<p>^Echo^
DS opted not to go to UCSD partly because of the rising costs (COA around $30k a year) and ongoing uncertainties in CA publics. We are a long-time UC family (well, there’s some NYU and USC in us, too). I am a UC grad…I loved my UC and paid my own way, entirely, with a 20 hour a week waitress job. No debt. </p>
<p>It was a surprise last year to find that privates-with-merit would be significantly less costly than a UC. A four year graduation is almost ensured (unless a kid chooses to screw up), so there are savings via reduced semesters of tuition. There are also potential wages lost during any additional year of schooling (should they be needed, especially for an impacted major). Sadly, the UCs just didn’t pencil out as favorably. And at his private, one month in: DS has classes with 15 kids, he’s been invited to lunch with professors, and discusses the great books with his Honors prof, one-on-one, after class.</p>
<p>The publics have good things to offer, but best to do an objective assessment of all options, run the numbers, go in with eyes open and be aware of the trade-offs.</p>
<p>Laplatinum,
Thank you for joining this discussion and providing some valuable insight on this topic. You are definitely echoing my concerns, but I am wondering how applicable it really is to my precise situation. </p>
<p>In general, I am transferring into a UC/CSU with all lower-division classes completed and a healthy amount of transferable upper-division classes, making me wonder how impacted the remaining classes really will be. What was your son studying at Sonoma State?</p>
<p>For CSUN, I have to decided to apply to the selective production program because those classes are not open to the ‘masses’, thus getting classes I need should really not be that much of a problem. For other UC/CSU schools this is really frightening, especially at Santa Cruz, where I can’t exactly work concurrently. I have an amazing job opportunity in the works and would be happy to take classes around other future jobs that come my way but I don’t want to be stuck in CSU hell for 6 years doing this either. </p>
<p>I am adding privates into the mix for this reason as well and am planning on checking out Woodbury University, which I know nothing of except that it’s a not-for-profit private in Burbank.</p>
<p>This statement is so depressingly not-doable in this day and age it makes me cry: “I loved my UC and paid my own way, entirely, with a 20 hour a week waitress job. No debt.” My mom did the same, but tuition was ridiculously low back then and in Berkeley she shared a house with several people for $53 p/m and then had her own 1 bedroom apt for a whopping $95 per month. </p>
<p>“It was a surprise last year to find that privates-with-merit would be significantly less costly than a UC”. Most Privates only really offer merit aid to incoming freshman. As an older transfer student with blotchy records I can only really hope for need-based aid.</p>
<p>ACKK!!! I so much don’t want to make you cry, NRK. I know the situation is 180 degrees different today–that was my point. No way could I pay my own way today with a part-time waitressing job nowadays.
I meant to show that we, too, are profoundly dismayed by the changes in CA public education. We recently finished paying (full pay and all out of pocket) for our D’s UC education. We barely squeaked by at the end, as tuition had risen so much by the 3rd and 4th years). We, too, have been saddened, and personally affected, by sky-rocketing CA tuition. </p>
<p>I was writing more generally about the merit-giving privates, NRK–since many other readers have checked this ‘lesser known publics’ thread. It was a surprise to find that they can be a cost-effective option, in some cases. Your situation as a transfer is quite different and a csu (esp CSUN) probably remains a good and affordable option. </p>
<p>As ever, bestest wishes to you NRK. The job opportunity is good news! You will stand head and shoulders above many applicants and have good options.</p>
<p>nrk, I have been reading this thread from the start, with great interest even though I know nothing about film or the CA state education system! One thing that I believe from reading your incredible history is that you have so much more to offer than you believe. Please don’t sell yourself short! If I was an admissions officer I would want to scoop you up and give the demographic a huge boost in energy! You really have quite a story and I would imagine a lot to offer any program you choose. Please keep us posted. Best wishes!</p>
<p>NRK, the response you’ve received here confirms what colcon says. You are an engaging person with a rich life story and great storytelling abilities–that’s why people have responded with such enthusiasm here on CC. That’s no accident! You have so much to offer, you stand out, and this will shine through when you apply to schools.</p>
<p>Selecting any university comes down to the fit. You have to go to these universities, talk with the admissions officers and the faculty chair of the department you want, and generally do your due diligence so you don’t get somewhere and waste your time and precious $$$. Because of NRK’s unique circumstance, this is even more essential. Every institution has different policies about transfer units and transfer units into the particular major, so the unique profile/transcript has got to be evaluated. This process of meet/greet/assess is going to make the list of realistic universities much more manageable.</p>
