<p>Hello hello (yes I'm new here)... I have kind of an urgent question, am unsure of where else I could POSSIBLY ask for advice, and kind of need some sort of input. I'm also hoping that this is the correct forum considering it involves financial aid/paying for college. I'm so sorry if it's not (I've been a browser of the site since I started college and have never joined until now). </p>
<p>Basically, I took two summer courses through my university (VCU) and was unfortunately unaware of how much the cost would be, and the little financial aid I would receive, especially because I'm an out of state student (from New Jersey). I talked with the financial aid office and they were no help, I tried applying for every private loan under the sun with two different cosigners and haven't been accepted for ANYTHING, and I tried emailing the student account office, who told my they couldn't do anything - I just have to pay the balance which is well over $4,000. </p>
<p>I have all intentions on paying it at some point, which is why I'm applying for jobs (didn't receive work study this year), and I even want to go IN PERSON to the student accounting office once I get back to school this week and try to get the payment into a deferment. </p>
<p>I just want to know if anyone else has had a problem of this nature? And if anyone actually succeeded in getting their school to understand the financial troubles they were having? I mean between me being unemployed and my mom not working summers, it's REALLY HARD for me to pay anything out of pocket right now. Also if anyone knows what I can do in terms of something beside private loans, it would be most appreciated. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>This is certainly a misunderstanding on your part. Most financial aid does not cover summer. Often, FA packages expect some earnings on the part of the student, and the best time to earn that money is in the summer.</p>
<p>Going forward, however, sometimes there are separate scholarships or grant money available for summer. As you know now, that needs to be figured out ahead of time. Good luck.</p>
<p>Basically, I took two summer courses through my university (VCU) and was unfortunately unaware of how much the cost would be, and the little financial aid I would receive, especially because I’m an out of state student (from New Jersey)</p>
<p>How could you be unaware of the cost or the FA? Isn’t that info on your portal? Didn’t you ever look? </p>
<p>You will have to figure out how to get this paid. Do you have a grandparent who could lend you the money? </p>
<p>Are your parents the ones who tried to co-sign?</p>
<p>I’m surprised VCU even allowed you to take those summer courses without paying. At my kids’ universities, payment for summer courses was due well before the classes even started.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids: before you assume that I was oblivious, my school has a financial calculator that I plugged everything into, and was given one amount. When I checked my bill the day they posted it, it was a COMPLETELY different amount. So you go figure. And yes, I did look, thank you very much. My mom and aunt tried cosigning, but both of them don’t have good enough credit. And no, unfortunately I don’t have any grandparents who could lend me the money. </p>
<p>MD Mom: I’m being fully honest when I say my school doesn’t fully explain on their financial aid website how the summer aid works. They have a separate form for it, which I filled out, but I wasn’t aware that they actually used from the aid I didn’t use during the academic year.</p>
<p>Does the school allow you to put on the payment plan? So that you don’t have pay $4000 all at once?</p>
<p>If the school won’t let you enroll for fall with that debt, then ask if you can take a semester off and work to pay off that debt. </p>
<p>How much did you think you were going to have to pay for the summer classes? How much did you actually pay?</p>
<p>Hail, I did not think you were dishonest at all, only that you did not understand. It must not have been clear.</p>
<p>Limited summer financial aid
Students enrolled at least half time during the summer session may be eligible for a Federal Direct Loan if they did not borrow the annual limit based on grade level during the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) or if they advanced in grade level during the academic year. Students should inform a financial aid counselor if they received a Federal Direct Loan from another school during the academic year.
Students should inform a financial aid counselor if they received a Pell Grant from another school during the academic year.</p>
<p>The above is on the financial aid form you completed. It is extremely important that students read and understand the information they are given where financial aid is concerned. In addition, there is information on the financial aid website that explains summer aid: [Summer</a> Session | Office of Financial Aid | Virginia Commonwealth University](<a href=“Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success - Virginia Commonwealth University”>Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success - Virginia Commonwealth University).</p>
<p>I am not trying to be mean … it’s just that financial aid offices get blasted all the time for not telling students things. Actually, they do tell them … students just don’t read what is out there for them. I can’t tell you how many times I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking students what they expected me to do. That is not productive, though, and I was always focused on trying to help students figure out what to do to fix the situation, which is what I will do now with you …</p>
<p>You have a few choices: Ask for help from a parent or relative. Try other lenders (see finaid.org for a long list of lenders). Ask the school if they have university long-term loans available. Take some time off and work to pay off the bill. I am sorry that you are in this situation … unfortunately, you have a lot of company. I hope that things work out for you so that you can start back in school this fall. If not, though, you will be able to pick back up once the bill is paid off.</p>