Avoiding taking classes during my CP

[jeenyus720]

I did a CP in Spring 11 and now i want to do another in Spring 12. My school required me to take classes at Disney. I went to class 3 or 4 times and realized that i was in Florida with free admission to the parks. I decided that i didn't want to be cooped up in a room all day on my days off. Although it was a great decision at the time i was given a withdraw for my classes and my financial aid was taken away.

Im going back to the same school this September to raise my GPA. While my grades are updating i'll do another CP. I'll apply to other school while im down there and then transfer the following Fall semester.

Since i know i wont want to take classes how can i avoid doing so without losing my financial aid. Can i take a random online course though a different school that doesn't require you to take classes just to make myself a "college student"

 

[Pancakes]

I know what you mean. My loan requires me to take 12 credits otherwise I will lose it and I'll start having to pay it off. I'm considering taking stupid/easy online classes to keep up with my credits or something. I don't know what I'm going to do either. I really don't want to take classes while I'm down there, but I can't lose my loan :/

 

[SportsChick]

I took 6 credits while I was there to get my aid (loans) and ended up dropping one class, so I finished one. Because they are loans, dropping the one didn't affect my aid at all.

I don't know of any way to get aid without taking classes

 

[devilmafia11]

what are you saying?

 

[SportsChick]

that to get federal aid or scholarships you need to take classes. How many depends on the type of aid (I am on federal loans mostly, the requirement for them is half time which is 6 credits, however, if I drop classes with a W I don't need to give back the money right away since it's a loan and I have to pay it back eventually anyways)

 

[polymerpig]

My daughter took online classes while she was a CP. They counted towards her major at her college and helped her maintain the required number of credits to keep her scholarships. But keep in mind online classes still require a lot of work, so whether you're stuck in a classroom or working online - it's still time you aren't in the parks.

 

[jeenyus720]

Do you think i can take an online class secretively and pay out of my pocket. Then after im accepted, drop it and get my money back. Then when i apply it will look like i just took a semester off and im re applying to a new school. Then i'll get financial aid right?

 

[polymerpig]

Most schools only give you a very short time after class begins to drop and get a full refund. It would depend on your school calendar, but I would highly doubt you could apply and be accepted to the CP in the time frame that would give you a full refund.

 

[KAA1972]

Keep in mind that in order to keep getting financial aid, you have to make academic progress -- which means you can't just take the classes, you have to be awarded credit at the end of the semester to continue to get the aid the next semester. Therefore, dropping the class may risk in you losing your financial aid (not loans, but aid).

Since loans have to be paid back. i.e. you can never default or declare bankruptcy on student loans. You can take a class and then withdraw and still be eligible for loans through financial aid.

 

[Pancakes]

Keep in mind that in order to keep getting financial aid, you have to make academic progress -- which means you can't just take the classes, you have to be awarded credit at the end of the semester to continue to get the aid the next semester. Therefore, dropping the class may risk in you losing your financial aid (not loans, but aid).

Since loans have to be paid back. i.e. you can never default or declare bankruptcy on student loans. You can take a class and then withdraw and still be eligible for loans through financial aid.

Wait, so you can say you're taking classes, then withdraw them all and still keep your loan?

 

[DAKLTony]

Talk with your school. I know at my school even though I'm not there I'm able to maintain my full-time student status because they have me basically under an internship which keeps me in financial aid standing and from having to repay my loans. See if your school can do anything similar for you at your local career service center.

 

[thatcrazydisneygirl]

Many federal loans will also have grace periods, time that you are allowed to fall beneath your credit standing without having to owe back your money. My loan's grace period was six months. While on the program, I took one online class through community college to get credit towards my graduation. Upon my return home, I picked up two classes (six credits) and contacted the government to inform them that I was back up to half time student status. My grace period ended then and my loans resumed right where I left them.

 

[kamik86]

I know for my school I was able to be on co-ops (required by the school though) without having to take classes. However I'm not sure what you mean by get your aid. do you want aid for the semester your on the program? Why would you need that since you have a job and are getting paid?

When we were on co-ops we didn't get aid for that quarter we would just not have to start paying back loans or anything. Then we would pick up getting aid in the next semester we took classes.

 

[teacher100]

What are you using financial aid for if you are not taking classes. It is not meant for you to use so you can play in the parks. Take the required classes so tax dollars go to what they are intended for.

 

[SportsChick]

What are you using financial aid for if you are not taking classes. It is not meant for you to use so you can play in the parks. Take the required classes so tax dollars go to what they are intended for.

I needed my loans to supplement the crap pay of Disney to survive while doing the program. Financial aid is not only to pay for classes/books but for living expenses.

Also, loans are a very different beast than grants etc. that ARE totally tax dollars. I am on the hook for each and every cent of my loans. That is not the case of grants/scholarships.

 

[StefwifnF]

I did the CP in 2008 and I was on financial aid. I called them about it and I told them I was going to be on an internship. Technically, you will have to start paying after 6 months of not being in school. The lady I talked to was really helpful. She gave me an extension and when I got back to school, I had the school's financial aid sign a form saying I was back in school again.

It's a really easy process, you just have to make sure to do it.

 

[jeenyus720]

What are you using financial aid for if you are not taking classes. It is not meant for you to use so you can play in the parks. Take the required classes so tax dollars go to what they are intended for.

I need financial aid for the following semester after my CP. If i dont take at least 12 credit hours im not considered a full time student and they will take it away.

 

[theatregrl04]

In order not to have to worry about this I did things a little differently.

I worked really hard in school, taking about 17 credits a semester instead of 16. And am on track to graduate a semester early.

I'm going to use that extra semester to do the CP. And that way I won't be "paying" or worrying about aid while on the CP. I also avoid taking out large amount of money in loans by only being in school for 7 semesters instead of 8.

The only problem is if I don't get in when I apply for spring 2012. Since I won't have a second chance since I'll be done with school.