“It’s mid-semester…and I’m already broke” November 6, 2006

I remember this – all the budgeting and planning didn’t quite cut it and come November, I was broke. For me, it was all the expenses I never really thought about that got me into trouble – presentation materials, a new CD burner, ink cartriges (boy, are those expsnsive). And while I was able to find a way to pay for these things, thanks to my part time job, the same thing happened again in March and the next November. What a cycle! Had I known about the other options available to me, I would have been able to feel more comfortable with my finances. While Federal studnet loans, typically, are annual funds that go to the school, private student loans can be taken out at any point in the school year. You can even get one at every semester start date! Graduate students who may have really high expenses (lab fees, specialty equipment, computers, costly books, etc.) should look into the GradLoans private student loan. You can use it for whatever you want and Graduate students can apply on their own signature (check into adding a co-signer, though, for better rates/approvals).