Cian Williams is a junior at La Salle University studying Public Health with a goal of entering her school’s 2-year accelerated nursing program after graduation. Cian was a good student in high school, earning a high enough GPA to gain admission to La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The problem (times 2!)
Cian grew up in a single-parent household in New Jersey. Because of her strong academics, Cian received a considerable scholarship that made tuition nearly free for her. The only problem? Everything else: housing, a meal plan, and books.
As if that’s not enough, Cian has a twin sister who is also in college—easily doubling her family’s expected contribution.
“My mom suggested I live at home and commute to school, but I didn’t want to miss out on the college experience,” Cian said. “I wanted to live on campus and learn how to live on my own, but I didn’t want to cost my family a ton of money.”
Cian started looking into student loans, but she quickly ran into a problem. Most student loans require either excellent credit or a co-signer, making it nearly impossible for a college student to apply on their own.
The solution
The solution came in August 2019, just before the start of Cian’s junior year. She found Funding U online and learned that we don’t require a co-signer or tons of credit history. She saw Funding U’s positive reviews and, once she had her one on one Loan Advisor call, she felt comfortable making the decision on her own.
“Funding U is amazing, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Cian said. “I wish I had found it sooner!”
Now, with the help of Funding U, Cian is on track to graduate in 2021 and take the next step towards her dream of becoming a nurse.
“If I had any advice to give someone about to start college, it would be to stay focused,” Cian said. “Focus on your priorities first, and then you’re free to have fun!”