<p>Need some advice. Please offer helpful advice, not condescending. I'm aware of the hole I am in, I don't need to be put down further.</p>
<p>I am currently an OOS senior, set to graduate a semester early in December. I took 18 credits each semester when I realized graduating a semester early would save me money, 12,000. Unfortunately, my father declared bankruptcy two years ago and I've had to take out loans to afford my education. I've had some help from grandparents, but currently my loans are around 35,000. I have been offered a full-time position from my summer internship, set to start in January, therefore I am less worried about loans and others may be. Yet, I am still panicking.</p>
<p>I currently have 5,800 left to pay for this semester. I just paid 1,000 recently and am looking to see how else to pay the remainder. I currently don't have any private loans, as I've always struggled to find a cosigner. I contacted financial aid about the matter and I have the additional unsub loans when parent was denied parent plus loan, I also have a grant and a scholarship. I've pretty much exhausted my financial aid. I've made a payment plan with the bursar office, to pay a certain balance each month, yet even with my work-study job 20 hours a week, I don't think I will have enough to cover.</p>
<p>Any advice? I've applied to random scholarships on Fastweb yet they seem to be a waste of time, bunch of gimmicks, never actually heard anyone win one. I've considered paying the balance with a credit card if it gets too close, yet I know the limitations against this.</p>
<p>Any helpful advice would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Your loans are higher than we’d recommend, but you have a job waiting for you, so you look to be in a position to start paying things off. If you truly have maxed out your federal loans, you may need to take a private loan so you can finish. How much money exactly do you need to come up with?</p>
<p>You hae a job waiting, so you have to graduate, right?</p>
<p>Do you have additional unsub loans available but not use yet?</p>
<p>Borrow from your credit card if you have to.</p>
<p>Is the FA department aware you are graduating at the end of fall? I’m not sure, but I *think *it may be possible to get more of your annual loan in the fall semester if you are graduating early. Not sure, but check with them.</p>
<p>$5800 is not an impossible amount to earn over a semester if the bursar’s office is allowing you to pay on a payment plan. Can you stretch that into January a bit if need be? What ways can you increase your income? Can you get a higher paying work study job? Can you get a second job for another 5 or 10 hours? Try to think of things that may pay a higher rate for fewer hours such as bartending Saturday night where you may get a lot of tips for a busy evening. Or be a waiter for a busy lunch crowd one or two days a week. Do you have any skills you can parlay into cash such as tutoring, cooking, cleaning, painting, watching children, etc. Doing laundry for people. Do you have anything you can sell to get extra cash? Old Skis, last sememster’s textbooks, a chair you no longer need. Be creative and then put the rest on your credit card or get a loan. What about another loan from your grandparents? Why not ask your college major department if there are any hardship scholarship funds available? If you explain your situation and you are a good student, they may have some funds to help you finish up.</p>