If you plan to go to school once in America-watch out!

[KarenCee 3]

Funny you've sure done a TON of research since all this happened....

if only you had done this amount of research BEFORE taking out the loan.

I have a huge amount of loans from two masters programs. I took them both out with Citibank and have had ZERO problems. I did tons of research before hand and did LOTS of homework to make sure I knew what I was getting into.

This is what I thought at first too, but tried to be a bit sympathetic. You ALWAYS ALWAYS research anything like this before you sign your name! Oy Vey!

Oh I LOVE this picture!!!!!

[Peil 1]

Wow...some real horror stories. Only thing salie mae did to me was up my student loans from 2.5% to 7.14% Lucky me i only took out 1 loan (although it got put into 2 loans) for 3800 and only did that to finance my trip to europe the next summer Still have about 2500 left to pay. I dont know how you get big late fees...my late fees are only 5.49 per month.

[ChristinaM 0]

My husband has two student loans with SallieMae, for two different courses. Bearing in mind that he is 36 years old, he still owes over $25K on his Batchelors (we had did as a traditional student). However, during the time he was unemployed and when he has chosen to put the loan into forbearance, SallieMae were more than fair and have been nothing but helpful. However, it gets paid every month on time without fail at our end. Late fees really are nobodys responsibility but your own.

Since your immediate concern seems to be your interest rate, a refi seems to be in order. Meauxna seems to have given you some valuable information. She is a wise woman, and you would do well to use it!

Personal assaults on people are uncalled for, regardless of how upset you are at the time. You may not like what people are saying to you, but it does not give you the right to make assumptions or sweeping generalisations that serve only to offend others. I understand that it's frustrating for you, but please learn to behave like an adult.

[KarenCee 3]

My husband has two student loans with SallieMae, for two different courses. Bearing in mind that he is 36 years old, he still owes over $25K on his Batchelors (we had did as a traditional student). However, during the time he was unemployed and when he has chosen to put the loan into forbearance, SallieMae were more than fair and have been nothing but helpful. However, it gets paid every month on time without fail at our end. Late fees really are nobodys responsibility but your own.

Since your immediate concern seems to be your interest rate, a refi seems to be in order. Meauxna seems to have given you some valuable information. She is a wise woman, and you would do well to use it!

Personal assaults on people are uncalled for, regardless of how upset you are at the time. You may not like what people are saying to you, but it does not give you the right to make assumptions or sweeping generalisations that serve only to offend others. I understand that it's frustrating for you, but please learn to behave like an adult.

Well said Christina.

[britbird 4]

Sounds like you went to a pretty crappy school with no Financial Aid advice.

Unfortunately if you signed the papers then you have to fulfill the contract.

It's wrong of you to suggest that taking out student loans is a bad idea - for the most part it is a great idea - the value of the education you get is well worth the loan and the initial inconvenience of taking it out.

My husband has sallie mae and never had any problems with them. I have NorthStar and thus far they have been very helpful.

I think e-courses and non accredited or probation schools are wholeheartedly a waste of money. Name recognition is very important and you should go to a Tier One school if you can, and believe me, the Tier One schools will help advise you on your Financial Aid situation far more than the lower level schools.

It's also incorrect to say that there isn't other money out there for schools - if you apply to a range of schools as myself and most of my friends did I can tell you that a good number will offer some amount of money to you right up to a full ride. State schools have excellent in state tuition rates, you can also take out private loans if you are that worried about the Federal level.

A lot of people made the mistake of not paying attention to consolidation rates, but a good school would keep you informed of that.

If you believe that the company you took the loan out with did not fulfill its contractual obligations then you may have a case and should get some legal advice - go a long to a local law school and see if anyone there (students or professors) would be willing to help you. A good many have pro bono programs and clinics.

As for anyone else, I strongly recommend going to a Tier One school of any kind, even if it costs more. It will get you a lot further in the long run and the student support will be much much better.

These cheap online courses are a waste of time and money.

[zethris 0]

Sounds like you went to a pretty crappy school with no Financial Aid advice.

Unfortunately if you signed the papers then you have to fulfill the contract.

It's wrong of you to suggest that taking out student loans is a bad idea - for the most part it is a great idea - the value of the education you get is well worth the loan and the initial inconvenience of taking it out.

My husband has sallie mae and never had any problems with them. I have NorthStar and thus far they have been very helpful.

I think e-courses and non accredited or probation schools are wholeheartedly a waste of money. Name recognition is very important and you should go to a Tier One school if you can, and believe me, the Tier One schools will help advise you on your Financial Aid situation far more than the lower level schools.

It's also incorrect to say that there isn't other money out there for schools - if you apply to a range of schools as myself and most of my friends did I can tell you that a good number will offer some amount of money to you right up to a full ride. State schools have excellent in state tuition rates, you can also take out private loans if you are that worried about the Federal level.

A lot of people made the mistake of not paying attention to consolidation rates, but a good school would keep you informed of that.

If you believe that the company you took the loan out with did not fulfill its contractual obligations then you may have a case and should get some legal advice - go a long to a local law school and see if anyone there (students or professors) would be willing to help you. A good many have pro bono programs and clinics.

As for anyone else, I strongly recommend going to a Tier One school of any kind, even if it costs more. It will get you a lot further in the long run and the student support will be much much better.

These cheap online courses are a waste of time and money.

My position still stands, and so does my opinion of those people.

It is not wrong of me to warn people about the truth of the student loan industry. Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it isn't happening.

I went to a tier 1 school. One that was the top culinary school in America and had direct association with the top culinary school in europe.

Still, you are unfortunatly one of many who find their ignorance is bliss. So be it.

Also, you all have no right to try to rebuke me when you would do exactly the same thing if put in an impossible situation and had total a-holes do nothing but try to make it worse.

Stop the madness, end this thread already. The information that is important has already been said, and I am sure it will help raise exactly the ammount of awareness as I had hoped it would. Both about what Sallie Mae is doing, and the arrogance of the people here at VJ when something isn't happening directly to them.

Sure, you gain sympathy for the Visa process, it's happening to you too, so that automatically makes it real. But the moment someone who foolishly thinks they have friends here shares something else, well all bets are off.

disghusting.

[ChristinaM 0]

All bets were off when YOU started making sweeping generalisations about people and levelling unnecessary personal insults.

That is the disgusting thing about this thread - your behaviour.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Christina you are spot on......

Kezzie

[rebeccajo 14]

Zethris, all you need to do is take responsibility and accountability for your situation. That's all.

[KarenCee 3]

Zethris, all you need to do is take responsibility and accountability for your situation. That's all.

I agree....and GROW UP!

[britbird 4]

So you went to the Culinary Institute of America - the number one culinary school in the United States (if you haven't been to their California student restaurant you really should, it is amazing) http://www.ciachef.edu/admissions/finaid/

Sallie Mae is one of a number of their preferred lenders. Note, you have to sign a promissory note to get those, and that locks you in to paying it back. They had a financial aid office there for you to talk to and who could have helped you out - did they help you out? Have you gotten any legal advice if you were misinformed about the loan or if the actions of the lender did not follow the loan contract you signed?

Note how many of their students get financial aid of a grant based nature - a lot of people get a lot of assistance with school - there are many ways of paying for school and many people who want to help.

Check it all out!!! http://www.ciachef.edu/admissions/finaid/need.asp

Seems to me you did a poor job of reading the fine print, and unfortunately the 'i didn't know' defense is no defense at all.

[zethris 0]

Funny thing is, the very people who have no lives are the ones STILL dwelling on this issue! How sad are you people, how pitiful your relationships must truely be! I checked back to feed a hunch that you people would still be posting here and sure enough it was #2 on the list! How sick is that?

I was past my initial shock and reaction way back on Monday. So I have speant my time working to fix this problem as it is truely a breach of law and contract with how they have leveraged this loan. I have submitted my story to multiple news outlets who will be carying my story and others becase I am not alone in this experience. I happen to be one of many apparently.

I haven't wasted my time here tearing someone down and talking about them behind their backs like you trash have been doing. I pressed forward and focused on the issue at hand. While I had a moment of panic and you jerks took advantage of that, it was done a week ago. Yet you are STILL posting on this thread!

----------------------------------

The CIA was NOT the top culinary school in America. The CCA was the top school in America when I enrolled and before it was bought out by the Career Education Corporation and turned into a certification/degree farm. When I signed up, everything worked well. But the contract, unbeknownst to ANYONE left open gaping holes for changes such as these to be made.

You only prove my point the more you blather on trying to provoke more response out of me. You only prove how much more childish you try to accuse me of being by exacerbating this situation even further. All you are doing is trying to make yourself feel better at anothers expense. I have tons of PM's concurring this so I know others agree with what I have said about you people.

Long story short, get a damn life, move on.

That is the final word, period. (unless of course, you must get the last word in, as I am sure you have to knowing how your type is, you can't resist)

Edited August 28, 2006 by zethris

[rebeccajo 14]

*covers eyes - runs and hides*

I really really wanted to NOT post but I just couldn't resist!!!!! The urge to pull your chain was just too strong.

Zethris, I don't know why you have to be so p*ssed about this. You probably could have gotten a more positive response if you just hadn't gotten so darned inflammatory with people. This really is a pretty nice place.

Oh...there's nothing wrong with my relationship. But I am kinda depressed lately and spending a tad too much time here. Immigration, starting a new life with a new marriage and all that jazz is not a breeze. I have a feeling it'll be worth it, but it's not easy right now.

Got that? In other words you aren't the only one with problems.

Edited August 28, 2006 by rebeccajo

[zethris 0]

So can we agree to get over ourselves then and just move on? I am willing to. Truce?

Edited August 28, 2006 by zethris

[rebeccajo 14]

So can we agree to get over ourselves then and just move on? I am willing to. Truce?

Works for me.