Loretta Said:

How does the whole college thing work?

We Answered:

every school has counselors specifically for these types of questions, it varies by school and they will provide you with valuable feedback as far as what you need to do. I would suggest setting up a time to talk with them

Anita Said:

Scholarship hunting tips for 31 year old first generation?

We Answered:

For financial aid or scholarship questions, I just tell my friends to check out http://www.FinancialAidQuick.com and take a look around.Its good starting point with a few good sources of info.

Clyde Said:

How much would a monthly payment be on a 30000-50000 student loan be?

We Answered:

The monthly payment depends on both how much you borrow as well as the interest rate. You can go here to access a loan calculator. http://www.finaid.org/calculators/loanpayments.phtml

The best way to figure out how financial aid can work for you is to first find several schools with reasonable tuition. I recommend public/state universities. Why pay more for a private school unless you REALLY want to be able to use the name? In many cases, that doesn't matter. Also, you can go to a community college for a year or two to get your "core classes". This will be cheaper, too. Just make sure the classes will transfer. Apply to several schools with reasonable tuition, and if/when you get in, make an appointment to meet with a financial aid adviser at the school. They can sit down with you to discuss parent loans, loans you take out, scholarships, etc.

FAFSA is what you (or your parents) fill out so the government can determine how much financial aid you need. It does not automatically give you money but is the first step in taking out a loan, etc. For more information on this, go here. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/faq002.htm.

Unless you get a full scholarship, you will have to budget money yourself for things like books, dorms, and meal plans. It is helpful to get as many scholarships as you can. A great site to find all kinds of scholarships is fastweb.com. The better way to get more money, from my experience, is to apply for local scholarships. Community organizations, your high school guidance counselor, and the college you go to are good places to start.

Brad Said:

Could I be eligible for a scholarship?

We Answered:

You can get info about such college scholarships and grants online here - schools.medianewsonline.com