What is the next step in getting my student loan check?

I just signed my MPN (master promissory note) online a few days ago and picked a lender and bank and so on. What happens now? This is my first time applying for student loans and no one seems to be able to give me any information on how it works. When I call my financial aid office they just keep giving me lame answers. What i want to know is when do I get this money and how?

After you sign your MPN the funds are electronically transferred to your school from the lender. They then post the funds to your student account. These funds are applied to your tuition and then the remainder can be given to you (or left in your account for other costs or sent back to the lending institution).

MANY school's vary about this...some do this before the semester officially starts (which is NOT legal) and others do it when school starts and "hold" the funds until they see you are attending classes and not dropping any courses (which would affect the amount of money you could receive).

You should receive the REMAINDER of this money (if your loans are in excess of tuition costs only) I would say no later than the add/drop period at your school. If you have no money after your tuition is paid...you will not see any of this money...just a statement saying your tuition has been paid. Some schools transfer the funds electronically to your bank account and others cut you a check that you can either pick up or have mailed to you.

they send the money to the school

It's sent to the school. The first loan check may be a paper check that you have to sign over to the school. It might take a while for the school to receive the check then notify you. My first time getting a private loan, I don't think I signed the check until after the school yr started. (about 3 weeks)

Every loan after that one was disbursed electronically.

it depends on the schools policy. Usually the loaner sends the money to the school, first your tuition is paid. if there is any money left over it stays in a schoool account until you have completed most of your class/classes. the school should send you the reamaning balance. you can either cash it to yourself or send it to the lender to be put towards your loan. that is how most school do it!