Your Federal Student Loans can be used for travel expenses, books, food, school supplies, etc. The amount that you are approved for and you agree to borrow will be disbursed starting with your tuition costs for that semester, then moving to your room and board if you live on campus, then satisfying any other school fees you may have. Any left over funds will be sent to you, usually in the form of a check. You will be able to do whatever you wish with these funds.

You are eligible for Federal Student Loans as long as you are attending school at least halftime. If you are below halftime status as a student, you will not be eligible for Federal Student Loan help. Your status is determined by the school and the amount of credit hours you are taking during a given semester. For more information on the FFELP, please see the source below.

The government ones tend to be better because their secured, universal, and transferable and do not have to be paid off until you graduate. If you can, even better then a loan is a grant of some sort, those are great, they are free and never have to be paid off. When it comes to funding education let your tax dollars work for you rather then you working for them. Thats my philosophy, it is why we pay taxes.