<p>I spoke with my financial advisor a few days ago and she told me what will be disbursed to me. But when I asked my sister (wanting to get a confirmation), she told me that I will be getting back the amount that was in red with a negative sign in front. The difference is a dramatic change. Is the tentative award amount is what will disbursed to me?</p>
<p>I’m mighty confused. Do you have a written financial aid offer from your college? What IS that financial aid offer? Have you accepted the aid offer?</p>
<p>My financial aid advisor said $3000 will be disbursed to me, but my sister looked at my account and said no, it will be $1000 because it was highlighted in red with a negative sign. She is now at UNF. I’m just curious as to who I should believe.</p>
<p>Is part of that $3000 going to your college to pay expenses? Maybe $2000 is going to the college and $1000 refunded to you.</p>
<p>What IS your total financial aid award? Is it $3000? How much of that is going to the college to pay for tuition/room/board/fees?</p>
<p>Your financial aid for the semester - any direct college expenses for the semester = what remains to be disbursed to you (or what you owe if the expenses exceed the aid). It should not be hard to figure out if you look at your account. </p>
<p>Could be that when the FA officer says $3000 will be disbursed to you, he/she means your aid will be disbursed to your bursars account. Then any expenses will be taken out of the aid. Any remaining balance would then be refunded to you.</p>
<p>I’m a bit confused by your title “tentative award”. That makes it sound like your FA has not even been finalized yet.</p>
<p>What she did was subtracted my tuition and fees from the 3000 which about $1000. And she said that will be disbursed to me which will be 2000.</p>
<p>Go back, ask for clarification. It really, truly is OK to do that. Ask the fin aid officer to go through the statement with you line by line, and write notes for you about what each line means. That way you will have a model document to refer to in future semesters.</p>
<p>I agree with Happymom. Go and ask your financial aid folks…NOT your sister.</p>