Because u unwisely missed all the application deadlines?
Do you have any safeties lined up in case the CA schools don’t work out? Run the Net Price Calculators on the school websites to get an estimate of what they’d expect you to pay. Make sure you indicate that you’re an out of state resident or they won’t be accurate. I think if you enroll as an OOS resident, that will be your status all 4 years. The state of residence for dependent students comes from the parents’ address, not the student’s.
There are many, many private schools that are not religiously affiliated. Many others began as religiously affiliated but now are essentially secular. Some that are still tied to religious organizations are welcoming of all faiths (or lack of faith). In a state with as many schools as CA, I find it hard to imagine there aren’t private schools that also meet your requirements.
As for being more expensive, yes, if you only look at the sticker price, privates are more expensive. With your stated EFC of 0, if you seek out schools that meet need, then your actual cost of attendance could end up being far lower than the cost to go to a CA public school out-of-state. A significant percentage of students at privates pay far less than the listed price. And you wouldn’t have to worry about establishing residency.
The reason people here care about where you go to college is because they’re trying to make sure you make an informed choice. If going to school in CA is your dream, there are cheaper ways to do it. Right now you have a lot of balls that are in the air - planning on making $10k may or may not happen, finding a shared affordable living arrangement may or may not happen. You say you’re bringing a car - have you budgeted for gas, maintenance, insurance, and vehicle taxes? Along with a realistic budget for food, medical care (will you have insurance), dental, vision (if needed), and other routine needs?
Too many students head off with great - but unrealistic plans. People here are speaking from experience. You can choose to learn from that or ignore it - but these posters only want to help you shape a realistic plan.
@GMTplus7 I’m not going to waste money going somewhere that I don’t want to go…sorry?
If you’re not expecting any financial help from your parents, I think the most you’ll have is ~$5k from Pell, $5500 federal loans (the maximum you can take out), maybe a couple thousand SEOG, which only gives you $12k/year or so to spend. That gives you enough to pay in-state tuition for a WA school. If you work during the year and summers, you might be able to come up with the other $6-7k you need for room and board at a WA university. I don’t see much in the way of merit scholarships at WWU, but EWU has some. Check their website to see if your GPA and SAT scores are high enough to qualify for any. Their priority application deadline is mid-February. Is there a college within commuting distance of your home? If so, I’d get an app out to them if you haven’t already, just so you have a backup. Good luck.
U could possible go for FREE or nearly FREE to a private school. Most private schools are not religiously affiliated. The privates that are, have a multi-denominational student bodies that for the most part are not particularly religious.
The reason that u observed that so few OOS kids go to CSUF or CSULB, is that it costs a fortune for OOS kids to go there. So the OOS students are mostly the fullpay rich kids who could not get into the UCs. No rational OOS poor kid applies only to CSU schools as their first and only choices.
look simba514, were not trying to dismiss everything you want to do. I also think while having a plan is great, it’s impossible to tell if you will get a job or not especially with the economy and honestly those OOS tuition costs will only rise each year. This being said it may be wise to apply to some in state schools just in case. It sounds to me you already made up your mind anyways but definitely keep an open mind if you want to be relatively debt free.
I actually live about 10 minutes from Western. But, I’ve come to terms with being in debt after college. I expect about 40,000 or so but it’s worse for some and if I’m smart with my money (which hopefully I will be as a business student) I will pay it off eventually.
@GMTplus7 My reasons for wanting to go to Southern California do not have to be justified. Also, there’s no way that I could go to a private school for free. In SoCal, they cost about 40k+ a year. A $160,000 school for free? I don’t think so. Plus, I like what CSUF/LB have to offer. If I get a job at Fred Meyer here and apply to Food4Less down there, I bet I would get hired. I don’t want to make assumptions about everything going as planned but
a) I’m not going to automatically assume the worst.
b) If there’s a will, there’s a way. Much like the Walt Disney quote “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
@simba514, what is you plan to obtain $40,000 in loans? Do you have someone willing to co-sign for you? Also, yes, it is possible you could go to a private school for free or nearly - certainly for less than you’re looking at spending for a public school as an out-of-state student. If your financial need is as stated, and you find a private school that meets full need, especially one where you would be an above-average student, you would be surprised at the aid that is available.
I admire your determination, but sometimes you have to look at the most important goal - getting a degree so you can make a life for yourself. People are suggesting you at least explore some options for Plan B so you have a fallback if everything doesn’t fall into place as you expect.
@InigoMontoya Stafford and Perkins loans actually which are both federal loans. Through the Perkins Loans, I can get up to $22,000 or $27,500 and repayment is usually in 10 years. CSUF offers this. Through the Stafford Loans, I can get $31,000. So, that’s more than $40,000 in federal aid. And, I don’t have to start paying it back until after I graduate - six to nine months, I think. Also, part of the Stafford Loan can be subsidized so I won’t have to pay interest on a majority of it.
“Also, there’s no way that I could go to a private school for free. In SoCal, they cost about 40k+ a year. A $160,000 school for free? I don’t think so.” You’ve applied so I guess your ready for the reality.
Well, the CSU’s are going to be very close to $40K per year for you. CSULB is one of our more popular universities averaging 80k applications per year. You won’t get in if you don’t have a strong GPA and SAT.
http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollment/financial_aid/costs.html#anchor1
All of the posters above, are trying to help you understand that you just don’t have the cash money to attend a California public OOS school with the uninformed assumptions that you have made. Your tuition is due 30 days before registration. How will you pay that?
You won’t get loans from for anywhere near your fees. Banks and loan companies do not loan money to 18 year olds without a credit report.
You say that you are going to support yourself to get in-state tuition, but asking for money from the government is not considered supporting yourself. It’s considered relying on the school’s money.
You think it will just be so easy to get a job in Southern California; we have a lot of homeless who thought they could do the same. We also have a lot of immigrant permanent residents who can provide more hours of work than a student.
Rents are really high so if you were to get a job, all of your money would go on rent and utilities. Burning gas, sitting in traffic, will burn through more of your money.
If you really want to go to school in So. California, you should consider the privates like: Chapman University (middle of Orange County). If you qualify, you can get in for very minimal fees.
I already said previously that I cannot obtain residency because I have not been financially independent for 3 years. Also, it’s about 30k a year. In addition, credit score is not considered in regards to Stafford and Perkins loans.
As a student, you can only receive a Stafford loan of
$5500 freshman year,
$6500 Sophomore year
and $7500 Junior and Senior year for a TOTAL of $31000 over a period of 4 years. Not, in one year. This is barely your cost of one year.
The Perkins loan is also over a 4 year period, so you can ask for $27K Total. This is also under the cost of your 2nd year. So you might be able to swing $11K per year. How will you pay the rest???
And the clincher is that STATE residents get first dibs because the loan money runs out at the school.
Actually, it’s based on financial need, not residency. It may be from the school but it’s a federal loan. And yes, I have realized it’s per year. But, I plan on working despite your opinions on me not being able to get a job. Part-time while in school and full-time in the summer. I will also most likely be eligible for grants that will cover about $38K.
What’s wrong with Western? Is that where your siblings are going? Full Pell and the federal loan would more than cover tuition. It’s probably enough to cover books as well. You could graduate with not much more than $20k in debt. I think that’s a very good deal.
Simba, federal loans will not cover your full OOS fees. You didn’t add the extra $372 per unit that Fullerton and Long Beach will add. So, for 12 units, you multiply 12 x $372 on top of the regular fees. You will owe more than half tuition. Grants come mostly from the state, and as a non-resident, you don’t qualify for a Cal grant. The Pell federal grants don’t cover much. But you keep right on dreaming. Just trying to keep you informed, but you don’t seem to want to hear that. Money wise, it’s not going to happen.
What are the college Net Price Calculators saying for you? That’s important. The maximum loans students can get (as far as I know) are $5500, $6500, $7500, $7500 for freshman, soph, junior, & senior year. What’s your cost of attendance attendance according to the NPCs after those loans and grants? Half of that will be due sometime in August (before the 1st semester starts) and half in Dec or Jan (before the 2nd semester starts). How will you pay it?
Maybe you should send an app to both WWU & EWU to give you more options in the spring.
Just to let you know, the Perkins loan is a FEDERAL loan and is need based. It’s not given by the state.
Samba, I know Perkins is Federal, but your numbers won’t add up for full tuition for one year. You are an OOS student and Federal loans won’t cover your tuition for one year. I’ve been through this with my high school students and my own kids. Thousands upon thousands of students try it and finally figure out that the California public schools are expensive and do not provide aid.
But you seem to be very sure of the numbers, your future job, your income, your housing, your chances, so, I will let you figure it out.
@simba514, the Federal Loans are given as block allocations to the schools, and the schools distribute them among students that qualify. I think @aunt bea is suggesting that the federal allocation for a given school will not cover the need of all qualified students. The loans are “up to” the amount, and the schools may allocate them first to in-state students.
To be clear, I do not know whether or not it is true, I am just trying to help you understand what a seasoned poster, who has had first-hand experience, is saying: