Regarding student expense budget

Colleges and Universities A-Z Amherst College
1

<p>Since it’s the weekend and the financial aid office is most likely closed, I thought I’d shoot here first and see if I could get some answers quicker to a few questions I had. I looked around CC first but I couldn’t find an answer that clarified much for me.</p>

<p>I received my financial aid award a few days ago and my student contribution was $750, my parental contribution was $10, and my work study was $1800 for the year. </p>

<p>If you add up the federal grants, work study, college scholarships, etc. they’re awarding me, you get a grand total of $59,660, which is equal to the total budget they have listed, minus the $760 from contributions. </p>

<p>For personal expenses, they have listed $2200 and they also say that that includes an extra $400. Based on what I’ve read on CC and on the Amherst website, is it safe to assume that they mean I should use the $1800 I get from work study on personal expenses and that they will give me $400 extra? Because the math added up pretty nicely there but I’m not sure if that’s correct. If it is, how is this $400 credited to me?</p>

<p>Also, for books & supplies and travel, they have budgeted $1200 ($1000 and $200 respectively). Does the $750 listed as my contribution go towards that and Amherst covers the rest? Or is it that covered separately and that $750 goes elsewhere?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for any clarification or past experiences you can share!</p>

2

<p>I believe that personal expenses are generally just estimates and your expected to cover those yourself with work study and out of pocket money not Amherst or federal grants. Your work study is meant to cover books & supplies and travel, while the rest of the money whether Amherst grant or out of pocket goes to tuition room and board.</p>

<p>If you don’t mind me asking what was your efc?</p>

3

<p>I’m actually starting to confuse myself but I guess what I’m trying to say is that my work study ($1800) and the $750 student contribution is less than the estimated budget expenses for everything that isn’t housing, tuition, etc. ($3400) BUT the aid given to me equals the budget (minus the $750 I’m supposed to contribute) so, somewhere in there, shouldn’t there be money given for books, travel, etc.? There is a statement in there that they gave me an extra $400 to use for personal expenses but I’m not sure how this would be given. </p>

<p>And I believe my EFC, according to my FAFSA report, was $1441.</p>