DIY Postbacc - student loans?

[shezadeh]

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For someone doing a DIY postbacc (comm college, university, or a combination), how does one go about getting student loans? I have money in the bank, but I want to keep it for a rainy day. If one can get loans for a DIY postbacc, would this cause problems in getting loans when it is time to go to medical school?

Thanks

 

[sazerac]

They are discussing this in the non trad pre med forum right now. You just get loans. You may have to declare a major, but it is okay if you never complete it.

Loans in undergrad have no effect on loans in medical school, which will be for the full Cost Of Attendance of that medical school.

 

[okokok]

I had to sign up as if I were intending to complete a second bachelors in order to receive loans. Then after I was done with my pre reqs, I "dropped out" of the program.

 

[premed1001]

so there is no way to get a fafsa loan for postbacc non degree seeking student?

obviously i would pay it back, so i dont see what the issue is here?

 

[sazerac]

so there is no way to get a fafsa loan for postbacc non degree seeking student?

obviously i would pay it back, so i dont see what the issue is here?

If you are looking for the reasoning behind arbitrary hoops and rules on the road to medicine, you will have a VERY long career path ahead of you.

 

[RangerBob]

so there is no way to get a fafsa loan for postbacc non degree seeking student?

obviously i would pay it back, so i dont see what the issue is here?

The reason is the government only gives loans for you to obtain "meaningful" education, which they generally define as a degree/certificate-granting program. It actually makes quite a bit of sense--there's no way for the government to guarantee with any certainty/likelihood that an individual can design their own program and succeed in obtaining a job/higher education. Formal programs increase the odds of that occurring, so those programs get funded. Your average 18-year old college freshman just doesn't know what it takes to design a major (in all fairness, many colleges know how to design a major but don't really deliver and just hand out A's, but that's another story)

Your only option if you are doing a DIY post-bac is to get private loans (though loans for a non-degree program may very well start repayment right after you finish and won't be eligible for in-school deferment) or pay for it yourself. If you go the DIY route, go to a community college or state-school. But if you can, do a formal program.

 

[sazerac]

Your only option if you are doing a DIY post-bac is to get private loans (though loans for a non-degree program may very well start repayment right after you finish and won't be eligible for in-school deferment) or pay for it yourself. If you go the DIY route, go to a community college or state-school. But if you can, do a formal program.

Or just declare a major, one that you have no intention of finishing.

I didn't need any loans for post-bacc undergrad so I never declared a major. The school itself got mad and declared a major (biology) on my behalf. I lolled. They are probably counting me as a biology dropout and failure right now in their stats.

The whole world hates the student who hasn't declared a major. So declare a "major". Problem solved.

 

[RangerBob]

Or just declare a major, one that you have no intention of finishing.

I didn't need any loans for post-bacc undergrad so I never declared a major. The school itself got mad and declared a major (biology) on my behalf. I lolled. They are probably counting me as a biology dropout and failure right now in their stats.

The whole world hates the student who hasn't declared a major. So declare a "major". Problem solved.

Good point--I forgot to mention that.

 

[premed1001]

The schools says even if I declare a second major I still won't be eligible because of exceeding the time necessary to complete a degree. Doesn't make sense because it's a second degree