Other OT-Related Information How do I pay for OT school?

[FINGERS_CROSSED]

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Hi everyone! I was recently accepted to OT school beginning this May.

The question now is...how do I pay for it? I didn't have to borrow money for undergrad so I have no idea the steps for paying for graduate school. I have and will continue to research scholarships but, in case those don't work out...does anyone have any advice about types of loans (government vs. private) and the process? Thanks in advance!

 

[OTjourney]

Step 1: Fill out your FAFSA

 

[lao27746]

Make sure to fill out your fafsa soon. I believe the due date to fill it out is in March.
I took out loans and grants in my undergrad, and those types of aid should be available to you for grad school.
The best thing to do would be to call the financial aid office at the school you've been accepted to and ask them what type of aid is available and what steps you should take to receive that aid.

Good luck and congratulations!

 

[FINGERS_CROSSED]

Make sure to fill out your fafsa soon. I believe the due date to fill it out is in March.
I took out loans and grants in my undergrad, and those types of aid should be available to you for grad school.
The best thing to do would be to call the financial aid office at the school you've been accepted to and ask them what type of aid is available and what steps you should take to receive that aid.

Good luck and congratulations!

Thanks. I will start doing this tomorrow.

 

[OldHopeful]

Most people pay for their schooling with govt loans... I highly recommend calculating how much you will have to pay over time... Try not to cry: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/loanpayments.phtml

After you fill out your FAFSA, you will be told how much money you have to contribute and how much you're allowed to take out. Here's a website to get an estimate of your financial aid: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/estimate

STAY AWAY from private loans if you can. I can't tell you how many people I know that took out private loans that TRIPLED after graduation. The Obama admin made tighter regulations so this doesn't happen but I would still play it safe and go govt. Also, I think private loans are also excluded for loan forgiveness programs but our current administration has talked about getting rid of/ making the criteria harder so I wouldn't bet on that...

 

[FINGERS_CROSSED]

Most people pay for their schooling with govt loans... I highly recommend calculating how much you will have to pay over time... Try not to cry: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/loanpayments.phtml

After you fill out your FAFSA, you will be told how much money you have to contribute and how much you're allowed to take out. Here's a website to get an estimate of your financial aid: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/estimate

STAY AWAY from private loans if you can. I can't tell you how many people I know that took out private loans that TRIPLED after graduation. The Obama admin made tighter regulations so this doesn't happen but I would still play it safe and go govt. Also, I think private loans are also excluded for loan forgiveness programs but our current administration has talked about getting rid of/ making the criteria harder so I wouldn't bet on that...

Wow. Thanks so much for your insight. I really appreciate it.

 

[OTjourney]

STAY AWAY from private loans if you can. I can't tell you how many people I know that took out private loans that TRIPLED after graduation. The Obama admin made tighter regulations so this doesn't happen but I would still play it safe and go govt. Also, I think private loans are also excluded for loan forgiveness programs but our current administration has talked about getting rid of/ making the criteria harder so I wouldn't bet on that...

Ahhh, can't wait to start my entire graduate career under this new administration.



🙁

 

[Sawyer95]

Does anyone have any information about joining a branch of the military as an OT? Similarly, I have seen some sites about traveling OT and overseas OT that would be similar to a loan forgiveness program. Has anyone looked into these options or known someone who took these routes post-grad?

 

[Futurenjot]

Bumping

 

[bhansen2]

Does anyone have any information about joining a branch of the military as an OT? Similarly, I have seen some sites about traveling OT and overseas OT that would be similar to a loan forgiveness program. Has anyone looked into these options or known someone who took these routes post-grad?

Not a very good possibility. The armed forces recruit a very small number of OTs each year. It's possible, you just have to start the process very early. They can offer to pay back some of the loans after you graduate, but i'm pretty sure there is no money up front (like a scholarship).