Syncing Macbook Word documents with iPad?

I am wondering whether or not to purchase an iPad so that I can work on Word documents on the go. At the moment, I'm using this free student download of Microsoft Office on my Mac which limits me to doing coursework/assignments on my Mac only. I was thinking an iPad would allow me to make any changes I need on the bus to college or at college as sometimes I forget to bring in the Usb stick with my assignments on them. I don't want to go ahead and buy an iPad to then find out it doesn't do what I want it to do.

Basically, I want to be able to download Word (I don't use any of the other Microsoft programmes) onto the iPad and access files that are on my Macbook so that I can edit these files. I then would need to access this files from the iPad onto the college computer (they use Macs as well). I could probably email the files from my iPad and onto the college computer.

Could someone help me out with the situation and maybe tell me if this is possible and a way to make it possible. I definitely feel doing assignments on the go would really help me and bringing an iPad seems more suitable than bringing my Macbook.

Thanks!