<p>Okay, so Bama Honors is pretty much my financial safety (woohoo National Hispanic Scholarship) for if all of my other college finance plans fall through. I’m supposed to pay a housing application fee ($250) and apply for honors housing before March 1, and the $250 fee is refundable if I decide not to attend. However, it looks like I have to pay the nonrefundable Freshman Enrollment Deposit of $200 before I can even apply. Is this right? It seems a little unfair to me that I have to pay $200 that I can’t get back just so I can wait until April to compare all my college options.</p>
<p>You do receive all but $25 back off the housing application fee -- make sure you ask for it, though, should you not attend. We paid the $200 freshman deposit. My son, if his is a NM finalist, receives tuition, room and board (along with some other items). If he chooses to attend UA, he will receive that deposit back.</p>
<p>My son is a current freshman (sophomore with AP credits) and received the NMF/Presidential Scholarship. He did not make his final decision until the first week of April,08'. I did pay the $250 housing deposit ($25 nonrefundable application fee and $225 prepayment). If you decide to attend a different college and notify UAL BEFORE July 1,2009, $225 prepayment will be refunded in full. After that date, you will foreit the $225 prepayment AND be charged an additional $250cancellation charge. </p>
<p>Freshmen Orientation called "Bama Bound" cost $138. This included a small linen rental fee since my son was flying into Birmingham for Bama Bound and avoided having to pack bulky sheets, blanket, pillow and towel...(Well worth it!). </p>
<p>I also paid $195 to cover the cost of Alabama Action which is a one week (and 1 credit hour) course offered to freshmen students in the Honors College. </p>
<p>Before classes started, I paid the cost of the Silver Meal Plan $1165 AND the REQUIRED $300 Dining Dollars (billed each semester). </p>
<p>The NM scholarship payment ($500 1st semester and $500 2nd semester) was not applied to my son's account until AFTER the the start of each semester. We did receive a refund mid fall for the charges I paid up front. I should also expect a credit shortly for 2nd semester since NM had not been applied to account at time of payment. </p>
<p>Fast forward to December 2008.....
I did have to prepay for next years housing deposit. This prepayment secured my son a spot in the dorm for next school year. </p>
<p>My son prefers not to use his Dining Dollars even though it is required to pay the $300 each semester. I will have to request a refund at the end of Spring semester for the unused balance. </p>
<p>I hope this helps plan for future expenditures. </p>
<p>*<em>If private scholarships are awarded, try to have the sponsor(s) mail any funds directly to the University. I realize you will not have any control on when sponsors make their disbursements but it will help you if the funds are received before your statements come due. *</em></p>
<p>momof3boyz: My son also received the Presidental scholarship and we have paid the housing and freshman enrollment deposits. He is totally dependent on financial aid to pay for his room and board, books and meal plan. Our EFC came back as $116.00 Do you think he will qualify for a pell grant and how much? What guidelines do they use? Will he have to pre-pay his meal plan before the financial aid money comes through?</p>
<p>I am not qualified to say if he will qualify for the Pell grant. </p>
<p>From my older son's experience with Federal Financial Aid, his university has not billed him for charges over the amount that are covered by "anticipated aid". You should not have a problem with paying meal plan charges if aid money is confirmed (assuming the aid covers the total cost of the meal plan). The required $300 for Dining Dollars may be your responsibility. Call to confirm. My older son has taken both secured and unsecured loans available to him. The money is deposited into his account and any overage which is to be used for "living expenses" (he lives off campus in an apartment) is credited back to him after shortly after each quarter begins. For instance, this quarter his account shows a $2077. credit. We pay his rent and provide him with a food allowance of $250 per month. When the refund is received, the funds will go in our savings account.<br>
If your son qualifies for Work Study, his weekly earnings (paid every two weeks-direct deposit into private bank account) are his spending money. He will get a W-2 for all wages but he does not have to claim them on the following years FAFSA. *I don't know the specifics on this so please read the FAFSA website for details.</p>
<p>correction to previous post: My son's university has only billed him for charges MINUS the anticipated aid for the quarter. My son attended all four quarters last year (Fall,Winter,Spring & Summer). His loan money was dispersed evenly over the four quarters. Some of his FA was only distributed over three quarters. The fourth quarter we anticipated a larger bill. </p>
<p>Sorry for the confusion.</p>
<p>D will not know if she will be getting merit scholarships to most of her other schools until after the March 1 deadline for housing at Bama. If we are willing to forfeit the $200 enrollment fee if she decides to go elsewhere, is there a deadline when she has to disenroll and is that permitted?</p>
<p>I think it is by July 1, but checking the housing website. We are doing the same thing- although she is really leaning toward UA. I think she is tired of waiting on the other schools and wants to start deciding where she wants to live, roommates, etc. When you pay your deposits (enrollment and housing) determines when you can pick your dorm room. Pay it now, you should get all but $25 back if you decide not to enroll- that is for housing. For the enrollment deposit, I am not sure if you get anything back but you can disenroll. If she is honors you will want one of the honors orientation sessions which are at the beginning of the summer- better chance for classes, tickets, etc. Good luck!</p>