<p>I'll be starting at my LAC this fall as a psychology major, French minor. I have been obsessed with Paris since I was about 11 when my grandparents visited. I have been studying French for five years as well. So, when I study abroad I want it to be in Paris. However, after a lengthy conversation with the study abroad coordinator, I discoverd that although my school offers programs in Paris, none of them are considered 'affiliated.' Therefore, only my federal aid will apply to my program. This is disappointing because I have a yearly $22,000 scholarship, which apparently I cannot use. </p>
<p>What am I to do? </p>
<p>There is no way I will be able so save enough money to go for a semester, let alone a year. After my federal aid, the total cost will be $34,000 (includes everything except spending money.)</p>
<p>My older brother studied in Angers for a semester, but came back still a bit shaddy about somethings. He regrets not staying the entire year. But his program was 'affiliated.' </p>
<p>Anyway, I definitely want to go for a year, and it definitely has to be in Paris. </p>
<p>Can I even take out a loan for $34,000.00 to study abroad? It sounds ridiculous, it's definitely something I have had my heart set on for a long time. I know it's expensive, but I would rather take out a big loan and go than regret not going.</p>
<p>Has anyone else ever been in this position? How in the world am I supposed to finance this?</p>
<p>I do not think you will find a bank that will give you an unsecured loan for $34,000 for what in their eyes is an extended vacation. As much as I love travel, I have never found any source outside of my family that was willing to fund my excursions. I guess you could always talk your parents into paying for it… might be a hard sell though.</p>
<p>No, my parents don’t pay for anything. Ever. I always have to pay for whatever I want, and this is what I want more than anything. And it wouldn’t be a vacation, it’s an intensive language study program at Unversity of Paris Sorbonne, but I see what you mean. However, even for a semester in the fall i$18,500 and $22,000 in the spring.</p>
<p>Hmmm… I dont have a clue and I am usually really creative with finding financing. This is just an astronomical amount of money to borrow considering you have no plans of being employed and able to repay anytime in the near future. </p>
<p>Maybe you can convince a relative to take out a loan for you, act as a co-signer, or put a second mortgage on a house with your promise to repay.</p>
<p>Yeah, it is a lot. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out a way to pay for it. I’m pre med so I just think in the long run it’s not really going to be such a huge deal, since I’m probably going to have to rely on large amounts of loans for that.</p>
<p>Obviously, I’m going to look into scholarships and grants; this is just the “what if” scenario.</p>
<p>To me this situation is just unrealistic. Even if you did manage to get a loan for the amount, that is an incredible amount for an experience. I would suggest you try to find $2000 for a vacation first. Then take a French course at your current college and perhaps look for internships and/or summer jobs in France which would be considerably cheaper and also likely a good experience. Potentially this route could lead you to a job in Paris, or at least a job with the opportunity to travel if you want to. </p>
<p>I know at this point the semester abroad is something you really really want to do. But you will look back at it with different eyes when in 10 years time you still can’t afford a vacation because you are still paying back your student excesses. Paris won’t go away. If you will not compromise on your experience (try somewhere else in France etc) then I am afraid it is unachieveable at the moment.</p>