Frustrated, need to vent

Published

So, I was randomly selected this year along with others to submit my taxes and w2s to the school, even after doing my FAFSA. Well, it's taking them so long to review my documents, due to them being very busy. I get that. Well now, school starts monday, and the financial aid technician assigned to my file has not finished. So my financial aid check will be a month late. She told me that I can go ahead and pay out of pocket, and just pay myself back when I get my aid check. Now I don't know about you all, but I don't have 300-400 dollars just lying around my house. If I did, I wouldn't need the financial aid to begin with.

So now, I have to drop my classes for this semester because there is absolutely no way I can come up with the money for my books. I am so upset! I was so excited to start school on monday, and now I can't. Why can't something just go right for me? Just once?!?!?

Arg.

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Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.

Oh wow... I can only imagine your frustration. As of now, I can kind of relate. My loan came through, but only part of it. I'm going to be short more money than I have available. What the heck is up with this that people who dearly want to attend school can't because of $$$?

I hope this can be resolved for you and you can continue on. I wish you all the best.

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Oh wow - I'm so sorry!! I am in the same position for my books. We are looking at our options for right now as to how to come up with the money - cashing in my Husband's vacation, borrowing from close family, possibly taking out a temporary short term loan with my bank, selling something...I actually can make a decent amount of money selling home made pumpkin rolls for 8 bucks a piece...the recipe is on the inside of the Libby's canned pumpkin. I know it sounds silly but when you need a hundred bucks or so fast, it's worth it to spend a day baking!! Is there no way you can get the money, knowing you will get it back in a month or so? I'd hate to see you lose a whole semester over this. My fingers are crossed for you... :o

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Do you have a credit card or maybe someone you trust (and trusts you) can front that much credit for you? That's my first thought.

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Specializes in Oncology/Hematology.

I am SO sorry to hear that. That has to be incredibly frustrating. What school is it? If it's a state school, they might be more forgiving than private schools....I'd call them and see if you have any other options!

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You can go to a place like Cash Advance America or another cash advance outlet and get an advance for the next month. The advance comes at an astoundingly high interest rate, and I usually wouldn't recommend anyone get one, but in a real emergency like this, sometimes there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know if stuff like this is allowed, I hope I'm not breaking any rules, but bing.com (bing is a new search engine owned, operated and funded by Microsoft) is offering 20% cashback if you shop through them at Barnes & Noble. From now until the end of August. My little sister ended up paying $70 less than the quoted amount from her school's official textbook source and she got 20% cashback on top of that. It takes 60 days for cashback to post to your paypal, though.

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Same, my school is asking for $3,292.oo by Friday, because my loan hasn't been approved by the school yet, bank already approved, but school is taking forever, so I'm just gonna let it ride out until the loan comes through.

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Don't drop your classes without meeting with your adviser and department chair to discuss the situation. If you simply don't have the money someone should be able to help you come up with something.

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Try some other ways to buy your books. Look for old editions online. Sometimes you can find them for really low prices, and the material is almost exactly the same as the new ones. Ask classmates if they have taken some of the other classes you are in and if so can you buy their old books (or have the books for free if they are good friends). See if the library has copies that you can copy or read while in the library. Ask to use your friends books during the times they are in other classes; borrow right before their class, read in the library, and have the book back to them right when they get out. Ask the professors if they have extra books you can borrow. Try something, don't just drop because of books.

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Specializes in N/A.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm in the same boat. Our school here in FL is so far behind they were reviewing June submitted FAFSA's in August. I also was chosen to be audited. Here it is...school started last week...I've not heard a word. As soon as I heard what the issue was I applied for a short term loan through the school...that paid only 75%. The remaining came out of my pocket plus my books. (about $900 total!) The short term loan has to be paid back by Nov 12. Budget cuts are not my problem...my tuition and book costs increased this year and although I'm patient, I do expect things to be done in a timely manner. Still don't know if I'll get a Stafford. If not, I'm going to be forced to quit after this semester. We are not rich, yet don't qualify for squat. And we have THREE of us in college. I'm giving them until next Thursday and I'm going to the college president. (again)

Is it possible for you to get a short term loan? Although, like me, you will run into issues if a student loan doesn't go through. I hope it works out for you.

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Specializes in Clinical Partner and CNA.

I went through the same thing (well actually do almost every year.) My name must be really common because there is 3 of us, but they seem to get us confused all of the time, something gets screwed up. I dont know about your school, but mine has a 1 time emergency loan for situations like this. You dont have to pay for tuition until your loan comes in. Check into your school and see if they offer it. Good Luck!

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Don't feel bad. Over 30% of applications are selected for verification.

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