Personal Health, American Indian History, Constitutional Law—all are classes I’m not taking. But my roommate is. He recently registered for fall semester classes. As I was helping him organize when he should take what, I got just a lil’ bit sad.
No more do I have to worry about 15-page term papers I’ve put off. I won’t stress about a comprehensive final in a class that I’m only taking because it’s required to graduate. And the need for note cards outlining every case in my Criminal Law book 
is gone.
As horrible as it sounds, I think I’m going to miss college. So I’ve decided to go back to school—vicariously, that is. That’s why I’m here. To relive all the fabulous memories of college, dish out advice, and hopefully help you understand the lingo of student loans (which I maintain should be offered as a 400-level foreign language course).
So remember, you’re doing me a favor. Tell me what’s going on at school, and keep me in touch with the college world. Sometimes I need a break from the corporate world!
Barbara, what is the difference between a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan. Just wondering?
Thanks for your help old lady!
I’ll assume that you mean old lady in an old and wise kind of way! : ) The Stafford Loan is one of the most affordable student loans available today, and it’s the first option students should look at when financing their education. In short, this loan (like me) is kind of a big deal.
The difference between subsidized and unsubsidized has to do with financial need and the loan’s interest. If you are awarded a subsidized loan (which is need based) the government will pay the interest that accrues while you are in school and during your grace period.
With an unsubsidized loan (which is NOT based on financial need, by the way) that interest is your responsibility and will be capitalized (a big fancy word which means added to the total amount of your loan) at the end of your grace period. Some ambitious students with unsubsidized loans choose to pay off their interest to avoid having a higher principal on their loan when they enter repayment. But if this old lady recalls correctly, most college students - myself included back in the day - aren't ambitious enough to wear anything but sweatpants and T-shirts, so it's a tiny group who don't have their interest capitalized. Ahhh, comfy clothes! How I miss thee as I sit in my cubicle!
You\'ve gotta be kidding me! You actually have to post fake comments to get your blog going! Pathetic.