How much money to bring for 1st sem setup? [Archive]

aychamo

08-15-2005, 04:49 PM

Hey guys,.,.

I'm trying to square away how much money I need to bring down for the first few weeks..

$9100 tuition via money order
$250 cash for SGA fees / note servicee
~$233 for drivers license
money for a car, cellphone, etc
utilities deposits
$300 health insurance from the school

What else?

Thank you ever so much!
Aychamoooooooooo

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 05:11 PM

If you're taking out loans like Stafford and Sallie Mae, your tuition and school related stuff are deducted automatically from your loan refund check.

aoliver0

08-15-2005, 05:17 PM

If you're taking out loans like Stafford and Sallie Mae, your tuition and school related stuff are deducted automatically from your loan refund check.

if were living in campus housing... is internet gonna be included as school related stuff i can deduct from my loan refund check on registration day??

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 05:39 PM

if were living in campus housing... is internet gonna be included as school related stuff i can deduct from my loan refund check on registration day??

No, internet is not. You have to go set that up by yourself. Essentially just tuition and housing, if you're living on campus. You still need to bring money for SGA and Insurance and stuff like that.

aoliver0

08-15-2005, 05:56 PM

do they take US checks? travelers checks?

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 05:59 PM

do they take US checks? travelers checks?

Gold boullion.

aychamo

08-15-2005, 06:04 PM

I'm not using any loan service to pay for my tuition. You think money order is ok?

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 06:13 PM

I'm not using any loan service to pay for my tuition. You think money order is ok?

I honestly don't know. Best to phone them up directly and ask.

The Republic

08-15-2005, 06:55 PM

Do I need to bring a cashiers check for the AUC tuition?

I was planning on writing a personal check drawn from my US bank.

Is that OK?

Mohitemup

08-15-2005, 07:30 PM

grace

08-15-2005, 07:42 PM

Do I need to bring a cashiers check for the AUC tuition?

I was planning on writing a personal check drawn from my US bank.

Is that OK?

You should check this with MEAS as well. However, we were able to write a check to suppliment one loan check so we could take the other right away instead of waiting for a refund check. So, my guess is that it wouldn't be any different if you are paying for your entire tuition.

grace

08-15-2005, 07:44 PM

how do people generally pay for utilities and such. Can I just use my credit card to pay for everything or is taht going to end up costing me more because of fees? It would make things a lot easier if I can use a credit card for everything so I was wondeirng if I should plan on doing that or bring a lot of cash when i get down there? Let me know what you think.

-Thanks

Do you have an ATM/debit card? This is by far the best thing you can bring with you. I always paid cash for utilities and rent and used my debit card to get cash out of the ATM machines.

aoliver0

08-15-2005, 07:52 PM

Do you have an ATM/debit card? This is by far the best thing you can bring with you. I always paid cash for utilities and rent and used my debit card to get cash out of the ATM machines.

heyie grace,
did u use an ATM card with a local bank account? or are u using one from the states?

grace

08-15-2005, 07:54 PM

heyie grace,
did u use an ATM card with a local bank account? or are u using one from the states?

The States...

St. Maarten is very tourist oriented so I'm sure they accept most U.S. cards. My card has the Plus and Maestro symbols on the back so I haven't had any trouble with it.

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 08:03 PM

heyie grace,
did u use an ATM card with a local bank account? or are u using one from the states?

I use my WAMU ATM card down here.

aoliver0

08-15-2005, 08:11 PM

Whats WAMU?

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 08:11 PM

Whats WAMU?

Washington Mutual

Scott1981

08-15-2005, 09:18 PM

just so you know...... you cannot use a credit card to pay for utilities or at gas stations.

YODA

08-15-2005, 09:39 PM

you can pay tution and health insurance with a personal check from a US bank, for SGA and other things you will need cash. Carib serve takes credit cards and so does The Mailbox.

Some of the aptment complexes take credit cards. Most resturants only take cash, not cards or checks.

I see not reason to ever get a SXM bank account, just bring some cash with you (i brough 2000 with me the first time, but i did not need to have all of that) and use your credit card or ATM to get cash on the isalnd.

DO NOT USE THE WINWARD ISALND ATM NEAR THE SCHOOL.

LATER
YODA

The Republic

08-15-2005, 09:42 PM

DO NOT USE THE WINWARD ISALND ATM NEAR THE SCHOOL.

YODA

Why not? Does it charge your account but not give you cash?

Where are the reliable ATMs?

YODA

08-15-2005, 10:09 PM

Why not? Does it charge your account but not give you cash?

Where are the reliable ATMs?
bingo (this is just to lenghten my post so it will go through this is not meant to be read, its just filler)

Later
YODA

stateofequilibrium

08-15-2005, 10:40 PM

Why not? Does it charge your account but not give you cash?

Where are the reliable ATMs?

If you want reliable ATM, the best one to use is the Scotia Bank machine next to IDL.

star604

08-16-2005, 09:24 AM

i asked my advisor and she said if you are going to supplement your loan with personal checks, it is better to write two separate checks (one for housing and one for tuition)

armymedic2MD

08-16-2005, 01:25 PM

grace

08-16-2005, 04:59 PM

Why not? Does it charge your account but not give you cash?

Where are the reliable ATMs?

Yeah, I had that problem twice. Once at the Winward ATM by the school and the other Winward ATM in Maho. I never had trouble with the RBTT ATM in Maho.

soums5384

08-16-2005, 06:14 PM

How far is the Scotia Bank ATM from the Campus? Is it a walkable distance?

stateofequilibrium

08-16-2005, 06:15 PM

How far is the Scotia Bank ATM from the Campus? Is it a walkable distance?

No, it's pretty far (relatively, the island is pretty small). But not walking distance, about halfway to Philipsburg.

grace

08-16-2005, 08:17 PM

What if the only way we can afford any of this is through the loans we are getting and cant afford to bring down any additional money? Does the school cut you a refund check right there on the spot or can you have your private loan dispersed earlier so that you can have some cash on hand for food and such?

You should contact the Financial Aid office at MEAS and ask when the disbursement date will be. There is normally a set date each semester.

blueoval

08-16-2005, 09:39 PM

You should contact the Financial Aid office at MEAS and ask when the disbursement date will be. There is normally a set date each semester.

I got Aug. 19th is when they are suppose to send out the money.

aoliver0

08-16-2005, 10:00 PM

I got Aug. 19th is when they are suppose to send out the money.

i got the same thing.... i did the Health Xpress loans....

blueoval

08-16-2005, 10:47 PM

i got the same thing.... i did the Health Xpress loans....

Yeah I used them too

Lil786

08-16-2005, 10:54 PM

blueoval

08-16-2005, 10:57 PM

Did any of yall who used Health express for loans get a letter or any statement claiming that you have been approved or did you guys just call them up and ask??? Do you guys get any sort of letter from health express after applying???

I applied on-line. They approved me on-line. Then they sent me a letter saying how much I applied for and that I could have that much. That was about the extent of it all.

msu_theta

08-16-2005, 11:11 PM

Just our of curiosity, how much money did u guys get approved for from Health Xpress? I asked for more then the school certified me for, so I am kinda confused?

blueoval

08-16-2005, 11:20 PM

Just our of curiosity, how much money did u guys get approved for from Health Xpress? I asked for more then the school certified me for, so I am kinda confused?

I got to cover the year based on the sheet of expenses they sent me. US govt let me borrow 10.5. Health X let me cover the rest which was like 38.5. I didn't think you could get more than the school certified you for. Did they approve you for more then?

Skipper

08-16-2005, 11:28 PM

you can only get as much as the school certifies you for

skipper

msu_theta

08-16-2005, 11:34 PM

I got to cover the year based on the sheet of expenses they sent me. US govt let me borrow 10.5. Health X let me cover the rest which was like 38.5. I didn't think you could get more than the school certified you for. Did they approve you for more then?

No I only got the amount they certified me for which sounds like it was the same amount you got. I had hoped to get a little more, but oh well I guess I will have to learn to be frugal. Thanks for the reply though.

skeleton83

08-16-2005, 11:52 PM

No I only got the amount they certified me for which sounds like it was the same amount you got. I had hoped to get a little more, but oh well I guess I will have to learn to be frugal. Thanks for the reply though.

Isn't that lot of money for one person per semester? It seems as you are getting ~ 50K per semester. I don't know if you are supporting a family or not. If you are then ignore this message. But for one person, I thought 25K is more than enough for one person (~17K for school with dorm and ~8K for everything else). I am only inquiring about this so i know if I need to arrange for more money. Thank you.

aoliver0

08-17-2005, 07:47 AM

Isn't that lot of money for one person per semester? It seems as you are getting ~ 50K per semester. I don't know if you are supporting a family or not. If you are then ignore this message. But for one person, I thought 25K is more than enough for one person (~17K for school with dorm and ~8K for everything else). I am only inquiring about this so i know if I need to arrange for more money. Thank you.

they're talking about per year....
my stafford loans total up to 18500....10000 a year unsibsidized....8500 a year subsidized
my private loans are 30,500 a year....but i requested 40K boooo
all through health xpress

aoliver0

08-17-2005, 07:54 AM

Did any of yall who used Health express for loans get a letter or any statement claiming that you have been approved or did you guys just call them up and ask??? Do you guys get any sort of letter from health express after applying???

after you send the application to MEAS to be certified, they send it to the health xpress people... then the health xpress people send you some letters of the amount your going to get certified by the school. The financial aid department should have sent you something saying how much money you are getting also. Call or email the financial aid department and ask about the status of your loans.. finaid@aucmed.edu they respond usually that day. if you did healthxpress u can check ure loans on the great lakes website... https://www.mygreatlakes.com/borrower/index.jsp

skeleton83

08-17-2005, 09:36 AM

they're talking about per year....
my stafford loans total up to 18500....10000 a year unsibsidized....8500 a year subsidized
my private loans are 30,500 a year....but i requested 40K boooo
all through health xpress

ah. ok. that makes more sense. As you can tell, I didn't take out a private loan. But i did take out the stafford loans. thanks for clearing that up.

armymedic2MD

08-17-2005, 11:55 AM

So here is a quick question. Is there any way you can up the Student Xpress amount once you are approved if you dont get the total 18,500 from Stafford. I havent received a letter telling me how much Stafford is sending me, and I only applied for 33,500 from Student Xpress. Will I be able to easily raise it to 40k or will that be a problem.

I know this is a question for Student Xpress, but maybe someone else has gone through this as well.

Cultural Infidel

08-17-2005, 03:00 PM

here are my expenses so far off the top of my head

Jeep
$1510 shipping
$60 dock fee
$286 insurance
$21 inspection
$100.30 Plates
$42 gas

other
Gym fee $150.00
Startup apartment stuff including food $600.00

apartment
1 month studio rent $800
2months rent and $1600 deposit for 2 bedroom @ $1600 month $4800
(I came early and my roomate is paying me back half of the 2 bedroom fees)
hotel room for 3 nights while looking for a place to stay $300
$15 taxi ride to hotel

Being on St. Maarten a month before school starts...Priceless
(sorry, couldn't resist)

aoliver0

08-17-2005, 03:52 PM

hey, does the school take american express or any other credit card to pay for tuition... my mom was wondering cuz so she can get more points (lol) and then she can just take the loan check and bring it back to the states with her to deposit...

stateofequilibrium

08-17-2005, 06:11 PM

grace

08-17-2005, 06:30 PM

Yeah, I don't think you can use a credit card. I know a few people who talked about trying so they could get more miles, but they weren't able to.

aoliver0

08-17-2005, 07:44 PM

aw bummer..

aychamo

08-18-2005, 12:48 AM

Hey.. Heres the deal.. My parents are paying my tuition, etc. But say I for some reason *need* money.. How hard is it to get some loans once school starts??

microphage

08-18-2005, 01:10 AM

Hey.. Heres the deal.. My parents are paying my tuition, etc. But say I for some reason *need* money.. How hard is it to get some loans once school starts??

it takes time... and frustration when u have more important things to do. I'd get it early if I were u. and if your credit sucks, then you're almost screwed.