I’m going to interrupt, yet again, my regularly scheduled programming pictures for a mild rant.

Well, it looks like I will have to repay my OSAP before actually finish my studies. According to OSAP, I am required to start repaying your loan within six months of the end of your last study period. And since I’ve not been in school since December of last year, my six months is up.

Because it is my nature to blame someone for faults, I’m going to attribute this fault to the School of Planning. Planning did not offer enough courses for me this Spring to make it worthwhile to study. Grrr to you.

Even if I were to go to school this Spring and take five courses, I will have to be back in the Fall and Winter to fulfil all my land development specialization requirements. So pretty much, going to school this term would’ve just been a write-off— so ultimately, aren’t I doing OSAP a favour for not asking them for a loan this Spring— since it wouldn’t even help me in fulfilling my course requirements?

Maybe I’m pushing it a bit with the last part, but I have to say that I’m a little pissed— or maybe I’m just moody and PMS-y. I’m not really upset with having to repay part of my loan, but more at the fact that I have to pay the accumulated interest from my loans since January. How it works for OSAP is that the government gives you a six month grace period to allow you to do two things (1) confirm that you are in school within the six months— no interest will be accumulated, or (2) do not return to school and pay back your student loan. I guess I fall into Scenario 2 since technically I’m not in school— even though I had every intention to go back in September.

I guess at the same time, I understand why they enforced this six-month rule— since I’m sure there would be lots of people taking advantage— but it sucks that it has to be me with has to pay the extra amount. Interest for the past six months comes to just shy of $600.

You might ask that since I’m in coop that there should be special conditions set for us— this is partially true. But regardless of the coop situation, I’m screwed because my Spring employment is not recognised by coop term as I have already fulfilled all four work term requirements.

You might ask that my PLAN 480 Oxford Exchange could count as a course I’ve taken in the Spring term— this is true, and it could work. However, my initial intention was to register PLAN 480 in the Fall or Winter, so that I can tag it along as a sixth course— which is free. So right now, I have two options: (1) enrol PLAN 480 in the Fall and agree to pay for the accumulated interest, or (2) enrol PLAN 480 in the Spring, pay for the extra tuition and petition to be exempt from paying interest.

Both options involves me paying $600, so I choose Option 1— it’s less work.

In related news, there has been recent TV spots about a New OSAP. According to the website, “the new OSAP is about possibilities.”

I wonder if it would be possible to forgive my loans.

It’s time to have some dessert and cover up the bitterness in my mouth.