Mar 19, 2009 By: yunews
Mar 19, 2009 -- Applying for financial aid may seem daunting in this economy but it just became much easier thanks to 91黑料鈥檚 new blog, , at . On the blog Robert Friedman, university director of student finance, shares his expertise with students, parents and financial aid officers around the country.
Friedman, a nationally recognized expert in financial aid at universities who has been at YU since 2003, offers a practical guide for students navigating the maze of financial aid 鈥渘o matter where they鈥檙e applying,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 address the main question on everyone鈥檚 mind: how to afford a college education.鈥
Friedman is an active member of professional associations such as the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). He was previously director of student aid at Teachers College, Columbia University and held senior positions at Fordham University and DePaul University.
Blog postings include 鈥淔ive Tips for When Financial Hardship Hits Home,鈥 鈥淭he Five Top Financial Aid Myths,鈥 鈥淭he Top Five Realities,鈥 and advice on filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The site also includes a video clip of Friedman explaining financial aid, relevant articles in 鈥淭he New York Times鈥 and 鈥淲all Street Journal鈥 and useful links, including a link to follow him on Twitter.
The blog is updated weekly with content based on timely issues and questions Friedman receives in emails.
With FAFSA applications due soon for next year, it鈥檚 a good thing Bob鈥檚 blogging: more people are filing this year, they鈥檙e filing earlier and many feel paralyzed by fear about how they鈥檒l afford college tuition, he said.
鈥淎s the economy continues to struggle, financial aid is prominent in the minds of students, parents and the media,鈥 says John Fisher, director of enrollment management.
Friedman was recently quoted in the "Seattle Times" and CNBC and on Bankrate.com.
Fisher added, 鈥淲e are well positioned to establish prominence in this field because Friedman is a well-known professional, and YU has maintained a reputation for integrity at a time when the financial aid operation at many schools has been shown to have an untoward relationship with student loan lenders.鈥
