Prospective College Students

Find answers on how to prepare for and apply to college

With college fast approaching, you may find yourself both excited and nervous. After all, there are a lot of details to master in the college application process. And figuring out how to pay for school is only one of a number of crucial questions you and your family will need to answer. Since the process can be a little overwhelming for prospective students, we've compiled this overview to help guide you through some of the critical questions you'll want answers to.

Going to college: how to get started

• Choosing the right school for you
• How do I pay for my college education?
• What is the FAFSA?
• Sorting through college mail

Financial aid for prospective students

• Choosing a lender for my student loans
• How work-study can offset some of my education costs
• What are the differences between loans, scholarships and grants?
• What can private student loan money be spent on?
• Student loans for international study in the U.S.

Still stumped on how to apply to college and finance your education?

Don't worry. After all, it's a lot of information for prospective students to process. If you still have questions about how to prepare for college, check out our student loan frequently asked questions, or for information on financing your education visit our Student Services page. If you still have questions call a student loan specialist at 1-800-708-6684. They'll be glad to help walk you and your parents through the college financing process.