<p>so i have to take out loans to pay for some outstanding debt i have with cornell from last year…</p>
<p>cornell told me i qualify for a 1,752 school certified alternative loan</p>
<p>but that i would still have to come up with 6,067 on my own…</p>
<p>i didnt think of asking at the time, but does that mean i can apply for a non-school certified private loan for $6,067 even if i already have a 1,752 school certified loan?</p>
<p>Yes…as long as Cornell can certify you’re eligible for the amount…you can borrow from a private loan source. I always had to borrow more than the alternative loan amount Cornell put in my package.</p>
<p>who did you use for your alternative loan? </p>
<p>who did you use for your non-school certified loan?</p>
<p>I used Key Bank my sophomore year, Sallie Mae my Junior year and Citibank my senior year. Beware though…depending on your credit and whether or not you have a co-signer…these loans have high interest rates.</p>
<p>I’m just confused on whether I need to take out two loans (one for the amount cornell certified and another non-school certified/direct disbursement) </p>
<p>OR </p>
<p>take out one non-certified loan that’s enough to cover both amounts…</p>
<p>Ok…let’s say the total amount you need to borrow is $6,000. Call FA and explain this along this lines of “The total amount I need to borrow is $6,000 and you’ve only alloted a $3,000 alternative loan in my package. Will you certify me for the total $6,000?” Then…choose one of Cornell’s preferred lenders (I think Sallie Mae and Citibank are the best to work with) and go from there.</p>
<p>They’ll do it…I know from experience.</p>
<p>what if they dont? </p>
<p>what is the process they undergo to “certify” a certain amount?!</p>
<p>Well…as long as that $6,000 is for your tuition expenses…or any other allowable expense related to your cost of attendance…they’ll certify you for the amount.</p>
<p>There’s no formal process per se…just call FA and speak with a counselor.</p>
<p>thanks dewdrop…the reason i keep asking you and other people online is that well…reaching finAID at this time requires a miracle! :D</p>
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<p>Tell me about…I usually called first thing in the morning or 10 minutes before they closed 
Man…they hated me so much by the end :-D</p>