<p>I just finished my sophomore year. I have been getting work study and working a WS job the past 4 semesters. When I filled out my FAFSA for this upcoming year I checked 'yes' interested in work study. When planning my courses, I have to take a pretty heavy course load this semester to finish in four years and stay on track for pharm school. I do not know how much I will be able to work. I have been awarded some money for work study for the year, but since I'm not sure if I will be working a whole lot is it possible to get it changed to loans? How do I go about doing this and will it affect my grants I already received? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>If you do not already have the maximum in Stafford loans it should be possible to convert the WS into a loan (my daughter did it her freshman year). The max in Stafford loans for a dependent junior is $7500. Ask your school. It should not affect any grants. But, again, check with your school. Some schools have quirky policies.</p>
<p>I found out about the limit after I posted, thanks for your help. I do have the max in stafford loans. Is there any other option like maybe increasing my perkins loan?</p>
<p>edit: My aid says I was offered a parent plus loan too for about 900, but my parents won’t accept it because they don’t pay for any of my school. Anything I can do there, too?</p>
<p>Perkins loans are very limited in funding. A school has $xxx to award and once they have awarded it they have no more to give. You can certainly ask, but it is likely they have already fully awarded all the Perkins funds. You may also already have the max Perkins they award at your schools.</p>
<p>You are actually quite fortunate if you have WS and Perkins. My daughter is in her final year, has a 0 EFC and filed her FAFSA in January. Her school did not start processing FAFSAs till the 3rd week of March. She was selected for verification and by the time they notified us and we submitted the required documents (less than 2 weeks)She went in and asked about it and was told she is eligible but there is nothing they can do as they had no funds left.</p>
<p>No, there is nothing you can do as far as the parent PLUS loans. If a parent applies for a parent PLUS and is turned down, then a student is eligible for higher Stafford loans. But a parent not being willing to take a PLUS loan does not get you any additional eligibility.</p>