This guide discusses federal student aid programs for postsecondary education and how to apply for them. It begins by outlining sources for finding out about student aid, such as schools, state higher education agencies, guidance counselors, and organizations connected with particular fields of interest. It then offers tips on how to choose a school carefully. The guide then presents general information about federal student aid, including eligibility in terms of need and dependency status, the application process, special circumstances, deadlines, and important telephone numbers. It then provides more detailed descriptions of the Federal Pell Grant Program, the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, the Federal Family Education Loan Program, and campus-based programs, such as Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, the Federal Work-Study Program, and Federal Perkins Loans. The guide concludes with a discussion of borrower rights and responsibilities, loan deferment procedures, loan cancellation procedures, and a glossary of important terms. (MDM)