Vote on the Best Way to Simplify Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is a byzantine process that frustrates even the smartest whiz kid. Now there's a contest geared toward finding new ways toward simplifying the process -- and you get to vote on the idea you think is best.

The Get Schooled College Affordability Challenge is a national competition organized by MTV, the College Board, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It recently asked current and aspiring college students to re-imagine and simplify the financial aid process by coming up with creative uses of digital tools. Hundreds of submissions came from students in 48 states, and were winnowed down to entries from three finalists, who then got to work with the consulting firm Frog Design to flesh out their ideas and come up with prototypes. Between now and March 21, you can vote for one of those three.