"Expert Financial Aid Consultants"

While deadlines vary from school to school, the financial aid process can be timely and confusing (especially for incoming freshmen) if you are not prepared. Here is a ballpark time line to consider when applying for financial aid. September through November: Gather all the documents you will need to complete financial aid forms. If you [...]

With January 1st quickly approaching, let’s review the changes made to student financial aid that were effective as of July 2009. These changes include lowering the cost of student loans, an increase in aid for Pell Grant recipients and military aid recipients, and providing help for students who find themselves in unmanageable debt. Grants: Through [...]

You are not alone. If you graduated in May 2009, your grace period is just about up. Here is the audio for an NPR news segment on the challenges of being a college graduate in today’s economy. 20091123_atc_16 Now more than ever, students are defaulting on their loans. Here are a few tips to help: [...]

Happy Thanksgiving! With Christmas just around the corner and if you are serious about getting the most out of your financial aid package, here are a few books you may want to add to your Christmas list. Reminder: You can fill out your FAFSA as of January 1, 2010! Getting Financial Aid 2010 by The [...]

By signing a Master Promissory Note, you are making a promise with your lender to pay back all loan money borrowed. The MPN is used by all lenders and schools. Terms of repayment include the entire loan amount, along with the accrued interest. The MPN is a way to streamline the financial aid process for [...]

Deferment and forbearance are just fancy ways of saying postponing your student loan repayments. Let’s take a look at the difference. Deferment is postponing your student loan repayment for a specific period of time for a specific reason. You have to apply for deferment through your lender; it is not automatic. You apply for a [...]

Now that you are a few months removed from school, its time to start thinking about repayment. Your repayment period begins at the conclusion of your grace period. There are a few things you need to know about repayment: Exit Counseling-You will receive notice about this when you graduate or start attending school less than [...]

The FAFSA application will clearly define the rules for determining dependency status. However if you answer yes to one or more of the following questions you are considered an independent student: Are you 24 years old or older? Are you married? Are you a graduate student (masters or PhD.)? Do you have children who you [...]