<p>i have grants and loans to pay for college but how exactly do i use it to pay for it? does the money come to me in a check? or cash? or is it in an account? and when? </p>
<p>i'm going to ucd and so far i had to pay for the $100 SIR fee and then there's the $450 housing reservation fee. that's part of the $23,000 per year fee and shouldn't the grants and loans cover that? i do have to pay part of the tuition from my own pocket but when does the loans and grants come in to help?</p>
<p>Without knowing your actual out of pocket cash outlay, it will basically work like this:</p>
<p>you will be billed each semester. The bill will show one-half of the total of your grants, merit scholarships, as a credit or a pending credit. If you have federal aid loans through the school, these will also show as a pending credit. </p>
<p>If you have alternative loans in addition to federal loans, you must start the loan process now to make sure your funds will be disperse in time.</p>
<p>Federal work study aid if awarded is paid directly to you (once you sign up for a job when college starts) and is not applied towards your bill.</p>
<p>You may have to pay the SIR fee and housing deposit now out of pocket. Don't delay in sending the deposits, as most housing assignments are done on a first paid, first served basis.</p>
<p>If you have furthe questions, they're best addressed directly to the bursar and/or financial aid office at your school.</p>
<p>but do they bill through email? or through online account? and why one-half? wouldn't there be left over from the aid then? (our school is by quarter)</p>
<p>Most schools bill by semester. If yours is on a quarterly basis I would assume you would be billed 4 times as opposed to two. It's best to address school specific concerns regardings billing procedures to the bursar's office if the detail you need is not found on the college's website.</p>