If you need funding in order to attend a college or university in the state of Georgia, you can get a student loan to help pay your way. The process of applying for a student loan in Georgia is not complicated.
Instructions
1. Compile all of your tax information. You will need your most recent federal tax return in order to fill out the forms to apply for a student loan.
2. Fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form online. The link to the website is provided in the Resources section. Be sure to go to the government site because some other websites charge for this service.
3. Wait to receive your awards letter through your Georgia college or university’s financial aid office. After you complete your FAFSA form, the financial aid office at your Georgia college or university will receive an awards letters with your name on it. The awards letter outlines the student loans for which you are eligible.
4. Review what student loans you are eligible for. The student loans are classified in two ways: subsidized (the federal government pays your loan interest while you are in school) and unsubsidized (interest accrues while you are in school that you will have to pay back later). Whenever possible, take out a subsidized student loan first.
5. Decide how much money you want to take out as a student loan. You are eligible to take out a student loan up to the amount shown on the awards letter, even if this amount exceeds the cost of your tuition. However, you are not required to withdraw the full amount if you do not need it.
6. Talk with a financial aid loan officer. Georgia colleges and universities have financial aid loan officers that work in the financial aid office of the school. Tell the financial aid loan officer how much money you want to take out in student loans and from which sources listed on your awards letter. The financial aid loan officer will process the student loans for you.
7. Wait for your college or university to receive the payment. The checks for the student loans will be paid directly to your Georgia college or university. After you attend a certain number of classes, if you received a loan for more than needed to cover tuition, you will receive an excess check for the balance. That is your money to spend however you see fit.
8. Look into non-government student loan options. If you are unable to get enough student loans through the federal government, then talk with your own bank and then branch out to other local Georgia banks to see if you can get a student loan from there.
9. Explore other options online. If you still need more student loans, do an internet search for Georgia student loans to find additional funding. Be sure to check out the Georgia College 411 website in the Resources section.
Tags: student loans, college university, student loan, awards letter, financial loan, financial loan officer, financial office