In ocean of so many college financial aid programs, you must stick to a one lifeboat that is the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP).
The most advantaging and meaningful student loan programs for you will be the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and reputable private loans when it’s needed. DC-CAP provides information for both types of loans.
For instance if you cant find any state-sanctioned private loan, then DC-CAP will provide you information about private student loans available through Sallie Mae, one of the most reputable student loan providers in the country.

First Priority, the Federal Loans
Before you explore any other loan, you should look first to apply for the federal loans. You can find a quick link of the federal loans on the DC-CAP website and also you will find a link to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is firs and foremost step you should do in the financial aid process.
If you will fail to fill and file FAFSA then you will lose many other types of student loans that otherwise require your participation in the federal program. On whole failing in completing and submission of FAFSA means you will lose a big time.
When should Private Loans be taken?
As the private student loans are having high interest rates and fees that should have to be your last option. Though private student loan is good but in sense of short term, while in long term you could run into some serious student loan debt problems.
Some useful tips to follow if your federal funds fall seriously short of covering your education at a DC college or university:
· Borrow your private loan from a reputable lender whether it will be your hometown bank.
· Only borrow that amount of loan, which you needs for your educational costs.
· Make sure to avoid penalties for early repayment.
· Search well before borrowing a private loan and avoid such loans that are having high borrowing minimums.
· Check it on before hand that what will be the full cost of your loan when it will be said and done.
· If the interest rate is variable, what is the cap?
