Marketing Essentials

Unit 12: Employability and Career Development

WebQuests

Seeking Financial Aid for Higher Education

There are many sources of financial assistance that students may choose when they want to continue their education after high school. Although some of these sources involve private funding offered by institutions of higher learning or scholarships from other organizations, such as the National Education Association, most students obtain at least part of the funds they need by borrowing. Making a rational decision when you choose to borrow funds for your education can make an enormous difference for the rest of your life. It can take years to pay off a debt that you accumulate while going to school.

1. Investigate Begin the activity by finding three Web sites for educational aid. One should be for an organization that gives scholarships. Another should be a university or college that provides grants or work-study programs to its students. The last should be a bank that provides information about student loans. You will discover that banks offer some loans that are subsidized by the federal government and others that are not. Take notes on what each source of funding offers as well as their potential costs or limitations.
2. Summarize Write a summary of the information you find about each of the three sources of financial assistance for students. Are the Web sites easy to navigate? Were you able to find the information you would need to make an informed decision? Do the sites seem to be trying to sell you a product or are they designed only to provide information?
3. Assess Identify what you think is the intended purpose of each Web site you visit. Explain why you think each site is or is not successful in achieving its purpose. Would these sites be helpful to you if you were in the process of trying to determine how to finance you college education? Explain the logic behind your assessment.