As I slogged through my loan related activities, I jotted down these notes. I hope it helps some of you and maybe saves a bit of time. Trust Fuqua's documents before this document and please tell me of any discrepancies.

You may also want to check out a spreadsheet posted on the files section of Yahoo's duke_mba_2006 message board which compares other sources for Stafford and Alternative loans. (Thanks GSaloom) We'll post this to the new incoming student message board soon.

This is based on what I had to do and what others told me, so it may be different for many, especially for non-U.S. classmates. Let me know if I can add/modify anything to make this more helpful.

Miscellaneous Notes

I strongly suggest that you keep a file with all loan related documents. While you don't need this information very often, when you need it, you'll want it quickly, so keep it organized.

Here's a web page from The College Foundation of North Carolina that may help with understanding the loan situation: www.cfnc.org/paying/loan/stafford/stafford_lender.jsp (thanks supraatln)

For International Classmates

I want to gather useful information for you, but I lack knowledge. Please forward information to me and I will post it here. If the information is sufficiently large and different, I will create a separate page.

Last year (for class of 2006) the Financial Aid Office will posted forms that the international students could use for the Duke MBA Loan. The details were available on the incoming student website in June 2004.

Thanks for this tip Chinmay S.: "For all of you internationals,who have three years of credit history in the United States ACCESS GROUP loan is better than Sallie Mae. You will get around 3.9% + 3 months LIBOR and no origination fee."

Thanks to Sergei for this: "I'm not exactly in a similar situation but but have you looked into Access Group's loans for int'ls with US credit history just in case (as a backup plan)? I got pretty good rate quote of 3.8% from them. www.accessgroup.org"

Please send any other tips that I can post for International Students to .

Mark's Loan To Do List From Last Year

1. BY June 30, 2004: Deal with the FAFSA form online (www.fafsa.ed.gov). This includes going through a process for receiving a PIN online that takes a few days. DO IT NOW! This gives Duke what they need to work with you.
2. If you have any changes to the "2004-2005 Financial Aid Award Notification" (in large envelope from Fuqua post marked May 13, 2004) then make them and send it in.
3. Complete SallieMae Federal Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note online (www.salliemae.com/apps/onlineapp.asp?school_id=00292004) (Do not use this link if you are attending another school.)
4. AFTER MAY 25 (as stated in 5/27 financial related email from Fuqua) apply to Alternative Educational Student Loan (BEL) if needed. (Apply online: laureate.salliemae.com/Laureate)
5. Apply to Federal Perkins Student Loan if needed.
6. For Federal Perkins Student Loan, just complete the required promissory note and disclosure forms which should arrive on roughly June 2 (referenced in the Financial and General Information notes sent by Fuqua via postal mail).
7. Complete the Entrance Loan Counseling requirements (referenced in the Financial Aid Award Notification) - may be done online: www.mapping-your-future.org (referenced by email from Fuqua dated 5/17).

Please let me know if I missed anything. I will post to the Yahoo message board for any significant changes that I make here.

Duke Suggested Loans

Other Sources For Loans

Special Loans

For other loans (I'm guessing computers, GATES, etc.) check this out: