Not to beat a dead horse, BUT, you finished 102 at the beginning of the semester. I know you said it wasn't a time thing, so this will help others.
If you had finished on time (lets say last spring, but I know you weren't here), you would have been signed up for 221 for a few months. So this means, put in your loan application a month early, and the money will be there on time. You can't wait till the beginning of school to do it, of course it will take forever.
I haven't dealt with Sallie Mae, so I woudln't know their problems. All my loans are through the government (distributed by Wells Fargo) or supplemented by commercial loans through Bremer.
My advice, if you can, GO WITH BREMER. They are great.
good luck