| Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on | | | | * Peace Corps: The Peace Corps is an |
| your community. But did you know that it can | | | | international volunteer organization that places |
| have many benefits for you, too? Colleges want | | | | individuals in areas of need all over the world. |
| to see a complete picture of you, and real | | | | Students who receive a Perkins Loan may be |
| examples of your commitment, dedication, and | | | | eligible to have a portion or their entire Perkins |
| interests. Volunteering provides colleges an | | | | loan cancelled. In addition, students may defer |
| opportunity to see you differently than other | | | | their other student loan payments while they are |
| applicants. They see you as involved and | | | | serving in the Peace Corps. Peace Corps |
| concerned with regards to the needs of society. | | | | members also receive a living stipend and housing |
| Whether you build houses for the homeless or | | | | payment as well as adjustment assistance when |
| mail flyers for a local politician, you can experience | | | | they complete their assignment and return to life |
| the real world through hands-on work. You can | | | | in the United States. Peace Corps members may |
| use this experience to explore your major or | | | | be able to use their time in the Peace Corps to |
| career interests. | | | | earn a Master's Degree. |
| Some schools offer academic credit for volunteer | | | | * National Health Service Corps (NHSC): The |
| work through service-learning. This is a teaching | | | | National Health Service Corps provides medical |
| method that integrates hands-on learning (through | | | | care from doctors, nurses, and other health |
| service to the community) into the school | | | | practitioners in some of the most underserved |
| curriculum. It's available in high schools and colleges, | | | | communities in the United States. The NHSC |
| as well as in earlier grades. | | | | offers a competitive scholarship program designed |
| Colleges pay attention to your life inside and | | | | for students committed to providing primary |
| outside the classroom. Your extracurricular | | | | health care in communities of greatest need. |
| activities reveal a great deal about you, such as | | | | Scholarship recipients serve where they are most |
| what your interests are, whether you can | | | | needed upon completion of their training. |
| manage your priorities and maintain a long-term | | | | * College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 |
| commitment, what diversity you would bring to | | | | (CCRAA): Congress has made it possible for |
| the student body, and how you have made a | | | | high-debt, lower-income graduates to manage |
| meaningful contribution to society or your local | | | | debt repayment through an income-based |
| community. | | | | repayment plan. In addition, Congress has created |
| There are many people, places, and organizations | | | | a new program through which public servants |
| that need volunteers. Here are some tips for | | | | including all government workers and all |
| getting started: | | | | employees of all non-profit organizations that are |
| * Look around your community and in the phone | | | | tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the |
| book to see what programs are there. Call and | | | | Internal Revenue Code are entitled to have a |
| ask if they need help. | | | | substantial portion of their educational debt |
| * Visit your city or town website. It may list | | | | forgiven after making modest repayments during |
| volunteer opportunities in your community. | | | | ten years of full-time employment. Together, |
| * Contact your local United Way, cultural arts | | | | these two new programs will enable student |
| association, student organization, or another | | | | borrowers to choose their careers without being |
| association that can point you in the right direction. | | | | unduly influenced by their debt burdens and will |
| * Ask your library, church or synagogue, and/or | | | | enable governments and non-profit organizations |
| community colleges if they sponsor any volunteer | | | | to retain talented professionals who would |
| groups.Typically, volunteers complete their | | | | otherwise be forced to resign after two or three |
| commitments without the thought of receiving | | | | years and seek higher-paying jobs so that they |
| any extrinsic benefit for that work. | | | | could repay their student loans. |
| There are also volunteer programs that can help | | | | Check out the following websites to learn more |
| you pay for college after you have graduated. | | | | about causes and to find volunteer opportunities |
| Programs include: | | | | near you. |
| * AmeriCorps: Upon successful completion of a | | | | * SERVEnet.org |
| term of service, members are eligible to receive a | | | | * NetworkforGood.org |
| Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ranging in | | | | * Idealist.org |
| value from $1,000 to $4,725, which may be used | | | | Volunteer service can be a tremendously |
| only to pay college costs or to repay student | | | | rewarding experience and provides a person with |
| loans. Americorps members may also be eligible | | | | valuable experience for future career choices. |
| for housing assistance or for a pro-rated | | | | Volunteering can not only help get you into an |
| part-time award if full-time service is not an | | | | A-list college, but it can also help you pay off or |
| option. | | | | eliminate your college debts. |