While I'm not a huge proponent of parents contacting admissions offices (colleges think of our kids as adults and treats them as such, so don't want to talk to us!!), I can understand a parent wanting to be sure they have the correct info. Perhaps with a bit of parental guidance, there won't be anything to 'clean up' down the road! All college age kids should know what their finances are, but few automatically have that knowledge.
Shan, your dd will have two shots at applying for entry after graduation. She could apply in Jan...that's what my dd did. If she hadn't gotten in then, she could have applied in Aug, for the spring program. As long as you graduated six months or less prior to applying, you're good to go.
The whole financial aid issue is hard to deal with. Your dd could do a program, but not extend. My dd started on Sept 6 and her program ended on Jan 5, but she extended to May 12, since she had graduated. Have your dd check with the financial aid office at school. See what they say she needs to do in order to be considered a student, so her loans don't come due.