Okay, so I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible but we’ll see.
Long Version:
I have been studying at University of Michigan for the past four years; I have about 2 semesters to go at Stamps. Last winter my father was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, this really wore me down but I decided to continue on in my studies. My mother suffers from severe bipolar disorder and didn’t handle my dad’s diagnosis too well. It became clear to me that I was needed at home and in addition it was near impossible to focus on my work. In hindsight I’m glad I came home because soon after we had to have my mother committed to a mental hospital, and she went in and out of there every few weeks from February to May. A few months ago she had a valve replacement surgery, and I’ve been acting as caregiver to both her and my father. Okay, enough of the pity party (sorry, sometimes its nice to type) I notified my professors of how I wasn’t going to be returning, but I did not go through an official withdrawal. Admittedly this was a huge mistake, but I thought the only thing that would be affected was my GPA, and quite frankly that was the least of my worries at the time.
Because of my poor academic performance last winter term I was suspended for the current academic year, it seemed unfortunate but again, I was told I didn’t go through the proper channels when leaving school so it fit. Weeks later is when the crushing blow came, I was charged just under $8,000 for the winter semester. My tuition is 100% covered through financial aid and loans, and my parents are unable to help me in any way.
Since the debt has remained unpaid, it has since been transferred to collections and I am unable to return to school next fall term (when the suspension ends). Financial aid has been everything but helpful and I keep running into brick walls wherever I turn.
So after all that, here’s the question: what can I do? My dad is a Vietnam veteran so I’m going to turn to the VA for some advice next week. Surely this isn’t the first time something like this has happened, I wouldn’t turn to the internet for suggestions unless I was desperate, so please, it would be greatly appreciated if we could focus on my future at the U, and not things I could have done differently in the past.
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read my post.
Short Version:
I have an unpaid debt with student financial services and am unable to return to the U until it is paid. Does anyone know of lenders that would work with someone in my situation or is there any way I could put the debt into forbearance until I graduate?
It’ll partly hinge on what time you stopped attending. In such circumstance, you can appeal to have the tuition cost dropped according to when you quit going to class, as if you had dropped the classes formally. You know, first 3 weeks = 100% refund, 6 weeks = 50% or whatever. So start there thru the registrar or dean’s office
Then try to get a “retroactive withdrawal” again thru these channels. If you have some record of informing your professors, like emails, or you can get the profs to vouch for you or ask the dean’s to request attendance record from the profs, this can all help you to get the tuition/debt lowered and possibly your failing grades turned to Ws and your suspension lifted.
Now, if you can accomplish this…
You’ll likely still owe some amount of debt, such as housing. That’s defaulted. What you can do is “rehabilitate” your loan if that’s what defaulted. Your post is unclear about that, but i assume so. It’s a federal policy. Contact the collector and demand this along with removing the negative credit as a result of defaulting. If they try to give you some BS that your loan can’t be rehab’d, keep in mind who you’re talking to. Contact the federal loan ombudsman office to lodge a complaint then the loan services at UM to tell them what their client is doing to you. You’ll get a call back from the collector, who will be willing to cooperate now.
The terms will be: you pay like 10% of the debt and roughly 6 monthly repayments. Once the loan is rehab’d you can go into deferment while you enroll again just like anyone else. However, this will take a certain # of payments. I urge you to begin this all ASAP or else you can’t even fill out the FAFSA or remove the financial hold to register for next fall. WAIT UNTIL THE LOAN IS REHAB’D TO FILL OUT THE FAFSA
I have been thru all of this as well as i had to take a semester at another college since 2+ years had passed, to be readmitted. It’s a difficult process. Nonetheless i graduated last fall, landed a job and my loans are 90% repaid. The key when you’re being lied to or the bureaucracy isn’t helping is to be smart, careful, and persevere
“The key when you’re being lied to or the bureaucracy isn’t helping is to be smart, careful, and persevere”
To which I would add:
buy a lab notebook;
make notes of every single interaction with any person involved with this process including name, date, start time, end time; what was said (including your side of the conversation);
send all correspondence with certification or other proof of receipt;
