<p>I have had some really bad symptoms such as horrible fatigue to the point that I can barely function, sores in my mouth, easy bruising, and muscle weakness of which all point to celiac disease. Celiac disease is a disease where you are basically allergic to gluten and when you eat it it causes all of these symptoms and more. It also causes inadequate absorption of vitamins, fat, carbs, and other things your body needs which also causes all of the symptoms. My question is can I take a semester off so I can go on a gluten free diet and get better without it affecting my financial aid? Like I said I am so tired I can hardly function and I don’t want to fail my classes or have to drop them.</p>
<p>You have to go to a doctor if you have not done so already. It is unclear to me if you have gone to a doctor or not, sorry.</p>
<p>Go by what your doctor says. Get it formally documented. And, formally withdraw for the Spring semester. </p>
<p>You will have to actually contact the financial aid offices of your school as to any individualized school rules they might have about formally withdrawing.</p>
<p>Hang in there in the meantime.</p>
<p>And, do not sell yourself short after having formally withdrawn. At a minimum, you should keep up with your recreational reading for your own intellectual growth and development :)</p>
<p>As far as federal aid is concerned taking a leave of absence should not cause any problems with future aid. Usually the SAP (satisfactory academic progress) rules require things such as you have successfully completed a certain % of all classes attempted (75% at both my kids schools), maintain a certain GPA etc. Some schools do have an expectation that you finish in a certain time period. You should go and talk to your FA department and see if there is anything you need to do. If there is institutional aid or scholarships make sure you find out the rules/requirements for those. My daughters scholarships has to be formally put on hold if she were gone for a semester or she would lose it.</p>
<p>If you have any federal loans then dropping below 1/2 times may mean they start having to be repaid. The Stafford and Perkins loans have grace periods where you don’t have to start repeating them until 6 months (Stafford) or 9 months (Perkins) after you drop below 1/2 time. If you have Stafford loans you might hit the end of the grace period and have to start paying them. I think once you started at school again you could have them put back in deferment but I don’t think you get another grace period so they would go into repayment again as soon as you graduate/drop below 1/2 time.</p>
<p>Can’t you start the gluten free diet now and go to school while you are on it?</p>