File your FAFSA First Before Considering a Private Alternative Loan

Are you planning to borrow to help finance your education? If so, file your FAFSA first before considering a private alternative loan. Federal student loans typically offer borrowers better terms than private alternative loans. These terms may include lower interest rates, income-based repayment plans, and loan forgiveness and deferment options.

In addition to being considered for federal student loans, filing the FAFSA will allow you to be considered for grant, tuition waiver, work study, and other financial aid programs. The FAFSA is the gateway application to federal, state, and institutional aid.

Although Western’s priority filing deadline of February 15 has passed, considerable financial aid opportunities still exist for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years. Some aid programs, including Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS loans and the Federal Pell Grant, remain accessible to eligible students who have filed beyond the priority deadline. In addition, more moneys always become available for Financial Aid to award throughout the school year. The federally-published deadlines for filing the FAFSA are June 30, 2008 for the 2007-2008 school year and June 30, 2009 for the 2008-2009 school year. We do not advise you to wait until June 30 to file, however! If you have not already done so, file your FAFSA now.

For additional information go to:

http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/federalaidfirst/index.html