Unless you live in your underground bunker, you’re probably aware of a certain election that took place recently in the United States. It featured historic presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as cable news networks with fancy computerized maps, and an abundance of talking heads.

I will admit, I kind of got into the election coverage that saturated newspapers, the Internet and television news programs. However, now that I know who the new president will be come January 20, I have something else on my mind.

Puppies!

It turns out that President-Elect and Mrs. Obama promised their daughters a new addition to the family if they won the election: a family dog! In true democratic fashion, people were even allowed to help the Obama’s decide which breed to choose.

Several presidential dog websites have sprung up, including one sponsored by the American Kennel Club. At www.presidentialpup.com, visitors can read about breeds the family is considering, and make their voices heard by voting for the breed they want to see in the White House.

More recently, animal activists have encouraged the Obama family to adopt a dog from a shelter. And in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mrs. Obama stated that they would indeed be adopting a shelter dog.

Unfortunately for me, Mrs. Obama also said they would wait until life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a little more settled before welcoming a new dog to the family. I guess I’ll have to wait along with them.

What do you think about dogs? Maybe you’re more of a cat person. Even if dolphins are your favorite species, you should consider a career in veterinary and animal care. A college near you might have the perfect program.

The animals will thank you. And maybe you’ll get to spend your whole workday hanging out with puppies!

In a recent blog post, we talked a little about the Federal Student Aid Programs that don’t require repayment. But, even if you qualify to receive a grant or begin a work-study program, chances are, you’ll still probably need additional funds.

Filling out FAFSA will also help determine your eligibility for a number of loans. Let’s take a look at one of my favorites:

Federal Perkins Loan
This is a loan with a super-low 5% fixed-interest rate, with the ­college serving as the lender. You don’t have to pay your principal and interest charges if you’re enrolled at least half-time.

Eligibility based on financial need. And, even though your financial need is determined by the U.S. Department of Education and the info you provide on your FAFSA, your school’s financial aid administrator has a big say in determining the amount of Perkins loans to award.

Undergraduates can qualify for up to $4,000 annually with a maximum limit of $20,000 for the whole of your undergraduate education. Graduate students can qualify for up to $6,000 with a maximum of $40,000, including undergraduate loans.

And, you start making payments nine months after you graduate, or from the time your enrollment falls below half-time status. Repayment can take up to 10 years.

The extra perk in the Perkins Loan? Students who get involved in certain fields like public, military or teaching service employment may be eligible to have all or part of their loans CANCELLED! It’s one of those “you scratch America’s back, America will scratch yours” deals.

Sounds good to me!

Anyhoo, keep on the lookout for our next installment where we’ll explore Federal Stafford Loans.