Quincy, MASS -- How will you pay for college in uncertain times? On April 9, the Student Loan Network hosted a live Round Table Conference with financial aid experts to answer that question and many more. Christopher Penn, producer of the Financial Aid Podcast and panel moderator, said, "I'm deeply impressed with the financial aid community leaders who participated in this discussion. They answered some of the toughest questions about financial aid. I only wish we had time to address the more than 1,400 questions students and families asked in advance of the show."

Some tips for students and their families to help with paying for college discussed during the Round Table:

• Be diligent about searching for scholarships. A great place to start is the free Scholarship Search Secrets eBook at www.StudentLoanNetwork.com/resources.
• Work now to secure the funds you need for next year. Start with Scholarships, Grants and Federal Loans before seeking other student loans. ScholarshipPoints.com is a great place to start - you can earn points towards monthly $1,000 scholarships.
• Borrow responsibly, and don't borrow more than you can pay back.
• Work with your financial aid officers; they can often help if you just meet with them face-to-face.
• If you are falling short of the funds needed, consider community colleges and state colleges, which offer great programs at a fraction of the cost of private school.

Panelists included:

• Justin Draeger, Assistant Director of Communications for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA);
• Gail Holt, Mt. Holyoke and MASFAA President-Elect
• Maria Koklanaris, reporter for Higher Education Washington, Inc. (HEWI);
• Susan Mead, director of Financial Aid at SUNY Dutchess Community College in New York State and a 26 year veteran of the financial aid industry;
• Shelly Saunders, VP of Strategic Services at loan guarantor American Student Assistance (ASA).

For more tips, resources, and answers to other questions, and to access a recording of the event, visit www.StudentLoanNetwork.com/resources.

About Student Loan Network
Student Loan Network is one of the nation's fastest growing providers of student loans and related information. For more than ten years, we have helped students and their families access federal and private student loans, scholarships and consolidation funding for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education. To help make the confusing and stressful financial aid process easier, the Student Loan Network also delivers helpful resources, including the award-winning Financial Aid Podcast, a multitude of financial aid-related blogs, the monthly Financial Aid Newsletter, free eBooks, and valuable content. Each year, more than 5 million students, parents, and financial aid officers make the most of their education experience through our loan products and free resources.

Contact: press@edvisors.com

Posted 04/17/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Posting of press releases is done as a service to Members and does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. NASFAA does not review this information for content or accuracy.