{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-blog-post-airtable-js","path":"/2022/04/04/a-practitioners-guide-georgia-medicaid-for-college-students/","result":{"data":{"article":{"id":"9ca0220d-b4bb-5636-9bb2-d7c06a2281c4","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/FjmMI1VoS9c9rgOHxKARZg/i6Q2STNSmJ1SkM3EiMyosyR0dxlPrrZjijKWMSEH1hwuP2li7gBCETbdoTdn7cdG2w3trN03--f6Iq7zVV-QI3HehZsTGEYONvNm7LGcXQOLr_XfZK_lut6fb05WFmIIciuAbMf5R9NaaKEAJpxAqsg6dNkZegCb5n85HWpxjwA/-tnJwWNiRICSPBgvr8z3fzrmJ_YQDKPo7fc9PbAG2SI","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/6qseP6Ir00BKMmvXtlSjbw/bbObWFsZU2TNkOIN7EoVONatLrwD2zRBOroFWWXX10WJYxEaGu0O62HFke9ZnG8g66VroGr4yOnbgQV32D_o-liuQMUk_83D8NqfXH4GnXXGf7jJVXdMuEw-dBIWaMAS2NIrBWix-9SyBPa0eL3vrg/qa_YwLH3JaAwPGNFylg53kFZBabCMlZEC_65Sy8qso8","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HvcTu44VFDVBYIO-bhXqYg/bU7bERcsVFCmbiDXqhTqYNdkXlHx10XuEpTaUjGlLL91xR4yOg6bP_x8TmSByLIggpJT-ZpbWfk_re3XDKTDOpFPajBQR_qT958oNmVH2Tnp0bx2_PbxOfTQnFgtYdWhHHotCv-DnePfG2oQdmKa4g/37xTEgwNNl1ztCSdEKVqwNxPtuW6w5eCYrly3qVyBCg","height":512,"width":697},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/RveEIeXwMRrC8woEMw1stA/ubetjwhAiymbWYAeu6-4aJD8x6FzCwjwFnq8YhD0EWcbGE0gEySDxvxiKQDvrCbcNc9-4ePVpYVxWsavax2Vg1v1YyZvtn_huWebcSvicMKAQwsRhQLYxaDZYTvarlky7Ls34Tj6LkV78Wsfb_taHQ/F0dExRoOh2aWh1yMhjLXuAI0T-k2vZbavx2nCrGvWb4","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-04-04","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"How to see if your college students are eligible for and help them apply for Medicaid in Georgia.\n","full_copy":"## Welcome!\nThis quick guide is designed to guide student support practitioners in Georgia through the process of helping post-secondary students apply for Medicaid. Medicaid gives low-income Georgia residents a health insurance plan to cover routine doctor visits, emergencies, and prescription medicine. That type of physical and mental health care can be instrumental to the success of a student. \n\n## Why Medicaid? \nHaving health insurance is a critical part of basic needs security and can often be the difference in someone’s ability to afford other daily expenses like food and housing. As a state, [Georgia has the 4th highest rate of uninsured residents in the country](https://wallethub.com/edu/uninsured-rates-by-state)- with 15.48% of adults being uninsured. Students in two-and-four year colleges often face some of the highest barriers to accessing health care, but public insurance options like Medicaid might be able to help. If a student is a single parent or attending school while caring for a dependent child, they might also be eligible for PeachCare for Kids, Georgia’s public health insurance program for children. \n\n## Can College Students Even Qualify for Medicaid?\nYes! Like with all public benefits programs, Medicaid eligibility can get complicated. However, if students meet income restrictions and other general eligibility criteria, it’s likely that they can receive Medicaid benefits. This knowledge is especially important for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses who might have higher-than-average medical costs, on top of the financial stress of paying for school. \n\n## Medicaid Toolkit\nWe’ve created a free and easy-to-read Medicaid toolkit for practitioners to help their students get connected to healthcare. Included are two resources aimed to assist in deciding if a student qualifies for Medicaid and how to apply for benefits, according to the State of Georgia.\n\n### Quick Eligibility Tool\nThis yes/no list can help you determine if a student might be eligible for Georgia’s Medicaid Benefits. However, the list doesn’t cover important considerations like income and expenses. We recommend using BestFit’s screening tool to fully evaluate each student profile. You can go here to find how to start using BestFit at your school. \n\n### Application Steps:\nWe’ll cover the three main steps of the application process, including a list of what verification or documents might be necessary. Whether you work for a university or simply encounter a lot of students in your daily role, we hope that this information is helpful. \n\n[Get the BestFit Medicaid Toolkit](https://bestfit.formstack.com/forms/ga_medicaid_toolkit)\n\n## Tips for Students: \nIf a student is having a hard time understanding how healthcare and healthcare insurance works, read our tips for [demystifying Medicaid practitioners](https://blog.best-fit.app/2022/04/05/demystifying-medicaid-health-insurance-terms-and-college-student-tips/). We also include some tips specific to common student life issues, so that you can tailor your advice and assistance.\n","title":"A Practitioner’s Guide: Georgia Medicaid for College Students"}},"articles":{"items":[{"id":"99e18463-db13-532b-9f83-4d89d08d41fb","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS","OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":null,"date":"2023-06-15","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"How to begin, and maintain a student ready college\n","full_copy":"As college enrollment still lags behind pre-pandemic levels, it's more crucial for student support professionals to think about equity-driven practices. This means moving from a model of making “college-ready students” to a model of becoming a “student-ready college.” Simply, it’s about purposefully building equity into your college’s culture and operations. _Ensuring all students are given a true chance at succeeding in higher education,_ even if they come from inequitable backgrounds.\n\n**How to achieve equity**\n\nStudents come into college with varying degrees of academic preparation. Zip codes often determine the quality of education, mitigating an individual's talent or \"hard work ethic.\" In addressing equity, some higher ed professionals must recognize their biases and assumptions about underserved students to allow for change. \n\nWhile these gaps are functions of much larger forces, see them as an opportunity to make impactful change.\n\nThe first step includes looking at your values in your campus context. What is the overall mission of your school? How could your role in that mission be different from a student-ready perspective? For example, is your college's mission to be student-centered? Becoming student-centered may mean expanding your office's touchpoints to meet students where they are. Touchpoints could include more remote options for talking with staff or completing forms online. Students have different responsibilities outside of college, so it's essential to be prepared to work with them, not against them.\n\n\n**How to prepare**\n\nEducators must make difficult decisions, be accountable, and address their (and others) preconceived notions about student success head-on. Changes must be made in an institution's policies, practices, and culture. An excellent way to do this is to create partnerships with other organizations on campus or in the community.\n\nStudent-ready colleges build effective partnerships by:\n1. Having an appreciation of each other’s common work, strengths, and needs\n2. Acknowledging overlapping accountability\n3. Creating an agreement on infrastructure\n4. Committing to shared cost\n5. Engaging in continuous communication\n\n**How do I know I have successfully become a student-ready college?**\n\nThe process of becoming student-ready will look different for some institutions. But, there are general key results you can aim for to ensure you are meeting your goal. Student-ready colleges address the academic, social, and financial needs of their students by:\n- Having an engaged and active ecosystem of mutual organizations,\n- Sharing a strategy of how to understand and leverage resources across the ecosystem in the context of being student-ready\n- Working together to create an equitable future for your students\n\nA student-ready campus makes believing in all its students, an expectation of everyone working there. From all levels, everyone has a shared goal and welcomes new ideas.\n\nYou can learn more about becoming a student-ready campus by reading _[Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success](https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Student-Ready-College-Culture-Leadership-dp-1119824192/dp/1119824192/ref=dp_ob_title_bk)_. \n\nBestFit addresses marginalized students' basic needs through student-centered eligibility screening for public benefits.  Follow BestFit on social media or [schedule a call](https://cal.mixmax.com/ericaroberts-297/45?re=ICcwFmL0lmZtQ3clJGQyVGdul2bw5Sa05WY2FmI&rn=gIyVGdul2bQBSa05WY2FkI&messageId=V5uAiADWtt7QJHr6D) with us today to learn more about getting your campus student-ready.\n\n\n","title":"Student Ready Colleges"}},{"id":"da9530b0-c526-5a34-b075-1daf88460dec","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/dyh4eMdX7RJ3O4NR4LqTGA/PqY8CuqASdVRwmCrVR1TrVLKOLLyXhIpvhPHa-DFm_PUhII8oiTMgHN_8R0kRyMFIHzpIAVd6s6riY5iH2lQ2iXiVhQrWt1UqFW6YUugXoYZrM_TzLPTAcwVWTKok-UgmB3GOYiJ6M9925eIhEB6iw/LbCiKB4oqrAxSBD7gHCka8OmZeJtg5ZuL3AVi3v9a2M","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/-Lc0-MsYeREI7G-xp1LJyw/tzmpyFBMprjNo1ctPvyXRVTo1-L0TeDXF053b6s1uVkuGoerti9dXoQeJLSWyxT6wYvgNOR_AMcmB0ivfMcD1tDXQiBPojzWno3LQnMj-8_Qj5UrStOolTJKlwjLyGv6cKmgEUKCBkMNKMvy5STHIw/z-O6YGYls7gS784eC-EGZ5ltDErwqtcD_KsO2scxnOU","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/-huoIrA0EkBiSlNwOu_USQ/HI3mjUKEOoQ4z0xzfHSUSxO78ULLUGcgpmVwAAJyF8Se9i-M7Hw4yZ9BR4d3CNCL9czIGqSXI1D5oxCCfhvM1Amd_EzcmELarAeswsWtolpyknN_mFXRz83Hq82aEHsfH9-onzGwp5eB6maLeadc8w/KWZNH25jO0-DI6EpbBYQ0UVBPh-poJ99drDsSD67-x0","height":512,"width":1026},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/d9sSKyN0ik_Q_S7XPuSYcw/xzVirZzJzLD0uJKo4X4A62Ybrj4tmW0aaNyE2YPYmgHPoLBjHpXvj4-IrFHmluJymXNyhuj8MzOkkJmio5W-sddPXnwNR26KFqMUPBz07c9uwCYMShGoFqGKK1AyCfHotY0OpOxPkVJPanluLdFM3A/VGP6jBaDt2s3Lecet6UmPryLcTVJeKehvEIbbVqtckI","height":36,"width":72}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/twYvBZAoARL7uCzBYOl6VA/7hbi0E45ZbEQl20H7Xq-9JFHJiaQbaIw8fht5E-h7P-QE1jeiaGKW_MBxBY6T4FaDz_LBQF-QfzbRfriZKCP-OQWaGj07H9NrcbS8A2_BqYE6q9vGqOs1PYEJsGVCZ3hI0cuFo1fJj8zo0BfydTMLg/_kPSCststOl3w7ZPmLlIZYdymXbnf2HsQqGC-GILUow","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/gLUHZOZT5abdcOtUKMUy0w/kwqRZs5D6RJc-95Zg5wLc0ja3qpDVnmbR2CSPmxYr7--QUAllqnEE2tLiG83HyyNpUpYCxPBDdFPlVOftmg3CYmRxx0142o7OB8CyaFFtiD5Do56LgN5DUE4vmYyacUrD9qHWREhtG_ZkDUputGpTw/RLZ2vSZjtf4YIlxEBnHZG6XQKZe94put_wD7UpbMAM0","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/KfMM3hQSNFw9_aX4mFQGsg/YWUNSpO9c0rgaJMxWERxgKGZlJDflrz37IjgRIksTL9qcg3_r4yHjsuDniQVyAYlTN2xM8z9EabPiehMbWXr3cgeEd8yaka37cayFdXJYUbiTJ0C7PgTHYB7hkDxGkz_TFXHkD6CEgnUtW1zDX_NFg/6PeRsqA4OBSSC75L6YNQgiFJIMhte2AvPwfESW_F8Ys","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ZG-hXMOOS7rJP8WNf_XNCQ/e-mEmD0oIIw32f4Li0gKi4DG8T-vTYtmbnvxXt6HotBgfGjwKfwtPQCIQGXb46PlBt9TewoSi4dm3B6363WkKJfoVxSc7njWwtDOuiWj4gxluuOc8f9WoZxU8RyI92cmHsrHvgGt6w7KoEXgZEBj_A/wzQckpDhVpmi1R7RAn6cwl_YjkNN4yjzQ8p5NRwh5Ok","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2023-04-27","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"The relevance of HBCUs in the trend of student success initiatives.\n\n","full_copy":"# **Intro**\nThere are many benefits of HBCUs in the larger system of higher education. HBCUs have long provided opportunities for black students that the larger system of higher education has not. It’s important that as champions of equity, we acknowledge this and support HBCUs in the innovative work they continue to do.\n\nTo appreciate HBCUs today, we must first understand the history of them. The first HBCU, [Cheyney University of Pennsylvania](https://cheyney.edu/), was founded in 1837 (28 years before the 13th amendment officially abolished slavery) and is the oldest HBCU still in operation. Prior to this, Black Americans were prohibited from enrolling at existing American universities—even though several of [these institutions were built, run, and funded through the labor of enslaved people](https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2017/09/04/shackled-legacy).\n\nOther HBCU institutions were founded between 1837-1964 (most of them after the abolishment of slavery) with the mission to educate Black students in subjects to help them gain employment. In addition to providing postsecondary education, some of the early HBCUs also provided primary and secondary education as racial segregation in schools would not be declared unconstitutional until [Brown v. Board of Education](https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka) (1954).\n\nDuring this time, HBCUs grew and thrived and by 1953, over 32,000 students were enrolled in private Black institutions, and over 43,000 were enrolled in public Black institutions. These schools educated teachers, ministers, lawyers, and doctors for the Black community and contributed substantially to the progress of our nation as a whole.\n\nHBCUs are continuing to educate students despite the nationwide decrease in college enrollment. Basic needs for students can range from tech, food, hygiene products to internet access, transportation to and from campus or job opportunities.\n\nBestFit works to address the basic needs of marginalized students and a great example can be found in Clark Atlanta University.\n\n# **Clark Atlanta University**\n[Clark Atlanta University](https://www.cau.edu/) was established in 1988 as the result of Atlanta University and Clark College merging. Today, it offers over 40 areas of study as it seeks to deliver “education that is accessible, relevant, and transformative”.\n\nTrue to its mission to make education accessible, CAU offers one year of Amazon Prime Student free to its students. Currently enrolled students are eligible to receive Amazon Prime Student at no cost to them, receiving access to exclusive deals, free delivery, and more.\n\n\n\nWith perks like free food delivery with GrubHub, and discounted access to services like Calm, students can worry less about basic needs and more on excelling in school. Not to mention, students can tend to their basic needs easier through Prime, such as acquiring textbooks, hygiene products, tech and more. Visit [Prime Student (cau.edu)](https://www.cau.edu/Prime-Student.html) to learn more about the offer.\n\n**CONCLUSION **\nWe would love it if you shared what you learned here with others and/or take action to support black students on their campus.\n\nAs college enrollment continues to decline nationally, HBCUs are seeing an increase. Part of this trend is undoubtedly due to the renewed calls for social justice in America. But, part of it is also the program models they have that acknowledge the first year of a student on campus as the most important one. All post-secondary institutions can learn to build a relationship and trust with a student the first year the student is on campus. College becomes hard for every student at some time, whether it’s due to academics or not having the social & financial support to stay enrolled. All of these can be addressed by instituting programs & initiatives from day one that support a student through graduation. \n\nIf you’d like to learn more on how BestFit can help you address your campus’ basic needs, schedule a meeting with BestFit. We’d be happy to help!\n\n","title":"HBCU Profile: Using funding to address student based needs"}},{"id":"26108d42-cd94-5f5b-9196-e4e6a4c8a04f","data":{"tags":["OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/tA5ztIZ9Gf8Xrvs8gK_Z_w/cMFmgLoyvW2vSux6DjLF0TxztHEpP8NpYPZPP5kKbLuoZZvTUdEI0edHjG-TbvywxWldxIT1gTRzmjUC9FSXJYxNnCwczA2uY82ecdQ9nF1eQZdA9KV-Zmj5qaGkgOYzNZn7Z3T_u4PY7f351iggJrKLT72b6YbQdBYxxWAKic8/KUuTFPSmNoSd9txlAFLE4dwSADnRbhhB7E8aIhJWpvs","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/bkvyvd3eGA_RFkPAL8mMrA/q-LGPQC14x9XCfbPWp78REe79V40p66s-3ITEIBrtTrx7rUs52ZI9jDBhZNfuFwUqg5ao2o63Sa6Ng1l0_OBs1le3MubEzotW3pUgtee4al5-h0STiEILVTkL0GaPTW7E0akDlPdqQAqMNbIYXK6zg/0pKHOdgd59nh62ElNMfF83SJoAvYm3_gEjsCsQV9AL4","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/s4XPDiM5n8MBHbIxQ8EUaQ/QT0EZkX7I7NAjI0ijqnqPdFWnjTv2KxLjNo2W6IiumSqVgmPdIPARxomyg0P6L_ls_mxh7N9-tQGQ3fKP4PEvOwgqGK43We5l4IzICGvLUU48i3MP-2O497wc1TkqV7jbDEKTRgql0QivgcBCBLHqQ/Lg6aVvr3SdjWT2Uv3qY1bptPgu7_qNlWey3PciimMZs","height":512,"width":987},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/pLCoYCBSb0XUsY7qCFY19A/lQhpn1MUmffkHX-XNSKvNbd4T9pU4HJw9EXkWnqhf2j8RvnHpPz6eT2XIqfi8yY8i70hq1op3jRXejko6elux0-X5TZO2FPZkFydG4opj3TRSqijDSK3Gkmgie3UQJ3tUIAv85-sx5Zj5ErM5eu9AQ/DPIPRyhENSpWqrZqIwYSZhrLR7xR-Tx-VpIh-sAGfNY","height":36,"width":69}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/eXtu8-MF-TMppA6990qIVA/g8ZHXnulaaV4V9XJkjIuKuO1Y80H6qY-E9SmY8ialPURYhXmkWqe2GpHtdhvfQCXMquVrTAQKlWcD-DMU9K9wacfBefMjIG-1z0e-Pk6IY-tQilJZoIMtIOdmmIfL0ERrwr4wEHeyIwZpGAo5PkQt8ZLXUtrR3ilHdvruZA_a9Y/BvFvQZwNPCUrqEotL0JOfo2zjJi6b5gB1cuXP1j3E-Q","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/KO_3En0Yz7_j6-IsiY69VA/68BTr92SzNYEhYhJ6_r04xzrEX-yR6-nOmipTHjBIJmqsmClwEuqCu4yLEofO-7RijLH1gT2MRwYEUt0o48LskToy95ZVkgnl58z2djBMSeF5bgrzqK_ozWhFfsOY8tkLMw1_UdO85DUdgnNRROInQ/UQDRASQLYKnQ1izrcQXKogdRjspqDH_d1Ri8UPzRg_o","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/7DIac7pGpRvRvfirxgKHuA/JJ_ZUHRiW3cHv7TkoorB3Qegr54m41CQmLrVVzp3bJaED48b4DhdgsOzDTEpGpbKIe4VdWJy5rZp6WDs-pp1i1QOeNQNWrYZGw1UPruxRj-MF4SphK2wt1bgVYdBarucQ53SSDXGBpxe3CVytENKhw/qTvyRwzw2nEj6imIh5vEcuGEGH3U3p-oV_RI2IsuqqM","height":107,"width":400},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/LMWMpyRV4-z-US5bXoNimQ/ZpxAHt3Y4qQuMXBRBHYYaq_4K_YcUEuPA0ke2TzXySe3qdFChtFIze6y2oxiEbw1jWj3eiLcgUp9FJscz06MwmBxEds8pgp-S62WGcsFDz8tfCzDuNCye75vi4Y8RE8m2jZs9KFLn9Zf1Fsx6Jbq7A/ia5zBsdb1LuTBJwOpLpu5oHmANi7Y43qoA7S59CjCu0","height":36,"width":135}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/4ExVBqhMJFP3naL2BmSCfA/NNrz2SZpwA_ukQvhEsQ65gRCZqKkqdyiQbdJMO08Ty9HlHPQPxKbTmOAxuwRI5t83WDc05dcZK04k9UlaPONIdhn6b5NZG0_wpHWRs8Fb2SAMXixlkep-5Qg_ZgtrboV0iN87DyeKCyWgScr34NsyPYbD3hhDYsXn-7WdQmcS_w/WxshDCZc_ogTckUJuvHqpn4vlNBiZ4ouJBiBRzcg7Bg","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/h9cdz1v_dmZKr6J-thkd2g/5bcTqCYyH88femyrTBeJgJ-xr4VnzMtc8cGv0lMunfMc1bJDGQnS8lxEn1kKl8dbyWKttb419g7NmhDZIulER137l8QIFxqUoslqN17l4IOmahF82hX15JkV56QRmMTGdOsyW32kAi8_1sLgp0Kb6A/cyGVZN-Vss4Z034BCRLwaytRKQ_Mem6HU_CJDa8kw9I","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/GNEb8MbfmXNeh6Tl4LgBuA/_nTsy9IosLtfStcHKHYoVAaBuL0LIDACL7ZAmvXoQtvqfLKRWrlbeEJMq1tgfdGVpayVTcGiAhecSsqZfEJjwKEqwyW-8En-kynu8Y5v-OKSc8z8nGoDYf42ha7MHLejzCk6c34jzebSd06cUThsbA/6QCfUwTci2Vj556gxfj5sB8pCpD3MT3AT1hkwomZ6Qc","height":512,"width":957},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/eK0h7M0JsFygzfFxnrAHvw/7w6ZI5iyxtQhfwcfcu8mQX1NXQmGVK67mcJqqotUjpqUzWenD5y_R_qZDTmB-A19anIhRDavVHOYl1HfUkxQDstcCACBcK1vazVGGASHxQ00inqczKp_vk8EXx1Ee2k12hak6DmWU45Hg1h-Ty1Aww/RSwqm-aSdglhfZnx0n9kP2rIjfd0nr-K2-gIU6b1CSI","height":36,"width":67}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Gl3UBFReA9cIBLMsAjM5oQ/aQKDX3TGOn2bKWy5QxKsOZ4eL0JdWlUxFXX_4zNCjsqfGgsGmgIXXrNfXJIAW5QTSEMKE2YzD3nrDU3LPh1zuekzFYXrV6Nxxuyo6ERXAuSMzlBFsUtk_1m_H9ZhjgMNpYGBVIGOciYcyMst8AS2Bq67zTMW0MfirlYYDf5ebU70hILJYY84HarFEGwsRZN5/efhyAFainobF3waVgFIpFcKqnI5344xl2nivSUubaQY","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/w73wZTKSZGKmyE5yjaPOTg/WFPJcZIoshQdEfQ-zV5ep1JPWkwXQuG2I1D5LpBZuQVVFV37ULTfx37dN_jByfcIsJHU5P6nfHcdh1IUEUeLo_ftmqGmWuVIBTNSKgPkOvQxRiR68xBQ6CGQrjHTbhU2t8kTABmAZYoAvi6IfEpnHg/1sC4I9cqLAnsMa-1bMKoWYi6HqneB7FebzUCqbHjEjM","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/-BUSkLPE2wXeGkBrc0It0g/zzWcY7ftut2dgwj9vna5jWra8vgrOaTY65qiUnDIGAYUCHOahyESH38l9uGyX6UpG8wNfC8z8O9I1sXt1oHTHL62jJFi9HN5-0Ii56zXesF56nTGbSDSFLOtlm8DHgqL9pi-g1FIMKKDfsyyMJrqnA/uhzL2HGjmSLZ279kGtPCeg4PcubHST7vh7zlEPC8ItM","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/9YCRFLORrfGePJQmwAPdFg/XL8P-3ElhULcvt-Q45K3_rfb0P8atGxspfA-RPq9wPBechPdJ4YiPK2T4Q2BCeL6jZqQU8rhpcilM_-0k0Us5s7DJRilodM4mEpE_2NdLU9uETIjTrNLydDgLQNnNDrh2XR4uv30gOa6Gy0Ia2RSyA/WSuMRvVhSJbP4e4-PatiSrohXPectVCw6kSmX218PJg","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-06-01","templateKey":null,"category":null,"description":" An evolving calendar of conferences for higher ed professionals and practitioners who want to learn about new practices in ensuring student success.\n","full_copy":"# Higher Ed Conferences for Student Affairs Professionals\nWith the higher ed student population rapidly changing to majority “non-traditional” students, staying up-to-date on the latest innovations in edtech and holistic student support practices is vital to ensuring student success. \n\nThat’s why we’ve created a growing calendar of higher education conferences for student support/affairs professionals so you can have a centralized location for upcoming opportunities for learning, professional development, networking, or sharing some of your own learnings or practices.\n\nThe calendar below includes conferences on topics such as basic needs (housing, healthcare, etc.), policy, and equity-centered practices. \n\nHere’s a [list view](https://sharing.clickup.com/30986174/l/h/xhkxy-7765/4643f2259e486a3), if you’d like to view multiple events at once. Otherwise, feel free to go through the traditional monthly [calendar view](https://sharing.clickup.com/30986174/c/h/6-193758732-5/688c288cadfa244)!\n\nFor more info on how to go through the calendar, continue reading.\n\n![overview of conference calendar - list view](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/DpsEIdN0TDC7zBSwBige)\n\n## How are the events sorted?\nIn our list view, conferences are sorted into either **“Upcoming”**, **“Current”** or **“Past”**. Toggle each section to see the events in that category. We’ve also sorted them by their start dates; closest start date to the furthest off start date. \n\n![example of an event grouped as upcoming](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/pGBbDpfSRSWBD1ceoW79)\n\nIn our calendar view, the statuses are color coded with upcoming events in blue, current events in yellow, and past events in green.\n\n## What info is included for each event?\nFor each conference you can see the name of the hosting organization, dates, registrations fees, type of conference, attendance type (virtual, in-person, or both), location, and lastly a link to the conference’s landing page. To see a short description of a conference, click on the name of the particular conference to open its window. \n\n![more details of an event once clicked on](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/XBlDqos8RSyjuTylXkY4)\n\n## What is meant by type of conference?\nBy “type” we simply mean the general topic of the conference. For instance the #RealCollege 2022 conference is an annual conference on the policy, research, and practices surrounding meeting students’ basic needs in higher education. If you’re looking for a higher ed conference on basic needs, education, policy, AND equity, this is a conference you wouldn’t want to miss!\n\nOur current list of conference topics include:\n\n- Basic needs\n- Education\n- Equity\n- Healthcare\n- Housing\n- Policy\n- Post-secondary/Higher Ed\n\n## Why are basic needs conferences included?\nGreat question! At BestFit, we believe holistically supporting student basic needs is the best way to ensure student success. The biggest barrier(s) to academic achievement for students often have very little to do with academics. Instead, they’re much more likely to be related to the accessibility and affordability of basic needs like food, medicine, shelter, etc. Relief is out there for students, but outdated and frustrating user experiences cause $12 billion in benefits to go unclaimed each year by eligible post-secondary students. \n\nWith the COVID-19 pandemic, this problem was only exacerbated for both colleges and their students as many students left higher education in droves. Colleges, universities, and practitioners have seen the time for modernizing their student support services is now. The basic needs conferences included provide great insights into innovative ways to ensure students have the non-academic support they need to complete their post-secondary education. \n\nIf you're looking for more on student basic needs, check out our [SNAP (food stamps) eligibility and application guide](https://blog.best-fit.app/2021/11/08/a-practitioners-guide-georgia-snap-for-college-students/) for practitioners & students and our [guide to Medicaid](https://blog.best-fit.app/2022/04/04/a-practitioners-guide-georgia-medicaid-for-college-students/).\n\n## What else do I need to know?\nYou should also note that the registration costs we’ve put down are one cost of attendance. Registration fees may vary based on membership, your organization's nonprofit status, and early or late registration.\n\nMake sure you check out the host’s event page for the most accurate information on fees and other event details.\n\n## Will this calendar get updated?\nYes! This calendar will be updated weekly as new conferences get announced. Don’t see a conference you’re looking for, or have one you think we should add to the list? Don’t hesitate to shoot us an [email](mailto:hello@best-fit.app)!\n","title":"Higher Ed Conference Calendar - Student Affairs - 2022/2023"}},{"id":"3da96f5b-0717-5b1d-bf7a-1160d49166dc","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/WcgqFC1hIlDwQ8sbHg8cbw/lNTtC4g0yjSfVYZu6DwTqylNJ_2CgOobXnU7ZB4wJ4UmVN8DrAwAOUxA94U8BOODzIJjRJIaQKJY04oMEPOelCzLYCy2wm6zGigA06U2LXxDw3Bfa9ILkpOHVxg_sGYvGKPa6RODBsYwYQJ6h9dZUonj4EoO2khcWAL_dK1IfJA1syfJKUS02tn-esLwGegA/q620EGAiAhy9-fInc4HZ-QmNBkwxw87LtWxfJtw_Mlw","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/wwrgc0osPls6nvksdyQpbA/7Rw_sS4r562dk3I5DI-K0wBbzdbR0KfKv6Mq8bwyEcso67YGCfIjX9fMhxS3FosdF3EEp9Y0-p7KGCN0j5RV7UNyoPfzaufhe3m-gcpKPWiNLq8L3Nou4G_i1uhi7oQN18esbI7jkbw7ZbtpbniuKw/2vesFh1M4fVOoNtwzwAWNJA9uATJF_ccRhl0xzMdbY8","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/0Zt1UH4sfwsfo0sZl10RkA/6zGfxQyFkhoAnG3P_fHwcz25BZTpV1A_xLxvH6HwGQyQ02hPd2wDZrvu7OAr5zUL5VNI6D-Kxb9jICLVtrT6EQoAcg-Uzcc4wlBHBxe1MxO1mHtpOuiKfU1N5lBdqfpFeUKhiX-RZjqlg8cdTDon-A/O8kfWqL6dzhRiOsAJd0xCuLe8tqchZ4y-I1WwiaeaHM","height":512,"width":697},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/AtUSsFAtDBrKc34xk59-Rg/67K4qXvbyS2R4Quqy9gC7iJqa9HO2RsuY_cVjdWCDLm_noJb4bF02BUDWI9YDS9zDDkmyxKiuGMDh6Fa2sPSPPYFWAUDhhyzBBnB2mRuGrjhiRGlBnDO_W6cqZ0fzMQCm1_H4bCtnNpRLukkZ0Zk2g/wqjrk3ai3Us7Lzha0dz4xQzzeVGYna_n0HAdyLhf9SM","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-05-03","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"Terms on Gender & Gender Identity every student affairs professional should know.\n","full_copy":"## What is Gender Diversity? \nGender diversity is a fairly new term that might be unfamiliar at first. It’s often been used to describe the proportion of women to men in the workforce, schools, or politics. Increasingly, it’s used to describe representations of all genders, including nonbinary or agender individuals. Within higher education, that would look like a proportional representation of students, faculty, and staff of all genders. And when a person is referred to as “gender diverse” it means that they identify or present themselves outside of the gender binary (man or woman). If this sounds complicated - no worries! This post will explore some of the terms and phrases floating around college campuses for you to use as part of your language to [affirm a gender inclusive environment](https://blog.best-fit.app/2022/03/08/how-student-support-professionals-can-affirm-a-gender-inclusive-campus/).\n\n## What are some terms I should know?\nTerminology is important when communicating with your students. Here are some terms on gender diversity and gender identity to know and incorporate into your office's services and language.\n\n- **Gender**: The socially-constructed expressions, roles, and behaviors of people according to their identity as women, men, nonbinary, and/or gender diverse. [Source: [Canadian Institutes of Health Research](https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/48642.html)]\n\n- **Gender Identity**: An individual’s personal understanding of their identity as male, female, both, neither, or a blend of both or neither. [Source: [Human Rights Council](https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions)]\n\n- **Gender diverse (gender diversity)**: An expression of gender identity that goes beyond or exists outside of the socially-expected norms of the gender binary (the binary division between man and woman). This is often an umbrella term that can include a variety of different identities. [Sources: [APA](https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/programs/safe-supportive/lgbt/key-terms.pdf), [American Academy of Pediatrics](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/Pages/Gender-Diverse-Transgender-Children.aspx)]\n\n- **Gender equality**: The idea that people of all genders should have equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities. [Source: [Victoria Australia Government](https://www.vic.gov.au/gender-equality-what-it-and-why-do-we-need-it)]\n\n- **Equity vs. equality**: Equality is equal outcomes for all. But equity recognizes everyone has different circumstances and will need different resources and opportunities allocated to them to achieve equal outcomes. If equality is the end goal we’re trying to reach, we can use equity to get there. [Source: [George Washington University](https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/equity-vs-equality/), [Pipeline Equity](https://www.pipelineequity.com/voices-for-equity/gender-equity-vs-gender-equality/)]\n\n### Gender spectrum\n- **Agender**: Those who identify as not having a gender. [Source: [University of Massachusetts](https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/sites/default/files/documents/allyship_term_handout.pdf)]\n\n- **Cisgender**: Those who identify with their gender assigned at birth. In other words, someone who feels like the label they were given as a baby fits who they are. \n\n- **Nonbinary**: Any individual who identifies as being outside of the male/female gender binary. This is often used as an umbrella term to describe a variety of experiences. [Source: [University of Massachusetts](https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/sites/default/files/documents/allyship_term_handout.pdf)]\n\n- **Gender nonconforming**: Those who don’t conform to the traditional societal expectations for their gender identity. Not everyone who calls themself gender nonconforming sees this as a gender identity - it can simply be a way to describe someone’s expression. [Source: [University of Massachusetts](https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/sites/default/files/documents/allyship_term_handout.pdf)]\n\n- **Transgender**: Someone who’s gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This can be an umbrella term for multiple identities but also commonly refers to someone who chooses to transition genders. [Source: [Human Rights Council](https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions)]\n\n- **Two-Spirit**: This is a gender identity used by some North American indigenous communities to describe someone who has both feminine and masculine spirit within them. Note that “two-spirit” is an English term for a concept that is referred to differently in different indigenous languages. [Source: [Indian Country Today](https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/8-misconceptions-things-know-two-spirit-people)]\n\n- **AGAB, AMAB, AFAB**: These are acronyms that stand for “Assigned Gender At Birth” and are usually used to mean “Assigned Male At Birth” or “Assigned Female At Birth.” \n\n- **Pronouns**: She/her, He/him, They/them, etc. In the context of gender equity, pronouns are an individual’s way of expressing and identifying their gender. Using someone’s correct pronouns is an easy way to show respect and acceptance. \n\n### Gender Identity vs. Gender Expression\n- **Identity**: Identity is different from expression. Identity usually describes someone’s core feeling or understanding of their gender. \n\n- **Expression**: Expression is used to describe how someone presents their gender - through clothes, behavior, pronouns, names, etc.  [Source: [APA](https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/programs/safe-supportive/lgbt/key-terms.pdf)]\n\n## How do I put this into use?\nThe easiest step you can take towards creating a welcoming environment is to ask for and allow space for self-identification. When you’re leading an event or even just introducing yourself in a new environment, try opening with your preferred pronouns as a part of the standard “Hi, my name is” format. Pronouns are also becoming a norm in email signatures and it can be a subtle way to signal students and staff that you’re open to hearing theirs. With this comes the important consideration that stating “my pronouns are” should always be optional. Everyone’s relationship and comfort level with their gender is different and nobody should feel pressured into giving an answer. But if you start to offer your pronouns and extend an open invitation to others to provide theirs, it can create a safe and welcoming space for people to share in the future.\n\nThe harder step towards gender equity is being an advocate in your institution for gender-inclusive language and policy changes. These changes can be anywhere from small to large - supporting more gender selection options on institutional forms or advocating for more gender neutral restrooms or working to improve your organization’s language and advertising. Uplifting student advocates can go hand-in-hand with student support work. Student advocates pushing their institutions for change might benefit from your ally ship and support, whether that’s signing petitions or organizing events that amplify student voice. And support from staff and faculty can give a student cause legitimacy in the eyes of administration.\n\nFor simple strategies you can pair with your new vocabulary, check out our post on [How Student Support Professionals Can Affirm a Gender Inclusive Campus](https://blog.best-fit.app/2022/03/08/how-student-support-professionals-can-affirm-a-gender-inclusive-campus/)!\n","title":"Guide to Gender Diversity Terms & Concepts for Student Affairs Professionals"}},{"id":"c09d52aa-d56e-5bc4-8ce5-c286fa9bc283","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ec6hQQXmRIqN4-cGJY2VoA/6ye6gJyVqvnfdtZk8CV3bh1zcw8CF57jFj_SCZNc4RFxmbWqVPwzwk3PixOW2aVtxBeUQKvtesIFV4nGlt13MMc-0auT0_fNt33DrLMSZa9ngr_XK5HB4cmWEJrxD8-exJkoLaN7dROf1g3XOhkGfnj30Za1BJZhOwQfSpOOg3q0EOETgsu1qShU4cETMOLI/GA4ZqUxmYKBMhP9DY4h-t3lhRFxD9-PNSXyrb76Hln4","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/9QTmTrUJ0av8t6cpM_NSTQ/Ii-trcL1LLaHjNKIyh8FD_Wp4Nb07gatfLMUqmaz784uBmbdMBB_1B1pHTvA1Kqq6qTz-SP5a8K1YXv-OH-2nfFCkQMZGfEirJhBoSVUxNEFSRfJJiiN8LBWnODyhORTEl8klIumfDkNkgnmCdZkgg/wlQih-T2iyNi7T3OFgYh2ktPDTWjJimIONV46tu1ZCg","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/5M6v4ExbQmZtkZefCfi_sA/YZBOhO8qvehibsyuC0MyV07eFepUlY-u_ZoSJApZzHxZ7BauydEZfiBtfy-5S3SOE9HT-7fYk4r4axK9_CH1ltTWbf5ogqoM3csZYDh2_1cgOwiaIOkWmQWOgNujRA1Mon7SfhATq1dIk1zv5kWwpw/mWiXLoe9y_2-wRJVvea3cDSEMdJdccucBvfUY8hwhcw","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/fXqWlm94vxP4Wp1sTddOnA/DsTPlrWpkWk-xTTKRpvcI3VDO47Qjfp2okeNInZbSrfoek-xQP64qp-ex7rSgDOz860maDHsy97E2z-tp_HiNAw08Wb2dZ8EN3HtBYDgNfbs5C76VpsVM8B2Bpiwv7GjAG1WPx5HyVN6cIal_hPZyg/vWqdD3otrpLydFAe5dcIdOgzeeVVO6IHb7SpPfReB1M","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-04-05","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"Health insurance terms your college students need to know.\n","full_copy":"## For Practitioners and Students \nHealthcare and health insurance can be a daunting maze to navigate, especially on top of the regular responsibilities of being a college student. Unfamiliar insurance-specific terms can make it even harder to understand how to access care. This list will help you update students on words that they might encounter while applying for or using care services. \n\nIf you’re curious about whether or not the students you work with are eligible for Medicaid coverage, we’ve got you covered! Get our easy-to-use [practitioner’s guide to Georgia Medicaid benefits](https://blog.best-fit.app/2022/04/04/a-practitioners-guide-georgia-medicaid-for-college-students/) for college students. It comes with eligibility information and a step-by-step of how to help students apply. \n\n## Health Insurance Terms for Students to Know\n- **Co-Insurance**: A flat rate amount that you will pay for a health service or treatment (very similar to a co-pay). This amount will depend on what the service is and what your insurance covers. Often, this is a portion of the total cost and the rest will be paid by your insurance company. \n\n- **Co-Pay**: A set amount that you pay for health services. The amount can depend on what the service is and your insurance coverage. This charge is usually a portion of the total cost, the rest being paid by insurance and some plans don’t have co-pays at all.\n\n- **Coverage**: The list of services and treatments for which your insurance will pay all or part of the cost. What services are included in your coverage will depend on your specific insurance plan. \n\n- **Deductible**: A dollar amount of cost that you will have to pay on your own before insurance will start paying for treatment. This dollar amount is often called the “out-of-pocket maximum.” \n\n- **Network/In-Network/Out-of-Network**: A provider is in-network if they accept your insurance and offer treatment that will be covered or paid for (at least in part) by your plan. You can contact your insurance provider if you have questions about which doctors are in-network. \n\n- **Premium**: This is the monthly cost that you pay to maintain your insured status. \n\n## Tips to Consider\nStudent access to health care often presents unique challenges. We’ve put together a list of considerations to incorporate into your student support plan for students eligible for Medicaid. \n\n- Can this student access family health insurance? If their parents have insurance and the student is under 26 years old, this might be an option. \n\n- Does the student live on a campus? If so, does the campus health center accept Georgia’s Medicaid? If Medicaid isn’t accepted at the student health center on campus, consider offering the student help finding nearby in-network doctors (or a list of providers). \n\n- Does the student have access to transportation to providers? If not, telehealth coverage might be an important consideration when assessing different health plans. \n\n- Does this student care for a child or other dependent minor? Even if the student isn’t eligible for Georgia Medicaid, their child or dependent might be eligible for PeachCare for Kids, a program specifically for children. \n","title":"Demystifying Medicaid: Health Insurance Terms and College Student Tips"}},{"id":"9ca0220d-b4bb-5636-9bb2-d7c06a2281c4","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/FjmMI1VoS9c9rgOHxKARZg/i6Q2STNSmJ1SkM3EiMyosyR0dxlPrrZjijKWMSEH1hwuP2li7gBCETbdoTdn7cdG2w3trN03--f6Iq7zVV-QI3HehZsTGEYONvNm7LGcXQOLr_XfZK_lut6fb05WFmIIciuAbMf5R9NaaKEAJpxAqsg6dNkZegCb5n85HWpxjwA/-tnJwWNiRICSPBgvr8z3fzrmJ_YQDKPo7fc9PbAG2SI","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/6qseP6Ir00BKMmvXtlSjbw/bbObWFsZU2TNkOIN7EoVONatLrwD2zRBOroFWWXX10WJYxEaGu0O62HFke9ZnG8g66VroGr4yOnbgQV32D_o-liuQMUk_83D8NqfXH4GnXXGf7jJVXdMuEw-dBIWaMAS2NIrBWix-9SyBPa0eL3vrg/qa_YwLH3JaAwPGNFylg53kFZBabCMlZEC_65Sy8qso8","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HvcTu44VFDVBYIO-bhXqYg/bU7bERcsVFCmbiDXqhTqYNdkXlHx10XuEpTaUjGlLL91xR4yOg6bP_x8TmSByLIggpJT-ZpbWfk_re3XDKTDOpFPajBQR_qT958oNmVH2Tnp0bx2_PbxOfTQnFgtYdWhHHotCv-DnePfG2oQdmKa4g/37xTEgwNNl1ztCSdEKVqwNxPtuW6w5eCYrly3qVyBCg","height":512,"width":697},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/RveEIeXwMRrC8woEMw1stA/ubetjwhAiymbWYAeu6-4aJD8x6FzCwjwFnq8YhD0EWcbGE0gEySDxvxiKQDvrCbcNc9-4ePVpYVxWsavax2Vg1v1YyZvtn_huWebcSvicMKAQwsRhQLYxaDZYTvarlky7Ls34Tj6LkV78Wsfb_taHQ/F0dExRoOh2aWh1yMhjLXuAI0T-k2vZbavx2nCrGvWb4","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-04-04","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"How to see if your college students are eligible for and help them apply for Medicaid in Georgia.\n","full_copy":"## Welcome!\nThis quick guide is designed to guide student support practitioners in Georgia through the process of helping post-secondary students apply for Medicaid. Medicaid gives low-income Georgia residents a health insurance plan to cover routine doctor visits, emergencies, and prescription medicine. That type of physical and mental health care can be instrumental to the success of a student. \n\n## Why Medicaid? \nHaving health insurance is a critical part of basic needs security and can often be the difference in someone’s ability to afford other daily expenses like food and housing. As a state, [Georgia has the 4th highest rate of uninsured residents in the country](https://wallethub.com/edu/uninsured-rates-by-state)- with 15.48% of adults being uninsured. Students in two-and-four year colleges often face some of the highest barriers to accessing health care, but public insurance options like Medicaid might be able to help. If a student is a single parent or attending school while caring for a dependent child, they might also be eligible for PeachCare for Kids, Georgia’s public health insurance program for children. \n\n## Can College Students Even Qualify for Medicaid?\nYes! Like with all public benefits programs, Medicaid eligibility can get complicated. However, if students meet income restrictions and other general eligibility criteria, it’s likely that they can receive Medicaid benefits. This knowledge is especially important for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses who might have higher-than-average medical costs, on top of the financial stress of paying for school. \n\n## Medicaid Toolkit\nWe’ve created a free and easy-to-read Medicaid toolkit for practitioners to help their students get connected to healthcare. Included are two resources aimed to assist in deciding if a student qualifies for Medicaid and how to apply for benefits, according to the State of Georgia.\n\n### Quick Eligibility Tool\nThis yes/no list can help you determine if a student might be eligible for Georgia’s Medicaid Benefits. However, the list doesn’t cover important considerations like income and expenses. We recommend using BestFit’s screening tool to fully evaluate each student profile. You can go here to find how to start using BestFit at your school. \n\n### Application Steps:\nWe’ll cover the three main steps of the application process, including a list of what verification or documents might be necessary. Whether you work for a university or simply encounter a lot of students in your daily role, we hope that this information is helpful. \n\n[Get the BestFit Medicaid Toolkit](https://bestfit.formstack.com/forms/ga_medicaid_toolkit)\n\n## Tips for Students: \nIf a student is having a hard time understanding how healthcare and healthcare insurance works, read our tips for [demystifying Medicaid practitioners](https://blog.best-fit.app/2022/04/05/demystifying-medicaid-health-insurance-terms-and-college-student-tips/). We also include some tips specific to common student life issues, so that you can tailor your advice and assistance.\n","title":"A Practitioner’s Guide: Georgia Medicaid for College Students"}},{"id":"9d25f3f9-3a18-534a-a2f6-a5764131848a","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/GMLOZ3jHegP0IzvVXqQujQ/ESQlymBkrLwZz6a5lJUnGkyIaNgoi3R173vsqVbuSYlRISAR1TWhKWe_vtbVYo7OkGC3lu9MjQxfaLuiNPDLaw90puZRGXzuhG7Y1Dj-0QRG6bJVtOPNeB8yEQY_gsV6ynlx97kHUifbbcrih7sndxu_nQ87LgGrqh04ZynRTd4/4hlVZTHXeJPAYJai_q9HfSyjtGC33sJiliEkm_VjNUs","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/CU5J1P-tRZBQNXklEfRLEg/WMFd1iGt55kTtSWXZ1xK7GjppJ6nSjZoPjXX0wRsiSuHN72HlouHGuZ7XL_UBuGvjnfrzqekCybK5LlBkWlj6NISEX8DPlQTVCX_eKoxecqCAV2SMxvXHSDGI7pDeMn9n0TStNr0eMjTK83HQh4MCQ/dItrAbaI1cExemYVWtpe0HDXnXvybJ9MfveKXCuU6Jc","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/T6cjqSXH60qvclRI6qqgQw/giIhTbog0WJRJhVJFpV4S-Wy-Z3ms25KeI6vi8NBgpSOF3fpMWoZr-Dr7tAZPWHA6z0Ld3RLgEKdNCPDHLvOO4ONxzm9TxrphR7teCGG90V7kJdKmZa5ECmFSCl54WjsUFxdXTHiUl9svEZf5mpzYA/6TFl1y44-CtHT4hxHtrtu-tfbrpHD3sbYnmhbvsQkrA","height":512,"width":697},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HIxpNNoW1cIX23w6rNZ9MQ/ZGqP1zei8o5VzUxij-bIdrzolM4clT8z_ZRV6wkqGva3AbxDpFwm0OSCJ6FznONM605dobogQjWGpnWLQIxgeeBydWuILmm0IwYDGydGsc7Lf5ZjRW9IAZ9lMDc10SC1WgbHQf8_hu2yaT9zf0XLkA/2Sg9wQohleZc5bNyLxfQvRW5Sb8xI_5a1Dr5jZVzQiE","height":36,"width":49}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/mBef4lcJZB519b5AqgvhkA/1GjbDtuEFFQvO8p0L1i6_7pw4BtwdWF1ICn_UE2eG9x1ra16PmO3OD27g-vC9JxComhVTa2TIwJPRNgqM43_x5O-j-a0UvGFor3mx5X3YnTAXMspjF0kZ6OA7-OOj8i1jVgr_Yi-YLk8D0Ljevm7PQiE1Q0zgqCrzyXi42lzI9k/f28vadj992p5qbtBtv-r5ok_BI49Wa8shvlYpkCpQD4","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/c8AP4FhYAPwstP8EVngAJA/e_Y_tFWySLPqYFH-Pv-wt4TNfsz8T9DP3USUuKtT4cSjcXo0RGwAs-_4Hay7o4S7yk6PMPhgCvcJ97dvWJGQUHNt7npfjn4lTH9fLCy6Ukit4H_JNDDTX4qrTeKWMq5Q2_lGcIvJCcTfr2lnQ64iNg/a2p-svBiTUmOQgJ67r7-OKbqtTyL9Fiqp5BKFOzyS4k","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/d03YiGz0bXEdMX1DdGxlVw/H-cajS2O67-LfNxJFLl7CHInF0oaGqKCtK_3hs7e_xOEqQiI1qmuJaPP9YX7fIGCOD-cvYO370zbSo_SSj8kvu4VlqzcHPr2JrstgEM-UufDqwtbGmFyQFuaGnxkKIV884LUfv9Nviu6GjfHqXppHQ/L3052R5K-WXwNE-rfLq1JJ_Y4pd4siXoSdfF3YkN5Sc","height":512,"width":697},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/bMTXyTuXrl1YcF2rGG-0IQ/kA3DqCSmgkvlvC9JumFFE1cW2W_Po_J-15jAY66Qsv8rKe0fjBCmqU-QAV7BeKTZ6Whu6p-T1563O3T5mniRo3748f550-AYFbMKnDYJGppA1qwWHQl-4ZA5c1VfiiT4YOv79aTFx6I_GwJA8NL5Jw/WmkTx_57Lmp9ZB3Zq8cRg4YDUwioG8ty6XKyZFy44ss","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-03-15","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"In the spirit of Women’s History Month, promoting gender equity on campus and shine a light on some of the less considered needs your students might face. \n","full_copy":"### Why Hygiene Products? \nWhen we talk about basic needs insecurity, hygiene products (things like shampoo, lotion, period products, and toothpaste) often go overlooked. Many basic needs programs focus on big issues like housing, food security, and health care, but forget that day-to-day expenses can be just as important to someone’s dignity and ability to thrive. A study of period product affordability found that almost two thirds (64%) of people who menstruate have trouble affording care products. [^1] And public benefits programs like SNAP and WIC explicitly don’t cover necessities like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. When hygiene needs intersect with parenting, it can be even harder to afford the basics. One in three parents in the U.S. reports not being able to afford enough diapers for their kids. [^2] In the spirit of Women’s History Month, and \\[promoting gender equity on campuses]\\(http://blog.best-fit.app/2022/03/08/how-student-support-professionals-can-affirm-a-gender-inclusive-campus/\n), we’re shining a light on some of the less-considered needs your students might face. \n\n### Local Distribution Programs\nSome local food banks or shelters might have hygiene products available for clients. However, these products are often scarce, and visiting these organizations can sometimes be a time-consuming, uncomfortable experience. If that’s not an option for your students, Georgia has a couple of distribution programs dedicated to personal care and hygiene products:\n\n- [Atlanta Glow, Period Plus Program](https://www.atlantaglow.org/periodplus) –  provides a Period+ kit, which includes menstrual products along with other important self-care items like shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. \n- [Over The Moon Diaper Bank](http://www.otmdiaperbank.org/events/) – provides period products and baby products in the coastal Georgia region. \n- [Helping Mamas](https://helpingmamas.org/programs/) – serves as a statewide diaper bank and distributor for childcare items like cribs, strollers, and wipes. \n- [Queen Material Inc.](https://www.queenmaterial.org/services) – distributes hygiene products, period products, food, and school supplies. \n\n### Host a Product Drive\nIf local organizations are out of reach in your community (or students can’t access them easily), consider starting a resource or product drive within your department. Kick start the effort by contacting [PERIOD](https://period-action.org/service), a nonprofit organization working to combat period poverty through advocacy, education, and service. You can order free hygiene products from them and ask coworkers and administrators to match the order with a donation. One or two bottles of shampoo, or a small gift card that allows a student to [choose their own products](https://www.endhungerinamerica.org/getting-started/client-choice-food-pantries/), can go a long way towards improving student quality of life. Spread the word so students know these resources are available, and make sure there are no barriers or stipulations that might limit access to the products. (You should also ensure that the products you provide don’t go against any organizational policies). \n\nPERIOD can also help get you started with organizing and hosting service events to continue the effort. They offer guidelines for product drives, panel discussions, and care package assembly. \n\n### Push for Changes at Your Institution\nIf your institution doesn’t already provide menstrual products in all bathrooms, consider advocating for a policy change to make them available. A lot of individuals rely on schools, community centers, and libraries to access period products because they are often provided for free, without question. \n\nFor other hygiene products, if your institution has a food pantry or student resource center, consider advocating for an established location for free self-care products. This can be difficult – these products are rarely donated and organizations often don’t want to advertise services like pantries for fear of the public image. However, having the resource available for students makes future advocacy efforts easier (like pushing to expand an existing pantry program). \n\nIf you’d like more guidance on how to advocate, Aunt Flow has a great [guide to getting free menstrual products on campus](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1596/2925/files/Start_a_Menstrual_Product_Program_STUDENT.pdf?7789). Learn how to build a support system, budget accordingly, respond to objections and concerns, and gain other tools for making a change at your school. \n\nTo get other resources on student basic needs sent right to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter below.\n\n---\n\n\n[^1]: Sebert Kuhlmann, Anne PhD, MPH; Peters Bergquist, Eleanor MA, MSPH; Danjoint, Djenie MPH; Wall, L. Lewis MD, DPhil Unmet Menstrual Hygiene Needs Among Low-Income Women, Obstetrics & Gynecology: February 2019 - Volume 133 - Issue 2 - p 238-244 [(https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2019/02000/Unmet_Menstrual_Hygiene_Needs_Among_Low_Income.2.aspx)](https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2019/02000/Unmet_Menstrual_Hygiene_Needs_Among_Low_Income.2.aspx)\n[^2]:  Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families, National Diaper Bank Network, (2019) [(https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Diaper-Need-and-Its-Impact-on-US-Families.pdf)](https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Diaper-Need-and-Its-Impact-on-US-Families.pdf)\n","title":"How to Connect Your Students to Hygiene Products"}},{"id":"ce91c4a7-8fb6-50d7-9a7f-1e7a6a3e1d0c","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/tyAqbxvxRPr9-u1nImMnvw/mx75QoULmDHfI3NHwNofZx181SZMeiOoFAFwObXLyQVxZjOSmGvk5ajJT6Bf_siq_CqWr2yriyYvnppAcFEs4tkqWYwBLjWn-c5niuvslAsx2wFmwShDdSYgLYMpfUbkKcTU66mSkw6a1TJimLYHQlPHyYfzuLtltzLCxtSKg9Gc5Diljh1pGjuUCkysK0z4/buW8n4MBNT819nBKO9YuNLk9Dsh4TrH-g5gmh7plbv4","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/_8pdzwiTKV3yQQQbJkVi2g/B32-6fCuT-1iKXuHPE5Owj0HIdLtn0ESchNOqQ-uNKqZbuRkO0mqEOscQs6qgUdKdwnbPVff-432nKKcp_XeyuV9UroJ-yCCJKf8FGr4G_Pi9H6xmJAbyNWdYbIdxV3F5dzMIICuCFvblfMPOo1pUA/Yqh69d_nYEn4MyKDkejW4LxGvyx2FC4knJqzCBvW1js","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/rJBEUzavnZm93fH-To1ATg/XroqRIM5Tf3vrcSRmet-oeMAIaMbzM-WW3DexIIKyTQIWwzYIWXFH60CTaOdKesvjQmQ9gkyHlI0zAs9W4WCYSeYj3hKI0qDuuO0H1uPNkdIFa-UYzvQeG4J0sWPMHjqbP3_e647XKVGXPmvOQarTA/StAqWNfjO-3mTxTrBxzKOsJsnVW7dl7ckSkwlfNnxUI","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/MO9H16D7MttWiSbMAZFCiw/KTPGac6wpgq7FD5Iu3FviSNK8a6vicyuIBadYmV6ev5c8NQbS8a1_qCcyIAS0vS03I_dqkMZM4vrGzDwz3hVyPf-IGWSLDnsGfPNI_irQ2vQv_pBpkM2uevyhpDowiga_H6fnKVUtacDGH8u1wZu-g/blakt9SBLrwaVPucYyumEzvRuJ7EpAKZ9YdEyTG1CrE","height":36,"width":49}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/e79kbO8lTJFrND8EuzgdDQ/nue4ehF0h-oFsEht1rLv5yGmKUgNg6M0gSL8wz373c3xrxHEIMBDXkFys8As3-d7Cr_Sbwha88D0ImhKNQtlRrV5fdzDjLdUFZ5NzjSKLw2L_PcNTsU3w_Ve9Rq-d3brrxEZfmUp0hyXi6qAdJbk0hcUWNQ8bTMNF3Y18hVEVk1yN0qMI0xatwmi5pGSE-Ok/VD5H5qIyprscrePoe0xsHCDdijh4beuVohIz7eYNWAk","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/VUrHZDNsu9cgY3p3eDNuTg/bVNxhu7Z0aGBl9o5DBJEqswtIX3PaUbSDxZkQfCAQa5AxcG2gmkvFefTW4bWyUeUouFJ0LziuyCOMyzSBWYHK7UjKN16dERcXBnfwGMSPEtqOP2AnqMPLhjHbRU5fUeCvbCuLeeSqNS4W886YXDY9Q/XbagzIa0_iDhJs6QsGsrNEkE2BnhfsJZakv41mF7PNg","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/b-4C5Isgr08wRl4wv-gLMw/O2KUDTetzzL_UIeAntJD2pGCpvgVvIkmzethzZmioO3voQN41i73Jnoo2ouRkr-kyzrwzmzVM9-qBRi8usqQxAHqwTWsYzFE5-nj2KL9r_HN9-BElXdtFRnngj1lmanss9Dscb02FRru_K1mCdeebg/JO4MmvtnW4XdltkWSPjwBrQIrYqeKTrEXi7i4Csv1q8","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/uS8QayOpwi4LhfdhTY5CoA/Nnfeo5plctBHGQOjp3mpUH1VkjMpzvGXzBMqNuTGaE3AB2WK5Pa0rtthl-MTZuscpll8LIjR3T885PKSo9YmD_scSlSjCaI3hqwIXk_Gr5v8qwG6uZ2vwtRtQJxzHmVdm-2wYLj15JXJ0AiXWh-czQ/R_Nkk5MoQtkgMpGld9mb8cqQMDx75Nv76XewZeDsp0w","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-03-08","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"Strategies student support professionals can put into action today to affirm gender equity on your campus. \n","full_copy":"## For the month of March\n\nMarch is Women’s History Month, making it the perfect time to highlight, celebrate, and support work at the intersection of gender equity and the student experience. Gender plays a significant role in shaping students' experiences with higher education, especially in an on-campus environment. It can also impact a student’s access to basic needs like housing, food, and transportation. That’s why we’re going to be rolling out content on how to account for—and promote—gender equity in your student support services, with the goal of affirming a welcoming college experience. \n\nWe’ll touch on topics to help you understand gender equity, terms to know, how to design inclusive support services, and organizations and resources for students who identify as women. Hopefully, at the end of the month, you’ll have a new understanding of how to create a welcoming environment for women within your school’s community. And we’re kicking it all off with this list of strategies you can put into action to affirm gender equity on your campus. \n\n## Affirmative Strategies for Gender Equity in Student Support\n### Make safe spaces a priority\nOne of the best ways to create an affirming, welcoming, and gender-inclusive student support environment is to emphasize the safety and comfort of students who are women. Let students know through your words and actions that you can be a trusted person to come to for help. Examples include:\n\n- providing free menstrual products\n- having dedicated rooms for breastfeeding/lactation\n- making info about on- and off-campus childcare readily available\n\nRegarding issues of sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct, give individuals the option of:\n\n- making a disclosure to a Title IX resource\n- submitting an anonymous disclosure, or\n- filing a formal complaint\n\nAnother resource you can use is [the Safe Zone Project](https://thesafezoneproject.com/about/what-is-safe-zone/), which provides training to educators interested in being an ally to students. And if you’re interested in bringing this practice to your colleagues, they also teach professionals how to facilitate their own safe zone trainings. \n\n### Host events to open conversations about gender and equity - and put your words into practice\nIn higher education especially, community events are a popular way to foster a learning environment and open conversations around important issues. However, ensure that events, workshops, and general support services are inclusive. For example, if you’re hosting a speaker panel, make sure you have speakers representing multiple genders. You can also utilize a moderator to ensure that speaking time is shared evenly and everyone’s voices are heard. \n\nIf you’re interested in inviting speakers to campus and don’t know where to start, here’s a short (but definitely not exhaustive) list of activists that speak on social inclusion, education, and gender through storytelling and teaching: \n\n- [Hope Giselle](https://www.hopegiselle.com/bio)\n- [Shayla Yellowhair](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-yellowhair-855277180/)\n- [Ritu Bhasin](https://ritubhasin.com/)\n- [Heather Payne](https://twitter.com/heatherpayne?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author)\n\nBeyond this, you should also account for students’ overlapping identities, which may span things like race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, and more. Each of a student’s identities might lead to unique differences in time, resources, and overall support. For example, responsibilities like childcare, housework, and grocery shopping often fall unequally onto women who are mothers and/or caregivers. Ask yourself — could we be providing child care during this event? Is it scheduled during dinner time or after-school hours? Considerations like these can have a big impact on how accessible your event is to women. \n\n### Consider providing students with a resource map\n\nSometimes, it can be hard to know which spaces and organizations are welcoming, safe, and supportive of women. If you know your campus and community well, consider making a map of trusted resources for your student. As a starting point, schools are increasingly adopting [bathroom maps](https://lgbtq.virginia.edu/bathroom-map) as a guide to all-gender, gender-neutral, or single-stall restrooms for students. You can go above and beyond that function by including which buildings have free menstrual health products, organizations that offer free or reduced-cost reproductive health services, or create a list of departments or student groups that advocate for & support women on campus.\n\nA resource map could also include information on where to get support with basic needs like food, health care, and housing. Women and nonbinary students face [higher rates of basic needs insecurity](https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/StillHungryMA-4-1.html) in higher education. Try giving your students a list of safe and inclusive organizations like food pantries, shelters, support groups, and medical clinics. We’ll also be doing a more in-depth post on this topic later this month, so sign up for our newsletter to get notified of that post!\n\n## Upcoming Posts\nIf you’re interested in learning more about supporting your students' experiences throughout Women’s History Month, look out for our upcoming blog posts on resources and strategies you can use in your practice. We’ll be dropping new articles every two weeks — you can either check back here or sign up for our newsletter below.\n","title":"How Student Support Professionals Can Affirm a Gender Inclusive Campus"}},{"id":"4ec0c04d-a1ed-5179-bc9b-42f288efae7b","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/PLDThPblD48U5B32fORg6Q/uOq6voV-XLIN5sA_tsootKXzXQxl1HeCLQKZ_rLOHDid1huoOYOvx59KI8HtrlM5ZykbRBUmXSFZfYuRT2D_10GVghZJtkF3BprfOeyhvXzRJp_XihAHuyucDeo07sDgtp5BBVRuuyQ5Fn_vla_-HaufECeZWvhCkMVejE81US0Id0NWOt3NGK7pX_-mUmsK/ba0mRlBCUlZL_BeDzg1E030VHShl7FMfoRwegvub7Ns","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/DXj5amgTVoUuLhUicwewpQ/e0ppDAB5uyRDE_4e1Hy7uFlnskMxko70DjeLp8EnuDRm8qXjzQvAVjIqL8Oy85Pjh5lbIB3Ke6_-KQBKiRNPapaKAnajmNTm44Hyn8QjVQ5PDB6JeSM2ZF_rCVcNDZMNYZLwGrokCVzoppVKYpuDWg/1p3CUWUNfSsb5kJd43eY4xWIQ3CZAbULZ_Ww5OvaXGA","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Rr7d5t2mgZGE7DsyOZqTEQ/5fZSCr3B3HwlT_S1Zf5fEM1lz9HktMemtIlPY2S5msL2oc03hf2xj_7NLM7vPwHfB3NwZyDvj_b9QY0uFDtjW_big9ikCsD5aurYI-AB0ik5GeDoDOSm6F_4KQUmsW6W9jJyBKmiNhA7X2qwJmgeqw/fLHmCKMjPOOWn32AmcKZie4vJScGLpvMGc2loIDKHuI","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/DwqeAalYslc2YE2ulXNnPQ/QgBN5zb-93n0DNDVuZYMd-efgPElS1L0NHVWO3sjLCwJAD_F9HF_LRBp90nk54oWm4OnvEstgTkpLvt4Xacl5gg8vYGHkH_QxsuTMNMqRIf4ubHIgD3yLIaz30-IttTtqJlohTZXNV5RGmbcDMla9Q/oiClxu5rs88mFzb113DTy7mSUh9rj8Z1del7FTr9Npw","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2022-01-04","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"5 things support professionals can start doing this semester to increase student retention.\n","full_copy":"As the new term nears, student support teams get ready to help students have a successful semester. But the persistent challenge of trying to figure out what to do to best help them remains. The demographics of student bodies are rapidly changing, along with advancements in technology and practices.\n\nSo, what are some things student support professionals can start doing today that will help them proactively & effectively help their students throughout the semester? Here are 5 recommendations. \n\n## Use data you already have to find potential barriers\n\nA simple way to start rethinking your approach to student support is to look at the data you already have access to. The data you look at can come from two sources:\n\n- **Your department’s specific data**\nOf the students you have connected with, how many needed food or housing assistance? How many were part-time vs. full-time, student-parents? What gender did they identify as? You can make data-driven decisions to predict what programs/partnerships will best help you address the most common needs of the most common types of students you’ve served. \n\n- **College-wide data**\nIf you don’t have a good data collection system in your department, try looking at your college as a whole. Are you at a majority commuter school? Change your approach to take into account that your students are only on campus for a limited amount of time each day, if at all. Most of your students are part-time? Look to boost up programs that address resources that would allow students to have to work less hours so they can focus more time on school.\n\nIf you want to learn how you can connect your students to social resources, like SNAP and Medicaid, while also collecting data, check out BestFit’s Quick Eligibility Tool.\n\n\n## Use social media to your advantage\n\nYou’ve probably already heard that you need to be on social media and may also feel like the types of students who use your services are not going to interact with you there. In reality, they are MORE likely to interact with you through social media. 84% of [social media users](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/#c333bead4d648d2642fca1fdcd893b82) are between the ages of 18-29 and 76% have some college education.  Running a social media account is perfect for letting your student body know what is available to them and reducing the stigma of needing help.\n\nIf you’re hesitant to use social media because you’re not sure how to, that’s okay! You can create a position in your office for a student employee who knows the ins and outs of social media and has a passion for helping their fellow students. Students for this position are often marketing & communications, or design majors. If your budget doesn’t allow for that, there’s several free design resources available for you to make your own social media posts such as:\n\n- **[Canva](https://www.canva.com/):** a free graphic design platform with templates for social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. You can invite team members to your free account as well.\n- **[Snappa](https://snappa.com/):** similar tool to Canva, however you can only add on more team members with the Pro plan.\n- **[Later](https://later.com/):** in addition to creating content for social media, you can schedule posts as well. You also get a link to share that allows students to go to a specific link associated with a post\n\n## Digitize the use of your resources/services\n\nSimilar to using social media, digitizing your services allows you to reach more students on campus. If you’re trying to reach students who are part-time, parents, caregivers, and/or work off campus, asking them to come to your office multiple times for forms or appointments is outdated. Time poverty is real. With digital platforms becoming the standard for this generation of students, making your services digitally available allows for an easier and quicker experience. Digital services can also do a great job of reducing the stigma related to asking for help, especially for social services.\n\nRemember to collect data as much as you can along the way. Using digital tools like [Formstack](https://www.formstack.com/), allows you to create customizable forms and analyze the data from submissions.\n\n## Take time to stay informed\nIn this day and time, it seems like there’s new policy and technological updates every day. Thankfully there’s some great blogs out there to keep you up on higher ed news and practices:\n\n- **[Inside Higher Ed](https://www.insidehighered.com/)** - Get the latest on news, opinion, resources, events, and research focused on college and university topics. \n- **[Education Dynamics](https://www.educationdynamics.com/insights/our-blog/)** - Stay up to date on how to talk to students from a marketing perspective.\n- **[BestFit](https://blog.best-fit.app/)** - Receive insights and resources around student support when it comes to their social & basic needs.\n- **[The Chronicle of Higher Education](https://www.chronicle.com/)** - News for college & university faculty and student affairs professionals\n- **[Complete College America](https://completecollege.org/latest/)** - Get articles and resources on new practices in supporting students through college.\n\n## Conduct a student outreach survey\n\nSometimes, the best solution is the simplest one. Simply asking your students what they need in an outreach survey can give you the clearest idea of what you’re up against. It also shows students that their needs are a priority to you, which helps them feel more comfortable interacting with your office.\n\nConducting outreach surveys can be tricky. You don’t want to seem like you’re intruding in their lives or make them feel vulnerable by answering your questions. Here are some tips on how to structure your survey to avoid these problems:\n\n- **Be transparent**\nIntroduce yourself and/or the office responsible for the survey. This can be in the body text or attachments of an email. Or in a brief oral introduction if a professor lets you speak to their students. Telling students exactly what you plan to do with this information helps put their minds at ease.\n- **Allow for open ended questions**\nA lot of times we think multiple choice questions makes it easier for the respondent to answer, and easier for us to understand what we need to do. However, when it comes to topics like basic needs support, there are a lot of nuances, and everyone’s situation isn’t exactly the same.  If a student starts to feel like their situation doesn’t exactly fit the situations in your choices, they might not complete the survey and might lose interest in your office altogether.\n- **Ask at the right time**\nAsking students to tell you about how they are struggling with paying rent while studying during midterms won’t get you the responses you’re looking for. Be proactive and ask students at times where they can afford to answer your survey. The first few weeks of the semester are great times. Students aren’t yet weighed down by coursework and you’ll have time to start implementing solutions.\n- **Reach students in the right way**\nIn addition to asking students at the right time, you need to reach them in the right ways. Emailing the student body is a great first step, but sometimes students ignore emails they consider spam. (Don’t we all?) That’s why it’s important to have a mixture of touchpoints. Create social media posts promoting the survey. Ask professors to spare you 5 minutes before a class to tell students about the survey. Have student workers? Ask them to promote it through word-of-mouth.\n\nIt can be hard to figure out how to best help students stay in school and graduate. It's best to work smarter, not harder. Thinking about the problems from the student's perspective will help you see that the best solutions are those that prioritize their time and responsibilities and make them feel seen and heard.\n","title":"5 ways to support students throughout the semester"}},{"id":"f0f316ec-13c1-53aa-9689-e22eae6952d1","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/_tiypkoU9jOn1GbFWSo__Q/QCrwIokf8V_Bhf9FeXA7HFUN8n1CAfUOPuJmhWr9ZcldA7cCxSaCymR_xSlAihs2J5sSi-BqMntchCAqmJYb7gkqX8PLaKjtNeH39hDTTOLT2Und3lgXC3BfkB90dZD4lldKfnHlypzA6wkzmhFl5KBvF_kVnXhECl4laYqJd4N81klBSX1aoh47RdwSuW-r/do6erc4OSaiU7z9IdjLNjPrbrMB-7Rx6WtEGhyaqPfU","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/nOONm9YAcrZLTJSNnU5hIQ/Eg8J3Mw8abW-XFQ6xadgO-zaO6edyUFqtMh3mGFRWccbuCgbI3QxIO8SCiqsQNOlPrMH9LonkLj9CNcr2EDfM-x0m3MHH8iJqPNi12jmK411520-aTodrJmDHLoW1oejKMOvTzh-leeIs3NSA78A7A/Vct9Y5zOnDkrUZh_yh40maPhtdUu1MAKMm38ndXJ0l4","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/JwS3S87zPPlfsvl2z5qewA/AzyQ5TDRR5b9FnegNqv3fPqioQ7s_4MnRo0gIllgEwuvymDacz_NQBQxvxCa-RZbjBcWk8cuQke_85-OyfsDp-_LdQVR5uO3j1xbWktP0Lah19c4kt8UPpagSJGNz1RD-Kqzr6ABqEC0KFDuHq3Bbw/UjlupsL_l8XSQzmrp9_D8Koa7kdnl1B5TwBBY_quGIQ","height":512,"width":640},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/8a-D4JadSti3qHT3k8orrw/UYQa7Ath1cX9M0if-FU4Y05W-lAoB-I_4MzNF35R7ibk6tpP3KBZRNn_xzKG1fOiHO5a4vNT82CdY9x2fJBtuOzQiaVkiKUyWV2N0Xrcl-E-fCjBbWbnfl9_rSKsyk86Str5T4IidSGehyuNp3rKDA/qOld2wrgC6bWtFQAm9TQH8cxfjZsSa4wqM5BpxctQFs","height":36,"width":45}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/IH4hkdv7EL2eZnefwZEwqw/pRj4nIVowEN3GVHinYZvKwVRFnS872dpxRp1A1hRXyxQcSDn5ozCca7hW68rSQRiDTsCtAU1ZzhLxh1VimHjn0LF8ejMsg8hvLeplDyvCSqm7lxk6ZWgYNwEcQNRZp2CV0D9avm-gX3HXUx9OARebnXgZBQBUOOUjRL_OJBNlVQ/McABxBHzDOpE5sfe9otFaZPFz6poowFnWao3H4UUxjI","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Nvg8yrnzUiMkgjWoIA_T6A/E2eNTjT45Ha8n3JHYSrxr-yGMap1cCXxSNTJd2TQxmPswDBGqHSB7THAKPr3-SUDqGESBOa930RGN2fO39up7tenyUWMVy0ezwpTUMxa5w8XsCEL8X1fBZea4HK7IuMZTrDPjJ7QXWXhWY4apwinkw/DUXuMtxSyPw7dBYsLrMQzvcJBRkLyNL1ufgP9X9TGBA","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/jge7aauhuwniirgi-DDFyQ/Q4BJJv2txbR8h7aKeL2f-F4YEB8X_MTnOhzRIyZ_L5gieZ9zeSpJXYYqYyfOQZd23SwVZ4lwRJMQ3_-Vn_16uNrrj8cn3FSqGJtFiiw_tZbeQ34dK8CDb8dauJJ7wQqEj2GoMqppRGG71Z4ZxjLYLg/3AzzEuqChjiIH6qpoE3kN2lnp4c5hewVGwGvH-uCjPg","height":512,"width":819},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/2kV0EQldxqooN-Hu3I9RCA/ai4tZyPj2FZWIQDKDzjTzvaHF6uI9u2n9O5wwqoPwkYX5s4UOqtp-otRaPqOyzqZqJC1YXxA3zR2Besp-SHimw0qRAKAxoSURiIuDtAkVCAuLsOjKGXPjdgDa62FBHTJgk95x92KzYlzC6NKyBvtlw/NXRQZlhb5I_923kpn15EsS0MBvKdHsQLAbxKAVaBhsM","height":36,"width":58}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Q3onUvM3uHmQEGESHip0ow/68ivjLaFXx1T-_6XGfoBxRJhKmSrPg8sU9TMiW1jm1aGg8OrbgvFESItdJYSq6X1GANfDLegYmQ4UhFnEU5aSdsRcWFzgHK-4P1WuqnfCa8VNPBH3aSC0QXBXxjlgivY_QxP140iF94AgL3a5_x0jNYpnRcMu2f7MLBtUYKw2ndPATQqBLNI4Mu5KsL_x5t-/t9IRwwF3upPfzOiuu3pJppAFkMkdF9WwVzaEOUGvZT4","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/q4FhWaFQFeTe1xPw-gNkew/Zuh5lvAP689224szK2FTPrLYiCNE0p2NYLJvQigJExg7Oepn9th-h0IWCuBSpJu9xfMI81iJcs1V13MB7iaLBJ5CZY6WEpfaA-mNW54XknZHkhLGKnAmGyVI1df1lJBkKsXMyAvz8vMKjFxzG8-8Wg/WSLNb67Vw0-lAOPdraJvEaYiMWR1PSerRomRVPajMl4","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/9t2aDOglGbfyoGfV3w5uUA/Y8giJZVdQ_MuYMsPqkVsY3Kfp3lcMVFxOttF1kjZiPs20Ap4DKoms8JgE8_rOd_0I9YFngsEnkdseRg5KO4nqHHweFMjYMlse6ILVKu9LT-3wU3IxCdClSF9IfNjZxR9XVxc-8D3ZhWNb9OJN-7zTw/YFI2aYZQkQEkomae-qDhFeteYP8zYP47v3D3j55Y_xs","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/B3Mui2_IZOzE2k53GBV6Jw/rLyyFRVgxkQelbpp1aHX8VdQ4QBirmMC9ZcaSnO2vQDAFj0xaOdBa81Mm9ow6KGE3b9FdCEoN3TCF41ycghW_2Or_D6rQF9E_jPK5p03u3XNrkKm-zXuqYV9WtGTLjKaP6nAiGcBDpImaUVX_sbo2w/F_QMtwOJyjMELmEHNWRP9G4UXv34UkwpE7SOpAE1Is0","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2021-11-08","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"What practitioners should know about college students & food stamps in Georgia, from a student's perspective.\n","full_copy":"_Editor's note: This article was originally written by [Sean Cheng] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanscheng/). It's been edited only for format & relevancy._\n\n![Shandy, KSU Alumna, (left) seen on an online interview with Sean Cheng (right)](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/qSsPehwuT8OoWlqtQAc3)\n\nWe asked Shandy, a **[Kennesaw State University] (https://www.kennesaw.edu/)** Alumna, about her experience applying for SNAP benefits. While at KSU, Shandy was actively involved with two sororities at school as well as the marching band and had a packed college student schedule. Here’s what she said you should know about a student perspective on food stamps in Georgia.\n\nFor one-pager resources, see our **[Practitioner's Guide to Georgia SNAP for College Students] (https://blog.best-fit.app/2021/11/08/a-practitioners-guide-georgia-snap-for-college-students/)**.\n\n# What led you to apply for SNAP?\n\"I only work on the weekends so sometimes I don't have enough funds to shop to get enough food. **We get food from KSU CARES but sometimes that doesn't last the whole month, especially since I eat three meals a day.** When I got the weekly KSU student email on the very first day of school, I saw part of the email that said if you have food insecurity you can have an interview with a Catholic organization to help you apply for SNAP benefits.\"\n\n## How did you apply for SNAP?\n\"I responded to the KSU student email that said they could help me apply to SNAP. KSU then asked me to send the school my lease agreement, my utility bill, and how much I made each month. They then sent all this information to the Catholic organization that was helping students applying for SNAP. The next day I received an email from a lady working at the Catholic organization asking me to sign up for an interview (which occurs only on Fridays). She helped fill out the SNAP application for me over a video call and asked me questions about my work and where I lived based on all the forms I previously sent. She stayed in contact with me until I got a response that I was approved for SNAP and until I received my EBT benefits card.\"\n\n## How long did the SNAP application process take?\n\"My initial interview with the lady took twenty minutes. It took about a week to find out if I was approved for SNAP, and two weeks to get my SNAP benefits card.\"\n\n## What resource was the most helpful while applying for SNAP?\n\"I have to say it was the email KSU Student Inform sent out to me telling me that I could apply for SNAP. I can tell you now that I've talked to a lot of other students who didn't even know they could be eligible to apply. They just work on the weekends or on campus and they don't know they can still apply for SNAP with the income they have.\"\n\n## How can schools raise awareness about SNAP benefits?\n\"When it comes to freshmen they should talk about it in orientation and let them know they can help them apply for the benefits. Also, putting more flyers around would be helpful because a lot of students read the bulletin boards and TVs on campus. If they put it out there more I think more students would apply to see if they're eligible.\"\n\n","title":"Georgia SNAP: Tips From a Student Perspective"}},{"id":"a73f338e-2a4d-5749-84c9-c15dc30dca9c","data":{"tags":["OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/bMhBrFTWLJCyGRNIvkbfTg/MYU2tOiKiV6ffDu8_TH01RNwhV13sNsHh0GWZIrj-NNAb1YfrW1GiH84lr-CO_Q9wVyDjKkvYhmUOF0KiJ2_HrxokgfsXVsdO6MdyQupM7PtNhEa6n-8Y0jkcbdrOUKn9W3ytoJq3t6U-_4s3SbzPGzCXIsuyq7-FbfccGTXjlDxoJXBofZF8GhiFugeKP1S/JkO8E4Cvb1iiSuP-jDKwgLGU87-T3DbJAVKzsFAvyZI","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/odbYxeLwOVjFyAbjF9c8sA/XLp5IxYZtYmyRC3JwWo-30nHSZUiVt7o8aFlitXdVSEi7co9_l8SyxMPeXxXcqIHbbn6D0e9SsAHI3Qia75TpCYtsSDs-WJz3d6R46SW1q5sJQDi4j7KnP8kMmXPOUMpqs35k_msJhJao3LPBHOW7w/x6G2z_DYhXODiVxosercnFu0UuhRAj-LKku-ZgLUi9U","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/_jnBHC-tplVEIXEq6Gu43g/j8L7nuIDc1o7qK4uQO4g_MOPxFGbGPKo7ueNOjQS09VHukyFOlf_k4__4IL0pXLZmYnhb7RWFNSpRMZNzor8yJ-9UbYckqE_T78fGjqsQLv24TDKnAoXYKn-M-UsL-SwLq7Dg4Q1EBbnRB70CmpD_g/REAE2V1e-P3cDJQEjAr72HW0a7FibHKZiRlCkFbtVtI","height":512,"width":640},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/uelm-jfBA6JpL44p_ET-GA/eT1EmuhUKO6wK-62L8FvOZVAAlS9_12nQJDP5J8FXWMR1aAvre65vqM5gKngjlmdQPZ1hh3ceE45j3VAWVHSiO8ZZ3XCd6stx-ReGYgnhCysZcpvoieFTYv7LXG3PAb2IcJdszmXcNY97J0PNeq05Q/gpm4KAMYUxgJqzSBYKbPnNb_RQaUZmlI-vgDuyfmvFk","height":36,"width":45}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/t9rFakibGJnqbOCOMFqKyQ/BVS1QyTqSOKbJYU8mxVWJpPUn_K99hyAw1Y-nV7Ta_hoWV1Yp9VrH10bqMU6SD_X74VlNKb_M01NLGc6sLPn2I2VCWk0edHUu2XUL0Sy5S_E7D25c_Uiq6lZ1B3YgqIap4iS1nuA3urLAlNnbo4MFwCEjOnpSFoRF9S90GdcDiw/VewgKK_6plPQg4wrxf49EcESeiNBznplpJcnaYkLmoE","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/YwziaFBtZEU6zsh5vi3Pvg/RtSfCJ4W9NDYk4tSxG023eS9OYnIHKNphiPvWQHqYAV3I0Zj_nRUFw8c4IPH7PwuKLfXIPsjmhZUjbMNEIM0ALjC_iD6sfLCjTyvDMN4OGHtwekHbTUR-8X2Vej4OJA4qLp2VZWP1FanW45BDbJ3eQ/c88Bftn2v0RfGuvHlon9rbtE3l-qdrQVTvffPZrv_kw","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/sQkvzjMX2-2eG3DeFi0ECA/KJ1cZ_c_miYzSDwddgkl5GGTqT8ICKfGdklkKmcda1PyZDdfU-Cn5QwkNAF9trHtVm8t-9x2QE6zvF0HXCD_es1opvnoXVFSUPhAMr2PWhlWpBuRT18_luZWMiK2CODHkdJGBwZ3JtHMDoLH1DoTzA/gkTvbk-InJzx4fYbzHvxknPDtKBQAzib-WGiLssx3wE","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Bpk63PpkfTCTRiwZvsAV8w/j5ZwYqMg4it7mLH_csvJpD8PRN2jnFvEDRfiihY_Yre8i770x9NXCtozTxkvSqzOQrb1feMQAlJSLB49NNEgYomcSShgUK__n55hpogcGlAzJ7DgOvijrAfTw4hhalNf82c-B8ftJjuFOUCVrt2tvA/070avF8a3cSHGXPiX_vYZWUBIK366sMlL2A9Rg7stUI","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":"2021-11-08","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"Our complete guide for practitioners on SNAP benefits for college students in Georgia!\n","full_copy":"# Welcome!\nHunger and Homelessness Week is here! As schools and organizations shine a spotlight on ending food and housing insecurity in college students, we want to provide resources to help these practitioners.\n\nThis guide is designed to guide practitioners in Georgia - those who work in social services and help others apply for benefits - through the process of applying for SNAP benefits, _sometimes called food stamps_, for college students. A Georgia EBT card can be a critical part of making sure a student gets enough nutritional support to succeed in school. But, finding and applying for assistance can be time consuming and confusing, on top of the regular stress of being in college. We hope that the information in these one-page resources will make it easier for you to get students the resources they need. \n\n# Our Georgia SNAP Toolkit Resources:\n## Quick Eligibility Tool\nThis yes/no list can help you determine if a student might be eligible for Georgia SNAP, also known as EBT. However, the list doesn’t cover important considerations like income and expenses. We recommend using BestFit’s screening tool to fully evaluate each student profile. \n\n## Application Tips\nWe’ll cover the three main steps of the application process, including a list of what verification or documents might be necessary. Whether you work for a university or simply encounter a lot of students in your daily role, we hope that this information is helpful. \n\n[Get your Georgia SNAP Toolkit now!] (https://bestfit.formstack.com/forms/snap_toolkit_download)\n\n## The Student Perspective: \nAs the second blog post in this series, we’re also publishing advice from the student perspective. We spoke with a Kennesaw State alumna who applied for food stamps while attending school full-time. Her experience provides a great view of how helpful application assistance can be for a busy student. \n\n[Hear from a KSU alumna on her SNAP application experience] (https://blog.best-fit.app/2021/11/08/georgia-snap-tips-from-a-student-perspective/)\n\n","title":"A Practitioner’s Guide: Georgia SNAP For College Students"}},{"id":"8cdfbf9a-11a8-5960-a3cb-f455ab7bdf1d","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/EjU_ptEtH8cHP-ZrLgmxDw/9jI8rd7W_rbBVDMvYGrWZZtqbiqujxtMICTqK9cnq-aChME4AtjW7mbh9rHAVgg-y7BhDBErCJmelwRggCTpfbcKsztVp2Wj_3i3QdyqPZICiLaGPOICl1eMfAMicASB8S3Nm1iCtLLTm8OdxMyf2CyGq1m1qcRHKBJZdfCKel8/Wu9xd_TrFghreTTEaycTLsuC9G3aHOxk7Gevosw2qj4","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/IGSyUfJ78vuKdEdQuEwyLA/AR55xm8HSRbkfJOA3z4pP0DK1CSneWuNGkDUyMZyoYCpwfuJbs35yXlH2nf3QGXvL6wIEcIZ0nM7eQ-ciPNWvXENuxsIz8BfNKepbAoGqLNCFn85GkToZ6kRx1stFME8jSmhh4GK_4z-2ie35sragQ/gqAqFNo1KbaXad5g7byloivFkqxIoyWczE0toMKwW4E","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Xnx1KYNJlcQwCbR1JU6RSA/BmzZazdvp7FQAf8DX4U3Y299wMRoTut9OGoYxVcyq5BiYentNiWbcOE6tfw9E1j4uPSqaKJPBB3F_ntpLNdsGxPYvH2rj7q0kfxc5Q4j8wpKe8fyrsIeTJGvla5u-9ctVb9hPP03DAm8gWc6D9jDsA/JArZmoxm8Narfko_qwPHrGkAp3HSDZFOp2aRGGgALh0","height":512,"width":732},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ZZ7YrwrO3cl6BVedXO5JwQ/koyEVNfRlsqA6zzN_OmBjGUsizjhXp2mROFy7B2blBYkgKSQQ8rcOd1MPSt6ADGSpz4P8GwWGnUIpriorSckfGHq10JX58zfOpclXcY9nUXuaCuw5owJeTegZ6eDiEIzUty-A7CvBVVqyKbIH41owA/f5E-u_E1JC6PvGy24H3SgIucrw7EFwPqSWptc-g4h0k","height":36,"width":51}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/G7XcAics8rl22JpAocsyhQ/I_ioV9OFlTba8lKAN6ExLRq2aF77_m1FjL6Y2tbIGWye1scp1DfHCGQK1-Z6JOOfQN8cxAJKYF8FD4R91Xe8UGjmxWvSJr6jBElJ11-D9EABSsCbGiXpv9K1UX2jW9q5ekwv-eUFsHeE88S4DaAL3swsevYlmtBi6Af1EvI9VJ0/NLPj-FHdSvgXxGdFsiEPdxIPEHZEAdFIZIkBWjXAZsA","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/DkSM1oHm9CJXfZdlUK_Wuw/NfttgeFGNFrzTKKlhpvbK58S66fseZ1twoE89tNz-nYC_DyN59rlgffyPEJmrSo27_Jps6_cv5Z9ShhxPV9H7yGOOM2GOarOfZyxz7bUh6NlofdDf-MxT0tmIRjpOqYcqgiEO5-ZOIu7WQUqW6HDBw/7QkzH1nKo1--83EMmEVDBAHIWhnhUF3KZkEzvJmcQ98","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HDvybOcucAVdE9_xdGk-9A/_AQ3pNGRT-nnSukvhxv-QD1CfQiCLjcBgDERM2vH-zguuc5uVXSH8vtgcpmpwngNCLehThOEYPb6fS3gmELeAyz5N-JaRytdY_RQcU76V62seEnDWjZkrpW_Ecp6GGC0iZeFhmO9wLJXwEs_eNE43A/bNQafKTvmhMZqXhN4Rm-amrr-IU-9QWFmSLJAnW2riw","height":512,"width":732},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/UxvGMDuCsPi9d4zoJeRRKg/IA2l_642rrm22WqQ3HB8JcLhSGEQFYRuAkkf4_m4Q94gWYdgQ-pQAN5M6apF_NHrYW_ArsmzBT3VVLdJsdkrkJUkk3i4SopEdqfA_aWgI3dBRsFaI-VeG530qglbipHExC98ZQMKtr2-VOouaQnEkQ/45RFW2LuAHr3iWy5Jd8D0LPgLOEkHiLh-Njj-2XDcQQ","height":36,"width":51}}}],"date":"2021-05-26","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"A look into the company’s why and impact on college campuses in Georgia\n","full_copy":"Atlanta, GA -- May 26, 2021 -- Asha Owens and Rebecca Kwee, co-founders of BestFit, Inc., an online platform connecting students with social resources, spoke Tuesday at the virtual Leadership Conference held by Embark Georgia. The conference spanned 3 consecutive mornings, and had a variety of national and state experts and groups share what they encountered throughout the pandemic and how they’re moving forward to serve students who experience foster care and homelessness.\n\nThe pair presented to over 150 participants about their motivations & work they’ve been able to accomplish for college students in Georgia. This included their origin stories as college students themselves, who both chose their campuses without ever stepping foot on them. After struggling with many non-academic barriers like housing and transportation needs, they decided to create BestFit. \n\n[BestFit discusses their story & framework](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Iva0uh8w4&list=PLkmB1bFr4LhrR2uu8mk7XGe_PJ_7NyDuZ&index=1)\n\nThey then talked about their work in partnering with colleges & building a tech platform that would help students get connected to the resources they needed with less time, stress, and uncertainty, all while reducing the stigma of asking for help. The founders spoke of their initiatives during COVID where they created a free resource portal for displaced students and tech care packages for remote learners. Asha & Rebecca ended their talk on what lies ahead for the company with their Universal Screening Pilot Program for colleges during the upcoming Summer/Spring semesters. The company has a goal of screening 1,000+ students for benefits (from the community, campus, and corporations) ultimately expanding their reach to outside of Georgia.\n\n**ABOUT BESTFIT**\nBestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars. To learn more, please visit best-fit.app.\n\n**ABOUT EMBARK GEORGIA**\nEmbark Georgia, a statewide network of support for young people who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness and are enrolled or interested in attending any postsecondary educational institution in Georgia, is hosted at the J.W Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia. Since 1982, the Fanning Institute has worked throughout Georgia to strengthen communities and organizations through leadership development, training, and education. As a unit of the Office of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia, the Fanning Institute is committed to developing leaders of all ages, in every community, from all walks of life. \n","title":"BestFit Speaks at the 2021 Embark Leadership Conference"}},{"id":"6f11d2c0-aa75-5d86-bd1e-648dcd201ace","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/0JoP2FpfsdqdN9HUL2f8Tg/JWyk1Acjz9VIZonCeIciCqv5HAp-gDaBjm3QSEh6iCc5CsIqv068LJWO1XRSuYqsSCleqR-2Q-aN3LFZnWdKQJX4y14c7ir3hbjuDfrJKSv370XWVzu54vkJHhvLGTw_XSOUJOGwoK3VezE8gXbWRA/BC0pzyRmqtLAC5O-IUfjWrkVwN2kSKzPL75NpuQFFTM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/z63ymlTEnvC5H42Xo4dN9w/T9O-SvVDk_A9GoRdargR36M7gZ13laBSlGa180jSyKrXP0T62NBlf3zEzi_0N3p6uDztfnNO1EHZsFSjMakS7cdEeSZsnFuv5HDpo9PsSYvceXQ-OaebTIanf0asLv7rnHKLhKKNSmyKr8EyWfyLTg/G-HjmX8SSMXHQG7H2y-zo55eAgMWj_bAQL_oE1I69AY","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/D_v8ew0YY-fTeEAhLDRogQ/ZKkvfcAGoAbHpbMOsHHV3Psq1baHPblu8wqif7lsZRUrMLfU5UbNSOq9EAPk54qdjk_L8Lr2-4Z3p9kd3WMUl1_6iBgfKSu0DJOU0-RS456UHEIdIvd0T8M5SAlhRf1jOyhWQ9RbRW-4CSvyywvU1g/ok5x3_yEn9c4NYc_FHN641kOeZPizfREjJ7SfAMFb98","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/M930Xj-P24IfAsjbUxJmNg/o-P06-_VTWtekZBUaEw9xZz4ZBfmt7nPj_JHFXm6vxwycO1xhYQZ3nr9GFIyQCt1rRYjeubFOCsfT5SSJmNk3bC0FBRFr2uDdw1fjvMel096KNpo3nC6yXKRBkuBRbrp5aikjYo8toX7SyOApefGRg/VK3o-vXpZ_4SuXhO9ma84ObLNgl33iLqoaz5Pr_hwaA","height":36,"width":49}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/34nno0V6Vs_UFpTZBXX3Hw/sC9UFSNyntaZtxBWBHYHKkV9FAEWtQ_IVAtcrxOeMwInEE_brJUa53yCiYQFIefFVRfAJEf8_k-N8GwJImXTtVXWEhPGUAJIcCHhkSkCzW8XyuBXx32nmR75lJazHQNj1wp9o47nQIq8pANZoDkPuA/jHzNj6WydyKEYygK6iT0w0wiGX8csLbaeTBBob-n_cY","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/JZCPiC5bhYgm9kT11OWaMw/TR7EAaVHrpq_dB2KgF5ivGylPOw0PWcadLPwsexHVjzDuHBRm2MQkUIju0IutuMOs6gqts-JVeaEM0OMehawvGq_BuDmDoXzsF_ucWQBPp8lNX-fDo5AZ_sQ1z3Otyvi8MWYbMlHo3WJ9CTGjoExPw/4VggqcmkfJUSb_cAK_C7IM6ji9ajLduj32tbfsSBjP8","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/LSqJb7DO8srE2D9xSEsuRw/ePBVyiv6iRdde576UHW2JE7bs3AeDWMPTaDCzil4gpxRFPzE1I6aFK9ZzBt54XfdHfmYT0DFjalSjENiXJJJ7dtQJWq67q-zERSQgGqF3Ifc1upLHdxzn0Iilv7teeVTPmd3DtPjb9oh6oqT9UaM0A/3_uyj3xKVaTj2fyKz0MCdFFdvUg7g_iAKHs8wLUtsts","height":512,"width":696},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/qOojLEWhEuTFQ9W2x8I00A/25pCmCkh4re6hlu1cmSN8rrhcE0-U3147T_bFsGxvvUIoOTBR-j4ufoZtyY-tXhA6IhLEWiU0Upyq31r1Fk6TyXGVc2fyjF0osfh9EZOOKDv9L2fuCca8fisOfZpyKB7i2EunJ9kPCizJjwxSDvqDQ/LOWnUmp-mVwzC1Vr5FPZYffah0oKErIjdcYLQzymT2Y","height":36,"width":49}}}],"date":null,"templateKey":null,"category":["news"],"description":"Two Atlanta based groups team up to connect college students to basic need resources\n","full_copy":"Atlanta, GA -- Month Date, 2021 -- BestFit, Inc., an online platform connecting students with social resources, announced today its partnership with Step Ahead Scholars, a non-profit organization focused on eradicating college access inequality by empowering underserved students to and through college.\n\nIn this year-long partnership, both groups will support each other in order to grow their impact and network for helping historically underserved college students. BestFit will be providing Georgia college students with  in-kind eligibility screening and benefits application support. Together, both groups will participate in community engagement opportunities to increase awareness of student basic needs in the public. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown an increase in food insecurity in college students nationwide, leading the government to temporarily expand SNAP benefits to college students. With this partnership, BestFit can reach its goal of enrolling 1,000 students in the temporary SNAP expansion by the end of this year.\n\n“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Step Ahead Scholars to help connect students to the basic needs resources.,” says Asha Owens, founder, BestFit. “This will be a great opportunity to test our technologies on application support and eligibility screening, and track the impact we’re having with it. We’re also looking forward to being able to make the public aware of the needs of so many students, especially in this educational landscape of remote/distance learning.”\n\n(Description of Step Ahead Scholars goals and objectives and why they entered this partnership)\n\n**ABOUT BESTFIT**\nBestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars. To learn more, please visit best-fit.app.\n\n**ABOUT STEP AHEAD SCHOLARS**\n(Insert boilerplate)\n","title":"BestFit Announces Partnership with Step Ahead Scholars"}},{"id":"2b95acbd-0db8-51e2-be99-8fb5bd776c2a","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/3Rwd-_PRGxzO-tBIlYIstw/V4SBhMnbd3S3sveKIGCiD7SW7yqcSfbV7J30raZqP1zDzg51mTlT0jqCgKYS0tEiHrFhtHjElNtxWFqY4_Ox31Y7T5Ep-MJ13jHTYlrHBMrOPFm_MMQAW-fXfRFF-iN1yHoVYVZ0Qkck0nSn0BBPvg/P5z3P-5LyCV5k-EZwtYnmjdkrtfXS94bRIhQjqirHPA","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/sxlb1QBAdC_a0OEmBNTLFQ/qMMR4LbzqcwOQbT6cY6b8Rb3REXPsLtWJ8bx1N7_bDUDd70o90AFqkCEkhcJAWSVWUQhlni8EncsIFqvGPrgjD2Spon58TJ5Rht0r99DqTSjwqStLLbJGJGi9w8Y96ervdBF3pQgAodpGaTAJ6iOJg/sfn422v1P6iEzrT__FGr_wrEwCYZffe-S1uEVrrhEw4","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/n1xS3E0ukhD4q5NvLvGkGg/lLChFFymXZlkNUA_Z6AjrRMWTAkQx3pl6DVMop6AHgsFA3pmfDiDi7CR-ShmHxmrubj9sw1vg5IBTEnZAqDGBkWUrGvyVHdlWivNcmC1cemWZcl57ZUDwGhy-D1IBB3Ps-coawY7sMU4dgkj3GoXqQ/F6Ad2LyYjGeZQ1ZfwBpj76pJjv175qwALYVSyDnLabY","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/G8xLIon1joIq6u58wPJfMQ/qcKK2QJQTPJXaVcr-3XnuF-N68UCn0gNE99tVkrOx-Mnij0IlFQo-q1cULKsRj3ofZFzk4WXvpRjb4kskxIQM8rWQwF9x4zbSMYcaifJt8G-U9M0RWrc6EcYrIvqTjPM_B16nqhe6JlrcqN-PQT95Q/RFhxrnRljr8-icJ6wL_8TY0ASdYTnExpT76tjDejH30","height":36,"width":36}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/3mQiz_xmTQ3iGc_2EmR80A/FhzsdX_o_pWpe9KQfXjVirUhmJN4mq8mWvSSqSLbGnudSLwoVezJahnR-NqiK3tNmcb9CCZwTey7Sr8otY8vEsqQATbw2GfugqpwPuEU-hCL589JrMZtOsWw4-5pzVyPENV_d18fb-NMeIpYmz6uAw/F8D1fU61mNT-2WGyx76RspNjlBkTO_hDSOBmTmooA2U","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/YeT9OWrBx-JVrszYD75pyA/3lC_ZRFehKuo6ztOxNPOQcAhIjtkU1ncBYMsVBPe6o-Gp2ViSVkAZPdwurwEFy4FitJ8F9_1TmuwLC_xvB_G4rCv6VwqM1nr5i2bL3W8M1PP72mGBzIuldWuYVCAtBeFJE1ryXhbIg5uWtAtSloOAg/pcHZQPlnmmGzDwz6IGLqgrFKlzfQIPZroA4xbw8yU04","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/hy9K4enJNsF3dcW6M206Og/HIAq7jwPmYhMMbUpy96E0TnR_Tjrmx3jVLwQ7dwRg9iUHvMubUxIrxWNMss6CIsenRkxD0GvI4jkn7O5ivew6daSjVV7np6ykJH1VtR83n8V42RjKo3655YAqyVM9AUbq3uDe8kl6FQDm1xdUnAzpQ/DCiHsgApDxWWbhWtLUZTFz0svv1AGuLz7k_Votx0cLs","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/fCuBhGs2iex4CmRfBPHIhw/QkhcJdsJD9EajIE3sFKiYhKrMX35dsp1V79N97vfZmbiQ26HKJte1lTo-_DLEZypN6XmgdVRRfTImNqc1Gs-tf50jsvs15V1bI66-XjNkMmwuBRkHCIJQEHvETYzZWndlemjyKq7u8bhU3pmpNgK4g/nbS9xgxPgfvlPZCcgwle0yULcS4PAjLuQpDmQKkfLOg","height":36,"width":36}}}],"date":"2021-03-10","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"CEO Asha Owens is one of 50 founders selected for Google for Startups program focused on high potential startups from underrepresented entrepreneurs based in the U.S.\n\n\n","full_copy":"**_CEO Asha Owens is one of 50 founders selected for Google for Startups program focused on high potential startups from underrepresented entrepreneurs based in the U.S._**\n\nAtlanta, GA -- February 26, 2021 -- BestFit, Inc., an online platform connecting students with social resources, today announced it was selected to join the second cohort of the [Google for Startups Founders Academy](https://events.withgoogle.com/google-for-startups-founders-academy/), a nationwide 6-month, equity-free program designed to help promising founders and their startups grow revenues and obtain access to capital. \n\nThe Founders Academy will begin on March 3 and consist of hands-on workshops across a range of topics including customer acquisition, hiring, and fundraising. BestFit is one of only 50 high potential startups that the Google for Startups team has selected for the first nationwide cohort. The founders Academy model was piloted in Atlanta last year with 45 Georgia based companies.\n\n“We applied to the Founder’s Academy after seeing the impact it had on helping underrepresented founders and underserved communities in the previous cohort. We were also looking for thought partners & subject matter experts who can provide us with strategic advice and momentum towards our business goals,” says Asha Owens, BestFit founder. “This support from Google for Startups comes at a critical time and will be used to focus on entering new customer markets, and ensuring the scalability and growth of the company.”\n\n“85 percent of participants from Google for Startups Founders Academy that we ran in Georgia reported that the program helped grow their startup, whether that be through job creation, fresh pathways to capital, new strategic partnerships, or increased  brand and marketing exposure,” says Jewel Burks Solomon, Head of Google for Startups US. “By expanding the program nationally, we’re hopeful that we can continue to level the playing field for underrepresented founders and their startups, like BestFit  by connecting them to the best Google has to offer.”\n\nSince COVID-19 disrupted college learning in 2020, BestFit has responded to the college retention crisis faced by students and the higher education industry by connecting students to >$90,000 worth of resources so they can continue their coursework. Now, we’re enrolling national foundations + nonprofits seeking to screen students eligible for their services. With the mentorship in sales, hiring, and strategy from Founder’s Academy, we can take BestFit to the next level.  \n\n**About BestFit: **BestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars. To learn more, please visit best-fit.app.\n\n**About Google for Startups: **Google for Startups works to level the playing field for startup founders and communities to succeed by bringing the best of Google’s products, connections, and best practices to startups. Paired with a deep commitment to create diverse startup communities, many of our offerings are designed specifically to provide underrepresented founders with access to resources and opportunities. We support startups everywhere to build something better. Because when startups succeed, we all succeed.\n","title":"BestFit Selected for Google for Startups Founders Academy"}},{"id":"644c8ad7-506a-572e-99f7-c5ad258703a8","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/GmX1bIFNMJYfrs_hsEAESw/d9t1mXKyQ3o4xRpvwRjtjTJ1rfOfbPCP0NMFQdwGAwzityjnKPiNK_WWEcpkg2oRdTLQjJbj78ZBsKj5ql2910qlleyDXv946492wYfy0L8r2N75IzJKDX09_f1eGyUU-f1tTEJ5i3Evzp3-qXgDBQ/ymKF8EdsNgVbFt_kd9qIPL4-u1yrFrdk_5sycQlXXDo","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/8quFyrHHBefx0yRDbW52yQ/CaZ8gPIkjTH57zphMKfzXc5Zb9MjYnvzdCmqXYAuh_rIEqLvYj8pTpcrB0ZuxQcduXh_DzppxHKSJCuhLyyLDAB9fv0muq1hCtFAOArifqDTarHC80krx8BPnCdV5LddUPrCC2LW2JDC0CoIN9Ighg/nMf4eVj_l6a-xcJyeZ8qVfJtv13i091Rce2j_H1kyb4","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/mv5GpYh5mva0k05Ti4lnqg/eUIzYlYFL83WI3-_LHglYVa4rr5T77HzAxM5NQVqaJakY3dWLaZMMW7ujxCVm35FtcdoZ3w3RcioVZz0QrbcNlvC4YcSgFrwpFvklCGG-TrLtJepu08hpgGc70sq2rfX-ba3WvrCyr7wCAOPPd0RcA/76y2HOpVt62OOqMnjHe38nrvLkfv3BzM_EElVmUnzBU","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ACMFQ3m5O63o5AdeneDP2A/TpiMwNGfBTqvoUoyrRchjOe2ItgyyjHHYtKnsqlRlzv4WDHxdv7W1adzmIry3t1dpPWhfqEMsSFbDdGV33SY-ZQg4xiFYVW4_yPTE0jf7ZLV2EkjbB19E7S9qiFuV51uUdlUOFiU0BwttnnOgdjaaw/k8C0My4x6WJmq5mw0VKhgjk3GR-tIrARUvRejP7Djhg","height":36,"width":36}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/v9yOQMm8BfTdqN7XKuyciQ/u6URuubAm4cW134Hvl_Cr7691fHM_YwLx5v4nETFW4vfTPef1q1MiDu9kdkOKBgk0Mkox4sy06jVRkQIkBdC6az3lnmm3beUxg0mzanUpDD22LQZjyqClc2jx1kzRjQPT63yRBKNyjlsnbcvx3KD_g/fHt2eu-nJEh-xWun9aeRzOY5tTnW3iesaZS-iIAwgm8","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/R2DFeHcs7MTbJv33eKcVEg/JzFbg4n1ELgSS55HHff2rU3pLOPunI3CdM3I3ZLdNIqtWTMsRLPLqmN11c6hnrTFhbZF2-Sx2d2f6HtGFAjXK-Emh5P1FShR5fKf5vCJHZxVpTN9Xzf5xhusuEe3JQBEJ0uqJdvr2t0xb7AEO7hZtQ/h6zrNyMIj3BFqLCqSprKb9Hojd4NVqIgZsiq5T1OE64","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/CGYHC1GHSPMKQrbnw319Ag/YMx21_9Kgw17KRwZdRBwL70DsZ-SDCd06cG5bYqvAtxBby7lVZ-lBjulBYw5DOJqciavT1cSA4R2GxTFBe2QmpJFE3LD1ADhL5RGMmxglljXRGVNO-ME1MZZvSHe_E1tiKJ3N_R71l95bhknB1cpPg/YnbE7ZpAPCCsrQv_tJ0kMML7PDOePER4kYCGSnIwoP8","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/8GUlmycg2ii2MiRJhXW6KA/eNeyJzab4IyPCdXprwqRs2OCawpTc42_YsYmz7zbsbuZhOTljmB_vf3cuU1NXXzwOSIevyn40eALp63jnBoF_UkwRtkwwuLnu5uuKKhQIQ2afUwpT4aGxqH1S5C9MW0md_NrWlEW2ZRyDHpiKGCLMg/yHZSlcBHzW_r4eJEwFVRsLkPwEGM8S9rwddN7c_skaI","height":36,"width":36}}}],"date":"2020-12-15","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"The CCI Fellowship Program provides resources and support to Atlanta entrepreneurs as they grow and scale their work.\n","full_copy":"**The CCI Fellowship Program provides resources and support to Atlanta entrepreneurs as they grow and scale their work.**\n\n**[Atlanta, GA]** BestFit, Inc. is excited to announce that CEO Asha Owens has been selected as 1 of 15 Fellows for Atlanta's Center for Civic Innovation 2021 Fellowship class.\n\nFellows are leaders and entrepreneurs who are each working to uniquely address inequality in metro Atlanta. The 2021 class is tackling issues including reproductive justice to veteran services to affordable housing and other concerns that affect social and economic outcomes in their communities. The CCI Fellowship Program provides resources and support to each leader as they grow and scale their work and helps them design solutions that can measurably make a stronger impact.\n\n\"I am excited to join this cohort of changemakers as we expand our work within the community to ensure Atlanta’s college students have their basic needs met,\" says Asha Owens, CEO & Co-Founder of BestFit.\n\nWith support from CCI and fellow cohort members, BestFit hopes to directly address the widening inequalities faced by Atlanta's nontraditional and historically underrepresented college students. Metro Atlanta college students at risk of dropping out due to non-academic factors are disproportionately Black, and COVID-19 has exacerbated inequalities such as access to childcare, Internet & tech, basic needs, and healthcare. By directly working with colleges and organizations who support >60% communities of color to connect their students with resources, we will directly impact Atlanta’s Black college student population.\nClick [here](https://www.civicatlanta.org/cci-news/2020/12/14/2021-fellowship-announcement) for the full list of 2021 CCI Fellows.\n\n**_For general or partnership inquiries, please contact [founders@best-fit.app](mailto:founders@best-fit.app)._**\n\n\\###\n**About BestFit, Inc.:** BestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation](https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article216439440.html) and [Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars](https://www.techstars.com/newsroom/cox-enterprises-social-impact-accelerator-powered-by-techstars). To learn more, please visit [best-fit.app](https://best-fit.app/).\n\n**About the CCI Fellowship Program:** Entering its sixth year, the CCI Fellowship Program has helped foster a new guard of Atlanta’s most passionate leaders and invests directly in their work in the areas of education, housing, justice, the arts, journalism, agriculture, and healthcare. CCI is committed to ensuring that the Fellowship program participants reflect the talent and diversity of Atlanta. Given the disproportionate impact of inequality on Black communities, we center our work around trusting and investing in the work of Black leaders in Atlanta. To date, the organization has raised over $2M in financial support for over 80 local civic organizations.\n\n**About the Center for Civic Innovation (CCI):** The Center for Civic Innovation is a 7,500 square foot space in the heart of downtown Atlanta and is a resource hub and open campus for social changemakers. The mission of the Center for Civic Innovation is to elevate more effective solutions that improve equality and build trust in the public sector. For more information, visit: <https://www.civicatlanta.org/>.\n","title":"The Center for Civic Innovation Selects BestFit CEO Asha Owens As Member of 2021 Fellowship Class"}},{"id":"c5fa2521-c8c1-5689-8359-25296970e467","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/XOEwx5ytiRmElTioITQU7w/RHCwjuz8DvU0iv3Hgu27XIwwwFogUqPGPjVdK12SQdIVkZGsgwGUyU7jfBZZsGggOVM1MbrsTbI2mooDrHWRUKRCgnYkdeYTkrFMZe6ADjA2oVs6GVc3mRXtFIfksVHcYtPQXvNhEkjoNKhcKLXJVyVd4OwEGnM8_xBh4E7HwGs/hqjneDGH33M-Wk9tCGeYShvG33uGCKeNzFuuTKAUBPQ","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/rA74tiQ6XSsg3AG2S1mlcg/-Q5POkPQ_I7irTIF5zvAyM0_3qwqFB-akg5XcD5ddOD3OBJYKaN8pW1jClIf0xOOVswSAJh4mF3lfJTL_ZQnLuC3ZmHT6Ry98B2jSX_cFP5QyMpuVUW2vJTPpvePWrOFTDOSHN352N3QrR2zmimXOQ/Fk8ZepMV8pEU5cBMODEpE64ff3F93S0I0I1gbrXwvOY","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/5Od9lPItik0tf2hTCxk7EQ/2qP0yYh-aSEwy_ENaO0lTGCybl2PKB5SqWa-R7cgCZ_K5PgTLRTRq2cUvBpfCrVVNOfVzRjJSF-CNR3u9kcoapY2SMv-ouc6WazNCrdz924TXjLuhKBhS2nzOUZ5XpaySkiIju3D66DT4J73rYO6dA/Ms_gH4KRYw_6vHkJMhlMSGjKBKmQWirBUTlxSsvIpZU","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/C2I0du6RJMvLK_GjNxCILw/yL8m5jCO6jLp-a_tv_CqL4mJLjFCpEXosNewgnz8ytrcpt2tOLpxovAwxgLMTCzmrk3QQjgM1eLxuYIyioWwiWy_VtWDQhgKGgvh2vIhuWrBDiZkSvUwCXGR-D6BASM4-3vviDr6P1r4G-7JlU4HYg/XlYBap4ViD02ivTIhpg2DnECFgzDGYg7cVi-hd3p1y4","height":36,"width":54}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/xgS_EEXoU1wQ2C9knPdeow/ajkRlq-nBEzAlpGkaVTXFrrAHE-rPwNOIpZfuz7H7SSpJBWQyxCF09x2ZnAS_hVDAm2fW6_lbcx3iwraAl2OCuTDpHa04pyytbwIpQEN6hGcOtkGn8_8K6hfN_76tUzDKE3N05BawLU3c2DD770tHNAlldvw1uUhdEF7LQ92pGQ/2q2UZ2lXr_FU5BhzT0vbDw9I4KEZqHD2A7-09hE4PGY","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/cIDr9k4wvFrGOdPIHwHmlg/tRAi4g5gjXWlwTseeTvXKMDNnYS9aqlWi4-HJZLp0qgMTSjfJALWOr0m2xQcu5EIlP3tPVMjkX8C54yk8uxH4fbMSJoCAY-1FWqPSnn_rIx10v3eFZ-oIYL4dT_RG3NUnjNspicCYDZaCngwD5naAQ/K0UH8bkKT1bmkYyUndIswo9vj48lNAPESlTgclwrxTo","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/f7cog7xdxgzjMgydrJFrRQ/33WbMmYV0akDfIp8j_s1OquCge1WJGp3tDwhmgoVnBSztTf_Eqc3qH1fgqTt8Thr3TOq1nE5DCrIJ8WOAiwAhMMKAp8t5Hys5SGgdsi6k324UWs5cFBa9kKhX5Mq9Afq2-2wMphVDw-MjE3HXadiQg/2TUaLKpixqhTXOS7cnfzdCFDXlxm1yFwc8GEOCRm4mQ","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/E5na1ehx_JCzuQ8Ufrj-pg/7IpiI6iqyeq-fK4z_WyltN5HKLwA9YJejWFXZV51Zr5dfnM3nomzbdTBHbEbsihnMILly1_PwZuUA4ss0WtNcqZ3_oqzcG1Y3TCwubx5m0GDZWN9Xe809xx6_HXamFeEXkois-LX9DLakSoIyQUnww/D7TIbe_8RDkLymhaLScoWOfXP-3UPNUme_Ov-UMkQXI","height":36,"width":54}}}],"date":"2020-11-19","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"$75,000 grant is part of Round 8 of the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and aims to narrow the digital divide for the city's college students.\n","full_copy":"**$75,000 grant is part of Round 8 of the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund and aims to narrow the digital divide for the city's college students.**\n\n**[Atlanta, GA]** BestFit, Inc. is excited to announce that it has received a $75,000 grant from the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to provide direct support to Atlanta's college students during this unprecedented health and economic crisis. The grant will enable BestFit to narrow the digital divide facing college students today, and deliver Tech Essentials Care Packages for homeless or previously foster-care college students in Metro Atlanta.\n\nOur Tech Essentials Care Package initiative was created out of the fact that homeless or foster-care college students in Atlanta have always faced technological barriers; with the COVID-19 crisis causing universities and colleges to transition to virtual instruction, the impact has been even greater, threatening students' academic success and persistence rates.\n\nTo address this, BestFit plans to provide laptops, wifi access, and essential remote learning tools (ex: earphones, webcams, software subscriptions, gift cards for online textbook purchases) to at least 150 homeless or foster-care college students in metro Atlanta.\n\nTo ensure our care packages reach Atlanta students who need them the most, BestFit is partnering with Embark Georgia to distribute the devices to eligible homeless or previously foster care students in Metro Atlanta. Embark Georgia is part of the University of Georgia's Office of Public Service and Outreach, and is a statewide network of support for Georgia college students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness. We've worked with them to identify the 6 campuses in metro Atlanta with homeless or foster-care students in need of digital devices: Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Georgia Gwinnett College, Kennesaw State University, and Chattahoochee Technical College.\n\n\"With support from the COVID-19 Fund, we'll be able to directly meet the essential needs of many more college students in metro Atlanta, and decrease education inequalities for Atlanta's homeless or foster-care students\" says Asha Owens, CEO & Co-Founder of BestFit. \"We're now looking for corporate and community partners looking to contribute services and support to ensure students receive the technology and tools needed to complete their coursework this academic year.\"\n\n**_For general or partnership inquiries, please contact [founders@best-fit.app](mailto:founders@best-fit.app)._**\n\n**_###_**\n**About BestFit, Inc.:** BestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation](https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article216439440.html) and [Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars](https://www.techstars.com/newsroom/cox-enterprises-social-impact-accelerator-powered-by-techstars). To learn more, please visit [best-fit.app](https://best-fit.app/).\n\n**About Embark Georgia:** The mission of Embark Georgia is to increase college access and retention for youth who have experienced foster care or homelessness. By creating a network of support on campus and across the state, Embark Georgia aims to improve the chances for every student to complete a degree or certificate program at one of the over 50 USG or TCSG institutions in Georgia. To learn more about Embark Georgia, visit <https://embarkgeorgia.org/home>.\n\n**About the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta:** Since 1951, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been leading and inspiring philanthropy to increase the vitality of our region and the well-being of all residents. With nearly 70 years serving the 23-county Atlanta region and a robust team of experts, the Community Foundation expands its philanthropic reach and impact by providing quality services to donors and bold, innovative community leadership. The Community Foundation is a top-20 community foundation among 750 nationally, with approximately $1.2 billion in current assets, and is Georgia’s second largest foundation. For more information, visit: [cfgreateratlanta.org](http://www.cfgreateratlanta.org/) or connect with the Foundation via [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/cfgreateratlanta/), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/56965?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Acompany%2CclickedEntityId%3A56965%2Cidx%3A2-1-2%2CtarId%3A1464294070516%2Ctas%3Acommunity%20foun) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/philanthropyatl).\n\n**About United Way of Greater Atlanta:** United Way of Greater Atlanta, the largest United Way chapter in the nation, focuses on ensuring that every child in Atlanta has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. The organization invests in more than 200 programs in 13 counties through the Child Well-Being Impact Fund and works to help children succeed in school, improve financial stability of families, provide affordable and accessible healthcare and end homelessness. For more information, visit: [unitedwayatlanta.org](http://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/unitedwayatlanta), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitedwayofgreateratlanta/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/unitedwayatl) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/unitedwayatlanta/).\n","title":"United Way of Greater Atlanta and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Award $75,000 Grant to BestFit To Deliver Tech Essentials to Homeless College Students"}},{"id":"44ec0f8f-23f7-5d80-80fd-f8d2fe2d8ea4","data":{"tags":["SCHOLARSHIPS","COLLEGE COSTS","OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/DufhH5IH3cZj2yb-ryMW_Q/k1BfkrkIazkuPcHflMM3nfE1s81mAgk0qNcqMNXy3zMk--_U0EDqm4FAHJX4r8OXmvDTjywVspueHbNCa9OiIDn82BQ6ADCxdIiKxmeq1PFYR3DRnG7uNoAi1kO2pzi_mTVkDvwieNakseOXeuVoWg/N0SEXdtXfdI032x1MvAHV8dqYjqNTQnwxm8FJhNCveQ","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ZHMRWvx86X1HMy0bL1rWew/5wk6tTrXRqaTMBijM0SFPJBLp3vUZwtSE_13bnzSr9bCtyo_jNd1JtKHx_7gbhppsGzorQhZ79aytHIrvHqf0SXZijtLsZpEJf0SgBk-0D5kuEagbQRa9NX_Fwzgvi9mACxWqmZOnnDyQDIXRCJPmg/hGTzgRhAyWt9Cz6aQ573wuUUcyaR73VAva6Tsrh9liY","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/RvZrMH98aJu18LXWWSJHgg/e1SNZ7I1XoLQbWnOiUJrnDjNKG1GvIA3D4UUbkHr8TuVFlZzWvlP-t-uW3xBEcdG9ww7GO-Rjw2_ZMJZ96t8jGgzhV2Afm3OKQNVVFW8Kl0yxUTX6X71krJX654iLQho78rFFHs8vePViY3CrD6cvw/E3dup_MTUgLv3P1cSmCqh3LfrSKK7rNskz21MUea8qM","height":512,"width":773},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/k9TO20koC3OnRm9X_-O60Q/4X3mxfBrUQayaZVr7O4-A6dKtdzgORlixJdlCG5tfxd3LhL1dY_3voZqtCVnTVwEYmuaoDG8xzAIci7LzCoe4W1AMRds3XhzMK0Nadg33dAQU8SwkIz2-cDi8lxmN083wbZeolGgaoxiQPQRMcDJOQ/SOAxAJ-y65idK--65ZMn3va24ZstXY4MeUMhCUAqKJc","height":36,"width":54}}}],"date":"2020-11-19","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["finance"],"description":"In recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, here is an in-depth look into scholarships that you should apply for if you're a homeless student!\n","full_copy":"In recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, here is an in-depth look into scholarships that you should apply for if you're a homeless student!\n\n**Sean Cheng**\n\n11/18/2020 · 2 minute read\n\nIf you're a homeless or previously foster-care college student, there are many scholarships you might qualify for to support your college journey. We've compiled a list of five scholarships to be on the lookout for. The first scholarship application will open up on January 1st, so get started on your application now!\n\n1. **Foster Care to Success**\n    - _Description:_ Foster Care to Success is a non-profit organization that works exclusively with college-bound foster youth. They provide scholarships like these to help students pay for college.\n    - _Amount:_ Between $2,500 - $5,000\n    - _Application Dates:_ January 1st, 2021 - March 31st, 2021\n    - _Eligibility:_\n        - Been in public or private foster care for the 12 consecutive months leading up to and including your 18th birthday\n        - OR have been adopted or placed into legal guardianship after your 16th birthday\n        - OR have been orphaned for at least one year at the time of your 18th birthday and not subsequently adopted\n    - **Scholarship website [here](https://www.fc2success.org/our-programs/information-for-students/)** \n2. **The SchoolHouse Connection Leadership and Scholarship Program**\n    - _Description:_ SchoolHouse Connection is a non-profit organization that assists youth suffering from homelessness.\n    - _Amount:_ $2,000\n    - _Application Dates:_ Application opens in June 2021 and closes in October 2021\n    - _Eligibility:_\n        - Homeless within the last six years.\n        - Must be a high school senior in the fall of 2021\n    - **Scholarship website [here](https://www.schoolhouseconnection.org/youth-leadership/scholarship-program/)** \n3. **Youth Scholarship**\n    - _Description:_ National Foster Parent Association is a non-profit that seeks to support foster families and children by promoting education.\n    - _Amount:_ $500\n    - _Application Dates:_ Application opens February 10th, 2021 and closes on April 5th, 2021\n    - _Eligibility:_\n        - Parent or supportive adult must be part of the National Foster Parent Association\n        - Must be a birth, foster, kinship, or youth adopted through foster care\n    - **Scholarship website [here](https://nfpaonline.org/Scholarships)** \n4. **UMPS CARE Charities All-Star College Scholarship**\n    - _Description:_  UMPS CARE Charities was founded by MLB umpires and seeks to provide financial and emotional support to American Youth.\n    - _Amount:_ $10,000\n    - _Application Dates:_ Application opens February 10th, 2021\n    - _Eligibility:_\n        - Adopted after or at the age of 13\n        - Be an incoming college freshman under the age of 20\n    - **Scholarship website [here](https://www.umpscare.com/scholarship/all-star-college-scholarship/)** \n5. **Horatio Alger State Scholarship**\n    - _Description:_ The Horatio Alger Association has funded need-based scholarships for low-income students since 1984. They have several scholarships that you can look into.\n    - _Amount:_ $10,000\n    - _Application Dates:_ Application opens August 1st, 2021 and closes October 25th, 2022\n    - _Eligibility:_\n        - Be a US Citizen\n        - Minimum GPA of 2.0\n        - Demonstrate critical financial need (less than $55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income)\n        - Be a high school senior graduating in spring or summer of 2022\n    - **Scholarship website [here](https://scholars.horatioalger.org/about-our-scholarship-programs/state-scholarships/)**\n","title":"Scholarship Spotlight: Scholarships For Foster and Homeless Youth"}},{"id":"a7b1819b-9d1a-57fe-bdc7-1056094014ab","data":{"tags":["OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/U9fgJjfRd4IK1qa1ubkikQ/oLs0v8LNjV125qBWIGyDHc9eTlwuiRuIR9P6p4sYsJZCFdUTAFNyFnYpi-GHEHQF1Q-osebA2UcJpzF2pTXT5T2yzhF-TUTIdVZMRgWCNG922uAHTuk2my8KqHFiDAR5TzOWt3IlntIA78-jHGn0DQ/xO7A8YeJdgxI97VIvI4Tk_VCOK_bPtvCtxWe3PuGI48","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/rxyNyEa2iOgbPng7MJ5jtg/h-tRcphFIdp30BEVmXzeBzfYxSNqtUTPgWSQRXe2LZGwzwKQ6pBb29lAcIz-PDQlpXqnsgpWBMrdcngbMesNK0-e8etYpIDKIh8x2DgfRJwAxdflZ3sTh1QFtfXDnnHdbPi0TlOCFBIYww9dKdPEZw/2NSpkhqJJi0qiw-sQdBKpeBV6KlFEtWi0V7ScGvCP9E","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/UfZYggfOkEelXRktQKF15Q/-RpSPV8rtC1SeTdr6MBileGRrNF6OulNqnSbCamPM3sfIlJME8SdgysLMhlatRXqmCfu31jFc2qPl5K4mpJ9t7RLlLJpY50kUshr1ywGrWVFZPv8J0tVga6czj0Fwi116KkTPiRNwGDq1Gu2Yj126A/x49VfmB7-FTuUW5JSvbN8Z0iAmWSpTfBX5BC0oWb6D4","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Ez3NkiFwAhuDJGyPYQV4QA/kaapog12onmFid0aJOmByzeCH_4lMjTpbBvFJ8Kigr4rjPFWm-KQ9kyj7CbovkfWBslpYFlR46luJ8s18xipAr9C3xhzzyUuGnFrXXs_t63Zu-hp1Y2hm5j2v2RSa03cvv9nEsJ_RE2CAmYD0nL_YA/7J42-VqWSoH8FM89pElWqNg_fb3w5jIXd1b12dkOFZ0","height":36,"width":36}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/LD0-0JvHzFb-K7IAtwqi6w/HZYMCgEqUeOEoEDEWJsBChsiOQyaIZ5aHLZNGZlHk05a9wXC_i6WBF0m5B2R5nHLh1ILGG4QTmVafZIrtETsEWRgTaQIUEnZ-v5s2N6pWr4yiOhNfZQE3oMUtuLCiv3ijn4guzFB8oLqjPAuV1EemqVj46aDJGibwN6-tNB4tTM/tB4m3JISkO30jtSu34f_pnae3TFtaF128W-VpGbbG8A","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ZNN3CIR5uQ7YUyC6M0Bzpw/UG0ZFt_HScVVb7IJUd3HN3L4JnKqD4AzlXiA7D2YfYbBWZ1kzR4uLnUm2kwVxQhbAQuWPualDaVPCTOcO7ufXo0qJOhG2h9DKKMtq50EBCLqO9KIcGC9mqK8klHpVOAlTC934c23vo6B680CSbEREw/YI2fyqX3pqJIGl-aHfRDofHUKnQumHUzTmwJ3uf_47M","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/MH6iUfYH1toTFoeiRRLOIw/b4Td23eh58RpbtlSZKM83fPlalV0VxgiGGsqEbxgVqHRUt9-xt-W1uONjF3A9M1eGTrXfh-FIbF_eBi68mAqW4PBpv-XzfhPWOClc0n4rAdc0OOmdvZ-ZmHuFtKB5XulqU-zaICBKASLv5wxmrt7pQ/0Z88BhUr6giamrkHMqS3DHEeRnulZLTAHiaTjkIQv00","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/T8a_vmgU7aYmwi9OT554bA/yEjxB03PM-sdFYlK4RA8b_QkBycWoconrYkLZHm29b6WMjoBb2YgJ9NGhWqKg8w4F6cocUeNK7Ic6frg9OOvK0NlUxNrfD0ML_Q4YplVsWnpAMiSH_wJR7YK7nEyY0b_981MKjzFMEkZqZQkNpkxFA/3tT7ms60IAzxkaFVvy3nKhAEQTiTcCdi7BcTp9iLvmA","height":36,"width":36}}}],"date":"2020-11-03","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["advice"],"description":"Post 1 of 3: The Comprehensive Guide to Applying for SNAP in Georgia\n","full_copy":"Post 1 of 3: The Comprehensive Guide to Applying for SNAP in Georgia\n**written by Sean Cheng**\n2 minute read\n\n> Don’t miss out on $194 a month. \n> \n> That’s how much you can get as a single college student from SNAP (Food Stamps) to purchase food.\n\nMost students who qualify for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Food Stamps) don’t realize they’re eligible, and end up not taking advantage of these benefits. **For example, did you know that if you’re a work-study student in Georgia you automatically qualify for SNAP?**\n\nWe're launching this guide to make sure students who are eligible for SNAP feel ready to apply by the end of this series. Qualifying for SNAP is one helpful way to close the gap between financial aid and the true cost of college: The money you save from groceries through SNAP can instead go towards buying textbooks or paying rent. For some students, this could be the difference between getting by or falling further behind.\n\nYou might think applying for SNAP sounds complicated, or you might have read other online posts on how to apply that haven’t been helpful. Maybe you didn't know SNAP applied to college students. Or if you did, you were told to call a phone number that didn't work. Maybe they redirected you to another website and you couldn’t find the information you needed.\n\n**This is why we made this guide.**\n\nLearning how SNAP really works is frustrating, and we wanted to both simplify the process and help you prepare for each of these obstacles with our guide.\n> 💡Sounds interesting? Sign up [here](https://resources.best-fit.app/signup/) to receive notifications on the next posts in our guide. We will cover how to check your eligibility, how to apply for SNAP step by step, and much more. You can also do this at the bottom of the article so feel free to keep reading!\n\n# What's Different About Our Approach?\n\n1. We won't tell you to go to multiple websites or give vague advice. Instead, we'll be walking you through the entire SNAP application process step by step, and you'll have the most important information in one place;\n\n1. We’ve anticipated common issues that might come up and have written directions specifically for those situations. These are issues we've faced in the past as students as well, and by including specific scenarios, **we'll make sure that applying will be as easy as possible for you.**\n\nOver the next week we'll release a series of posts that will help you:\n- Understand what SNAP is;\n- Determine your eligibility for SNAP;\n- Complete the application for SNAP;\n- Navigate the verification & approval processes; and\n- Identify temporary assistance while you wait to hear back.\n\nReady to begin? Look out for our next post this coming Monday!\n> 💡 Leave your email [here](https://resources.best-fit.app/signup/) so you don't miss out on the next posts in our series!\n","title":"How to Apply for SNAP (Food Stamps) as a Georgia College Student"}},{"id":"54ddaeb9-f8d6-5fae-af78-854e20518eed","data":{"tags":["OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HprkEWOhsXTUYQdt9Kr7Cg/HEiTLXmJ8jM-Mc2tZ6gorFrHf_9SOoWCND863hYF10JUOLppv3hea9LKVabw1t0-QCASGgPa1mQbBkxQJlJMYPRBr3TMYUMFRX08vBwVx3ikbAgCj2_xzd9Ni4aYoSsXCPWzBpfdFdjmiSeTRex29w/TlTI9BHzCu8My_fxNRHkZHONDEEsrSuMiEf1UAX0kpc","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/QpxsOpjPhTQSb5Vx9lomRw/0qotGrfDMT2aO0gZ1cTF60TvpumvzdkGJo6wULiV4tkimltnxlXGey1Gzs-u02KzT2KNsdY3wa3B8whqSnvnlYAl8e-iy4YVNL9zSWChY3HgcoDPYFGUv1eoIDhbnvNvOgJa5c-5OK4VRsLMikkzoQ/k4QbcUDBletbBidKWoqfRNLwIH6dWSo1wyv6PR4oO7w","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/UqGaf3Yn--AH2ehEzM4qNQ/pLYnpSP7HdFv_L3IBnbcqz1sx8OXeHYHCEn28SzLrDVwpjXDcvAWKdsK0pdNpwKd-GUNbZZi9GxUikXdcryQ4BWGqmrzy7pzasBW-gfgpd66V8pInBI5VjYv29zwrxNZHTcaShsqSgOU4kcz639e0Q/gezLGBhCftoggqymokVfjSpiaSYkWwOIZM_88nRBlCo","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/U6X-qZWCKzvIVWbFi90DVw/aFeNbm_lzSoawR-NSmu6SwfkY-lGMWfBjCPOKjtDptPjCOLQTypdSDo1gHLIEqQDP2bxUkiBqQEB4tRlA03ckeAT8-EtUhTsDhcYuzKIQqujicnyj9hpKGmq1udQB1R-err7k_9W4NxyyPM7Iq7IvA/sCP-ZcYR0EdOE395cR9rSDp6uchh0SD-CA_i-Kfq3Jc","height":36,"width":54}}}],"date":"2020-11-03","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["advice"],"description":"We’re excited to announce that over the next few months, BestFit will be launching a series of online guides specifically designed to help students navigate college life during an ongoing global pandemic.\n","full_copy":"We’re excited to announce that over the next few months, BestFit will be launching a series of online guides specifically designed to help students navigate college life during an ongoing global pandemic.\n\n**For students using BestFit, many of the frustrations around college life have little to do with coursework itself, but with all the other factors surrounding coursework:** How do I fit in my classes or office hours between work? How do I take care of my parents/children while being a successful student? How do I do virtual learning if I don’t have stable Internet, a working laptop, or even just headphones that don’t break? How do I ask for help with food and/or mental health support without feeling judged?\n\n**COVID-19 has not only created a lot more non-academic issues for college students but also forced us to redefine what it takes to be a “successful college student.”**  Here are some of our learnings in the last 6 months:\n\n1. **Social capital‒having the network and relationships to know where and how to get help‒has become more important than ever.**\\r\\nWhen colleges started closing campuses in March, we saw the growing disparities between students who could depend on their home and families for their everyday needs and those who couldn’t (ex: homeless/foster care and international students, etc.). With many colleges still virtual or hybrid, being successful at college is going to be less about just doing the work, but making sure you have the resources and support system in place to be able to do so.\n2. **Simply putting more information online isn’t enough. **\\r\\nWhen we were helping students get connected to the resources they needed, we (as women of color with 4 post-secondary degrees) were overwhelmed by how much information there was online on different types of resources. By how annoying it was to sort through multiple resource lists just to find out that the specific resource no longer existed. By how alienating it was to sieve through learn that a lot of resources didn’t apply to college students. By how demoralizing it was to fill out multiple forms to “perform your poverty” and prove you deserved help. This has influenced our shift towards “information equity” instead of simply “information access.”\n3. **Student problems often overlap, yet the solutions are all over the place. **\\r\\nFrom our conversations with students, we’ve found that students needing one type of resource (ex: financial assistance) are also more likely to need other types of resources (ex: support with groceries, transportation, etc.), but it seems like the Internet makes it as difficult as possible to find these different resources. Due to the lack of time and frustrating experience, students end up giving up or assuming they don’t qualify for certain resources.\n4. **Off-campus resources can be a valuable source of support.** \\r\\n In Atlanta where we’re based, college campuses closed in late-March, and many on-campus services such as food pantries closed along with them. While things are reopening now, we believe looking both on and off-campus for help will be the most effective way to get help in the near future.\n\n# What Should You Expect?\nOver the next few months, we’re committed to providing high-quality support to students through our [free resource portal](https://resources.best-fit.app/) and this series of guides on how to make the most of existing resources (ex: basic needs, healthcare, mental health, other financial assistance) as a college student.\n\nHere are some of our promises to our readers regarding our content:\n- **We center the voices of real students**  \\r\\nEach post will be written by college students, either within our team or guest writers. We’ll take into account the fact that there is no longer such a thing as a “traditional” college student, and bring in different identities and experiences to the advice we give.\n- **We tell it like it is**  \\r\\nAs former “underrepresented” college students, we wish we had someone to just be totally honest and real with us about what challenges lay ahead. We’ll layout as many challenges to expect as possible, but also provide thoughtful solutions.\n- **We focus on action **\\r\\nWe’ve browsed too many guides with vague or abstract advice. We’ll focus on actual steps to take, questions to ask, and important numbers to call.\n- **We take an inclusive, holistic approach**  \\r\\nWe’ll be covering different types of resources we think students should know about‒from making the most of social services if you’re eligible, to navigating mental health or off-campus resources.\n## Our First Series\n\nIn our first series, our intern and current gap-year student Sean Cheng takes us through a 3-part journey on **how to apply for SNAP as a college student in Georgia**, where we’re based.\n\nAre you ready?\n\nSign up for our newsletter [here](https://resources.best-fit.app/signup/) to receive an update when the next posts come out!\n","title":"Note from Our Founders: We're Launching Our Online Student Resource Guides!"}},{"id":"3a0b3ec8-6813-5f3f-bdc5-abe0b9b33830","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/LevND6K2sJR5yrPt5QcMKw/xJbCqiWjaSTkXFk6tX0ZNU_6VZDnlZ5YwMVXJH9MMp3yShPpBAtKkS-k9tC5LyZ685JS5JioxojuopsG42H5J9o9MbdlZ1-hZ9-hzZaGa_FNEeoDxTuhlgz4oo99j3LDyZ_ZFSJpT8_mqcjVS_ow2xM_LqESgrUTwdzVZcnKXfU/nn1fC_H8I5tPijADGSgR2ML_FbDExO39QlJN5VAA1dk","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/a6W_f_pApEzrc5TvuCPyVA/_Te3ZMJyN7Xo8pQ6ACSjH5FAf9O_nlCC3wXUVhKnQsnpzE2FeDFn1d5INTtRUROrnwScK5sEb6NHpl4giJSDDG2SM_dUhwlaMv6TbxQkroiYd5QIVFJOjKkkb_P4JtIvqipMsL4d03eF5V7LkBAWHg/FZR2lM17l7AYyRiHZBZigPuc66yptWGu5aiM7KmhM00","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/x50oOEntzuIoKL5UnEFSVg/bI4OW0-oKcrE9OgF6x8ulz7mzkn7o1uKj1BMOol3wawb9oVnschT3UY2NZHMp1XH_HPKE9-ZTEMuJwA5pGyDGclKgsBech42wf13Jv9n-qAO1UnNmphVS1_9Ulxft5Iu7uHqY8tMycuyAodUg60J4A/0Z1WDbQXc8oA1eq2ZVQnpyLL4lxbe_9l_-m6XFLCiX0","height":480,"width":730},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/mZLBCSZiHpwK02qF-WJy8Q/p8NxTY9IhA10hQ1FH5ZHRFa0aykCznfrP5nAC_6c1QG4gTGvPbl0Lg4EILakx6DEyvdQyeE0PoVGmD_2DuJkA5ONyE4ii40Wvgd6MIO06pToS8oa5ibnLTbhKZu4D-s6hsr2tqmxrbGJz1wqtrpIQQ/NPApcOUJuQ_cBQPYkB1UcRc-vu0-3e5XouttxeKiRRw","height":36,"width":55}}}],"date":"2020-05-13","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":null,"full_copy":"**_Event Date_**: Wednesday, May 13\n\n**_Time: _**5:00-6:00 p.m. EST\n\nOpen to the public\n\nIn today’s landscape, navigating the jump from high school to college seems more daunting than ever. “Supporting Your Student's Transition from High School  to College” is a TC Alumni Career Development Webinar presented by BestFit co-founders Asha Owens (M.A. '18) and Rebecca Kwee (M.A. '18). \n\nIn this webinar, we’ll be providing strategies for adjusting to college from academic, socio-emotional, cultural and financial perspectives. We’ll also recommend specific campus resources that most students are not aware of. This webinar is for parents, counselors, and educators looking to support their high school seniors as they become successful college students. The webinar will take both a personal and research-backed approach, incorporating our research on college choice funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.\n\nRegister here: \n<https://www.tc.columbia.edu/events/info/webinar-supporting-your-student-s-transition-from-high-school-to-college-11129138/>\n\n","title":"BestFit partners with Teachers College, Columbia U to present student success webinar. "}},{"id":"34fa1b46-b970-5b19-b902-567d8645f6c0","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Pohzji8ZIRfmm3uCBz1Q2A/ki_BORQimVii4W7oURNtc6U8KTznryTW02wAZSTpIK4QCkgZ2ub3Bs4HY8HYdK7BAiU2bqR8xcGCIzSuh_YKpIJE8powov5zO55Xk60dVNqOxQzWfQHvpAZGHifVRB_r9JCwi8gPd-He3dA4CkgnVA/LP9Owgy1qY_G-Bjxozs3R46784iiL6D-gYv_q_uJpoE","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/OL2FosWdM5kR_Mr1-cDLYg/dmFT-kTEPGECZ9yrwU0SO4A4OhJNk8O2WwIjEYYwi0KN9rVv21TYCWKvSlpN-9gX4nvzpsocoQl5xe3FbIqhC4Pv9I782Tu37chc4L-ImeziNSW5hj82iNExIXEITWcohgbXa3rTsyB_koXiCR34Fg/A2gkTZTE-WehHN7EiEncSM9lvku3HWkckzEVo3GvAzM","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Foia4ft-oyJ1BP_ObxxHgA/VNPS8yhA8KJnQ0oKLpJgaaV0UdfzT9ItKy9szdYYWsagSnWEpm4WATa953Xd6e9v46WjrCiYHBzeQzTXxVscoFGsYkSWvKj4Cn6TKg3O0W_TsrXeKcnZmSuL0-e6oY8yK7p7O_Us3P69sF6TzoNWcA/DK-zqqArS4Vs-LN5qQ-GCNZtJzXZed540UvP226QzUE","height":512,"width":864},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/zEBOGTOZR9rWiChWgYbMgw/JN3RWLFeS6cv-YqkFUc-gUX0ZGnUowaUGMx29M1g-4yhaqFfqubluxUEfhHhhft1VhysOuPvoAvdw_q6R86MwinvtaANB-HtYPnUssgd26Pdm5tC9I5bEYYzqxNeIbHXtpPOWnX9HrFUx1WwbOJccw/7yRqP-pPQlLQr4WXEf-blVAWnJ_ONBIYV9N4AqIqbkQ","height":36,"width":61}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/SHFAqUP6FVl_DP_cMTKd4Q/Q09od4m3I_OwIlRnbgRAv-Kkrp1xO7uFXG5OS_2Hffa62fhFte4OasGouJt2Tr2_i7mYjog-Qxp-11HfGX9bhFx3_PHr2OCWwbuV4syYjpX_XsYyUEP8hchZGHEtP7jG6w1FSur7UzckcjbBwJ-RIA/d9cgEHJgPOJ_rGYhcasIsZ9nCH_4qTzr6VnnG1RY8sM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/H9aSe_fVwV1_nvlLVwrnFQ/WMIRRsVq0SmtP8w_8UqS1xqE7U2kf-qItarNLXH-QMlz8PV_kxt7be4ldmornwg2xLlSYH3MLYiJndiXx9npure1IvhfWPCeSvjtnHX9QzPJnYv6RzRiPcXwrBuszgEDQ9StZrC9XujpDUj4G1YPQA/qdTD5LBSrtaTUhsJYQqueZF79lIWIGbU04xnpuVJ95k","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/mL9e_cDdevkCgDYviWmufw/-rpNcTOvvkjMZ6DoNydV5wKWqmcUlcONPMThL21oWrctJ_pQVn8UAfqVcOulIV8WC1Tqfu9iq320GWvtm2hBdnVufdSj7qUiTY9NKK5-2XKE_3lMA8kIuu5uG2FeNBXLJBViC2Enm3kmW1WiQKQ6MA/VyytJCgr6ZMOUou6R5RN3D_9MYp5PTgdTD8vl4UIDhc","height":353,"width":606},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/DeQeUqHfpDPqg_4_-fwpPw/ZZCcdQGU5C3sYSq5q6c4Z-V9H7ziHEsNQlEpl0bd8Cr6ccuRoVSibYNuxn4vwcdGbCelM5GdkP_ryeADhMQfmJmB5M0xm6NTThtxD21JdCHShPwTM0OXxWwbj7bvH30xKHA7_15Uxg5MopYuueGgBA/H1h4r4Qur25d0vNFJLTzPjYpE_ErgSTwb011mTg4RVs","height":36,"width":62}}}],"date":"2020-06-19","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"BestFit was one of 6 companies invited to demo its platform at the world’s largest meetup group.\n","full_copy":"BestFit was one of 6 companies invited to demo their platform at the May 2020 Virtual NY Tech Meetup. It is the world's largest meetup group with over 62,000 members, and is run by the [NY Tech Alliance](https://www.nytech.org/).\n\nDuring this session, co-founders Asha and Becca shared the key features of BestFit’s latest platform to members, as well as how higher education has been affected by COVID-19 pandemic. They also shared how Bestfit pivoted to support displaced college students during this time, highlighting the lack of systemic support for vulnerable student populations during a pandemic.\n\nView link to event here: <https://www.meetup.com/ny-tech/events/270047085/>\n\n","title":"BestFit pitches at May 2020 NY Tech Meetup."}},{"id":"a3352465-ee28-5ef8-ae73-7ac865bcb4c6","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/pk94yHwRfeu6ZebpzCpyFw/lNCconW0w3EhTNdXTELtSBAcusP4Uk-z6l7JdjTYZ8FJclKYTg9dYV4x3471sS9v7jPtZDYcugk11h32MgELGPoA8RrpeTRwSyDbvBcsVtZGk2Kgoda_OuG6UkBlRMmlX2X3CgXCNbPrcQFx2ar-O8FCCERRlBycJBDC1wYsHNI/28uTsuTxLhJ38Uty84ciX1Ob0tArdYk30hjCyfa6QGQ","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/g5oT-u42nVmOMmWzZd73Uw/LZ0LZGP-2W7fOLQVW54rIZmnf95sI08LCQd6zP4KkgBSSfHpXuvYWTElaWUMTmIro_URpjQSwPmkgPIm1bkhbHUl3ALTLsxTd5LWXxZr0EInhoTRl-yvFszu0biqppdKKM_CFHtVMQRKDoLngTtr0Q/mXUHB884qbjKa8o5Zce_gmFC324rMpw8Uq6LjnPk9qM","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/E7HQloqyqTFDZHgrUCc2pg/GvJWh9z800lfzAZ3OA72snExqFJZBjAAD4fXL4jUNXDlH1YKnZTZmUfk0o4JGUNW-_ZhqmubP7psaBgoKXGggCKSU5cTH5kZWXnvQlgjLt-UmMitXEkeYjWxvOXlcKUHOrTHfbR76ZYDEfUMy_HnDw/TkTckgCWRBA_l_jpyQUMW7bFQaWUHE-Q5V25osNy9A4","height":512,"width":728},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/zuIHcLYCj0F1j5N_G8AXhA/UekqVIhfOc18s3NbGo1QNX13jDjF0gz0Jh3ohqahzGzJFu-no6-WJZOocNZaDyqwC-s-vbg8imnLSq_FbOENMtwVFHWxRqWCfyQkaXHF2AdaWJPXWwWgN2-_JbqhhuoqtlSlCTpaxNpeMrrEbSu4eA/Hdr0HwdadEOXc3roK0zLshF4EL6pUohwt6AKSle0lOY","height":36,"width":51}}}],"date":"2020-05-05","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"Basic needs insecurity among college students is worse than you think. In this article, we discuss COVID-19’s impact on college students and how BestFit is redefining student success in a post-COVID-19 environment.\n","full_copy":"Basic needs insecurity among college students is worse than you think. In this article, we discuss COVID-19’s impact on college students and how BestFit is redefining student success in a post-COVID-19 environment.\n\n**Read the full article here: **<https://gasocialimpact.com/safety-net-young-adults/>\n","title":"BestFit: Redesigning a Social Safety Net for Young Adults."}},{"id":"6f28df66-2207-5858-a5e5-f4de9721e3d5","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/f2UobkmGHIlhk13Pn4ImjQ/Z5ViLk8uq6DTJK1IsMV4sE8ROovtteicqkG7k813LyVVoTHBp7W_YPvh62CEaiNB6yXE1_Ruqo9oqkzFGgLfQ3HEOobWIhohyyh-K9HIDP6QP-FnALwhFJsCRRmZcwimL9U2pnf1e4Wa6cklwnJkH11oI1MonAqs3exBkxsZIatoQ-LtFyEoXh2X3dycwVRKyTAoBgXixJAc5nO6CHfQVw/znnVbNKpwQnJtdV7QAu8MNE-H-CC9HSTdqAiWFlEYMk","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/wVEWnZDULM3lJWFPb_3cwQ/exZne3XKcqBeSvwXEQJhtJYwQN-JrtmA7qn5FkASxGm7vq-DQD5d71gcDWhw6LPr7v1OtB0lH-Z264v1qQgQu2gxG-vpqpp9MaT7LYu6yyjaQ88zZDw8p0WMeThx61f4l_pZHJny2ChgvbH_1dkm_g/gwgvJ1YLSXnCzhsv-FYw_tWQfngVYu-ji22WxIDEZ_I","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/6M9VG5Vmo-Ld7ZqyVIJYzg/B_yx-FzPB_4aoalOvIs5WijpRW_rfsD_W_h6k7ERgAN0zO6BN_T5ftxtQAYNlpC9cKK0XmuwxuTcMc4aaDspR5ctVFzrYT5DpLu-tSpqER7VImqZXwjP0_9HvaT84r1HT8KP9LeXVHBC8TXBigOUpA/ss8s07zfR5uWI9Jwx8L_tlzBPhYyUTJeXW7tFTxZEPo","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/5VPWYABU2nhHqDZYfjJ67g/na60f2mJjy-HfrWkqkf87dC6NqQV0HaNpQWI8eu8E-TlwL4hqancaSn1nKEWrDZEVFlqLO4EPNQjvOfnRGRfZ9IesDVSQ8i2LuA4awj0r02aFuH-JtqMn5VeJgkGmprluZ-ZYRYb8Zw0fu7iSxf4fw/roqCqeC7knFy2I2f0Gn96QVtaFdtVZrbTHaCdoVDhZQ","height":36,"width":54}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/0GCTLot4E3cAq-mQOWiH5g/G_PgHYamDxEHS3dLMdRjOYZ28SZn5yXn01Hgpsr0YUKktsz10X-7raA0Vkgm9Qk_2SyxyCTq39SZcwp4AqXJwbxOxb1UQTxSKAAj3BprF0p68anbN9jf0FSs22-FcIsey3ZgV_hJrEhRHbiqxRb33viD2RkgJiiRuLY_M_zMLo-VNUrVCBmKvCaubWF7j9o0zJoZOWBBTKNhT8HcsQnrmg/hs9jkKRmdrGmrBJdTXwM8U7kD35X2rcaTpOsFDLvmqM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/So4lThOWEZ5OiVWq6w_blQ/B5IK7xNUHT8bLjLZVbHuwh0VCXXdnrK9SZ3N7-SYz2Iymsu1ayTbjITaZVRm7xUmmdDztg7Gvq_aLwjOLnX75plxvFDL9-XhM0w3V1R_FH0BgwwPCvkNbHx16kWS4-h2b7W4-VfSFV3VPbraWBxRpQ/4Dt8K7de9ionMyxSnAWrhqrUqq3OJKJLh2R2Q7-YYUQ","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/dhPntI_P3M4zTQREspKNJQ/ZySY30TQ3s-iEI5bw-s4Wy-4Nui2wFzi3FYGf6z7332i55ezcRiyZETbTMDICk8xxDL11jbhlPhhjq2fJhsCOsuXfv6D5J4PefhS6qIDSSw4vLraPIl_epSxLrKDvV7a9Cd7MrJff_jwNeM2oiAc6A/7Cy973HOzUOj9kF6s4RGb-lPNEkK6cNL3RPnhd9LLYw","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/0sezE9azBQwLKykRYnfkIg/7R3_O1hX57Xpicv8A2sy0zIJ0wT9b_vJhW2_zzxRFbPtTcqbvJYvJgvgDjBxQbF0Yv7qweBgHLM681zrSUc_N2cw-oDRukb9x6U-AtkNkTvGyp0J-YGb_S4eFZo_q04C9vmb2RP3vBVQv9y7fze51Q/Hzf7XlxBL37Y-QSTKFDA4puwoMYpSqxF5_I78cXkGg4","height":36,"width":54}}}],"date":"2020-04-20","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"This Atlanta startup provides needed resources to college students displaced by COVID-19 campus closures. Click below to read the full article!\n","full_copy":"This Atlanta startup provides needed resources to college students displaced by COVID-19 campus closures.\n\n**Read the full article here: **<https://hypepotamus.com/companies/bestfit/> \n","title":"BestFit featured in Hypepotamus."}},{"id":"880ad684-b002-5e86-ae84-3261705ced6c","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Ta46IQ3kH2zDiKGHCsOPBg/g5O4NKZ5eIC4Kd0KCyozIqaAnu_x3cwz1-j0tPpdUvjUiOMXfPsShVNin1J4YAv2QkXMVlQPwQZwGPhIegrwtrYqma045QS7gx2iQhxEyNrErbf1DwN8wpPzybWRXEFxZBQEgReX3d2DU58RzFYaiDk5g2tyNx62zOBgB1_lJTI/LDelCBjYbhjcK4yNvWgiiVR9ysIi6UZDsRpnBjjOGjg","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Z__7QY7v1cLTrXYknU146w/qLesrNMTTIvelH8-rM2CcAJUb1twKLT0ynQrZ6yN8tHsJsgw4eAg2qmXpBjiHz7jYtxdwh6_CEu00ZVwqXy9NaT9Ere5N7I7Kk_c2lds5Wz6qiDUxYILDfaIzeXKakgAC7uP7uGoS9ipfrxjF67fGg/dXgjjrk6fNBdXONbbcdDw-F9A823InwaONhBwBDUohM","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/UPsCHFuXsNsT37PI-yNWzA/sgT-OLozzl5fCrqz3thsq6lfeAHOAdlGTcHJRTV17o1pYZQV4XR6mN4jDxfm34fudB5TGr8yHCeSzoy4JZDSKSUhMN6KdiUvLjwT2G7dJ1wcMknHWFVH0Z6rFTNibXRFe8ytfuqcw7xQsI4oQ7N7aw/vRZ2Nsp88L4Br8vbA-jIgr83fml_bOb0N7U5vqlVJCw","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/KK8xsMfQi1znRQexLSoRVQ/i83Kj0z18t_z6hwvMxV3M2FNDCtEKEXzuGgwGjbSDV2rFh0lKn7Dj3zY_y9HEp1GfycHjr9Z1EiMgX78TzFZpZpZmxIiFx2HN7WPridbG_dx_DDTPsfuSehshuz0nWRlfG3lJxnjbDH4uIzLDOrJ0g/3dft7q6eyXeVE1PUxssF4iIqhnBAkYWtbchuosy_0ng","height":36,"width":54}}}],"date":"2020-07-19","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"1 of 49 teams participating in the New Normal Fellowship.\n","full_copy":"**Atlanta, GA** BestFit, Inc. is excited to announce that it has been selected as a New Normal Fellow, a fellowship specifically designed for [4.0 Schools](http://4pt0.org/) alumni working on COVID-19 relief projects in their communities.\n\nThe New Normal Wave is a virtual fellowship designed for recent graduates of 4.0 School’s [Essentials](https://www.4pt0.org/essentials) and [Tiny Fellowships](https://www.4pt0.org/tiny), and alumni of our previous programming. All of the new fellows are focusing on projects supporting students, families and teachers as they re-enter into the Fall 2020 school year and adapt to the “new normal” that COVID-19 has created.\n\nFellows will receive $5,000 and coaching to run projects targeting youth, families or educators and responding to problems caused, or exacerbated, by the COVID-19 crisis. For this wave, funding is prioritized for three focus areas: Ideas focused on social emotional learning Ideas focused on trauma and healing support Ideas focused on supporting early childhood caregivers\n\nMoreover, BestFit is thrilled to announce that the Fellowship includes a formal research partnership with the University of Delaware [Center for Research in Education and Social Policy](http://www.cresp.udel.edu/). This ensures that BestFit’s pilot design and data collection are rooted in sound research and evaluation methodologies.\n\nBestFit intends to use the grant to execute a semester-long pilots with existing university partners, with the goal of connecting more vulnerable students to basic needs and social support services for the upcoming academic year\n\n**_For general or partnership inquiries, please contact [founders@best-fit.app](mailto:founders@best-fit.app)._**\n---\n**About BestFit, Inc.:** BestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation](https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article216439440.html) and [Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars](https://www.techstars.com/newsroom/cox-enterprises-social-impact-accelerator-powered-by-techstars). To learn more, please visit [https://www.best-fit.app](https://www.best-fit.app/).\n\n**About 4.0 Schools:** 4.0 invests coaching, community, curriculum, and cash in promising leaders to test tomorrow’s learning models with students and families in their local communities. The nonprofit organization has made over 1,000 investments in founders with bold ideas and lived experiences grounded in the conditions they want to improve. 4.0’s fellows have been recognized by Camelback Ventures, Echoing Green, Forbes 30 under 30, and Teach For America’s Social Innovation Award. Their 1,000+ alumni have raised millions of dollars and impacted the lives of over a million students nationwide. 4.0 believes that all people are capable of sparking real change in their communities when they have access to resources to develop their ideas at the earliest stages.\n\nLearn more about 4.0 and our fellowships at [4pt0.org](http://4pt0.org/) | Read our [2019 yearbook](http://4pt0.org/yearbook).\n\n","title":"BestFit selected for 4.0 Schools' New Normal Fellowship."}},{"id":"116138a0-41a4-5f97-8e47-652eecf243cd","data":{"tags":null,"status":"published","attachments":null,"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/psN0g3sAB2pZyFwmD3i46A/KxeAGL1soklq2Do4oyGKwWU1mebvwIT7ryHR5_mhOWG0W8dpBkuOXJixOC8x_HlN8LAz92QHeAJSH71Cc3QjAjOlr-Em-2TvmIPldXX3LLA34vEatBXU8QrccGIRDdM2uXEHuNsTbTIijkSl95AdVA/-hnA_0nyZqoh6-KSDJnTSuk0KA5HzupgbSlXPjkbFCE","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/MFkVIW9-Qkg36sX1MbnwMw/tEiQtOpKcn2HVCRDSN4cQ7ztlkMV1VG89yEqOvPp-8jRAh5rz4oPtgeekhlcqSzHp4n8MLyhqq5YCEn_GkPmX1dzduw51HABRzJnKDUz_HU-I1uFEPCmQzcQh-KHxrc255FziztzlsfwkAZxvotCeg/JwJx8UoU8Gv0SkCE956w5Xk7BKUbY44uFVlWIZYyeUs","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/OBDvB4qyEe02BymDvJdC1Q/g1TNJJzqfwURFgFC_LLj8D1P5aR1cmU-fphyY7cwZdt0eTyH394dg0Ot8EorZu5UvFGBlW5pa3RxqAAW35Mfp6wi_iIBsYh2jgXahkgSqJI-4ipoT3SjLHM68AGN4JUngxLYPn6wwJLcTFnasq0snA/_mcyYtWyozV_6BJM1kH1EE9-vpymL9sf7s1rJfYbEdM","height":512,"width":808},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HVVRzGxbrmQfGFlt3yJAfg/NUU7Ckbu-fe3vHddoZwQzDfkiM6SM4syE0u03iVBBDlWv8D4tWbQ_SfcQvhP1ibhFfLkgAb3pVt4Q1YAWmHCjIcoLoe1w_0F04HJ2m4TmmQinc_yjD14v3Az2_Mom553pTeGnsQO2uxjJgPXhK9bnA/UTYRyaA3dM8HryvnROlTDN8KjP8ryhbqAIsi6WtZjVE","height":36,"width":57}}}],"date":"2020-07-08","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["news"],"description":"The Rise Prize awarded $1.55M in combined prizes to 15 organizations to implement and scale solutions accelerating postsecondary success for parents.\n","full_copy":"**Atlanta, GA** BestFit, Inc. is excited to announce that it has been awarded $50,000 as an Early Stage winner of the Rise Prize, a $1.55m nationwide competition to the most innovative ideas for supporting the postsecondary success of student parents. The Prize was announced by [Imaginable Futures](https://www.imaginablefutures.com/), a venture of The Omidyar Group, and [Lumina Foundation](https://www.luminafoundation.org/), along with a group of leading partner organizations and seven prominent judges.\n\nWinners range from early-stage pilots to mature solutions across for-profit and nonprofit organizations, as well as higher education institutions. BestFit is honored to be recognized alongside other winners such as [Morehouse College](https://www.morehouse.edu/)’s Fathers to the Finish Line initiative, [Arizona State University](https://www.asu.edu/), and the [Prison University Project](https://prisonuniversityproject.org/), a college for currently incarcerated individuals.\n\nMore than 300 applications were received since the [Rise Prize launched](https://www.imaginablefutures.com/learnings/1-million-rise-prize-announced/) on February 12, 2020. Twenty-six finalists were [announced](https://www.imaginablefutures.com/learnings/announcing-rise-prize-finalists/) on June 10, 2020. Each finalist was paired with a [leading expert](https://theriseprize.com/our-partners) and received advising and coaching before virtually presenting to a panel of [judges](https://theriseprize.com/our-partners) who selected the final 15 winners. Details on the winners can be found at <https://theriseprize.com/winners>.\n\nBestFit intends to use the award proceeds to accelerate product development and launch BestFit for student parents. By partnering with postsecondary institutions and community organizations, BestFit provides a one-stop shop to ensure student parents’ basic needs are met in a streamlined, user-friendly way, enabling them to focus on their studies and eventually, graduation.\n\nBestFit is now actively seeking partners (colleges, nonprofits, corporations, and/or government agencies) interested in connecting student parents to the resources they need. A report detailing the Rise Prize applicants, finalists, and winners and how they address the systematic barriers of student parents will be published this fall.\n\n**_For general or partnership inquiries, please contact [founders@best-fit.app](mailto:founders@best-fit.app)._**\n\n---\n**About the Problem:**\n_“Accelerating the success of student parents has a ripple effect that extends to the whole family, creating a path for families that leads to careers with family-sustaining wages and overall better life outcomes for parents and their children,” said Vinice Davis, a venture partner at Imaginable Futures. “Unfortunately, this population often faces significant barriers to success. These winning solutions have the opportunity to scale to address these barriers and support the unique needs of student parents.”_\n\n_“Student parents are by far some of the best and brightest. They are resilient and resourceful, but often are left out of the higher education conversation, and therefore lack support,” said Wayne Taliaferro, strategy officer for finance and federal policy at Lumina Foundation. “If we’re truly going to foster a system of higher education that centers equity in every way, then we have to prioritize student parents. At close to 4 million, they need and deserve a reimagined system that truly works for them.”_\n---\n**About BestFit, Inc.:** BestFit is a web platform that connects students to the resources they need, when they need them, so they can focus on what matters‒graduating. We empower students to build their own support systems by connecting them to on-campus, community, philanthropic, and corporate resources. Based in Atlanta, the team's nationally-recognized work is funded by organizations like the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation](https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article216439440.html) and [Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars](https://www.techstars.com/newsroom/cox-enterprises-social-impact-accelerator-powered-by-techstars). To learn more, please visit [https://www.best-fit.app](https://www.best-fit.app/).\n\n**About the Rise Prize:** The Rise Prize awarded $1.55M in combined prizes to 15 organizations to implement and scale solutions accelerating postsecondary success for parents. The prize was created by Imaginable Futures – a venture of The Omidyar Group – and Lumina Foundation, along with a group of leading partner organizations, to leverage direct investments in innovative solutions supporting student parents. To learn more about the Rise Prize, visit <https://www.theriseprize.com>\n\n**About Imaginable Futures:** Imaginable Futures (IF) is a global philanthropic investment firm that believes learning has the power to unlock human potential and aspires to provide every learner with the opportunity and the tools they need to imagine, and to realize, a brighter future. By taking a systems approach to solving complex education challenges, IF works across public, private and social sectors to bring to life transformational ideas in local, national and global contexts for learners of all ages. With a deep commitment to on-the-ground partnership and co-creation with those we serve, Imaginable Futures is empowering learners, families and communities to be the changemakers of the future. Imaginable Futures is a venture of The Omidyar Group, and is founded and funded by Pierre and Pam Omidyar. Learn more at <https://www.imaginablefutures.com>\n\n**About Lumina Foundation:** Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. The foundation envisions a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s need for talent through a broad range of credentials. Lumina’s goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy. Learn more at: <https://www.luminafoundation.org>\n\n**Additional Rise Prize partners:** Achieving the Dream, American Association of Community Colleges, American Council on Education, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Association of Community College Trustees, College Promise Campaign, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Jobs for the Future, United Negro College Fund, and University Professional and Continuing Education Association. Learn more at [https://www.theriseprize.com](https://www.theriseprize.com/)\n\n","title":"BestFit Awarded $50,000 Rise Prize to Advance Innovative Solutions for Student Parents in Higher Education."}},{"id":"f2a3e076-c836-53da-84c2-47601a75ed71","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS","SCHOLARSHIPS","SENIORS","OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/pyxU9tYIOaRdDN3IlqT21Q/hRwlvxG_2Ofi1bGs7A8m0oBFsw_hKBAyltCJY8ku5RlKS8zdRkl43If94DZoiVmKIhNQH18_8HGcjcq1I-r7Rl7xI5acq0aF0wVQHmp37fk2a5-uzp2scZB3pdVjYxXRN-BXwCj6dkg-dJRSQelJ7Q/aak2HAL0s3dLn2hk42sOPUpThYrdGBz5BShz2prL1cM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/I0aBsoQiJs4hnYthJEESOw/K_mzPk_OCPQeJJ_etpWZk6lvctz9NXfapCaZoBxI8PN9OTXC0QorZ26q_Q9ZKP2NKDJs5NK2Eim_BypxGW1QVzCpXZrTs9n4cDZ0LkplbtDK3-0RcpCCiITAzC-4sM8je8H6-oSJQeICW6v6jk_lrg/WKTTHEtJ0nyIvlyqoKCJV4_flrwUIDYWxUk2UgMPYcg","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/-KNaruvmYfInY-BC8reQIg/YXXSfMkWTaw2wiD_-BlHl2P2phxc3F9HmEdfybv95Ep_bH3BvtQyLx7YaFzw8kq79lmK2Ts8DRN-kivfyDvl88110CHG3X2nuZ1wzFNHm72lypLxXmptsz3q3bzsPVFnymUH3XeY_g79U-59ybQDwA/w_VWy0JFfg7sfPwCpRFVi9L3yPi7FO_lNBdFg0wWQUg","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/lTNpNZdFB4PVqi-lt1WvNg/_vn-HvsjVOLO3Q0t7hxHlJ_-5vgsb57QPYA7-Aa11RwSsLhZzVHfbLg3iB2V-jD5eTPKW3KXdffptUcuyaOtcouX_hMSZRWOIQQZ4EgHue_nZ5KCPzZcMtpA_s-DwqXPNkxtKAKIvnQz-75xyJLNCw/YEfHRf0EsQx1ye-uKS86RlkKzmOzv1FqlmRuCnSz1io","height":36,"width":36}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/7cUgEOyuPegGNM2BLfcqAg/3fgQ1FW-qN5wQN40alsWO9hQ1fmB0r_DqrdX_oUnC8HcBj8RgHi8BYZp5St_uB9VO7CLDLGFnXEHMb5jlHIGgeMCOhJPsHOvXkNWpJPS8E4fIemMvJIBjRr4SvvADc_lV3fHnhJjkiyOSjp8xYLi8w/xSpQLxPg4hxZKLIGE85kWUdm7vVu7axXTimp2MOrMZQ","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/tsaZaj7vRPZTPgLqF9-wqw/Oih8-N0Cvh-BVRXM704NRFymVJgLXaF52XUiGzS5jFBeQ_IQdwOHiwJKU-bz8ud9azGx9IpGBtr9ZA3IKt5uTELqxK_nbFrEg2qU7SeTLC8h_pXTRCEUmQlsidZnq9s1vUiC3_zqUrf2LOBDX5DjFA/CwaSmxqRWP2YIv7GSSuOk30gA3mPtshonhreZ9BrsNw","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/oaCGsCw3oy5X_c8uoBrR0A/wGfgCdIhiTRf7I-jSozje5PdsRmeQodhXBsr3MMEPhGMR-iC5mMlaS9QnzD8UF_7yped642X1HyINTer9BeEvgZuCSrUpCGLUONfQUu-9ehdCAPcz0yBC_78fi0MtOtxk5Km_9JLhnU8hfY1GWf8lA/fevaAB4y3k2DrsO-gB7XvIBQuhfHnDNK3o2gc7TU8S4","height":512,"width":910},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/C_EVrbayWtCRDbBjBqfSVQ/oZBdRTmJwkKwfzDJ4vKXrNTN-xUBp15mgS5LmuoDDQrxHdfLklR1ea2mPD_8NUOBRXFOYQzvE5a-sPALz5ipRyz9ozcdZei79f7mXOvGl8URNcj6M3QQiE8E3v1cj4SR_GfXIqc0bANftCwgPKqqsA/h_obuxGXATnJ8a-hv6Xt_3lHSVxYM_A4weRvzmJu_Ww","height":36,"width":64}}}],"date":"2020-02-28","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["finance"],"description":"Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who\n  has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more\n  funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be\n  featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!\n","full_copy":"_Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!_\n\n1. **Jesse L. Jackson-Fellows Toyota Scholarship**\n   **Award Amount**: $25,000 \n   **Deadline**: 5/1/2019\n   The Jesse Jackson Fellows-Toyota Scholarship is a renewable scholarship that awards up to $25,000 dollars annually to deserving African-American college sophomores. Students who are interested in applying for the scholarship must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, be a business or STEM (Science, technology, engineering and/or math) major that can be applied to the automotive industry, demonstrated participation in community service and need for financial assistance. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n\n   Apply Here: <http://www.pushexcel.org/scholarships/>\n\n1. **Presbyterian Student Opportunity Scholarship**\n   **Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 5/15/2019\n   The Student Opportunity Scholarship program serves Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) college students by providing need-based aid for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are full-time, first-degree students attending accredited institutions in the United States. Student Opportunity Scholarship applicants will explore who God created them to be in a series of essay questions intended for students to explore with mentors and peers. This program requires that students maintain an active involvement in a worshiping community or campus ministry program while they are attending college. Preference in this program is extended to racial/ethnic students in order to promote diversity.\n   Applicant must be a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who is a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior at an accredited college/university in the United States with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Must demonstrate financial need. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here: <https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/theology-formation-and-evangelism/financialaid/undergraduate-opportunities/student-opportunity-scholarships/>\n\n1. **Hispanic Association of College**\n   **Award Amount**: 1-4 roundtrip e-pass(es) for the student to use when traveling to/from the college/university\n   **Deadline**: 4/30/2019\n   The 15th Annual, or \"Quinceañera,\" of the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Higher Education Travel Award Program is sponsored by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in conjunction with Southwest Airlines.Through this national education initiative, HACU and Southwest Airlines will award roundtrip e-pass(es) to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students across the country who travel away from home to pursue a higher education and meet the eligibility criteria.\n   Apply Here: <https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Lanzate.asp?fbclid=IwAR0CiBWoEkBBEfTSbQlqwsKGA1BRqotQM6fOKmQEHOS8J6dot_40qiDX3BY>\n\n1. **CHCC CAPS Young Professionals Scholarship Program**\n  ** Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 6/15/2019\n   This scholarship provides an all-expenses paid intensive half-week of training to college and university students of Hispanic descent. The program is designed to build real-world skills for young professionals, such as interview skills, etiquette for professional gatherings, and learning about optimizing personal strengths.\n   Apply Here: <http://www.cahcc.com/CHCCFoundation/CAPSProgram.aspx#.XJ4eY1UzbIW>\n\n1. **ESA Foundation Scholarship Program for Minority Students**\n   **Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 5/4/2019 \n   The ESA Foundation scholarships are offered for full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year colleges and universities in the USA. Up to 30 scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded annually, 15 to graduating high school seniors and 15 to current college students. Women and minority students are eligible to apply, so long as they are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students must also be pursuing degrees leading to careers in computer and video game arts. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here:  <http://www.esafoundation.org/scholarship.asp>\n\n![](/img/image1.png)\n\n_GOOD LUCK! - TEAM BESTFIT_\n\n","title":"Scholarship Sunday (4.21.19): 5 Scholarships You Can Still Apply For copy"}},{"id":"228899c5-1c81-540c-adef-363c092a3012","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS","SCHOLARSHIPS","SENIORS","OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/pyxU9tYIOaRdDN3IlqT21Q/hRwlvxG_2Ofi1bGs7A8m0oBFsw_hKBAyltCJY8ku5RlKS8zdRkl43If94DZoiVmKIhNQH18_8HGcjcq1I-r7Rl7xI5acq0aF0wVQHmp37fk2a5-uzp2scZB3pdVjYxXRN-BXwCj6dkg-dJRSQelJ7Q/aak2HAL0s3dLn2hk42sOPUpThYrdGBz5BShz2prL1cM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/I0aBsoQiJs4hnYthJEESOw/K_mzPk_OCPQeJJ_etpWZk6lvctz9NXfapCaZoBxI8PN9OTXC0QorZ26q_Q9ZKP2NKDJs5NK2Eim_BypxGW1QVzCpXZrTs9n4cDZ0LkplbtDK3-0RcpCCiITAzC-4sM8je8H6-oSJQeICW6v6jk_lrg/WKTTHEtJ0nyIvlyqoKCJV4_flrwUIDYWxUk2UgMPYcg","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/-KNaruvmYfInY-BC8reQIg/YXXSfMkWTaw2wiD_-BlHl2P2phxc3F9HmEdfybv95Ep_bH3BvtQyLx7YaFzw8kq79lmK2Ts8DRN-kivfyDvl88110CHG3X2nuZ1wzFNHm72lypLxXmptsz3q3bzsPVFnymUH3XeY_g79U-59ybQDwA/w_VWy0JFfg7sfPwCpRFVi9L3yPi7FO_lNBdFg0wWQUg","height":512,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/lTNpNZdFB4PVqi-lt1WvNg/_vn-HvsjVOLO3Q0t7hxHlJ_-5vgsb57QPYA7-Aa11RwSsLhZzVHfbLg3iB2V-jD5eTPKW3KXdffptUcuyaOtcouX_hMSZRWOIQQZ4EgHue_nZ5KCPzZcMtpA_s-DwqXPNkxtKAKIvnQz-75xyJLNCw/YEfHRf0EsQx1ye-uKS86RlkKzmOzv1FqlmRuCnSz1io","height":36,"width":36}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/7cUgEOyuPegGNM2BLfcqAg/3fgQ1FW-qN5wQN40alsWO9hQ1fmB0r_DqrdX_oUnC8HcBj8RgHi8BYZp5St_uB9VO7CLDLGFnXEHMb5jlHIGgeMCOhJPsHOvXkNWpJPS8E4fIemMvJIBjRr4SvvADc_lV3fHnhJjkiyOSjp8xYLi8w/xSpQLxPg4hxZKLIGE85kWUdm7vVu7axXTimp2MOrMZQ","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/tsaZaj7vRPZTPgLqF9-wqw/Oih8-N0Cvh-BVRXM704NRFymVJgLXaF52XUiGzS5jFBeQ_IQdwOHiwJKU-bz8ud9azGx9IpGBtr9ZA3IKt5uTELqxK_nbFrEg2qU7SeTLC8h_pXTRCEUmQlsidZnq9s1vUiC3_zqUrf2LOBDX5DjFA/CwaSmxqRWP2YIv7GSSuOk30gA3mPtshonhreZ9BrsNw","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/oaCGsCw3oy5X_c8uoBrR0A/wGfgCdIhiTRf7I-jSozje5PdsRmeQodhXBsr3MMEPhGMR-iC5mMlaS9QnzD8UF_7yped642X1HyINTer9BeEvgZuCSrUpCGLUONfQUu-9ehdCAPcz0yBC_78fi0MtOtxk5Km_9JLhnU8hfY1GWf8lA/fevaAB4y3k2DrsO-gB7XvIBQuhfHnDNK3o2gc7TU8S4","height":512,"width":910},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/C_EVrbayWtCRDbBjBqfSVQ/oZBdRTmJwkKwfzDJ4vKXrNTN-xUBp15mgS5LmuoDDQrxHdfLklR1ea2mPD_8NUOBRXFOYQzvE5a-sPALz5ipRyz9ozcdZei79f7mXOvGl8URNcj6M3QQiE8E3v1cj4SR_GfXIqc0bANftCwgPKqqsA/h_obuxGXATnJ8a-hv6Xt_3lHSVxYM_A4weRvzmJu_Ww","height":36,"width":64}}}],"date":"2020-02-27","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["finance"],"description":"Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who\n  has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more\n  funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be\n  featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!\n","full_copy":"_Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!_\n\n1. **Jesse L. Jackson-Fellows Toyota Scholarship**\n   **Award Amount**: $25,000 \n   **Deadline**: 5/1/2019\n   The Jesse Jackson Fellows-Toyota Scholarship is a renewable scholarship that awards up to $25,000 dollars annually to deserving African-American college sophomores. Students who are interested in applying for the scholarship must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, be a business or STEM (Science, technology, engineering and/or math) major that can be applied to the automotive industry, demonstrated participation in community service and need for financial assistance. \n\nFor more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here: <http://www.pushexcel.org/scholarships/>\n\n1. **Presbyterian Student Opportunity Scholarship**\n   **Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 5/15/2019\n   The Student Opportunity Scholarship program serves Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) college students by providing need-based aid for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are full-time, first-degree students attending accredited institutions in the United States. Student Opportunity Scholarship applicants will explore who God created them to be in a series of essay questions intended for students to explore with mentors and peers. This program requires that students maintain an active involvement in a worshiping community or campus ministry program while they are attending college. Preference in this program is extended to racial/ethnic students in order to promote diversity.\n   Applicant must be a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who is a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior at an accredited college/university in the United States with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Must demonstrate financial need. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here: <https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/theology-formation-and-evangelism/financialaid/undergraduate-opportunities/student-opportunity-scholarships/>\n\n1. **Hispanic Association of College**\n   **Award Amount**: 1-4 roundtrip e-pass(es) for the student to use when traveling to/from the college/university\n   **Deadline**: 4/30/2019\n   The 15th Annual, or \"Quinceañera,\" of the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Higher Education Travel Award Program is sponsored by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in conjunction with Southwest Airlines.Through this national education initiative, HACU and Southwest Airlines will award roundtrip e-pass(es) to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students across the country who travel away from home to pursue a higher education and meet the eligibility criteria.\n   Apply Here: <https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Lanzate.asp?fbclid=IwAR0CiBWoEkBBEfTSbQlqwsKGA1BRqotQM6fOKmQEHOS8J6dot_40qiDX3BY>\n\n1. **CHCC CAPS Young Professionals Scholarship Program**\n  ** Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 6/15/2019\n   This scholarship provides an all-expenses paid intensive half-week of training to college and university students of Hispanic descent. The program is designed to build real-world skills for young professionals, such as interview skills, etiquette for professional gatherings, and learning about optimizing personal strengths.\n   Apply Here: <http://www.cahcc.com/CHCCFoundation/CAPSProgram.aspx#.XJ4eY1UzbIW>\n\n1. **ESA Foundation Scholarship Program for Minority Students**\n   **Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 5/4/2019 \n   The ESA Foundation scholarships are offered for full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year colleges and universities in the USA. Up to 30 scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded annually, 15 to graduating high school seniors and 15 to current college students. Women and minority students are eligible to apply, so long as they are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students must also be pursuing degrees leading to careers in computer and video game arts. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here:  <http://www.esafoundation.org/scholarship.asp>\n\n![](/img/image1.png)\n\n_GOOD LUCK! - TEAM BESTFIT_\n\n","title":"Scholarship Sunday (4.21.19): 5 Scholarships You Can Still Apply For"}},{"id":"ec752375-d8b8-5485-96f3-40aa090d0c5a","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS","SCHOLARSHIPS","SENIORS","OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Gp5L8JdF9vODPdxbmUclgg/ZDet6EkUHQvCpXqn30LByCF5erscHoy7eLLSxSZSWY1C_jEyzeNzc669Pm4iG5POH_fhm5aZaSxksybWKG5zRDt-WbtfuuJen8xb72wq31-qCGPM9phC7-EBzivWLN0kxB2i9LfhirlUtHUcoqc8xQ/KHULLHE3ODgX8GbSlFkdMN9QB0X3owlvtrhFeETPTAg","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Q8AfgnIsYaNKODiCTx5xlg/F3R1j7NJlRGeY7vDBk0grnmQ1Ra3z8QsG1JL_Y6gSfYZK8gTIdEpTUczCEmvzHk_YB4V6V6AVg3c3gUheWXO586Uc0jnZS9bogCtyUjyj6XOQtOy6RrtEpLDimQ4t9Fu1cLwSMYCr3hqKR5dX1kSaw/j7RYwKItdIDWDYZF6eskhHJ23ozLvr4K6_VejTkoVF0","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/KA1Zvww821ONh63NB1Yf8Q/ksb9LU8b5IMIZp3Zu_K4GpJjbKZIS75KoJ6yTpSjyIuJdkd7XgLQTagzHcxAmhta0wOgUm2KuAXERIlT_DV0btpXPe-yqqYiGZuW0XR70O9OI924yGd8GlWNDhkyKWU6aAfHUzDHsgg6v7Jp3OWQaA/1wvNY0ZQEvsJzBiPMHHvaUAg1IqWzor6BESbjLvKvOU","height":512,"width":912},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/L2cqqjJWPKQM5WvvWNoRzQ/JRSw_fXW6B1LDwVClWP580bwWdPx4m2xljcGOdQOImr8NTJbdWx0BKMJ0tb3NCqIS_H4dklt5CXbKM8kHl9wCb1TBpY2nBaobQFF5Hxggnj6wQtOs5QxeFh3tXYNQeu-K2-nODu4OgAdQ9TH_7X69A/2joFkaeKBNbzDRToDGa1ACZ9rg4FhKTIwcy_9jPrRtU","height":36,"width":64}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/BCPAZemrv0NUpat6Rrs_GA/fSUUxUgfPZCXx-BU1hA_ToFOt_jWG66LYvM5cbqlBLTZmz_fA56tTHTbKpQwsxWeXe8YKIpEhlzvbBb9aSkOwf47MpgNGoymVkMVxRQTVnQ2r07c0B6nGwzKEl5b3RLUZyTdEx6OqTDeMgPHBhk5hA/Pl_yMF9b5txy3d3P8Gf65HHVoMUqqMZzhn6laUZKppY","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/dN12HZ35T42JWm7uMSrNhQ/_o6AylPwAcb_zZmsddYgLZp0Bf5vmXLpGMseizPtJ4MHarYldZ5aqCCWmMhR_5HV8dVOOKpAGaRbdoSQhHf7SVAafQdDqCoUf4VVRVmKXfJncalDmBTIXi4EuSpZaVo3AcUa2Jt_0cV1Ev9pIlwPpg/4cnEpA682UCl4hKe9i6mFYdPSI0v2DMOWCqV2FPitEw","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/3jaKUgAJklZyjTMCpdM23g/8TjDyRxIzntMF3wzX_F65FD6OElGAcf5hhqQHuQJA6vT75t7GS2K9le7DUHJrwpUTZaSTqlTPYr4SiDNrP_FXf7plru7ZiBjGniwVEjLfYDndJzhP2fCVSLRtmXFZLqtTg6zvbzVGvTEulNu2g_vDw/svANF5mDpjCJJZJpI8QbsQHB9H-HxU3wSldfH2rzhqk","height":512,"width":865},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/dJ7doy3NMDxXEmB1lDHHtg/O76-ms3oq36V3i6cPKRSjFIFbm_DNJZI_t4dZ4XPqiVEIaXM1Y7SIFK82VSx94Ec43EyCD5_IMwxDRDvV1mgP3ZAlQ0Gwv6KV5WbhmT3RpBL2EIjY53u4qLjrwH0JQ_ZFasItDRvDSxA1I6Jk68U6w/LDYho9lgnwCO9sZyRYCCGANJsb9Bs8L0EQu69AJbs5k","height":36,"width":61}}}],"date":"2020-02-27","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["advice"],"description":"Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who\n  has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more\n  funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be\n  featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!\n","full_copy":"_Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!_\n\n1. **Charles Shelton Veterinarian Medicine/Technology Scholarship**\n**   Award Amount**: $12000\n   **Deadline**: 4/15/2019\n   This non-profit organization’s mission is to provide educational scholarships to African-American students pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine or veterinary technology. Scholarships are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated an interest and commitment to animal welfare. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be aa African-American graduating high school seniors, current college students or returning college student. Please also provide two professional references from Professors that speak directly to your experience in Veterinary Medicine or Technology. One letter should be from a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) professor. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here: <https://www.thecharlessheltonfoundation.org/scholarship>\n\n1. **CSF Fiesta Queen Scholarship and Pageant**\n   **Award Amount**: $2,500\n   **Deadline**: 5/3/2019\n   If you’re a female Colorado resident between the ages of 18-22, of Hispanic descent, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0, and are interested in scholarship money for the Colorado institution of higher learning of your choice, the CSF Fiesta Committee invites you to compete in the Colorado State Fair (CSF) Fiesta Pageant.\n   The CSF Fiesta Committee will award a grand prize scholarship in the amount of $2,500 to the Fiesta Queen, $1,500 to her first attendant, $1,250 to her second attendant, and $1,000 to her third attendant. The awards will be payable to any Colorado institution of higher learning, upon proof of full-time enrollment. Recipients have two (2) years from the upcoming fall semester to use the award. The chosen Fiesta Queen will be assisted in her educational endeavors, as well as the unique opportunity to represent the Hispanic culture throughout the state of Colorado. The title provides great personal and professional learning experiences. \n   Apply Here: <https://sites.google.com/a/fiestacommittee.org/csf-fiesta-committee/fiesta-pageant/2019-fiesta-pageant>\n \n1. **CHCC CAPS Young Professionals Scholarship Program**\n   **Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 6/15/2019\n   This scholarship provides an all-expenses paid intensive half-week of training to college and university students of Hispanic descent. The program is designed to build real-world skills for young professionals, such as interview skills, etiquette for professional gatherings, and learning about optimizing personal strengths.\n   Apply Here: <http://www.cahcc.com/CHCCFoundation/CAPSProgram.aspx#.XJ4eY1UzbIW>\n\n1. **The Pickard Scholarship Fund**\n   **Award Amount**: $4,000\n   **Deadline**: 5/31/2019\n   The Pickard Scholarship Fund was established at The Dallas Foundation to assist African-American male students in Dallas County. Applicants must be African-American male students graduating from high schools in Dallas County. Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA. Preference may be given to those who can demonstrate financial need. Personal interviews may be required. Renewals are not automatic, but students are encouraged to reapply for up to four years if they maintain at least a 12-hour class load and a 2.5 GPA while enrolled under the scholarship, and submit supporting documentation to The Dallas Foundation. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here:  <https://www.dallasfoundation.org/scholarship-listing.aspx>\n\n1. **ESA Foundation Scholarship Program for Minority Students**\n   **Award Amount**: $3,000\n   **Deadline**: 5/4/2019\n   The ESA Foundation scholarships are offered for full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year colleges and universities in the USA. Up to 30 scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded annually, 15 to graduating high school seniors and 15 to current college students. Women and minority students are eligible to apply, so long as they are U.S. citizens and have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students must also be pursuing degrees leading to careers in computer and video game arts. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   Apply Here: <http://www.esafoundation.org/scholarship.asp>\n\n![](/img/3.28.19.jpg)\n\nGOOD LUCK! - TEAM BESTFIT\n\n","title":"Scholarship Sunday (4.7.19): 5 Scholarships You Can Still Apply For"}},{"id":"65df72d3-3ca8-58c9-8944-8fea7bab0592","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS","SCHOLARSHIPS","SENIORS","OPPORTUNITIES"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/wjymfaqoHu9Uhn6k9j_nSA/UqtLH8Gsj1OkIF9qWda6tQtuwFcVOhIo31VYB7IocwfO96ngYjfDxwmT7cN-zAkPOBjkpZBfoJi3A7c8i1pPqo-7yd5byrYyL69LxEyXGiYOSXY7h0nwEEmsQ4PV5ChRykgshQoJcYlMdBQJgN2xXg/u8iWDvmqHJxRD2bzqkUm_1lvv5djyVDNYhdSJa20WxU","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/fUftB6s8di4VtczBlXKVcg/CQOoBpaHnEUqSdXu3-eW47HaCtLktfl7IE0COF-xDN0xxI9MBkd8H7ERdypXlPhICzPWN6hr1S89sgzT9qSxZL2zGEiCRf97p0Q3vJSAX02TUk7GK4wBCS_Un1RubzOtSJhd7ZBLMHat9CdtkWSXhg/Rs2fl821z_ZUQSpStlekunzr6WHM86iajP8TgXM6558","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/C9dez3Dd3WpyoX33Kqjm3w/dmy8AIRohKIYWN3ZMOeAT7fTZcelU2HzwtS9En_C6Y8SvK6esSsGKACTI6mER8S0AvHbDLwxpJe6716k296vYwhDQ-2NVvmlB_dQy3_74eJY-bFpkPpxWNt1UbTRF05YbdyoI5VFoinimy5Nf0i82w/oez6ODZYunWSjyPl7Duzqx6fW1MjZ6utozQA4WlaUMo","height":512,"width":912},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/fqaw5iwdoPkFa8yzI1-k8w/1tYbGQjNpj28dIcpmR5Oq1aY_6ueR1pnIp32Hn4kgSqjyxKElPmSUMgKHqkZlo84oUxaBmkONbbSad3PobjwjK3Zzrq4NNBKqNOg0ShOvC_w_Saj0yPT1OexlbtruAjZfAvMBd1V5W9s39g8B4fGUA/NRUXoxsrnTzNjagGn2TO_u6y0Vbml1-OHUiMSMvikEE","height":36,"width":64}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/zxIMlywn9h_8s16Wgh7MQQ/fEdgcVZZEYFc90vfpyn_4GhhJwnqVH_pNn-WlNHuJxEtp5zcRE8iGObAi_CeVSo9dd4P7FP7PpUYT2ntfUb6j3TMF4STRPuah2aT5HHsaHb9pvg0-EXOG7GBIvtWyKU8X1IeBfWFRxCfJ68obkXWsA/Pf6P4LKDi5OvJpJ2KuE0psKbF3oIeVH22HhjWKfDAwA","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/VEYtsWQcb0YM84cRMHYGCg/xreSwUw_rrZPl7yGEpMu0s0i7bKeUVUxD1MHXi1BDnVJeuCHzc3tdwokEdMo1gwzvZA9otuqTkKUQHkZinEJsSDxlQWPQDrnehfK_XiVqnnkwQxhpH2jbXIxsj8Qlrim1P4KYetcen9EtB-jltIvQA/1tMDfs2QLDYGg5AvM_UzQpKOiT1esoeloEAmaSpW608","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/jGZ9RVM8p_7y9TJKgaTRqQ/tYPftQKumaM7Q43lmElmMuKwiYI3MLlgLJ8YR9wObzcdt4plof1lhLLlcASBBHvzQG5Y3nRKzFOtXBZQAgpg_6z0htn4WBGxN8siTIgfeAhvVilYCKuYgH2dHIAGjGIL7UnZMfT7apqSrjl1n2FGTA/Bp-TUikh-uMTAjeGAnzi6dkqqJ_il8uzMt2_8adLgt8","height":512,"width":768},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/D1N4odq3NOjaauqe7Rrugw/wKYxAcuA1du3Juk2PE2kh-iIudATwFzzoLl9frwFMHN_yz_br12njZDOLvjYmCLPstOHvwkNG1GH-g7doQpmG50l4eEFUDYWwBavZoz29IGWHqSMt2qOPftNTJo79xUVkSBZvrENNL0mb7QKTN2LaQ/Ql0XAFGDsQI5lDEOPR5Q3JiRpG6psm46tpedYWSApYY","height":36,"width":54}}}],"date":"2020-02-27","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["advice"],"description":"Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who\n  has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more\n  funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be\n  featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!\n","full_copy":"_Sundays are for relaxing, working, or….procrastinating. If you’re a senior who has been putting off scholarship applications, or are still looking for more funding, it’s not too late to apply for scholarships! Every Sunday, we’ll be featuring 5 scholarships that you can still apply for. Get started today!_\n\n1. **DAVILA/TREVINO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP**\n   **Award Amount**: $1,000\n   **Deadline**: 4/30/2019\n   These scholarships, sponsored by the Davila and Trevino families in memory of David Davila and Joe Trevino, are awarded to undergraduate students attending a 4-year college/ university in Texas. This scholarship has been awarded since 2013. Applicants must:\n   1\\. be a junior or senior attending a 4-year university in the U.S.\n   2\\. major in engineering.\n   3\\. have a minimum 3.0 GPA.\n   4\\. and be a U.S. Citizen.\n   APPLY HERE: <http://www.greatmindsinstem.org/college/davila-trevino-memorial-scholarship>\n\n1. **CBC SPOUSES EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP**\n   **Award Amount**: $8,200\n   **Deadline**: 5/18/2019\n   The CBC Spouses Education Scholarship was established in 1988 by the spouses of Congressional Black Caucus members in response to federal cuts in spending for education programs and scholarships, which disproportionately affect people of color. This opportunity awards scholarships to academically talented and highly motivated African-American or Black students pursuing an associates, undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degrees in Political Science, Public Policy, Public-Administration, International Relations, Public Affairs, Mass communications, African-American Studies, Legislative Affairs, Pre-Law, Criminal Justice, American History and/or Juris Doctor.\n   Selected applicants will be constituents of a CBC member’s district. To determine your Representative, enter your permanent address zip code here. Qualified applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in an accredited academic institution, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship website.\n   APPLY HERE: <https://www.wsfoundation.org/one-stop-scholarships>\n\n1. **ANNIE S. ALEXANDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP**\n**   Award Amount**: $1,800\n   **Deadline**: 4/1/2019\n   The Annie S. Alexander Memorial Scholarship provides non-renewable awards for students who will pursue or are pursuing full-time undergraduate nursing degrees from accredited post-secondary institutions. Preference will be given to African-American students from Forsyth County. Scholarships will be applied to cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board, and other college expenses. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for high school seniors or college students who are residents of Forsyth County, NC and are pursuing an undergraduate nursing degree. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   APPLY HERE: <https://www.wsfoundation.org/one-stop-scholarships>\n\n1. **BROWN AND CALDWELL MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM**\n   **Award Amount**: $5,000.00\n   **Deadline**: 4/15/2019\n   Brown and Caldwell is an organization that offers a $5,000 Minority Scholarship to support students who identify as minorities and are interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession.\n   Applicant must be a United States citizen or permanent resident who is a full-time student enrolled in his/her junior, senior year or graduate program at an accredited college/university and have a declared major in civil, chemical or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences (e.g. biology, geology, hydro-geology, ecology). Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on a 5.0 scale) and must be a minority (e.g. African American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific American or Alaska Native).\n   APPLY HERE: <https://www.apsanet.org/mfp>\n\n1. **BLM SQUARED SCHOLARSHIP**\n   **Award Amount**: $1,000\n   **Deadline**: 7/3/2019\n   The BLM Squared Scholarship Foundation program is designed to address the financial needs of minority college students and award outstanding high school graduates who plan to earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited, four-year college or university with financial assistance:\n   Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents. Scholarships are to be utilized at an institution of higher learning and applicants must be a minority graduating high school senior in the year of the award. Applicant must hold a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must be enrolled as a full-time student during the fall academic semester. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.\n   APPLY HERE: <https://www.blmsquaredscholarship.org/>\n\n![](/img/3.28.19.jpg)\n\n_GOOD LUCK! - TEAM BESTFIT_\n\n","title":"Scholarship Sunday (3.31.19): 5 Scholarships You Can Still Apply For"}},{"id":"e6c03f01-c5db-5b67-9d6f-a942bbad5233","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/dEFAYfMTqC3BGe93pvot4Q/u0fvTRWV8izwgxokx2WOoW6TigjBjBjoCLyGlWcj6D0IBkfU_eXyF-JrmYM_t4ZL8IIITRwWbaheK7H4Z0uvPKwWRxv5rp6oeUFOUuatt-jz0Uu_7ujbWGxbS1hvJTIXZ5n1NIYcfQ0asPKvkvdoU0Mo9RrZHwCQlEKj7dnpPi7Pklsz_n1x4MKmC1dInDoQ/Itu6tupfNoLZY966sv9UQJmdqyU7ckUJDLuXLSz_8F8","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/MZnEEE3rw_jpS4FQCjSRjQ/uwp-pJKwHDR-60O_WwZoJKWGHJ5N8pybiYcU_z1knzjUV6lQKNB6JCDBUdAM_cTK7eiE7XUGOqBsT5hnYu5pIpSKEu0rRHekdZkEOVpv3wMorVbz_aBv6n2hm-W3cFCUtZBejnLUBIvc_Al-IxP9vA/rm7PjmZQLybU5e3RCtMAMYW8gGGc-L31hhvJ6SzJhFw","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/JHxFcWieB9ivD8dE8jYiDQ/Nqxa6rwztrULDwDkw9k-MFEUMoN2KZ89UPOApAfvVSYirH_vVA0N81NuAe5r-AIhIEhWwQOgQJolXaDULbp6AdgyEiPtZPY20TkOHxhJQMvxTxqduzGiUox6r5dr2VZGg8XgbQ0xpNJcXQP52SmnSA/hLsvciNVqOdXOIhLfkXgPsL9JEpITBQfGFgM9RlmOUI","height":1281,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/MYTxgGT1VQd4c0qApj2YZQ/Dn0arCyugrG0D_GQ6H6wTsznbAKCJyBL8VLCvnfVcK7XJZ7cl5f1h6ufnpAhOVKBuMsOj2ThzFiFVaufmDRQc8L5FF6iU9cG-YHRrDsuHo2fI0DzYB8ITYDyBasAV3vr2XzV3DV_jlY34hdtl1xDig/GyqMpftmtqnA04oZ-d7UL6Rma9KN3OUz1uIWYOMtrjk","height":36,"width":14}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/2q_lPl0NG0lwlOAHRqXOyg/oguTbwj5GV3xiguHnX5neIKMM-5dyUwy3OJgh5PxQont0XN4wvup4fie3MDkAOMFMD7eFVpoHwhRkSVtgzsDJ-z3qOIAV00Pe1Vzs-dRudTQbD_6mfG_iPf_KW24F6xceX0TgpHgcB8_i7EFyVRKOA/MgpDalTbnahMX2gs1ZRA6GG6sPgV9kwsFD9dZyfG2HE","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Gh8leoCuMCEJt_V71qND6A/X_HKekCL9umTM6IhepnS-2_i-jqfu4OH4VZuSocPect0O6JHTWO_9XIYEjTyVdSsT7wxYFmdxVWN_kX8H825VKBx_MhAGh5R7N0m-TzCZWR6Jp-fc9f0AY0m1NqGIsE0WbbsWYuZg9BZD435dBvIOA/xPzEeWNbVbwNARaAA45t-W8TDPFZfqjZAjKgNSt0h_M","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/yurpi1hkU_NIkelf3yb1Ow/R_J--B9nBd7CQ9-YJLcciC9HyhG3vDxZ-KxRFAJOaM0aKK1WAFXI-y0zOf2YwHCWanKrE5ihWZNsilJ_MSPfN5N9llyMByz_LrEDLzJR9xuxjEfDTUyBc3GnRu5CuhTrxUU_QIOlHgyPI9wBc669Dw/M7gEzgVTnIbDqjD9WlAeti6XIC0-niTxcuCEEi7e-oM","height":662,"width":512},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/OZjYzFkto1Qx8kLVQAqCDQ/co4vkGJDQBntK7-571M7dwJplOCSEIwYjeDShcCv48J8dhOSX4gFhsEBjkKCSSKdIJymYoOXx9sc18ZQ0aU4fn4OZZhHtlUMmGOZanlebEEGH1a6KvAFrc5wfxeOQyaH_UV8oDabeGXhof_x9lXLvQ/Dwz002utRzFRgLi0m5PGFAogaAYWfOZufwscWTM3d48","height":36,"width":28}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/lhh_1JLbgnyihtup8RhrgQ/ASKDtiWn5XqqyamVqaSKtCwOhvehwl_3uP6MWfD0R8wobbyEgV5USZWjPFnebUvsTvmlZ4lEZ-5TgfJYvNkoBMlLDPMSnsAEs_PBFi6wO4xosJ-YCt0yE2UQiDj_1hqFM7GsylIV7XyoDxKsPN_12sxn3HP_vnHxuqGQ5NMUSz4/yZPwdQbel60cqL7Kvtmg4uI8xmYdB21kolF6cID9PqE","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/y7a9aje5DjL4J8zG7dA35w/2pztJH3HJlT6hN5VH6u7OcVCjR6E7G22HQFhGNbNyaFZE4el2jvhSWf97wgA8cYUF-jZB5DQP02XNClFrttzl0clZhY6q9o6gwsshiwFKe1YgkfTAe4vuB3sfP_av9Mkoups88ZuFlbRANDNlNUhxA/qgqS4-yjeXKXnxnE2OlzqTyZ5jbI9g53ir3PccTRFE4","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/66iEgIqmYCM4B7fE9Ixi4g/iUpkDDY_17khd3k4g8z_9e6Rw_MQuHVQq3pr7vYj7teFTfQC7lTTkiKk31N9421c4KcHn1rHliBBiouu0a0FlJnu1yoy_BDy9o6-Jx2b28zzjuIB2Xf9af0zVD87yplQPiVYTXx5_CBgZl8ovpaO0w/MOyrz3w2WZozk8GRJa9iZbF2yOyunFYg2E8J2JdLx98","height":348,"width":618},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/8-GtoA4ddUXegt3rxq7IUw/Dr9ZWTunl_q6whcBg9wPU9PB7scQjVNnTcmyZ38Xwl33WX0nHrXlo55taSjOIFs8fVAEA0qMiuKC9jpWAxXTQapqMvsLKcnQbH3Rz9iTk7w0-y_bgMmj1AfHKdX3-AiU8wYTNVwX4yCLwFhMV-vQ1A/qr7TMTyW9E28KUeOxEwztBPSBMztUMymSWfRXHnHXhY","height":36,"width":64}}}],"date":"2020-02-25","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["finance"],"description":"Hacking College Costs is our new weekly series. We’re giving you an insider\n  look into how much college really costs, and how to prepare well. Written by\n  real college students who’ve seen it all, these posts will help you stay\n  financially healthy during and after college.\n","full_copy":"_“Hacking” College Costs is our new weekly series. We’re giving you an insider look into how much college really costs, and how to prepare well. Written by real college students who’ve seen it all, these posts will help you stay financially healthy during and after college._\nSpring Break isn’t the only time when college students spend their money! Throughout the college experience, money is spent almost everyday at a bizarre rate. For many first-year students, college is a time when they are finally given the opportunity to have free reign over their finances without parents over their shoulders every hour, preaching about spending too much and not saving enough. Budgeting at this time in your life is crucial, because in many cases, college becomes ridiculously expensive. In this blog post, we’ll explain in detail how you can budget for the better!\n\n> The first rule of budgeting is this: When you create your budgeting plan, stick to it!\n> \n> BUDGETING = DISCIPLINE\n\nIn many cases, sticking to an initial decision is hard, but when you finally complete your financial goal, you will feel amazing! Below are three ways to obtain financial discipline:\n\n1.  **Make a Plan:**\n   Creating a plan helps you visualize your financial “needs”, “wants” and “nice-to-have”. This list should contain items like rent, books, food, clothes, and more. If you find yourself spending $7.00 per day on food, cut back on eating out and bring food from home every other day! After cutting back from spending, put $20.00 away in your savings and use it towards your personal goal. Doing this will help build your financial discipline and prevent you from taking on more debt.\n1. **Needs > Wants:**\n   Prioritizing needs over wants doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy life on a budget. it simply means that you should make sure your needs are always met first before you spend on your wants. A simple way to complete this is by putting aside enough money each month for the “needs” category of your plan. Resist the urge to purchase things that aren’t on that list and this, too, will build your financial discipline.\n1. **Set Aside an Emergency Fund:**\n   As you continue your journey of efficiently budgeting, keep in mind that emergencies do happen! As you track all of your spending habits, you can also determine each month how much you should put into an emergency fund or “savings” account. An emergency fund is an important part of budgeting, because it allows you to have something to fall back on in case something unexpected happens--which happens all the time in college! Not only can you use this fund to fall back on in college, you can also see these funds as an investment of yourself.\n   Below are 10 common college emergencies that often lead students to lose money before they even have it:\n\n![](/img/10-spending-emergencies-in-college-1-.png)\n\n** BUDGETING TAKES TIME**\n_“Hacking” College Costs is our new weekly series. We’re giving you an insider look into how much college really costs, and how to prepare well. Written by real college students who’ve seen it all, these posts will help you stay financially healthy during and after college._\nSpring Break isn’t the only time when college students spend their money! Throughout the college experience, money is spent almost everyday at a bizarre rate. For many first-year students, college is a time when they are finally given the opportunity to have free reign over their finances without parents over their shoulders every hour, preaching about spending too much and not saving enough. Budgeting at this time in your life is crucial, because in many cases, college becomes ridiculously expensive. In this blog post, we’ll explain in detail how you can budget for the better!\n![](/img/budgetchecklist.png \"You can download the PDF checklist along with our budgeting template at the end of this post!\")\n** START BUDGETING!**\nWe hope that you’ve now gained enough knowledge to budget for the better! The information we’ve given you are essential tools that will help you budget efficiently and smoothly with no problems. While discipline is very important, it is also important to not be too tough on yourself and to **remember to reward yourself from time to time** with small things (that are in the budget).\nStarting this process may feel like you’ve taken another class in college, but once you complete your financial goals, you’ll feel on top of the world!\n_GOOD LUCK! -TEAM BESTFIT_\n\n","title":"\"Hacking\" College Costs: Budgeting for the Better"}},{"id":"e58323db-8a22-55c5-b360-aed37c63fdc0","data":{"tags":["NEWS","PRESS"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/F01QBD5dIMxu7crtpGiO3w/bkfg8_74KgoVfSPzwVyePwp0hCTByl7YKghuGl-ZXloBy89r0Saum-m22jOJ9fuCF8DUM7fEeZEhuVe50QxAeZ8VS-kZj6LALub5rkK9JSxXTuZh0eP8yDm_1HNO8u2Ui9IvUrKlYXZySUyo_a5htC2gDjB_zRpYXQWTrABAjgRurYozg6HHynXAN2LIx5GxHGrBNj4WgdZSi1IJrWjNGw/m2GXtoUC81F1CKf6XitzAgihFcSYz6nIzuwopPFCfFM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/E4daEpWVw4BULQBxsHfQ5A/Wm2IkkA0afBc-YMqJOwi08Cr0XDjDijGEz1dz1BObTR7OobRVya5tGVmOIHjtfYDlP4JOjI6EDE2riQCdwq9Y0iYcyoMQ-_VHOnGWAobb5t8KbeJCVj4omh0NBRMl5Lr5QptJSHlYSfHRGDgcvCTqg/xAGMNxnBzSTYyxK8xnRNFg_UZGAejZLPexoJpONHppc","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/BSuLCtQrgESBwS_1XQ4vag/dLHyDHFphE5tDGnEx2n1r3MebeHnKoe9QU2yk_RA5IA_EtkDdA0hDMOYWzyEOtkKXwt-QIMEl4oH5D0q2Kn10OS2lWKe0xFDqI3GyrlTz5-3-vbOfJE2ci-d0YXwYXLtHVwUIOJHszYizsU4RniUnw/MSpJgh6Yb4ZcNfu9oj1SFoQSY5VTtRs_KPNFfkG8OyM","height":525,"width":494},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/cSBvSZcRMxCYVTrXvchYdw/GkE4PCtebCLzblketLj5K48ZtYIT1WyYlyKnH5_f30Ot34WQ7SAHazM501AiwCCBpXna2mJ5nFbF8uIpv4DgtsrIDgp4cinVrhylMZMH3GsC5Sv2Lxb2LBpwJ_zZpPnAStMG_357dSao1wgVYwiNjw/F0VRBO8UrtreeHcC_eMvj9NHm7ZxyxmOFGAkwDtC1G8","height":36,"width":34}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/bjgGJPjMgE1s9_x5Zw6zVw/18hqZjwJqpDJxBKNLD2bn7HSLX2uy7oVr8pSHK6qTgd8vhrBfYN4qdpqeLgkTEQUYZRK6puho1wYO9uqs0RXKudedbOUmwvBbA2lestrZZjBtvRWJfZ5Bj_1TCPBmf4JT7YdkOkwHrXcM7OEL6e88DuMWAACElEOYub5HPgcB1Fi_d0uKrlGbNRNNZNH-TWghPtV1LFtSNC-_8G_CPqfAg/rMbJBTjz0LG8NIKZXv_J3iInd7fTnQ9nwwKoEsHhwPQ","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/VTrkUD9QkkmJ8DYGur4zBg/1z3k11jFs-QQVqObxrelfQBwgZ0xSSV-01L3DKE425uRXciL6nWqcyfOXVT9_qKQ6NlCeWnqWCeQaDpqStBYi5tQbN1haOutmoBgfIgln6bWS9GSzR1d9AK1laGyZFuJARTEGMy1QYs2XdMSJebSow/_lMrAiqY2SxmvgjkupWD3Fr4-pRNEDR9bf_JM3CNWrA","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/7kt4eJ4MybhW-5okdj8neg/dbjTalLCqxzFO6uS3TJ-OJcRA0k-n0YGtX5rOL_YmHqoit6mbTSQIP6GHiK1S8WNJ-XerrAmQWX3IXjQS-FcA5RakdAejh9PvOYED9lfRVRrqpm3h9wer-CI4ckXb2So7hzBVriQu5kUZE5kxG39oQ/gg0lqhHUERyilRBM3EojmZBiVMmxIY27SQONKXOMZ2o","height":525,"width":494},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/wM2AZqyl2z6oil7UH-Q9QA/5YYdNAcTgWjASUNaZNGf6Dez4derybJsqjDCINSZyMA6y0zy6iW33sWTNGJF5G7JwXEUMpVUDsquwDulM6Xx0wxNNEWTRzN_3n-2Xy_LHE3pIDbFGCW2TWlPr5WeEQ4cwLE6DJBJE0bBZTLP7uOoIQ/2zNhkdi6zfyfKaQES1o3gxOdPbhs51qJxj2FiQslJ0g","height":36,"width":34}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/yLMQ6DF59pe1eSOjPBJEOA/D_4jIHSBoxC94Qe4D_fODEQkSGqaqP2VsiJzKWOsqPmZyie0oW-tKYeN5Twff-flofZKtvZn9wP4mHG4kY4lBiWVjFpogc79Kx_OpwJgD3egDZ9LRCr2HElZBIP--JdopYXTqMi-Pu1iTaK5e4DWkT34aa32SSDY9asGWN9WyVTfyt2slD4oMGkAV2eDJ11JykDKUNHtdZh9j_Otm79TKg/aqJZgSV6JXpM7a25rq5S1SDngG9J-hh1zfZ4x0UnmME","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Xerd-H5kz1IVGeIrkmRpNA/6MatNQeY4lPVnJGuAC1pFF8VlDXN-5mILR_YzxSnlF6rRjxX0TdvTZ1018sjGz198K54LtsJ5djv6JVjXWMTwxPf9fJVleXVkrrgZwOpQgcpZKf0B-so77AofY3_BVP7fFT_nrrxLB0AoYzrL503ng/dOR-VcH7I6EVWpDi3TwQjb4k8LvW2n-2zQE6AW-yB1o","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/js0gLJfRocTnvceV0S2odg/E4FpY5h705aEFvGHAoGCiZWnUc7KtGuUt-n1AGaumXKqH4ZGKVthGNdvYDZAEvqM7VBXezNPHvIwqbTaUzfyTDRw_6Ey3uqOvtjr0R8RGW2avbe57nXhPx7flu_SqX2hYweMsM_Q2O8_rJoxWZ5z1Q/v11tcp3KlfMDJ7-9lv4DLFhD1QCJzydsP6VpQ6uxJzQ","height":525,"width":494},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/x9mj7qhM6CmwcUK-PFTL1w/oFeYwU40z_gCoepxaaQXW-jQlZqm3Dg25zwSTLbVvzl1ZKT3ZFh7prCfFBtWRoshOXBNZgz3xFECT0GIIZfxY47MewRLJQHtC4qP4E66swNB72BMbdhCZdOM-HnfXKD33VFrW6h2B72OiIL17amzaQ/QkSLlNrnH7N8Xygkwq50KPKCWcBQxk-BfsZ0eRDBVZw","height":36,"width":34}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/AtS24BgqHADgnh7UZwZOdg/lNOq8UuSkp0fHlKNkw99r1qR2yrqFClNPD1VQEuipMRoHer_3ivrWt6N9HjKW-48znDIN9dc3iuBF6l0xJwJHmgJvQZoovdYJ3ELTlo7NwWisrq-GbICkR6U7R-xuQ09iwrn0A690PZxYd3fWRUt7keoUb8D4gdf8624L64XWdYDZ_nRESqpIn4QfTIydfuUDZ-kDUVkj-40ZP4Jul08pw/GvVJZDskaSaBBmTloeFD6qb-PEHPcr8AINozC7xQWeo","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/hTehl4R7aRS9nT7iq16qyQ/bgGFSV-WXxxhKrMGl6sbgzFH3V09ejVGdw9QqE2VrEodn43QvrWSBjv6CAprArls-GSNSxUfO_QfR7qkQZdcsbLGlUjzgDV1zNgliLCjtT7QU_UrsZyPQLRsMF0uGn3xJ50VW4G9IXyo14Wz-yBd0w/Ct8BEGRyVRUOnOZyOmRhdjDTfETGwi7pmDV4fd7asMo","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/J0JeNEjCM_KpAC3dX50sVQ/oYtEKi8UIWAidKR2DV9bFPqRLows34i7ZGxrtDKs61HjNKMXmzEEumNsrpQxIpkC5eP71zYpBSpXkyoWpgP7KevRlCrLt6Zkd65gt2DvnyOB1OpLV7DgcVft0gsqF0GhOrh9gDx7Vh-nyIw99_36RQ/LkZXq3QIEHnldqIhYdecGR-An1d-EGwuB60QtwHl7fA","height":525,"width":494},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/_UDqtikYrkfByFmEFySV_Q/f2uy_p8C8ud3SjvfX3csT9Kdt9pqQq3ISGaTLX9dJw1PLVbELU8awO_UJ45cRJKpp_zwE5HF46PKZAYLpNDSJ9iUkUIwOVfdYU30zVQTjNJlV5fM3vv3Sgd4yYZUgp5n0TMWm5Pg7qeYjo3MpKScpg/mfFgcVFbFuE9ewEM9LmzWaic7iVdcpSykO0HzbPAq8M","height":36,"width":34}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/1cUm2m8kaBhbnEb9bGzH1Q/DTJ29fdzwYFdU7v8wclWgzLz5UvECbDmhg7HmcU6gfvUi3dqrTK3HvHzIjYY5m3Zq6r9Hqm9uzkvcKvPTDKVpYstN5zx9QlalAo6QC9p7peCdMApjQZZIHp0k2UhEcWY4Wwyi7SmOhBeUxjYTrD-bc3bjDV2jgpFiOsyXOFdif05CTxCgoNNeiX_GPfSsNDD34ZQ93nxWtvfi04ZLh8rhw/d3P9mcgYAZ0-PKaMf88p6Ve6JPMo-dpcabWMcISLgEw","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/UORaJmmQbex8cNCV6_IKZQ/ZtFuNN8bT-QfQMffdrnedZvyUrtXLAeO8d-Z_lyu9DO8ZC2e6CR0S2roCAmLLet-l7Oy8p8z6z6fu89trm5FVZ1XHo69DhBycsAGCI_4WaHQ8ia2QqQxZb_5iNKckWbBjVlMgKoNaiPIfzqo_tzQqg/9_QMaT6r5HIuAEppMrvRRv6NEG38H8ErwTwVCK7Eb_o","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/EEkq8-4VlLBVwCs2nYQYgQ/6g7I9NgHjjePm3E_slj7E8j_TZZU_xJNkTjo5s5zxCHx0qT3ruz7gSqi82HbEhnpfqfauptxL4zQ87bCDbW_hX8U5eVhrm9ffthbHU0R6LgYnDointqkXDqG2RE7gUluGklNkBVqbm1j5GZMnwXq_Q/XIgFeCTyNK-maqwu8NL0qkxR7iYDV8QYjVmY8X8TUvk","height":525,"width":494},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/CShd3u1wAqltWx1oIwVV4A/xtggsJ5IallsU_JlROEx4X8t6lF-RscXthzlIa8B95Gm7sROB9rSWaKK5RuHQ3876rJjA7JH1IZZzfjBdGRH4O5RlW5vGLRunBbJGybgBwdNaV67le_8y3aCyiN4KrPQKRH1zl6Vv4P5Bl1U3WWT-g/LYrMcOBftjdmscrEYlnH10gGOFIZjE2ED9GFRNQID_g","height":36,"width":34}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Gp29qy43UBI4dpgbUS0P4w/knk24b3MPVLCofNoSg1IncO-9041agjijtfP-nAdG3oZxp0tNjyenY0ysq5WZFTC9fPKli48qZIuExqOn-Pc_28sf2OtWkS7y3XO2TrIiQhiCbNJ1rgonY25ZOQHcbQz1M6vXvOD5T9g1kzE0o6o_EMsFJxnIibGZhFjiQx0IX1NOTsq4jn6avC81gvAB2GwXB6-sgWZyh0KazBpyHA6GQ/Yiy7CQ2G-IpPOS6wDf5SFoXfhgfQgNOrEjlcD6jaomM","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/c0L87wxwmdjoHdPoc9emPA/wi012zyLN9fAdgVYzG_TvzrVIyJjaThsiFiXq22dGMQ_6Fv8iARtFNme_sZf8UsvV4Hd8ezUsX4sGCK0tXtIvmuJrOWSo8ZFDLlAhyXCDEUSrsCrc0uc_-q-m2jzn9Ee11jhXHYPDKy5d13TSB6QGw/VgPpyUjLBvN8VImlldo9VTG1E0EHnU8GVJfaUACv5lQ","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/L0QumAgfsWgU6s2bA4g0yg/EAu6oFLeF-FdRnUK6M4rKbIpJDZZT3v_A3yTwNFdLGiZ6jswdjcUEvJb2S2_LybNs2KqFPRVs1KKqYOId07G2Mal97dSSHkEeOdu1TF4pGylXJThwLHoQTqr83COrum623--nPWA8xrBIeHxw2e-eA/qZYNj7kKVQEhmGaGFmsMG2KrC3ZEWpY-9nPBZMAhTN0","height":525,"width":494},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/b-Mtc4npVQVc5o4Rit5AMQ/m_b2mBqDwm4XskNExDazH-bn7vJm1cUTm68BF9bg4NsKE4FNF_0Vu7GiRiO00yOS7-mOMSoPGQkDAJ76mmjS5ZFWPovLaDnUqklqnEALcGkGH_zjvAYdykWVLJfh1xgkL9QEFK-wBilA3lD8nkBzOA/OtRk5lP9WI_o6p8lFbhGcuH6Y1_m3kRiUdquJmHKyDI","height":36,"width":34}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/AmkzBXJDzCJAk-JRika_2w/WoWvREwU5USVGmpvQxnFi4jtBzl93F-QeyzyZZPBlla9KbZOubImMaulT_-NKZIUlwafyCgtXAMH4OBt_ZwMkCV_ih3dMCDikogXHZ0yp9bS3JwDKo_42zIQonh_EwEEninInQDDqT1G565OldDBFwOEBHwqsTf0LPOW2gifnjE/0keMJcAp7SyUi0MVKBb--2mKIUu467Bcimnt-8z004Q","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/dlwGE8_TNnTSJ3jIlOY_Yg/bPdPx88tCDtXZzqId47iV_bT3s2lCJdgcvK7bZUIf6PWQZwy9RxOuldjHSMDdErtpvzUhIUx7DVjhaeGfsd4K_TIoHowaNI7YQbx2NILlI1EYRtjsUQpytbiV4YT3gqelan2orFDZ0Zly-edI0fsoQ/WiT-2HFpFr6CDTwRYSWtEQ_NyMLBphnRkvNgLtTbcwg","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/Jdos8TBjS1bKxXok7BjOrA/KCo29mD6VMbG94I1yiY1kjjEunPnegRtdag4qQihMrzauvXe2U5zWJbByFS5uxLOd2iN4YRcqSACRDmpy662V6H7-aYJFVrxsb216eaA3Bt1OfH0uqz5iG2PZy-rtCQnLqcVoHZGnlU_ItQGLDLc0w/AMeRUuzQKKXVvCN3nEXs1eBqDuqHjcmmCr3-SKqAluM","height":443,"width":1024},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/7kgxseqUtn_4NpSsw0q1nA/1lR7bE-L1K4zAIz_7oOy-NSGvIO0Ety0peGnHIlqaogRtywjIJjn-xwvZGU40XXuT1tQlqpoeqGGLKuwrL920TJUyzlX2sRDXhFCaTIgTyDtCC2UqZ5AGHiOZExwFRn1uTuwxVHK7UF-DznWT5xkBA/Iv5Fdx6cCqQVpAw8KTmkAqEFGEn3-xxVmGnVqMW4MZA","height":36,"width":83}}}],"date":"2020-02-27","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["finance"],"description":"Based in Atlanta, the Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars leverages innovative startups to drive community impact. \\vThe program provides mentorship and funding access for new companies focused on environmental sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Cox supports this accelerator as part of its mission to promote business as a force for good in the world\n","full_copy":"_Based in Atlanta, the Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator powered by Techstars leverages innovative startups to drive community impact. \u000bThe program provides mentorship and funding access for new companies focused on environmental sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Cox supports this accelerator as part of its mission to promote business as a force for good in the world._\nOn January 27th, 2020, BestFit joined the Inaugural Class of the Cox Enterprises Social Impact Accelerator Powered by Techstars! We're one of ten companies solving problems in education, healthcare, diversity, accessibility, community support/engagement, financial literacy, sustainability, and health and wellness.\nRead the official announcement here, or view pictures from our Kickoff below:\n\n{{{Text text=\"Techstars kickoff\" size=\"h1\" color=\"pink\" align=\"center\"}}}\n\n{{{Text text=\"Meet our cohort\" size=\"h3\" color=\"null\" align=\"center\"}}}\n\n{{{Text text=\"Nulla rhoncus, sem molestie bibendum euismod, eros, dolor ultrices reat, eget\" size=\"undefined\" color=\"undefined\" align=\"center\"}}}\n\n`{{{Slider images=\"{\"image\":\"https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/8638946e2bc86c8924d0e85a827667f9/382e354b\"},{\"image\":\"https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/d64712ce06a0a40f8996d9fc15436c60/c822c1a7\"},{\"image\":\"https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/0d42a66827cb576666d9f113a3c53ecb/30b30f6c\"},{\"image\":\"https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/4fa410277f25c990c3d48860d3b7fed1/994f983e\"},{\"image\":\"https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/65ed92c9c0f4cd5cd258da7ce821b2f8/9ed6ba69\"}\"}}}`\n\n{{{Text text=\"BestFit's team\" size=\"h3\" color=\"undefined\" align=\"center\"}}}\n\n{{{Button text=\"Read the official announcement\" href=\"aHR0cDovL2Jlc3QtZml0LmFwcC8=\" size=\"h3\" color=\"black\" align=\"center\"}}}\n\n","title":"BestFit is a Techstars backed company!"}},{"id":"ab3e628e-57b8-5787-bc3b-82519d940691","data":{"tags":["COLLEGE COSTS"],"status":"published","attachments":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/ATYELiZU0KwhJobR76rmhg/A0mhaChQ3Jn92oYCJfdIcJ-pja65WkxLsA_633tIIf8-a_AweRYFsjM4Mf1lXtWQbpX4uUGZ0LxP_qFOT1vbaXBzWUgFMSt_qI0-ZEBtD7Dg5wuBy9jlsX99faXsqtiOpB9_qhtu5h0Q-rCSNWOYrw/Qqh8jqDm5IgkVlBkA0iQNWPxVqGtZtP2f-B9nc3x_7o","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/lbcb9Suy4fqtYKBbrzlw5A/WVh00zzxJZeGVjQALwmUVCGDqXo8hKLi0vGNfOKmDsHT9KKgSmHVHxg00gq4RIpgFOXZ_GkOGxpGfi2MnxDt5oK-5fbJHKc4j9GB2H8Wzw_4PWQ8IVsLEsKRWKuNMXhJjbeoQ-m7D17ILcVOH3fOLw/EdyYK5gQ_GQXM-FjzNoq1XOPlJ3VgyMtePEicYJMuhA","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/iy6piNHa9JxRbbBfd6_3jw/5S1sVk4CiVpZQfNYYm34SWpC5ZqNwYOPHzq9o574-1yfNAAwvpKNf00wIbOsrTfSpXHr3Ug6gAeT9kaEnixTxoeqV6FeRplSYs1KOcbgbfrGz0QN5XGbqYrcGTA06LRO5rPBd23dkhdtWhU8tbsumQ/immA5rgV7iZ-Xin1Icb5qkRWGg_ZmllTs5mBzr6OS2k","height":277,"width":411},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/3gyA-DWsW5ry3G6sOjwWRQ/sMtwdusSYpZeDavzjvSxHZLaxp2a4Au3OwhMIg_Cn5IWtocftK089a-7sjrUps4f5kbbdWaGfpALRxd_zIuaT8c17x_qmxVm4ibYe6j_6lVsXQbpBGrhxH5cfbVNEzTtbVqgupcYYXtilfePEAAPoA/q_4xEQqco0IJZt1jc52veRqcYqrQK7t_0t24GrRAtT4","height":36,"width":53}}},{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/HW9S4kqEVmjkfZsRF_u42Q/ZgjAF3V_uc8Xljne6T88rnX2l5UuZ1WQ5e1GAcMYbbbl-uUJhHYDgi9lpcHU0DCVF2aXpTdDmlt8JPL5q4X6Jztv8T7aVn_-bnABWSAHDb6D-2tLAKg0ZGRJXopB0-3aUuOFoP2-WdHTUJY6Mqnflw/bvlgIaUGO6hZe-3h0AfEJRIM21T5HALb81jfjY8Crsg","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/TkYvMqp9CaAC4B_JrklfDg/2TlOrDx9n782VPsskV6c9UVW5EjQiIxb3jYm1r8XfMTMecmJ2KID99d3PcPPkNXxrZP7wtnIwqxKSt3-AkRw3DOjqu6cfhCZrIPJ8L3ult79OHi8YKPr2E8ldqTCPgLs-pWUtYXtsjgpnWdCeDsouw/0659OonYrH9OUjPyUHNyqzjTfQ5f3wKeu8qujzX56Uw","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/FJ5DGDBNwspXjkw0kYk_FQ/ZNU0YWSt4yJMOer1jai4Ghe0eCyx4hnFacv3M4kcaAjS1PjGvv1IRAF7Ij9Eegy0Nm8t8FBSpgjCtl089mIgL0H-Mff7hFI_OAhVPIu2vLUjre1XXPNGv8XjJ2k-reSO2KYshOJYONwHwhAU_V8M9w/wiNujIR8IenHvgg-q1oiOxCoK0EDQUiC_JO0R9g6Dm0","height":512,"width":1183},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/8sQ50YrrvRVt9nK12hPWaw/_36ezj4ZOb7SRvuJZl30sxJlPC_z6HlV9KOZuXNfjndpxPgS6vzm5aqFl4dO8ePdKPHqrcZDOKW60iUzNJmK0f0U5GBjMrio1djIhsFH0JDeu0Y5UXDStvk92nrGijtvjsb45uqtX2jCmO6FfY-WQg/9B57wLEylC7gmmiBGWBfJXfM6DQ1ia9moJh5PX5udmE","height":36,"width":83}}}],"image":[{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/C40YI2AGAWJUshEk__ylWA/frMk_yAB6IFa-ZMLQCP6A2u2-a4xuEM5n37H_Zo9PyJj7r1hTkWdHovnJHLtOKPObpkGYBaMlBg8oeWpt-0nZTgoUfJTS4ARwOuId49ixGtoe5hQdyi1Xxd19JSC_41-Pnp37r5iaylUZrzrtrfZ8OetrGZ3QMzIin9CXwKV8gHnc-KqT_GP24xc7Lm-6c3c/Ep5kuWi1ONa_Q35ETVBUOk7icYe3CQhlAZyuX_PSQN0","thumbnails":{"full":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/XOd9NEkSI4fXzFzocQYS9g/fMYiIcIG1kXePqhrt7f4zVgIk9JR8QAAoC_Ay8_7H2VC0p9DkNig6T1nKvfCHus3LTYvk2t4EBxSsNu4U_oQvchLF7F1L8eGOvYa3QcP5HbVQgocRAWih1-Va3SPkdqHMtojV_FISth7dclLdU8u7Q/UUo8KOnUsyN3qhXdcA-vZzCDtaercVaLhZxW4TkcQ-g","width":3000,"height":3000},"large":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/KRPMYqNXFPW92b6MXLIrgg/QINE8RVfWkJzs148kVdUU5UPCKhKShzUiY4KT9GalFxToT-9ZvKp09djiDLic9fZ5LfKunrV899LUtazZIHFdRKskFvygXugOd9KPp8pKMRSRDcgj349s4DGZ-5xeQSb5aAgs-Z_i9-eZgl-Hc6GaQ/D_IvNpn45ZLCh6rrisfz70mENzHLb_GFgLjsU6flnF0","height":518,"width":500},"small":{"url":"https://v5.airtableusercontent.com/v3/u/26/26/1709265600000/zsiVGqOX7ecCWQ4Db15B1A/tv4V9MYRGIpDeTdrmuo6RQtbgNqQOr90K-X--IyhJvW19M4a0BflVB8sySUs140MMAADdnaH90m3VB3b1WcURr6wkUpdcQdc6nnViTzI9tzZEf-E5GmMCugZUtDElnoVgkesipmyZ8MLqZOQ0vLi_A/vrx6vESbZRf4S9JX2-Gs8qJR77YeZbfE7036ZP4Gcks","height":36,"width":35}}}],"date":"2020-02-24","templateKey":"blog-post","category":["tips"],"description":"\"HACKING\" COLLEGE COSTS: 8 WAYS TO MINIMIZE EXTREME TEXTBOOK COSTS\n","full_copy":"_“Hacking” College Costs is our new weekly series. We’re giving you an insider look into how much college really costs, and how to prepare well. Written by real college students who’ve seen it all, these posts will help you stay financially healthy during and after college._\n**Why textbooks?**\nTextbooks are an essential part of succeeding in college. While they are a necessity, they also cause a lot of strain and stress because of their extreme costs. Professors usually advise students to purchase their required books from school bookstores, but many students don't know that there are cheaper options that give you the same books — at a better price!\n\n> The average college student spends more than $1,250 a year on books and materials.\n> \n> Source: Collegeboard\n\nAs the price of textbooks has more than doubled over the past ten years, it's safe to say that students are now using different resources to minimize the extreme costs of textbooks. In this post, we'll analyze the different options available to refrain from spending too much money on textbooks.\nBelow are options that you can choose from to help you avoid possible sticker shock while shopping for required textbooks throughout your college experience:\n\n1. **@ListSlider Create an Amazon Prime Account for Students:**\nAmazon provides a 6-month free trial for college students (with benefits such as free two-day shipping). You can create an Amazon Prime Student account by clicking here and filling out the required information. While you do have to pay after your free trial, there is a steep discount and definitely worth the time and effort.\n\n1. **@ListSlider FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE CLASSES YOU NEED AND DOESN’T NEED THE TEXTBOOK**\nIf you have a friend or know someone who has already taken the same class, you’re in luck. Compared to bookstores, other college students are more likely to sell you used textbooks for a better deal. In some cases, they might even provide you with their notes. This is especially common if your program has required courses that all students need to take. \n\n1. **@ListSlider FIND A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR STUDENTS IN YOUR MAJOR AND/OR SELLING TEXTBOOKS**\nFacebook might seem outdated, but it’s actually one of the most efficient and easiest ways to connect  with different people in your major. By searching Facebook for students in your major, you have a great opportunity to potentially purchase textbooks for a cheaper cost! Click here for an example of a public Facebook page that helps students get textbooks for a better cost.\n\n1. **@ListSlider ALWAYS COMPARE PRICES FROM DIFFERENT SITES**\n![](/img/blogpic2.jpeg)\n   Depicted above are two identical textbooks with the same author and edition, but at two different prices. This is why it’s crucial to research and find the best price for the books you need to be successful in your classes. By looking at prices on Amazon.com, Textbooks.com, BetterWorldBooks.com, CampusBooksRentals.com, and AllBookstores.com, you’ll be able to compare and contrast the different prices that each offers, including shipping and handling prices. One way to avoid this exhausting task of individually comparing the prices of the above websites is to have StudentRateTextbooks.com, SlugBooks.com, and TheBookRocket.com do it for you!\n\n1. **@ListSlider SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A FINANCIAL AID TEXTBOOK VOUCHER AT YOUR SCHOOL**\nStudents who receive financial aid and are expected to have funds remaining after all of their school costs are covered, can use the remaining balance to rent or purchase the needed books using a book voucher.\n\n1. **@ListSlider SEE IF YOU CAN GET THE SAME TEXTBOOK AS A PDF FILE INSTEAD OF A PAPERBACK BOOK**\nIf you prefer not to go out on a limb and interact with people, searching online for digital versions of textbooks often works as well too. \n\n1. **@ListSlider BORROW YOUR TEXTBOOK FROM YOUR COLLEGE LIBRARY**\nSome textbooks are actually available in your college library! However, libraries usually only stock a limited number of the same books, so be sure to check with your librarian as early as possible. \n\n1. **@ListSlider ASK YOUR PROFESSOR IF YOU CAN PURCHASE A DIFFERENT EDITION RATHER THAN THE REQUIRED ONE**\nIn many cases, the previous edition of a textbook is cheaper than the latest one, but the only downsides to this are possibly not having all of the information you need and not having the same exact pages as the newer edition. Below is an example of the two:\n![](https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/fcc3a3b244fbb030ef973f5c18a3bc64/6a075974)\n6th APA Edition Textbook On Amazon\n<https://www.amazon.com/Publication-Manual-American-Psychological-Association/dp/1433805618/ref=dp_ob_title_bk>\n![](https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/f18c760a067d39dde4b75a7d34fa41e8/7c9d3e76)\n5th APA Edition Textbook On Amazon\n<https://www.amazon.com/Publication-Manual-American-Psychological-Association/dp/1557987912/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FFA2SZFVNPX84AFS5KAM>\nAs you can see from the screenshots above, different editions have huge price differences. One reason for this is that many professors are required to make it mandatory for their students to purchase the newer edition every time a new one is published. As stated earlier, be sure to check with your professor in case there is important information in the newest edition that you’ll need in class.\n\n** It's Worth the Effort…**\nAll in all, minimizing textbook costs has the potential to be lengthy and excessive, but your wallet will definitely thank you in the long run! By doing research, taking notes on what you find, and exploring your options, we can almost 100% guarantee that you will find the cheapest textbook that fits your classes!\n\n\n","title":"\"HACKING\" COLLEGE COSTS: 8 WAYS TO MINIMIZE EXTREME TEXTBOOK COSTS"}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":"9ca0220d-b4bb-5636-9bb2-d7c06a2281c4"}},"staticQueryHashes":["1983605561"]}