Sallie Mae Encourages Students to Take the Leap and Complete the FAFSA on Leap Day

Leap Day is the answer to that perpetual complaint of “I need more time.” Sallie Mae encourages the estimated 15 million students going to college next school year to use that extra day of the year wisely and spend it completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

To help students complete the application, Sallie Mae will share 29 tips for financial aid throughout Leap Day at Facebook.com/SallieMae.

Sallie Mae, the nation’s No. 1 financial services company specializing in education, recommends a “1-2-3 approach” to help families pay for college: first, take advantage of “free” money such as grants and scholarships by completing the FAFSA; second, explore federal loans; and third, fill the gap with a responsible private education loan.

Students and parents don’t need to have a C.P.A. to fill out the financial aid application, but there are a few key points to learn and documents to have readily available. According to the Department of Education, for fiscal year 2013, there is $165 billion in new grants, loans, and work-study assistance, and you don’t want to miss out just because you didn’t apply.

Additionally, Sallie Mae offers three free how-to videos at SallieMae.com/FAFSA, with downloadable checklists, tips on mistakes to avoid and information on when to submit.

Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) is the nation’s No. 1 financial services company specializing in education. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae turns education dreams into reality for its 25 million customers. With products and services that include college savings programs, scholarship search tools, education loans, tuition insurance, and online banking, Sallie Mae offers solutions that help families save, plan, and pay for college. Sallie Mae also provides financial services to hundreds of college campuses as well as to federal and state governments. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.