housing Forum

[llawguru]

would financial aid cover housing?

[vanwinkle]

You should receive an offer of scholarships, grants, and loans (most likely all loans) that is sufficient to cover both tuition/fees and "Cost of Living" (referred to as COL on the forum). COL is a figure that is generated by the law school and is estimated to be sufficient to afford all necessary living expenses (housing, transportation, food, books, health insurance) while enrolled at the school.

COL is a fixed amount, but in my experience, as long as you try to live frugally, it's very easy to budget within it for the school year. COL does not, however, include costs for semesters you're not enrolled in school (read: summer, unless you enroll for summer classes somewhere).

[DukeHopeful]

Theoretically, financial aid covers the total cost of attendance. This includes COL, i.e. housing, food, gas, etc.

Edit: The above post is TCR.

[llawguru]

do they give you some cash?

[vanwinkle]

do they give you some cash?

The COL portion is paid out to you in cash at the start of the semester. Essentially you're given one lump sum that's calculated to last until the next semester starts and it's your job to spend it wisely enough that it does.

[llawguru]

will this be applied for full-time status only or can it be use for part-time status?

[vanwinkle]

will this be applied for full-time status only or can it be use for part-time status?

Paging Dr. OperaSoprano, you are needed for PT assistance, Dr. OperaSoprano to the housing thread please...

[OperaSoprano]

will this be applied for full-time status only or can it be use for part-time status?

Vanwinkle, I am here.

PT students are eligible for the same COL loans. I have the same amount the day students get.

[vanwinkle]

Vanwinkle, I am here.

When in doubt, refer to a specialist!

[ShibaDan]

Does anyone know if this is actually enough to live on or if you'll be eating cup ramen every night?

[vanwinkle]

Does anyone know if this is actually enough to live on or if you'll be eating cup ramen every night?

You can eat reasonably but you'd better learn to cook for yourself.

[ShibaDan]

I pretty much cook for myself everynight and actually love cooking so that's fine with me. I am just worried about having enough especially to get an apartment setup to begin with.

[im_blue]

Does anyone know if this is actually enough to live on or if you'll be eating cup ramen every night?

It should be enough to live on, but you can't eat out at real restaurants too often. For example, let's take Michigan's budget, since you were accepted there:

$46,200 out-of-state tuition
$11,386 rent/food
$1,812 medical (can be increased for more expensive insurance, or amount not covered by insurance)
$1,050 books/supplies
$3,150 personal (clothing, entertainment, transportation, etc)
$102 loan origination fees
$63,700 total cost of attendance per 8-month academic year

So you're allotted about $1420/month for rent/food and almost $400/month for personal expenses. However you choose to budget these two amounts is up to you.

[ShibaDan]

Does anyone know if this is actually enough to live on or if you'll be eating cup ramen every night?

It should be enough to live on, but you can't eat out at real restaurants too often. For example, let's take Michigan's budget, since you were accepted there:

$46,200 out-of-state tuition
$11,386 rent/food
$1,812 medical (can be increased for more expensive insurance, or amount not covered by insurance)
$1,050 books/supplies
$3,150 personal (clothing, entertainment, transportation, etc)
$102 loan origination fees
$63,700 total cost of attendance per 8-month academic year

So you're allotted about $1420/month for rent/food and almost $400/month for personal expenses. However you choose to budget these two amounts is up to you.

Wow that was immensely helpful. Thank you for taking the time out to do that. I can definitely live on that amount a month. Ok panic attacks lessening...let the fact that for a four year program I'll be taking out 260k in loans begin to sink in...

[DoctorNick189]

What of summertime?

[vanwinkle]

What of summertime?

Summer requires you to find funding. You can either find paying summer work, or find a grant that will fund non-paying work. There are often grants and fellowships that you can apply for to pay for public-interest internships.