Federal vs Private Student Loans: What to Borrow First
Why federal loans come first, what private lenders check, and the protections you give up with a private loan.
Subsidized vs Unsubsidized Student Loans
Who pays the interest while you are in school, the annual limits by year, and which one to accept first.
How to Appeal a Financial Aid Award
When a professional judgment review can raise your aid, what documents to send, and a letter structure that works.
How to Compare Financial Aid Award Letters
Separate gift aid from loans, find the real net price, and spot the offer that only looks generous.
Merit Aid vs Need-Based Aid: How Colleges Award Their Own Money
The difference between the two kinds of institutional aid, and how to find out what a college actually gives.
The CSS Profile: Who Needs It and How It Differs From the FAFSA
Which colleges require the CSS Profile, what it asks that the FAFSA does not, and the fee waiver rules.
How to Pay for Graduate School
Fellowships, assistantships, tuition waivers and federal loans for grad students, including the borrowing limits that changed in 2026.
Scholarship Essay Tips From the Prompt to the Final Draft
How to answer the prompt actually asked, reuse essays without it showing, and avoid the mistakes that end an application.