Update + Loan and grants :/

Okay, sooo, updates for anyone that cares and is willing to assist! (Btw, thank you to everyone that has been following some of the things I post and that has given me positive/realistic feedback. Really appreciate it and it's been most helpful. <3 )

I have a phone interview for the college that I really want to go to, that is going to be set up soon. Basically they're going to evaluate me and see if I'd be good for the course. I'm really nervous/excited. Wish me luck! Because I'll no doubt be needing it. Anyways, I used NoseOverTail's advice and asked about American Student Loans. I got some bad news back, but hopefully I'll be able to figure something out. This is what I got back and I quote,

"Regarding the loan situation, as we are not primarily a higher education establishment, we are unable to process student loans for college courses. Student loans are only for university degrees and the course you have applied for is an access course; therefore this will not be possible. And just to make you aware, because you will be an international student, we will need the course fees paid before you commence the course."

To which my immediate response was... f**k. lol. I already knew I'd have to give them the money first. But now to not be able to use a student loan? Great. My friend (who I met on here! : D) and I were talking last night about it on chat and I was pretty down about it. (She's also in the process of going back to England, she'll most likely have an easier time then me since she actually has qualifications.) I have no idea what I should do about the money or how to go about getting it. Now I feel like an adult, haha. Having to deal with money issues. Good times. Honestly, I have NO clue where to even start. I don't know anything really about loans, or how they work, or how they're processed. It's all pretty new and confusing to me. I try to look online. Google, you're supposed to be my friend. And I just don't get any straight forward answers. It's aggravating me. When I can't find an answer to my question on there, or somewhere else, that's when I come here to the forums.

I know grants you don't have to pay back, but I think the most you can get for a grant is like.. $5,500 or something and that is waaaay less then what I actually need. My friend did the math for me (since I suck at it) and she said it'd be around $17,000. It was less then I thought, but still.. that's still quite a bit of money. Not sure how I should go about getting it... Ugh, SO frustrating!

On the upside of everything.. I am going to see Rammstein in Toronto, lol. Any info/suggestions are always very much appreciated.

Hey pandaz,

Unfortunately you won't get any grants from the US because you won't be studying in the US. Also, keep in mind that you also need money for living which will be quite hefty no matter where you live in the UK. You also need to show that you'll have all this money (or will get it in loan form) when you apply for a tier 4 visa. I'm on the old student visa so it was more lenient and I'm not quite sure of what the changes are anymore.

Also, if you're going with someone like Sallie Mae, the college will need to be on the little drop down list to even try to get a loan. So based on what the college wrote to you, that doesn't seem the case.

Sorry about the bad news but it seems your only options are to get private loans from a bank or something (horrible idea) or change your place of study.

You also need to show that you'll have all this money (or will get it in loan form) when you apply for a tier 4 visa. I'm on the old student visa so it was more lenient and I'm not quite sure of what the changes are anymore.

Currently, for the Tier 4 visa, you need to show you have your tuition fees available (or have paid them already), plus a minimum amount per month to live off. If you will be living in central London, this amount is £800 per month and outside central London it's £600 per month. So, say your course is 9 months long, you will need a minimum of either £7,200 (London) or £5,400 (outside London) to live off, plus your tuition fees... so in US dollars, that's either $11,700 or $8,775 for living costs, plus your fees.

There will be some changes to the visas next month, so these requirements may have changed by the time you apply for your visa.

Sorry about the bad news but it seems your only options are to get private loans from a bank or something (horrible idea) or change your place of study.

Yeah, I was going to suggest private loans as well. To be honest, I'm not surprised that the college won't process student loans, because not even UK students can apply for any grants or loans to attend college... mostly because college courses are usually aimed at 16-19 year-olds, and so they are generally free for UK students in this age range anyway and most of them will still be living at home with their parents (because college is essentially still considered high school education and most students are teenagers).

I'm sorry that you're getting a bit of a bump in the road, but moving to the UK usually has at least a few of those, so nothing that can't be solved with time and a little effort. 

I agree that your only options if you continue with this plan would be private loans (seriously, seriously, terrible, horrible, wretched idea) or saving up the money yourself from work.

I know I keep saying it, and I know you want to go ASAP (you're young, you want result!  ), but I would honestly consider getting some community college under your belt in the US first.  That way, eventually, you could go to a UK university rather than UK college, and get the student loans.  Really, that's all it sounds like you can do, because you're going to have to take some time to get some money saved anyway (because, whatever you do, do not consider private loans, they are bad bad bad for funding education ).

I know I keep saying it, and I know you want to go ASAP (you're young, you want result!  ), but I would honestly consider getting some community college under your belt in the US first.  That way, eventually, you could go to a UK university rather than UK college, and get the student loans.  Really, that's all it sounds like you can do, because you're going to have to take some time to get some money saved anyway (because, whatever you do, do not consider private loans, they are bad bad bad for funding education ).

I agree with this 100%. Your local community college will give you the same education as this course that you want will and will cost you 1/20 of what you're willing to pay now. Plus you can get grants & financial aid to pay for the CC and won't be massivley in debt and potentially not even be able to afford going to University.

I had to take out a loan with sallie mae as well as a fed loan....avoid at all cost. Everyone says it and im sure i will figure out why in the near future!

I had to take out a loan with sallie mae as well as a fed loan....avoid at all cost. Everyone says it and im sure i will figure out why in the near future!

You mean avoid Sallie Mae or federal loan? I avoided Sallie Mae though at one point I nearly gave in...

I had to take out a loan with sallie mae as well as a fed loan....avoid at all cost. Everyone says it and im sure i will figure out why in the near future!
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You mean avoid Sallie Mae or federal loan? I avoided Sallie Mae though at one point I nearly gave in...

I'm sure she means sallie mae. I know sallie mae sucks and private loans suck even more but sometimes there's no other choice. What's a better alternative for private loans other than with sallie mae? I know I couldn't find one.

I'm sure she means sallie mae. I know sallie mae sucks and private loans suck even more but sometimes there's no other choice. What's a better alternative for private loans other than with sallie mae? I know I couldn't find one.

first off "he" not "she" hehe, but i could not find an alternative neither...didnt qualify for gradplus due to my age!!

first off "he" not "she" hehe, but i could not find an alternative neither...didnt qualify for gradplus due to my age!!

So sorry! You have a very gender neutral username as well. I have no idea where "she" came from, I should've checked haha.

Yes exactly, everyone says to avoid sallie mae but I wouldn't be a student in the UK if it weren't for sallie mae. While it is upsetting how much interest and such they charge, it would only be worse if we took out personal loans from banks according to the research I did.