Seems Crazy!! Need Help!

[gellymoon]

I am planning on attending Univeristy of South Carolina for a MPH in the fall but my school has yet to tell me how much the cost of attendance is and I would have to move down there in about 3 weeks for orientation/school. From looking at the website I can tell that with the Stafford loan i'd be at least $2,500 short in tuition. The school cost roughtly $12,000 per semester. I applied for a Grad Plus loan and was denied (crazy! I always pay my bills on time! and my credit score is okay) so I am struggling to figure out first how much I need for school and then figuring out where it will come from. The school doesn't guaranteed GAs to anybody and they won't even discuss them with me until orientation (after i've traveled 700+ miles to get to the school) I just feel like I'm left in the dark and don't know what to do! Has anyone else been in this situation? Is this normal for grad school? What would you recommend?