The fall semester is around the corner, and your tuition bill has probably already arrived. Opening that envelope is never fun, and often intimidating, but it’s a reality. We have some advice for you on how to manage your finances and borrowing so that you’ll handle your tuition bill successfully, so read on and be sure to follow these tips.

1. Act as soon as you receive your bill. Obtaining funding may take longer than you expect, so begin as soon as possible. You don’t want to be unable to move in and start school at the beginning of the fall semester because you’re waiting on loans to cover your tuition bill – start now.
2. Run your numbers at least one more time. Make sure that you know exactly how much money you need and where you are getting it from. As always, do not borrow a cent more than is necessary. Consider your financial aid award as well as personal expenses when calculating these numbers.
3. Borrow as much as you can through the Federal Stafford Loan program before taking out private student loans.
4. Apply for private loans in the same session with your co-signer to expedite the application process.
5. Keep a record of all loans and lenders you apply to. Store your loan information, lender contact info, promissory note, and other information in a safe place.

Remember to shop around when looking for student loans, do your research and use SimpleTuition as part of your process!