<p>Hi everybody, </p>
<p>I have searched extensively but have not found the exact information I am looking for, so here it goes...</p>
<p>I am an undergrad student (already have a B.S., working on a second one) and due to this I did not qualify for full student aid. I am currently on Stafford Subsidized/Unsubsidized and a Federal Perkins Loan. The total amounts of these loans does not cover my tuition cost and I am fronting living costs from saved money. </p>
<p>My major concern here is that I am facing the possibility of having to withdraw from 9 of the 11 credits (I am part-time this semester) I am enrolled in due to a rough start.</p>
<p>If I do drop below half-time status:</p>
<p>1) Will this require me to pay back a portion or all of student aid offered to me this semester? If I do choose to late drop it will not be until the day of the deadline which is still weeks after the refund period has ended.</p>
<p>2) Will doing so affect future federal student aid (e.g., spring 2014)? I plan to attend full-time next semester and thereafter and also understand that I'll likely be placed on academic probation.</p>
<p>3) Lastly, from a student aid perspective, is it simply "better" for me to not drop below half-time status and risk failing a course or two? Does it look better or worse to get an 'F' or two as opposed to dropping below half-time? </p>
<p>Please be aware that I did go to my school's Bursar/Registration/Student Aid Office but the line was too long and I had to get going but I will head back next week to try again. </p>
<p>So, in the meantime, any useful information would be great! I need as much advice as I can get at this point.</p>
<p>Ask about taking Incompletes in these classes and finishing them up over winter break. You do not want a whole trail of Fs on your record if you are serious about this new degree program.</p>
<p>I agree with Happymom…IF you you think you can pass these courses by completing them later. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how “satisfactory academic progress” is calculated, but dropping all but one course could affect your SAP. If it does, you would not be eligible for aid until you satisfy whatever requirement your school has for correcting this.</p>
<p>I would suggest discussing this with the dean of students and your advisor.</p>
<p>Also you MUST discuss it with the financial aid people. Academic advisers often don’t know the financial aid rules.</p>
<p>You will not lose any aid for the current term, as long as you are still enrolled in one or more classes. How it will affect future aid depends on your school’s SAP policy.</p>
<p>Kelsmom, the student has loans only. What happens with those?</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies so far, everyone. </p>
<p>I am holding off on speaking to my academic adviser as well as the Financial Aid Office in person until next week, but through email I get a variety of answers which has not helped me at all. </p>
<p>Some are saying that future student loan eligibility will not be affected, some say it will and some have stated that I will owe back nothing (for this semester) while another mentioned I will have to pay back the Perkins Loan. To me it seems like nobody knows. </p>
<p>Regarding taking “Incomplete” grades, I do not see that as an option at my school. I can only “late drop” which is the same as withdrawal (I’d get a “W” grade). I do not believe there is an option to finish up the coursework over winter break but I will ask my adviser when I see him. </p>
<p>I may just withdraw from the courses, take the “W” grades and re-take the classes. As mentioned, I cannot afford a trail of F’s on my record so I’m thinking W grades will be more appealing due to not lowering my GPA.</p>
<p>My major concern is future student aid, which I partly rely on to cover 2/3 of my tuition. I was hoping somebody could chime in from personal experience and I do understand that my school’s policies may differ from others but I’d like to get to know as much about this topic as possible for I go in.</p>
<p>You will have to pay the Perkins Loan back at some point. You will,also have to pay the Direct Loan. </p>
<p>Schools actually disburse the Perkins Loan money. I don’t know I’d they can ask for immediate repayment…or not.</p>
<p>Free advice here…why do you need a second bachelors degree?</p>
<p>I am switching into engineering from the social sciences. I did not qualify for any M.S. programs due to not having math/science prerequisites.</p>
<p>My son once dropped a semester of classes due to some personal circumstances. When he returned to school and applied for aid, he was denied because of having dropped the classes. He had never applied for aid before and he actually met the cumulative SAP requirements, but they denied him because of so many dropped classes in a semester. He was able to appeal and get aid by showing why he had dropped the classes (he was working full time and struggling a bit then had had a messy situation with a rental house when the landlord hired a fly by night roofer and the ceilings in the house collapsed and destroyed all my son’s belongings). The fact that he could prove there was a compelling reason for his dropping the class helped get the aid approved.</p>
<p>Really, only your school can tell you whether your future aid will be impacted. it is possible. You should make an appointment to talk to an actual FA officer aaaaaaa9not a helper that does not know all the rules).</p>
<p>swimcatsmom, that is exactly the stuff I am worrying about.</p>