<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I recently committed to my top school. The problem is, I got my financial aid and all, but I did not get enough. My EFC is 3,000, and I can personally contribute maybe 1,000-2,000. I received 29,000, but the school costs 44,000 total. So, does anyone know how I could get more money?</p>
<p>Also, my family and I were discussing taking out private loans. I know that this is generally advised against, but with the degree I will be obtaining (Applied Mathematics with a concentration in Actuary) it will definitely be worth it. </p>
<p>The issue is, I have no credit, and my mom has bad credit so I don't think she could co sign. Does anyone know of any no credit/no cosigner loans that are available? </p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone!</p>
<p>She can apply for PLUS loans, and if turned down (bad credit might be okay, but not default on a student loan or 90+ days late on a payment in last 5 years), the school can offer you an additional $4000 in Stafford loans. Does the $29k include your $5500 Stafford? If so, you’re going to be short.</p>
<p>Ask the school if there are more grants or scholarships available. Maybe from the math department? My daughter got a talent scholarship from her department.</p>
<p>No credit/no cosigner loans? No.</p>
<p>It sounds like your college does not meet full need. Did you apply to any more affordable options.</p>
<p>ETA…did you ever get your finances squared away from your first college? Did you end up being able to apply as a freshman or did you apply as a transfer student.</p>
<p>Is all of your aid need based aid? Or is some of it merit aid?</p>
<p>Your aid should include a $2600 Pell Grant if your EFC per FAFSA is $3000.</p>
<p>Is this a private university or an OOS public university? Are there any instate options for you that you applied to, that are actually affordable?</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>your mom can apply for Plus, get turned down, and then you can borrow 4k more.</p>
<p>However you should still work as much as you can over the summer and be thrifty so you dont have to borrow so much.</p>
<p>To thumper1: I did apply to more affordable options, but to be honest I just did not like them/they do not offer the opportunities the school I committed to offers. Also, they needed my official transcripts, and this school accepted the PDF unofficial transcript from my first college. It is a private college.</p>
<p>twoinanddone: It does include my stafford loan. I will try the Math department next. </p>
<p>mom2collegekids: I think my mom is doing that, I remember we had to do that for my last school but i never ended up taking out the loan. </p>
<p>I hope your first college got paid in full…but that doesn’t sound like the case as you didn’t use an official transcript from them.</p>
<p>That being the case…I am boldly going to suggest that you NOT take on any further debt until you have reconciled your first college debt.</p>
<p>It may be worth it unless you have to drop out for migraines and are not left with a degree, just debt. Even with graduating ,almost 90k of debt is really too much. Ask an actuary. I bet no one will care which college you went to when you pass the actuary exam. Take another look at your options.</p>
<p>@Thumper1: I am paying them now, we have set up a payment plan. I really cannot wait any longer to go to school, it is not going to work out if i dont go now for many different personal and other reasons. </p>
<p>@BrownParent: I have gotten my migraines under control since leaving my previous school. I have looked at my other options and I do not really have any because of the transcript situation.</p>
<p>Having a history of migraines is tough. Unless you know the cause and/or triggers, I’d be careful taking on debt for a program you may not be able to finish.</p>