<p>My parents cannot afford to take out the Federal PLUS loans I was relying on to fill in the gap between my financial aid and attendance costs at UC Irvine. </p>
<p>This leaves a $7000/year gap to fill. I have a stable job that if, working full time, I could fill that gap; but this is very undesirable. </p>
<p>What are other options? I'm looking into private loans I could obtain without a cosigner(again parents not credit worthy.) Has anyone seen this situation before? Thanks guys.</p>
<p>if your parents can't take out the plus loan due to not being credit worthy, the amount of stafford loans that you can get increases from the dependent student amount to the independent student amount. for a freshman and sophomore that is an additional $4000 per year, I believe. Have you considered that?</p>
<p>I agree with hsmomstef, by your parents not being eligible for a plus loan you will be able to borrow additional monies through the stafford loan process. This now closes your gap to $3000 (is your gap for the whole year or per term?) If your gap is for the whole year, you will be 1500 short for for each term. Do you have any summer savings that you can apply to this?</p>
<p>Find out if your parents will be able to co-sign for the $3000 through citiassist. Don't borrow anymore than you absolutely need.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.citiassist.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.citiassist.com/</a></p>
<p>Hate to be a stick in the mud -- but I'd suggest the obvious. Look for a cheaper school, or perhaps a cheaper way to do college (some credits at community?). Can you live off campus or at home to save money? </p>
<p>You're in a bind unless your parents can come up with the money.</p>
<p>Nope. I refuse to go to a community college or a Calstate. Not happening. </p>
<p>Well that's great news that I'm able to borrow additional funds. $3000 is much more easy to come up with if I work while I'm in school. Basically I was wondering if I really was stuck filling these gaps on my own. Guess I know now. thanks guys.</p>
<p>I was approved for a $7000 citibank loan without a cosigner! At the lowest rate!</p>
<p>To all 18 year olds: if you have a job start using credit cards if you can responsibly. In cases like this their ability to build credit has saved my life big time.</p>
<p>I'm starting a new program at my school that only lasts for four months. I need almost $8000 and if I don't get it, I can't go to school. I have been applying for student loans and all of them need co-signers. I have had four people apply to be my co-signer and all four have been denied. Has anyone taken a short program like this and what did you do for money? What should I do?</p>
<p>Has anyone taken a short program like this and what did you do for money? What should I do?
Work first save the money
I assume it is eligible for Stafford loans?
Often your school has info on what other students have done- ask them.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should rethink your views about the California state universities. There are plenty of good schools and the professors often are more concerned with teaching undergraduates than those at the research universities. If you're a good student, you will get to know your professors, get super recommendations, and then get into a good grad school with minimal debt.</p>
<p>Why not apply to some private schools that gurentee to meet your full need?</p>
<p>That way you and/or your parents won't have to take out loans.</p>
<p>private schools often use their own forms or/& PROFILE to indicate additional assets available for tuition, as well as expenses</p>
<p>Say they determine your need is above $13,000 and costs of attending the school for one year is $25,000- that means your need is $12,000.
If they are a school that meets 100% of need , then your package could consist of $3,000 in workstudy money, $3,500 in Stafford loan both subsidized and un, and $2,000 in Perkins loan- with a grant of $3,500.</p>
<p>Fin aid still requires loans</p>
<p>A PLUS loan is not included in loans within an aid package. If a school uses it in meeting need (besides self-help), then the school is being deceptive. I'm speaking to additional loans besides the self-help portion of the aid package. To have to borrow even more is crazy. Getting a short or long-term loan, in addition to self-help, should not be encouraged if at all possible.</p>
<p>The difference is that PLUS and regular loans need to be paid back, while the student is in school. That means less time for courses, and more stress. Other loans (self-help), often do not need to be paid back until after college, which is reasonable, as it does not put the student at an educational disadvantage because of his or her socioeconomic condition.</p>
<p>right- PLUS is not part of the aid package- but Chrisr88 has already said that parents cannot afford to borrow with PLUS.</p>
<p>also it was indicated that there was a $7,000 gap between the aid package and costs of the school, but the EFC isn't noted.</p>
<p>Yes...that is why, if it's not too late, he should also apply to some schools that traditionally meet need. UC-Irvine does gap many of it's students, so taking on even more loans, in addition to self-help, may affect his performance in college. The best bet is to apply to other schools with the aid guarentee, assuming, of course, that UC-Irvine did gap him.</p>