Archive for the 'financial aid' Category

Don’t Drop Out of Massage School Because of Economic Crunch

Published
by
Terry
on February 3, 2010
in financial aid, massage certification, massage school and massage school locations
. 0 Comments

These are grim times.  We hear grim tales of layoffs and their economic and psychological consequences on individuals and families.  The only upside we can think of is that perhaps it is during times of stress and hardship that massage therapy is viewed as a promising savior for all ills, imagined or not.  Investors love to talk about gold as being inflation-proof and no doubt business schools are busy preaching what they know best.  Massage therapy on the other hand can be described as a physical and emotional reliever during recessionary, inflationary and depression-like conditions.

Students like you are one of the hardest hit when these conditions seem to persist and can put an end to your education goals.  Dropping out of massage school should be a last resort and must be avoided at all costs.  In a previous blog we talked about scholarships and grants and other financial assistance programs like student loans.  They may be more limited these days as the U.Ss government tries to dig itself out of the hole, but if there’s a will there’s a way, so the saying goes.  You also have the option of doing your degree on a part time basis.  In fact, switching from being a full time student to a part time student is a much better alternative than dropping out.

Being a graduate student in a massage therapy program puts you in good stead.  Some schools may offer what is called the Employment Gap Scholarship program.  It targets individuals who have lost their jobs and who are in a graduate massage therapy program.  It will pay up to $2,000.00 of your tuition fees, but amounts may vary from school to school.   We’re sure other schools offer this type of assistance but may call it another name.  If you’ve just been displaced from work, ask the school you’re enrolled in if they have anything similar.

Apollo College in Albuquerque, New Mexico is one massage school that offers it.  You must have lost your job in the last 12 months and you need to demonstrate serious financial aid.  You’ll have to fill in the FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  To qualify for it, you must maintain a GPA average of 3.0 and also submit proof of unemployment.  The application date for 2009 is now past (September 30, 2009), but be first in line for next year.

Apollo College has a massage therapy program in all its five locations:  Albuquerque, Boise (Idaho), Mesa, Phoenix and Tucson (Arizona) and Spokane (Washington).  Based on what we read, there are presently five employment gap scholarships per location.

Don’t drop out just yet.  Look into this!

California Massage School Offers Massage Training in Five Locations

Published
by
Terry
on December 2, 2009
in financial aid, massage certification, massage school and massage school locations
. 0 Comments

The problem in looking for a school that offers massage therapy courses is that if it’s a large school with a few campuses spread out in the region, not all of its campuses offer massage therapy as a program.  Or you learn that the campus which offers it is too far from where you live.  If you live in Santa Barbara, California, count yourself lucky.  We did some research and came upon the Santa Barbara Business College in California.  It has five locations and all five locations offer massage therapy classes!

The Santa Barbara Business (SBB) College is featured in our massage schools guide so we won’t repeat what has already been said, but you may be interested to know that it offers six programs, one of which is Wellness.  Massage Therapy and Fitness Training fall under the school’s Wellness Program.  SBB has five locations – Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, Palm Desert and Ventura.  Each of these campuses offers massage therapy training that prepares you for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work (NCTMB).  Each location is equipped with professional spa-like wellness studios.  The Palm Desert location recently constructed a building specifically for its Wellness Program.

One of the SBB’s articles online is “you do the studying, SBB will work with Uncle Sam to help pay your tuition.”  This is a plus feature because student applicants often worry about their financial capability to fund the entire course.  At SBB, this is directly addressed.  It says that in the state of California, the post-9/11 GI Bill will provide $250.00 for every credit hour you sign up for.  Not only that, the Bill provides more than $2,000 in tuition fees for each school term.  SBB also says that this entitlement can be transferred to your spouse and dependents.

And then there’s the Yellow Ribbon Program which SBB participates in.  This program will cover what can’t be covered in the 9/11 GI Bill.  The Yellow Ribbon Program – through the Department of Veterans Affairs – will pay up to 50% of what the Post 9/11 GI Bill does not cover.  Another piece of good news:  SBB may waive the other 50%, but certain conditions may apply.  This should serve as a strong incentive – or important criteria – for you when looking for a massage school in California.

When we visited their web site, the impression we got was “maybe it is possible to obtain a massage therapy education with little or no funds.”  At least, the SBB makes it clear that there are sufficiently generous arrangements to entice an aspiring massage therapist.  If you live in Santa Barbara and you want to get a massage therapy education, SBB is certainly worth looking into.

Massage Schools: Tips for Applying for Financial Aid

Published
by
Terry
on October 5, 2009
in financial aid and massage school accreditation
. 1 Comment

We have already written somewhat extensively about receiving financial aid for massage school. We won’t repeat what has been said but we’ll discuss things you should remember when applying for financial aid.  Ideally, the massage school you have chosen will have guidelines on their financial aid options. The key factor here is accreditation.  The massage school must be accredited by the State and offer a full massage therapy program covering about 500 hours of training for you to be able to apply for a federal loan.  Some tips for you:

Tip # 1: Choose an accredited school that offers a solid and reputable massage therapy program.  If the school is a member of several national organizations, the chances are good that it can offer more financial aid options.  The Cortiva Institute for instance is an association of many schools across the US that offer massage therapy programs.  Currently it has 11 locations.

Tip # 2: Your “to-do” list must have scholarships and grants at the top.  The reason is obvious.  You don’t have to pay back scholarships and grants.  Check with a handful of massage schools about scholarships.  It is possible that they have set aside some funds for deserving students or may have contacts in influential organizations seeking to promote massage therapy education.

Tip # 3: Don’t fill in your application for financial aid like a robot, like you’re filling “just another form.”  Be professional and be clear regarding your goals.  When you say, “I want to be a massage therapist so I can help others”, it is not as convincing as “I want to be a massage therapist because I want to show people that they can avoid chronic pain by adopting a healthy lifestyle; I want to share with them specific exercises that will relieve stress and anxiety.  After three years as an employee, my goal is to set up my own massage therapy clinic.”

Tip # 4: Read the instructions very carefully.  If there is anything on the form you don’t understand, ask questions.  Think twice – thrice – before writing or typing your answer.

Tip # 5: Perfect timing puts you in good stead.  If you’re applying for a federal loan, the deadline is generally the first week of January.  If you’re on your fourth year of high school and you’re enrolling at a massage school in September of the same year, your application must be submitted by January.  Keep tabs on all your applications and follow up, follow up!

Many schools listed in our massage schools guide have a section on financial aid.  They have trained staff members who can provide information.  For example, the massage school in Mesa Arizona – PIMA Medical Institute - says:  “The Financial Aid staff is available to help students at Pima Medical Institute determine eligibility for financial aid and work through the application process. Students are eligible to participate in Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduates, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships, and Campus Based Funding. In addition, U.S. Armed Forces veterans attending PMI are eligible for funding from various Veterans programs.”

Another massage school in Westport, Connecticut – the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy – has financial aid for deserving students.  It is now part of the Steiner Education Group which offers massage training in 17 locations in 9 States.  The Steiner Education Group is owned by Steiner Leisure Limited, a worldwide provider of spa services (note what we said for tip # 1).

With diligent research, you just might stumble on a massage school that’s in a position to offer scholarships and grants because they have affiliates that constantly need massage therapists.  They would therefore be more than glad to help you become a licensed massage therapist!