What if you need more than stafford?

[Ginkoba4]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I know, I know, this probably has been talked about ten times over, but can somebody just help me understand where I can get money? I am worried because I seriously don't have enough money and cannot get money from my parents.

I'm attending a post-bacc program in the fall in which the maximum Stafford loans are around $18000 for the whole year (I think this is true for all grad programs). So I have sent in some kind of financial aid application to the school and they have some joint bank loaning program (this happens to be PCOM if anybody knows anything specific please tell me). However, the cost of the tuition is already $18000. How do I get money for living expenses? Will the school estimate my living expenses and give me that amount or do I have to give them some more information? Or do I have to go out and get a private loan all together?

Please help! I really hope I don't have to pay a lot of upfront expenses 🙁 Thank you in advance!

 

[OSUdoc08]

Ask your financial aid department if they have anything available other than a private loan. You don't want one of those.

 

[mpp]

Schools will have a set budget for living expenses and will usually offer scholarships, grants, state loans, and private loans to cover what the federal loans don't. However, realize that this budget is generally not very generous and cannot cover things such as car or credit card payments. But, be sure to let the financial aid department know your situation. A private school like PCOM cannot survive without studetns paying tuition so they are usually helpful in finding funding sources for you.

 

[ItsNotATumor]

Be prepared to have to apply for less favored private loans, if there's a difference between your estimated student budget and all your other sources of funding, your school will expect you to makeup the shortfall.

 

[OSUdoc08]

don't forget the Perkins Loan