FAFSA is Free Money for College

The new year is the time get working on FAFSA applications. By the way, FAFSA stands for "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" and it is an application process that determines whether or not students are eligible for free money for college from the government.

All awards are made on a financial-need basis, that means students are selected based on exactly how much money they need when income and expected costs are considered.

This money can come in two forms: grants and subsidized student loans. Grants don't ever have to be paid back, and are typically given in small lump sums annually or per semester. These provide up to a few thousand dollars a year, so they won't pay for all of a college tuition bill unless you're keeping costs low by attending a local community college or other economically friendly institution.

Subsidized student loans will eventually have to be paid back, but they offer many advantages over privately offered student loans. Since they're backed by the government, they're even a lot easier to guarantee than private loans during the credit crunch. And the obvious advantage is that they offer lower interest rates and more generous repayment terms. Usually, the government will pay for interest so long as you're enrolled in college, and during this time you might not even have to make monthly payments. As long as you stay in school, these types of loans are literally free money.

So don't waste any time! Register for the FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ today! If you don't have a PIN, make sure to register immediately as it may take up to a few days to process. This year, there's even an option to file the FAFSA by phone - so you have no excuses!

Study Habits and the College Investment

College costs a lot of money and it isn't getting cheaper. For a student, there is really just one option: you need to maximize the investment of tuition by maximizing the return on your investment of time and money into school.

Good study habits are essential to success in any level of school. Regardless of the class and its individual difficulty, the proper level of preparation and research is going to coincide with the total educational value you achieve when learning a new subject. This return will also be visually realized with grades and a GPA that you can use to find more choices for scholarships and financial aid.


What is the right study habit? Basically, it is unique for every individual student, but I will give you a few hints to get started figuring out what works for you. Listen to your mind and learn the environment that allows you to read uninterrupted and contemplate the content.

Avoiding outside distractions is essential. Try turning the phone and instant messengers off for an hour or two and let the battery charge a bit.

Some people like quiet, but I personally like to listen to music. Some people like to sit at a desk, some people like to stretch out on a bed. There is no right or wrong on matters of comfort when you're studying , just be sure to be respectful and mindful of the noise if you're at a library.

Take notes: In class or at home reading, one of the most essential ways to retain knowledge and expand your ideas is to take notes on key topics, events, people, dates, theories, or formulae. Memory retention increases exponentially if you take the time to write a fact down, so bring several good pens and a blank notebook any time you're going to study or do homework.