I filled out a FAFSA, checked yes to interested in student loan - can i purchase a computer on my federal money ?
i'm going to be taking distance education courses from umuc.edu. i
filled out the FAFSA and checked yes to i am interested in a student
loan. umuc told me that any money would be received after classes and
was unclear about whether or not i could get money towards a new
computer. ideally that is what i'm hoping to get out of it -- a
computer, new clothes, and an education. can elaborate more on this
matter ?
- The loan is to help pay for your education and related expenses. When
the school receives the loan proceeds, they first apply it to any open
balance on your account - which may be a pending credit they gave you in
anticipation of the loan.
In cases where the loan proceeds exceed the actual costs charged by the
school, or replaces money you had already paid to the school, the school
will issue a refund to you.
The loan is intended to be used for education related expenses. This can
include, among others, books, room, food, clothing, transportation, and
even a computer you'll use for education related purposes.
In truth, "education related" is a wide area. While it probably doesn't
mean 100 rock concert tickets, you are not asked to account for how the
money was used. It's mostly up to you to decide what is "education
related".
- It seems to me that you re-think your plans for why to get a student loan.
Those loans are intended to help college students get a degree. They are
not intended for you to buy yourself a new computer and some new threads.
When people like you abuse the loan system, you are taking the money that
may have helped an actual student get an education.
- Distance education at the
University of Maryland University College seems to be an online affair. See
http://www.umuc.edu/gen/virtuniv.html. If that is correct, Arthur will need
a computer for it. We can't say whether he needs a new computer because we
don't know what he's emphasizing: new as opposed to used, or new in the
sense of "replace my old one"; and anyway we don't know how badly he might
need a replacement. Nor do we know whether he might be taking courses in an
area that requires a computer capable of more than e-mail. Given this
ignorance on so many basic facts, surely it would be foolish to tell him
that a computer purchase is abusive.
In the same spirit, I trust he will need clothes to assist in his progress
toward a degree, unless we care to imagine him working at the computer in
threadbare, increasingly crusty underwear. Clothing is not an extraordinary
expense for the typical college student. Let us not begrudge the man a pair
of jeans.
I hope you share my sense that we really do not know enough about the facts
concerning this individual to lash out with an accusation of abuse. I
respond to the accusation primarily because it seems to have become the
watchword for some individuals who hurl it at student borrowers
indiscriminately. The answer to self-righteousness, in such cases, may be
to point out that bearing false witness is not righteous at all.