Monday 25 May 2009

Personal Student Loans – Where’s the Money?

Remember the old lady in the burger commercials that hollered, “Where’s the beef?” That’s the way many American parents feel as they scream, “Where’s the money?” Applying for a personal student loan for your family may be frustrating and seem impossible, but armed with a little information and a lot of patience, you can find the money you need to send your child into the world of higher education. Just be prepared for the applications, credit reports, financial statements, and loan papers that are a necessary evil in the student loan process.

Whether you are considering a private college or a public university, the cost for a college education is huge. But you want to give your kids the best shot at life, and you will do whatever it takes to assist them in receiving the education that will give them that edge. So where do you start? How do you know what you can afford? How much should you borrow? What programs are available for your family?

I am not a financial genius, and the prospect of dealing with loan documents and financial lingo makes me a bit anxious. So let me see if I can put some of what I discovered in plain ol’ American English.

There are four general places to look for student loans: A) The federal government, B) Commercial lenders, C) State programs, and D) Private and non-profit organizations.

Let’s look first at the federal government. When I first looked at how to take a bite out of Uncle Sam’s apple, the apple seemed so huge and so slanted toward need-based loans that I was sure I would not qualify for anything the federal government would offer. Simply put, I was wrong. A word of warning here: Don’t skip ANY step in the federal application process. No matter how absurd it may seem, every box you fail to fill out will keep money out of your pocket!

While the federal program seemed to be a ball of yarn I had no hope of untangling, I held my breath and dove in anyway. What I discovered was a lot of duplication and information that was much simpler than it seemed.

All the information I found talked about multiple types of loans, but the truth of the matter is there are two programs that are mirror images of each other. One set of loans is administered by the Department of the Treasury, and the other is administered by independent lenders. That is the only difference, and the individual colleges and universities will let you know which program they participate in.

The federal government does offer need-based loans. My misconception was that was all they offered. I was wrong. There are also options for low-interest loans to parents of college students, as well as options for students who are already independent of their parents, regardless of need. The key to applying for these is that you must be excluded from the need-based loans before you can qualify for the others. Here’s where the red tape comes in. You have to apply for a need-based loan even if you know you don’t qualify for before you can even be considered for the one you do qualify for. The answer: Fill out every piece of paper the government gives you. Otherwise you will never know what money you may be eligible for.

While it is the largest, the federal government is not the only resource for student loans. Whether you choose to apply for federal student loans or not, additional money can be found in the private sector. Parents can find money in their own banking institutions. Students can apply to the College Board for the CollegeCredit program with a 15-year repayment program and options for principal and interest repayment. ConSern Loans for Education offers loans to parents whose employers participate in the program. The Education Resources Institute (TERI) is a non-profit lending agency for parents or students. These types of loans are not always obvious, so ask your employer and other lending agencies what options they may have for you because of your credit-worthiness or employment.

Other methods of acquiring the funds you need for college include state programs. Your state may have an agreement with neighboring states to reduce tuition for its residents. The student’s area of study may also prompt your state to grant loans or reduced tuitions for your student.


Student loans are also offered by a number of private and non-profit agencies to those who meet certain criteria. Consider researching organizations that provide assistance for people of your ancestry, nationality, religion or denomination. Also, consider your child’s part time employment experience, participation in clubs or service organizations, athletic abilities, academic achievements, and potential career choices.

Finding the money you need to put your child through college is not a process to be taken lightly. You must begin early. Parental approval for a loan usually requires two years of an acceptable credit score, so be sure you are keeping up with your credit report throughout your child’s high school career. The average timeline for processing loan requests begins with the completion of the application process in May or June.

Usually those funds will be disbursed in August. If you delay, you can miss out on money that was disbursed before you finished your paperwork.

Be thorough in your search for personal student loans. You can get the money you need for college today if you will ask everyone who will listen, and don’t assume you won’t qualify. Don’t find yourself on the first day of your child’s college career asking, “Where’s the money?” Whether you choose a federal student loan or a private student loan, do your homework and be patient.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

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