<p>On the financial aid award summary the total family contribution breaks down into student contribution & parent contribution - does anyone know if the students contribution goes directly to the university or if it just covers stuff like "transportation" "personal/miscellaneous" "books and supplies" that are in the estimated cost of attendance (but don't have to be paid directly to Cornell?) </p>
<p>I think it’s all lumped together in the bills. For example, if the student’s contribution is supposed to be 3k per year, and the parent’s 15k, that 18k will likely be billed as 9k twice a year to the parents. They dont care where the $ comes from. It might be different if you’re on a work study program. But call the financial aid office to make sure.</p>