Dear Editor:This is a response to the “Financial Aid Goes Online” article (Sept. 9, 2009) Easier?

I was told that they switched to a computer system and that paper didn’t count anymore.

Thanks for the warning. It’s the end of week one and I’m still sitting here like fall of last year wondering where my Stafford loans are so I can buy books, pay bills, etc.

With a family of four and my wife a full-time student as well, it’s not like I can work a part-time job while mommy and daddy pay rent. I just got off the phone with Financial Aid who told me that I had a promissory note from Perkins that needed my attention even though it doesn’t show on my Goldlink and I was never informed by e-mail.

I was told I need to handle it through the bursars office and was offered to be transferred.

Guess what? The bursars office doesn’t know why I would be calling them since I need to get papers from Financial Aid first. This game of tag isn’t even worth the loan or the hassle.

The problem doesn’t exist just on the phone. What about the random hoops to jump through that appeared on mine and my wife’s Goldlink?

Around the first day of classes when it would be nice to already have your loan to buy books and supplies, my wife gets a hold on her account because her parent or guardian needs to sign a Plus Loan. My wife’s 37 years old and was never even offered or much less did she accept a plus loan!

I guess I’ll try to make it another five or seven days without money unless anyone has a mom or dad who wants to sponsor me. Pissed off doesn’t even begin to describe it. Get your head out of your ass ETSU and quit thinking you’re getting technologically advanced!

– Tim Smith

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