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Sunday, July 29, 2007

Students Spring into Funding College for New School Year

Now that spring break is a gently fading blip on college students’ radar, many students are prone to coast through the final weeks of the semester and forget about more serious considerations like planning for next year. High school seniors are in a different boat altogether, diligently working their way through their first Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In their case, it is wise for students and their parents to monitor where they are in the college funding process and plan accordingly, according to NextStudent, the Phoenix-based premier education funding company.
Complete FAFSA as Soon as Possible
NextStudent, a Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) participant, encourages all students to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible if they have not done so already. While it is not too late to apply, it is best to submit the FAFSA sooner rather than later. The closer the FAFSA is submitted to Jan. 1, the greater a student’s chance of getting the required financial aid, since some
student loans are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Financial Aid Calendar
High school seniors shortly will begin receiving their acceptance letters, usually prior to May 1. In addition, students will receive an Award Letter from each of the schools to which they have been accepted that explains the type of aid and amounts for which they qualify.
In May, it is time for students to select the college they wish to attend and begin applying for such federal financial aid as Stafford loans and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Both types of aid are available through NextStudent and include a personally assigned Education Finance Advisor who will guide borrowers through the loan process from start to finish. To fill in the funding gap, private student loans also are available, with borrowing limits of up to $40,000 annually.
Online Tools Make Planning Easy
Another equally important avenue for students to explore is FREE money in the form of scholarships that can help cut the costs of financial aid that has to be repaid. NextStudent offers a FREE
Scholarship Search Directory that has a total of 2.4 million scholarships from 42,000 funding sources with total awards of $3.4 billion.
There are many other resources that students may use to ensure that they quickly and easily navigate the financial aid process and receive the funds they need to achieve the education of their dreams.
First, students may want to review the following
financial aid calendar to see where they are in the process so they can be sure they are on track for the upcoming school year:
Second, students may have specific questions regarding financial aid and their best options. To find these answers quickly and easily, visit the
student resouces center. For an overview of college financial aid, where borrowers will receive a “guided tour” from a Financial Aid Advisor. Finally, once borrowers have assembled their entire financial aid package and know the types and amounts of aid for which they qualify, it is time to revisit their first-year college budget. NextStudent offers a FREE College Budget Calculator.
NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans at
http://www.nextstudent.com/.

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