Razz, I'm really just trying to understand this, but why wouldn't your FA dept lead you to a Stafford loan (administered by the school) and tell you to forget about the private loan. Again...you need NO co-signer, NO credit check. I'm quite confused. Make sure you're asking the right questions, arm yourself with information. A great resource is
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebA...lish/index.jsp
The more you know, the easier it will be to navigate the process. Please let me know what happens, and why you are not applying for a stafford...