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Frantic for a student loan... What should I do?

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  • #16
    Thanks again for the comments guys

    I chose BU for a few reasons - When I was applying, the level of "selection" seemed about right for me - it wasn't so ridiculous that I didn't stand a chance, but was higher than many of the state schools. I have no problem with state schools, but I'll go into that later. I also liked that it isn't a college that's totally centered around sports, that the campus was right in the middle of the city, and just the city itself. No one else I knew went here or was going here - something I was looking for, as I really just wanted a fresh start, since my high school years were anything but pleasant. Although of course now I've realized I'm hardly giving myself a fresh start with these money problems.

    And having it in the city hasn't been much of a plus anyway - with the exception of the first couple weeks really, the only bit of the city I've seen is the inside of my dorm and the study lounge

    It's funny that you mention Truman, as I have considered transferring there over the past few weeks. However, my high school counselors sort of left a bad taste in my mouth for the state colleges - probably 80% + of my graduating class either went to there or Mizzou, so they weren't very helpful with my decision not to go to either, and just made those two schools seem like a "catch-all" for students to go to straight to after high school, and like Katie said, I wanted to stand out to a medical school. However at this point, if I do transfer to a state school, I've got no right to be choosy or complain considering what mess I've created here. And since I haven't been out and about in Boston anyway, I think I'd hardly even notice being in a rural setting.

    Though there's some cheaper schools in Kansas City I think... Maybe I'll look around there... Relief to know that transfer deadlines are usually a bit later and less stringent though - thanks for that.

    I was given loads of different advice about which college to choose, I just wish I'd followed what one of my teachers told me rather than what the counselors did - go to where you'll be in the least amount of debt. Everything's 20/20 in hindsight though...

    I'll go visit the financial office as soon as I can (likely Monday) and see what options they give me and just go from there.

    About the overseas school - I was going to mention it in the original post but it wasn't relevant to my problem so I left it out, but anyway. I was seriously looking into going to the University of Glasgow for all 4 years when I was applying, and even flew over there the summer before last to visit it. They're taking an increasingly large volume of American students there (as well as in Edinburgh), and of course accept ACT scores, SAT scores, and AP credit (all of which I have). It's in the top 10 universities in the UK, and I really loved it while I was there. However, I discovered that most medical schools would require at least 2 years at an American school to be accepted. So I thought I'd just do two years in Boston and then do 2 years there - so much for that!

    As for it being cheaper, it is. When I was there visiting, they said tuition for American students worked out to be about $17-18k a year, not including the cost of living. They said you should factor in about another $10-14k for living expenses and cost of travel. But now considering that when I was there, a pound sterling was about $2. As of now it's $1.60 something, so it'd be even cheaper... though as volatile as the economy is now that's probably going to change . You can also get a Stafford loan to go there, which was how I was going to pay for it.

    Whether any of this is possible at this point I don't know, though I'd very much at least like to try...

    Thanks again for the advice guys, I wasn't really sure what to expect when I posted on an online forum for help. I just thought I'd be called an idiot for choosing such an expensive school! But you've all been tremendously helpful and I'll be sure to let you guys know what the financial office says.

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    • #17
      Another thought -- there's a school in Kansas City that does a combined undergraduate and med school degree in a 6 year program. Might be worth checking out...

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      • #18
        Talk to the financial aid office, ASAP. They will definately be able to set up a plan of action to assist you. BU is a excellent institution, and a feeder school to many top graduate programs in the nation. If I were you- I would use all of my resources to stay there.

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        • #19
          Rooskers, the fact that you compare community college to Harvard is laughable- even if you are just talking about the 100s level classes. The difference is the professors that teach them, the students that participate in them, and the lessons/assignments that are implemented.
          I certainly can compare 200 level classes and below from a community college to any other university in the United States. Both institutions use pretty much the same books and have the same lessons/assignments. In a research university lower division classes are not even taught by "professors" but teaching assistants. The professors are busy with grad students and publishing papers. I will agree the quality of students is probably the biggest limiting factor but that is not as big of a deal when talking about the lower division classes. By the way when I took my Linear Algebra course at the community college there were only 6 students and all wanted to be there. The professor teaching had his doctorates degree and was able to spend a lot of one on one time with each of us. I doubt you could say the same for any of the Ivy League schools.

          I know that getting into med school is indeed competitive. A friend of mine who went to Oregon Health Science University got accepted their 6 years ago into the MD program (100 accepted over 5000 apply). He went to a local community college and got his AA transfer degree. He then went on to Linfield College with a full ride because of his grades at the CC level. (For six consecutive years, Linfield was named the #1 college in the western region by US News & World Report)

          I would agree with all of you his first option would be to contact financial aid and see what he can do from there.

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          • #20
            I certainly can compare 200 level classes and below from a community college to any other university in the United States
            I think it probably depends on the school and the professior.
            As an engineer, I took differential equations at a CC during the summer, and all my other math classes at my top-25 university. My experience was that the CC class was definitely an order of magnitude easier in terms of amount and difficulty of homework and exams than the ones at my regular school.

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            • #21
              Originally posted by zetta View Post
              I think it probably depends on the school and the professior.
              As an engineer, I took differential equations at a CC during the summer, and all my other math classes at my top-25 university. My experience was that the CC class was definitely an order of magnitude easier in terms of amount and difficulty of homework and exams than the ones at my regular school.
              I was glad to go to a CC and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, but some of the classes were actually easier than the same subject being taught in my generic high school courses (Econ 101, I'm looking at you).

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              • #22
                I got grants and loans from the federal govt with no co-signer… I went to the state univ i lived in though so it wasnt as expensive...

                talk to your student loan dept at the school

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                • #23
                  So I manned up and walked down to financial office first thing this morning...

                  Less helpful than I would have liked... I was sort of hoping to sit down and explain my situation to someone and see what I could do from there, but I just stood in line until I could speak with a guy behind a counter.

                  Basically, he gave me a BU aid sheet and told me to start with FAFSA... Which of course requires my parents' tax returns, as well as some other sheet about separated parents! And after I fill that out I have to return all of this in a week I think, I was a bit rushed through it.

                  Sooo... I'm somewhat grateful there's a federal way I can get through this, but I just hope my parents' tax things are sorted out... Tomorrow being Veteran's Day, I don't have any classes, so I'll see if I can get it squared away then. I was a bit surprised though, I had thought the deadline for federal loans was ages ago.

                  If not, they said if I withdraw before the first day of second semester I get a full refund.

                  The best I can do is try, and I guess the worst that could happen is they say no... So I'll do my best and see what happens. I'll be having an awkward talk on the phone with my parents tonight...

                  On the topic of classes though -

                  Not having anything to compare it to, I don't know what merit it has, but all I can say is that I've never ever been so overwhelmed with work before in my life. Of course, compounded with my financial situation it just makes everything seem worse I suppose . But I'm taking 100 level classes in Chemistry, Biology (both of which have 3 hour weekly labs), Writing, and Japanese. With the exception of my Writing class being taught by a graduate student, and my labs being looked over by Teaching Fellows, all my classes are taught by professors.

                  I must have been feeling ambitious the day I registered for classes. I'm not sure what I was thinking, how I could handle this my first semester of college coming from a public high school. Should have seen this coming after my father told me I was an idiot for trying to take on so much at once.

                  I'm managing for right now, but I think I may just take something fun rather than that second writing class next semester...

                  Thanks again guys, had it not been for your advice I'd still be sitting here fretting about this while my mother put her house on the line. At least now I have something of a solution and a couple more options that what I had considered originally. Hopefully I'll get it all sorted out... I'll keep you guys posted.

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                  • #24
                    Sorry they couldn't have been more help. My school had financial aid officers you could sit down with. Good luck with the Fafsa.

                    Also, everyone feels overwhelmed their first semester/year in college. I know I did! I think it is also common to take too many classes at first because you are so excited and ambitious feeling, I did that too. The workload and classes will get easier, I promise.

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                    • #25
                      It's very last minute for you... that's the problem. I had aid lined up well in advance...

                      Personally I would get my undergrad from a cheaper college... then get your masters from the best school you can get into.

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                      • #26
                        I got federal loans for school without my parent's tax documents or a co-signer. They just cannot claim you as a dependent on their tax returns. I would call the financial aid department to make an appointment to see someone (at my school they were called fin. aid officers). You should be able to see someone besides at a counter.

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                        • #27
                          Trying to fill out this FAFSA thing now, but aside from it being complicated beyond belief I still only see that the deadline was back in July. I'm not sure that guy knew what he was talking about... How could I apply for a federal loan for this spring if the deadline's past already?

                          I'm filling out a Profile Application as well on the college board site, seems a bit more straight forward...

                          I've emailed the financial office asking if there's any way I could make an appointment to speak with someone, because I feel like I'm filling out outdated forms for nothing...

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by Seamaster View Post
                            Trying to fill out this FAFSA thing now, but aside from it being complicated beyond belief I still only see that the deadline was back in July. I'm not sure that guy knew what he was talking about... How could I apply for a federal loan for this spring if the deadline's past already?

                            I'm filling out a Profile Application as well on the college board site, seems a bit more straight forward...

                            I've emailed the financial office asking if there's any way I could make an appointment to speak with someone, because I feel like I'm filling out outdated forms for nothing...
                            The FAFSA deadline in July is for guaranteed consideration. You can apply past the deadline, but there is no guarantee you will receive any moneys you qualify for.

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                            • #29
                              This idea might be a bit extreme for you...my brother's ex-girlfriend wanted to be a doctor and had to take loans for all her schooling. She discovered that she could join ROTC as a sophomore and get lots of money for school in exchange for future military service. There are also programs where the military will pay for medical school as well, you just have to serve as a military doctor for some period of time.

                              Just be sure you are up for being in the military, though. After a year of ROTC she decided it wasn't for her, and she had some difficulties getting out. (Apparently in normal ROTC there are provisions for quitting the program after your freshman year and owing the money back to the program, and she had to appeal to the fact that her sophomore year was her first year in ROTC to be allowed to take the same out.)

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                              • #30
                                The ROTC thing is a good idea!!

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