<p>I'm getting really confused reading posts that "Cal Grant A is not calculated into your gift aid". I'm assuming I'll at least be awarded 20,000 in grants and stuff so how will I have to take out loans? Sorry if this sounds stupid. </p>
<p>If tuition is 12,000 a year, that leaves me 8,000 for food, clothes, books, miscellaneous. </p>
<p>6,800 goes to housing and the rest stays as pocket money? I'm so confused at how this financial aid money is used. Thanks guys</p>
<p>Yes, the rest of the $6,800 stays in your pocket for your living cost–spend it on necessity like gas, food, and etc. This is done so that students don’t have to look for a job which can jeopardize their overall attendance (Bad grades, mental fatigue, and etc)</p>
<p>Thanks lawlking! But it just sounds too good to be true! I’ll pretty much have no loans to take out if it’s gonna be like that. Im going to waive my health insurance bc I have one already lol</p>
<p>You should put it away for next year’s tuition just incase tuition rises or you don’t get as much fin aid as this year.</p>
<p>Hsandovaljr makes a really good point.</p>
<p>Sure does! It’ll be hard saving since you need to buy food and books but it’s possible!! 
and smart.</p>
<p>The cal grant will not be “additional” to your gift aid package. So you will still receive the 20k even with a cal grant.</p>
<p>From what I have read the nice thing about cal grants though is that they are guaranteed. For example, I received a 15k undergrad scholarship based on financial need and gpa, but in order to keep the scholarship I would have to maintain a 3.5+ GPA. I also received the cal grant b for 13.7k, so that means that if I was to drop below a 3.5 GPA I would only be losing 1.3k instead of 15k.</p>
<p>@Acoustickitty123 where are you going next fall? 8g sounds better than what I got</p>
<p>@kamelred: thanks for clarifying! I get how it works now. My parents make 62K a year so were pretty low income. </p>
<p>@fredfrep: I’m going to UCSB for fall! I’m hoping I’ll leave loan free lol</p>
<p>@Acoustickitty123 $570/month? that is such a good deal for housing! wow maybe I was wrong, I thought SB would cost more than Irvine… UCSB doesn’t sound so bad now haha </p>
<p>I highly doubt you need any loans at all, you got around ~2,000 left unless you upgrade your living standards around the twin lakes golf course haha</p>
<p>@fredfrep: LOL I’m perfectly fine with 570 a month. It’s a good price including gas! I thought UCSB would be more expensive than UCI</p>
<p>The 20k is basically yours. They apply the amount for tuition and give you the rest, you do with it as you will. </p>
<p>BUT I think you’re being a little generous with your calculations. What I’m doing to play it safe is adding in 3-4k in possible costs even when I can’t think of any reason I would spend that much more.</p>
<p>@Acoustickitty123 Are you sure? you don’t want to play some golf in SB for a tinny extra 1000? lol </p>
<p>definitely know that your going to have some good times in SB!
sooner or later I feel like Irvine is going to disappoint me haha</p>
<p>@salmos: I’m definitely not bringing a car so that will save me a lot of money. I’m good at money management so ya know 
20K is way more than enough but you’re right.</p>
<p>@fredfrep : LOL golfs boring. UCI is a great school. Wish it was a bit diverse. UCSB isn’t diverse at all either.</p>
<p>@Acoustickitty123 of course, the only thing that’s fun is drinking that half+half in your golf cart doing absolutely nothing but stare at people lol </p>
<p>yeah I love the campus, but worried that it might not be like ‘a college town’ as UC Davis, yeah SB and Irvine don’t have that great diversity but hey at least we’re close to the beach haha</p>
<p>Heck yeah! The beach will melt all your stress away. That’s why I settled for SB! And solvang is nearby which is a plus! :)</p>
<p>yeah its time to do those surf lessons that I meant to do 2 years ago lol</p>
<p>
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<p>Explains everything</p>
<p>Hahaha heck yeah! </p>
<p>@allfields: I thought you hated UCSB? or was that someone else?</p>
<p>Hate is a strong word… but yes, that was me.</p>
<p>I just thought it was funny how you brought up the beach and said you were going to “settle” for SB.
Pretty much the same thing happened to me. I think the beach is way over hyped though.</p>