Student Loan Facts
For a lot of students, a task that is even more intimidating
than college itself is working out out how to apply for a
student loan. While the paperwork may seem intimidating and
complicated at first, there are many resources available to
assist you through the process. Many colleges and universities
are switching over to online form submission, which makes it
even easier for most people.
The number one step to applying for a student loan is to fill
out the standard application to get federal student assistance.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is
available online for convenient electronic submission, or is
available as a paper form from many guidance counselors. Once
you have submitted the form, it will be evaluated and you will
obtain a Student Aid Report that profiles your eligibility for
the most common types of federal student aid. You could be
eligible for other types of federal aid also, so be sure to
check out other available programs as well.
Depending on the amount of federal student aid you will be
awarded, you may have to get more aid to handle all of your
college expenses. A common method of doing so is to search out
and apply for a private student loan. Research lenders, rates,
terms and application procedures carefully to assure you find
the best deal for you. As with the FAFSA, virtually all lenders
offer online form completion.
Some students likewise obtain financial aid for their education
thru their parents, who have got to borrow finances to do so.
The federal program for parents looking for a loan for their
kids training is known as PLUS, and it is likewise a program
that accepts online submission of forms. While this is not a
student loan in the strictest sense, the federal program and
many private loan programs offer special interest rates to
relieve the burden on parents.
As soon as you have found the online forms for the federal
student loan application program, you will need to sit down at a
time when you are not hurried and be set up with the information
required by the form. In most cases you will have to do this
with your parents alongside to assist, as they will be required
to furnish info as well. Your federal student loan application
will require personalized info about you as well as your
parents. Full name, address, and social security number are
standard, along with bank report and employment specifics.
The application will call for total revealing of fiscal data.
This includes recent income tax returns, stock market and
additional financial holdings, as well as property and other
assets you may own. Both you and your parents will be required
to provide these numbers. The form will also look at outstanding
debts owed by you and your parents, including credit cards, car
loans, and other payment amounts.
In general, the federal student loan application calls for the
most in depth information from you and your parents. This is
because federal programs regard financial need when calculating
assistance awards and they need to have a complete picture of
the family's financial resources. A private student loan
application, conversely, might not call for as much or even any
information given by your parents if yours will be the sole name
on the loan. If your parents are co-signors then they will need
to provide financial information to affirm their credit
stability alongside yours.
The decision procedure for federal student loan awards is fairly
drawn out, since the programs study applications from all over
the United States. The immense volume of applications means it
will require a bit of time to appraise qualifications and
determine eligibility for federal student loan programs. Private
lenders, on the other hand, will generally render a deci