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The college search and financial aid experience of Asbury College freshman Will Sallee is featured prominently in writer Kathy Witt’s article “Student Loan Strategies” in the February issue of Kentucky Living magazine. Witt looks at the entire financial aid process, from filling out the FAFSA to financial aid resources available through the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and GoHigherKY.org. It’s a must read for any student or parent preparing for college.

Included is a look at how the options afforded by student loans opened up the college search for Will, allowing him to focus on finding the right fit in a college:

“A good fit.” That is how Bill Sallee describes his son Will’s attendance at Asbury College after discovering that filling out loan applications would greatly expand his higher education options.

“Will was able to think about attending institutions other than state universities,” says Sallee. “We had done all of our planning around the idea of a state university and, by seeing what was available through loans, it allowed us to look at smaller and private colleges we had never looked at.

“The other reason we were interested in applying for loans was that Will very much wanted to be a collegiate swimmer and those opportunities were much greater for him at a smaller, private college.”

Will, a confirmed water baby by age 5, swam for four years in high school. Being able to continue the sport at the college level was a major criterion that helped him determine which college would be the best for him.

“The loan process also enabled Will to consider going to a Christian college,” adds Sallee. “It was another benefit we found by going through the financial aid process.”

“Pursuing loan options is a very important part of the financial aid process for most families,” adds Anderson. “Government loans should be the first option (Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal PLUS loan), but private loans can be a great help in finding a way to pay for college.”