Yeah, I'm wondering about all this too. Complicating the fact, I'm taking 3 classes at 3 diff schools in the fall (one private school, one public univ, one at a cc) because my state school is not accepting 2nd bachelor students and most of the science classes are filled before non-matriculated students like me can register (I can't register until the 1st week of classes). I'd like to take out the max Stafford loans as a 5th year student (unsub+sub loans) but I'm worried I will be in a difficult place as I will be a full time student (15 quarter units total), but the units at each school will be "part time", so just 5 units at each school and I don't know if this is going to be confusing when I fill out a FAFSA. I'd like to see if I can get by on the Stafford loans before I start looking at private ones like Sallie Mae. I'm wondering if if matters that you are splitting your coursework up between a few schools in terms of qualifying for the Stafford loans? Also, can you get 5th year loans for post-bac if you are not an official student at a college (I'm a "non-matriculated")? Questions, questions! Em