Loans Information


Debunking the FAFSA Myth


With the plethora of big-business entities jockeying for the money of students on the path to becoming well-to-do responsible consumers with a house, car, and 1.5 children, it's often missed that the US Government is the first place to start when planning student finances.

Scholarships, traineeships, fellowships, loans: Uncle Sam is nothing if not prolific in the diversity of programs available. For most students, the acroynm FAFSA is their first encounter with the cold hard seriousness of bureaucratic forms, most commonly dealt with before the dreaded and stereotypically cryptic IRS forms such as the 1040.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a free form and free service provided by the Department of Education. If you do not fill it in you will not be eligible for federal (government-backed) student loans. However, you will still be eligible for private, or alternative student loans.

Almost every school sets its own deadline for when the different forms of financial aid are due. Some may be as early as the second week of January and some have no deadlines at all. It is strongly recommended to check with your own school's financial aid office to find out exactly when your deadlines may fall. In order to meet a "Transaction Receipt Date" deadline for your college, it is recommended to submit to us at least 2 weeks prior to the published deadline to insure submission.

There are a myriad of large, well-oiled companies that will gladly take your money and 'process' your FAFSA application on your behalf. The fees for this service typically range from $50 to $100. You could also go with a private accountant, however the 'personal touch' will of course usually cost you more.

Wait! Do you really want to start your experience with Government forms as one of resignation that no, you are really not bright or organized enough to be able to fill it in yourself? Learning to 'do it yourself' with the Government can be not only a satisfying but potentially educational experience that will teach you the skills that many self-made millionares taught themselves: relying on an accountant or anonymous firm does nothing except save you some time, and in fact with big-ticket money decisions who is to say that your 'assistants' are not putting their interests before yours?

Just as their are firms such as H&R Block that will open up retail outlets in your neighorhood every year at tax time, there are companies that specialize in FAFSA applications. Now, as with the majority of tax returns, the FAFSA is anything but rocket science. It is simply a matter of making sure you know all your variables and where to write it on the form. For companies who perform this work day in day out, your financial future is simply an algorithm which is input and output in moments. They typically spend more printing the paper for your documents and checks then they do in any actual 'labor'.

SO, consider tackling the FAFSA yourself. Just like learning to do your taxes on your own, a few hours spent researching how to do the forms ONCE will enable you to conquer them the next time, and you can even make money on the side on campus teaching others how to complete such forms.

Here is the Government's central page for the FAFSA. Everything you need to know is here and studying all the resources here WILL let you fill in this form without errors, and without giving your money away:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2003_2004/english/general-applying.htm#renewal

About The Author

This article reprinted courtesy of HungryStudents.com - Independent Student Loan Consolidation Info. http://www.hungrystudents.com

Copyright 2004 HungryStudents.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Margin loans not deterring investors
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 12 hours ago
By Tim Blue WITH Australia's share market in continuing turmoil, investors in margin loans have had a torrid six weeks yet appear to be emerging bloodied ...
Australians 'wealthier' than ever before Sydney Morning Herald
all 27 news articles


Allianz Eyeing Chances to Buy ABS, Leveraged Loans
Reuters - 3 hours ago
DE: Quote, Profile, Research) is actively looking to buy leveraged loans and asset-backed securities (ABS) whose prices have been driven down by the turmoil ...


Earthtimes

Interest rates: The new conundrum
CNNMoney.com - 34 minutes ago
These low long-term rates helped fuel the home building boom and the credit market's appetite for securities backed by increasingly riskier mortgage loans. ...
Bernanke's Surprise Gold Seek
Treasury Two-Year Notes Can't Escape Faster Inflation (Update1) Bloomberg
Loans make up most of collateral posted at Fed: report Earthtimes
all 102 news articles


New initiative to offer NIS 400m. in loans to businesses in North
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 9 hours ago
By HAVIV RETTIG A new initiative seeks to offer loans to some 85000 small businesses in the North still reeling from losses incurred during the Second ...


Fed’s collateral book mostly in loans
Financial Times (subscription), UK - 11 hours ago
... made by the Federal Reserve to banks operating in the US is in the form of loans rather than securities, the New York Fed has told the Financial Times. ...


Mortgage crisis spills over into school loans
Boston Globe, United States - 20 hours ago
With financial aid packages going out to students over the next few weeks, financial aid directors are urging families to move quickly to line up loans ...
Subprime casualties surface in Britain China Post
all 6 news articles


Mortgage crisis squeezes student loans
Seattle Times, United States - Feb 24, 2008
The credit crunch, which started with a panic over people missing home-loan payments several months ago, has spread like a disease, infecting a broad range ...


ARCIL to acquire Rs 2000 cr worth bad loans in FY08
Economic Times, India - Feb 24, 2008
Arcil has acquired bad loans valued at Rs 1600 crore so far this fiscal (FY 08) from around four deals, and enjoys a dominating 80 per cent market share in ...
UCO Bank to clean up balance sheet Economic Times
all 3 news articles


No loans for many students
The Brown Daily Herald, RI - 10 minutes ago
An $11.5 million increase to the financial aid budget will mean fewer loans and less debt for financial aid recipients, starting next fall. ...


Thousands trapped in Northern Rock loans
Times Online, UK - Feb 23, 2008
About 175000 borrowers are thought to have been lured into Northern Rock’s controversial 100%-plus loans over the past few years. ...
Mixed prospects for Northern Rock faithful Times Online
Loan arranger's rescue mission Scotsman
Customers face remortgage nightmare as nationalised Northern Rock ... Sunday Herald
Times Online
all 12 news articles

Loans - Google News












home | site map
© 2007