A new online video offers guidance to students and families wondering how to pay for college during the current economic crisis. It is posted on YouTube here.

High school seniors applying to college can begin the process of applying for financial aid Jan. 1, when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available for the 2009-10 academic year.

The five-minute video from Duke University provides a quick overview of the financial aid process. Alison Rabil, the university's vice provost and director of financial aid, shares an insider's view of the process, answering questions she commonly hears from students and parents, such as how universities determine how much assistance they will offer a student.

Rabil, who is active in several national financial aid organizations, assumed her position at Duke on Nov. 1. She previously was the financial aid director at Barnard College in New York City.

In a separate video, Rabil gives an update on Duke's financial aid program. It is posted on the Duke website.