Parent help: ok im in the 10th grade and i know its a little bit early, but i want to know how the student loan process works. - Help.com

planning your escape?

use the money to go on some mad holiday

You are awesome! Way to be proacative. Answers to your questions:

1. These loans are guaranteed. You do not have to have ‘good’ credit.
2. You do not have to pay these loans back until you are done with school. For you that would mean after you were done with Law School. (so, 4 year degree then Law School)
3. These loans are ususally at a lower interest than customary loans.

Here are some other idea’s:

There are GRANTS that pay a certain portion of your schooling. You do not need to pay grants back. Also there are scholarships, scholarships are ususally based on academic achievement. You do not need to pay back scholarships either. Grants can be based on potential to achieve and need.

Let’s talk about grants here for a minute. You are in the 10th grade, if you were to do volunteer work at the court house, or with a law firm, or public defenders office . . . you would learn alot about the process and you would show your commitment to what you want to do. When you apply for a grant they ask you what your future goal is and they give you an opportunity to explain what you have done so far to obtain your goal.

Scholarships: The better grades you get in school the more likely you are to be given a scholarship.

So, Student Loans are not your only option. You have plenty of time to set yourself up to qualify for Grants and Scholarships.

BTW, it is okay to call a local college, ask for the financial aid department and ask them all the questions you have. I always made a habit of call several times because I got different information from different people. (don’t call on the same day . . )

Another piece of information: individual departments at college have grants and scholarships, be a search dog and find them. SERIOUSLY there is more financial aid there than you think.

Good luck and I think you are very awesome for planning ahead, you will have success.

Wishing you a wonderful day.