Hi, I'm interning at FiLife for the summer, and I've been doing some research for you. Here's what I came up with...

If you don't want to shop around with private lenders, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your next best bet. The application is lengthy and a bit tricky, but the terms tend to be friendlier than they are anywhere else. Apart from the actual application, getting a loan from FAFSA is probably the easiest way to get tuition money as a student. Check out www.fafsa.com.

Two things to remember:

1) Don't be lazy. Deadlines for FAFSA are rigid, but you can usually apply for state and/or federal loans, which have separate deadlines. As a safety tip, always shoot for the earlier deadline.

2) Don't lose confidence. Even if you don't think you'll get the loan, apply anyway. You'd be surprised by how many students lose confidence before they even apply!

Let's say you get approved. Congratulations! But the fun's not over yet. You'll receive what's called a SAR (Student Aid Report), which is how the government decides how much you'll receive.

The SAR will provide you with an EFC (Expected Family Contribution), which is pretty self explanatory. In addition to that, it'll tell you exactly which type of loan you've qualified for (i.e. subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, or Pell Grant).

The Universities you've listed on the FAFSA will be contacted for you, and if you're accepted to their institution, they'll have a financial aid package ready for you. After you've chosen your new school, you can choose any lender you want for your federal student loans.

Once you've graduated, there's usually a 6 to 9 month grace period before you're expected to start paying off your loans. This is a great time to figure out your career without worrying about repayments.

I hope this was useful! Please let us know if we can help you out with anything else!