financial aid/scholarships in terms of room and board?

Paying for College
1

<p>like everyone, i want to go to a college i can be happy at. i love eating and i would like a nice dorm room. I don't need a suite with a private bath or anything, i just want to know what my options are.</p>

<p>i am a little confused on how money for college works in terms of this. a lot of schools let you choose your meal plan and let you choose the kind of housing you want. (single/double room, gold/silver meal plan, etc.) </p>

<p>so...how does this work in terms of scholarships and financial aid?
for instance, if you have a full ride could you automatically request a single room and the best meal plan? this is too good to be true right?</p>

<p>if i get into one of my reach schools, i'll be paying up to $10,000 after financial aid. If i get enough scholarships and depending on how much my parents can contribute, could i use that money towards the nicer dorms and meal plans?</p>

<p>I hope I do not sound high maintanence i'm just concerned.
I just want to know how this process works. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Financial aid is based on an average cost for the school - the COA (Cost of attendance). It will not usually cover the most expensive options. So if the cost in the COA for room and board is, say $12,000, then your financial aid for that part will be $12,000. If you choose an option that costs $15,000 then you will have to find the other $3,000 yourself.</p>

3

<p>It depends on the full-ride plan… My son’s scholarship includes a private room, but other schools’ scholarships may require you to pay a cost difference to have a pricier dorm.</p>

<p>What school are you talking about?</p>

4

<p>thank you guys so much for the help it completely makes sense now! i was talking about my safety, univ. of the pacific, but i’m still hoping for acceptance letters from brown, columbia, pepperdine, and others on april 1st! thanks for the help!</p>