Loan Resources and Information.

Because of Canadian Government loans, I am where I am right now. I have been studying for 4 years, and none of it would have been possible without OSAP. Ontario Student Assistance Program provides interest-free loans to students who live in Ontario, Canada. Upon application, OSAP loans specific amounts they deem appropriate. The amount depends on personal finances as well as the student’s parents’ income. This could possibly be the downfall to the program. I know many students who were unable to obtain a loan due to their parent’s higher income, although their parents did not contribute to their tuition. Fortunately for myself, my parents were self-employed farmers and OSAP was able to assist me in my education.

OSAP is available to students born in Ontario, or whose current permanent address is in the province. A benefit of OSAP is that they do not restrict their applicants to only those universities and colleges within the province. I was able to study for five semesters in a different province, Quebec, one semester in California, USA, and one year abroad in Australia. In total OSAP has loaned me over $30 000 which has granted me the opportunities I have had in my education. This program also supplies many grants and forgives portions of the loans.

Although it seems as though I am promoting Ontario Student Loans fully, there are downfalls, great realities that must be realized as well. More specifically, seven months after the completion of your studies, when I must begin to pay back my loan and when the interest kicks in. Yet, OSAP is still the best student loan program I have seen.

Paying for tuition sucks; there’s no way around it. In being a student who has had no financial support and has been on my own throughout my post-secondary education, OSAP has been the only option to make university possible. It makes nights out at the bar possible, as well as walking down the aisle to graduation. It makes university possible to those who would not be able to make it on their own without having to pick up some illegal job to make the ridiculous amounts it costs to educate oneself.

I am the optimist who is going to believe that someday down the road … way down the road … when I have a career and my debts paid off, it will all have been worth it.