<p>I want to go to a two year CC and the transfer to a four year and afterwords go to med school. If I have no help paying from my parents, and I can't get finaid because my parents have a large income, the how can I afford all of it via loans? Is it possible without taking out private loans? And would the federal loans need a cosigner if you take out a lot?</p>
<p>If you are eligible to file the FAFSA, you can take out the federal/Stafford student loans with out a co-signer. The limits are $5,500 freshman year, $6,500 sophomore year, $7,500 junior year, and $7,500 senior year. At many community colleges, this will cover the tuition and fees.</p>
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You still have to file FAFSA in order to get federal loans.
See [Loans</a> | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans]Loans”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans)
Very difficult to finance all your educations via loans and also without a cosigner. You really need your parents’ help to pay college and med school.</p>
<p>It’s just not an option (having parent’s help). Those limits listed, can I receive those automatically as long as I fill out the FAFSA, regardless of my parent’s income? And what if my parents refused to fill out the FAFSA? Flip burgers for the rest of my life?</p>
<p>No, you won’t have to flip burgers all your life. Yes, you can get the Direct loans without a cosigner as long as you fill out the FAFSA, but it is your debt, and when you are not enrolled full time in school, you start paying back the loans. </p>
<p>You have a few options: You attend com.coll. and then apply to schools that will give you excellent merit scholarships for your strong stats. See what you are offered or even check out those schools that may offer you the whole enchilada -tuition, room, board. That’s first. At the same time, you prepare to not get any affordable offers, and you find a job that you like and work to save money. You can then work and take courses at your closest state 4-year part time as you can afford to pay for a class. Another option would be to do com. coll., get a job, save, save, save, and then at age 24 (the age of independence for FAFSA), apply to your state schools and other schools and see what you can afford. At 24, you don’t need your parent’s info. The last option, that you should only look into if you are already interested, is serving in the military - I had a cousin who did Navy, and always felt very safe because she was away from the action on a ship! You serve, and then get benefits toward schooling. You have to WANT to serve though, so it’s really the last option, or no option for many.</p>
<p>While at CC, you could get a credential/certificate/skill that you could use to work while you go to college, like an RN, Respiratory Therapist, EMT. That experience will be helpful when you go to med school as while. The wages you get as an RN, RT, EMT would be much better than you could get at a most food service or retail jobs.</p>
<p>So can I get those same loans if I’m going to comm. college? And what kind of loans can I get for med school?</p>
<p>You will be limited to taking out as much as the cost of attendance for your community college. For example, if your school costs $5000 for the year, you would only be able to take out $5000 in loans. You can’t receive more in “aid” than the cost of attendance, and loans are considered aid.</p>
<p>And are Stafford loans the only loans you can get without a cosigner or good credit?</p>
<p>The only loans you can get without a cosigner or good credit are the federal student loans. If you are not considered an independent student and your parents won’t file the FAFSA with you, you will only qualify for unsubsidized stafford/federal loans. If you meet the the qualifications to be considered independent (or if your parents are low income and file the FAFSA with you) and if the college/university you are attending also awards some Perkins loans, those wouldn’t require a cosigner either.</p>
<p>Check the website of the community college that you are thinking to attend for the Cost of Attendance. Usually different ones are listed for in-district, out-of-district but in-state, and out-of-state, and in each of those categories there may be different COAs for living with parents/relatives and living independently. Each COA will include figures for tuition, fees, books, materials, transportation, housing, meals, etc. </p>
<p>HImom has given you a really good suggestion about pursuing a career program that will quickly get you a better-paying job. I know people who have done that. It made a huge difference in their ability to afford to live while finishing up their college degrees.</p>
<p>With Stafford loans, can you count off campus rent for CC as part of the COA?</p>
<p>Yes. The CC near me (which has no dorms or other school-arranged living situation) includes in the COA ~$10k for room and board if you aren’t living with family; ~$5k if you are.</p>
<p>What are your stats? Have you looked into a full ride for students with high stats? Are you a minority?</p>