Financial aid is a way for students to offset some of the costs of a college education. From tuition to books to room and board, getting a college degree can be expensive. However, the financial package a student is offered may not be quite enough to cover those costs. In those cases, student loans may be an option to help a student make sure he or she can afford to go to college. One type of loan available to students who need a little extra financial aid is the unsubsidized student loan. These loans are not based on the applicant's financial need, and interest is attached to the loan from the time it is awarded rather than a set length of time after the student stops attending classes, which is how subsidized loans work. Generally students try to use subsidized loans so they do not have to make payments while they are taking classes. However, there are benefits to unsubsidized student loans, as well. For students who are able to begin paying back while still in school, an unsubsidized student loan will allow them to begin paying back the lending organization immediately. This will reduce the length of time money is owed to the organization. That is, if you begin paying back your unsubsidized student loan while you are still attending classes, you will have less to pay when you graduate, and you will be able to finish paying the student loan off sooner. Another benefit is the ability to prepare mentally for the student loan payment each month. Many college students have difficulty creating and maintaining budgets. By beginning to pay back a student loan right away, a student can adjust to making the payment every month. That way, when he or she is finished with school, the loan payment each month will come as less of a shock. Whether or not you want to get an unsubsidized student loan is ultimately up to you. Make the decision based on your individual circumstances, and speak with representatives from your college's Financial Aid Office to be sure you know what would be involved in getting a student loan.