When you have received all the grant aid to which you are entitled, we have only three more programs with which to serve you, namely, Federal Carl D. Perkins National Direct Student Loan (formerly NDSL), or Federal Direct Loan, and the Fed­eral Work-Study Program.

As a general rule, these programs are interchangeable. For example, we can meet a need of $1,000 with a $1,000 job or a $1,000 loan. Or, if you ask us to, we can split the award, making a $500 loan and authorizing a $500 job.

Whether you take a loan or job depends entirely upon you and your circumstances. As a general rule, we encourage work over a loan, simply because the loan must be repaid in the future, and perhaps you will have other places to put your money at that time. On the other hand, work often interferes with study time, and it is particularly burdensome if you are taking a lot of solid subjects during a semester. In this case, a loan might be for you.

Perhaps the best way to handle this problem is to plan your schedule in advance. During your freshman year, for example, you may accept a job and perhaps a small loan, to cut down the total owed. Then, during your sophomore year, your schedule may allow you to accept a job only, and the total you owe when you graduate will be at a modest figure.

Each person, however, must make his or her own decision about the work/loan mix. We are available to discuss this with you.