patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Ok, I'm broke. I'm a dependent student living 270 miles from home living in a house my dad owns. I got a Pell grant this semester and a little bit of a MTAG grant. I borrowed the maximum amount for a Subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Now I need about 2,000 to finish this semester. This is my third year of college. The problem: I don't have a cosigner. Dad will NOT cosign. Mom says no. Might could talk her into it, but I doubt it. And I have no credit either.

So I'm looking around at different stuff online and most loans require you to have a cosigner. Or credit. Or both. Chase didn't require me to have a cosigner to apply, but then it says borrowers must be 21 or older in MS or Puerto Rico. Discover requires a cosigner, Sallie Mae requires a cosigner. Most seem to require a cosigner.

Any advice at all is appreciated. I'm lost, and so far, this ain't looking good. Any help, tips, pointers, links, anything is appreciated.

wayne_curr

iTrader: (8)

Oh lord, you're reminding me what it was like to be me in august trying to find money for school.

To be honest, i finally lucked out and got my grandpa to co-sign for me. That was after my step dad, grandma, and others failed as cosigners (banks said no). Finally after 3 ulcers of stress my grampa worked. And god does it feel shitty to have to fall back on people for **** like that.

If sallie may wont give you a loan on your own you're likely out of luck. Other things you can try is go to your finaid office and get on your knees for a little sucky sucky, they are the ones with power to get you more money aside from loans.

Edit: And wtf is wrong with your dad, why wont he cosign for you to help you get through school?

neogenesis2004

iTrader: (12)

I had my granddad cosign any private loans I had to get as well.

miatamania

iTrader: (9)

I'll find out who my roommate has his through, the interest rate without a co-signer is unbelievably high...like 19-22%?

mazda/nissan

iTrader: (2)

I used Chase this semester, but had a cosigner. Holla to whoever lost their scholarships after the first semester

msydnor

iTrader: (3)

Get a job? pinch pennies? cur some grass? sell your car and get a beater?

messiahx

iTrader: (2)

Go to your finaid office and beg. Does your school offer payment plans that you make payments on throughout the term? I've seen this at the schools I've gone to. It could give you some time to scrounge up the $$. ******* student loans are the reason my car isn't turbo yet. You live in a house your dad owns? Have you considered subletting behind his back (since he won't cosign)?

Stein

iTrader: (46)

I'm in for the partout.

Seriously, I don't know what to tell you without a cosigner. I'd think you could pick up 2K with a part time job, couldn't you? Heck, 15-20 hours a week would get you that delivering pizzas or something. You would have to give up 1/2 of your time on here, though. Try to minimize the amount of debt that you carry after you graduate. Too many kids come out with a piece of paper and $100K of debt that takes forever to pay off.

BenR

iTrader: (2)

Just get a good cosigner, mine had a bankruptcy a few years after I graduated. The bank treated the account as if I had stopped making payments, despite them still taking my checks and cashing them.

juxt3r

iTrader: (5)

When I was in a similar situation, I made my way to the financial aid office. They were able to find a couple of small grants for me to cover the last bit needed.

Rafa

iTrader: (22)

+1 on this suggestion Pat. My sister and I are currently translating more than 1,000 pages of Federal loan regulations for a local university who's made of mostly Americans (things like the "Blue Book" and the "Common Manual"). For what I've read while translating, you should contact your financial aid office.

Have you checked other Federal loan programs? (you know it's not only Pell Grants; right?)

pm me if any info on those manuals can be of any service to you.

miataspeed1point6

iTrader: (1)

They should be able to get you on a payment plan during your term. I pay while I go so I can borrow less.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

I was broke out of my mind freshmen year and I had $300 to pay off on a credit card bill that month after going on spring break in Florida.
I got a job working in the furniture warehouse at Big Lots. They paid minimum wage to unload mattress trucks and assemble shitty furniture. But I made around $120 a week take home working 3-4 nights a week and it was an awesome semester.

Get a job man. Anything is better than nothing.
Why not rent out a room in your house?

Mach929

iTrader: (3)

maybe the turbo miata isn't the best idea right now if you need to beg and plead for college money

UW Mitch

I know this won't help immediately, but what are you majoring in? Have you looked for merit based scholarships? Find some, apply for some and get them in the pipeline as part of your planning for next school year.

Got a part-time job?

What can you sell to get the money you need now? That's gonna be hard, but look at it long term. If you NEED this money now its really an investment in your future.

Good luck!
Mitch

wayne_curr

iTrader: (8)

As a response to everyone telling pat to "get a job":

If he is living in a college town like I am, good luck. I've been trying to find part time work for 7 months and have failed miserably...same with nearly all my friends.

Its next to impossible to get a job in a college town when the economy is rockin, its laughable at this point.

msydnor

iTrader: (3)

Join the Army, they will pay off your loans and give you money to finish.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

This pretty much sums it up. There's a flood of people begging for minimum wage jobs right now. And to say the least, I'm not used to making minimum wage. I've had shitty jobs before that paid nothing. I'd like to not go back to that. I was more or less looking for advice on how to get a student loan to help pay for college. I'm gonna keep looking around and talk to a few people. Finding a credit worthy cosigner is what I need to do. Gonna talk to my Mom tonight and if she says no, I'll ask my Dad about talking to my grandparents cosigning. They've got plenty of credit and might be willing actually. As for grant stuff, I've exhausted all that.

Zabac

iTrader: (39)

Don't get one!