FAFSA didn't give much aid - what non-need based loans can I still apply for?

Yes, you can absolutely still get Direct Unsubsidized Loans regardless of your financial need! These aren't need-based. All undergraduate students can receive up to $5,500-$12,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans depending on your year in school and whether you're considered dependent or independent. The process is simple - if you've completed the FAFSA, your school's financial aid office should have included these in your award letter. If not, contact them directly to request the maximum Direct Unsubsidized amount you're eligible for. Other non-need based options include: - Private student loans (require credit check/cosigner) - Parent PLUS loans (require credit check for parents) - Some schools offer payment plans to spread costs over the academic year Have you tried appealing your financial aid determination if your family situation has changed?

Not sure if this helps but my sister had the same problem and got something called an alternative loan thru Citizens Bank. Not sure if it was a good deal tho cuz the interest seemed high when she told me about it

DONT DO PRIVATE LOANS WHATEVER YOU DO!!!! The interest rates are INSANE and they don't have the same protections as federal loans. I graduated 5 years ago with $30k in private loans and now owe over $45k because of interest that kept building even when I was struggling. Federal loans have income-based repayment plans and forgiveness options that private loans DON'T HAVE!!!

Your financial aid office likely didn't include the Direct Unsubsidized Loans because you need to actively request them - they don't automatically award them to everyone. Here are your annual limits as a dependent undergraduate: 1st year: $5,500 (max $3,500 subsidized) 2nd year: $6,500 (max $4,500 subsidized) 3rd year+: $7,500 (max $5,500 subsidized) Since you don't qualify for need-based aid, you'd get the full amount as unsubsidized. Remember unsubsidized means interest accrues while you're in school. Also, don't forget to check with your school about institutional loans or payment plans. Many schools offer their own loan programs with better terms than private loans. Based on your SAI, you might also qualify for state-based aid programs that use FAFSA data but have different eligibility criteria than federal programs. Worth looking into!

Look, everyone's afraid of loans but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I tried calling the financial aid office at my school for WEEKS and kept getting put on hold for hours or disconnected. Eventually I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in minutes. Costs a little bit but saved me so much stress. You should check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or their website at claimyr.com - it helped me sort out my Direct Loan application when my school's aid office was being useless.

Have u tried appealing ur SAI? My family had a similar situation (they said we could pay $22k lol as if) and we submitted a professional judgment request with documentation of some medical expenses and got it reduced. Worth a shot before u take out a bunch of loans

Yes, your father's job loss is absolutely grounds for a professional judgment review! Contact your financial aid office ASAP and ask for a "Professional Judgment Review" or "Special Circumstances Review" form. You'll need to provide documentation of the job loss (termination letter, unemployment benefits statement) and possibly your family's updated income information. Regarding your earlier question about deadlines for Direct Unsubsidized Loans - you can generally request these any time during the academic year before the last day of classes. So you haven't missed any deadline. Just be aware that if you request loans late in the semester, the disbursement might be delayed. And yes, your dad's job loss situation could potentially lower your SAI significantly and qualify you for subsidized loans and additional grants!