What do you do when nobody will give you a student loan without a co-signer. I live on disability and am trying to go back to school. I need a loan to pay for out of pocket expenses.
Be sure to apply for Federal financial aid. If you are approved, and it sounds like you should be, then they will approve you for the loans and maybe even give you grant money as well.
You can get a form from any college or university or can probably even find one online. It is a long form but mostly info from your tax return. You would want to apply for this year (2007) and next year (2008). But be sure to apply as soon as you have your 2008 tax information completed. If you can get it in before the end of January, you will be closer to the head of the line for any grant money (that you don't have to pay back) or lower interest loans.
They will give you a check which you can use for tuition, books and living expenses. Just be careful to only take out what you really need because you cannot declare bankruptcy on student loans and they will get their money back, one way or another.
Meet with the Financial Aid dept at your school. They may know of other sources of aid, such as Dept of Rehab-maybe in grants and scholarships that won't have to be paid back.
Meet with the deacons at your church, and they may co-sign for you. God bless you, and please put a post up to tell us when you graduate!
Contact your state's Independent Living Resource Center as well as the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Both organizations will guide you, free of charge.
You need to fill out the FAFSA to apply for federal student loans. You may be eligible for grants, not just student loans. FAFSA loans are available to more people than regular student loans. The website is www.finaid.org.
But, if you are well enough to go to school...couldn't you also work a part-time job to earn some money? Even if you have to limit your physical activity, there are call centers and places like that with desk jobs that are always hiring. If a part time job would mean you would lose your disability income, you may want to compare what you could make by working with what you will receive from disability. You might be able to make more at a job.
IN Pennsylvania, the state gives loans to students. Dont pay a higher interest rate than you can get from state or federal governments. Also, this type of loan will help you establish a credit rating as you pay it off. Good credit is important as it establishes the costs of almost everything you buy even your car insurance.
Kudos to you for wanting to get an education. Its the way to go for everyone.
If you have a disability ( and since you receive a disability check you do) you qualify for a tremendous amount of Financial Aid. I just turned 25 and my college no longer looks at my parents income and they qualified me for grants, Aid and student loans through them covering everything tuition, room, and board...everything but books! You will be doubly qualified! Good luck!
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I started college at 48 yrs old and it was an eye opener after 30 yrs of being out working. I borrowed money from the government and completed my associates degree, then started my bachelor degree. As the 3 years passed and I started my last year I got within 149 credits out of 180 needed for my BS degree. The classes got really hard for me during the last half of my 4th year and I failed 2 classes and had to re-take them. I got past those on re-do's but this caused me to hit my maximum with my loans, so the university asked me to take a leave until I found a way to be able to pay them.
It's been over a year now and almost 30 applications later and there is no money to be found. So after waiting until my 2 girls got grown and putting me last, is this it? I waited 30 years and now owe $60k on what would only be an associates degree because of my age, being permanently disabled and had to work twice as hard to teach myself what's simple to those just out of high school, like Microsoft word and even typing for that matter? I just wondered if anyone knew of something I might be missing for an avenue for additional funding? I can't imagine the government is OK with paying so much so far and not willing to help me so I can move on, but they have guidelines to follow. Thank you.
It seems you may have acquired all available government financial aid that is now available to you so trying for more help through the government is probably going to be fruitless.
www.giveforward.com/
You can apply for help at any of these and you may actually receive free donations. I would suggest that you just tell your story about your desire to continue your education along with your disability and your personal financial situation.
I am a sophomore in college. Due to unforeseen circumstances I was forced to drop out of school three times. The result is that my student loans are at the maximum allowed. Does anyone know of a student loan that is easy to be approved for college students, sort of like the federal loans where you get approved if you are in school. I will need financial assistance for two more semesters. My credit is not good.
Maybe you have a kindly relative who will believe in you. Pray about it, then send out an appeal with a return envelope to all your extended family. Don't belabor the point about your previous efforts. Be sure to plan to repay with interest after you graduate, but don't promise it, just invite them to help. Specify the amount you need, and mention the number of letters sent divided into that amount equals what, and they might step up to it. If they live close by, bring it in person. Your church board may have a fund for helping at times like this, so get brave and go appeal to them too. You could stand in front of WalMart and have a sign 'Saving for College - I want to be a _____", and any other persuaders like "my grades are great" and people will see your bright capable smile, looking like great talent in the making, and consider you worthy of their investment.
I don't know what kind of loans you have, but have you tried Sallie Mae? That is what my daughter has. Do you have someone that can co-sign for you? I would also hit the web and look for all the scholarships you can apply for. There are a ton out there. My youngest is doing just that right now. God bless you, keep up the faith! Keep us up to date, and let us know how things work out.
we really got the rip when we found the VA money wasn't anywhere NEAR ready as we were were promised & led to believe by the recruiter who was sent here by Lincoln Tech in Indy! The VA is 2 & 1/2 years behind on making payments & for 2 days this week I was on the phone at length with pretty much "nice" people but today I verbally agreed to what is called : verbal forbearance.
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