18 and already bad credit :(

I'm not sure about being able to get a loan. You might be able to, but with a high interest rate. Once you've paid off the debt & Maintained good credit for a time, you'll see your score improve & your odd for getting a good loan.

Have you applied or called for a free consultation? The counselors will help you sort through options & give you an idea of what you need to do.

Yes, the free consultation will help but also talk to a financial aid counselor at the school you're choosing to attend. they should help you as well, why private loans? just wondering nothing wrong with them at all I'm just trying to gain some insight on student loans as we're paying ours off now. You are very very young and just starting out. Please don't think that all is lost. YOu've learned from your past money management mistakes and now you know how incredibly easy it is to get into debt and how not so easy it is to get out of it. but there's certainly options for you and while i'm not a professional, this site offers professional consultation which is just wonderful. you have time, and to your credit you realize that you need to start now rebuilding your credit. there's maybe two options for you to try, talk to a counselor from this site and your school's financial aid counselor. see what those two professionals say :) good luck to you, you're on the right track