private loans?

I dont know much about all this, i am an independent student (cant qualify for parent plus) and an undergrad. For 2nd year i can take out little over $10,000 for stafford loan. To cover the rest im a need to take out a private loan it looks like.

Question is, is the private loan gonna be in cash/check, or work like the fed stafford loan which will be deposited to the school. Reason i ask is i want to know if im a have do the 28days bank for the private loan, or can i just use Loan letters for both to prove i have funds for visa?

*also has anyone else taken out private loans or going too?

*is there another way then private loans as an independent UG student. I wish i could qualify for grad or parent plus, am i missing something?

The only place I knew of that did private loans specifically for overseas students is http://www.teri.org/ but as you can see from their web site, they've suspended the program and filed for Chapter 11. I don't know if anyone else is doing it or if you can qualify for other private loans. I only mention it because you will see them referenced in these boards but they are no longer, obviously, a viable option.

I got private loans through Sallie Mae, and they sent the cheque directly to the university. However, they're unlikely to grant you a loan unless you have significant credit history - I had to get my mum to be a co-signer - or if they do the interest rate can be incredibly high.

I don't know if I'd actually recommend the company because they're pretty horrid when it comes to customer service. However, I do know that they offer private loans and send them directly to the university, so you can look into it. Check out the American Students Assistants, http://www.asa.org/default.aspx, they have a pretty substantive overview of funding for students. Also, see if your university has any guidance for international students; the international department at mine was really helpful with all of my financial queries (possibly because they're so eager to get our money!). You can also try to get loans from you bank in the states, and this would be put directly into your account rather than sent to the university. Again, this will be difficult if you don't have a lot of good credit history.