Rutgers Financial Aid award letter question

seniorblues
Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:36:06 +0000

Okay well I just recently go my award letter for Rutgers New Brunswick
and it rewards with $13,246 for the fall semester (same amount for spring) which equals to $26,492. This is in:
FEDERAL PELL GRANT
ESTIMATED NJ TAG
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN
FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM
RUTGERS ASSISTANCE GRANT
FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN-SUBSIDIZED
FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN-UNSUBSIDIZED

Then at the end it says “Based on your cost of attendance and the financial aid offered above, you should plan to finance $2,558 for the 2012-2013 academic year. Your estimated cost FOR EACH SEMESTER is $1,279” I don’t understand what this means? According to the Rutgers website $24,017 is the amount per year.

I clearly got more than that so shouldn’t I be good for the year? Is the whole 1,279 per semester in expenses but not mandatory? I’m worried because my family is extremely poor and I won’t be able to do the PLUS loan or the private loan. (I’m dependent but my guardian makes next to nothing) I’m willing to do the federal direct loans though because i won’t have to pay them until i’m done school.

Basically my question is what does the 1,279 per semester mean?

I’m very clueless when it comes to the process because i’m a first generation college student so I’m doing this with absolutely no help - anything you could tell me would be really useful! Thanks in advance!