The financial aid process can seem like a time-consuming and stress-enhancing feat that does not always prove beneficial in its outcomes. As a college student, stress is surely a common feeling, and you certainly do not need any more of it than is necessary. However, the financial aid process does not have to be overwhelming or impossible. In fact, it is very possible and well worth it. All it takes is being informed about the different parts of the process itself and the specific steps to take within that process to ensure that you maximize the amount of aid you receive.
Informing yourself about financial aid and its various components is the first step. You need to be able to weigh your options and see what will work best for you in order to know exactly where to begin. Listed below are some general categories pertaining to the most popular forms of financial aid, as well as some additional helpful tools to make the search easier and more understandable: