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Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:42 pm
by Billy Batts
I'm not sure about the places right on Daniel, but most of the rentals on the other side of Hillcrest are a mix of undergrads, families, and old people. If there are many undergrads, you won't see them partying outside or being loud. Where I live, you can hear a pin drop after the sun goes down. If you found a good place on Daniel, that would be tough to beat. I bet you won't be using your car often.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:24 pm
by kalvano
I hate you people.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:18 pm
by ebo
kalvano wrote:I hate you people.
What's wrong, Kal?

Also, when do we find out what section were in, and what our class schedule will be?

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:58 pm
by YYZ
I'm a future part time 1L.

I called the registrar's office yesterday asking when they would enroll us for the Fall. The person told me it would probably be in the next week or two.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:59 pm
by kalvano
ebo wrote:
kalvano wrote:I hate you people.
What's wrong, Kal?

They live close. I'm bitter because court has run late all week.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:09 pm
by swilson215
Does anyone have any recommendation for movers in Dallas? I'm going to need help moving my furniture from my pod into my (fourth floor walk up) apartment...

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:29 pm
by kalvano
swilson215 wrote:Does anyone have any recommendation for movers in Dallas? I'm going to need help moving my furniture from my pod into my (fourth floor walk up) apartment...

Hawk Movers. They've moved us twice with no problems at all. They should have a per-room rate, or a simple hourly rate.

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Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:00 pm
by Burgstaller04
Anyone know if there is a max amount of loans you can take out for living expenses per year?

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:48 pm
by swilson215
Burgstaller04 wrote:Anyone know if there is a max amount of loans you can take out for living expenses per year?
Isn't the COA the max you can take out? On the SMU FinAid website it has the law school COA as $70,056, so you take out that much (minus the amount of your scholarship).

EDIT: Link to SMU FinAid break down - http://smu.edu/Financial_Aid/Forms/11_1 ... %20COA.pdf

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:07 pm
by Billy Batts
Burgstaller04 wrote:Anyone know if there is a max amount of loans you can take out for living expenses per year?
Mine went something like this: $70,056 = scholarship amount for the year + $8,500 (max. subsidized Stafford) + $12,000 (max. unsubsidized Stafford) + Grad PLUS amount (to bring the total to the full $70,056). From what I've gathered, most people had the option of obtaining the full amount. Also, if you meet the Texas residency requirements, you get something like $5k per year that amounts to a grant.

The main thing to remember with SMU financial aid is to not rely on getting a cent of your refund before school starts.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:10 pm
by TannerRobinson
chrisokc wrote:
Burgstaller04 wrote:Anyone know if there is a max amount of loans you can take out for living expenses per year?
Mine went something like this: $70,056 = scholarship amount for the year + $8,500 (max. subsidized Stafford) + $12,000 (max. unsubsidized Stafford) + Grad PLUS amount (to bring the total to the full $70,056). From what I've gathered, most people had the option of obtaining the full amount. Also, if you meet the Texas residency requirements, you get something like $5k per year that amounts to a grant.

The main thing to remember with SMU financial aid is to not rely on getting a cent of your refund before school starts.
Tell me more of this $5k grant, Chris. :)

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:54 pm
by Billy Batts
TannerRobinson wrote:
chrisokc wrote:
Burgstaller04 wrote:Anyone know if there is a max amount of loans you can take out for living expenses per year?
Mine went something like this: $70,056 = scholarship amount for the year + $8,500 (max. subsidized Stafford) + $12,000 (max. unsubsidized Stafford) + Grad PLUS amount (to bring the total to the full $70,056). From what I've gathered, most people had the option of obtaining the full amount. Also, if you meet the Texas residency requirements, you get something like $5k per year that amounts to a grant.

The main thing to remember with SMU financial aid is to not rely on getting a cent of your refund before school starts.
Tell me more of this $5k grant, Chris. :)
Better for Kalvano to chime in. He actually receives it.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:41 pm
by swilson215
My FinAid award showed up on Pony Tracks today, for anyone who's been waiting!

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:14 pm
by maqkitty214
swilson215 wrote:My FinAid award showed up on Pony Tracks today, for anyone who's been waiting!
Mine was on there, too! :mrgreen:

It says "Scheduled Disbursement: 8/9"... is that accurate? I guess my expectations are just really low based on what you all have said about their glacially slow fin aid process.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:38 pm
by swilson215
maqkitty214 wrote:

It says "Scheduled Disbursement: 8/9"... is that accurate?
I'm wondering about this, too...

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:39 pm
by Billy Batts
maqkitty214 wrote:
swilson215 wrote:My FinAid award showed up on Pony Tracks today, for anyone who's been waiting!
Mine was on there, too! :mrgreen:

It says "Scheduled Disbursement: 8/9"... is that accurate? I guess my expectations are just really low based on what you all have said about their glacially slow fin aid process.
No, you will not get a direct deposit that early. I think I got my deposit last fall like 7-10 days after the "scheduled disbursement." I'm talking about the day you can actually go to an ATM and gain access to the cash. Classes start on Friday, 8/19. I think you should probably expect to have access to your money by the Monday or Tuesday of that week. Some people may get it by the Thursday or Friday of the week before classes start. However, don't put yourself in a position where you have to have the money before the first day of school. Don't buy crack on credit. I understand summer is even more understaffed, but we didn't get a disbursement this summer until 7-10 days after classes started.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:48 pm
by swilson215
chrisokc wrote: No, you will not get a direct deposit that early. I think I got my deposit last fall like 7-10 days after the "scheduled disbursement." I'm talking about the day you can actually go to an ATM and gain access to the cash. Classes start on Friday, 8/19. I think you should probably expect to have access to your money by the Monday or Tuesday of that week. Some people may get it by the Thursday or Friday of the week before classes start. However, don't put yourself in a position where you have to have the money before the first day of school. Don't buy crack on credit. I understand summer is even more understaffed, but we didn't get a disbursement this summer until 7-10 days after classes started.
Can you get that money directly deposited? I thought they sent a check to your home address...?

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:17 pm
by Billy Batts
Go into Access, then Student Center, and under Finances, you should see "my SF eSpace." You can set up direct deposit there, and I suggest you do it that way. I hate to think how long it might take them to mail a check. That's going to require physically opening an envelope, etc. It could take months.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:32 pm
by swilson215
chrisokc wrote:Go into Access, then Student Center, and under Finances, you should see "my SF eSpace." You can set up direct deposit there, and I suggest you do it that way. I hate to think how long it might take them to mail a check. That's going to require physically opening an envelope, etc. It could take months.

Awesome, thanks for the tip!

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:12 pm
by bimmer12
The budget allocates $2000 for books and supplies. Is that accurate?
http://smu.edu/Financial_Aid/Forms/11_1 ... %20COA.pdf

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:42 pm
by txsunshine
Still no movement on my financial aid. I did, however, finally secure an apartment at the Phoenix Midtown complex. Did everyone else get their financial aid awards or is it a bit by bit thing?

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:08 am
by kalvano
TannerRobinson wrote:
chrisokc wrote:
Burgstaller04 wrote:Anyone know if there is a max amount of loans you can take out for living expenses per year?
Mine went something like this: $70,056 = scholarship amount for the year + $8,500 (max. subsidized Stafford) + $12,000 (max. unsubsidized Stafford) + Grad PLUS amount (to bring the total to the full $70,056). From what I've gathered, most people had the option of obtaining the full amount. Also, if you meet the Texas residency requirements, you get something like $5k per year that amounts to a grant.

The main thing to remember with SMU financial aid is to not rely on getting a cent of your refund before school starts.
Tell me more of this $5k grant, Chris. :)

There's a grant of up to $3800 or so for Texas residents attending private school. It's called the Tuition Equalization Grant. You have to be a Texas resident and be attending private school for the first time.

http://www.collegefortexans.com/apps/fi ... cfm?ID=534

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:10 am
by kalvano
bimmer12 wrote:The budget allocates $2000 for books and supplies. Is that accurate?
http://smu.edu/Financial_Aid/Forms/11_1 ... %20COA.pdf

I used Half.com and Amazon (free Prime membership with .edu email address) and got all of my books for around $1000 total (both semesters).

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:56 pm
by abb586
kalvano wrote:
bimmer12 wrote:The budget allocates $2000 for books and supplies. Is that accurate?
http://smu.edu/Financial_Aid/Forms/11_1 ... %20COA.pdf

I used Half.com and Amazon (free Prime membership with .edu email address) and got all of my books for around $1000 total (both semesters).
Kalvano, did you buy new or used? I have Amazon Prime but I don't want to get marked up books.

Re: SMU 2014

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:40 pm
by Billy Batts
kalvano wrote:
bimmer12 wrote:The budget allocates $2000 for books and supplies. Is that accurate?
http://smu.edu/Financial_Aid/Forms/11_1 ... %20COA.pdf

I used Half.com and Amazon (free Prime membership with .edu email address) and got all of my books for around $1000 total (both semesters).
I got an e-mail saying my Prime membership had expired...