Apply immediately for student loans. With your low income you should qualify for low-interest Government loans like the Stafford Loan. Fill out the FAFSA form and see if you qualify.

Use the loan money to pay off the medical bills. You don’t have to pay the loans back until your graduate, and this gives you time to get a better job to pay down the loan.Simply: work more. $200 a month? Is that like 5 hours a week? I know people who work over 30 hours a week and take a full course load!!! Get a second job if your job won’t give you more hours. Try to find someone to carpool with. Eat ramen and seasonal fruits and vegetables for a year.Remember, even if you do lose your credit, you can get it back. I think that obviously the thing you should aim for the most is to cut back on unnecessary expenses and pay off the $3000 as soon as possible. Paying as quickly as you can handle will keep your credit score higher, and will decrease the amount of interest (and thus, total amount) you pay.

As for your worries about after college: if you have a good job and are making a lot of money, and spend responsibly, your credit score will rise, and then you can get a house. Plus, you’ll already have money saved up for it.

Need more information? Find information on consumer credit counseling program

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