<p>my EFC is $4,800, and with changing the housing from residence hall to university apartments (count as off-campus housing for finaid purposes) my gift aid dropped from 24k to 19k. So why the heck would it make sense to not live on campus? I mean, even if it’s cheaper off campus, the gift aid drops by 5k anyway. so I’ll just use it and it will also cover my meals 
unless, i can spend the leftover money from housing? who knows about it?
if, for ex, I live on campus, but only need 15k/year and my Berk aid covers 17k, would I be able to spend the difference on whatever I want?</p>