How a Stilt Loan Helped this Nursing School Student Stay in Grad School

Nalucha Shakalima took a chance and left her home in Zambia to come to the U.S. One day, she hoped to have her visa sponsored so that she could become a nurse in America, but she’d need an education first. 

Things were going well, at first, too. She enrolled in Albany State University’s nursing program and received her bachelor’s degree. She even went on to work for a year as a nurse.

But she knew she could be better. So, she applied to and was accepted into the nursing master’s degree program at Kennesaw State University. She was thrilled–until she saw what the tuition would cost.

Her hopes and dreams hung in the balance, and she had no idea how she was going to pay for them.

In the below Q&A, Nalucha tells her Stilt Story. Read on to learn about how Stilt helped her get the funds she needed to stay in school and to achieve her dreams!

Why did you move to the U.S.?

I moved to the US on F1 visa to get my education in nursing, I got my bachelor’s degree, worked for a year and now I am pursuing my master’s degree in nursing from Kennesaw State University. My long-term goal is to one day be sponsored to work in the U.S. as a nurse.

What financial challenges did you face in the U.S.?

When I began graduate school, my tuition costs went up considerably. Because my visa status disqualified me for a lot of scholarships, the majority of the financial burden of my education fell on me.

What barriers prevented you from getting a loan in the U.S.

As a visa holder, I was considered by most banks to be too high a risk to lend to. As a result, my options were few and far between. Banks want to work with borrowers who have established credit histories and who won’t be leaving the country in just a couple of years.

How did you hear about Stilt?

A friend of mine who’d worked with Stilt referred me. She told me that Stilt would be willing to working with an international student and that my lack of credit history wouldn’t disqualify me from consideration.

Why did you apply for a loan with Stilt?

I applied for a loan with Stilt to help pay for my outstanding tuition balance and my various costs of living while, like rent, while I was in school.

How was your experience taking a loan with Stilt?

The process was very easy and very quick and it was much smoother than I could have imagined. I received an offer within a day and, after signing the documents, I received the loan funds within a few days. I can’t emphasize how simple and painless it was or how much I appreciated that.

What would have happened to you if didn’t get a Stilt loan?

If I had not received my Stilt loan, I wouldn’t have had enough money to pay for school and eventually I would have to leave school and leave the country without finishing my degree. I probably never would have had the opportunity again to become a sponsored nurse if I had had to go back to Zambia.

How would you define Stilt?

The best thing about Stilt is that they are reasonable and work with immigrants without a co-signer. They really made a big difference in my life when I needed it the most.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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