for those of you who got full financial aid

[marianne202]

EC told me I had to take a minimum of 6 credits per term (every other month), which works out to 12 credits per yearly quarter. ECU (my local school) told me I had to carry 12 credits per semester to be full time and utilize my aid. I qualified for aid from both schools, but neither school was going to going to give me enough via grants / loans to pay for anything more than tuition and books. EC also told me I had to attend for the full year or I would have to pay back the aid. I'm sure each situation is different, but since you were asking for some specifics and didn't get much response I thought I would throw in what little I know. I also will say that when I did math I would actually end up paying about $1600 more out of pocket in the end if I used my grant and loan money through EC than to just pay as I go on my own. This also didn't factor in paying any interest on the loan and paying it within the 6 months it was due. I also don't have to commit to full class schedules and a full year of school. It is much harder this way, but I couldn't see spending more out of pocket in the end. Just be careful, as it isn't always the great deal they may make you think it is!