I have a question about financial aid?

Pixiesmom, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2006

It may be different at your school but at mine it pays for tuition, books, and whatever is leftover for the semester, if there is any left over, you receive to go towards your living expenses. One of my grants I can use at the bookstore to purchase school supplies but you can also go to the dollar store and pick up inexpensive school supplies with the exception of things like scientific calculators. Don't be afraid to call your school's financial aid office to ask questions that is what they are there for. I can only speak from my experience at my school and it may vary from yours.

manofbess · Aug 9, 2006

I'll use my experience from my Bachelor's (non-nursing) degree here as I became quite an expert at this :)

Loans/scholarships can be used toward school supplies/living expenses, but there are conditions. If a loan/scholarship is given to you for a specific purpose, it has to be used for that purpose. Once you've paid tuition and all the important fees, if there's any extra money in your package, you will receive an overage check and you can use it for whatever purpose. In undergrad, one year I received a lottery-funded scholarship that paid all my tuition that year. I also received a Pell Grant and a Stafford Loan. Because I didn't receive an on-campus assignment that particular year and didn't have a car, I applied the rest of the money toward books and school supplies. After I paid for books/supplies, I had quite a bit left over. I used the remainder for a down payment on a car and for my first month or so of rent until I found a job.

So depending on the specific use for your scholarships/loans, yes, you can use the extra money for other purposes. Make sure that if you receive a significant overage check, if possible, try to pay some of the money back (unless you have a contract that allows you to work off the money that the loan provides--this wasn't an issue for me because the loans did not support a particular major) to the loan provider so you don't have such a large amount to pay back when it's time to start paying loans. If you choose not to go that route, then use the money wisely and save some if you can. Hope that helps!