Just when you think you’re done with all the studying, partying, good times and bad times and overall stress of being a college student — in a instant, you’re introduced to the real world (and no, not the despised “reality” show on MTV).

The real world will hit you like a ton of bricks, especially if you have college loans to pay. And it’s not going to get any easier to pay those off. The Associated Press reported that student loans will face a $12.7 billion cut.

Interest on students loans also would move to a fixed rate of 6.8 percent in July, up from its current variable rate of 4.7 percent. The loan-funding cut, which will affect 5 million U.S. college students is the highest in the country’s history.

Previously, Stafford loans (loans taken out by students) and Plus loans (those taken out by parents) fluctuated on a variable rate to reflect market conditions.

Doesn’t this sound more like a problem than a solution? This type of situation makes college even less attainable to lower-income students.

A Feb. 11 AP report showed another disturbing trend: Low-income students aren’t applying for financial aid as they should. Though there was an increase in the percentage of undergraduates completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — from 50 percent to 59 percent in a four-year period — the number of low-income students who didn’t file increased from 1.7 million to 1.8 million.

The priority deadline for FASFA submission is March 1. Students who submit the application later may miss out on grants such as the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, designed for low-income students.

“The earlier you apply, the earlier you’ll know what kind of aid you’re going to get relative to what your bill is going to be,” NIU CHANCE counselor Keith Barnes said. “Students don’t apply for scholarships like they should.”

No one likes that college is becoming more of a financial burden than an investment, especially when you factor in you may not get paid a great salary coming out of college.

However, there are opportunities to better your chances of getting out of college without being in massive debt.

As college becomes less affordable (especially as a bachelor’s degree looks more like a high school diploma to more employers), students should make sure we take advantage of those opportunities before the system takes advantage of us.