Why can't you buy a car with student loans?

[neurogrrl]

I am a medical student and will have to go on "away" rotations in order to graduate. Some of them are in rural areas. I would be perfectly happy not to have a car, but I don't think I can graduate without one. My class load is too heavy to work any kind of steady job. I'm wondering how exactly the federal government expects people to handle this situation.Cardtapper: my point is that the car *is* part of my school expenses. If I were not in school, I would not need it. I have survived many years of adult life without a car, but I have walked and used public transit. This is not an option when on a rotation in an isolated rural area.Also: I was looking for an answer from someone who can actually explain this to me. I am well aware that it is not the government's job to solve all my problems, but I don't think it's that much to ask to have transportation expenses covered when I'm faced with constantly changing, often rural locations and odd hours, especially since I will be paying the money back! (Re: making "bank" there are some ethical tradeoffs involved, and the whole system will likely change in the next few years)

[elle]

Public Transportation.The govt doesn't about your plight. Your going to be making mega-bank in the future so for now, they will let you suffer. It sucks but such is life.

[cardtapper]

Financial aid was there to help you with your medical school expenses, but not to save you from all inconveniences, financial dilemmas, and problems of everyday life.They expect you to use the smarts and resourcefulness that got you into and through medical school to come up with a solution to your problem. In terms of life problems, this one is TINY. Get over yourself.

[sarai56]

Did someone tell you you could not buy a car with your student loans? If so can you appeal this decision?

[Found-1]

I'm sure this isn't your school's fin aid guidelines, but many are almost exact from school to school. See below for explanation for cars.For what it's worth, during my sophomore year in a state college my roommate AND my suite mate (both living on campus) received enough fin aid with grants, scholarships, fee waivers and loans to buy cars. Neither of them asked for extra money for this expense - which is prob why they were able to do this. Also looking back, the school wasn't terribly expensive and neither were the cars they bought.