ACCESS Gives Financial Aid Tips in The Boston Globe

Students should evaluate their financial aid packages carefully and choose a school with a low unmet need level that allows them to incur the least amount of debt. That's the advice offered by ACCESS and Executive Director Bob Giannino-Racine in an April 19th Boston Globe article, "College-bound face dilemma."

The 5 featured student loan tips are:

Understand the type of aid offered. Identify your loans and grants (free money). Be wary of any package with more than 50% loans, and remember that work study does not go directly towards your tuition bill.

Know your total debt. Add $2,000 to $3,000 to each loan you will have to take out in your first year, and multiply by the four or five years you will be in school.

Federal loans first. Always accept all federal loans offered before resorting to private loans.

All loans are not alike. Be aware that loans have additional fees and different interest rates.

Choose wisely. Select the college that has the lowest unmet need and that allows you to incur the least debt.

To read the full article, click here.