<p>So I'm going to attend UCSB in the fall. My financial aid award letter says I get about $7000 in grants. I know I have to take out a federal loan, for sure, but should I work too to help pay for other expenses like food, cell phone bill, car insurance? </p>
<p>This is a stupid question, but I don't know what the loans can and cant be used for. (probably anything, right?) </p>
<p>How many people plan to work?</p>
<p>Not going to wait for LA to decide? I plan on working. You can use loans for everything, I bought a car with my aid, it pays my rent, food ect. I also took out a loan this semester. It can be used for anything school related(food, gas, computer, books, rent ect) just don’t go on vacation, even though they probably wouldn’t find out.</p>
<p>HeatherBecca, it is very important that you look at this aspect very carefully! In my case, I worked full time (40+ hrs/wk), for all of the time I’ve been attending CC, and put aside some money for after transferring. I did this because I did not want to be working a ton of hours while going to UC since the curriculum is bound to be super demanding.</p>
<p>Now, of course, it depends on what your major is. If you’re not a hard science/engineering major, it won’t be so “hyper-demanding”, but it’s still UC we’re talking about here, so the coursework will still be fairly substantial.</p>
<p>Personally, being an Electrical Engineering major, I plan to work very minimally (somewhere between 10-15 hrs/wk) - of course, since I’m eligible for VERY little financial aid, I have no option but to do this. Additionally, I don’t want to saddle myself with a ton of loans after graduation!</p>
<p>My suggestion is to work a little, but not so much that it affects your academics (you’re primary reason for being there, is after all to study). However, don’t go overboard with the loans either. Play the “balancing act” just right!</p>
<p>@ella89
I don’t know. My gpa is borderline for UCLA, and I’m kinda tired of waiting lol. </p>
<p>@ Victor Got ya. Yeah I saved up a bit from working this past year. And I don’t want to take out a big loan either ;/.
How poor do you think most college students are going to live? Like struggling to pay rent, eating ramen each day and riding the bus? I think I just watch too much t.v.</p>
<p>It really depends on how much your parents are going to help you. Talk to your mom, set up a budget, and then go from there. I’m ony going to need to work like 15 hours a week for extra spending money for example. If I dont want that extra money, I dont need to work.</p>