We recently came upon a site that we feel is noteworthy for students, but also parents and scholars that like to socialize online, but within a positive atmosphere with other thinkers. The website is Thoughts.com. There are many sections, from Daily News to member profiles, photo galleries and Forums and more. What we think is unique about this one site in particular is that is seems to focus on gathering thoughts and opinions from people around the world while maintaining a positive angle. Members have the right to express their opinions but they must respect one another. Harsh Negativity towards one another is not tolerated. The daily news section is just like the news you’ll see on all the other larger sites, but there is a function that pulls in your local news as well. I think the site reads your i.p. and displays local news accordingly. Check out Thoughts.com and if you have the time, leave a comment on what you think.

Everyone’s first step in keeping there college costs under control is to make some hard decisions about the kind of school you can afford. If you or your children are going to rely on college student loans to pay part of the cost, your next step is to decide how much debt is reasonable for your financial situation.

Set a limit that is realistic. The average college student loan debt among graduating seniors is usually just over $19,000. This is reasonable if a college student graduates owing less than $25,000. At the lower end, more than half of all full time college students enrolled in public four year colleges will pay in state tuition and fees between $3,000 and $6,000 a year. So a college student splitting the total cost with his or her parents might reasonably borrow $12,000 or possibly less.

Once you have decided on a limit, stick with the federal aid college student loan programs such as Perkins and Stafford college student loans. At 5%, Perkins college student loans are the cheapest, but they are available only to college students with the greatest financial aid need. For most college students, Stafford college student loans are the best deal around. Any college student can borrow at a fixed rate of 6.8%. Beginning in September incoming freshmen can borrow up to $3,500 for their first year, and a total of $23,000 for their undergraduate education.

Interest will accrue while your child is a college student, but he or she does not have to begin repaying the student loans until six months after graduation. If your family qualifies for a subsidized Stafford college student loan on the basis of financial aid need, the government will pay the interest while your child is attending school.

Despite the advantages, many college students do not use all the Stafford college student loan money to which they are entitled. Some families are put off by having to fill out the Free Online Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a must for getting a Stafford college student loan.

No one should fear the FAFSA. If the needed information is at hand, it is an easy process. In addition to a low interest rate, Stafford college student loans come with attractive benefits when it is time to make the payments. For example, borrowers can defer repayment if they are going to attend graduate school, or renegotiate the loan terms to stretch out or lower their payments.

You can get a list of lenders from your college student’s school, or from FinAid (www.finaid.com) or the Education Finance Council (www.efc.org), which lists state run programs. Rates and college student loan terms are fairly standard. Some lenders will offer attractive discounts, such as a waiver of the loan origination fee when the student loan is disbursed. Immediate discounts are better than future benefits tied to a certain number of on time payments, a requirement that is tough to meet.

Your best option is to apply for the free online FASFA application. This will tell you in one shop what financial aid college student loan programs you will qualify for.

Community colleges are no longer the lower end of the college institution chain they once seemed to be. The every rising costs of traditional four year colleges have invoked a growing population of potential college students to evaluate their educational opportunities at the local and regional community college level. Staying at home or near home is more appealing to more and more potential college students. They realize the cost in doing anything today is a factor. And let’s face it being near or at home can be a money saver in many ways for the student as well as the parent. Room and board costs as well as food cost alone, still living at home is a huge savings.

As you are saving money on room and board and food costs you will also be saving a tremendous amount of money on college tuition. In a 2 year community college program you will probably see a bill of about $5000 -$6000 were as in a traditional 4 year college you may see upwards of $20,000 or more. You can still obtain an associated degree at a community college and if you want to further your higher education to a bachelors or masters degree you can then transition to a 4 year college. This is cutting your cost tremendously.

As far as the funds to attend a community college you are offered the same opportunities as attending a traditional college or university. There is the federal financial aid program as well as a private or alternative college student loan to get your funding. The chances of you being able to obtain the full amount through the federal financial aid program are greater because the cost is less. Of course, this will all depend on your families or your financial situation, if you are a dependent student. The program you enroll in will also be a factor. There is a common misconception that federal financial aid programs will not apply if attending a community college. This is false.

Do not let bad information cute you out of the best possible college student loans available. Community colleges have a financial aid office. Before you do anything, speak with a financial aid advisor. They are well trained in what you can and can not do. They will point you to the FASFA application and help you through it. This can be filed online as well as on paper and sent to them. Just do a word search under “FASFA” you will receive a wealth of knowledge.

Walking away from a college degree of any kind because of money in today’s world is silly. There are literally hundreds of options available to everyone. One only has to apply and see what you qualify for. So talk to your financial aid advisor weather it be a community college or a traditional 4 year college. There are funding options available. Go apply and find out what you qualify for. That college degree is important and you deserve to have it. Your family and friends will be proud of you for over coming this obstacle.

An education beyond your high school is a huge investment into your future. It will be expensive and will often requires you or your family to take out many college student loans to help pay for it.

College student loans will generally fall into two categories, federal college student loans and private college student loans.

A federal college student loan is backed by the federal government and falls under the Federal Financial Aid Program and can only be obtained by filling out and submitting the FASFA application. You can do this online or obtain a paper copy if needed by the financial aid office of your school.

The many types of college student loans and grants that are offered through the federal financial aid program can be need based as well as non need based. Most people will find that they can qualify for one or more of the different loan programs offered through them. The benefits of a federal financial aid college student loan are many. The interest rate is usually fixed at a very low rate (6-8.5%) and will not have to be paid back until 6-9 month after you have graduated or dropped less than half time student; depending on the particular college student loan you have been awarded.

For the reasons above, it is always suggested this be the first step you take to obtain financing for your college education. At this point, if you find you are still in need of additional funds you will probably need to start looking into a private or alternative college student loan.

A private or alternative college student loan are one in the same. Depending on the lender as to what it is called. For this purpose we will refer to it as a private college student loan. This type of student loan is not backed by the federal government and has to be obtained by a bank or financial institution. They will run a credit check unlike the federal financial aid college student loan program and determine you interest rate, terms and conditions on this factor.

Unfortunately, many college students will find they have simply not obtained the credit history they are looking for and will be asked to find a co-signer or co-borrower. Also one in the same depending on the financial institution. This can be a family member such as a parent or a friend. The only criteria is to be credit worthy. The better there credit the better your interest rate will be. However, you must realize you interest rate will never be as low as that of a federal financial aid loan. It will probably start out with excellent credit, any where from 10-12%. This is a big difference and will make a huge difference in your payments once you start to repay the loan.

There can also be many fees attached to the loan you would not have with the federal financial aid loan as well as a big difference in the pay back terms. Depending on the loan and terms you may be required to start the repayment process as soon as the first disbursement happens. This would be while you are in school. If you are not working and attending school full time it could be a very difficult process.

There are many different options available to you. What you need to do is research your options and chose the college student loan that best fits in with your financial situation.

Do you know what an educational college student loan is? An education college student loan is a form of financial aid that must be repaid, with interest. Are you looking into finally getting that college degree but the funding is scaring you a bit? What every you do decide to do, do not let the financial situations stop you. There are so many options in the world today to obtain financial aid and funding you should not let that dream go.

Talk to the college financial aid office and make an appointment to speak with a financial aid advisor. There job is to help you through the financial does and don’ts to obtain your college degree. In my experience, the first thing they will have you do no matter what you financial back ground is, will be to fill the free online FASFA application. Federal financial aid programs are the easiest and cheapest way to obtain your college degree. They are obviously backed and guaranteed by the federal government and because of this are able to keep there interest rates, fees and terms at a very reasonable place for all to utilize.

Once you have qualified the chances are you are not just qualifying for one loan, you may be qualifying for more than one as well as a grant that is free money you do not have to pay back. The federal financial aid program has many different programs they offer depending on your financial situation as well as the school you are attending. They have need based college student loans as well as non need based college student loans. For this reason, no matter what your current financial situation it is very important to file the free online FASFA application. You never know what you will qualify for once you have done this.

In addition to federal financial aid programs, there are school based programs as well as a private or alternative (same as private) college student loans. Your financial aid advisor can help you with these other types of college student loans as well. They will first have you file the free FASFA application.

Depending on the school you are attending they could have special financing through there own school. This may include a credit check like a private or alternative college student loan will require. Being a young adult you may not have the credit history needed to obtain this type of loan, however they will simply ask you to obtain a co-signer to guarantee your college student loan application. A parent or family friend, anyone that has a good credit history can do this for you.

So as you can see obtaining financing can be easy if you start at the right places. Utilize the people that have the knowledge and you will soon be on your way to that college degree you have always dreamed of. Even if you already have a family, it is not too late. No one is ever to old to learn or start a new career. You will be pleased with yourself once you have accomplished what you have always dreamed of.

Federal financial aid backed college student loans have several advantages over private student loans as well as credit cards. Borrowing money for your higher education might be necessary, but it does not have to be overwhelming.

Starting with the free online FASFA application could just simplify the whole process for you. Having a couple of things ready while filing will make the process go smoother as well. They will ask for your social security number, your full address, information from bank statement, and tax return information. Having these things readily available so you can just plug the information in when ask will help you get the FASFA application completed in a timely hassle free manner. Your college financial aid advisor will also be more than happy to help you with information regarding the FASFA application. They are trained to assist you in this matter.

Once the application process is complete and they have all the information they have requested of you, just wait a couple of days to see what you have qualified for. Yes, I said just a couple of days. They are very fast with the process and will send you your SAR report with detailed information as to what you have qualified for. You can qualify for many different types of college student loans backed by the government as well as a grant or two. A grant is free money you will not have to pay back. You should know that even if you do not finish school, drop out or simply do not get the job you expected after college you will still have to pay back any and all of your federal or private college student loans. For this reason it is very important to think about the field you will be going into and what type of job it can create for you.

A federal financial aid college student loan is one of the most affordable college student loans you will be able to obtain as well. Because it is guaranteed by the federal government they are able to keep the interest rates fixed and low. Currently they start at 6% and will go up to 8.5% depending on the particular student loan program, and will be dropping very soon again. With a private or alternative college student loan you will pay almost double that, depending on the credit situation. It could easily start at 10% or higher with good credit.

Obtaining all the federal financial aid college student loans available to you through the free online FASFA application is very important due to the lower cost of the loans. If you still find you need additional funding and private or alternative college student loan may be the route. Now that you have obtained the federal financial aid college student loans you can start seeking out a private or alternative college student loan. Just know what your options are and do your research. Borrow only what you need because you will be paying it back.

Very often scholarships and Federal Financial Aid Loan Programs are not enough to cover the total cost of medical school. This is one of the reasons for a private or alternative college student loan.

Unlike the Federal Financial Aid Programs a private or alternative college student loan is made by a private lender or financial institution. You are not required to file for Federal Financial Aid but it is always wise to do so. Because federal financial aid will ultimately be less expensive you should see what you do qualify for before taking out a private or alternative college student loan.

A good place to start with would be the financial aid office at your school of choice. They will probably have a preferred lenders list you can start your research with. While they give you a list that does not obligate you to use any lenders they have suggested. But start your research with it. You can also do research on the internet or just walk into a bank or financial institution and see what they have to offer. Not all banks and financial institutions will offer a private or alternative college student loan. Unfortunately due to our wonderful economy it just became a program that was not worth them offering any longer.

When you are researching the things you need to look at and compare are the interest rate the payment terms, applicable fees as well as any benefits and or perks that may also be offered. Once again in today’s economy a private or alternative college student loan will probably start out at about 10 percent interest. This is with excellent credit. A federal financial aid loan starts at 6 percent and is capped at 8.5 percent. Something to think about. Another thing you may run into is a lack of credit so no one will approve you. They do however suggest a co-signer. A co-signer is some one willing to be on the loan documents as a back up. This person must be credit worthy (good credit). The better there credit the better your interest rate.

It is very important to ask about the payment terms. Some private student loans will be in repayment in 30 days while others may be 9 months after your graduate. This is a very important point you must ask about. How are you going to start paying off your loan while still attending college? The part time job you have barely covers your food expenses much less a college student loan.

Many private or alternative college student loans will charge an upfront origination fee taken right off the top of the loan. Depending on the interest rate this may or may not be a good thing. If the interest is considerably lower than what other lenders are offering but they have an origination fee (reasonable), you are probably in good shape. However, if a lender is offering you a loan at the same interest rate as others not charging the fee, which do you think would be best for you? Just comparing all the options and loan offers will get the best private or alternative college student loan. You need to choose the loan that best fits your financial situation currently as well as for the future.

To apply for a college student loan or other forms of federal financial aid, you will first need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Financial College Student Aid (FAFSA). The information that you and your parents will be asked to provide on this form will serve as the basis for determining your eligibility for federal financial college student aid, and for state and institutional financial aid programs. This would include grants as well (free money).

The financial aid administrator at the college or university you choose to attend will determine your eligibility. You should contact the financial aid office at your school to get more information about any individual requirements of each college student loan program.

Remember! You do have to pay back all the educational college student loans you borrow, whether you finish school or not and whether it is easy for you to get a job or not after you have graduated. Failure to repay your college student loans will hurt your credit history and score and cause a lot of other financial problems and issues for you in the future.

Kinds of loans:

• Federal Financial Aid Loan Programs — The federal government sponsors several college student loan programs, all of which will have their own borrower requirements.
• Alternatives to Federal Financial Aid Loan Programs — College students who have utilized all of their scholarship and grant options, and do not qualify for federal college student loans, may obtain alternative or private student loans to help finance their college education.

For most college student the two loan categories above are what is widely utilized. As mentioned before to obtain a Federal Financial Aid Loan you will have to apply for the online FASFA application. This will determine all the possible Federal Financial Aid Loans possible for you to qualify for. After this process and you still find you need additional funds to get you through you will need to start the process for an alternative or private college student loan.

An alternative or private student loan is provided by a bank or financial institution. Not all financial institutions provide a private student loan so you will have to research it a bit. You can research online, talk to your financial aid advisor, or simply walk into your local bank and see what they have to offer. Compare your offers and do not take the first thing that is offered. Each and every private student loan will be different, whether it is the interest rate, the fees or the payment terms. You need to get the private student loan that will benefit you in the future when it is time to pay it back. Not one that will hurt you when it is time to pay it back.

Regardless of what kind of loan you do get a federal financial aid loan or an alternative or private student loan. Make that loan work for you. Do not work for the loan. This is an investment into your future. Make it count.