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Federal Student Aid Application Process

January 27, 2010 by  
Filed under Financial Aid

It can be a common thing to discover a student looking for government student loans when they wish to further their education. However, most students will apply for scholarships, grants and bursaries before getting these loans, because these loans are free money. Also, they could apply for grants or scholarships offered by businesses. After the student has completed his/her term of studies the individual will need to be employed with the company who granted the loan, until such time that they’ve honored thier duties

Government student loans may either be subsidized or unsubsidized. They can be loans such as the Stafford or Perkins, or even loans for parents such as the PLUS loans. Subsidized loans will not have any interest charged from the time the student gets the loan until the grace period after graduation is completed. Therefore, if a student borrows $20,000 over 4 years, at graduation he or she will owe $20,000.

Interest is added to unsubsidized student loans. This interest is added while the student is in school, therefore he or she may choose to pay the interest during school in order to lower the loan amount. Someone qualifies for subsidized loans based on their income and their present financial status.

Government student loans are easy to apply for, all you need to do is go online to the Federal Department website and you can fill in the form online. You need to fill up the Free Application for Federal Student Aid also known as FAFSA. There are some simple questions to answer to facilitate the process that will tell you if you qualify for the loan.

This application form will indicate if you need to have parental consent to continue with the application and will also provide you with a set of worksheets that will allow you to determine what amount of government student loans you are eligible to receive.

Print out the form when you have completed it and send them to the address that you are provided. You will be given a personal identification number. This will act as a signature and will be applied to all submitted documents.

The application is simple, all you need to do is enter the required information, then after verifying to ensure all the information is accurate, you will then save and submit.

Once the FAFSA has gone through procession, a Student Aid Report or SAR will be available in your name. This in report is made available to you online and can be accessed by you, using the PIN number you were provided. Whichever schools you have listed on the form will also have an electrical copy of the report. Any corrections you need to make can be made by using the PIN provided.

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An Online College Degree in No Time – Fund Your Way Through School With Student Financial Aid

November 12, 2008 by  
Filed under Online Colleges, Online Programs

There are hundreds of resources available to students who want to continue their education and receive an online college degree but are unable to pay for it up front. Whatever route you’re choosing for student financial aid – an unpaid monetary gift or re-paid financial assistance – funding your way through school is achievable. Money no longer needs to be a factor in your decision to return or even go to school the first time around!

To decide which type of student financial aid would suit your educational pursuits, the following information on loans and scholarships should come in handy. Before enrolling at any school to acquire your online college degree, however, you need to make sure that it’s accredited, the degree program you’re interested in is eligible for student financial aid, and you’ve discussed your situation with the college’s representatives in the financial aid office.

FAFSA: Student Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is an office of the U.S. Department of Education that provides student financial aid or monetary assistance to eligible individuals who wish to continue their educations well beyond high school and receive a traditional or online college degree. FAFSA strives to encourage all Americans to achieve a higher education and realize the power that it has within our society.

By partnering with a large number of postsecondary schools in the U.S., FAFSA is able to play a vital role in ensuring that interested individuals have ample student financial aid to continue their schooling and receive an online college degree. The program, which processes 14 million applications each year, distributes more than $80 billion per year in student financial aid to eligible applicants (1). To apply online or learn more, please visit FAFSA’s website.

Students Loans

In essence, student loans are low-interest monetary assistance from the government to help cover the cost of education (tuition) as well as books, housing, and incidentals. However, upon graduation and receipt of your online college degree, the loan must be re-paid. There are three types of student loans: federal student loans doled out to the students themselves; federal student loans to parents, which are normally referred to as PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students); and private student loans, which are funded by banks and/or financial companies rather than the government.

Advocates for private student loans say that this type of student financial aid combines the best of the low-interest rates, but with a higher loan amount and a longer grace period. Private loans have two methods of disbursement of funds – school to channel (money is distributed to the school) and direct to consumer (money is given to the individual to use as he or she sees fit). Before deciding which type of loan is appropriate for your particular situation, do your homework! Federal student loans require that you are enrolled in college for a certain amount of hours each semester, while private student loans begin accruing interest rather quickly (2).

Loan Forgiveness Programs

While loan forgiveness is not necessarily a way to fund your way through school, it is an excellent way to eliminate your loan debt quickly once you’ve received your traditional or online college degree. The government has devised a way to purge most (and sometimes all) debt for students who involve themselves in community or military service or work for AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Teach for America, Peace Corps, National Health Service Corps, or teach students in a low-income area (3).

Most of these programs, which serve underprivileged families and individuals, will forgive a large portion of your loan debt if you work full-time upon graduation. The National Health Service Corps, for instance, pays up to $25,000 per year towards your debt. To learn more, visit the Sallie Mae website.

Scholarships

Attend the college of your choice and acquire your online college degree – for free! How is that possible? Student financial aid in the form of scholarships from organizations, clubs, and fund programs all over the United States offer billions of dollars to students around the nation to help them realize their dreams. Scholarships recognize scholastic achievements or merits, while some focus on personal interests, community involvement, and/or financial need. You may be required to write at length on a topic or simply submit some detailed information on your educational interests.

Best of all, scholarships are free money in your pocket – you do not have to re-pay this gift! To learn more about scholarships or to find a few that may be of interest to you, please visit Fastweb.com.

Realize Your Dreams with an Online College Degree

If you receive a loan, the important thing to keep in mind is that you’ve been given more money than needed. Try not to spend it all; tuck some away and save it for when you must begin re-paying the loan. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a large loan bill each month (with all the interest to boot). If you’ve received a few scholarships or other type of student financial aid, congratulations! This money is yours and you can do what you wish with it. You are off the hook and are released from re-paying these generous contributions to your educational pursuits to receive an online college degree.

Regardless which student financial aid route you decide to take, enrolling in college, learning all you can, and acquiring your online college degree are things to be proud of!

Sources

1. federalstudentaid.ed.gov

2. finaid.org

3. collegeanswer.com
Kimberly Diane, now a frequent contributor to EducationAdvancementOnline.com, previously served as a direct consultant to numerous accredited online colleges and universities for several years. Education Advancement Online, which promotes higher education for non-traditional students seeking an online college degree or certification program, is a premier online education directory that is a one-stop shop for available degree programs from institutions all over the United States. For more information on Education Advancement Online or to search for degree programs, please visit http://www.educationadvancementonline.com

— By Kimberly Diane