🍦 Today's Scoops: Biden's Student Loan Relief (Nov 1)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh: new resources!

2. School of the Day: Baylor University

3. Friday News: Biden offers student loan relief for hardships, despite ongoing litigation

LINK LOUNGE
It’s Friday so you know we got some bangers for you!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

(NEW) Equitable Excellence Scholarship - $20,000 scholarships for students who strive to be a force for good in their communities

(NEW) Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) - do cutting edge research in the Bay Area’s premier pre-collegiate research institution

DabbL - free AI-powered college counseling, essay reviews, and free scholarships!

Algoverse - get published in top journals and do cutting-edge AI/ML research with industry professionals and Ph.D. researchers

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
Baylor University

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Waco, TX
🎓 Student Body: 15,213 undergraduate
📊 Acceptance Rate: 46%
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1250/28
💸 Tuition: $51,738
📅 Admission Options: EA/ED (November 1), RD (February 1)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Music (#43), Accounting and Finance (#49), Business (#54) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Nursing (11%), Biological and Biological Sciences (7%), Marketing (6%) (US News)

Some Positives

🌆 Beautiful Campus – Baylor’s campus is renowned for its beauty, featuring classic architecture, lush greenery, and the iconic Pat Neff Hall that lights up in green after wins. Explore the campus here!

🏅 Strong Christian Values – As a private Christian university, Baylor encourages spiritual growth alongside academic learning, which can be a great fit for students looking for a faith-based environment. Learn more about Baylor’s Christian mission.

🏥 Proximity to Medical Resources – Located close to the Texas Medical Center and with its own College of Medicine, Baylor offers excellent resources for students pursuing healthcare careers. Check out Baylor’s health programs.

📚 Academic Flexibility – Baylor offers over 140 programs across fields, from business to pre-law and engineering. This flexibility allows students to explore a variety of disciplines. View Baylor’s academic programs.

🏈 Big 12 Sports – If you’re into sports, Baylor’s Big 12 athletic presence means you can enjoy exciting football games at McLane Stadium and cheer for the Baylor Bears. See Baylor’s sports lineup.

Some Negatives

💸 Cost – As a private institution, Baylor’s tuition and fees can be high. Financial aid is available, but costs may still be a challenge. Check out Baylor’s cost of attendance and aid options.

🌞 Hot Texas Weather – Waco summers can get extremely hot and humid, which may take some getting used to, especially for students from cooler climates. Get a feel for Waco’s weather.

🏠 Limited Diversity in Waco – Waco is a smaller city, which may feel less diverse or metropolitan compared to larger urban areas in Texas. Learn more about Waco here.

✈️ Somewhat Isolated – Baylor’s location in Waco means it’s a bit isolated; Dallas and Austin are about 90 minutes away, making trips to larger cities a bit of a commitment. Waco’s distance to major cities.

🎓 Religious Requirements – Baylor requires certain chapel services and faith-based courses, which might be challenging for students looking for a less structured faith environment. Learn about chapel requirements.

INFO ZONE
ICYMI: Some big upcoming visits!

Harvard College Information Session - Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 7:00 AM until 7:45 AM

Johns Hopkins Application Workshop: Personal Statement - Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM

Emory University Oxford College Student Panel - Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM

FRIDAY NEWS
Biden offers student loan relief for hardships, despite ongoing litigation

The Biden administration recently announced a new approach to student loan forgiveness aimed at borrowers dealing with severe financial hardships. This plan comes after the Supreme Court struck down a broader loan forgiveness proposal earlier in the year. The new relief focuses on borrowers who’ve faced long-term repayment struggles, particularly those who’ve been in repayment for 20 years or more. It allows certain eligible borrowers to have their loans canceled if they’ve made substantial payments over time but still have outstanding debt, as well as those facing chronic financial instability.

The Department of Education estimates that approximately 804,000 borrowers will see loan forgiveness under this new measure. This marks a more targeted strategy, reflecting the administration’s intent to help specific groups rather than offering broad-based forgiveness. The plan also includes provisions to prevent interest accumulation for borrowers with low incomes, and the Education Department is developing an online portal to streamline the application process.

While the new measure doesn’t meet the broader debt relief demands of some advocates, it does address the needs of long-term borrowers who’ve experienced economic hardship. However, the approach has prompted mixed reactions, with some questioning whether the plan goes far enough in tackling the student debt crisis.

Read the full article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/10/25/biden-student-loan-forgiveness-financial-hardship/

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Lock in and submit, we got deadlines today!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: 11:59 PM Local Time
November SAT: November 2

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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