Graduate Financial Aid

I hate feeling unprepared and scrambling to get something done at the last minute. Sometimes this applies to things I don’t really want to do (laundry, cleaning before guests come over) but you should never rush to get your finances in order. Planners prosper! Sometimes, it’s really hard to think 4+ months out but you have to, especially when your education finance relies on it!
Graduate students really should be looking to GradLoans.com to suit all their needs. I hope this post helps grad students figure out how to best use all the features of GradLoans.com

First off, if you need help, advice, forms, rates, etc., visit Grad Loans - it’s not only for applying for a loan, although the products on there are tailored to Graduates specifically. There are financial aid 101 sections with process guidelines, helpful tips and more.
Learn about the real cost of education, how to plan your whole academic year using a financial aid calendar, and how to maximize your financial aid through scholarships.

After doing your homework, apply for the Stafford Loan - your school won’t certify it until the end of the summer for the 2007-08 school year so you aren’t too late! You won’t have to make payments while in school and these loans are eligible for consolidation once you graduate.

To then bridge the gap between what you received in Federal Stafford funding and what you actually need, look into the Graduate PLUS loan. It allows you to borrow up to the cost of education minus any other aid you received. The funds are sent to the school, it’s Federally guaranteed and, like the Stafford loan, payments are delayed until graduation.

Beyond Federal funding, there are always private loans available for Graduate students. The perks of private loans are the reason for it’s popularity and strong growth over the recent years. With this particular loan program, students can borrow higher dollar amounts based on their program of study and the money gets sent right to the student directly. You then can use it for any education related expense. Again, payments wait until graduation. Also, there are some unique loans available - for Bar Exams, medical residencies and more.

GradLoans.com offers so much for students. In addition to great loan products to help you through a very tough time, take advantage of the other resources available.