How to Apply for Financial Aid

In recent months, college funding has become even more difficult to obtain. Use the steps below as a guide to secure the funds you need before school starts, or to secure additional funding durning the school year.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• FAFSA Application (For Federal Aid, use website links below)

1. 

   Scholarships & Grants - Start by exploring all of the scholarship opportunities available to you. It is important to remember, this is the only portion of your financial aid package that you will not have to pay back, so maximize it! Use scholarship search engines and other resources found on the internet (see links below). The right scholarship for you is out there, you just have to find it!

2. Federal Student Loans - The Stafford Loan has an interest rates as low as 6%, no application fee, and no payments until six months after you graduate. Once you have received your award letter, secure a Stafford Loan. After securing your stafford loan, research other federal loan options such as the Perkins Loan, and the Parent PLUS Loan.

3. Private Student Loans - Scholarships and federal financial aid typically fall short of providing all the funds you need to finance your education. A Private Student Loan from the Student Loan Network allows you to borrow from $500 up to the cost of education, no repayment until after graduation, and you don't need to complete the FAFSA.

Resources

• Student Loans
• Win Free Scholarships

[abbeyroad920]

on 10/22/2008 great advice. i could have used even more aid thats for sure