Student Loan Advice - I just don't know what to do!

<p>Hello College Confidential! </p>

<p>I'm a student in bad need of help and would really appreciate any helpful insight anyone could give me. </p>

<p>Please bear with me, as ALL this info is relevant to the final question...</p>

<p>Here's the situation. </p>

<p>I attended University for the last 3 1/2 years as an art student, but when the school reorganized the art department's programs, it was so disorganized that there was miscommunication between the school and myself (and other students). I ended up wasting a semester of classes, changing majors 3 times, and advancing nowhere towards a degree. Not knowing what to do with myself, not willing to do anything but art, and finances being drained, my grades dropped severely. By the time I was ready to try a business-related major, it was too late. I couldn't afford to stay away from home for the next year it would take to graduate. I was NOT in a good place and rather depressed and desperate. Add on top of that a deranged suite-mate on one end of the apartment and a negleectful friend on the other, I felt extremely pathetic, distressed, and alone. </p>

<p>Then this last November I moved home and have since then recovered emotionally. I also began looking for work. No luck, even 5 months later. However, I am moving forward and trying to get a degree at the local state college. I was accepted, am enrolled in Summer classes, and I was sure I was set for the summer and I was going to be fine. </p>

<p>And then within the last week or so, everything got bumped off track again. </p>

<p>See, at this college, in order to get into a Bachelor's degree program, you need to meet all the requirements to get an AA degree or equivalent. I am short 1 class, possibly 3 (unless my High School college creds come in on time and wipe those other 2 out). And because I have 90 credits from my flip-floppy career at University, I don't meet one of the school's Standards of Academic Progress, which requires you to have no more than 150% credits towards the AA program. In other words, I'm stuck between two degrees and have become Untouchable. (BTW, I did NOT know about the SAP violation! I got no correspondence from the college about my status and I did not know what to look for or where until recently. )</p>

<p>So no Financial Aid. NONE. And, enrolled, I need to pay $622 to attend summer classes or my loans won't be deferred. </p>

<p>And that's the next part of the story here. I CANNOT pay $622 for these classes. </p>

<p>I didn't attend school in the Spring, and because I was unaware I did not meet SAP, I didn't know I was completely ineligible for FinAid! </p>

<p>So now my loans are in the grace period until June 11th (the same day I need to pay for the classes), my first payment is due by August 4th. I have a Private Loan I CAN handle at $50 a month, but the $400 bill with Federal loans is way too much. I am unemployed, and my parents cannot handle another bill, not that I would want them paying it anyway. I've tried asking for help from Academic Advising and Financial Advising, but everyone's being so professional and mired in their protocol, no one can tell me what the heck I can do for my unique situation for some darn reason! </p>

<p>Phew! -_- All that to explain The Plan. ..</p>

<p>So I did research, and here's what I'm thinking I can do: </p>

<p>I drop my summer classes (or possibly enroll in that one class I'm missing. Maybe I can scrounge $311 for 1 class...) and wait until June 11th. June 12th I can contact Nelnet and seek to defer my loans (or request a forbearance) based on unemployment until the Fall, at which time I WILL have the money to take half time classes. I enroll and pay for 6 credits of classes, then ask for an in-school deferment, which should cover me until I get out of school. Meanwhile, during the summer, I file an appeal with my college for Financial Aid explaining how I'm stuck between majors because of one stupid class, and that I plan to use FinAid to take that one class in the Fall and apply to the Bachelor's program at the end of the semester. If I get into the Bachelor's program, the SAP violation goes away (this is confirmed by several advisors). Hopefully, I'll then be approved for Finaid and secure even a tiny fund to help pay for Fall classes.</p>

<p>All I need is to make it to Fall semester so I can save up to return to school with or without the FinAid (I've been selling artwork and taking commissions, so I'm slowly saving up). Then I get the In-School deferment and I can continue to look for employment. Lord knows I need to find a job, and I've been trying. </p>

<p>Okay. SO! ALL I want to know, from SOMEONE, is whether this seems like a solid plan and if it's worked for anyone else. It seems like my only option, but I can't believe in it because I can't find ANY information from ANYONE else out there that's tried this before. I know I can't be the only one in my position, but all this "If you qualify for a deferment" stuff scares me. What if I don't qualify? I don't see how I wouldn't, but they can pull regulations and crap out of their rears and screw me over like University did. </p>

<p>What do I do?</p>

<p>I tried signing up for the FinancialAidForums, but I've received no confirmation e-mail, so my only reliable option I know of to get info from people like me is College confidential. </p>

<p>Please help! :/</p>

<p>Okay, so since I posted here I’ve contacted the lender of my Private Loan and apparently they have the wrong DOB on file. Wonderful. -_- I may just end up repaying that one anyway, but that still leaves the Federal Loans. </p>

<p>Any help? Anyone? … ._.</p>

<p>How much can you earn by working as well?</p>

<p>You should get a job ASAP. This is very doable.</p>

<p>Make it easy for someone in Administration to say “yes” to you in the future (be it this term or next fall or whenever)</p>

<p>1) Make a slender 3 ring notebook that you will take with you as you make rounds of offices. In it you will have your resume in a plastic sleeve and your official transcript from college in a plastic sleeve. Ditto your high school transcript. You will also have any letters of reference and any letters of scholarships received or anything else that makes you look good.
2) You will visit offices in person (no email, no phone). Make an appointment ahead of time.
3) You will never, ever yak up a sob story (no whiney tale about the psycho roommate or your illness or anything else that is convoluted and confusing. Even the weirdness of the art department needs to be condensed to “the art department realigned and I was not able to finish” . Too many supplicants think lots of drama will make their case more compelling. Not true.
4) Read, carefully, every paragraph of guidelines that applies to you. Reread carefully so you master the details. (I could not follow your story above. It was too rambling and confusing). </p>

<p>So, now, professional, organized, and clear in what you need to do, you can work towards mastering whatever bugaboo there is. Make a log of each person you speak to and work through each office. If a path isn’t clear, take your professional self over to the Dean of Students and see if there is an exception or “trial semester” that you can obtain. </p>

<p>Make it easy for them to say “yes” to you. No drama. Mastery of details and clear and organized presentation from you can make a difference. Good luck.</p>

<p>A contact log is essential. That way you can visit on Thursday and say “Mary, I spoke with you on Monday and we agreed that . . . and I am now following up” – otherwise these different offices can send you in circles for days. </p>

<p>And you will quickly learn (and use) that “Mary” is terrific and “MaryBeth” is awful and you’ll be sharp enough to figure out who to make your next appointment with!</p>

<p>If your loan payments are already $400, you have borrowed about $40,000 in loans already. I would urge you to try to avoid further debt.</p>