Student loans

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How do you know how much to ask for when taking out a student loan? Can I apply for student loan (stafford) before they tell me if I get my financial aid? I haven't been told how much financial aid I will get other than my EFC is 1229, because I had to file an appeal in order to get my financial aid and they don't meet until January. How do you get extra money to help pay expenses when taking out a loan? I am hoping to get into nursing school Fall 09, but I have a few pre-reqs to finish up. I have three kids, a husband, a mortgage and all of the normal expenses so I really don't have any out of pocket money to put towards my education. Also, my oldest daughter graduates in 09 and I'm wondering if by me going to school if that will affect any financial aid, ect that she may be eligible for? I don't want to mess up any of her chances at all. I am getting quite frustrated. I wanted to early register so the good classes wouldn't be filled up but I was told I won't be able to do that because the financial aid people don't meet until January and that I may be late starting my classes which doesn't make any sense. Why would they not go ahead and meet so people could get registered in time for classes. :banghead:

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Hmmm..ok, so I'm a little confused. Are you trying to take classes starting in January (it's winter term for us, but if your school uses semesters it could be called spring)? Is that what you're trying to get financial aid for?

If that's the case, you may need to get an appeal for your financial aid because financial aid decisions for the 08-09 school year, were probably decided last spring (spring of '08). It sounds like they only make those decisions at set points during the year.

If you want financial aid for next fall (the 09-10 school year) you'll have to file again this comming January (every year you need aid, you file the January before).

That being said, can't you register for classes before you find out your financial aid? In fact, some of the school's I've been to required me to register before finding out my financial aid.

The way it has worked for me is that you register for classes and the if you drop your class before the first week of the term, you don't owe them any money. If you keep the classes, then you need to pay the tuition bill....does that make sense?

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Yes I applied for Fin Aid to start this January (Spring) and then Summer of this year to finish up my pre-reqs, but I am not sure if I will get enough Fin Aid to cover my classes so I might need a loan for those classes nd then I am hoping to get financial aid and/or loans for nursing school if I get in this Fall, which I am hoping and praying I do. I hope that makes a little more sense.

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Yes I applied for Fin Aid to start this January (Spring) and then Summer of this year to finish up my pre-reqs, but I am not sure if I will get enough Fin Aid to cover my classes so I might need a loan for those classes nd then I am hoping to get financial aid and/or loans for nursing school if I get in this Fall, which I am hoping and praying I do. I hope that makes a little more sense.

Federal loans are part of your financial aid package. When they tell you your financial aid, it might be federal and state grants and Federal loans, or it could be just loans. They tell you the maximum that you can receive and then you decide if you want less.

As for nursing school in the Fall.....you'll need to fill out a FASFA form in January (based on your income in 2008) to apply for financial aid for classes in the fall.

Does that make sense?

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Oh and I would double check with your registrar's office (might be called enrollment services) about not being able to register for classes until you hear about financial aid. I haven't heard that before.

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Specializes in Maternity.

i understand what your saying. i would look into stafford loans and get through the "interview" process at least. if you don't know how to apply, stop by your financial aid office and they should be able to tell you. if you get a loan, it doesn't mean you have to use it. the school will pay you back for any money they receive for your financial aid.

also, another thing to ask the financial aid office is about promissory notes. my school gives it's students time at the beginning of the new semester for their financial aid to be paid in.

don't frustrate yourself. please talk to your school, you should be able to register without your financial aid at this point. the only reason i can think of you not being able to register for the following semester is because of an account that is already past due. not because you don't have your financial aid for the next semester (at least at my school)

good luck!! :nuke:

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Specializes in Maternity.

oh and as to how much you should take out, the school should be able to give you a good idea. my school let us know how much we could take out as freshman, sophmores, independents and so forth.

anyway! lol. the financial aid office is where you really need to go ;)

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What is the "interview" process?

When I went to undergraduate school fall 2003-fall 2007, I never had an interview. I filled out my FAFSA then the school sent my award letter. I registered for classes and a few days before school started I got the refund check to pay for books.

Has things changed?

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Yes it does make sense. I gues I will call Fin Aid sometime this week and ask more questions. Thanks!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
What is the "interview" process?

When I went to undergraduate school fall 2003-fall 2007, I never had an interview. I filled out my FAFSA then the school sent my award letter. I registered for classes and a few days before school started I got the refund check to pay for books.

Has things changed?

Before you get Stafford Loans, you need to complete an "Entrance Interview". It's something that is or can be done online (I just did mine online). Basically, look at a few webpages and answer a few questions along the way. It informs you that student loans are never forgiven and you have to pay them back. After you're about to leave school, you do another "Exit Interview". I think that I did in person in 2002, when I was leaving college. Same thing.. I don't know why they call it "Interview" when it just seemed like an information session.

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where do I go to do the interview?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
where do I go to do the interview?

After I filled out my financial aid stuff (FAFSA), my school sent me paperwork regarding what Stafford loans I had been approved for. The instructions for taking the entrance interview was in there.

The site that had the entrance interview was here:

http://www.aessuccess.org/

American Education Services

The first page has 3 main columns. Under the middle one "Find Aid for School" towards the bottom is where the "Entrance & Exit Counseling" is. You need to already have been approved for a loan. I forget if you need to have done the promissary note thing (you can do that by logging into the webpage and it'll tell you what you're approved for). Once you login, it's hard to find the "entrance and exit counselling".. I kept logging in over and over before I found it.

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