Less fin aid if you have outstanding loans from undergrad? Forum

[agalang]

I signed up to take an aerobics class at a local community college this semester. I added the community college to my FAFSA, and it said that I wouldn't receive a Pell Grant bc I currently have outstanding loans from undergrad. (I received the Pell Grant every yr during undergrad and my financial situation has not changed.)

My question is, does anyone know if our need based financial aid award for law school is affected by current outstanding loans also?

[Miracle]

this doesn't make any sense whatsoever

[agalang]

this doesn't make any sense whatsoever

Other than the fact that I posted it in the wrong forum (SUE ME), what doesn't make sense to you?

- I graduated from undergrad (duh) and will be going to law school in the fall.
- I wanted to see if I could get financial aid to pay for a PE class at a community college this semester.
- My FAFSA Student Aid Report say I'm not eligible to get a Pell Grant for the comm college class because 1) I have a bachelors (though Pell Grants ARE AWARDED to some students enrolled in professional programs, as noted on their website) and 2) I have a certain amount worth of outstanding loans thru US Dept of Education which is why I'M WONDERING if the same goes when I fill out a 2012-2013 FAFSA for 1L. I'm not asking if you're not eligible to receive loans AT ALL but I'm wondering if the amount or anything else is affected by loans I'm still paying for.

[sunynp]

As I recall, Pell Grants don't apply to post-graduate school other than some teaching certificate programs. Is that what you were asking? Law school loans are based on the cost of attendance, though schools may give need based aid on an individual basis.

[melanne89]

I had this same question when I began applying to law school. Though some federal loans have limits which factor in your undergraduate loans, there are other loans which are specifically for graduate programs and do not have limits. You will always be able to have enough in loans to cover the 3 years of law school, the only downside is that the graduate school loans that do not have loan limits usually have higher interest rates and are unsubsidized, so they will be accruing interest while you are in law school.


Hope this helps, ask if you need more clarification.