Comments on: Student Loan Forgiveness Programs http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:07:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: saladdin http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.html/comment-page-1#comment-271398 saladdin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:20:41 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2964#comment-271398 I was a VISTA. The $4725 I received was taxable so take that into account. There is a strong lobbying push to change this but I think as of now it is still taxable. VISTA's also receive a living stipend which was in the $8k range with health insurance. I lean left so I like these programs, if anyone wants some inside info about the VISTA program feel free. saladdin I was a VISTA. The $4725 I received was taxable so take that into account. There is a strong lobbying push to change this but I think as of now it is still taxable.

VISTA’s also receive a living stipend which was in the $8k range with health insurance. I lean left so I like these programs, if anyone wants some inside info about the VISTA program feel free.

saladdin

]]> By: finaidgirl http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.html/comment-page-1#comment-271153 finaidgirl Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:14:40 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2964#comment-271153 Please use caution when pursuing a TEACH "grant"! There are very strict qualifications to really receive it as free money, more than just teaching in a "high need" school. If for any reason the person does not complete the requirements at any time, the entire "grant" will automatically turn into an unsubsidezed stafford LOAN, and interest dating back to the original disbursement date will be added on. So if you took out a $4000 TEACH grant each year of a four year undergrad career and for whatever reason do not teach, you suddenly have a $16,000 loan to pay off, plus interest! I think the program is a terrible idea - If someone with TEACH "grants" realized during their first year of teaching they didn't want to teach but forced themselves to complete the four years as required, I don't think they'd be a very good teacher. This isn't a grant, it's a loan in disguise. I love the idea of recruiting more and better teachers, but this is NOT the way to do it. See more here: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp Please use caution when pursuing a TEACH “grant”! There are very strict qualifications to really receive it as free money, more than just teaching in a “high need” school. If for any reason the person does not complete the requirements at any time, the entire “grant” will automatically turn into an unsubsidezed stafford LOAN, and interest dating back to the original disbursement date will be added on. So if you took out a $4000 TEACH grant each year of a four year undergrad career and for whatever reason do not teach, you suddenly have a $16,000 loan to pay off, plus interest! I think the program is a terrible idea – If someone with TEACH “grants” realized during their first year of teaching they didn’t want to teach but forced themselves to complete the four years as required, I don’t think they’d be a very good teacher. This isn’t a grant, it’s a loan in disguise. I love the idea of recruiting more and better teachers, but this is NOT the way to do it. See more here: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/TEACH.jsp

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