<p>Let’s say I apply for a private student loan from a bank like Citibank for $10,000. Would I have a better chance of getting a loan from that bank if the amount of money was lower, like if it was $7,000? Or would I still have equal chances of borrowing either amounts?</p>
<p>I heard that banks naturally want to loan you more money, because that way they make more money.</p>
<p>You might as well ask for what you want. If they can offer you a lower amount but not what you want they will let you know.</p>
<p>Make sure that you are first borrowing all you can under that Stafford loan program. Some kids make the mistake of thinking they won’t qualify, so they don’t bother applying. Even if your parents make too much money to qualify for need based aid, you can almost always borrow up to $5500 as a freshman (more if you are an upperclassman). If you have no need, you will have to start paying interest right away … but not principle, which is a big advantage over private loans. If you haven’t maxed out your Stafford eligibility, do that first. If you haven’t filed a FAFSA, you’ll need to do that first, though.</p>