<p>I’m transferring to tech from a VCCS school as an engineering/Computer science major and they want me to take a 5 credit engineering class this summer. Additionally they want me to buy a $1,500 laptop and purchase their $2,000 software package. Add all these up and we’re looking at about $5500.</p>
<p>Now here’s the problem, they can’t offer me aid because they say I need to take at least 6 credits this summer. I tried to register for other computer science classes but they all overlap with the 5 credit class that I need to take. </p>
<p>Do you guys know of any way around this problem? Would it be wise to bug the financial aid administrator at Virginia Tech about this? I prefer not to get a private loan at this point because I haven’t even maxed out my federal loans. But if there’s no other way around it, which banks would you refer for me to get a private loan. </p>
<p>What about taking a 1 credit physical education class? I know it is useless for your major, but you can probably pick something of interest to you.</p>
<p>No, it is not worth bugging the school about it. It is a federal regulation that you must be enrolled at least half time to be eligible for federal loans. Absolutely nothing the school can do about it. The *only *way to be eligible for federal student loans is to take a minimum of 6 hours (assuming you have not already received your max loans for the year at your previous school - I know you mentioned you have not maxed out your loans but was not sure if you are referring to annual or aggregate)</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom brings up an excellent point … if you have maxed out your annual loan eligibility, you won’t get a loan even if you have 6 credits. And if your transfer credits are not all evaluated, they can only award you at the year-in-school you currently are based on the evaluation.</p>
<p>I checked all the classes but there is not a single 1 credit class online or on campus. </p>
<p>But Kelsmom and swimcatsmom do have a point. My previous school emailed me a couple of months ago and they said they won’t help me out so I guess I’m going to have to get a private loan.</p>