College Funding/FAFSA?

Question

Looking for logical Advice/Ideas, please no retarded responses.

Here's my situation. I'm getting ready to attend Baker College in Michigan, it's a fairly cheap school compared to others but I'm trying to get in for this summers semester..The admissions adviser I'm working with has been telling me for the past month that I won't be able to get any funding for the summer semester, only the fall. She wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked why so I started trying to come up with the money on my own,Also said I would need the money upfront before I start. I called the schools Fin. Aid department and they said all i'd need to do to be eligable for grants and Federal Loans is fill out the 07-08 FAFSA since my Admissions advisor filled out the 08-09 FAFSA. Basically my question is, Can I still fill out the 07-08 fafsa for the summer semester or is there a deadline? I have two people telling me two differen't things and idk which one is bullshit or what the grey area is in them.

Answer 1

When it comes to grants and loans you should trust the advice of the financial aid office - not admissions counselors.  They try to be helpful, but oftentimes do not understand all the angles of financial aid.  She/he should have directed you to the financial aid office to begin with.  

It sounds like your school treats summer as a trailer to the academic year, which is why they want you to complete the 07-08 fafsa.  There is still time to do this, but you should not delay on completing it.  Once the semester ends it will be too late for you to receive any possible grants or loans.  

  If you have not used up your eligibility for federal aid for 07-08 you will likely be eligible for some form of aid, even if it is student loans.  Most schools will allow you to start classes so long as you are in the process of applying for financial aid.

The 08-09 will cover you from Fall 08 to Summer 09 from the sounds of it.  If you have not yet done that one - get it done as well!