Financial Aid Disbursement?

<p>Hi, I'm an incoming freshman undergraduate. I recently saw that I've been billed ~$3000 in university fees on my BAR account. I am wondering how I can pay this with financial aid? My aid is around $26,000 because of regents status. I'm completely new to this, and have no idea what to do. When is financial aid supposed to be disbursed? How does the whole system work?</p>

<p>Financial aid is sent directly to UCLA. Disbursement occurs sometime around mid September (exact dates can be found on the financial aid website i believe). UCLA will automatically deduct the amount in fees from your financial aid disbursement and then sends you a check (or direct deposit) of the difference which is supposed to be used for books/supplies/other stuff.</p>

<p>For dates see here:
[UCLA</a> Financial Aid Office - FALL REFUND BULLETIN](<a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/bulletin_fall_refund.htm]UCLA”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/bulletin_fall_refund.htm)
or
[UCLA</a> Financial Aid Office - Calendar](<a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/calendar.htm]UCLA”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/calendar.htm)</p>

<p>How FA works:</p>

<p>Money —> BAR Account (University fees and the like are paid automatically.)</p>

<p>Money Left over ----> Check Refund (mailed home) OR transferred to your personal checking (need BruinDirect 4 this)…</p>

<p>Money from check / in account —> you use to pay for housing(that includes meals) online, books etc.</p>

<p>The UCLA Financial Aid Fall Refund bulletin says that aid is disbursed on Sept 14, and that a refund is due 2-3 days after that. </p>

<p>Wouldn’t this be too late to purchase books with? I’ve read that many people don’t need books before classes start, but I was planning to use the refund to buy used / cheaper books online. Is it a better idea to just pay for these books out of my pocket, and then reimburse myself when the refund is distributed?</p>

<p>Also, will the $26,000 be distributed evenly per quarter, so that would be around $8,600 per quarter?</p>