| One of the biggest investments you can make, in | | | | support and what application forms do I need? |
| terms of both time and money, is to invest in your own | | | | 5. When should I apply for financial support? Are there |
| education because there is little doubt that getting a | | | | specific deadlines which I have to meet and is there a |
| good education now can reap considerable rewards | | | | "best time" to submit an application? |
| later in life. But investing in an education these days is | | | | 6. Will my parents need to give details of their financial |
| not cheap and finding the money to put yourself | | | | situation in support of my application and will they be |
| through college is not easy. | | | | required to make a contribution towards the cost of |
| Many students are lucky and will have financial support | | | | my education for financial assistance to be approved? |
| from their parents or other family members, but this is | | | | 7. What happens to the information which I, and |
| not true in all cases. Indeed, even where this is the | | | | possibly my parents, need to provide in support of an |
| case it is not unreasonable to expect the student to | | | | application? |
| make at least some sort of contribution and to | | | | 8. What drawbacks are there to a particular loan? For |
| become a participant in the process. This will generally | | | | example, will a particular loan preclude you from asking |
| mean a combination of working a part-time job while | | | | for additional loan funding from other sources? |
| attending school and also taking out a student loan. | | | | 9. Is there anything that I can do which will lower the |
| Getting the money together for college can be a | | | | amount of money I need to borrow but still allow me to |
| daunting process because we are talking about | | | | attend the school I have chosen? |
| possibly having to borrow substantial sums of money | | | | 10. Are there things that I can do once at college which |
| which may take years to repay. So, what you need is | | | | will allow me to cut costs and so reduce the amount I |
| some sort of plan. | | | | need to borrow up front? |
| Before you rush out and commit yourself to any | | | | 11. Will I be able to work while attending college and, if |
| college loans you should sit down and answer the | | | | so, what sort of work is available and what can I |
| following questions: | | | | expect to earn? |
| 1. What can I do today to prepare myself to meet the | | | | 12. What impact will the money that I am considering |
| cost of a college education? For many students it is a | | | | borrowing now have on my life once I have left |
| good idea to take some time out before going up to | | | | college? |
| college to get a little experience of life and this also | | | | This is a long list of questions but it is vital that you sit |
| means that you have the opportunity to do some paid | | | | down and think about them carefully when you are |
| work and put some money aside to help offset your | | | | drawing up your plan to finance your college education. |
| education costs. | | | | This is going to be the biggest investment you have |
| 2. Are their criteria which I need to meet in order to get | | | | made in your life to date and, if you get it wrong, you |
| financial support for my chosen course and, if so, what | | | | will have a millstone around your neck for many years |
| are they? | | | | to come. However, if you get it right, your life at college |
| 3. Does the school at which I will be studying provide | | | | will be a whole lot easier and you will be able to start |
| its own "in house" financial support programs and, if so, | | | | your working life on a sound footing with debt which |
| am I eligible to apply for one or more of these? | | | | you are able to manage comfortably. |
| 4. What is the procedure for applying for financial | | | | |