September 15, 2008 by Mara Strom The news has been doom and gloom all year for would-be student borrowers.  From private loan companies folding to their insurers going under, it seemed that finding an affordable student loan for the ‘08-09 school year was going to be impossible. Well, lo and behold, according to recent articles in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago’s Daily Herald and a survey conducted by the New England Board of Higher Education, it turns out the bark of the financial aid crisis may have been worse than its bite. So what gives? Well, here are a few factors that may have eased the crisis: * Congress raised the cap on its unsubsidized Stafford loans by around $2,000 a year. Unsubsidized loans don’t require applicants to demonstrate financial need.  In ...

July 7, 2008 by Mara Strom Most of the time I come here and talk about what you should do to get financial aid…Gentle reminders about filing before the FAFSA deadline, applying for as many scholarships as you can, and picking the right student loan to cover the gap. Well, today, I’m going to be a little more ruthless. I’m going to tell you what NOT to do — under any circumstances — if you want financial aid. Don’t let one of these goofs gut your chances for the education you want and deserve. 1. Not Applying for Financial Aid This made sound too obvious to be true, but many students and their families assume they won’t qualify for financial aid so they don’t even bother applying. They think they make too much money — but even families makin...