Saturday, June 21 is the first official day of summer! Most of us are already enjoying summer vacations, jobs, and internships, but others have made the choice to try to fit in a class or two during summer sessions. Before you decide that an entire semester’s worth of calculus in a 6-week term is a great idea (or the complete works of Shakespeare in 3 weeks!), be sure to check with your school’s financial aid office to make sure that the aid programs you rely on during the year are also available during the summer.
Sometimes, summer is considered the fourth quarter of the academic year. While it is possible to receive financial assistance for summer classes, financial aid may only be available on a limited basis. For example, federal aid, such as the Stafford Loan or Pell Grant, might be limited to a student’s remaining eligibility from the current academic year. Also, some universities only award aid for summer if funds remain after all financial aid awards have been finalized for the regular academic year.
So be sure to check with your financial aid office to find out if financial aid is available before signing up for summer classes. And enjoy the first day of summer!
