Student Loan help?
With one semester to go, just 3 classes, to finish my degree, my school has informed me that I’ve reached the “aggregate limit” (whatever that is) on my student loans and can’t get any more.
Due to my financial condition, a private loan is impossible.
The Financial Aid Counselor at the school has not been very helpful at all. She is just worried about the school’s needs, and not really mine (big surprise there).
Is there someone I can talk to that would help me explore alternatives? Someone who could help me figure out a way to be able to finish?
Schools can’t do much as far as Stafford Loans go when you reach the aggregate because those are limits set by the federal government. You can see more about loans at www.finaid.org/loans
Are you a Dependent student? If so, then maybe you can have your parents complete a PLUS loan? If they are not credit worthy, then you would be able to get additional Unsubsidzied money at the Independent level.
If you are an Independent student, have you reached both the Subsidized **and** Unsubsidized aggregate? If you have only reached the Subsidized, then you would still be able to borrow at the Unsubsidized level.
You can also see about applying for any outside scholarships:
College Board Homepage
www.collegeboard.org
FastWEB
www.fastweb.com
Free Scholarship Search
www.freschinfo.com
Gates Millennium Scholars Program
www.gmsp.org
In addition, if you do not feel the financial aid counselor you were meeting with was very helpful, see about talking to an Assistant/Associate Director or the Director of the office for more help regarding your situation. Good luck!
