I'm not that well-off financially, and I've been looking into possibly applying for a loan. Honestly, there are so many of them and different interest rates that I'm overwhelmed. I have no idea what I'm doing. I've tried asking for help, but afterward I find myself with questions about the answers given to me. The bottom line is, I'm not really sure what a good interest rate would be, and whether it depends on the amount of the loan.

Dazed and Confused

Dear Dazed and Confused,

You've got subsidized Stafford loans, unsubsidized Stafford loans, Perkins loans, private loans, parent-plus loans, various other loans, grants and scholarships. Head spinning yet? Here are three things you must do: (1) Learn the vocabulary. (2) Find experts to guide you. (3) Never pretend to understand. Let's start with the vocab — a loan is money you borrow and pay back with interest. A grant is money you don't have to pay back. A scholarship is a prize (but there can be rules). When it comes to more keywords and info, head to the U.S. Department of Education Web site, www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/

funding, and check out its hotline by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. Next, reach out to a financial-aid counselor at a college that interests you. If one adviser isn't helpful, find another. Also, find a few students who have been there and done it. Ask your high-school guidance counselor to put you in touch with the right people. Never pretend to understand. I know this can be complicated, but you need patient people to help you. NEVER pretend to understand. Considering the average undergraduate student takes on more than $12,000 in loans while getting their bachelor's degree, not understanding the terms and condition of the loans because you don't want to be annoying can cost you thousands of dollars. That's annoying.

Dear Harlan,

I've been dating my high-school sweetheart for two years now. He's a year older than me, so last year he was at college two hours away and only came home every once in a while when he could. It worked out pretty well, and we still love each other a lot. So, this year I'm in college, only at a different one than him, and we're now three hours apart. I applied to his college but didn't get in, so that's why I'm not there. But I was thinking — would it be bad if I transferred to his school next year and lived with him in his house, or should I stay at the school I'm at and keep going strong like I've been doing?

Loving From a Distance

Dear Loving,

You should send that admissions counselor who rejected you flowers.That person gave you the chance to have a life independent of your boyfriend.Take this gift and use it. Running to your boyfriend and living with your boyfriend would be the opposite of using this gift. Take the next six months and work to create a life for yourself while still loving this guy. Use this time to create a world where you create friendships, develop interests (other than him) and live life on your own. You can't do this by running to see him every weekend and having your life revolve around him. Take this advice and you'll be a better girlfriend and a much more interesting, attractive and confident woman. Whether or not you marry this guy, you will always have a life. And that's the greatest gift you could ever give yourself.