How can I get a student loan or help pay for school while unemployed and bad credit?

Bad situation. Single mother, bad credit, unemployed for the past 4 months. I must change my career, and can in 4 months if I can take an educational course and obtian a different degree. I've never looked into student loans and I'm making the assumption because I have bad credit and uemployed that I wll be turned down everywhere. I would greatly appreciate all information pertaining to loans or grants for people in my situation. Workforce NY cannot help me. I live in NYC.

Public Comments

1. there are some places that give out loans for people with bad credit and no credit history, so maybe you could try one of those; but still see if you can get a student loan 1st, you never know! Also make sure you fill out a FAFSA to see if you qualify to get federal loans, grants & help from the government. Good luck! I wish you the best!
2. The guaranteed student loan program (Stafford Loan) is run by the federal government. The loan is not based on credit history or indebtedness or employment. You borrow the funds to pay for school and related expenses. There is a maximum amount you can borrow each school year. You start repaying the loan six months after you graduate or leave school. You are likely eligible for other aid as well, such as the Pell Grant and state aid as well. There are no "degree" programs that are four months long. Be very careful about that sort of thing. Be careful about the school you choose. Do not pay a school to teach you something you can learn on the job. Choose a reputable school with a solid reputation. If you plan to take a 12-24 month course for a technical degree, investigate the job opportunities. Call around and make sure people high graduates of the instutition. Check with the Better Business Bureau to check for complaints against the school. Be careful what papers you sign. Some proprietary schools require that you sign a paper that includes a power of attorney that turns all the student loan funds over to them. The tuition, fees and expenses somehow manage to equal whatever amount of financial aid you are receiving. These places are rip-offs and should be avoided. Take care in plotting your educational future. Once you borrow on the student loan program, you must repay the loan whether you are happy with the program, whether you succeeded, whether you finished, etc. That's why it is really important that you research the schools well and choose the right one that can really get you where you want to go. There are a lot of scams out there that are "accredited" and qualify for federal aid. Please be careful.