I remember the panic of senior year projects well... chicago winters dont make filming any easier either lol. If the B&H EDU program isnt showing a discount on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera Body right now, it might just be because they rotate their specific deals monthly. For someone on a tight budget who needs a reliable setup for a deadline, I usually suggest these routes instead of just hunting for a student coupon that might not exist for that specific body:

• Check out the Canon Refurbished store directly. This is my top recommendation for saving money without the risk of buying off a random person online. You still get a full 1-year warranty, which is huge for a film student. I bought my Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera Body that way and it has been solid for years.
• Look into the Adorama Creators program. Sometimes their inventory is different and they might have a kit deal that makes more sense financially than a standalone body.
• Since you are in Chicago, maybe check out Helix or Central Camera. They sometimes do student-specific discounts in-store that they dont advertise on the web, plus you can test the gear first which is always safer.
• If the R6 is still too pricey, maybe grab a cheaper prime like the Canon RF 50mm f1.8 STM Lens to keep the total cost down for now. Direct refurbished buys are basically the safest way to save big while still having a safety net. Feel free to ask if you need help vetting a specific listing tho!

Like someone mentioned, EDU programs are spotty. Over the years I've found:

• Grabbing a used Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Digital Camera from MPB or KEH always beats the student discount.
• Dont buy new.

Just catching up on this thread. Regarding what #2 said about EDU programs being spotty... yeah, hes 100% right. I have tried many student discounts over the years and they always seem to exclude the gear you actually want. It is basically a bait and switch half the time. In my experience, focusing on the body is a bit of a trap:

• Rent the gear. Chicago has great rental houses and you can get a pro setup for your project for a fraction of the cost.
• Just stick with the Canon ecosystem generally.
• Put your money into glass and lighting instead. Honestly, go with Canon and you cant go wrong. Their gear is built like a tank and the menus actually make sense. Dont get hung up on needing the newest body for a student project... any of their modern full-frame setups will look incredible if your lighting is on point.