How will my outside scholarship be used?

I will be attending UCSD this fall. I received $1000 outside scholarship and it is being sent directly to UCSD. I have financial aid that covers my tuition and some leftover. I will be living off campus, most likely if I do not get housing. So will I get that $1000 back along with my leftover financial aid after my fees and tuition? What happens to it?
Thanks!

Who is giving the financial aid for tuition? And is your need fully met?

https://students.ucsd.edu/finances/financial-aid/types/scholarships/nonucsd-organizations.html

@BrownParent I have a UCSD grant, pell grant and cal grant; I have an EFC of 0. This would cover my tuition and since I would be living off campus, they might cover some of those expenses. But won’t cover my books, transportation, and other expenses, if these are considered my needs.

^ It should replace loans first. Make sure to contact the financial aid office asking them to replace part of the unsubsidized loan first, since sometimes they won’t do it automatically.

@Lilliana330 but what if I don’t plan to get loans?

Need = COA less EFC

so I am wondering if you have unmet need as defined by the COA but nevermind

Usually colleges let you use outside grants to apply to student contribution and loan first. But if not they will reduce university grant by 1,000. I didn’t find exact policy for UC, sorry. So the tuition is covered by cal grant, and you will get university and pell and hopefully your outside 1,000 for other expenses.

On campus COA from last year was 31k, off campus 29k. Housing and meals are $12,254 on campus or $9,650 off campus so you should cover that by some combination of university grant, student contribution and usually loan.

Assuming you get the 1,000, the link I gave you shows that it is divided and disbursed by quarter unless you request otherwise.

It should still be applied to the loans you were awarded on your package, regardless of whether you’ll be taking them or not. You’ll just have a lower bill, which is the goal instead of getting grants reduced.

https://students.ucsd.edu/finances/financial-aid/types/scholarships/

You will get any excess funds, which sounds like you will get the 1,000, credited to your student account (called a refund.) This link explains it all
https://students.ucsd.edu/finances/financial-aid/after/money.html

Financial aid and scholarship disbursement dates vary from quarter to quarter. Disbursements begin in September (for fall quarter), January (for winter quarter), and March (for spring quarter).

Probably you will get your funds more quickly if you set up a direct deposit
https://students.ucsd.edu/finances/billing-payment/student-accounts/direct-deposit.html

If you don’t take loans, how are you going to pay for your housing and expenses?

What is the breakdown of the aid that you’re getting from your school?