Going to college is a big step in a young adults life. At 18 I was looking for the right college that would get me the degree I wanted. The idea that I would have to borrow money was not a big deal. One reason I thought of student loans this way is because our culture has grown around the idea that many people will seek degrees. Federal student loans are an easy way to get the money you need for higher education. They have some of the lowest interest rate. The terms of payback are flexible. Plus the loans can be deferred easily as long as the loan holder is in college. Loans generally come in scholarships, grants and loans.

Scholarships and grants require the more work on the students part than loans. Scholarships can be awarded for outstanding grades, aptitudes, or meeting various foundation requirements. Many of these institutions the perspective student applies for by submitting a request. What makes this easier is to research the institute or foundation you want before composing your letter. Scholarships have minimum requirements a student must meet in order to keep their fund status.

Grants are similar to scholarships. Though there are more places to find grants. And grants tend to be less stringent than scholarships. Though keep in mind grants, for the most part, offer less funds on average. Multiple grants can be taken by a student. An important note on grants is to place them higher than Student Loans when applying funds to tuition. Applying grant money before loans is a way to reduce the amount of loans you have to repay after graduation. Also keep the grades high. Each college level opens the opportunity for more grants, and higher grades does the same thing. A student with 3 years in and a B or A grade average will make a better impression, and make you a stronger investment to Grant foundations.

Student Loans are by far the most come way new students gain the funds to attend college. Federal Student Loans have subsidies attached to make payment easier on graduates. Some of these loans you do not gain interest as long as your enrolled. They can make borrowing money easy and can turn into good investment. What you should keep in mind is the loans will add up over the course of your college career. I landed about 40K after I graduated because I did not know to look in other areas. Federal Student Loans are easy to get but come with their own tricks.

- First: The money the government sets aside for college aid is a first-come-first-served institution. The standard loan form we all fill out for loans is based off tax records. Your own above the age of 25 and both yours and a parent, or legal guardian. Trick to the loan paperwork is to get the forms in as soon as possible. The same day you get the forms in hand! The forms will always come back so you can correct any errors in information. So guess what your tax contribution will be and send the forms. This step will not gain you any money. It will get your foot in the door. Wait for the last paycheck you and/or your parents receive that year. This last pay stub is what taxes are based on. The total taxable amount for that year will be on the stub, and that is what you will need for your Loan paperwork. Fill this information in on the form and send it in. Next trick on this line is simple.

- Second: You have your foot in the door already. What the Federal Student Loan office will be looking for is the date stamp on your return envelope. The first mailing day of the year you are filling get the paperwork to the post office. Your mail box will work if distance and time are simply too much. the key is to have the Post Office stamp your loan envelope as close to January 1 as possible. This date stamp is what the loan people are most interested in. First-come-first-serve and the Earliest date gets the Loan.

- Third: If you are taking Student Loans as the bulk of your funds you should really look into working a small job while at college. I did not and I have some high loans because of it. Ask the Student Loan office at the college you attend for Work Study programs. If you can get one of these they are great. A portion of the loans you take out is converted into funds given to an on-campus, or off-campus supporting business, employer. Some of your paycheck is replaced by your loans. This sounds doubtful but can reduce your loan amount after graduation by a several hundred or a couple thousand depending. Also having a part time job can give you the extra money to do things while at college. Loans are set up to cover your stay at college and often leave very little to live on.

- Fourth: If you plan to live in the same city as your college through the year plan your money accordingly. Student Loans are based on your time at college. So unless you plan on Summer courses your yearly aid will run out. Once all your campus expenses are paid and books are bought you keep what ever loan funds are left. It is assumed this is what you live on through the academic year. Basically 9 months worth of money by their calculations. Take this amount and redivide it by 12 for what you have for the whole year. From personal experience this will save a mad dash for a full-time job when Summer arrives.

These are some of the things I have learned with my experience with Student Loans. Financial aid can really help with tuition fees. Though it can be easy to stack up a good amount of debt. Careful planning before, during and after the application process can make life easier. Research into scholarships and grants can reduce the amount of Federal Loans . Knowing how the tuition is spent is also important. The poor college student can make the funds go along way with care. Each year you attend college will have the loan forms to fill out. Having some tips and tricks like these can make the task a bit easier. Just remember to stay focused and have a plan of action.

Thank you for reading my Hub. If you liked the Hub please rate it. Also I would like to hear of your experiences with college tuition. Thank you again.