My parents are doing a monthly payment plan for my tution but all other costs (books, commuting, supplies, personal expenses) are all on me.
I recieved a Federal Direct Unsub Loan and Fed. Direct Parent PLUS Loan. My parents do not want me to take out loans and if I really need to then only accept a small amount of the loan offered.
my question is: am I able to accept part of the loan even after I started college semester?
Yes, you can.
How much does this school cost? Why do you need a PLUS loan to commute?
Yes, you can accept the federal student loan mid-semester. You’ll actually be offered half in the fall and half in the spring.
Can you work this summer? If you can start the semester with some money in the bank it will be helpful.
tution is about $12k (not including fees [$882], books/supplies [$1,058], personal [$?$], loan fees [$350])
~ these #'s were provided on my finicial aide package provided by the university
when I accept the loan offer do I accept what I need for BOTH fall and spring semester or do it seperatly?
I currently have a part time job and I still plan on working during my college years but my hours will decrease (for studying reasons)
~ the amount I am making currently won’t be able to cover all the costs that my parents want me to cover
If you are borrowing in the fall semester, you have to request double the amount you want for immediate use. This is because a loan borrowed in the first semester must be split into two equal payments, one in each of the two semesters. If you want $500 in November, you’ll need to request $1,000 in November. You’ll receive the other $500 in the following semester (and if you don’t need that 2nd half, you can go back later & request that the 2nd half of the loan be canceled).
For loans borrowed in the 2nd semester, assuming you attended school at least half time in the 1st semester, you will receive the entire amount requested in the 2nd semester. So if you want $500 in March, you can just request $500 & you’ll get the entire amount (although it may be split into two equal amounts & paid out in two installments with some time in between - each school does this per its own policies).
You should only accept what you need in loans. At my kids’ schools the FA award shows what’s offered in aid per semester and some aid like grants and scholarships are automatically accepted. Loans can be accepted, reduced, or declined.
They can specify how much of an unsubsidized or subsidized loan they want to accept.
You should exhaust your own student loans first before having your parents take out Parent Plus loans since they have lower interest rates and origination fees.