Student Loans

[milos_mommy]

So, I'm thinking about trying to get a student loan.

Here is my trying-to-go-to-college drama in a nutshell:

I graduated HS in 2008. I was severely depressed, home-taught by teachers coming to my house, much of the time suicidal, and dead-set against going to college any time soon, I just couldn't handle it.

Six months later I was much better, and wanted desperately to go back to school. I looked into going to a private film school, at this point, my parents had *some* money and grants were possible. My parents were seemingly behind me, my dad gave me the money for a tuition deposit, etc.

When it came time to fill out forms for the grant, my parents bailed. Money got tight, and I couldn't go.

I enrolled in community college. My parents were having serious money and relationship problems and taking it out on me. My boyfriend moved about an hour away, he was also have mental health problems. I was not happy and really worried.

I dropped out of college in less than a week without telling my parents. My mom was having a total mental breakdown and was horrible and even frightening to live with. I told her my anxiety was making it difficult to drive to class (before I dropped out). She told me she didn't want me living with them anymore.

I spend over 2 months living in poverty in NYC. Apparently not having me at home caused mom more problems then having me there, because she asked me to move back. I did.

I got accepted to a public college in NYC, where I won't have to live at home or drive to school.

My mom refused to fill out my FAFSA, seemingly because she's worried about the IRS going after her.

She's in tons and tons of debit, backed taxes, and has awful credit.

She told me a few days she filed the FAFSA. It's past the deadline, but she told me she called the college and they said they'd accept it. I don't really believe her, to be honest. It's a government form, the college can't decide to accept it. I haven't gotten any emails or anything about it being completed.

I have enough cash/savings account to pay for the first semester's tutition, and dorm. IF I get a dorm, which is iffy. I find out this week. I also have some extra money from funds relatives started when I was itty bitty. Maybe enough to stretch out for the first year of school, if I can get a decent job while I'm there.

If I take out a student loan...I might be able to pay for an apartment (shared, or even a small one by myself) and manage to pay the next 3 years tuition, etc. If I did this, I could move out and file for aid as an independent, get work-study, etc, aside from being away from the stress of my family permanently.

I have no credit. The people who *might* be able to cosign for me are:

Zach
My Grandma
Zach's parents

I don't know if my grandma has good credit, I think she does. Zach has only had a credit record for less than a year and while it's good, he's not particularly responsible for money and his parents pay pretty much all his bills. Zach parents are really, really wealthy. They haven't offered personally to me to cosign, but Zach says they will and I'm sure they would.

The problem is...what if I screw up? What if I can't do it. I don't want to be a financial burden on someone, especially not my future in-laws, or on the off chance things don't work out between Zach and I, or on my elderly, ailing grandmother.

I'd probably try to get about $10,000 dollars. A tiny amount compared to the $50k plus loans many of my friends have...but I have no idea where to start.

 

[AGonzalez]

Try government student loans, regardless of credit, you'll be approved (unless you've had them before and defaulted). There are subsidized and unsubsidized loans - try Direct Loans as a google search. You won't need a co-signer, but will be required to fill out the FAFSA, which can be filled out at ANY time. If the school will accept a late FAFSA you should be ok...I just enrolled back in school after a 5 year break this year and enrolled for spring, filled out my FAFSA then and there and submitted it.

 

[Zoom]

Depending on what housing fees are like, it's MUCH cheaper to live off-campus most of the time. But I don't know your area or what your school charges for dorms.

 

[milos_mommy]

Depending on what housing fees are like, it's MUCH cheaper to live off-campus most of the time. But I don't know your area or what your school charges for dorms.

Um....you can get like a 30 square foot studio for 1000$ in a not-so-great area.

In one semester, I'd save about 1000$ living in the dorms (which are not on campus anyway). But I wouldn't have to get furniture, it'd be safer, and I'd have internet and stuff paid for.

 

[milos_mommy]

Try government student loans, regardless of credit, you'll be approved (unless you've had them before and defaulted). There are subsidized and unsubsidized loans - try Direct Loans as a google search. You won't need a co-signer, but will be required to fill out the FAFSA, which can be filled out at ANY time. If the school will accept a late FAFSA you should be ok...I just enrolled back in school after a 5 year break this year and enrolled for spring, filled out my FAFSA then and there and submitted it.

I can't file my FAFSA. I'm a dependant of my parents. They have to sign and provide info for the FAFSA. They will not do this. If I can get a private loan, I could file as an independent next year.

 

[drmom777]

I can't file my FAFSA. I'm a dependant of my parents. They have to sign and provide info for the FAFSA. They will not do this. If I can get a private loan, I could file as an independent next year.

Have you spoken to the school about this?

 

[AGonzalez]

She told me a few days she filed the FAFSA. It's past the deadline, but she told me she called the college and they said they'd accept it. I don't really believe her, to be honest. It's a government form, the college can't decide to accept it. I haven't gotten any emails or anything about it being completed.

Did you not just say she said she filled it out already? If it's already done you can still apply for government student loans, and let me tell you, the interest rates are better and for certain ones while you are in school they do not accrue interest.

IT is a government form, and can be filed at any time. It's up to the college to accept it if it's past their date. I filed mine in the middle of a school year, my college accepted that...when it says deadline there are exceptions to this.

Just so you know, all student loans that I am aware of, private et al. require you to submit a fafsa before applying.

 

[milos_mommy]

She said she did. That does not mean she did. She says she did, but can show me no proof it's been submitted or anything. I don't know if she asked the school if they'll still accept it...they might if I tell them the situation.

Dr. Mom...not yet. But I think I'm going to. My situation is just SO complicated...between my mother's debit and tax evasion and her boyfriend/business partner being an illegal citizen and my biological father being a deadbeat but still I need his info to fill out, I don't even know where he is or what he does.

Yeah, I kind of thought maybe I would need my parents help and FAFSA info to get any loan.

 

[Pam111]

make a meeting with a financial aid advisor at the school and sit down and talk

the community college here will accept students and offer aid right into the beginning of the semester

 

[Saeleofu]

IF she did file it, even if it's late, you can still get financial aid. The school CAN choose yo accept it late, but you are given priority if it's in on time. There are tons of people who file late every year.

If she DIDN'T file it, talk to your financial aid person ant school and explain to them the situation, and they may be able to make an exception and make it so you can fill it out without your parents' information.

 

[AGonzalez]

She said she did. That does not mean she did. She says she did, but can show me no proof it's been submitted or anything. I don't know if she asked the school if they'll still accept it...they might if I tell them the situation.

Dr. Mom...not yet. But I think I'm going to. My situation is just SO complicated...between my mother's debit and tax evasion and her boyfriend/business partner being an illegal citizen and my biological father being a deadbeat but still I need his info to fill out, I don't even know where he is or what he does.

Yeah, I kind of thought maybe I would need my parents help and FAFSA info to get any loan.

If you go to the FAFSA website you can find out if there's one submitted for you, it's pinned to your SS number, this can be done online, but if not I'd call them, can't hurt to find out for sure. That way there is no guessing on whether she did or did not. I would also do as someone else suggested and go to financial aide at the college you are applying to, sit down and talk with them and have them help you get it situated. You aren't the first or the last person who's parents refused to do the paperwork.

 

[Taqroy]

You aren't the first or the last person who's parents refused to do the paperwork.

This. I'm *almost* positive there is a way around getting your parents to sign. The absolute best people to talk are in the financial aid office. If you get someone that is not being helpful, just keep making appointments with different people. Someone will help you, that's their job. I had to go around a lot with the financial aid office at the college I went to.

 

[milos_mommy]

Thank you all. When I picked up info on financial aid the school booklet said basically: "you are a dependant IF XXXX, you're an independant if XXXXXX, if you're a dependant you need your parents to file but under special circumstances this can be negated by a school official" or something.

I'll try the FAFSA site, but will probably have to call because I filled one out and submitted it, and emailed my mom the form to sign with her electronic PIN, and she didn't do that.

 

[jammer]

Ugh! I'm sorry you're going through this. How old are you? Did your mom have income last year? Did you have income last year? Did you pay her money to live there? Talk to your financial aid office. They might be able to do a special circumstances waiver. Good luck!