<p>If you qualify for a Perkins loan, that’s usually the best choice because you don’t have to pay the fees and your grace period after graduation is 9 months (vs. 6 months for Stafford). Otherwise, subsidized Stafford is the way to go. If you’re not sure, call your financial aid office and find out if there’s a deadline for taking the loan. You can probably wait on this until you know more about your expenses, but make sure you call to find out about any deadlines first.</p>