Cheryl49

I'm really confused about this. My school awarded me a financial aid package that included a subsidized loan and grant. The package covers tuition but what was leftbwas not even enough for one book. When i called to ask about unsubsidized loans (which i have received before) they told me i had to request. I sent in a request but have yet to be answered. I recently read over the request form and it says that they ( my school) are only offering unsubsidized loans to independent students. I understand that subsidized loans are need based but unsubsidized are not. Can my school do that? I'm so stressed and overwhelmed right now because I depend on my financial aid for my books and I'm almost to the middle of the semester and struggling without them. I don't know what to do. Thanks for any information you have.

emeraldkity4

What year are you in school and how much is your loan?
Profs may have texts on reserve in library.
Were you awarded any work study?

swimcatsmom

It could just be that they don't automatically offer the unsub loans to dependent students but will award them if requested. My daughter's school used to have that policy - they would offer parent PLUS loans rather then unsub loans to dependent students, but would award unsub student loans when requested.

Cheryl49

I'm a 3rd year junior. I was awarded a $1300 subsidized loan and a $500 dollar grant.

Cheryl49

That is their policy, they require you to request the loan but clearly state for dependent students only.

cptofthehouse

Interesting. I though you just fill out the necessary info and MPR and go throught the "test" and that is it. Let your school know it is coming. The only restriciton I can think that would have to be there is if your COA is already exceeded. Then you can't get anything other than PELL over that given COA amount.

kelsmom

Schools can choose to have their own requirements attached to loans. In OP's case, I would imagine that the folks processing the loan requests are probably running behind. OP, does your school have financial aid walk-in hours? If so, stop in & find out if your request is in process. Things do get lost, so it's good to check.

dukedad

The unsubsidized Stafford loan is a government entitlement and a school should not be able to deny it to you (unless, of course there is something else at play here: for instance an over-award situation or if you've maxed out your Stafford eligibility). It doesn't matter what your income level is, or if you are dependent or independent, you are entitled to receive an unsub Stafford if you apply for it.

4kidsdad

They might not offer you the unsubsidized Stafford loan because it would exceed your need (COA - EFC = need).

kelsmom

The unsubsidized Stafford loan is a government entitlement and a school should not be able to deny it to you
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Actually, that is not true. There are schools that do not offer Direct Loans to students, and there are instances in which a school might deny a loan (this would have to be consistent with the school's financial aid policies and be documented). Pell is an entitlement; no other federal aid program is an entitlement.

dukedad

Kelsmom - that's interesting and news to me. I've seen Mark Kantrowitz describe Pell and unsub Stafford as the two federal aid entitlements and have never heard that disputed. I thought that as long as a student met eligibility requirements (enrolled at least half time, eligible institution, etc) that they couldn't be denied an unsub Stafford. In your experience have you seen situations where it has been denied?

kelsmom

Here is an article on the subject: Advocates point to protections as community colleges drop federal loans | California Watch. If a school's default rate is too high, the school will no longer be allowed to disburse any federal aid ... including Pell. To keep from losing all programs, some schools don't participate in loan programs. On another note, some CC's do not participate, as a policy decision.