Reiterating earlier post: Get started on lining up financing for next year.

This cannot be stressed enough: take the time and start early in getting your college financing options worked through.

Google should be your best friend in this process. Although a lender themselves, My Rich Uncle, has some pretty good advice. [Keep in mind this is propoganda from them, but some good information here.]

The best nugget from them is that not all Stafford/PLUS pricing is the same. Yes the Dept of Education mandates the maximum interest rate that can be charged for FFELP loans, but lenders can, and some do, charge slightly lower interest rates.

And again, if your Financial Aid office rejects a lender that you bring to the table becuase that lender isn't on your schools' "Preferred Lender List", insist that you have the right to choose your FFELP lender. If your financial aid officer doesn't give in, run right to the Dept of Education and lodge a complaint. You have a right to FFELP money and from any FFELP lender you find, your Financial Aid officer cannot interfer with your choice in the matter!