Guide to Education Grants

Another Student Loan Resource:
With the onslaught of the computer age, many students rely almost exclusively on the Internet for financial aid information, according to a Dec. 4, 2006 article by Justin Draeger, assistant director for communications at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, which appeared at the NASFAA Web site.
 
In a generation that is obsessed with downloading the latest Jay-Z hit, blogging like there is no tomorrow, and is plugged into their iPod 24-7 (except during classes, of course), it seems only natural. Not only that, it is easy and convenient to plop down in front of your PC and look stuff up on your own time, whether you are keeping your roommate up at 2:30 a.m. or doing it between French and Accounting classes.
 
Verify Info with Your Financial Aid Office
 
A great deal of the time, information found on the Internet is accurate and reliable. After all, there are many reputable sites that contain interesting and helpful information provided by college lending organizations, guarantors or other financially related associations or institutions. But don’t bet your college future on it, and take everything with a grain of salt.
 
That is, before you act on what you have read, take time between your pre-holiday final cram sessions to verify it. It will be well worth your effort to stroll down to your financial aid office and speak with your friendly representative. You will be glad you did.
 
Assumptions Can Be Deadly
 
“When viewing information on the Web, it’s tempting to assume that ‘if it’s in writing, it must be right,’ ” said Linda Conard, director of communications at NASFAA. “But given the complexity of student aid and the potential for fraudulent or misleading information that can be a rather dangerous assumption,” she said.
 
Both students and parents must be careful not to take all information at face value, unless it is found on a reputable or well-known Web site, such as one run by state/government agencies, according to the article. Operating with inaccurate information can unnecessarily cause students to forgo aid for which they are eligible or eliminate much-needed benefits to which they actually are entitled.
 
Inaccurate Financial Aid Info Found on the Web
 
·        You can apply at the last minute. Not a good idea. You put a ton of pressure on yourself to gather all the required documentation, which is a stress you could probably do without. Also, when you put it off, you often miss out on a lot of college-specific aid such as grants and scholarships.
·        If you go part time, you can’t get aid. Not true. Even if you currently go to college part time or plan to for whatever reason, you may qualify. Ask your college’s financial aid office for more information.
·        Only straight-A students get aid. You probably already know this is not the case. Although those who excel in sports, music or leadership have better chances of receiving merit scholarships, most financial aid is need-based.
 
Sites You Can Trust
 
Don’t drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what is correct information or what is false and misleading. As mentioned before, both students and parents should check with their college’s student financial aid office for verification.
 
According to the article, it is suggested by NASFAA that borrowers use the following Web sites that provide accurate information:
 
·        “The U.S. Department of Education’s “Student Aid on the Web” (http://studentaid.ed.gov)
·        Sites maintained and operated by an official state agency
·        Web sites of colleges, universities, or other postsecondary institutions
·        The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s Web site (www.nasfaa.org)”
 
The student loan advisers at NextStudent are helpful and knowledgeable about student loans. They are a trusted source in getting you the appropriate information about your student loan consolidation, student loan options and helping students get the college financing they need. Go to www.nextstudent.com for more information.
 
Be sure to tune in next Thursday for my next blog on student loan advice.
 
Student Loan Girl
 
Technorati Tags: NextStudent, College Funding, Student Loans, Financial Aid, Consolidation, Student Loan Consolidation, Next Student
 
 

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 14th, 2006 at 1:37 am and is filed under Student Loans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.