<p>Ok, so I know books are factored into the FinAid equation</p>
<p>But how does it REALLY work? suppose I want to order my books soon to get an early start--do I use like my money or parents money or can I like..withdraw money out of my financial aid to do it?</p>
<p>I don't really get it..</p>
<p>I know it's a stupid question, I'm sorry...</p>
<p>Oh and also..when buying textbooks...like if one of your books is supposed to be 6th edition..could you buy the 5th edition book because it's cheaper instead? would it be really different?</p>
<p>I'm sorry to bug you guys but you'd really be helping...</p>
<p>Doo Doo Doo..</p>
<p>First of all, make sure to give people a couple minutes to see your post!</p>
<p>Secondly: if you want an early start, you're going to have to use either your parents' money or your own money. Financial Aid disbursements don't come until after the semester begins. </p>
<p>The way FA works is that they credit your FA (the part that's made up of scholarships sent to the school, grants and loans after you've done your MPN) to your CARS account, which is where all your student fees are charged. Whatever is left after you pay for fees is returned to you in one lump refund. The form of it -- EBT into your bank account or by check you pick up on campus -- depends on whether you've signed up for the direct deposit option.</p>
<p>That money probably won't come until 1-2 weeks after the semester has begun, so if you're looking at buying books early you're going to have to get the money from somewhere else first.</p>
<p>Sorry, sometimes I just post for the heck of it/boredom...I'll try to stop doing that...anyway...
Thank you for that info..extremely useful! Why don't they send us letters telling us about all of this stuff? Do they just explain at orientation or something?</p>
<p>No problem. :)</p>
<p>I <em>wish</em> they sent letters about it, but if they did I certainly missed them! I found out when it was 2 weeks into the semester and I was still unable to buy textbooks or pay rent for September because they hadn't cleared my Financial Aid yet. Live and learn, I guess. They must figure that most students don't bother that early in the semester anyway! Or maybe they're in league with the bookstores on campus who know that once the semester has begun, it's likely too late to bargain-hunt on the internet...</p>
<p>I think it's hazardous to purchase an earlier edition instead of the recommended edition for your class.
(If you are just pre-reading this summer and the earlier edition is cheap, go ahead and buy it...knowing that you will still need the correct edition in the fall.)
Here's what happens: The professor says read page 45-65 and do the problem set on page 66...but the earlier edition has different pagination and might have different problems.</p>