You are using an older browser and may experience difficulties using UniThrive.org. We recommend you use Firefox or Internet Explorer 8.

Help

Lending

Who can lend on UniThrive?: At this time, only alumni of the schools at which UniThrive offers loans can lend to students on the site. Currently, that means anyone with a valid @post.harvard.edu email address can be a UniThrive lender.
How much can I lend to a particular student?: You can lend as little as $50 or as much as the full amount requested by a student.
Can I lend to more than one student?: Absolutely. We encourage you to lend to as many students as you want.
Will I earn interest?: Not at this time. Currently, UniThrive loans are interest-free.
Why am I charged a fee to lend?: This fee does not go to UniThrive — it is used to cover the cost of the payment transaction. When we take your loan pledge, our payment processor subtracts a small fee, generally 2.9% + $0.30. This means if you pledge $1000 to a student, only $970.70 would be left to loan to the student. We add the amount of the transaction fee to your pledge to ensure that the student receives the actual amount of your pledge.
When will I be paid back?: Repayment begins the January after a student graduates. Loans have a 5-year maturity and repayments are made quarterly.
What happens if a student I have pledged money to does not have his loan fully pledged?: Student loan requests have 42 days (6 weeks) to be funded on the site. At the end of that period, if money pledged to that student does not equal the loan request, students have two options: 1) Take out a loan for the amount pledged, or 2) let the loan request expire (i.e. do not take out a loan).
Is there any risk?: Lending on UniThrive, like any other loan, involves risk and UniThrive does not guarantee lenders that their loans will be repaid. By lending to multiple students, rather than simply lending to one student, you may be able to increase the likelihood of repayment.
What happens if a student doesn’t repay his or her loan?: As with any other loan, the student's credit score will be negatively affected and he/she will be subject to credit collector intervention. You will sign a Promissory Note with your student borrower(s) agreeing to the terms of your loan. This is a legal document.
What are the tax implications?: According to our legal counsel, interest lost on zero percent loans is not tax deductible. However we are not lawyers and this is NOT intended to be legal advice in any capacity. You should consult your own tax lawyer with any questions.
I want to lend but am not an alumnus/a of a school you are currently at. What do I do?: We're hard at work to expand the UniThrive platform, please visit our more information signup page to stay informed of our expansion plans.

Borrowing


What can I take out a loan for?: At this time, UniThrive loans are only applicable to term-time tuition. We direct deposit the money with your school, handling all the financial transactions, so you can worry about the more important stuff.
How much can I borrow?: Any amount between $500 and $2000. We plan to increase the maximum amount in the near future - stay tuned!
How often can I borrow?: You may only request one loan per semester.
When do I pay back?: Repayment begins the January after you graduate. You will repay over 5 years in quarterly installments.
Do I pay any interest?: Currently No! Current UniThrive loans are interest-free.
What’s the catch?: There is none. We want to give you the best possible loan, while simultaneously putting you in touch with lenders invested in your success.
How many lenders can I have?: There is no limit on the number of lenders per student.
What kinds of students can borrow on UniThrive?: At this point, only underclassmen (freshmen, sophomores, and juniors) undergraduate students can request loans. Additionally, at this time only residents of the United States and Canada can take out loans.
How long do I have for my loan request to be funded?: Your loan request will remain active for 42 days (6 weeks) before it expires. At the end of that period, if you have at least $500 pledged to your loan request you have two options: 1) Take out a loan for the amount pledged, or 2) let the loan request expire (i.e. do not take out a loan). If your loan does not meen the minimum $500 level, you can create a new loan request.
What happens if I don’t repay my loan?: As with any other loan, your credit score will be negatively affected and you will be subject to credit collector intervention. You will sign a Promissory Note with your lender(s) agreeing to the terms of your loan. This is a legal document.
Are international students eligible to take out loans?: Curretnly, UniThrive loans are offered to residents of the U.S. and Canada.
I want to borrow but am not an alumnus/a of a school you are currently at. What do I do?: Please visit our more information signup page to stay informed of our expansion plans.

Managing your account

How do I change the email address associated with my account?: Log in to your account. Go to the Profile Tab → Account sub tab. You have the option change the email address. Your official college email address must remain on the account, but you can change your secondary email.
I forgot my password. How do I log in?: If you click the “Forgot Password” link when trying to sign in, you will receive instructions on how to reset your password.
How do I change my password?: Log in to your account. Go to Profile Tab → Account sub tab. You can change your password there.
How do I update my profile?: Once logged in to your account, click on the “Edit” button on the drop-down from the Profile tab. From there you can move through the various sections of the profile and enter/change information as you wish.

About UniThrive.org

What is UniThrive?: UniThrive is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to connect people to students through meaningful financial relationships, allowing students to attend their dream college without incurring massive debt. Everyone has the power to make a difference.
What kind of organization is UniThrive?: UniThrive is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
What is UniThrive’s EIN?: 80-0187460
Does UniThrive accept donations?: Yes and we would greatly appreciate any support you are willing to give us. Please click the Donate link at the bottom of the page to learn how you can support UniThrive.
How does UniThrive fund its operations?: Through interested donors like you! Help us expand our operations by making a tax-deductible donation today!
Do you have any informational materials available?: Yes, our media kit is available for download here.

How UniThrive works

Who can see my profile?: For students, only lenders can view your profile.; For lenders, only students you have lent to and/or communicated with can see your profile. Additionally, all lenders can see other lender profiles. You can edit your privacy settings to block who can see what information about you and your lending activity.
How are the funds transferred?: UniThrive securely transfers all funds from lender credit cards and/or PayPal accounts to our bank account and then directly to the college’s tuition office. The money never reaches the student’s hands.
Is UniThrive secure?: When submitting credit card or bank information, UniThrive employs 128-bit SSL encryption — the same encryption system banks use on their own websites.
Is my privacy protected?: Yes, your privacy is of paramount importance to us. For more detailed information, please consult our Privacy Policy.
How does UniThrive verify users’ status as a student?: We crosscheck a user’s status by asking them to register with their official college/university-given email addresses. We will only allow legitimate undergraduates to register with the site.
What is an Update?: An Update is a 350-word communiqué written by a student with the purpose of updating his or her lenders on what is going on in his or her life. Students are responsible for updating their lenders five times per year – twice during the semester and once in the summer.
What is my Lender Network?: For students, your Lender Network is all of the lenders who have lent you money for any of your loans. For lenders, your Lender Network shows all the students you have lent money to as well as all other lenders who have pledged money to the same students as you.

Our Schools

What schools is UniThrive at?: Currently UniThrive loans are available to all undergraduates at Harvard University.
Why are you only available at Harvard?: We are piloting at Harvard because it is the institution our founders attended and were most familiar with when the UniThrive platform was first launched. We will be expanding soon, please visit our more information signup page to say informed on our expansion plans.
Is UniThrive officially partnered with Harvard University?: No, UniThrive is not an official partner of Harvard University or any of its administrative offices, including Financial Aid. We are an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Why isn’t UniThrive at my College/University?: We have plans to expand to other institutions this summer (Summer 2010). We are working hard to expand at a rate that is both viable and healthy.
How can I stay informed about your expansion plans?: Please visit our more information signup page to stay informed of our expansion plans and we'll do our best to bring UniThrive to your school as soon as possible. You can also use this form if you would like to assist us in that expansion.