Student loan is messing me up.

[aimeeandbeatles]

I didnt think this would go in questions-not-worth-their-own-thread as tis fairly major. What happened is that the student loan went through but they still need 10 more days to process and mail out the thing. Fine, eh? well, I dont know how much longer the college can hold on and Im afraid Ill be dropped from the program.

I considered gettng a bank loan until the student loan comes through but Im not old enough to do it myself and my mom cant co-sign as she has awful credit.

Any other suggestions? Serious suggestions only (and no, i will not become a prostitute).

 

[Perfection]

I'd show the college the documentation of what has happened and ask them.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Actually, there is no documentation as my mom called them.

 

[Perfection]

I'd call back ask for email confirmation or something like that.

Even if you have no documentation, call and ask the college what to do.

 

[warpus]

What sort of loan is this?

I used to be the programmer in charge of all web-based undergrad financial aid systems at a University. When I was in the undergrad world (grad now), we were very lenient about not making students pay tuition until their OSAP came in. Sometimes there were late fees, but nobody was ever kicked out. Those OSAP people are incompetent and sometimes it does take a while.. Usually all a student had to do was come in, see a financial aid officer, and explain the situation. (I know because I maintained the online scheduler that students used to make these appointments). It should be all pretty flexible from their end - as long as you come in and explain your situation.

It can't be OSAP if there isn't any documentation, though.. so what is it? Either way, if you go in and make an appointment with somebody in the office of the registrar, they will be able to help you. They will NOT kick you out if you have money coming. Students pay tuition wayyy late and it is never an issue (aside from, like I said, late fees sometimes)

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Nova Scotia Student Assistence. Well, they do send letters, but I saw online that th assessment went through and didnt get letter over it yet.

 

[say1988]

Contact the school, explain the problem, they will be lenient enough. Besides, you usually need to be fairly late before they drop you, and they will make it quite clear with warnings before they do so, they do want your money.

 

[warpus]

Yeah, go in, make an appointment, you're all good. Bring a reference # if you have one.

 

[Shekwan]

Is University expensive in Canada? Doesn't seem like the sort of place where a loan is necessary. We only have a semi-functioning welfare state here and I got a free ride through Undergrad in one of the main Universities.

 

[GoodGame]

I'd call back ask for email confirmation or something like that.

Even if you have no documentation, call and ask the college what to do.

You might also get them to phone the college.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Its actually a community college. the price is a few thousand dollars which I dont have. Im not smart enough to get a schulership.

Im going to try those things, thanks.

 

[warpus]

Is University expensive in Canada? Doesn't seem like the sort of place where a loan is necessary. We only have a semi-functioning welfare state here and I got a free ride through Undergrad in one of the main Universities.

Not that expensive, but you need to pay for tuition somehow. When I attended University my term tuition was about $3,000 (that's for 4 months). Most students in this province get OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program), which pays for their tuition, books, etc. which they then have to pay back when they graduate. Some of it is forgiven, but I'm not really sure how that works. If your family is relatively well off, you won't get it, either. I assume that other provinces have similar financial support programs.

 

[History_Buff]

Aimee, try just going down to the school student affairs or fee office or whatever. Explain that you're just waiting on your loan to come through, and then if they ask for documentation, they'll be pretty specific on what they want, and then you can just ask for that from the loan company.

And they're not going to drop you. In fact, out at the University of Calgary, I think if you could hold off paying your fees until the last day of the semester (or later), and the only penalty was a $100 late fee, and that they withhold your grades until you paid them.

Is University expensive in Canada? Doesn't seem like the sort of place where a loan is necessary. We only have a semi-functioning welfare state here and I got a free ride through Undergrad in one of the main Universities.

It's not as bad as the States, but it's not cheap either. For an Undergraduate Engineering degree I was paying about $6000/year (11 courses a year, at about $550 each). Plus more for living accommodations and textbooks and such as required. I personally never bought more than 1 textbook a year after I realized how useless they were in first year.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Happily for me I dont have to pay for a dorm as the college is in town. Im going to see what textbooks are actually needed before buying them.

Sucky thing was I was planning to hold off till next eyar and now Ill be strapped for cash and won't be able to buy Civ V when it first comes out. Oh well.

 

[Shekwan]

Aimee, have you looked into getting some sort of disability grant? You have some sort of condition right? You get disability grants here for practically nothing, maybe Canada's the same?

Not that expensive, but you need to pay for tuition somehow. When I attended University my term tuition was about $3,000 (that's for 4 months). Most students in this province get OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program), which pays for their tuition, books, etc. which they then have to pay back when they graduate. Some of it is forgiven, but I'm not really sure how that works. If your family is relatively well off, you won't get it, either. I assume that other provinces have similar financial support programs.

The student assistance thing sounds like the Higher Education Grant here. Registration fee for the year is the biggest expense (around €1000) and that is paid, as well as three installments of €1000 paid by cheque throughout the year. Only the well off don't get it. And even some of the well off did. I know people who would spend the first two on stuff like iPhones and alloys for their car etc. then use the last cheque to finance a summer holiday.

Surely Aimee could get the OSAP (or her State's equivalent) and be laughing? No need for a loan then if you work a part time job, which almost all 3rd level students have enough time for.

It's not as bad as the States, but it's not cheap either. For an Undergraduate Engineering degree I was paying about $6000/year (11 courses a year, at about $550 each). Plus more for living accommodations and textbooks and such as required. I personally never bought more than 1 textbook a year after I realized how useless they were in first year.

Thats pretty expensive! Ireland will probably never be able to remain this cheap for education. Happy days for me I guess - free ride and not contributing to as generous a system when I work.

 

[say1988]

The student assistance thing sounds like the Higher Education Grant here. Registration fee for the year is the biggest expense (around €1000) and that is paid, as well as three installments of €1000 paid by cheque throughout the year. Only the well off don't get it. And even some of the well off did. I know people who would spend the first two on stuff like iPhones and alloys for their car etc. then use the last cheque to finance a summer holiday.

Actually OSAP, is [rimarily a straigh up loan, but is interest free so long as you are a full time student. There are scholarships, bursaries, and otehr sources of free money through the program, but most is a loan. And it is all based on "need".

 

[Furiey]

Can you print out the bit where you can see online that the grant has gone through. That way you will be able to show something to the college when you talk to them.

 

[warpus]

I would highly recommend that you apply to as many bursaries as you can, aimee. There will always be a generic that one everyone can apply to, as well as more specific ones (the bursary for inuit students, bursary for left handed people, pirates, etc.)

I applied to my University's generic bursary every term, and almost always got it. Sometimes they gave me $500, sometimes $1,500.. My strategy was to include a well-written essay about how hard of a time I had as an immigrant who came to Canada with practically nothing, how my credit cards are maxed out, how committed I am to contributing to Canadian society once I graduate, etc. The best thing about these bursaries is that you don't have to pay them back.

 

[History_Buff]

Thats pretty expensive! Ireland will probably never be able to remain this cheap for education. Happy days for me I guess - free ride and not contributing to as generous a system when I work.

Well, I think the U of C is also like the second most expensive public University in Canada. Were you to go to another school, there are many that are cheaper, and the same in terms of quality.

Also helps if you're not in Engineering, and don't have to take 11 courses a year.

 

[Abaddon]

Why didn't you work before college? You should have saved up an not just rely on hand outs.