PAYING FOR COLLEGE
Here are sites that will help you understand the process of student loans, compare aid awards when they arrive, and then help you with repayment when you graduate.
SavingforCollege.com
https://www.savingforcollege.com/
Everything you need to know about the 529 tax-free college savings program, for use at any college in any state, by any child in the family. Compare plans here, and link to set up an account. Learn about state tax advantages, performance history, and benefits – and limitations – of 529 plans.
FAFSA – The Key to Federal Student Loans
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
You’ll be required to fill out the FAFSA form for most student aid, and certainly for government loans. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It asks not only about income but assets, and it’s imperative that you understand how to fill out this form online, starting October 1 of the year before you require aid.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Start early in high school to search for scholarships, and build the requirements to win several of them. Here are two free sites that can help:
Scholarships.com https://www.scholarships.com/
Fastweb.com https://www.fastweb.com/
Finaid.org
http://www.finaid.org/
Here you’ll find absolutely everything you need to know about student loans, along with a spreadsheet for comparing financial aid offers when they arrive, and calculators for determining loan repayment costs.
Student Loan Repayment Advice
If you’re confused about repayment options, or are afraid of defaulting, you couldn’t have a better advisor than Rae Kaplan of FinancialRelief.com. She is my expert, and I have seen her get six-figure loans forgiven. She charges a fee for a consultation, but it’s worth it for her expert advice. The link to her site is this: Kaplan Law Firm | Nationwide Student Loan Lawyer
