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[edornob]

So I've been on my last year of college using only my savings. Quit my job about a year and a month ago to focus more on school. Figured this would be the perfect time to apply for financial aid.

I get rejected twice! The first time was because of having too many college hours so they gave me an appeal form that required a signature from the dean, transcript, and an essay. Done.

I get a rejection the second time because I have too many college hours. It doesn't make sense because I transferred from a community college and changed major but I've been on course with my degree plan here in my first university. I was offered a chance to appeal again but I have to type a new essay.

Any members here experiencing similar situations?

 

[pje122]

Just take out student loans.

 

[slit]

Are you in the U.S.? Is directly from the school? Write an essay?

 

[edornob]

Are you in the U.S.? Is directly from the school? Write an essay?

Yes.

Just take out student loans.

Only if I'm eligible of financial aid will I receive access to student loans

 

[slit]

Yes.

Did you apply for financial aid from the gov't?

 

[Memento_Mori15]

OP, how many credits do you have? There's a limit that you can't have over 1.5 the graduation credits to receive the aid. Say it takes you 120 credits to graduate, the limit is 180 credits. Talk to your school financial aid council to check your options. I think if you explain your situation, they can give you the aid.

Edit: reading the op again, I would say what I posted doesn't apply to you. I still say go to the financial aid office in your school and see your options.

 

[boatjacker]

Financial aid is approved, provided you meet the other requirements, if you have under 180 credits or have been going to school for 4 years. That's the deal with my school, so lets say you are at a community college and had 100 credits, and you transfer to a university and you need another 100 for a program or whatever the case. After 180 credits, they'll stop giving you financial aid. After that, you'll have to either take out loans or pay it out of pocket. Or if your school offers it, try asking for payment plans.

 

[edornob]

Financial aid is approved, provided you meet the other requirements, if you have under 180 credits or have been going to school for 4 years. That's the deal with my school, so lets say you are at a community college and had 100 credits, and you transfer to a university and you need another 100 for a program or whatever the case. After 180 credits, they'll stop giving you financial aid. After that, you'll have to either take out loans or pay it out of pocket. Or if your school offers it, try asking for payment plans.

So it doesn't matter if the rest of the requirements are approved, the moment you hit past 180 credits, aid cannot be provided?

 

[Averon]

Yup.

FA is limited by how many hours of college credit you have under your belt. It doesn't matter if you went to a community college and then transferred to a 4-year school. Your CC college hours still count towards your overall college credit hours.

The reason I know this is because I was pushing up to the limit of my FA while in CC and got a letter from the school telling me so. Thankfully I was able to graduate before this became an issue.

 

[Like the hat?]

I couldn't get financial aid because I was under 25, had no kids, and wasn't married, and didn't have my parents tax information (hadn't talked to them in years because of issues)

By the time I hit 26/was married, we made too much money jointly.

Had a kid, left work to watch him during the day and go to school at night, finally was able to get financial aid but my school screwed it up for the semester, so I had to wait for the next semester. Then I had too many credits and didn't qualify.

 

[Instro]

Only if I'm eligible of financial aid will I receive access to student loans

Can't you just get a student loan from a 3rd party like Sallie Mae?

 

[edornob]

Can't you just get a student loan from a 3rd party like Sallie Mae?

Before CC, I was always told to steer clear from Sallie Mae,. Forgot why

 

[Apath]

Can you apply for scholarships? Or does that require financial aid?

 

[edornob]

Can you apply for scholarships? Or does that require financial aid?

aid

 

[TheLaughingStock]

I recall a friend failed courses too many times early on and he had to pay out of pocket later. It wasn't that big of a deal though because he was taking out a lot of unsubsidized loans. Took two jobs and grandparents helped out.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Yup.

FA is limited by how many hours of college credit you have under your belt. It doesn't matter if you went to a community college and then transferred to a 4-year school. Your CC college hours still count towards your overall college credit hours.

The reason I know this is because I was pushing up to the limit of my FA while in CC and got a letter from the school telling me so. Thankfully I was able to graudate before this became an issue.

Does this count hours if you didn't use financial aid? I paid for CC in cash so I would be at zero when switching schools right?

 

[DyTonic]

Talk with your fin aid office advisor, make story really sad.

 

[slit]

In all my years of collge and getting financial aid I never heard of having to write an essay, unless this aid is directly from the school and not the gov't.

 

[Averon]

Does this count hours if you didn't use financial aid? I paid for CC in cash so I would be at zero when switching schools right?

If you took FA while in CC, then the credit hours under which you were on FA while in CC counts. If you didn't take any FA while in CC then no, I don't believe it counts. Check http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to be extra sure, though. I'm far from an expert on this matter. Rules could have changed since then.

 

[The Albatross]

Before CC, I was always told to steer clear from Sallie Mae,. Forgot why

Sallie Mae is a quasae-governmental student loan corporation, their loans are gauranteed by congress so rates are typically lower than other private lenders. People who complain about Sallie Mae complain because they have a lot of loans, and they blame Sallie Mae for it and think that they shouldn't have to pay for stuff they bought. (or the Sallie Mae website which generally does suck, but not a lot worse than any other lender)

You won't get turned down for a student loan.

 

[Vicetrailia]

Sallie Mae is a quasae-governmental student loan corporation, their loans are gauranteed by congress so rates are typically lower than other private lenders. People who complain about Sallie Mae complain because they have a lot of loans, and they blame Sallie Mae for it and think that they shouldn't have to pay for stuff they bought. (or the Sallie Mae website which generally does suck, but not a lot worse than any other lender)

You won't get turned down for a student loan.

Yup, but you better pay them back or beware.

 

[Instro]

Before CC, I was always told to steer clear from Sallie Mae,. Forgot why

Higher interest rate than government loans and they accrue interest while you are still in school I think, but its not a big deal. Especially considering you are in your last year.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Sallie Mae is a quasae-governmental student loan corporation, their loans are gauranteed by congress so rates are typically lower than other private lenders. People who complain about Sallie Mae complain because they have a lot of loans, and they blame Sallie Mae for it and think that they shouldn't have to pay for stuff they bought. (or the Sallie Mae website which generally does suck, but not a lot worse than any other lender)

You won't get turned down for a student loan.

No they're not quasi-governmental.

They're leeches who own and operate the lenders, who charge high interest rates so they can put more money in a safe that they don't use for any constructive purpose, and then, when you don't pay up, they send a collections agency, which they also own, to harass you and take as much away from you as they can, and on the sidee, they file a grievance with the govenrment to pay the remainder of the un-collected balance of the loan, with interest, of course.

Loan sharks, essentially. Stay away from them.

 

[Ovid]

Yes.



Only if I'm eligible of financial aid will I receive access to student loans

Huh...I'm never eligible for financial aid. I always have to get gov't student loans.

 

[kingofkingz30]

Op. What you need to do is apply for FAFSA. www.fafsa.ed.gov , as an undergrad student you are eligible for 12500 in student loans since you are almost a senior. plus if you are broke you also get Pell grants, plus yur school has extra funds for Perkins Loans, just ask them. if you need more info just ask

 

[kingofkingz30]

No they're not quasi-governmental.

They're leeches who own and operate the lenders, who charge high interest rates so they can put more money in a safe that they don't use for any constructive purpose, and then, when you don't pay up, they send a collections agency, which they also own, to harass you and take as much away from you as they can, and on the sidee, they file a grievance with the govenrment to pay the remainder of the un-collected balance of the loan, with interest, of course.

Loan sharks, essentially. Stay away from them.

LOAN SHARKS STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zoe]

Op. What you need to do is apply for FAFSA. www.fafsa.ed.gov , as an undergrad student you are eligible for 12500 in student loans since you are almost a senior. plus if you are broke you also get Pell grants, plus yur school has extra funds for Perkins Loans, just ask them. if you need more info just ask

Most colleges require you to file with FAFSA before applying for aid regardless. And those loans still require "satisfactory academic progress" which is set by the school.

 

[kingofkingz30]

Does this count hours if you didn't use financial aid? I paid for CC in cash so I would be at zero when switching schools right?

Actually not accurate. here is the breakdown.

You get up to $22000 in pell grants(if you are poor) and up to $57500 in student loans. The student loans are broken down into Subsidized(government pays the interest) and unsubsidized(intrest accrues the minute you apply). Once you hit those limits, then you are no longer eligible to receive funding. On your fafsa application, it will ask you your status. If you are a undergrad, you are only eligible for your first BS or BA. then you get another $86000 in student loans to get your masters. If you go to a reputable school, only place i would recommend getting a private loan from would be Wells Fargo. however most private student loan banks including Sallie Mae require a 680 fico store . Good luck

 

[boatjacker]

So it doesn't matter if the rest of the requirements are approved, the moment you hit past 180 credits, aid cannot be provided?

Exactly. It's either after 4 years or after 180 credits. After that, your only option is loans, which I personally refuse to take out. I'm not trying to get raped.

 

[Punchy4486]

If I get married to a Brit, and she gets a green card and starts going to the school in the US, will she qualify for financial aid or scholarships at all?

 

[Tamanon]

If I get married to a Brit, and she gets a green card and starts going to the school in the US, will she qualify for financial aid or scholarships at all?

Green card I don't believe so, have to be a citizen I think. Would have to check the literature.

Scholarships though, generally they have scholarships for foreign students.

 

[edornob]

Most colleges require you to file with FAFSA before applying for aid regardless. And those loans still require "satisfactory academic progress" which is set by the school.

Yep. The appeal asks to complete the SAP Appeal Form, write an essay, have the essay signed off by a dean, and a proof of completion of financial literacy sessions (1) savings and banking (2) credit cards and consumer (3) credit scores and reports. Not to mention meet the GPA standard depending on how many hours.

The part I fail is the maximum hours but after reading everything posted here, I wonder why they have asked me to reapply and rewrite my essay. They should've stated that its no longer possible for me to receive anything.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Actually not accurate. here is the breakdown.

You get up to $22000 in pell grants(if you are poor) and up to $57500 in student loans. The student loans are broken down into Subsidized(government pays the interest) and unsubsidized(intrest accrues the minute you apply). Once you hit those limits, then you are no longer eligible to receive funding. On your fafsa application, it will ask you your status. If you are a undergrad, you are only eligible for your first BS or BA. then you get another $86000 in student loans to get your masters. If you go to a reputable school, only place i would recommend getting a private loan from would be Wells Fargo. however most private student loan banks including Sallie Mae require a 680 fico store . Good luck

I had to get all private because Fafsa wouldn't give me anything but like $5k in unsubsidized loans. I never had pell grants or anything else. And I'm not sure how I wasn't accurate when asking a question?