Paying for college?

<p>How does paying for college work? Let's say the total cost of attendance for X university is 20K, broken down that is 9K tuition & fees, 800 for books & supplies, 7K for room and board, 1K for transportation & 1K for miscellaneous. Now with that said, what is paid and when? Do I just drop off a check for 20K on the first day? Or do I only pay tuition & room before I move into campus and start class? If I qualify for any need-based grants & loans do I get them & then pay the university or do they just automatically get it then I pay the remaining balance.. Or how does it work? Ahhh I'm so confused! I will be going to UT come fall, but I'm still green as to how paying for school goes. ANY help will be greatly appreciated! Also where do I apply for loans or grants? I already filled fafsa & got my EFC but what now?</p>

<p>Well, you wouldn’t give the school $20k when about $3k of that will go towards books, supplies, travel and misc. The school isn’t going to be buying your plane tix, or putting gas in your car. That $3k would stay with YOU until you need to spend it on books, transportation, shampoo, etc. </p>

<p>You pay the school only the amounts that are billed by them. that is tuition, fees, and (if living on campus) room and board.</p>

<p>Plus, you only pay “per semester” or “per quarter”. So, if the school is on the semester system, and the annual tuition is $9k, then you would pay $4500 per semester.</p>

<p>Each school has its own due dates, so you’ll have to look and see what your school requires.</p>

<p>Grants and scholarships go to your school acct and then your school bills are deducted from that balance. </p>

<p>If you filled out FAFSA, and that’s what your school requires, then that is your app for grants and student loans. If UT is UTexas, and you’re instate, does the state of Texas have something that you also fill out? Look on the website.</p>