60K Debt for Duke?

cptofthehouse
Wed, 01 May 2013 08:45:16 +0000

The way that it USUALLY works, is that you get a bill for the school for the term (most schools are on a 2 semesters/terms per main academic year) and for those schools that have the fall and spring terms, that first bill will show 1/2 the tution, 1/2 the room/board, the full amount of fees, full amount of health insurance, offset by 1/2 the loans, grants, scholarships and the full amount of any deposits you paid. So things like your transportation to get there, your sundry costs, your toiletries and other necessities, a computer, any room and study supplies, your books extra pocket cash, laundry money do not show up on the bill and you have to pay for those out of pocket. Work study is just that you get access to the work study job listing and get paid out of that fund but you have to get the job, and get paid by paycheck usually bi weekly as you put in the hours. If your parents have you covered with health insurance, you send in that info and they will take that off the bill. The Bursar’s office does not distinguish or even see breakdowns of student contributions vs parents. They just spit out the charges as I related that are on record, and list the loans and awards as they come in.

Costs like the personal items, books, travel are variable from student to student and you have some control over them depending upon resources and resourcefulness. Some of my kids have carpooled during breaks, taken Megabus or the Chinatown buses which saved a lot over air fare, and we’ve also gone over when we waited too late to get decent airfare or some emergency occurred.