<p>I haven't entered college yet, but when I do I pretty much will be paying for it myself (depending on circumstances which I'll get into in a minute).</p>
<p>Almost all the colleges I'm looking at are state schools, and they're all out of my state. They all have accelerated study programs (and I'm 100% determined to graduate in 3 years). The cheapest one is at 25,000 a year (including all expenses). The most expensive is maybe 32,000. I don't know much about how much aid, but with my record (which isn't bad, but it isn't great) I don't think I'll get much from the school. My parents make too much for me to get any need-based help.</p>
<p>Okay, so here's the thing- my parents and I will probably not talk for a good few years (at least) after I graduate. Because of reasons which I don't think the lovely people of CC will totally understand. Anyways, depending how 'things' go, will maybe pay for the first year. And maybe they'll pay for none if it. </p>
<p>So, at most, I'll graduate college with $90,000, and at least, $50,000. But I really feel like I need to leave- I've always seen college as my one way out of my situation. But is it worth all that extra cost? Is there any way I can say some money?</p>
<p>No…it is not worth it to take on that much debt for undergrad school. Plus you, the student, cannot borrow that amount without a cosigner which would be your parents in most cases. </p>
<p>In my opinion, you need to look at schools that are much more affordable. As an OOS student at public university, your aid will be very limited unless you happen to qualify for a generous merit award based on your SAT scores and GPA. Are these high enough that you could be a contender for these awards? Or are you just thinking that paying $90k for some out of state university is worth the cost? It is not.</p>
<p>Surely there are instate options that would be more affordable.</p>
<p>I cannot stay in state. This is what I meant by the people of CC not understanding. I absolutely need to get away from ‘home’.
Am I making this clear enough for you?</p>
<p>How do you plan on getting the 90k to go out of state? As thumper pointed out, you can’t borrow that kind of money without a co signer and it sounds like your parents won’t do that. </p>
<p>Even if you had a co signer, you should not borrow that much. With interest, you will be paying back more than 90k. </p>
<p>Can you go somewhere instate that’s not close to your parents? Do your stats qualify you for merit aid anywhere?</p>
<p>I fully understand what you are saying. I’m not sure you are understanding what I am saying. If you plan to apply for need based aid, you WILL need the financial information from your parents to do so. If you plan to take out loans in excess of the Direct Loans, you will need your parents cooperation to do so as you will need a cosigner.</p>
<p>There ARE merit awards for high performing high school students but without knowing your SAT scores and GPA, it is impossible to tell you what schools to look at.</p>
<p>Have you checked the OOS public universities on your list to see if they offer significant guaranteed merit awards to student’s from OOS with you high school stats? That would be a good place to start.</p>
<p>I don’t know about my stats- if my SAT and GPA are the only things that matter…by the end of my junior year, my GPA will be only 3.3 (weak sophomore year). As for the the SAT, I haven’t taken it yet, but I’ll probably get around a 1900.
I’m in New Jersey- the state’s too small to stay here and have my parents not track be down.
Also- okay, let’s say I rule out all schools which charge me more than…70,000 overall. Or 60,000. Is this still too much? If I got a summer job for all 3 years (which I would need to do since I won’t be going home for the summer), I be able to save a bit of money, right?</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids- The thing is I really can’t be in a close distance at all. They will quite literally possibly kill me. So. Yeah.
And if I do stay home for college I’ll probably end up killing myself.
Is there anything I can do to cut the cost now?
Upon graduation…well that depends if I’m part of the 47% of college grads who have an actual job (aka not underemployed or unemployed). If I’m lucky enough to be in that 47%, I will make around 30,000?</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if $90,000 or $70,000 or $60,000 is too much debt or not - without your parents as cosigners you can only borrow $5,500 your first year, $6,500 your second year, and $7,500 your third year. That is it.</p>
<p>That.</p>
<p>Is.</p>
<p>It.</p>
<p>So you should be looking for schools that cost $5,500 per year + anything you have left over after you pay for rent and food from whatever part-time job you can get.</p>
<p>IF your parents sign a form saying that they WILL not provide you with any support (ANY…and that includes health insurance, car insurance, and ANY money at all), I believe you can take about $9000 a year in Direct loans in your name only. </p>
<p>If they will not sign the form…or if they provide a dime of support to you, then you can take $5500 freshman year, and it increases to $7500 for your senior year.</p>
<p>If you are in imminent danger, have police or child protective services complaints been filed… And if not, why?</p>
<p>You can go to a community college or an in-state 4-year if you find someone who will let you live with them for a very reasonable rent. OR you can apply to schools that offer guaranteed merit aid for your stats. Lots of people do it. Probably most people start at community college or attend their in-state public.</p>
<p>If you’re not at home during the summer, most of your summer earnings will be going towards paying your rent and expenses for that period. Unless you land a terrifically well-paying job (or a job at a camp that pays for R&B, for example), it is hard to live away from home AND sock away summer earnings. </p>
<p>The private loans that require a co-signer also start charging interest from Day One. There is no grace period, and no period where the interest is subsidized. If you borrow $50k in those, you may well owe $65k by the time when you graduate. In this economy, I don’t know who would be willing to cosign loans for someone who’s not an immediate relative (and not many who would do it for their own kids). Private loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. The bank will come after you and your co-signer. Forever.</p>
<p>If you hope to graduate from college in three years, you will need to take APs in junior and senior year. (I can’t tell from your post what grade you are in.) Depending on the school, not all APs will get credit, and you will generally have to do reasonably well on them. This varies by school, but some state schools are pretty generous with AP/IB exam credit.</p>
<p>I had to put myself through school. It was not easy, and any hopes I had of attending an OOS or private school, despite decent FA, went right out of the window. I went to my state flagship and was lucky to scrape through on work, a small scholarship, loans and FA. This was back when students could go through the process of becoming independent. That option has now been closed for all but a very few students.</p>
<p>You can go to college, just maybe not right away.</p>
<p>If you absolutely have to get out of state and get away from your family, then you can move to a place you want to be and get a job. Register to vote, pay rent, and start at the local community college. Pick a state with inexpensive instate tuition for the four year state schools.</p>
<p>You will be able to be admitted to a four year school and between working and going part time will eventually be able to graduate. If the instate tuition is inexpensive enough, you may be able to swing it off of loans.</p>
<p>You should also, while you are in community college, contact an attorney to start the paper work to show you have no support from your parents. If you can get this completely documented, you may be able to get financial aid on your own.</p>
<p>So, no you may not be able to go off to a four year university right this very minute, but over the course of time, you can eventually earn a degree and escape.</p>
<p>@Countingdown- About the APs: My guidance counsler said that even if I take 5 APs by the end of senior year, I won’t save money (she didn’t explain it in too much detail)? All the colleges on my list accept AP credit (though they didn’t specify which APs).
Also, would it just make more sense if my parents pay first year (which I could probably get them to do), and after the first year I could go to school part time only? This ruins my graduating-in-three-years plan, but if it’s the only chance of getting through college…</p>
<p>If you can get along with them enough to get through the first year with them paying, just get along with them for four years (especially easy if you go away for school and plan to do research each summer) and get your degree before you make whatever announcement you are planning to make that will cause them to be upset.</p>