So, last summer I accepted a SL for 4500 for this coming summer, assuming I was taking 6 units in summer school. they changed the way they do grad school and now all summer classes are 2 units, so I would have to take 3 and am having a really hard time in school, so I am taking one 2 unit class. So, apparently, since in grad school part time is 3 units, they informed me I no longer qualified for my subsidized or unsubsidized loans, I was counting on this money for living expenses this summer, and the other half for school of course. Just curious, am I really no longer entitiled to this money even though I am still in school and have accepted it? I may be missing something totally obvious, but am a newb to student loans and would appreciate any help.

Unfortunately this is how it works. You have to be a half time credit level to qualify. They will also take financial aid away if you had enrolled at a higher level and then dropped below a part time level. Is there a one unit course you can take??? An easy one??

I could do the second summer session, but I REALLY need a break, and there are no 1 unit courses in my grad program. Oh well, I will just put it on my CC and pay it off as soon as possible. I thought there might have been a workaround, thanks for your help.

Is this for grad school, or are you talking universities in general?

I thought this was the case for University of Texas (undergrad) but they actually have a "three strikes" policy.

In other words, you can drop below the required level (for me since I had federal and state grants it was full time) three times. Each time you will get a "strike" against you. Once you have three strikes, they will no longer offer you financial aid of any type unless you go through an appeals process (every time).

I wouldn't *recommend* adding a course just to get the aid, but you can certainly ask your financial aid office their policy on this. The "financial aid taken back if dropping below required time" idea was stuck in my head, and one of the reasons I waited so long to drop a class. I do have a strike against me (my school also gives a one time "drop after the q drop date" for undergraduates), but it was MUCH better than getting an F in that class or (from all the stress) failing ALL my classes.

I would also recommend if you can take one course each session, as there are generally 2 summer sessions.

yeah, I called and they said they would have to send it back. GOOD PART: I don't have 4500 more in SLs. BAD PART: I don't have the cash to pay for this semester, and will have to put it on a CC instead. I was kind of hoping, since they are loans, they would give them to me anyways, since I am still enrolled...but, my hopes were wrong

The 3 strikes is for financial aid probation or unsatisfactory progress. I used to be on the committee for the school I worked for. For us, 2 strikes and you were on financial aid probation...3 strikes was financial aid suspension. To regain FA, you would have to pay for and complete an entire semester at your own expense.