Still confused about student loans

Communications.   But I don't know...I'm REALLY worried about the money situation, especially since I have credit troubles and as of right now can only work 15 hours a week at our Uni newspaper.  So that means there's not much money in my bank account either.   

But if it's meant to be, I'm sure it'll all work out.  Hopefully!

Hi guys,

I've been reading a few older threads in this community about taking out a Stafford loan to attend a UK uni (in my case, an MA at Leeds), and I have to admit, despite all that's written, I'm completely baffled by the process. I know I have to fill out a FAFSA and that it's capped at about $18,000 but I've heard that there's some sort of loan you can take out on top of that to make it about $20,000? I think someone called it a TERI loan. What do I have to do to get this loan? Does it all have to be done on paper, or can parts be completed online? If anyone here could write down some clear, concise steps as to how to go about getting a loan? I can't tell you how much I'd appreciate it.

Are you applying for this next year? Which MA are you going for? I am applying too for an MA in International Relations. It's still not concrete whether I'll go, but I am trying. I am looking at a loan company mentioned on here a while ago that specializes in foreign tuition loans - http://www.internationalstudentloan.com/us_student/enrolled_foreign/

Sorry, didn't read the whole post before I asked what you're studying. Good luck - maybe we can meet up when we are both over there. I was looking at $25,000 total and I'll be supported by my brit bf, living w/ him etc... and working part time. I think $40-50K would be sufficient if you're supporting yourself.

so TERI is credit-based?  if so, then I am right out of luck!

I don't know if TERI is credit based or not.  I wasn't really concerned about it because my credit is good.  It's worth applying though.  The worst they can say is no.

TERI is credit based. Not sure what their level of tolerance is though.

How long is the loan process? I applied almost a month ago and they still have yet to get the school to certify it! I am using Wachovia's Educaid and they process through Sallie Mae - I don't know that I like Sallie Mae any longer - they never asked for me for info they didn't have (I had to call them!) and they told me at one point I never even applied or had anything with them! I about flipped! I think if I make it through the loan process that getting the masters will be a breeze! 

Any idea how often I should call? It's going to start being twice a week at this rate, maybe even daily! I can't believe how much vigilance this process takes!

I applied for my loans in January or February but didn't hear anything back until May.  I had to call my lender a few times in order to get it sorted.  I also rang the finance office at my uni in order to make sure they got the forms from my lender.  If you're getting desperate for info, push your lender into telling you if you're approved because you need the info for your visa.  That worked for me.  I had to have my loan approved for my uni to issue my final acceptance letter and without that acceptance letter, I couldn't apply for my visa.  Double edged sword.. and a royal pain in the ars*.  Good luck!

You have to ride them all the time. Someone is always ready to drop the ball and these days, as Krisit pointed out, you need it all sorted for your visa. Glad I made it thru things before all that started!

Thank you Kristi!

I have the acceptance letter and I emailed the acceptance that I'm going yesterday. That may have held it up.

They asked if I had the acceptance from the uni and I did, then they asked if i had accepted it and I had. So, maybe that's what they needed - my official acceptance?

To see that it took you that long Kristi is really scary. I am jumping on this and calling them every other day if necessary. As long as i apply for my visa by June, I think i'll be okay. The prob is I'm going to the UK may 26th and would need my passport for it, so I have to apply either in 2 weeks or in June so I can do this trip.

I haven't bought my ticket for my final trip over in August yet b/c this whole situation has become too unpredictable and I want to be flexible in case something falls through.

Any other advice is welcome!!

I sent off for my visa in July, I think and had an arrival date set for August.  My visa took about 2 weeks to process. 

Your acceptance letter and all that is such a vicious cycle.  Or at least it was for me!  I had to have my 'official' acceptance letter for my visa and my loans and yet, my uni wouldn't give me the letter until I have proof of my loans.  ARRGH! 

Hang in there.  Keep bugging them until you get an answer.

Sorry, I'm a bit late to the table here - I'm without broadband for a while so I haven't really been keeping up.... But just to confirm that TERI is absolutely credit based and they've got a relatively low threshold - I got turned down with them this past year and my credit wasn't stellar but it wasn't as bad as it is now  I'm only using govt. loans now to pay my tuition - because I got married and switched to part-time I was able to get around the need to prove the huge sums of living expense money....

It seems like most everyone here is in graduate school....

anyone have any experience with undergrad student loans???

I have gone a few years to college here in the states and I always had enough in student loans.  The one time I did not I think my mom applied for and did not get a PLUS loan which freed me up to get unsub stafford.

anyone?  i have pretty rancid credit and personal loans are not an option.  I may have to cut back to part time and work part time to meet the rest of tuition.

any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I may have to cut back to part time and work part time to meet the rest of tuition.

FYI,  I don't know what your situation is, but going part-time isn't always simple to do over here.... To get a student visa you need to be going full-time and even if you're married, you'll still get charged international student fees for three years after moving here.... BUT you won't have to come up with the dreaded living expenses if you don't need the visa.... The loop hole is that most universities don't have a fee schedule for part-time international students because most of those students need student visas and so have to be full-time. I managed to go part-time this year and pay home student fees because of that.

yeah, i'll be over on a spousal visa.  yikes.