At College Ave, we know that navigating how you’re going to pay for college can be stressful. To help, we’ve created a $1,000 monthly scholarship sweepstakes. We choose a new winner each month so the next one could be you!
Pros and Cons of Grants
Pros Grants do not need to be paid back for most students, and the application process is straightforward since eligibility is based on financial need alone.
Cons There are some exceptions to the “free money” aspect of grants. With federal grants, for example, a student might be required to pay back all or part of the money they receive if they receive outside grants or scholarships that reduce their overall need for aid. Students may also be required to pay back federal grant money if they drop classes.
Pros and Cons of Loans
Pros While it’s never fun to owe money, it does help you establish a credit history. This will help when you apply for credit cards and other types of loans in the future (like a car loan or a mortgage).
Cons In addition to paying back the amount you borrow, you will need to pay interest on that amount. Interest is essentially the cost of borrowing money and is calculated as a percentage.
Interest rates on student loans tend to be much lower than the interest rates on personal loans. CreditKarma recently reported that the average interest rate for private loans in the first quarter of 2018 was percent. At College Ave, we offer competitive interest rates on our private student loans.
How to apply for scholarships
When it comes to finding scholarships, your high school or college can be a great place to start. An advisor can help you determine what national and local scholarships are available to you. The Internet, of course, is also a terrific tool. Scholarships is one of many online resources and can search over 3.7 million college scholarships, as well as grants.
Because each scholarship is unique and has its own criteria, it’s important to follow directions carefully for each. For instance, some scholarships may require an essay along with an application. Be sure to also note the deadlines for scholarships and give yourself plenty of time, so that you don’t have to rush through the process.
How to apply for grants
To apply for a federal grant, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – or FAFSA. The process is free and simple, and all college students are encouraged to complete one to determine their eligibility for financial aid. After all, this is free money you can potentially receive for college expenses, and every little bit helps.
The U.S. Department of Education has provided helpful instructions for students who are new to filling out the FAFSA, including details on the information needed for the application. You’ll also want to speak with the financial aid department of the school where you’re attending to learn about potential private and local grants.
How to apply for student loans
When applying for student loans, you can choose between federal vs private loans. To apply for a federal student loan, you’ll be required to fill out the FAFSA.
Students are generally eligible to borrow up to a capped amount of federal aid each semester. While many students benefit from federal student loans, some students ount of aid they are offered doesn’t always cover what they need. To bridge the gap, taking out a private student loan could be an option to cover costs.
If you’re applying for a private student payday loans RI loan like the ones we offer at College Ave, you’ll need a few things to get started:
