And I Used to Work in Financial Aid--But I STILL Don't Get It

I decided to visit the lovely financial aid office today...

Me: Hi! I'm going to the UK in May! Yay!
Financial Aid Dude: ....
Me: Um, yeah. So here's the thing--I'm going in May for part of an independent study but the rest of the money for the trip is due in April. Is there any way I could get part of my summer financial aid early?
FA Dude: Is this for a Spring course?
Me: Um, no, it's for the summer. As in May--like I just said.
FA Dude: We disperse loans ten days before the class starts.
Me: But what if I needed the money before that? Like, say...April 11th?
FA Dude: That's not ten days before the class starts.
Me: I know. But that's the deadline.
FA Dude: That's against the rules. Sorry. You lose. Goodbye.

Ok, so he didn't say that I lose, goodbye. But essentially because of frustratingly complicated stupid red tape with loan guidelines and blah blah I can't get any money to help finance the trip until ten days before I depart for England. Which would be fine...except I need the money a month before the trip if I think I'll be leaving on a jet plane to Edinburgh. The only light that glimmers softly out of the whole conversation I had with him was that I could take out an emergency loan and then just pay it back with my summer financial aid when it was dispersed.

It's not quite the miracle I was hoping for, but at this point it's better than nothing. Because Lord know I ain't got no $950 to hand over to BGSU. Maybe I should start playing the lottery...or praying a lot...