troubadour

The following items are listed on the financial aid award letter under cost of attendance: Tuition and fees, room/board, books/other, and travel. Is it in fact the case that I will not be billed for books/other (and travel)?

If that is the case, the actual billed items are tuition/fees and room/board. But my financial aid package is set up in such a way as to account for books/other and travel. My main question is about how these unbilled items relate to the student contribution and/or work study money. Since the student contribution is less than the alloted money for the unbilled items, will I actually have to submit the student contribution?

Skraylor

i could be wrong but i dont think so. the best thing to do, obviously, is call the fin aid office today and ask but i am pretty sure you are fine as long as tuition and room/board are covered

Shraf

this is a pretty basic question...the other expenses listed in your financial aid package are projected costs that you will incur from attending columbia...this isn't money that will be paid to columbia but it is money they forsee you spending as a result of attending. These costs are factored into your total cost of attendance but you don't actually have to spend them. Bottom line though, is that if your financial aid package doesnt cover tuition & fees & room & meal plan then you have to pay the difference...they don't care where you get the money...but if your package does cover those items then there is nothing to worry about. Also keep in mind that work study is not money you get upfront and won't get at all unless you find a work study job and work enough hours to earn it.

troubadour

Without workstudy, my package covers all but 1825 of tuition and room/board. My question is whether or not my work study of more than 1825 will be able to be used to pay this or whether I will have to pay it up front.

Shraf

you have to pay the 1825 difference up front.

nightknight

learned something...