Scholarship Scams

In today’s mass-market media world, everybody is trying to get something for nothing. One very old saying says to never look a gift horse in the mouth. This is as true today as it was when it was first coined. Whenever something is offered for free, there is almost always a catch to it. Granted there are many free grants and scholarships available, but if something doesn’t look quite right, investigate thoroughly before signing on the dotted line. Some of the things to look for include hidden fees and up-front monies to be paid.

Among the junk mail are letters that look legitimate but are in fact a scheme to con a person into paying for something that is nothing more than a scam. Some of these are obvious uses of a legitimate fund name but with one or two letters changed. By reading the text of the letter and the fine print it is usually easy to spot the phony offers. However, if there are any questions, have the school financial aid officers look it over. There is a book published each year listing available scholarships.   Read the rest of this entry »

Private Student Loans

Federal student loans are based on both income and availability.  What happens if you can’t afford college yet don’t qualify? An alternative choice for you or your parents is a private student loan. These are loans done through private lenders instead of the government. The advantage of these types of direct student loans is that they have many of the same kinds of benefits as federal loans.

These loans can be used for any and all college expenses. Things like tuition, books, supplies, computers, and living expenses are all things that qualify for private student loan funds. These loans are unsecured, meaning that no collateral is needed. The loans are credit-based instead. This can mean that you might need a co-signer if you have not established a credit history.

A private education loan is usually a low-interest loan. The money can be delivered in as little as five days, and the money is given to you instead of the school. You are then responsible for paying for their various educational expenses.
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Reducing the Amount You Need for a Student Loan

While you may not be able avoid taking out a loan for college, here are six tips to help minimize the cost of your college education.

* Choose an affordable school. Quality of education is not directly related to the cost of education. State schools are partially funded by the government, so they are often less expensive.

* Most state schools offer greatly reduced rates for residents. Depending on what is required to establish residency, it might be work moving before starting college in order to get the less expensive tuition.   Read the rest of this entry »