First and foremost, for almost any school, in order to get financial aid you need to fill out a government form. It is free to fill out, and it can be done online. It is good to note that there are some fraudulent forms out there that are posted by scammers looking to get your personal information, or to charge you a fee. So, if you have to pay, you are in the wrong place. The best place to fill out the FAFSA form is Fafsa.ed.gov. The fact is that the information you fill into this form is going to make a big difference in how much financial aid you can get or qualify for. So, in order to make sure you qualify for as much as you can, consider having the college financial planner help you fill it out, or check it before you submit it. They are the experts, and will know what you need to include so you do not miss out on thousands of dollars in aid.

Helpful Resources: Recommends For Students During Hard Times This is a great site for learning some information on how people intend to pay for college during hard economic times, and has it open for discussion to see what people recommend students do. Sending a Child to College This is a great article about how to send a child to college when financial times are hard, and finances are tight. It offers a realistic look at things you can do when you want to go to college and just do not have the money. What is Upromise This is an article that discusses how Upromise helps kids pay for college during tough economic times. It offers information about what Upromise is and how it works to help you pay for college. Upromise This is a great site for earning money for college. It helps students and families pay for college by earning rewards and retailer contributions based on their spending. It also offers rewards for money they are already spending. Options For Paying For College This is a great article for learning about the struggle and options for parents when it comes to paying for college when funds are tight, and the economy is on an economic downturn. Paying For College This is a great site for learning the ins and outs of figuring out how to pay for college, especially if you are already in school and your financial situation changes to a point where you cannot afford to pay tuition. Learning How to Pay For College This is a link for learning how to pay for college when times are up. It offers student aid guides, and offers information on getting grants, scholarships, and other information you would want to know about paying for college. Grant Application This is the site you would need to go to in order to fill out a grant application. It is the forms you need to fill out for federal financial aid. It also offers tips for getting loans and other sources of paying for college. Filling Out Financial Aid Forms This is a great link that helps you understand how to fill out the forms, and find the right financial aid forms to help you pay for college when times are tough and finances are tight. Student Loans This is a great site for learning more about perkins, Stafford, and PLUS loans for paying for college when your money is tight. It discusses how to prepare to qualify, and how to repay these loan types.

When funds are tight and the economy is on the down, it is not always a good idea to pull your college savings investments out of the stock market. This is especially true if the stock market has fallen significantly. Sometimes it is actually better to get a low interest loan, and pay on it until the stock market recovers, and your college savings have recovered their value. You can then pull them out to pay off the loans you too. Some government loans offer deferred interest so you do not have to make payments on it while you are in school, others do not start charging interest until you are done with school. Your need will determine the type of loans you can qualify for, but it is good to explore all your options and seek the least expensive. If you can't get a low interest rate it might be more beneficial to pull your money out of investments, even if they are low, in order to avoid high interest.

Borrowing money for college is common, but when funds are tight, and the economy is bad, it is important to borrow from the best sources possible. The interest rate on Stafford loans have never been lower, and so they should be the first option you look into. Stafford loans are the name for the federal student loan program. You can often get a Stafford loan where you pay an interest rate as low as 3.37 percent. This is an excellent rate, and a good option for someone needing help paying for college. You could be eligible for a subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford loan. The difference is that with an unsubsidized loan, the borrower is responsible for the interest from the date the loan is disbursed. It is like any other loan, but you may not have to make payments until you graduate. Because you are being charged interest, it is best to start paying on it as soon as you can. If you really are in need, and can demonstrate it well on your FAFSA form, you may be eligible for subsidized Stafford loans. These loans are based on need, and the federal government pays the interest on the loans while students are in school. So, you do not have to pay interest as long as you are still in school.

If your parents had planned to pay for your college and do not have the money, they can take a loan out from the federal government as well in order to pay for your education. The federal education loan program allows parents to borrow up to the full cost of a student's education minus any financial aid. This is done with a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), called a PLUS loan. Usually the interest rate on these is really low, but it depends on the borrow, it may be as low as 4-5%. If your parent takes out a PLUS loan, they have to start making installment payments right away.

If your family is super strapped for cash, most colleges will work with them on setting up a tuition repayment plan that is interest free, and that allows either 3 payments a semester, or monthly payments during the school year to cover the cost of tuition.

When it comes to borrowing, it's best to explore federal loans first, they cost less and have more flexible repayment plans. So look to them before looking to private lenders.

Sometimes times are tight and paying for college is hard because you lose a job. If this happens to you, the best thing you can do is immediately contact the school and apprise them of the situation. Many schools have emergency loans they can give to students in need, or they may be willing to give you an extension on paying tuition, etc. Other times they will simply give you an extension on a deadline. However, you will not know unless you ask.

Another option for paying for college when funds are tight is withdrawing money from an IRA. This is an option that should be used as a last resort. Your IRA will be affected by the economy, and so leaving money in it long enough for the economy to recover is an important part of making it worth your while.

If you know funds are going to be tight in your family when it is time to go to college it is wise to start seeking alternative options as quickly as possible. Get your grades up and try to qualify for academic scholarships. Many colleges offer tuition discounts or partial scholarships for people who have good grades. You could also visit your high school counseling office and talk to your counselor about private scholarships and grants. There are a lot of places to get scholarships, but you have to apply, and you want to make yourself a good candidate. For example, the Elks Lodge gives scholarships to students who display financial need, community spirit, and more. So, you would want to fill out the forms and apply for as many scholarships as possible. Scholarships are usually in high demand, and so you will be competing for them. The better your essays, community service record, grades, and application are, the higher the chance of getting the scholarships. So, do not short cut on these, put thought into them. Take time to give back to the community. Get involved in activities at your school. The more involved in your education and community the better chance you have for scholarships even if your grades are not perfect.

Financial crisis and road bumps occur in every family, and no economy is recession proof, but making sure you get your education is a worthy goal, and learning ways to pay for college when funds are tight is important.

It's important to realize that the financial aid office is going to do whatever it can to help keep you pay for school, they are on your side, so you need to help them understand exactly what the problem is so they can help you find the best way of getting it paid for. If you simply do not have a high enough income, they may help you qualify for grants, which do not have to be paid back. If you lost a job, but made too much the year before to get federal aid, they may be able to help you by extending deadlines, or by having you fill out a form to indicate your financial situation changes. They are going to work with you based on your needs and situation, so keep them well aware for the best help. It can be embarrassing, but your education is worth it.

Just be sure to put details in writing. Be as specific as possible when explaining changes in income and financial resources so the school can see a quantifiable dollar amount, and help determine how you can pay for school. Your FAFSA form is not enough, not only does it not always reflect your current situation, but it also can't show extenuating circumstances (like hospital bills, etc), so that is up to you.

Keeping your college dream alive, and paying high tuition rates, rent, and books, etc. can be tough, if times are hard, and funds are tight, you may have to alter your idea of what you thought your college experience would be. This could mean you do not have a car at school to avoid insurance and fuel costs, as well as parking fees. It may mean you have to work part time while in school to make ends meet, or it may mean eating a lot of Ramen Noodles. But, start looking for aid, and get help from the college financial aid department, that is what they are there for.