Surviving the Other March Madness

It’s the second week of the tournament and you've lost your shot at the $1 billion perfect bracket, but if you’re a high school senior you might be experiencing a more nerve-wracking March Madness—hearing back from the colleges you have applied to. Will you experience the elation of an underdog victory over a much higher seed (getting into your reach)? Will you be disappointed by an upset (getting rejected by a match or even a safety)? Until the game is played, you can only look at teams’ stats and your own to project a win or acceptance. Most schools have admissions notification deadlines of April 1st or early April, so by the time the Championship Game is played on April 6th you’ll likely know how your personal tournament has played out. In the meantime, here is my advice to make your March a little less maddening.

Cherish the Wins

As a college senior looking back on my own college application process four years ago, one of my biggest regrets is undervaluing my victories. During senior year of high school, my eye was on “the prize”—getting into the College of William and Mary, my dream school. I began getting acceptance letters from the eight other universities I applied to months before hearing anything from William and Mary. I was almost apathetic when I was accepted or given a scholarship by another university. Why should I get excited when I was favored to win these games? They didn’t carry the same weight William and Mary did—I was an underdog on that court. The day came when a letter signed in green ink (indicating acceptance) was delivered by my mailman. I was elated.

But guess what? I didn’t attend William and Mary. My high school work ethic led to an undefeated personal March Madness, but I let my sense of personal accomplishment hinge on 1 out of 9 victories. In the end, the victory from another game has had a greater effect on the direction my life has taken. I know my story is an extreme one but let it serve as a cautionary tale—cherish the wins, all the wins. If you allow them, the wins will mitigate the inevitable losses you will have in life.

Be Empowered by the Losses

This one is hard, really hard. After a season of successes and challenges a loss or denial, especially a crucial one, can be crushing. I realize this isn’t a new piece of advice. I could use a number of clichés to drive this point home but I prefer to use a different analogy. In most good sports or superhero movies the protagonist deals with doubt or a major setback right before he or she goes into a big game or a dangerous situation. This adversity leads to introspection and makes our hero or heroine more resilient. The character is no longer good at what they do—they exhibit mental prowess, are in peak physical shape, and their powers are stronger than they were at any other point in the film. Real life is much more complicated and less predictable than the plotline of one of these movies. However, viewing loss as a nurturer of future success will lead to victories. It’s difficult to move on to your next success if you’re dwelling on a past loss.


Take Off the Blinders

Don’t let your focus wane, but take off your blinders in order to consider the complexity of the decision and your range of options. Although William and Mary was my top choice, factors like financial aid and location ultimately made other schools better options. This month will be an emotional one, but don’t let your excitement or frustration supersede making a smart decision.

Similarly, don’t let disappointment affect your long-term outlook. You can take a different path than the one you originally envisioned and reach the same destination. One of my best friends was distraught her senior year of high school when she was rejected or waitlisted at many of her top choices. She ultimately attended a respected university she considered a safety. She is a paramount example of someone empowered by a loss. Four years later, she will begin her first year at a prestigious medical school along with another high school friend who went to a top 20 university.

by: Paige Witthar

Crowdfunding: Find Your Inner Girl Scout

Crowdfunding is much more than a buzzword—it’s a tool for people to turn an idea into a film; start a business; and in our case, free promising college students from the burden of student debt. Still, it can be difficult for people on crowdfunding sites and those supporting them to understand the concept. Since it is prime Girl Scout cookie selling season, I thought Girl Scout cookies would serve as the best analogy for SuccessFunding and other crowdfunding sites.

When Promoting Your Profile, Think Thin Mints

Most people reading this blog have been on one side of a Girl Scout cookie transaction either as the Girl Scout selling the Thin Mints or the hungry patron. If you’ve never sold a box before, think about the situations in which you’ve bought Girl Scout cookies: from a family friend, a coworker’s daughter, or a troop of Brownies with a booth at your local grocer. It’s beneficial to share your fundraiser with the same networks. Part of Girl Scouts' success can be attributed to their enlistment of parents in cookie selling. Similarly, your family and friends can be your best assets in promoting your fundraiser. Ask them to use social media, email, and in-person meetings to share your educational ambitions and SuccessFunding fundraiser. Soon, your SuccessFund will get page views from family; friends; coworkers; the friends of your family; the family of your friends; the kind, cookie-loving strangers at the grocery store—you get the idea.

It All Adds Up

Are you hesitant to start a profile on a crowdfunding site or donate to one because you’re skeptical your small donation will actually make a difference? Think about Girl Scouts. Are selling Girl Scout cookies a lucrative opportunity when they’re only priced between $3.50 and $5.00 per box? Absolutely, cookies sales were over $780 million in 2012! While we know individual crowdfunding campaigns won’t reach the hundred million dollar level of success, the Girl Scouts do prove that every box (or donation to a crowdfunding campaign) really does add up.

SuccessFunding is Better than Cookies

We can’t assert that we taste better than Carmel deDelites but we do know your dollar makes a greater impact when donated to a SuccessFunding campaign. Although buying a box of Girl Scout cookies does support the Girl Scout's troop, most of the money goes to the the local council and the commercial bakers that make the cookies. It's also common for crowdfunding sites to take a piece of the pie—Kickstarter applies a 5% fee to the funds raised in successful campaigns. But on SuccessFunding, 100% of donations go into the student’s 529 savings plan, a tax advantaged college savings account. We don't pass on our costs to the students crowdfunding on our website like most do; instead, donors pay a 3% credit card processing fee and a flat $2.50 "keep us in business" fee. You can rest assured knowing every cent of your donation goes toward the SuccessFundee's educational expenses.

by: Paige Witthar

Eliminating Student Debt: A Penny Saved is a Nickel Earned

I'm sure you've heard the wisdom "A penny saved is a penny earned". But with student loans, a penny saved is much more than a penny earned. A graduate with $25,000 in federal student loans who is enrolled in the standard 10-year repayment plan will pay nearly $35,000. I recently began my last semester of college and decided to write down a few "tricks of the trade" I've come across. Here are five ways to reduce your college IOU:

1) Start a SuccessFund.

SuccessFunding champions higher education, supports college students, and fights student debt through crowdfunding. The site allows students to crowdfund money for college tuition, freeing students from the burden of student loans. It's safe for both the student (called the SuccessFundee) and the supporter (SuccessFunder) because the funds are put in a 529 college savings plan. Visit SuccessFunding's website to create a profile and start raising money.

2) Become a Scholarship Bloodhound.

Did you get carpal tunnel writing scholarship essays your senior year of high school? Once you’ve become a vibrant college student often the last thing you want to do is revisit that process. However, spending a little time applying for scholarships can save you a lot of time repaying loans after you graduate. Are there scholarships offered by the department that houses your major? Do civic organizations in your hometown have scholarships open to current college students? Uncovering the answers to questions like these can lead to finding otherwise missed scholarship opportunities.


3) Get to Know Your Financial Aid Counselor and Know Them Well.

Are you on a first-name basis with your financial aid counselor? In any situation in life, it pays to know the gatekeeper. In the case of funding your college, the gatekeeper is your financial aid counselor. Getting to know your financial aid counselor is beneficial in several respects. When scholarships and other opportunities arise, it pays for you to be the first person they think of. Forming a good relationship with your financial aid counselor can also lead to a better understanding of both your college finances and the responsibilities tied to your financial aid.


4) Join a Forum.

I created a profile on College Confidential before I entered my senior year of high school and was quickly engrossed. Joining forums on college related matters is a great way to get advice and discover hidden opportunities. Forums like those on College Confidential are full of students, alumni, parents, school representatives, etc. who may have been in a situation similar to yours or know of ways to help you. I’ve learned that people on forums are passionate and tremendously helpful. Once you understand the ways of the forum, create a thread asking about opportunities at your school, in your field of study, or specific to your situation.


5) Start Paying the Interest While You’re in School.

While you’re in school, the government pays the interest on Direct Subsidized Loans, however Unsubsidized Federal Loans still accrue interest during this time. Get to know all the information about your loan servicer(s) by logging into your Federal Student Aid account. Contact the loan servicer(s) about paying the interest on your Unsubsidized loans. Budget for partial or full payments on the interest monthly so you’ll only be paying the capital once your loan payments start coming due.


by: Paige Witthar

Student Debt: Don't Stress Because Many People Face It (Tyler)

SF: Tell us about yourself:
TZ: I am a freshman at Texas State University pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management. I was born in London, ON Canada but was raised in the great state of Texas. Growing up, I enjoy(ed) playing sports, being outdoors, hanging out with friends, and striving to make people happy. I am an avid golfer and played all through high school, earning All-State honors as a senior. Since I have been in college, I have worked part-time for a local insurance company and joined the World Ranked Intercollegiate Quidditch Team at Texas State. I plan on networking with more individuals about SuccessFunding as well as other business related organizations that well benefit me in the future.


SF: What is your biggest challenge in college?
TZ: My greatest challenge in college is keeping my mind off the mountain of debt in which I will incur after graduation. With student loan debt hanging over my head, I have struggled to keep my mind on the ultimate prize, and that’s making the most of every opportunity to benefit me in the future.

SF: Are you impacted by student loans & debt?
TZ: Absolutely. I think about student loans and debt on a daily basis. I always wonder, is it worth it? Is my education really worth all this debt that I will face come graduation? It takes a lot for a student like me in the financial position that I am in to not think about all the student debt. It scares me.

SF: What would you do if you didn’t have any student debt?
TZ: If I didn’t have any student debt, I would be much more at peace with where I am today. I wouldn’t be “daydreaming" in class about how much my interest has accrued in the past month for my loans.

SF: Who is your hero and why?
TZ: My mother and my sister. They have showed me through thick and thin what it takes to be successful. I have watched my mom sacrifice so much for my own good, and I can’t thank her enough. My sister showed me just recently what it takes to get through college, determination and the drive to accomplish her goals. She faced thousands upon thousands of dollars in student debt as I will, but through savings, application, and networking, she was able to land a stable job right out of college that will enable her to tackle her student debt with no stress.

SF: If you could change one thing about your education system, what would it be and why?TZ: Everything would be self-paced. It is hard to create an effective education system that makes students cram information into a semester class when their learning/attention span may be far off from that. I would like to see education systems move towards a Khan Academy platform.

SF: What would you suggest to students who are facing student debt?
TZ: Don’t stress. Many many many people have to face it. Also, check out SuccessFunding. They can help guide you to financial help just by networking with others.

Create Your SuccessFunding Profile in 5 Simple Steps

Ready to begin taming your student debt? Follow these 5 steps to create your SuccessFunding profile.


1a. All you need to get started is your name, a .edu email address, and password!

1b. Spruce up your profile and give people a face to put with your name by uploading a picture. Make it easier for your potential donors to find your profile—include your hometown or the location of your college.

Voila! You’ve finished Step 1. The profile creation wizard is now visible. You’ll notice that you’ve already completed the “Name” tab.

There is now a percent bar on the right side of the window: it shows your progress toward completing your profile. Additionally, our “fan plan” is now visible to you. The fan plan gives you a blueprint for a successful fundraiser.

2. Next, tell us about your collegiate passions. Give us a taste of your love for your school. What degree are you seeking and what is your major?

3. Decide on a reasonable goal for your SuccessFund. Remember, you can always surpass your SuccessFunding goal!

Why did you decide to create a SuccessFund? What effect will the funds have in your life? Give your potential donors a glimpse into your life and talk about your plans for the funds in your "SuccessFund Title" and "Short Blurb". Make your profile easier to find by creating a friendly profile URL.

4.Show your personality through your profile. Add pictures of you in action and create a video. A video will increase the likelihood of receiving gifts from potential donors.
Check out our tips on how to make a great profile video!

5.You're almost done! Write a note thanking your donors for their generosity and belief in you. This message will be automatically sent to anyone who donates to your SuccessFund. Additionally, you can upload a picture of your signature to give your note a personalized touch. Click "Submit for Approval". Once your profile has been approved, you can begin receiving donations!

You'll have 45 days to raise funds toward your goal. During that time period, you can edit your SuccessFund and add more information like your career and education history.Tell your friends and family and use social media to spread the word about your SuccessFund in order to get maximum exposure.

Have any questions or need guidance creating your profile? Contact us--we're happy to help!

How SuccessFunding Has Changed Many Lives

Hesitant to start a SuccessFund? You're not alone. All our SuccessFundees had that same feeling before starting their SuccessFund. They didn't know if crowdfunding would work or if people would be willing lend their support to someone who they did not know. However, these SuccessFundees proved that it does work. Student Debt is a big problem in our country but its not bigger than all of us combined. Here is what a couple of them had to say about the SuccessFunding experience!

"The support from people sharing your story and telling you that they support you gives you that extra push."-Paige Witthar

"I did not think I would raise as much as I thought I would."- Sania Ahmad

"The SuccessFunding experience went beyond expectations!"- Shwetha Bhat

"The SuccessFunding process was very easy."-Sania Ahmad

"I would highly recommend SuccessFunding!"- Shwetha Bhat

"My friends believed in what I wanted to do and shared it with others and the next thing I knew, I had a whole network of supporters."-Sania Ahmad

"As long as you're passionate about something, you'll have people want to know your story."-Jannat Choudhury

Now that you've read what our SuccessFundees had to say, what's holding you back? Create a SuccessFund profile today and have an experience you have never had before.

Check out video testimonials at http://vimeo.com/successfunding

4 Tips on How to Create a Great Video

I'm sure you're asking, "Why do I even need to make a video?" for your SuccessFund. No worries, I asked the same question. I'm one of those people who can go out and meet people without any care in the world but when it comes to being in front of a camera, I clam up. But take a deep breath. We wouldn't want you to do anything that would make you uncomfortable without there being a good reason behind it. Studies have shown that a video will increase your likelihood of receiving gifts from your donors. If you don't believe us, look at our former SuccessFundees' profiles. Don't respond saying that they weren't nervous about it. Trust me, we were all nervous in front of the camera.

To have a video as great as ours, follow these tips and we're sure you'll have SuccessFunders in no time.

1) Have good lighting
Make sure you're in a well-lit area. SucessFunders want to see your face clearly. They want to know the person that is going to make a difference in the world so please don't hide yourself behind a curtain of darkness. If possible, make your video during the day.Natural lighting will be your best bet. Don't point your camera towards the source of the light. We don't want you to blind your fans.

2) Be in a quiet place
The last thing you want in your video is distracting noises, like your mom vacuuming in the background or your dog barking for your attention. Be in an area that you know people won't barge in and distract you. Your SucessFunders want to listen to you, and only you! They want to know what you have to say. If they're distracted by what's going on in the background, it''ll be hard to regain their attention.

3) Practice your answers
The questions given are supposed to help you organize what you want to say in your video. We're not saying to write down your answers and memorize it word for word. You're not a robot. You're human-a quality that your SuccessFunders want to see. There's nothing wrong with "winging it," but we've noticed that it takes a lot more time thinking of the answers on the spot. So before you start your video, look at the questions and have an idea of what you want to say and practice.

4) Be yourself!
People want to get to know YOU! If you're afraid of speaking to a large audience, pretend you are talking to a friend. You'll feel relaxed and be more open to sharing some pretty neat things about yourself. Please don't think you have to do something crazy in the video to have people watch it. People will want to watch your video because they want to get to know you and your story better. Relax and let people know that you want to make a difference without student debt holding you back. 

So are you ready to complete your SuccessFunding profile and rock the world ? Lets Go !