<prompt> Human: I just applied for loans for the summer semester and was awarded 250 dollars. At first I thought this was a clerical error, but as it turns out, I am at 30,750 which is 250 away from the federal loan maximum for undergraduate dependents. I am a Biomedical science student and was planning on paying for summer then using the extra to take my MCAT. My family income is too high to qualify me for grants, but too low for my parents to be able to give me much help. I am literally five classes away from finishing my degree and I need a way to pay for my final classes and then cover my MCAT and application fees. I havent looked too deep into private loans, because I am still in panic mode after realizing that about 6000 that I had accounted for over the next six months is not going to come in. It seems like a lot of private loans are predatory and require credit. My credit scores are 722 equifax and 631 transunion. The transunion has a strike from a medical bill that I didnt pay. I am not even sure how to pay it at this point. I have also carried high debt on my credit card, but have a perfect payment history on my card, all bills, and my car loan. I got a car loan in November with a 5 with suncoast credit union without a cosigner somehow. Essentially, I am not sure if I can get a private loan or if it would even be manageable. Also the repayment could be a problem if they come calling while Im in medical school. I have a job and If I take a semester off might be able to save up, but dont want to graduate a semester late. I dont know if I have any other options. Thanks, reddit.  <response>: Honestly, private loans arent that bad. They arent ideal, but for only 6000, its a no-brainer -- get 6k in private loans, finish your degree, and enter the job market as soon as you can.Taking time off from school, or busting your ass at a job and going to school part time, will probably cost you more in the long run than taking out 6k in loans now and finishing your degree as soon as you can. The opportunity cost in terms of lost income alone would cover 6k, considering you have a STEM degree. You will probably need a cosigner for the private loan, but in my experience, lenders arent too picky. Even if the interest rate is high, it will only be 6k, and you should be able to pay it off well before the interest eats up a lot of your money.By the way, if this small amount of additional debt scares you, you should rethink medical school. 