By the way, who can I contact to give me information on whether these loans are for this year or the next?
Your school's financial aid office must have that information
What if I've fallen behind on one or more loan payments? What should I try to stay away from?
One thing you definitely want to avoid is going default! This occurs when you are at least nine months behind on your student loan. The consequences of default include damage to your credit rating and future indebtedness.