<p>By that I mean is the estimated cost for the year a general amount that most for most students should be accurate, or do they tailor it at least a little to your specific situations?</p>
<p>Another question; things like "Books and Supplies" and "Transportation" and "Personal and Miscellaneous", are those actually going to be part of the final cost owed to the school? If so, how and why?</p>
<p>In my experience over the past few months is that the estimated cost we received for my son’s university has been quite accurate. As for the Books and Supplies, etc., those are not paid to the school on the actual tuition and fees/room and board bill, but are additional expenses you have to account for. Transportation may seem like an optional cost, but my son elected a university on the other side of the country from us, so every flight is between $500 and $900 round trip, depending on how quickly we book and the time of year for travel. That obviously adds up if your child is ever coming home. I also found that some fees I did not know about have materialized: mandatory orientation at $485 just about blew me away and it was that much whether he attended alone or if his father and I joined him. (We all went!) Does this help?</p>
<p>No, books, supplies, transportation estimates are NOT paid to the school. That would be ridiculous. Those are costs that you pay for as needed. You need an airplane tix home, you pay for it. You need a book, you pay for it (or borrow one from a friend). </p>
<p>* or do they tailor it at least a little to your specific situations?*</p>
<p>What do you mean?</p>
<p>The amounts are estimates. They aren’t tailored to each child’s situation.</p>
<p>I guess I’m just now really looking at what they put there. When the cost of going to the school, FA, loans, savings, etc, drops from 22,000 to 17,000 it’s not such a ridiculous question to me. </p>
<p>By tailored, I mean are they basing the housing estimate on what a typical student would need, or are they taking into account my living situation? If they’re not, I can knock off 4500 from a meal plan I’m not signing up for. See what I mean?</p>
<p>there are basic costs that you must pay TO the school…</p>
<p>Tuition
fees
and any other req’d school expenses.</p>
<p>If you live in on-campus housing, you must pay the school for that.</p>
<p>If you order a meal plan (or are req’d to have one) then you must pay for that. If you’re not getting a meal plan, then your “food costs” will be whatever you personally spend at the market or at restaurants. </p>
<p>If your school requires Dining Dollar or Flex Dollars (or whatever they’re called), then you must pay for that. </p>
<p>Books, transportation, personal expenses are up to you. If you’re economical, then these expenses won’t cost you much. </p>
<p>If you buy all your books at the school book store, then technically you’re paying the school, but you don’t have to do that. you could buy your books elsewhere or borrow them from friends or rent them. </p>
<p>As for “ridiculous”…I was talking about the costs associated with transportation, personal expenses, etc. It would be ridiculous for students to pay those estimated costs to the school. Schools don’t buy all their students plane or bus tickets home or fill their cars up with gas. They also don’t go and buy your shampoo or tootpaste.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks, that’s really helpful.</p>
<p>Most schools have a meal plan that is mandatory if living on campus (which is also usually mandatory for freshman). Also, even if they have other meal plans, freshman may not be eligible, or the cost may be not be a great deal cheaper. Best to ask the school instead of assuming you can eliminate it.</p>
<p>The only cost that seems to be somewhat tailored to students is the transportation estimate which is a cost based on where the student is from geographically.</p>
<p>As long as you’re not req’d to buy a meal plan (some colleges require), then that will be a savings.</p>
<p>However, you will still have food costs. </p>
<p>Are you still going decline work study or not work it first semester? If so, why. You’re short of money. You’re going to need to the ws earnings while in college. </p>
<p>You may not have needed to spend much your first two years commuting to a CC, but living on campus of a nat’l univ will be different. You’re going to need money in your pocket.</p>
<p>Some of it is very specific and some of it is general and a composite. The tuition and fees are specific most of the time. The room and board–it depends on how much variation the school itself has. The other stuff is general since it will depend on your personal situation and spending habits.</p>
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<p>I think this can really vary. My S had more saved than his student contribution and text book money for first year, so he decided to draw down his savings to cover his personal expenses, and not to work on campus first semester. He had “money in his pocket” but spent virtually none on “personal expenses”. A couple hundred for the whole <em>year</em> putting money on his pre-paid cell phone, maybe $50 on video games and streaming video, and a bit for laundry (I don’t recall how much). He was on a 14-meal meal plan and was able to get both breakfast food (cereal and milk) as well as snacks and the occasional non-dining-hall sandwich or whatever with the included dining dollars. </p>
<p>I’m not necessarily advocating forgoing the job without any cash reserves, but if a person is generally frugal and hangs out with a similarly frugal crowd, it’s certainly possible to keep personal expenses in check. I don’t think my kid ever passed on a social activity he wanted to take part in for lack of money, but that certainly could be an issue for someone without a cash reserve or a job.</p>
<p>This student may not have any cash reserves and doesn’t have a meal plan. The student is still short of funds.</p>
<p>That being the case, I think forgoing W-S isnt’ a wise decision. If the student isn’t used to buying groceries/toiletries for him/herself, then s/he may not realize how much it costs to feed a single person and buy TP/toiletries/etc. </p>
<p>The student isn’t in a dorm…sounds like some kind of campus apt. </p>
<p>And, if this is a girl, likely she will have more personal expenses.</p>
<p>Certainly if the OP doesn’t have cash on hand for groceries for the semester, they need to take the W-S job. And they should be sure that they have a clear understanding with their parents what the student is paying for and what (if anything) the parents are re: things like laundry, cell phone, transportation home, medical expenses, toiletries, etc.</p>
<p>About the meal plan - I’m not assuming anything; I know for a fact that I’m not getting a meal plan. I am not a freshman, I am not in dorms, and the page detailing my living situation plainly states that a meal plan is not included but can be purchased separately (which I am not planning on doing).</p>
<p>mom2collegekids - I don’t really see how my work study situation has anything to do with what I asked? Neither is making assumptions about other things; I’m not a child, I have plenty of experience buying my own things, etc. </p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who answered the actual question, I appreciate it.</p>