One of the biggest challenges facing college students is the desire to quit school before obtaining their degree. Money, time, and a whole host of other issues can conspire to encourage students to drop out of college, perhaps never to return.

Yorktown University, which describes itself as an accredited internet university based in Denver, Colorado, is trying to help financially challenged students to stay in college. To that end, the school has created a blog, Don’t Quit U., whose “… purpose is to exchange notes and our thoughts about the high cost of college tuition and to seek ways by which to deal with this crisis.”

The blog features news stories, essays and links to podcasts and videos including a growing listing of podcasts of college courses that are offered to the public free of charge. These courses are taught at a number of different colleges and can be one way for students to reduce the cost of their education. At the very least, when credit isn’t given, free online courses can help keep students stimulated as they consider different ways to finance their education.

Don’t Quit U. is seeking reader participation in the form of sharing personal stories on how people are managing during the current financial aid crisis. Visitors are encouraged to sign up on for the blog, log-in, and to leave their personal experiences which will then be featured in the “Your Stories” section of the blog once approved.

One of the most recent webcasts was held just yesterday, an event that discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving. That discussion featured Dr. William Allen and Dr. Carey Roberts, who are specialists in the colonial and early national period of American government. It was disseminated by BlogTalkRadio where listeners were able to log on for live chat.

For more information about Don’t Quit U. and to follow the programs being offered, check out the blog directly to explore the latest news and happenings.

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Adv. — Is your family experiencing a financial shortfall this academic year? Scholarships, grants, 529 money, and part time work may not be enough. Learn about private student loans by visiting SayStudent.com, your portal for college financial assistance. We have free tools for your download and updated information about current college financing requirements.

Tags: advice, college, financial aid, money, quit college, Scholarships, student aid, university

Applying for financial aid should be something that every student does, no matter what their family’s ability to pay for college might be. Even affluent families can find shelling out $45-50,000 or more annually for tuition and related expenses to be quite a hit, especially if no aid is forthcoming.

These days students are not only encouraged, but expected to apply for financial aid, given the high cost of college education and the myriad number of ways in which aid is awarded. So, to get started we’ve outlined seven steps that prospective students should take to get the financial aid train rolling down the track:

1. Apply to School – Financial aid cannot be awarded until you apply and are accepted to a college in the first place. Only when you are fully accepted (not provisionally) will you be able to complete the steps which follow.

2. Apply for Financial Aid — Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will determine financial aid eligibility, but before you can apply you must first obtain a personal identification number (PIN) from www.pin.ed.gov. Both the student and one parent must have a PIN in order to complete the FAFSA.

Your PIN is important, something that you will need throughout the financial aid process. In addition, you’ll want to make sure that you follow all signature requirements which can delay your application if signatures are not completed. You’ll be filling out a pre-application worksheet before you submit your FAFSA.

3. Submit the FAFSA – Visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and submit your FAFSA. Double check your federal tax forms before applying. Make certain that you enter the school’s correct Title IV institutional code onto the form, otherwise you could delay your application.

4. Receive your SAR – About one month after submitting your FAFSA, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the U.S. Department of Education. Review your SAR for accuracy; follow the instructions on how to make changes if mistakes are found. Your school will receive a copy of your SAR about the same time as you receive your information.

5. Obtain Your Financial Award Letter – Your college will review your SAR and send to you a financial award letter which will outline your complete financial aid package.

6. Apply For Stafford Loan – If your financial aid package sufficiently provides what you need to pay for college, then you’re all set. Otherwise, if you fall short, you can apply for a federal Stafford loan, a type of student loan managed by the federal government. Visit http://www.hesaa.org/index.php?page=apply-now-for-federal-stafford-and-plus-loans to apply today. Also, consider various private student loan options to help you pay for college.

7. Set Up A Loan Entrance Review – Before starting school, your college will contact you to set up an appointment to review loan documentation. This conversation will discuss funds awarded, distribution, and review of other financing options you may want to consider.

Financial aid can spell the difference between attending college or going without a degree, therefore applying for assistance is critical to help you learn how much of your college costs will be covered by your school as well as discovering what your personal share of these costs will be.

Tags: College Financial Aid, college tuition, FAFSA, financial aid