LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/14/08 -- Now is the time to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). By completing this form, undergraduate students will be applying for federal and state financial aid. This is the most important step towards obtaining financial aid, but don't forget to pursue scholarship and grant opportunities as well.

Here are some tips:

-- Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, this is the official website

-- Keep a calendar of all admission and financial aid deadlines

-- Begin to research scholarships online (But watch out for scholarship scams!)

If you don't receive enough financial aid to cover tuition and expenses, you may qualify for a Stafford loan. These loans are guaranteed by the government, but offered though many different companies. Do thorough research before taking out a student loan; look for borrower benefits such as interest rate reductions with on-time or automatic payments, or even loan forgiveness programs.

The financial decisions you make now could help or haunt you in the future. So, if you or a student is looking for help, experts are available to help with the process by calling (888) 271-9721 or writing to reachingallyouth@allstudentloan.org.

About ALL Student Loan

ALL Student Loan (www.allstudentloan.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of students, families and schools by increasing affordable access to higher education.

Since 1980, ALL Student Loan has made more than $4 billion in affordable financing available to over 400,000 borrowers. In addition to affordable loan products and superior customer service, ALL Student Loan increases access to education by conducting free financial aid workshops for students and parents, supporting the work of other education-focused nonprofit organizations, and awarding scholarships.

For more information:
Cristina De León-Menjivar
(310) 242-8877