Contact your school's financial aid department. Find out the application and decision deadlines regarding student aid. Sometimes the state government provides aid in addition to the federal government. Investigate the various loan options, such as Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans and Parent PLUS Loans. Get copies of all the financial aid forms required by the college. Once all the information is gathered, be sure to fill out each form and put them in the mail before the application deadline.
Complete and send in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the gateway to federal aid for new and existing students. The FAFSA is a statement of financial ability. Gather together prior year tax returns and documentation about all financial assets: bank accounts, investment accounts, real estate and business or farm assets. The government uses this data to analyze the student's need for federal aid.
Choose the package with the lowest costs, both short-term and long-term. The financial aid office of the chosen school walks the student through the process of applying for the package they want.
Sign the promissory note and any additional paperwork the financial aid office requires. The package will probably include grants in addition to loans. The grants do not have to be repaid, but the loans must be paid back. Keep all the paperwork and letters for future reference