Can I defer my loans from college if I attend a massage therapy academy?

I am planning to drop out of traditional college. Dear god did I hate the year I attended. I had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism in January, which explains my lack of motivation and lethargy during my whole freshman year. Besides, I was merely attending partially to “please my parents”, but it wasn’t what I really wanted. I have about 8,000 dollars in loans I need to repay. Thankfully, it’s not extreme but coming from a poor POOR family it’s scary thinking about the repayments. Especially since I’m planning to attend an advanced core program in August at a massage college/therapy academy.

My concern is whether or not I can defer my loans and aid until I graduate from the academy in 2018. It’s runs kind of like a traditional college. You have three semesters, you have tests, you get internships after the tests, and you take anatomy, physiology, business ethics, etc. Kind of like regular college classes. But I don’t know if I can defer my loans from the university I’m dropping out of. I am able to pay the interest during the deference period for sure, and probably can pay off some of my loan debt while in the academy but the 300-400 dollar monthly payment WHILE paying 30 dollars a week for over a year consistently for massage school is just not possible… in any way… I already deal with my thyroid condition (which comes with anxiety and depression) and I have to pay big bucks for medication for that as well. I really don’t want to halter my education and ruin my chance for something greater over loan payments taking control of my life…

Go meet with the financial aid office at your current college and ask them about this. They should be able to help you find out what you need to know.

If the academy is approved for federal Title IV aid, you can defer your loans as long as you are enrolled at least half-time.