Higher education has long been viewed as a social elevator. The path to a higher education credential, however, is complicated for students from low-income and/or minoritized communities. This report provides a snapshot of digital tools designed to help students with college exploration, college admissions, and financial planning. To set the…

The INFAMOUS financial aid data system which has five participants--registrar, undergraduate admissions, graduate admissions, academic information reporting, and financial aid--is described. Sample letters to financial aid applicants are included. (MLW)

A survey of financial aid officers in 50 state universities concerning information dissemination about graduate student scholarships is reported. Specific suggestions are given, e.g., establishing a computerized or microfiche system to organize information for individual or printout access, increasing publicity by a variety of means, and getting…

A test of a reputable scholarship search service using a fictitious student and characteristics revealed that the aid source information obtained was only fair in relevance and response rate to follow-up inquiry. Students are advised to concentrate on more productive sources of information: colleges, personal contacts, and publications. (MSE)

Advice for the college scholarship administrator in dealing with donors include conveying clear policies, avoiding restrictions, setting minimum endowment levels, educating estate professionals, publicizing scholarships, and having donors meet recipients. Suggestions for handling internal tasks include simplified administration, clear fees policy,…