I have had two financial advisers tell me to declare bankruptcy when I graduate from college, or sooner to eliminate my credit card and school loan debt, and one telling me that I should probably get more financial aid (all from different firms)…. The interest rates on private loans for schools are ridiculous (I am going through Sallie Mae), and I am already freaking out about how much I am going to have to pay back…

I don’t really have any family, and I am currently in my Junior year in college. I have been working full time, and paying my school on my credit cards, apartment etc etc.. (I have 3 with a total of 00 credit line, and they are usually maxed out when new semesters start). I get a little bit of money from the federal government (FAFSA) for school, but it obviously is not enough… I also have a bit of private loans from my grand mother who is co-signing for them.

So should I declare? When if I should?

I am not trying to skeeze my way out of it, and I am fine with paying it all back with the career I get when I graduate, but I am really scared about the whole thing (private loans), and I would like to know if there is an ALTERNATIVE route without having to sell my first born child. The gov. and my full time job do not provide enough income for school and such, and I can only work so much taking an average of 18 credit hours a semester.

If I declare bankruptcy, will it affect my grandmother since she is co-signing?

Please help me out. I am open to all constructive help and legitimate ideas that don’t involve anything illegal.

Technorati Tags: apartment, bankruptcy, credit card, credit cards, fafsa, federal government, financial advisers, financial aid, full time job, grand mother, grandmother, interest rates, little bit, money, private loans, sallie mae, school loan, semesters

I am beginning to regret going to college, it seems the only thing I have attained from it, is debt. When I went to school I was allured to the dream of being an airline pilot. I finally got my pilot’s license, but it got to expensive, so I switched to Aviation Management. I am so depressed and mad at myself for letting this happen, and it seems like there is no way out. A few times I forgot to fill out the FAFSA so I had to take out loans to cover the expenses, or I was late getting it in and got no money.

Here’s where I am at:
1 Loan for ,000 (Monthly Payments of 476/mo); 1 Loan for 620 (Monthly Payments of 128); 1 Loan for 00 (Monthly Payments of 50), and Credit Card Debt of about 00. So I have loans totaling 420.

I also have a car payment, cell phone, however I pay no rent, but my grandparents will soon be asking for that.

I just got a new job that pays me 000 per year. So if I don’t put anything into savings I can pay off my loans in about 4 years, however when you begin to figure in my other expenses it’s more like 7 years.

Consolidation is not really an option, because the 000 is an “Education Alternative Loan”, it’s not a federal loan. The 00 loan is a no interest loan. And the 620 is a direct federal loan.

-My dilemma is that, I have a girlfriend that I want to begin a life with. I wish to get an apartment with her maybe in the next year or so. And I want to marry her.

Situation 1- Do I put no money into savings and just tackle the loans head on? I will have no money for retirement or a down payment on a house.

Situation 2- I put some money aside into savings, and it will take longer to pay off?

Situation 3- Declare bankruptcy if I can?

I apologize for this taking so long, but I don’t know what to do. Thank you for your help.

Technorati Tags: airline pilot, apartment, aviation management, bankruptcy, car payment, cell phone, consolidation, credit card debt, dilemma, education, fafsa, federal loan, girlfriend, going to college, grandparents, interest loan, loans, money, new job, retirement

My boyfriend is having a hell of a time with the financial aid department at our university. We attend a university that is ranked 3rd in the Midwest and they definitely make you pay for that type of education. He is in his second of four years here and this year with the economy being as bad as it is, his parents have been forced to file bankruptcy. They are fighting garnishments and all sorts of stuff. Needless to say, they have absolutely no money to send him whatsoever. His fafsa did get filled out, but he can not get approved for any private student loans without a cosigner. His aunt has cosigned for him for 8000 already. The university just told him today that he is still going to owe another 16000 in order to finish JUST THIS SCHOOL YEAR! we are in the second of 3 quarters and he is not even allowed to schedule classes until the bill is paid. I don’t understand how there is no help for him. The Financial Aid department is telling him that he has no choice but to find a cosigner. Isn’t there something the government can do? I mean, I’m in a similar boat, but not that much money. And I have an EFC of 0 which is supposed to mean that my education is paid for. We are both struggling financially and I really want to help him out. Anything that you can tell me about this is great since our financial aid department doesn’t seem to be helping. =( thanks so much!

Technorati Tags: 3 quarters, all sorts, bankruptcy, economy, education, efc, fafsa, financial aid department, garnishments, hell of a time, midwest, much money, parents, private student loans, ranked 3rd, school year, student loans without a cosigner