Student loans/student aid options for non-traditional postgraduate students?

February 18, 2010 10:40 PM

Does anyone know of any resources that clearly explain the student loan/student aid options for non-traditional postgraduate students?
posted by cosmic.osmo to Education (4 answers total)

I'm not sure what you mean by 'non-traditional postgraduate' -- in grad school, there really isn't a traditional profile. And, as a result, although the very basic parameters of what is available through government administered loan programs is actually standardized, the financial aid you qualify for is going to be specific to you, your program, and the institution.

Find a financial aid councilor at the school you are attending/thinking of attending who is willing to take the time to talk through your options and answer your questions. Establishing that relationship is the best and most important thing you can do to make sure you don't make a mistake or misunderstand something along the way.
posted by milkman at 10:57 PM on February 18, 2010

What milkman said. Oh, and fill out the FAFSA form - you still might qualify for low interest student loans and student worker financial aid (I do). And I am anything but a "traditional" student. :)
posted by patheral at 11:15 PM on February 18, 2010

This is hugely field dependent. What sort of postgrad education are you looking into?
posted by nat at 6:40 AM on February 19, 2010

Seconding that more information is needed, however, check out finaid.org.
posted by jckll at 8:42 AM on February 19, 2010