<p>I need to take out a loan to pay for a 3-week long course that starts in May and use the remaining funds to pay for a few courses this summer. My financial aid package for this semester didn't list any loans whatsoever, just grants and a scholarship, so I'm feeling way behind in getting this going. I talked to the financial aid department at my school and the woman told me that the "deadline" was March 1st, but she seemed very clueless.</p>
<p>Am I out of luck?</p>
<p>Stafford loans are usually available for summer study. Are all of the courses being taken at the school you normally attend? Did you ask the FA people about SUMMER financial aid? It sounds like the March 1st deadline was for spring semester loan requests…it’s much too early to be a summer deadline (usually June/July). Try to search your college’s website for “summer Stafford” or something like that.</p>
<p>Stafford loans are available for summer. But you have to be enrolled at least 6 hours before Stafford loans will be disbursed. Last year my daughter took some summer classes in 2 separate sessions.She had 5 hours in the 1st session and 8 in the 2nd. The school would not disburse the loan money until the 2nd session as she did not fulfill the 1/2 time requirement (6 hours) until she started the 2nd session.</p>
<p>So if your one class in May does not make you half time you may not be able to get the loan in May. Check with your school.</p>
<p>And my daughter’s school requires an additional application for summer aid (a school form, not another FAFSA). So check with your school for that as well.</p>