Worried about borrowing money?

[MBCRNA]

Okay- I know there is probably a lot of worriers out there who have just been extremely excited about being accepted to CRNA school (me too), but now have realized===oh crap, I need some money! I will have one less income for up to 3 yrs--ouch! Before the financial meltdown of the country, I wasn't too worried about getting loans to pay off school. They were there. Here recently, I have been struggling to find places that are giving the type of loans that I am interested in: Here is a breakdown-

Okay-

1) You'll qualify and get easily federal stafford loans (after you fill out fafsa). They are subsidized and unsubsidized. The subsidized are based on your income and carry a lower interest rate. You can get up to 20, 500 in a combination of subsidized/unsubsidized or just unsubsidized (they don't look at your income- has a higher interest rate but good).

2) Now as you may have realized 20, 500 doesn't pay for your cost of living and total (etc of what it might be). So you have the option of Grad Plus Loan. It will pay for school up to COA (Cost of Attendance).

So, here your tuition/fees/books/etc are paid, but what about those folks that are paying for mortgages that are on the higher side that are more than the COA or other bills that you won't be able to pay-- well, there is something called direct-to-consumer or direct-to-borrower loans. These were the loans that I wasn't worried about getting just only 6 months ago. Now, they are almost non-existant. These loans are based on your credit, private, and paid directly to you in a lump sum- and not certified through school (so the school doesn't know about it-and shouldn't). These will not be based on your cost of attendance. So, yes, they'll pay for your "real expenses" that most people in our position have.

So, I looked through all of the loans listed in the sticky notes on this site referenced from 2005-2007. Most are non-existant now and the ones that still exist are only certified through school so they are calculated in the cost of attendance.

I think I may have found a couple thus far. Anyone who finds more, please post! These are questions many people have.

1) Campus Door does a direct to consumer- NON CERTIFIED THROUGH SCHOOL, DEFERRABLE, PAID to student 45 days prior to enrollment. Here is the link http://www.campusdoor.com/main/loanproducts.aspx?action=dlmain

2) I believe Wells Fargo is still doing there Wells Fargo Education Loan that is NOT CERTIFIED THROUGH SCHOOL, DEFERRABLE, PAID to student.

These are basically the ONLY ones that I have come across. As I find new ones, I will post them. Please do the same!

[tuxedo_1]

Be very careful that you will need the money. When I graduated, I was over $100,000 in debt....and those private, non-govt loans usually have variable interest rates...or at least high %....8.5 don't seem like much, but when you're talking $40,000 or more, it adds up and will be a pain to pay off. Looking back, I wished I had cinched the belt tighter and not taken out so much. It would have been nice to kick back and enjoy life for awhile after school instead of working like crazy to get the loans paid off. Otherwise, it will seem like all you make, is going toward bills. Max out the Stafford loans as those interest rates are the lowest. Anything more, really be sure you need it. Good luck.

[RN789]

Is there any updated info on loans now that it's over year since the last post?

[2ndbach]

I am really happy and excited about school, but terrified of leaving my job and income too. I know that Wells Fargo is still offering a direct to borrower loan with a max of 25,000 per year. Obviously this would work for your first year, but if you need more, the second year would be tougher because you have no proof of income while in school. If anyone finds any other direct to borrower loans out there, PLEASE POST! As far as I know most have disappeared over the last 1 - 2 years unless you are a medical student. So stressful!

[Happy Halothane]

Go for Stafford 1st. Both Subsidized and Unsubsidized. Research the loan companies and look for the best deals: 0.5% off with automatic payments, etc.

For the secondary loan each semester: compare Private variables vs Grad Plus.

• Grad Plus doesn't require credit worthiness, but will have a higher fixed interest rate than Stafford.
  
• Additionally, Grad Plus loans will generally hit you with an origination fee (3%) that gets tacked onto the principle. Example, with a $20,000 2-part loan, there will be a $600 fee...so you'll be accruing interest on $20,600 during the deferment period.
  

• Private loans may have variable rates, but are extremely competitive against each other, and generally don't have origination fees. The interest rate is generally lower 3%-5%, but has the possibility to increase later down the road.
  

I opted for the private loan after the first year. The interest was 3% vs 7.5% grad+, plus no 3% origination fee. Additionally, the company paid me back 2% after graduation. It's my low priority loan based on interest rate, but has the potential to become a higher priority if the interest rate increases.

Also, some information on consolidating loans after school:

• If you decide to consolidate your government loans (stafford, Grad+), the moment you do so enters you into repayment. In other words, your grace period is up.
  
• It does NOT save you money. It averages the balances/interest rates of your loans, and rounds up. Additionally, most loans offer a 0.5% interest rate deduction with automatic draft...a benefit may lose if you consolidate.
  
• It may help organize your loans for you...but in the world of BillPay and auto debit, what's the difference?
  

The feeling of paying off a loan is rewarding and motivating. I took the approach of paying off the highest interest loan first, then re-applying that money into the next highest interest loan.

Hope this helps!

[StephanieP2009]

Hey everyone!

I got accepted into a 10 month LPN program through a tech/vocational school...so not technically a college. I start in September and was told by the financial aid counselor that I can apply for the Wells Fargo Non-Certified Student Loan (after maxing out my Staffords). I know they are still lending money, but how hard is it to get approved? I have a credit score of roughly 610 (lack of judgement during college) with spare job history because I worked as a nanny off the books, but I have a co-signer that has extremely good credit and 15 years at the same job. I only have 1 week until I apply, so I know that it's basically a waiting game, but just wanted to see if anyone else has been approved, or denied within the past few months! I need this money to pay the majority of my rent & bills while I'm in school (I will be working part time), so I really hope I get approved! Also, I know they say that you can take up to $15,000....I plan on applying for about $8,000...does that help? LOL.