There are seriously tons of random scholarships out there from a bunch of odd-ball companies. I don't recall the website off-hand, but there is one that lists every scholarship you qualify for. But yea, your plan is sound and is the best way to go about it.

Sounds fine. If you plan to pay off those student loans, don't major in English or Modern Dance.

Apply for every scholarship you can find even if you think you don't qualify, sometimes you'll get it because no one else qualified applied. Then apply for financial aid. Get a job to pay for the rest. If you still need a loan, try to get a regular loan, not a student loan. You'll have to start paying on it now but you'll save a boat load of money if you do.

Debt is rarely a good thing, so yes... Make sure Student Loan is last on your list of options. Your plan sounds pretty good if, like Dirigo mentioned, you can make money with your degree, the loans shouldn't be too bad. (Personal Note: I don't know if you've ever listened to Dave Ramsey, but you can listen to his shows for free online at www.daveramsey.com -- He's a financial genius with incredible motivating skills... changed my life forever)

Depends on which level of college you are entering in that matters a lot. For example you like to do Associate, Bachelors or Masters. For assiciate and Bachelors: You can do some course at community college and transfer over to BS of your choice and Save some money there. For Masters try to get Graduate Assistanceship or your company sponsor to it so your education is free and they pay you stipend so it costs you only time. When it comes to getting money for any level of college the here is the priority: 1. Scholarship. Internet is good option but get knowledge from friends and family and also look for private funders around like corporation or so. 2. Apply financial Aid. 3. Ask parents if you can borrow from them of if they can help you if possible and pay them back once you start making. Atleast you will not pay high interest or pay them with less interest. If they fund you all money them make sure you take care of them or set aside money for them for their future needs once you start making after you graduate. 4. Don't just in to any job rather then get a good decent paying job related to your major. For example if you are going in Computer or IT related field don't just start working at Barrestaurant to make quick money from day one. Rather just develope some Computer Skills in advance and read about it and try to get job in same line of business. This will help with your career and also help you get decent summer internship in top 500 companies and use that money to payback to either your parents or your source for funding. 5. Last option is getting loan, shop around and see who offers less interest. Stay away from student loan as much as you can. I hope this helps. I feel my self lucky as I have Master's in Computer Engineering from reputed college and I started with decent salary and I had no loans and infact i had saving of $7000 after i graduated and took my first full time offer. I believe it's all in planning your career ahead. Enjoy, Prof. Shah

Free Student Loan Consolidation Assessment http://studentrecruits.org/register.php?r=2120/ http://gov-student-loan-consolidation.blogspot.com/