It's pretty shitty, because I also need to get some sort of vehicle, so it isn't like I can just sink that Stafford completely into the debt.

I'm going to try and call Chicago tomorrow, but their position last time was that I needed to pay off the eight grand before they even WANT to extend basic financial aid services to me. I'm sure there must be someone I could appeal to about it, but I'm not sure which department it goes under after financial aid. Maybe a dean?