alternative options are best used as supplements. All lending options are reviewed and processed by the institution of attendance. The financial-aid package may include grants, scholarships, and work-study eligibility in addition to fixed rate student loans. Since 1965, when the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)was created by Congress, the public and private sector has worked together to administer low-cost fixed rate student loans to more than 50 million Americans, making a university degree an affordable dream for all.


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Monday, August 15, 2011

Student Loans For Bad Credit

Student loans for bad credit are available and accessible for people who are attending college and are in need of financing, but have little to no history with debt or a less than desirable history with debt. The Stafford program offers financing that anyone can obtain, regardless of debt history. A student loan for bad credit can help an individual gain an education, get a better job, and therefore eventually repair his or her borrowing history. The U.S. government funds this type of financing in the form of direct funding, also known as Stafford. Many students rely on this money in order to help finance their college education. A Stafford offers excellent advantages including simple qualification guidelines, very competitive interest rates, and flexible repayment plans. If a scholar is attending or planning on attending college, but are concerned that their poor repayment history (or nonexistent borrowing history for that matter) will keep them from qualifying, think again. "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven" (Proverbs 23:4-5).

Stafford financing is available and accessible to most scholars in need. Although there are a few requirements that a borrower needs to meet in order to obtain a student loan for bad credit, none of the requirements have anything to do with income or debt related issues. Stafford comes in two versions: subsidized and unsubsidized. The funds for the subsidized come directly from the federal government. The interest on these student loans for bad credit is paid (subsidized) by the U.S. government. Students pay the interest on the unsubsidized themselves, but they can opt not to pay anything until they have completed their schooling. To apply for one of these government sponsored programs, an applicant need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Although approval of the unsubsidized portion is not linked to financial need, the government still needs to get a completed form.

One can find this form online or in the college's financial aid office. All lenders offer the same variable interest rate for Stafford financing and the rate is currently capped at 8.25%. However, a borrower may find it beneficial to shop around before signing a promissory note because some lenders offer slight discounts if, for example, the applicant agrees to automatic online payment withdrawal. In addition to student loans for bad credit through the Stafford program; many banks, credit unions, and other lenders offer supplemental, private programs that might be worth exploring. Don't let a history of poor financial decisions stand in the way of pursuing a college education. Instead, take advantage of a student loan for bad credit and plan for a better future! Attending college and preparing for the future is exciting. Be sure you plan the financing of a college education wisely. Speak with the college's financial aid officers and a tax adviser or accountant if there are any questions about qualifying for the myriad of programs available to scholars.


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Student Loan With No Credit

Student loans with no credit checks are available from numerous sources, for those who want to go to college, yet haven't established the necessary financial history to obtain traditional financing. Many people going to college don't even having a checking account, let alone a charge card or established financial history. Perhaps the best place to start a search is the federal government's Federal Student Aid (FSA) program, which is the largest source of education funding in the country, providing more than $60 billion dollars a year in grants, traditional financing, and work-study opportunities. A person must meet certain eligibility requirements, but a solid financial history is not one of them.

One of the most common options offered by the government is Stafford financing. Private lenders generally administer this, but the money is guaranteed against default by the federal government, so interest rates are low. With some Stafford student loans with no credit, the government pays the interest while in school; others simply defer all interest, which will be paid upon graduation. Unlike other federal options, the Stafford is available to everyone regardless of parental income or financial need, but a student must be able to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this student loan with no credit.

Perkins financing is another government opportunity that is available to college scholars who demonstrate significant financial need. The individual college runs this program, which decides how much will be awarded based upon personal needs and the costs at the college. For this student loan with no credit, the college acts as the bank, using a pool of money provided by the lender. The government, while in school, pays the interest on this student loan with no credit. The interest rate on Perkins loans with no credit is 5%, there is no origination fee, and there is a 10-year repayment period.

With the growing cost of a college education, sometimes federal financing is not enough to meet the expenses. Private education monies are available from private lenders and can help provide funds to supplement the limited funding the government grants. Although private lenders do not require that the student has established credit, they require that a parent cosign, and a parental credit check will be a part of the process. Luke 6:38 says ""Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." With any financial business done in life it is important to focus on God's financial plan for earthly living.

Another option for parents with less than perfect financial history are home equity loans. Because home equity loans use a home as collateral, lenders often overlook bad financial history. If a person is hoping to fund college pursuits but can't figure out how to get a student loan with no credit history established, don't worry. Numerous federal programs can provide the money needed to fund educational pursuits. Private funding with the help of a parent cosigner can also make student loans with no credit a reality.


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Student Consolidation Loan

Student consolidation loans are often the smartest move a borrower can make if over laden with college debt. A student consolidation loan is designed to help students who have borrowed to simplify their repayment by combining several types of federal aid with various repayment schedules into one balance. The entire amount is then given a fixed rate with one monthly payment. Student consolidation loans can lower the total interest paid and possibly save up to 60% on the monthly payment. Some rates are as low as 4.750%, giving a savings of up to 1.25% and can be locked in for the life of the repayment. In addition to monthly savings, this option may be able to rescue the borrower if in default on borrowed financial aid.

Based on personal circumstances, these conjoined accounts can help match a repayment plan and term to fit an individual's ability to repay them. Student consolidation loans are available for most federal aid such as Stafford and Perkins, NSL and Direct Student Loans. If private lenders' assistance funds are used to finance an education, generally, they cannot be consolidated along with federal aid. Student consolidation loan rates are not available to include private education assistance. There are, however, private programs for other options available.

When considering which lender to use, it is important to shop around as there are often special discounts offered for electing electronic payments and for several years of payments on time. When looking for the best deal on a student loan consolidation, first find out if the interest rates are fixed, as variable rates can cost more over the life of the repayment period. With fixed payments on a student consolidation loan, the certainty of regular payments is guaranteed.

One year, college enrollees and parents took out 1.6 million in financial aid borrowed totaling 43.7 billion dollars, according to figures from the United States Department of Education. Student consolidation loans are almost always the best way to go. If the graduate has an employer such as law enforcement or some of the health industries that is willing to repay their financed college aid, then that is the only time a student consolidation loan wouldn't be in the borrower's best interests."The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:19).


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Consolidate Federal Student Loans

To consolidate federal student loans is a wise decision because borrowers can combine several college debts into one and only have one payment per month to meet. The new payment tends to be lower than the combined payment of all the previous lending. The borrower might also save on interest when consolidating. It is much easier to make one payment instead of two or three, as many people may have taken out three or even more college debts to pay for their education. Most any lender will be able to help by offering programs to consolidate federal student loan. This will relieve the stress of having to make several payments each month.

Especially if the interest is high, consolidation can lower the overall interest rate. In this instance, when people consolidate federal student loans, it will save them hundreds of dollars in interest over the term. There are a variety of programs available to suit one's needs. The Internet is a great place to begin searching for options to consolidate federal student loan packages. There are many different search engines to assist borrowers in finding programs.

To be eligible for consolidation, the applicant must either be out of school or enrolled less than half time. They also must be actively repaying student loans or still in the grace period in order to consolidate federal student loan packages. Usually, a minimum amount of college debt is required. This will vary from lender to lender, but the median amount is ten thousand dollars. The interest on federal college lending is tax deductible, whereas with private lending, it is not. So when considering whether or not to consolidate federal student loan, borrowers should not do so with any private loans or they will not have the advantage of deducting the interest on the next income taxes.

Some federal student lending will allow for borrowers to defer the payments until graduation. Additionally, they might allow the borrower to defer if they graduate but return to school at a later date. If the college attendee decides to consolidate federal student loans, he or she should choose a lender with a low interest rate and reasonable payment terms. "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct" (Ecclesiastes 10:10).


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Student Loan Refinancing

Student loan refinancing is a great way to reduce monthly payments and possibly decrease the amount of interest paid each month on educational debts. When considering the consolidation of student loans, information on this can be as close as one's own bank. They may be able to offer great rates because they already have history and may be more willing to assist. Another option would be to shop around on the Internet or through the yellow pages. The worldwide web has thousands of resources available for any type of financial dealings.

Whatever route taken to research, be careful to look at the whole package and not just the monthly payment or interest rate. Student loans refinancing is a way to help with the payments that need to be made, but care needs to be taken not to make a settlement or negotiation for the student loans. In some severe cases, refinancing may best be done by settlement or negotiation, but most of the time it just hurts a credit score. The goal in student loan refinancing is to lower the monthly payment and/or the current interest rate.

It is also important to look at the fees the bank will charge if a payment is late and what arrangements they can offer if a payment cannot be made due to the loss of job or some other type of emergency that would prevent payment being made on the student loan refinancing. The decision to look into this type of financing needs to be a personal financial decision. In order to fully understand why this would be beneficial, a look at the past, present, and future financial picture would need to be done.

Counseling is available through any financial institution or from a financial advisor to help one understand the big picture and all that may be involved. Whatever type of professional chosen to discuss all the options for student loan refinancing, make sure they are well educated and have many years of successful experience behind them. This will ensure the best advice about what to do concerning student loans refinancing.

In choosing a financial path to follow it is important to consider what God says about the use of money. There are many more times that God mentions money than He mentions anything else in the Bible. He wants us to use His money is an honest, giving way. Student loans refinancing can be a positive experience if handled in a Godly way. Seek Godly counsel if unsure about the decision regarding any finances. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go: i will guide thee with mine eye." (Psalms 32:8)


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Consolidate Student Loan Debts

Student loan debt in the past have averaged $23,100 for students living on campus, $23,800 for students living off campus and not with families, and $18,000 for those students who lived off campus with their families. A lot of this student loan debt came from several agencies that specialize in providing loans for education. If someone is unable to find work right after graduation, it's next to impossible to meet the agreed-upon payments to clear his or her student loan debt. Some are obliged to take jobs that pay far less than they anticipated for a while, and that will prevent them from paying off their loans in a timely manner as well. The Department of Education and loan agencies are permitted by law to take up to 10% of student's wages if they are in default.

There are companies who will help get financing consolidated where there is more than one loan at a rate of 3%, with a 2.25% reduction after 24 payments if the total adds up to more than $20,000.00. These companies can help in other ways as well. Sometimes they negotiate a lower payment schedule, thus aiding the student in keeping the payments current. They will also work toward the reduction of collection fees if the student loan debt has been turned over to a collection agency. Another way they can help in some instances is to negotiate a suspension of payments for a period of time until the student is in better financial condition to take care of their student loan debts. In rare cases, they can arrange for a forgiveness of the debts, thus freeing the student of the obligation permanently. When looking at the total cost of schooling it is important to acknowledge the duration granted to pay this debt off and certainly remember 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Late payments are reported to the credit bureaus. The online companies that assist in the ways mentioned above often help with the rehabilitation of a student's credit after the new arrangements have been made concerning student loan debts, thus helping the borrower to remain financially solvent. Some students work between semesters and have part-time jobs during the school year to gather funds for repayment. If their health or some other obstacle has prevented them from earning the necessary money to pay back their student loan debts, they will most certainly need the services of some advocate to get them through the process without severely impoverishing themselves.


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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Parent Student Loan

Parent student loans are available to parents of students enrolled in a degree program through a college or university. These forms of financial aid are credit and income based and generally carry higher interest rates than traditional student-owned loans. A parent student loan is offered through participating lending institutions such as banks and credit unions and can be government guaranteed or private in nature. Both types are serviced by a traditional lender, the only difference being the interest rate and the amount limits. A private one usually has a $30k per year limit and can be used for any school-related purchases, including tuition, books, and living expenses.

Guaranteed parent student loans can be used only for specific school purchases, and the yearly limit is lower. Caution should be taken before agreeing to any type of repayment structure, of course. The parents must realize that they are responsible for satisfying the terms and are the main borrowers, so even if an agreement is made between mom or dad and the student, any late or missed payments will be recorded on the parent's credit report. Many families opt to help out their children with college expenses only after all other options are fully explored. Many people believe that the more responsible the student is for their own education, the more seriously the education will be pursued. Education is a high-priced investment. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal," (Matthew 6:19-20).

Many people opt to take out a home equity line of credit as an alternative to a parent student loan. Home equity loans carry similar interest rates that can benefit any borrower. Plus the tax advantages often benefit the homeowners as well. Parent student loans are given a deferment period for repayment, but the interest is not paid while the student is in school by the government, unlike a Stafford. There are many options when it comes to financing a child's higher education. Careful consideration should be taken when selecting which option best suits a particular family's needs.

Credit score is a determining factor in the interest rates offered for any type of loan. It is advised that parents receive a copy of their credit report prior to applying for a parent student loan to ensure that the interest rate quoted will remain the same at the closing. The monies are dispersed to the school and require the signature of both the parent and child before the school can utilize the funds for tuition or room and board. Those interested in learning more about parent student loans should contact the student's college financial aid adviser or any other financial aid professional.


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Direct Student Loan Payment

Direct student loan payments are debited from the borrower's checking or savings account by the lending institution each month on the due date. With all the stress of daily life, direct student loan payment plans take the worry and hassle out of remembering to make the payment each month. Of course, the borrower must sign an authorization form, which provides account information in order for the amount to be debited.

Having the option to pay directly will eliminate the need for paperwork. Receipts will be sent via email to allow the individual to keep up with when and how much the bills are. Also, the individual will not have to write a check or keep up with payment stubs when they have the ease of direct student loan payment. If someone is concerned about not having a paper receipt for direct student loan payments, they can keep bank statements as proof that the money was debited from the bank account. If at any time the person wishes to cancel this service, most lenders require written notice. The individual should be sure to do this in plenty of time before the next bill is due.

Many students are fortunate enough to have their parents to repay the amount owed to lenders for educational purposes. It might be the case that the parents will pay the bills until the child graduates and gets a job. At that point, the student will assume the direct student loan payments. Some lenders offer incentives for utilizing the direct student loan payment as the primary method of repayment. This service will ensure that repayment is completed on time and many lenders offer interest rate reductions if the individual is not late over twelve month periods.

If an individual takes advantage of a direct student loan payment or other such programs that will reduce the interest rate each year, they can significantly reduce the amount of interest that they will pay over the life of the loan. The easiest way to make sure the debt is paid on time is by using direct student loan payments. It is one less thing for a person to remember and they can rest assured that you are doing the right thing in paying what they owe on time. "Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)


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No Interest Student Loan

No interest student loans can be a great asset for college students. If in the process of seeking higher education and in need of ways to pay for it, check out one of these loans. A no interest student loan can be for any amount and requires no repayment until graduation. This can be an additional blessing for those who are serious about their studies. If planning on taking classes full-time and not working or if all the grants and scholarships possible have been obtained but there is still a need for money, this is an avenue that may be fruitful. This form of student assistance can fit the bill and take care of the rest of tuition costs. Aside from helping to pay for college costs, they also can lift a big weight off by not requiring monthly payments on the loan until after graduation.

If so desired, a no interest loan could be taken out and the monthly payments that would have been going toward interest can help to reduce the principle of the no interest student loan. If there are questions about how to go about getting a no interest loan, talk with the financial officer at the school. If still in high school, a career counselor can be sought to see if they can offer any information regarding these and how they work. Career counselors can provide valuable resources concerning financial aid and how it can be taken advantage of when beginning college. If still in high school with a part-time job, saving money now can be done advantageous for the monthly payments that will be due later. Just like a college student has the option of making payments on no interest student loans to keep costs down upon repayment, so can a high school student who can prepare for that. "Let the wise listen and add to their learning." (Proverbs 1:5)

When seeking a college, be sure to set up an appointment with a financial officer. Be sure to ask any questions about qualifications and requirement of no interest student loans. It would be a good idea to ask whether a cosigner is needed or not. If unable to talk with a financial officer, the next best course of action would be to look online. There are tons of financial institutions and organizations with websites that will provide information concerning a no interest student loan or other forms of financial aid.


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Direct Student Loan

Direct student loans are low interest loans designed to help college attendees pay for education after high school and they are fairly easy to obtain. There are no credit checks, no application fees and are catered to a students needs based on the program of study. This lending is either subsidized or unsubsidized. A subsidized amount is awarded based on a financial need basis only. The federal government pays the interest accrued until repayment begins for the college graduate. An unsubsidized amount is not awarded on financial needs. Borrowers will pay the interest on the amount from the time that the funds are dispersed.

A student can choose to pay the interest in installments or allow the loan to accumulate interest. In this situation, the interest will be capitalized, added to the amount of the principal and will increase the amount repaid in the end. Paying along the way will save the most money on a direct student loan. Anyone who is a degree-seeking college attendee enrolled half-time or more in college credit classes is eligible for one. The amount borrowed is based on the program of study and how many years the borrower has completed in college. For example, a first year college attendee will be able to borrow less in direct student loans than a college attendee who has completed two years of study. Interest rates paid will be lower while a borrower is attending college. Once the education is finished the interest rate will be higher.

Many students like to obtain this lending because the interest rates are so low. There is a nominal fee to pay once a direct student loan is disbursed. A portion of this fee goes directly to the federal government to help decrease the cost of lending. Collection and late fees may also apply if payments are not made when scheduled. Amounts are paid back to the lender after a borrower leaves school, drops below the half-time enrollment mark, or once a borrower graduates. Lenders also offer a six month grace period before repayment will begin. During the grace period, a borrower will receive payment information on their direct student loans. The lender will notify the student, usually by mail of the repayment amount, current interest rate, and the date payment is expected.

"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips" (Psalm 89:34). It is vital that a college attendee pay the debt on time and the full amount - not doing this can negatively impinge on the students credit report. It is possible to receive a deferment on a direct student loan under certain circumstances. For example if a student were to earn an associates degree and wanted to obtain a bachelors degree, payment would be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half time. Guidelines may vary according to lender for deferment.


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Student Loan After Bankruptcy

A student loan after bankruptcy is still a viable debt that needs to be repaid since these contracts aren't erased like other debts. The only way a borrower can dismiss these types of contracts is if his income possibilities are so limited that he cannot now, or ever (because of dire misfortune) pay the debt even though he's sincerely tried---and can prove all of this to an inquiring judge. Hopefully, the borrower's circumstances are not so severe because he can use student loans after bankruptcy to regain a better credit rating. The trick is to make the payments on time, every time, and even try to pay down the balance by making extra payments. If the contract has not been consolidated or negotiated or discussed with a financial counselor, then not all avenues of effort have been fully addressed. No matter what, young borrowers need to work closely and forthrightly with a trusted lender.

If the coed is able to double or even triple the minimum payments, success is on the horizon. Student loans after bankruptcy that are paid down will have the advantage of improving a person's FICO score, the three digit number that identifies that person as a credit risk or a credit star. It is worth the effort since this one commitment to "pay more" may mean that additional student loans after bankruptcy--even car and home loans--will not come with excessive, budget-killing interest rates later. Even making a year's worth of consecutive low payments on time shows good faith. Any effort to regain credit worthiness will play a significant part in a lender's decision. Bankruptcy itself may or may not have an impact on eligibility for federal student aid. By law, Title IV grants and loan aid cannot be denied just on the basis of a previous bad financial history.

Seeking a student loan after bankruptcy is an important step towards financial freedom. Federal contracts are especially helpful to borrowers because no repayment is required until 6 months after graduation. If there is still a question of delinquency or default, any school would be reluctant to add more financial risk to a young borrower, not to mention the financial risk it brings to the school. If parents are turned down for a federal contract because of bad credit, the coed can apply for an increased student loan after bankruptcy through an unsubsidized Stafford loan. The parents' credit history is not a problem for coeds unless they have parents co-signing the documents. If bankruptcy was caused by extraordinary circumstances, most lenders will try to find a way to grant a student loan after bankruptcy, if at all possible. No believer is exempt from handling money wisely. Proverbs 16:20 says, "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." Our first source of wisdom is God. We must search His Word to help us find our way in the world, even as we apply for student loans after bankruptcy.


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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Assignment 6 Extension: Due Monday, May 6

Read the following carefully. If you do not identify yourself properly in the requests, you will not receive credit (because we won't know who the request came from). Look carefully at the results returned to you -- it contains useful feedback.

Note that Part 1 may be completed any time before the due date -- there is no additional information you need to fill out on the submit form for Part 1. Using Telnet, submit a valid HTTP 1.1 GET request for the resource whose URL is http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part1a.cgi In order to identify yourself, send your FAS username as the "User-Agent" in your HTTP request. For example, the FAS user jharvard would include the following HTTP request header:
User-Agent: jharvard
Use your FAS username in place of "jharvard". If you do not include this information, you will not receive credit! Using Telnet, submit a valid HTTP 1.1 HEAD request for the resource whose URL is http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part1b.cgi In order to identify yourself, send your FAS username as the "User-Agent" in your HTTP request. For example, the FAS user jharvard would include the following HTTP request header:
User-Agent: jharvard
Use your FAS username in place of "jharvard". If you do not include this information, you will not receive credit! Using Telnet, submit a valid HTTP 1.1 GET request for the resource whose URL is http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part1c.cgi In order to identify yourself, send your FAS username in the query string, using the parameter name FASusername and the value being your FAS username. The parameter name and value are case sensitive! Extra Credit: Using Telnet, submit a valid HTTP 1.1 POST request for the resource whose URL is http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part1d.cgi In order to identify yourself, send your FAS username in the body of the HTTP request, using the parameter name FASusername and the value being your FAS username. The parameter name and value are case sensitive! Using Telnet, submit a valid HTTP 1.1 GET request for the resource whose URL is http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part1e.cgi In order to identify yourself, send your FAS username as the value of a Cookie, whose name is FASusername. The cookie name and value are case sensitive! Using Telnet, submit a valid HTTP 1.1 GET request for the resource whose URL is http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part1f/ This resource is restricted, and you will need to use the username "cscie12" and the password "webdev" (all lowercase, no quotes) to access it. In order to identify yourself, send your FAS username as the "User-Agent" in your HTTP request. When does the resource located at http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/assgn/part2.html expire? Create a directory and put a simple HTML file and an image in it. Using directives in an .htaccess file, make the HTML file expire 5 minutes after it has been accessed and make the image expire 1 day after it has been accessed. The content of the HTML file and the image are not important -- the only important characteristic is the expiration time. Important Hint and Help for Part 3 Create custom error documents for your Web site on your FAS account. You should have custom error documents for status codes of 404 and 401. Note that IE may display its own "error page" instead of your custom one, if your custom page is small (in terms of file size). Also, lwp-request may display its own error message instead of your custom one. These "features" are a reason why everyone should know how to use telnet to be an HTTP client! Create a directory within your public_html directory, put a simple HTML file in it, and restrict access to the directory such that requests coming from domain .w3.org are allowed. Requests coming from all other domains should be denied. Create another directory within your public_html directory, put a simple HTML file in it and restrict access to the directory using Basic authentication. Allow the user gradebot with the password letmein to be allowed access to the directory via HTTP Basic authentication.

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Final Project

Students enrolled in the course for graduate credit200 site + 50 report = 250 totalA minimum of 10 original HTML documents.One of these pages should utilize a CGI script.HTML should validate with the W3C's HTML ValidatorIf you use CSS, your CSS should validate with the W3C CSS Validation ServiceYour site should be done well -- with the attention to details that will set your pages apart from the hastily-produced site. For example, titles should be chosen well (do they stand on their own?). Your pages should be "friendly" to search engines (have you used META tags for keywords and descriptions? do any frameset documents use the NOFRAMES element?). Have you used height and width attributes for images to improve rendering performance?The report should contain two sections: A brief statement about the purpose of the site and its possible future direction. Briefly (3 to 5 sentences) restate the goals and purpose of the site. Briefly (3 to 5 sentences) describe how you envision the site could grow to better suit these goals and purpose.
A discussion of the technical and design implementations of the site.
This part of the report should be suitable to provide to the technical person who will be maintaining the site (this may be you, so this is worth doing well!).
Suggestions for possible issues to address: What solution did you implement for site navigation and why?What version of HTML did you use (3.2, 4.0 Strict, 4.0 Transitional, some other DTD?)What cross-browser and/or cross-platform issues arose, and how did you solve them? Are the pages suitable for text-only browsers? Are the pages suitable for "older" generation browsers (NS/IE 3 and below)?Did you use a template for your pages? (if so, provide the URL of the template).Did you use CSS in your site? (not necessary, but if you did, tell us about it!)Did you use SSI statements and "include" files? (if so, provide the URL of the "included" files).Did you use META tags to provide keywords and descriptions for search engines?Are any parts of the site under access control?What are the download times for your index page and for one of your larger pages for a user with a 28.8 or 56 K modem?Does your site have a customized "404 Not Found" message or other customized pages for a non-200 response?Does your file structure allow for easy expansion of the site?Have you used any directives within ".htaccess" files to customize the behavior of the Web server within your site?Are there other interesting things about how you implemented the site that we should note?

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Lecture 12: The Apache HTTP Server

Fundamentals of Web Site Development

Extension School
Harvard Unversity

David P. Heitmeyer

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Lecture 14: Security and Privacy

Fundamentals of Web Site Development

Extension School
Harvard Unversity

David P. Heitmeyer

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Lecture 13: Webmaster Tools

Note: Access to certain portions of the course Web site is restricted. You should use your 8-digit Harvard ID (beginning with '00') as your username and the first 8 characters of your last name (all lower case; remove any non-word characters) as your password.
For example, Tim O'Reilly would use the password oreilly.
If you have problems gaining access to the restricted areas, please contact me by email david_heitmeyer@harvard.edu Topics Handouts Video Not yet available.
Available on Monday, May 06, 2002 Readings Lemay, Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML and XHTML: Day 25, Putting Your Site OnlineDay 26, Letting People Know It's ThereDay 27, Testing, Revising, and Maintaining Your Site

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Assignment 7: Link Checking and Log Analysis

If you are happy with the assignments you have currently done, then you do not need to complete this assignment. I have made a "site" (a haystack, http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/haystack/) that has approximately 200 pages with a total of approximatley 2000 links. Five of these links do not work -- you need to find these 5 needles in the haystack.

Your task is to find the links that result in a non-200 HTTP status response (e.g. that result in 404 Not Found, 301 Moved Permanently, 302 Moved Temporarily). I recommend that you use checkbot to do this. ice% ~cscie12/bin/chekbot --helpCheckbot 1.66 command line options: --debug Debugging mode: No pauses, stop after 25 links. --verbose Verbose mode: display many messages about progress. --url url Start URL --match match Check pages only if URL matches `match' If no match is given, the start URL is used as a match --exclude exclude Exclude pages if the URL matches 'exclude' --ignore ignore Do not list error messages for pages that the URL matches 'ignore' --file file Write results to file, default is checkbot.html --mailto address Mail brief synopsis to address when done. --note note Include Note (e.g. URL to report) along with Mail message. --proxy URL URL of proxy server for external http and ftp requests. --internal-only Only check internal links, skip checking external links. --sleep seconds Sleep for secs seconds between requests (default 2) --timeout seconds Timeout for http requests in seconds (default 120) --interval seconds Maximum time interval between updates (default 10800) --dontwarn codes Do not write warnings for these HTTP response codes --enable-virtual Use only virtual names, not IP numbers for serversOptions --match, --exclude, and --ignore can take a perl regular expressionas their argumentUse 'perldoc checkbot' for more verbose documentation.Checkbot WWW page : http://degraaff.org/checkbot/Mail bugs and problems: checkbot@degraaff.orgCheckbot will produce output in HTML (filename of "checkbot.html") in the directory in which you start checkbot. So, as an example, you could do the following: make a directory for your checkbot results cd to the directory change permissions for the directory run checkbot --verbose will let you see what checkbot is doing --sleep 0 will cause checkbot to not pause between requests (it will finish faster) change permissions on the HTML files that checkbot produceed view the results from a web browser. ice% mkdir ~/public_html/checkbotice% cd ~/public_html/checkbotice% chmod a+rx ./ice% ~cscie12/bin/checkbot \? --verbose --sleep 0 \? --url http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/haystack/...output not shown...ice% lscheckbot-www.courses.fas.harvard.edu.htmlcheckbot.html ice% chmod a+r *.htmland now, view the "checkbot.html" page with a web browser. The report details will be in the "checkbot-www.courses.fas.harvard.edu.html" page.

For each link that does not give a "200 OK" HTTP response, you will need to report: the URL that gave a non-200 response the status code the URL of the page that contained the linkThe haystack is located at: http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie12/haystack/ You will analyze the log file of this course (/home/c/s/cscie12/logs/cscie12.log.gz) from September through November and provide an "executive" summary (i.e. be short and to the point) of your analysis. Where appropriate, you should link to any reports generated from Analog. Draw some conclusions about the use of the site, don't simply cite numbers.

Note that this log does not contain log entries for the Discussion Group or the Lecture Videos. Also, the hostnames of the machines have been changed to protect privacy -- for example, heitmeyer.mediaone.net might be changed to something like gibnax.mediaone.net

How much was the site used?What areas of the sites were most heavily used? Does this correspond to how you used the site?What weeks, days, times of the day and days of the week showed the most activity? Why?What sites and pages outside of Harvard referred people to the sites?What browsers and versions (and operating systems) were widely used? Based on these statistics, would you recommend reliance on CSS?Log files /home/c/s/cscie12/logs/cscie12.log.gz ("combined log format") I have already generated an Analog Report from the above log file. (note the only report you will need to generate is for the "browser summary"). Hints and reminders You should run analog on the "ice" machines only.I have configured analog (~cscie12/bin/analog) to know where the log file for the course is located -- you do not need to specify a location. The logs are in gzipped format -- analog knows how to handle decompressing these files. If you are curious (good for you!) and want to look at the contents of the file, you can do that with the "zcat" command. Be careful, these files are roughly a quarter million lines long -- you'll want to pipe them through "more" if you just want to look at a few pages. ice% zcat ~cscie12/logs/cscie12.log.gz | moreSimply hit "CTRL-C" when you've had enough. Analog is in ~cscie12/bin/analog You do not need to copy Analog to your directory.You do not need to copy the log file to your directory.The "-A" command turns off all analog reports The "+A" command turns on all analog reports Analog Reports and command line options For example, to turn off all reports ("-A") and produce a text output ("+a") of the "browser summary" report ("+b" see http://www.analog.cx/docs/output.html), the following command would work: ice% ~cscie12/bin/analog -A +a +b | more...output not shown...To turn off all reports and produce an HTML output ("-a") of the "browser summary" report and to direct the HTML output to a file called "browser_summary.html": ice% ~cscie12/bin/analog -A -a +b > browser_summary.html ice% chmod a+r browser_summary.html

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Friday, August 12, 2011

Lecture 11: HTTP and the Apache HTTP Server

Note: Access to certain portions of the course Web site is restricted. You should use your 8-digit Harvard ID (beginning with '00') as your username and the first 8 characters of your last name (all lower case; remove any non-word characters) as your password.
For example, Tim O'Reilly would use the password oreilly.
If you have problems gaining access to the restricted areas, please contact me by email david_heitmeyer@harvard.edu Topics HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)Apache HTTP ServerHandouts Video Readings Lemay, Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML and XHTML: Day 28, Setting Up Your Own ServerDay 29, Web Server Hints, Tricks, and TipsDay 30, Web Server Security and Access ControlSpainhour, Webmaster in a Nutshell:

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Apollo Group to Buy Maker of Math Courses

Hoping to keep more of its students from dropping out, the Apollo Group, which operates the profit-making University of Phoenix, said Tuesday that it would pay $75 million to buy Carnegie Learning, which offers computer-based math instruction.

Carnegie Learning, based in Pittsburgh, was founded in 1998 by scientists from Carnegie Mellon University who developed an approach to teaching math that combines classroom work with computer instruction. Its Cognitive Tutor software analyzes students’ weaknesses as they work through problems and offers new problems until they are ready to move on.

“Math is a subject where we see a lot of students having difficulty” at the college level, said Gregory W. Cappelli, Apollo’s co-chief executive. “We think by adding the Carnegie Learning solution into our platform, we’ll really help our students to have better outcomes in math.”

Carnegie Learning is one of a number of small- to medium-size companies that offer instructional material for use on computers and tablets and data analysis for schools, a market that has piqued investors’ interest in the past year. It says its curricula is used by 600,000 students in grades 6 through 12, in 3,000 schools nationwide.

Dennis Ciccone, Carnegie Learning’s chief executive, said sales had increased 20 to 30 percent annually since 2005, although they have slowed this year with the economy. Apollo plans to adapt the Carnegie Learning software for other academic subjects and use it both in traditional classrooms and with online students.

Profit-making colleges like the University of Phoenix have been the focus of government scrutiny in recent years, accused of aggressively recruiting students, especially online students, but saddling them with unmanageable debt and few marketable skills. In June the Education Department tightened regulations, though not as strictly as industry critics had advocated.

Although enrollment at the 400,000-student University of Phoenix has fallen sharply, Apollo’s stock hit a 52-week high last month after the release of quarterly results in June that exceeded analysts’ estimates.


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The Learning Network: Student Reading Contest Winner | China, Norway and Orwell

A customer in a Beijing cafe not yet affected by new regulations surfed the Web on Monday.Gilles Sabrie for The New York TimesA customer in a Beijing cafe — not yet affected by new regulations requiring bars, restaurants, hotels and bookstores in China to install Web monitoring software — surfing the Web. The fourth winner of our contest wrote about privacy on the Internet.

This is it: our fourth and final winner in our monthlong New York Times Summer Reading Contest. This week, Shannon Doyne and Amanda Christy Brown helped me judge, and their help and insights were invaluable – it was hard to choose from among the more than 100 thoughtful entries on topics that included healthy food, math camp, e-books and the attacks in Norway.

Geri told us: “I have never read the New York Times before, but this summer my sister gave me homework. She told me that I had to read one New York Times article a day and write an essay on each article.” Her sister had a clear purpose: “She wanted me to learn more about the world and she wanted me to become a better thinker and a better writer.” Geri concluded, “I protested and I didn’t like that my sister gave me summer homework but I’m (secretly) glad that she did because I’m learning new things and am thinking about new things.”

We’re glad she did too, Geri. And we’re grateful to the teachers, librarians, parents and others who encouraged students to participate in our contest this summer.

And now, without further ado …

First, our three runners-up, in order of submission:

Gyu-Hyeun, of South Korea, a global citizen who shared concern for those affected by the famine in Somalia.PavlaJCS, who tried to process the killings in Norway.Calvin, who put his family’s experiences into the larger context of the real estate market.

The winner is MunawarR-BSGE2016, who caught our attention in previous weeks, writing about meteorologists and the case of Aisha Bibi. This week, he tied in a reference to a classic novel with a comment about Internet freedom in China:

Ever since reading 1984 by George Orwell I’ve grown paranoid of the possibility of a hellish future manipulated by a dictatorship eyeing our every move. The reason this article caught my eye was because of the eerie similarities between China’s new web-monitoring regulations and the totalitarianism described in my favorite book. It seems the more I see, hear and read of these government-related acts in the media the more my nightmare becomes reality.

China has already limited citizens’ Internet usage by banning services such as YouTube and Facebook- which teenagers like me absolutely cannot live without. By also monitoring who visits which websites, the idea of internet anonymity is null. When I’m on the Internet chatting or sharing, I have the advantage of no one knowing my name or location and not harming me. To have my privacy taken away from me — especially by the government — is disturbing, and halting my computer usage seems better than anyone becoming suspicious of me.

Although I disagree with them, I believe the true motivation for these regulations are the recent attacks in Norway and not a simple imposition of power. I would like to believe that if the Internet activity of mastermind Anders Behring Breivik had been monitored, the attacks in Oslo and Utoya wouldn’t have occurred. Breivik had clearly announced his beliefs and intentions on Internet forums and YouTube- if the authorities had been following him, seventy-six more people would still be living today. Despite being unconventional and controversial, such kind of surveillance in Norway could have saved lives.

In fiction and reality, it always seems that government is power-hungry and evil. However, I don’t think the Chinese government should be called evil in this situation; they’ve stated their intentions to catch business-stealing criminals and terrorists like Breivik through this software. However, bookstores and Internet cafes are already losing business as they shut down their Wi-Fi protesting the regulations, willing to lose a profit in favor of their customers’ freedom — a modern civil rights boycott. Although I agree with them, I feel that some form of surveillance should exist- one that tracks specific websites and people instead of monitoring innocents. Some countries already monitor suspicious Internet activity, but they need to step it up a bit. I don’t want totalitarianism in my society, but if a guy threatens to bomb a building in an Internet forum I think it should be taken seriously.

If you know anyone who thinks “kids today” know nothing and care less about news and the world, we hope you will show them the entries, especially the winning submissions, in our New York Times Summer Reading Contest.

Students: Thank you for the intelligent and moving entries you submitted. We’re glad you participated in our contest, and you can read the submissions of all four winners here.

Starting Aug. 8, we’ll bring our popular Student Opinion feature back from summer vacation, and we hope you will join the continuing conversation there.


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Review Aims to Avert Cheating on State Tests

New York State education officials announced Monday that they had begun to review the way they detect and prevent cheating on standardized tests, taking a step to avoid the cheating scandals that have engulfed school systems in other states.

New York does not conduct statistical analyses of its high-stakes third- through eighth-grade tests to scour for suspicious results that could signal cheating, like unusual spikes in a school’s scores or predictable erasures on multiple-choice questions, officials said.

Analyses in Atlanta and Philadelphia, among other cities, have produced evidence of tampering on a scale that calls into question those cities’ educational achievements.

The State Education Department released a brief statement on Monday saying that the education commissioner, John B. King Jr., had convened a ?high-level working group in mid-July to begin an immediate review of “all aspects of the state’s testing system.” Officials said details would be available soon.

The group, headed by Valerie Grey, the executive deputy commissioner, will make recommendations to districts that will ensure “the integrity of our testing system before our students return to school in September,” though it may continue making recommendations after the school year starts. Schools are due to get the results of the 2011 third- through eighth-grade tests this week.

“We are in a period now where I believe the results of state testing systems around the country are coming under scrutiny,” Merryl H. Tisch, the commissioner of the State Board of Regents, said in an interview, adding that the state was acting to shore up public trust in its tests.

One hurdle, she said, was technological: the state’s testing systems are not designed to send computerized versions of results for easy comparison. But the state has hired a new testing company, Pearson, to develop its middle and elementary school tests beginning next year, and “the next iteration of test production will add technology to the system to make these types of studies much easier,” she said.

While New York City conducts investigations when questions about results are raised at a particular school, the city’s Education Department does not look systemwide for suspicious patterns on the tests. Those tests are the primary way the city judges the performance of elementary and middle schools on its annual school report cards. Before Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg won control of the schools, the city did conduct erasure analyses, but they were stopped by the Board of Education because of concerns about cost and effectiveness, city officials said.

On the state tests for high school students known as Regents exams, an analysis by The New York Times found a suspicious spike in the number of students who scored just over the passing bar, a statistically improbable result. The city has begun to audit those exams, and the state has changed a policy that had required teachers to re-grade Regents tests of students who came close to passing.

On the elementary and middle school tests, however, the main concern of policy makers has been score inflation, not cheating.? Acknowledging that the tests had become too easy to pass, the state adjusted scoring last year, causing hundreds of thousands of additional children to fall below proficiency.


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Bloomberg to Use Own Funds in Plan to Aid Minority Youth

The program, the most ambitious policy push of Mr. Bloomberg’s third term, would overhaul how the government interacts with a population of about 315,000 New Yorkers who are disproportionately undereducated, incarcerated and unemployed.

To pay for the endeavor in a time of fiscal austerity, the city is relying on an unusual source: Mr. Bloomberg himself, who intends to use his personal fortune to cover about a quarter of the cost, city officials said. A $30 million contribution from Mr. Bloomberg’s foundation would be matched by that of a fellow billionaire, George Soros, a hedge fund manager, with the remainder being paid for by the city.

Starting this fall, the administration said it would place job-recruitment centers in public-housing complexes where many young black and Latino men live, retrain probation officers in an effort to reduce recidivism, establish new fatherhood classes and assess schools on the academic progress of male black and Latino students.

Mr. Bloomberg plans to announce the three-year program in a speech on Thursday morning in Manhattan, in which he will declare that “blacks and Latinos are not fully sharing in the promise of American freedom.”

Even as crime has fallen and graduation rates have risen in New York over the past decade, city officials said that black and Latino men, especially those between ages 16 and 24, remained in crisis by nearly every measure, including rates of arrest, school suspension and poverty.

Although the populations of young white, black and Latino men in New York are roughly the same size, 84 percent of those in the city’s detention facilities and nearly all of those admitted to children’s and family services facilities are black and Latino youth, according to data from the Bloomberg administration. “The magnitude of the disparities is stunning,” said Linda I. Gibbs, the deputy mayor for health and human services. “It’s tragic.”

Mr. Bloomberg has put the weight of city government behind large-scale social change before, with public-health campaigns against smoking, sugary beverages and fatty foods.

But now, he is confronting a problem whose intractability and deep-seated causes have bedeviled policy makers for decades. And by focusing so heavily on a subset of city residents, he risks angering those unlikely to be helped by the new resources.

“The success rate, in general, is not that promising,” said Elijah Anderson, a professor of sociology at Yale, who has written extensively about urban issues.

The challenge, Professor Anderson said, will be persuading New York’s businesses to embrace these young men and offer them permanent employment after the city’s work is completed. “Companies have to be much more receptive to these young people and meet people like Bloomberg halfway,” he said.

The administration’s plan, developed after a year of study and debate, spans much of the city’s bureaucracy and multiple stages in the lives of the men it is trying to reach, beginning in middle school and ending with career counseling.

In interviews, aides to the mayor said the new measures emphasized the practical needs of the city’s most impoverished black and Latino men, many of whom are unable or unwilling to enroll in time-consuming education and training programs unless they are compensated, according to the officials.

So to promote remedial math and literacy classes in the morning, for example, the city would link them with paid internships in the afternoon. The internships would pay $7.25 an hour, but students would be paid only if they participated in the class.

“Working is a big motivator for these kids,” said Kristin Morse, the director of programs and evaluation at the city’s Center for Economic Opportunity.

For the first time, the Education Department would specifically tie the success of black and Latino boys — measured in part by test scores and graduation rates — to the grades the city gives schools each year. Those grades can determine whether a school remains open.

Much of the program is intended to prevent young men from entering or returning to the criminal justice system, which has long been a revolving door for many black and Latino youth.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: August 5, 2011

An article on Thursday about Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to help young black and Latino men misidentified, in some copies, the city department that would open five satellite probation offices in neighborhoods with the highest crime rates or in community organizations that offer services from which the young men might benefit. It is the Probation Department, not the Correction Department.


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Teachers can use or adapt our lessons across subject areas and levels. Students can respond to our Opinion questions, take our News Quizzes, learn the Word of the Day, try our Test Yourself questions, complete a Fill-In or read our Poetry Pairings.

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Room For Debate: Do States Need Schools for the Deaf?

hearing-impaired childrenMichael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle, via Associated Press After several years learning to listen and speak without sign language, four graduates of the Melinda Webb School at the Center for Hearing and Speech in Houston will join mainstream kindergarten classes this fall.

Recent protests in Indiana showed today's budget shortfalls fueling an old debate among deaf people and parents of deaf children: Should students be encouraged to sign, at a separate school for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, or should they attend "mainstream" schools and use the so-called listening and spoken language approach? The question becomes urgent as states, under pressure to cut spending, set their sights on expensive state schools for the deaf.

Do states have a moral or legal obligation to provide separate schooling for deaf and hard-of-hearing children who could be "mainstreamed"?

?Read the Discussion ?

Perry A. Zirkel Perry A. Zirkel, professor of education and law

Lance T. Izumi Lance T. Izumi, Pacific Research Institute

Sandra Jowers-Barber Sandra Jowers-Barber, historian

Lisa Snell Lisa Snell, Reason Foundation

Josh Swiller Josh Swiller, author, "The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness and Africa"


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On Education: Pa. Joins States Facing a School Cheating Scandal

While few know of The Notebook, many know of Ms. Mezzacappa. For 27 years, until the newspaper industry’s near collapse, she was a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. She is also a former president of the Education Writers Association.

People trust Ms. Mezzacappa to get it right. After the panel discussion, an executive for a testing security company suggested she ask state officials if they had done a study flagging schools with suspicious numbers of erasures on state tests. In May, the state responded, sending Ms. Mezzacappa a file so large she needed technical assistance to download it.

For two months, that 2009 study sat unexamined. (Being one-third of the reporting staff, Ms. Mezzacappa doesn’t have a ton of free time.) Then last month, The Notebook’s editor, Paul Socolar, entered into a partnership with the local public radio station, WHYY, which enabled him to hire a fourth reporter, Benjamin Herold.

Mr. Herold’s first day was July 6. On July 8 about 9:30 a.m., Ms. Mezzacappa suggested he look at the enormous state file, and by 11:30 that night The Notebook had posted its biggest scoop. A total of 89 schools — 28 in Philadelphia — had been flagged by the state for, among other things, an improbably high number of erasures, as well as questionable gains on reading and math tests.

Mr. Socolar, a data fanatic, calculated that at some of these schools, the odds that the erasures had happened randomly were one in 100 trillion, and Ms. Mezzacappa verified those numbers with Andrew Porter, the dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

And that is how Pennsylvania became the latest in a growing list of states facing a cheating scandal.

Never before have so many had so much reason to cheat. Students’ scores are now used to determine whether teachers and principals are good or bad, whether teachers should get a bonus or be fired, whether a school is a success or failure.

Will Pennsylvania do what it takes to root out cheating? Few school districts have. Most inquiries are led by educators who are not first-rate investigators and have little incentive to make their own districts look bad.

The Pennsylvania investigation is only a few weeks old, far too early to judge. But the first step is not encouraging: State officials have directed school districts and charter schools with suspicious results to investigate themselves.

For places that are serious about exposing cheating, there is a new gold standard: Atlanta. In the bad old days, Atlanta school officials repeatedly investigated themselves and found they had done nothing wrong. Then, last August, the governor decided that, once and for all, he was going to get to the bottom of things, and appointed two former prosecutors to oversee an inquiry.

Sixty of Georgia’s finest criminal investigators spent 10 months on it, and in the end turned up a major cheating scandal involving 178 teachers and principals — 82 of whom confessed — at 44 Atlanta schools, nearly half the district.

Will Pennsylvania do an Atlanta? It’s a big commitment. First, schools with test score gains that seem too good to be true need to be identified. The Philadelphia Inquirer has looked at Roosevelt Middle School, where 63.8 percent of eighth graders were proficient in reading in 2009, compared with 28.9 percent in 2008.

Next, to get a sense of the scope of the cheating — there are 3,300 schools in Pennsylvania — a comprehensive erasure analysis is needed. In Atlanta, investigators calculated erasure rates for every teacher in the district.

In Pennsylvania, the 2009 statistical analysis that was unearthed by The Notebook has provided many good leads. Chester Community Charter, one of the state’s biggest schools, with 2,700 students, was among those most often flagged for suspicious erasure results. It also was flagged for questionable test scores: in 2009, 65.4 percent of eighth graders were proficient in math, compared with 22 percent the year before. To his credit, the state’s secretary of education, Ron Tomalis, has requested two more statistical studies, for 2010 and 2011, to better identify cheating patterns.

Once the questionable schools have been pinpointed, the serious work begins. In Atlanta, the investigators chosen to conduct the cheating inquiry were given the necessary legal tools (subpoena power) and generous resources (over 100 people were involved). Then they went out and worked the schools like police detectives, flipping one cheating teacher, who in turn would identify others.

E-mail: oneducation @nytimes.com


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