[drgnfly170]

I'm going to be (hopefully) a first year nursing student this Spring (2008). I was just wondering if there are any suggestions for loans w/o cosigners. I'm only 18 and my credit isn't established yet, and my parents both don't have good credit b/c of the IRA and that means that they aren't able to cosign if I need them to. Are there any good loans out there????

[azor]

I can't help u Dear cos i wast trained here as a nurse so i dont really know anything about their loans.goodluck ok
Azor

[caliotter3]

Have you exhausted your resources at the financial aid office? There are some threads on this site where people mention sources of income for school such as Sallie Mae loans but you never will know unless you find out about these sources and apply for them. Otherwise, you might have to get employment, which you will need at some point to pay off the loans.

There are many scholarships and grants for healthcare students. You can find out about these at the school of nursing or the financial aid office. You can also search for them online. Good luck.

[drgnfly170]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm new to this website and haven't had time to check out all the websites that were already listed. But thanks for the info. Now that I know they are on here, I'll go and look for them.

[badgerstudent]

Have you filled out your FAFSA yet? (fafsa.ed.gov) if not, that is your first step!

[*Blessed2BaNRS*]

Like badgerstudent said, fill out a fafsa first and foremost. Even without credit established, most of the time, you are able to at least get a student loan for school. You can fill out the fafsa online and have it submited within about 3 hours. There is a lot of info to fill out, but it beats having to hand write everything, mail it in and then have to wait to find out anything!!

Good luck~

[coolpeach]

Like everyone said your first step is to go online and fill out the fafsa. I believe someone posted the website above. You cannot get ANY aid through your school until you do this. You will need DL #, SS#, any tax records you might have from the last year, earning, expenses, and plan to spend about 45 to an hour filling it out. Follow the directions step by step if you mess it up then they will just make you fill it out later, and it just takes more time. If you have trouble with something you can always go see a financial aid advisor at the school your wanting to go to. Thats what they are there for, and they are happy to help.

Once your fafsa has been submitted to your school they will let you know if you qualitfy for any grants, pell grants etc. Regardless of if you qualify for any grants you can still apply for a student loan. You call the financial aid office and ask when the next loan session is. I am going to one on July 8 so don't wait call as soon as you here back from your fafsa. You need to register to go so don't forget.

When you go to the session you will be there with lots of other students, and they will tell you everything you need to know, and give you the paper work to fill out. Fill it out right then if you can, and turn it in. It takes a while !!! I went to my first loan session in Aug, and didn't get my money until Nov, but if you take a loan the next year it's supposed to be a lot faster.

The student loans are secured by the government which means they are trusting you this once. You do NOT need credit, bank accounts, credit cards, or any financial history to apply. It does NOT matter that your parents have bad credit. As long as you've never gotten a student loan, and failed to repay it then you qualify.

You do not have to pay this loan back until you have graduated, dropped out, or for whatever reason stopped going for 6 months. You have to make sure you are always signed up for at least half time. They do charge you interest, but its not so bad. You have to pay the loan back regardless of if you graduate or just stop going so make sure your serious before you take on the responsibility of the loan. Because this is a federal loan filing Bankruptcy will not make it go away, and it will follow you forever, ruining your credit, and possibly preventing you from buying a home. They can even garnish your wages so it is very serious.

On the bright side if you do pay it back like you are supposed to then it will build your credit, and you'll be on your way. I think its amazing that our country gives any one who would like it a chance to get an education. Now go get your loan.