Financial aid can be confusing.

Several students in an article recently in The Daily Eastern News were confused on some aspects of financial aid, which is of course understandable. There are many details and things to think about when it comes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, to loans, to scholarships and more.

Do not be afraid to ask financial aid staff members more about these, before you get so confused that you do not want to deal with your financial status at the university anymore. The employees have probably heard all kinds of questions. Honestly, it is better to feel a little foolish asking what might seem like a “stupid” question now, rather than being in a mess you cannot get out of later.

Many students at Eastern, include many on The Daily Eastern News’ staff, would not be able to attend the university without the help of scholarships, loans and multiple forms of financial aid. It is incredibly helpful, but can be difficult to navigate, especially if you do not have parents or other family members who have been through the same thing before.

Of course, completing the FAFSA is an important first step in getting the money students need to enroll. Every student, regardless of income level, could benefit from filling one out, if only to see what they could get.

However, we all know how much trouble people get in, piling up years of loans they cannot pay, from private companies who do not always have students’ interests at heart. However, this is why it is also important for students and their families to do their research before deciding on which loans to take out, as well as how many and from where.

After taking out these loans, it is beneficial for students to keep checking on their billing statement so that there are no surprises, and to make sure all holds are taken care of before it is too late. A small problem can quickly become bigger if not taken care of quickly when it comes to all aspects of life, especially financial.

Keeping up with financial aid is just one step in entering the world of financial things adults “have to do” on a daily basis.

So be proactive, and be able to ask for help or do extra research when it is needed.

As the director of financial aid said in the story, “Students need to keep in mind that everything has a time limit. It all depends on you.”