Funding prior to starting a program

[boudiceaborn]

I've been accepted to PhD programs on the US east coast and am currently living and working in the UK. Given the fact that I moved to the UK less than two years ago, have been studying there, and my husband and I have both had periods of unemployment.underemployment, our savings for school are pretty much nil and the cash we do have is in British

Comments

[tisiphone]

There's no harm in trying to get a private loan, but it might not be too likely. Another thing you could consider is taking on-campus accommodation for a semester, then arranging for an apartment etc for the spring semester. It'd mean you were separated from your husband for a few months, but it would also mean your up-front expenses were reduced to a plane ticket for you.

[brittdreams]

It might not even mean a separation. Often there's accommodations for married graduate students available on campus.

OP, unless your school has a summer pre-graduate school program (which are usually aimed at minority students and do require you to actually start in June, rather than August/September), it'll be pretty much impossible to get money out of the school before the loans are disbursed in fall semester. And, actually, even if you were in one of those programs, you still couldn't get money until summer semester started.

FWIW, I did the credit card and borrow money from family route when I moved for my MA. When I started my PhD, I was finishing my MA and took out some summer student loans to pay for the move.

[tisiphone]

Also true!

[boudiceaborn]

On-campus housing is an interesting suggestion - at two of the universities the grad students warned against the overpriced and crappy student housing, but the possibility of being able to pay later is a tempting one...

Separation for awhile is something we're considering, especially as he has a job in the UK and not yet in the US, and our meagre savings are currently in British pounds - I guess if I was able to find cheap, furnished room to crash in initially, that would help with the money question a bit.

Thanks!

[apwoh]

When I moved to start grad school this summer I put everything that I could on my credit card, and then just paid it off when I got my first loan payment after the semester started. That kept as much cash as possible free for other expenses. You can get a cash advance from your credit card too, but they usually charge a lot of fees.

Also, when I moved in to my apartment I had to do first and last months' rent plus a security deposit, which was a huge chunk of money! I asked my landlord if I could just do the first and last when I signed the lease, and then paid the security deposit with my second month's rent payment. That really helped so I didn't spend a whole month without any money.

[lissiehoya]

When I moved to start grad school this summer I put everything that I could on my credit card, and then just paid it off when I got my first loan payment after the semester started.

This is what I did too.

I think the federal loans that you could get over the summer are tied to the 09-10 school year, not the 10-11 school year, but don't quote me on that.

[boudiceaborn]

Eeeh - money on credit cards! I guess I should get used to the tough life of grad student debt, though. And you are right that landlords might be flexible if it's requested... Thanks!

[apwoh]

Yeah, I hate having a balance on my cards, which is why I paid it off ASAP! If you're careful you can avoid extra debt. I do!

[exirabit]

All federal financial aid is disbursed during the academic year. Some universities have "emergency" loan programs that you can get to bridge the difference, but in my experience these also often are only active during the quarter/semester (and in my case would only be given to me if I had employment to prove I would pay it back).

Private bank loans may be more possible but you would have to talk directly to the bank.

Also, if you are living ON campus often the university will have some leeway for incoming students.

[boudiceaborn]

Thanks for the suggestions!