[ownedbycats]

Yes, you do have to wait until school starts to get your loan. Read very carefully. It is easy to miss one of the blanks you haave to fill in and then your loan gets delayed while you fill it out again. For the books, check out the school bookstore to see if they sell used textbooks (after you get your revised lists) and also check out the other used bookstores nearby. Even the ones not officially offiliated with the school may sell used textbooks, and at a better price than the school does. It's always worth a look. I got a few books that way, but you have to be quick, within the first day or two, or others will get there first.