Sorry, I don’t know where else to put this… but I’m looking to apply to UC schools (because they are my dream schools) but I realize that most of their yearly tuition is over double what my family makes (30,000 a year for a family of four) I’m an out of state student living in Las Vegas meaning they give very little (if any) financial aid. I’ve never felt so disadvantaged for something out of my control until now…
I realize local colleges are an option to deal with the money aspect but… I’ve spent years working in high school to get into top schools. I’ve gotten a 4.8 GPA with a load of extracurriculars and APs, I can’t fathom settling for COMMUNITY COLLEGE? Nevada is not known for its amazing education system which is why it has been my dream to leave and go somewhere to challenge myself. I’ve also been applying to Ivies which give a generous financial aid but I refuse to attend a local college.
It’s also a way for me to escape other issues I have with where I live… toxic environment at home and because I despise Las Vegas and its culture. Also because I want a sense of self because my Asian family wants me to stay close to them forever… My brother settled for the University of Las Vegas AND was convinced to go from business into studying medicine all from their coercion. I see myself following his sad path… I want to be an engineer and go to a renowned engineering school but my parents are starting to pressure me into studying locally and to become a doctor…
If I leave, I will be all on my own emotionally and financially… I feel like there’s this huge dissonance between what I want and what is actually practical for me… I know many people give up on their dream schools, but it’s not just that for me. It’s a chance for me to explore the world and be dependent for once. It’s the only way I see myself being happy in the future: If I attend a top university… it just seems that everything is stacked against me.
What about Arizona State or University of Arizona where your stats could get you good merit?
Are you parents limiting you to only instate schools? Will they allow you to attend UNR so you can live on-campus and away from your toxic home life or is UNLV the only option based on your parents wishes?
Attending a UC or any top school does not guarantee happiness. You need to find schools that are affordable and willing to give you good need-based and financial aid.
Have you looked at the WUE schools where you get reduced OOS tuition?
https://www.wiche.edu/wue
How much are you parents willing to pay each year?
Have you run the net price calculators on any schools of interest and shown your parents the results?
The UC’s are unaffordable regardless of whether or not you are admitted. Time to forget that dream and move forward.
Basically any college within a 15 minute radius so that I’ll still live with them (UNLV and the community college CSN)
The only school I’ve considered besides the top schools are Arizona State but even then it would kill me on the inside knowing if I got accepted into any UCLA but didn’t attend. Also my parents will cover any costs if I do what they want and attend local colleges… but nothing if I don’t.
It is understandable that you would want a change from Las Vegas.
As posted in another thread, your ACT score is respectable & your grades are fine.
Your main hurdle seems to be finding an out of state school that you can afford.There may be a current scholarship thread that can offer some guidance.
Consider taking a gap year to work & establish residency in another state so that you will be eligible for in state tuition rates. Florida, for example, has several universities with in state tuition rates under $7,000 per year which is less expensive than UNLV .
Did you ever find someone to proofread your essay ? If not, feel free to PM it to me for a brief critique & some corrections.
You can’t afford the Universities of California. There are MANY students, probably a large majority, who can’t afford to attend the vast majority of universities. I know many students with very close to straight A’s who cannot afford to attend the highest ranked university that they could have gotten accepted to.
UNLV and UNR are very good universities. In you situation I would also apply to Arizona and see what sort of aid you get. I am not familiar with merit aid out west (we live in the opposite corner of the country), but your stats might very well help you a lot. Also, your very strong high school performance implies that you are very well prepared to go to university and do very well.
If you want to be an engineer, then you might want to point out to your parents that of the 20 highest paid bachelor’s degrees, the large majority of them have “engineer” in their name. You can do very well in life with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. If you have a family income of $30k per year, then getting a very good very well paying job with a bachelor’s degree seems like a very good plan to me.