Rutgers Financial Aid award letter question

<p>Okay well I just recently go my award letter for Rutgers New Brunswick
and it rewards with $13,246 for the fall semester (same amount for spring) which equals to $26,492. This is in:
FEDERAL PELL GRANT
ESTIMATED NJ TAG<br>
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN<br>
FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM
RUTGERS ASSISTANCE GRANT<br>
FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN-SUBSIDIZED
FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN-UNSUBSIDIZED</p>

<p>Then at the end it says "Based on your cost of attendance and the financial aid offered above, you should plan to finance $2,558 for the 2012-2013 academic year. Your estimated cost FOR EACH SEMESTER is $1,279" I don't understand what this means? According to the Rutgers website $24,017 is the amount per year. </p>

<p>I clearly got more than that so shouldn't I be good for the year? Is the whole 1,279 per semester in expenses but not mandatory? I'm worried because my family is extremely poor and I won't be able to do the PLUS loan or the private loan. (I'm dependent but my guardian makes next to nothing) I'm willing to do the federal direct loans though because i won't have to pay them until i'm done school.</p>

<p>Basically my question is what does the 1,279 per semester mean? </p>

<p>I'm very clueless when it comes to the process because i'm a first generation college student so I'm doing this with absolutely no help - anything you could tell me would be really useful! Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>My guess is that the tuition posted on RU website is for 2011-2012. I know tuitions at NJ schools have gone up since last year. And if you are in SEB, Pharmacy or Engineering, you should add $1,118 to the $24,017. Most schools include extra expenses like books, travel etc…so call Rutgers to find out.</p>

<p>Please also be advised that the work study amount they awarded you is based on your employment and you get paid as you work (remember that you have to go to the website and apply for a job that interest you) so you might have to come up with that amount up front. Check with the Financial Aid office to make sure because each school is different.</p>

<p>They also have a payment plan that you can enroll in and as you work and get paid you can make payments.
I hope this helps…</p>

<p>I would call the financial aid office and speak to them directly.</p>

<p>Yeah, you should call the financial aid office or ask at orientation. I’m sure there are plenty of students with the same concerns</p>

<p>work study is made off you working so it should be an awarded 24,492. This is still an estimate because HESSA still has to finalize your NJ TAG amount and also Rutgers may have a tuition increase which will be decided by august by how much. </p>

<p>If you are really concerned you can call financial aid office and also you have the option of doing the payment plan where you can divide the payment of the semester into 5 payments which can be obtained through work study</p>