Should a Scholar Seek Poor Credit Private Student Loans If They Desire Financial Aid?

April 12, 2011 · Posted in Financial Education · Comment 

Acquiring financing for your college education can be a hassle. Specially, when you’re dealing with less than a outstanding credit rating. Might the cure to your problem be Private Student Loans for people with bad credit? Some say, “Yes!” However, smart borrowers warn against bad credit private student loans. In this brief article, we’re going to take a look at Bad Credit Private Student Loans, to help you make a prudent decision.

The objective of bad credit private student loans is cut and dry! They focus on men and women who did not locate financial aid through the top sources such as grants, scholarships and college work programs. And there is one other hitch; these individuals don’t have high credit scores.

Treat this as a consumer alert! Aspiring students should only give some thought to private student loans upon diligently going through the many other school funding alternatives. To put it another way, bad credit private student loans ought to be your absolute last option. The rule of thumb is, aspiring students may want to place private student loans at the very back of the line of potential sources.

There should be a progressional strategy to acquiring money for college. Your financial aid game plan ought to start out with family contributions, grants and scholarships. Prudent collegiates will initiate their funding activities by going after scholarships, grants and family funds.

Most people would be amazed at the sheer number of possibilities that exist in relation to money for college. The positive aspect of these sources is that your credit standing is never brought up.

After scholarships and grants and family contributions, collegiates may need to look at the idea of getting involved in one of the numerous college work programs. One technique to find out what’s in existence is to file a FAFSA. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In so doing you will soon learn about the countless options at your disposal.

The primary reason astute financial advisors strongly urge against utilizing private student loans, principally, bad credit private student loans is due to what occurs once you’ve signed on the dotted line. In a prevalent bait and hook trap, a large number of these lenders publicize irresistible low rates. Your interest rates are going to increase dramatically once the grace period ends.

Nevertheless, those irresistible rates are doctored up with fine print that blots out any benefits or advantages seemingly boasted about in their advertising. Once more, use sound judgment when contemplating this avenue as a potential path to fund your college degree. Remember; Bad Credit Private Student Loans are only to be used when you have exhausted all other options!

Scams You Should Be Aware Of

May 10, 2010 · Posted in Financial Education · Comment 

We all like the thought of getting something for nothing. Who wouldn’t? Today we get bombarded from every direction with these kinds of offers. We were told never to look a gift horse in the mouth. They were right.

One instance of this type of scam caters to students. They offer free grants and scholarships but are nothing but a lie to steal the student’s money. There are actual legitimate scholarships and grants available, but make sure that you are not being taken advantage of before you sign up for anything.

We get junk mail every day. Some are innocent and some not. There are too many scams out there that look legit at first glance by using a name that you recognize but just change a couple letters in the name to make you trust them. Don’t do it.

You have got to train yourself to be skeptical until you can prove the offer to be for real. The fine print is the deciding factor. You have got to read it in order to protect yourself from being taken advantage of. If you ever have a doubt about an offer, a grant, or a scholarship, talk to your student advisor or financial aid officer. They will have access to all of the information on available scholarships and grants.

The easiest targets are students that don’t have a great GPA. They are looked at as the weak in the herd or victims. They seem to be the first to fall for these scams. Don’t ever believe “First come first served,” or you may be one of the first victims.

Also never ever believe something that says “You’ve Won.” If you didn’t sign up for it, you didn’t win it, and they are just trying to suck you into their scam. Any scholarship must be applied for.

One tell tale sign that you are being scammed is often being asked for your credit card or bank account information. Do not ever give this information away unless you know to whom you are giving it to.

Another thing to look for in a scam is the phrase “It’s Guaranteed”. That’s one more thing to open your eyes to so that you are not taken advantage of.