How to use a Governor's Scholarship to buy an Apple laptop?

Question

I'm about to transfer to a college in Northern California and before I transfer I want to get a laptop. I am majoring in digital media arts and I heard that apple is still the better brand for the arts. I received a California Governor's scholarship for a significant amount and would like to apply it towards a laptop. The scholarship's website say that it does allow one to buy equipment, like computers. The main issue is that I live in Southern California and am unsure how to purchase. The bookstore website links to the apple educational store. Who do I make it out to? Should I try a local CSU and see if I can buy it there?

Answer 1

Although you can usually use financial aid to cover the cost of a computer, you can't take the money and walk into the Apple store and sign over the loan/scholarship check to them...

See, in most cases, scholarships, loans, and grants funds are sent straight from the donor/lender to the school. The school will then take the money and first apply it to your "billable charges" like tuition, fees, and the dorm. If there is money left over (and it sounds like there will be), they will give that money back to you in the form of a refund (usually a check made out to you). Once you have this check, you can use it for anything you want, including a computer. Yes, the money is meant for "educational expenses" but you can see how it could be used for, say, a large party. I don't advise this. :-)

On another note: Macs are excellent computers for "creative" people. They're typically more expensive than PCs but, in my opinion, they'll last a lot longer and always look cutting-edge. To buy an apple computer using your educational discount, just walk into the Apple store, go to the register, and when you are checking out, have your Student ID ready and remind them that you get an educational discount. They do it *all* the time. It'll usually save you about $200 on a computer and a little bit on software, ipods, etc. (To buy online, go to http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html and pick your school when they ask you to.)