The only way to know for sure is to go through the process. The money is paid to you. You are basically an employee of the college or university and receive a pay check as you would from any employer. There are three basic kinds of financial aid, that is, money someone provides to you to go to college. First, there are loans, often provided by the college you re attend ing or through some state or federal program.
Loans have to be paid back boo.
Second, there is work-study. The college you re attending basically gives you a job and applies your earnings to your college bill. Finally, there are grants and scholarsh ips, sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two. Scholarships are generally based on merit, that is, great grades, winning the science fair or the Miss America contest, or something along those lines. Every school will have a host of scholarships unique to that school , and some scholarships are u nique to specific departments or programs within that school.