The following Web sites contain useful information about financial aid:
- The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) provides students and parents with concrete information and advice about finding and applying for financial aid.
- Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid is a comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education.
- The U.S. Department of Education Direct Loan web site provides detailed information about the Federal Direct Loan Program including borrower rights and responsibilities, repayment and loan consolidation information.
- The National Student Loan Data Sytem (NSLDS) for Students is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. This web site provides detailed information on all of your FFELP, Direct Loan and Perkins Loan history.
There are several search databases on the Web which can assist you in locating scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans available through the private sector. Remember, you should never have to pay for such search results. Start by exploring:
- Fast Financial Aid Search Through the Web (FastWEB) is a scholarship search service courtesy of Student Services Inc.
- Scholarship Resource Network Express (SRN) is a scholarship search service courtesy of the Scholarship Resource Network.
- MACH 25 is a scholarship search service courtesy of CollegeNET.
- The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid web site provides you with the tools you need to help you navigate through the many choices that you have for choosing a private lender. Because credit is the main component in a private loan approval, you may want to obtain a copy of your credit report for yourself. You can contact any of the credit bureaus listed below in order to obtain that information:
Bureau Telephone
Equifax (800) 685-1111
Experian (888) 397-3742
Trans Union (800) 888-4213
The following sites, while not specific to financial aid, provide resources which you may find helpful:
- THOMAS: Legislative Information on the Internet is maintained by the Library of Congress and enables users to view the full text of all signed and pending legislation pertaining to any subject, including student financial aid.
- Chicago Reader Apartment Finder is a resource if you need to find an apartment in the Chicago area. This online apartment hunter, maintained by the Chicago Reader, allows you to search by neighborhood, price or apartment size.
- The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) web site will help you get to where you need to go. It includes information on city and suburban train and bus schedules, route maps and fares.
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