Quick background - My employer pays for a portion of my graduate school, but only if I make a B or higher in the courses that I take.  The process is that I take the classes, get my grades, show them to my HR rep, and the company writes me a check.  The university normally requires students to pay before the semester starts, though.  Fortunately, they offer a deferred payment option.  I request this option at the beginning of the semester, pay a small fee, and I’m good to go.  By the time the bill comes due, I’ve already gotten my grades and the check from my employer.  It’s a pretty cool system.

Now the story - On August 3rd, all of my assignments for the summer semester were due.  August 4th was the deadline for my professors to submit grades for the summer semester.  Yesterday, I received a letter in the mail from this same academic institution.  It was dated August 5th.  The letter told me that my request for deferred payment for the summer semester was received.  And approved!  I reread the letter to make sure….yep, it said “summer semester.”  I looked at the date again….”August 5, 2009.”

So, the day after the summer semester was over, the school told me that it was OK for me to wait and pay my balance until after the semester was over.  I’m glad I was approved, and I’m thankful for them working with me, but it makes me wonder.  What am I supposed to do if my application is denied and I don’t find out until after the semester?  Do I go back and untake the classes or to I make the payment two months ago?