<p>Just chiming in to agree with the above that $1,000 for dorm stuff is a ridiculous amount! And I’d have to say that travel expenses for a parent to “come and help” is also ridiculous. If the OP is old enough to go away to college, he is old enough to unpack his own suitcase . . . all by himself.</p>
<p>It’s lovely that there are families that want to indulge their new college students that way, but it’s certainly not necessary.</p>
<p>My point wasn’t to derail the point that the student should make sure that he/she has some money set aside from summer earnings to cover whatever’s needed. There have been posts in the past from low income students who weren’t prepared to payout for anything prior to aid disbursement. </p>
<p>This student may get awarded work study in the aid pkg and not be able to find a WS job.</p>
<p>Definitely good for any student to keep in mind that there will be some “start up” expenses like getting to school that they are going to have to pay for in cash before receiving any disbursement from their financial aid award. And yes, it’s always a possibility that a student may not be able to get a WS job. That’s something to ask about on the school’s board – whether it’s easy to find a WS job if you need one – as it varies a lot by school. If you have actual federal WS in your package, there are possibilities to create a job since the federal government will pay someone to hire you, so a determined student should be able to come up with something, but maybe not that first week. Sometimes you can start looking/applying for WS jobs online before you even get to campus, once accepted.</p>
<p>Our experience was that Brown was very generous with financial aid, especially after an appeal. Hope it works out for you.</p>
<p>Thank you, the letter invites me to visit in April with other accepted students. I think I’m going to write all of these questions down. Lol Thank you guys!!</p>
<p>I do not know where OP lives, but where I live (suburb of NYC), at least one big PTA does a “Salvation Army” act gathering gently used sheets etc. for kids in need (especially the Prep for Prep kids).</p>
<p>Davpin, please speak to your guidance counselor and see if there are any service organizations in your area looking to help. They can help with supplies and maybe a ride to Brown (don’t know where you live).</p>