I have been accepted into the TJU FACT program that begins in May but the orientation isn't until a week before classes begin and I would like to get a better idea of the scheduling. I know it's 5 days a week but does anyone have some more specific info? i have to arrange for child care and transportation and a general idea of the class/clinical hours would be helpful.
also...anyone else out there starting the program with me in May?
Does anyone have a clue when our tuition is due? I had heard that student loans can't be disbursed until July 1. Does anyone know if that is true. I emailed the Tuition Office and got back the following (unsigned) reply: "
If your financial aid does not cover the balance of you tuition for the
semester, then the balance is due the first day of classes. Thank you"
Does "financial aid" include loans? Gad, I am confused.
I am slightly confused about this as well, but I do remember hearing the same thing about payment not due til July. I will follow up with Brian in the FA office to try to get a more concrete answer, he is pretty good at answering questions via email.
Hey, everyone, check your Jefferson email. It seems we have a new requirement to do before school starts: getting fingerprinted. Gee, why didn't they wait a little longer to let us know?? :angryfire
What's really annoying is that I *could* go down to my local police station to be fingerprinted any old day of the week. But no, we have to do it through this stupid agency's sites in Pennsylvania. (I checked their website and they don't have any sites in my home state of NJ.)
I am finishing up my semester right now and don't have time to run into Philly to get this done. It's gonna wait until I can get there some time at the end of next week. And I'm not terribly happy about the choice of sites. Like, I'm supposed to walk into a UPS store and be *fingerprinted*??
Sorry I forgot to post this email reply I received from Brian in the FA office regarding when tuition is due:
"The tuition is due before the first day of classes. The tuition amount due is half of your tuition which is roughly $16,733. This either has to be paid at that time, or you must show that you have enough pending financial aid to cover it instead."
Hope this helps clear it up a little, and yes I am getting a little p****d off as well at the last minute changes and pre-matric reqs. Plus I do not need weekly phone calls while I am at work/class to remind me that I am missing my HIPPA certification. I will get it done, so just chill out!
And that HIPAA thing is so lame, anyway. You'll be able to complete it in your sleep. One of them -- I can't remember if it's the safety or the HIPAA training -- is narrated by a guy with voice so boring and slow that I turned the sound off on my computer and just read the slides. I would have been there all night trying to get through it at his slow pace!
Just did the private loan app. thing. Took a whole 10 minutes. Just a word of advice: don't e-sign the promissory note until you know what the interest rate is! It sounds ridiculous, but they don't have to tell you what rate you were approved for before you sign the note, and they won't send the electronic paperwork to Jefferson *until* you sign or e-sign your promissory note. Apparently, this is the case with most private student loan lenders. I called the customer service department at Discover Loans to find out what my rate was before I affixed my electronic John Hancock. Hah hah. I guess John Hancock is now on the hook for my student loans! (That was bad, I know.)
Did everyone see the article in the NYTimes about private student loans:
Also, check out the Student Lending Analytics site they mention in that article. Lots and lots of good info there, including comparisons of various lenders.
Got my fingerprinting done yesterday. What a PITA! I went to the UPS store in the Mellon Building at 18th & JFK. They do fingerprinting there from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Um, what if someone is *working* and can't get there? There is no ink involved, just a small scanner. The scanner is terrible and makes people put their fingers on the screen over and over again. A gigantic waste of time. At least I ran into another Jeff student and we were able to chit-chat while we waited.
The woman at the UPS store told me I'll get the results in "6 to 8 weeks". Huh? I thought we needed them before starting clinicals. Well, I am not going to waste any of my energy worrying about it.
Just did the private loan app. thing. Took a whole 10 minutes. Just a word of advice: don't e-sign the promissory note until you know what the interest rate is! It sounds ridiculous, but they don't have to tell you what rate you were approved for before you sign the note, and they won't send the electronic paperwork to Jefferson *until* you sign or e-sign your promissory note. Apparently, this is the case with most private student loan lenders. I called the customer service department at Discover Loans to find out what my rate was before I affixed my electronic John Hancock. Hah hah. I guess John Hancock is now on the hook for my student loans! (That was bad, I know.)
Did everyone see the article in the NYTimes about private student loans:
Also, check out the Student Lending Analytics site they mention in that article. Lots and lots of good info there, including comparisons of various lenders.
Hi, AtomicWoman
I'll start an accerelated BSN in September. I have to use private loans. I have a few questions to ask:
1. When is the proper time to apply private loan? They have deadline for Fall admission? Need I start to apply right now if my class begins August 31?
2. Can I contact private loan directly or I need to let the school know before I contact private loan?
3. Can I use two private loans or I can only use one?
I'll start an accerelated BSN in September. I have to use private loans. I have a few questions to ask:
1. When is the proper time to apply private loan? They have deadline for Fall admission? Need I start to apply right now if my class begins August 31?
2. Can I contact private loan directly or I need to let the school know before I contact private loan?
3. Can I use two private loans or I can only use one?
Thanks in advance!
Because the private loan application is done online and they check your credit report right away, you will get an answer immediately. Once I hit the "submit" button, it took maybe a minute or two to get the approval screen. So you can wait until it's pretty close to your deadline. Just remember that the August-September period is going to be crazy-busy for your school, so you need to give them enough time to certify your loan. I would email them and ask them (your school) when they would prefer you apply for your student loan. I waited until pretty close to the deadline, but not everyone would feel comfortable doing that, esp. if you weren't sure you'd be approved.
You contact the private lenders directly. There's a list of them at that Student Lending Analytics site I gave a link to. You probably don't need to let your school know who you're applying with, but once the application is approved, I'd give them a "heads up" about what lender I used. (That's what I did.) Some schools have a list of "preferred" lenders, but as far as I know, you don't have to use those lenders. You might consider it if they have a really good "deal" for students with those lenders, but frankly, I doubt that's the case. And there have been some scandals about universities pushing their students to use particular lenders.
I don't know the answer to the two-versus-one private loan question. Here's how the private lending system works, and maybe that will answer your question.
(1) You apply and are approved for, a private student loan. You apply for a specific amount, and that's what you get approved for. Have your driver's license ready for the application and if you think you're going to need a cosigner, have that person's driver's license ready, too.
(2) You sign your promissory note (once you know what the rate is!) either online or in paper form.
(3) The private lender immediately transmits, electronically, a request for "certification" from your school.
(4) Your school certifies that your private loan does NOT exceed your "Cost of Attendance" (COA). That's really important! (COA includes tuition, fees, books, a housing or living allowance, etc.) Your school will also tell your lender when (on what dates) the funds are to be disbursed.
(5) Once you are certified and the disbursement date comes along, the lender electronically sends the funds to your school. **There is at least one exception to this**. I have *heard* of private lenders who send the student a check directly. I don't know which lender that is, but if you may or may not want to check into that. Remember that your school will have to refund you any amounts over and above your tuition and fees (i.e., the amounts you borrow that are actually for living expenses), so inquire at your school how quickly they do that.
Make sure you get from your school a detailed "Cost of Attendance". Private lenders will only lend up to that amount. Your school may also subtract the amounts of any Stafford Loans and other financial aid from your COA. That wasn't an issue for me, because I'm borrowing way less than my COA.
You can also call the lenders before you apply and ask them questions. I found the customer service people at Discover Student Loans very helpful and patient.
Remember you can apply to another lender if you don't like the rate you get from one lender. Just don't sign your promissory note until you are sure you're going to go with that lender! You could, of course, always cancel the loan and go with another lender, but that would be a pain and take up your time.
Because the private loan application is done online and they check your credit report right away, you will get an answer immediately. Once I hit the "submit" button, it took maybe a minute or two to get the approval screen. So you can wait until it's pretty close to your deadline. Just remember that the August-September period is going to be crazy-busy for your school, so you need to give them enough time to certify your loan. I would email them and ask them (your school) when they would prefer you apply for your student loan. I waited until pretty close to the deadline, but not everyone would feel comfortable doing that, esp. if you weren't sure you'd be approved.
You contact the private lenders directly. There's a list of them at that Student Lending Analytics site I gave a link to. You probably don't need to let your school know who you're applying with, but once the application is approved, I'd give them a "heads up" about what lender I used. (That's what I did.) Some schools have a list of "preferred" lenders, but as far as I know, you don't have to use those lenders. You might consider it if they have a really good "deal" for students with those lenders, but frankly, I doubt that's the case. And there have been some scandals about universities pushing their students to use particular lenders.
I don't know the answer to the two-versus-one private loan question. Here's how the private lending system works, and maybe that will answer your question.
(1) You apply and are approved for, a private student loan. You apply for a specific amount, and that's what you get approved for. Have your driver's license ready for the application and if you think you're going to need a cosigner, have that person's driver's license ready, too.
(2) You sign your promissory note (once you know what the rate is!) either online or in paper form.
(3) The private lender immediately transmits, electronically, a request for "certification" from your school.
(4) Your school certifies that your private loan does NOT exceed your "Cost of Attendance" (COA). That's really important! (COA includes tuition, fees, books, a housing or living allowance, etc.) Your school will also tell your lender when (on what dates) the funds are to be disbursed.
(5) Once you are certified and the disbursement date comes along, the lender electronically sends the funds to your school. **There is at least one exception to this**. I have *heard* of private lenders who send the student a check directly. I don't know which lender that is, but if you may or may not want to check into that. Remember that your school will have to refund you any amounts over and above your tuition and fees (i.e., the amounts you borrow that are actually for living expenses), so inquire at your school how quickly they do that.
Make sure you get from your school a detailed "Cost of Attendance". Private lenders will only lend up to that amount. Your school may also subtract the amounts of any Stafford Loans and other financial aid from your COA. That wasn't an issue for me, because I'm borrowing way less than my COA.
You can also call the lenders before you apply and ask them questions. I found the customer service people at Discover Student Loans very helpful and patient.
Remember you can apply to another lender if you don't like the rate you get from one lender. Just don't sign your promissory note until you are sure you're going to go with that lender! You could, of course, always cancel the loan and go with another lender, but that would be a pain and take up your time.
Good luck!
Hi, AtomicWoman,
Thanks a lot for your detailed reply! It's really very helpful!
For Cost of Attendance (i have received that), in case it's $30,000 for the total cost (tuition plus other expenses). Does it mean you must borrow $30,000? Can I just borrow some amounts to cover just the tuition part, and I can manage the other expenses using my own deposits (For this part, do I need to show the school my bank deposits?). In another word, must I show the school the evidence I have total $30,000? I think I have family to support my other expenses(housing, transportation, etc).
Have you applied federal student loan? I have just applied online and the application has bee processed. How long does it take to get results from the school? I need to know how much I can get the federal, then I can decide how much I need to get from private loan.
Thanks a lot for your detailed reply! It's really very helpful!
For Cost of Attendance (i have received that), in case it's $30,000 for the total cost (tuition plus other expenses). Does it mean you must borrow $30,000? Can I just borrow some amounts to cover just the tuition part, and I can manage the other expenses using my own deposits (For this part, do I need to show the school my bank deposits?). In another word, must I show the school the evidence I have total $30,000? I think I have family to support my other expenses(housing, transportation, etc).
Have you applied federal student loan? I have just applied online and the application has bee processed. How long does it take to get results from the school? I need to know how much I can get the federal, then I can decide how much I need to get from private loan.
Once agian, thank you!
You can borrow as little as you like, or even not borrow anything at all. The only thing is that once your school sets the COA, that amount is the maximum you *can* borrow from a private lender. Borrowing less is good! :)
Yes, I applied for federal/Stafford loans. They will electronically request that your school certify you for the loan amount. Usually, the school doesn't do that until school begins or just before it begins, because they have to see evidence that you're actually going to attend that school. Check with your school's financial aid office for details of how they do it. Assuming you haven't defaulted on any student loans in the past, you should be able to get the maximum Stafford loan for your year in school (Freshman can borrow less than juniors, and so on. I've never quite figured that out.)
Here's a link to the amount of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans you can borrow:
It can be quite confusing, especially if you are a dependent student and your parents have high incomes. But most students are able to borrow the maximum (the amount in the far right-hand column). Your school should notify you what you are eligible for, regarding Stafford Loans. My experience with that has been that the schools aren't exactly quick to let you know what you're eligible for, which may leave you hanging. But the process of obtaining both Stafford and private loans is quick, once you know how much you need to borrow.
AtomicWoman
1,747 Posts
Does anyone have a clue when our tuition is due? I had heard that student loans can't be disbursed until July 1. Does anyone know if that is true. I emailed the Tuition Office and got back the following (unsigned) reply: "
If your financial aid does not cover the balance of you tuition for the
semester, then the balance is due the first day of classes. Thank you"
Does "financial aid" include loans? Gad, I am confused.