Notes in the Margins: Poor kids, debt risks and gaming the numbers

Admissions 101: Why smart, poor students are dumb Selective colleges get plenty of applications from the top-scoring children of affluent parents, including many in this region. What the colleges need, their admissions officers say, are more high-achieving, low-income applicants. Places such as Georgetown and Duke don’t like being called country clubs for the rich. They want more academically talented poor kids. Why aren’t they applying? (The Washington Post)

Financial Regulators To Warn About Student Debt Risks The panel of senior U.S. regulators charged with safeguarding the financial system will warn this week about risks posed by the rapidly growing amount of student debt, increasing pressure on policymakers to deal with the potential problem. (The Huffington Post)

Free College Options Still Exist, for Those Willing to Roll Up Sleeves A few outliers across the country and even New York State offer a college education for the one price that looks good in any economy: nothing.

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 (The New York Times)

Florida To Open First Online-Only Public University In U.S. Public university students in Florida next year will be able to start working toward college degrees without actually going to college. The state-run University of Florida plans to start a series of online bachelor's degree programs next year, with $15 million start-up funds for 2014. Until now full-time online education has just been available to elementary and high schools in the state. (Reuters via University Business)

Secrets of college admissions Six ways schools can game their numbers (ProPublica via NAICU)

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