<p>Oh, come on. Even if UC Berkeley is “only” costing the student $40,000 per year (given that the parents do in fact pay the $17,000 EFC), the student will only be able to borrow the subsidized and unsubsidized loans - a measly amount when compared to the $40,000 in question. The parents will have to bear the burdens of Parent PLUS loans… and given the family’s financial situation, they will struggle to make these payments.
Paying such a cost is a bad idea because the OP had nearly a full ride to UA-Huntsville. He wouldn’'t have had to worry about paying tuition or room and board.
HOWEVER, something likely occurred… perhaps his family is willing to sacrifice and get rid of some assets (cars? real estate? land?). In that case, then the parents should ensure that their student qualifies for in-state tuition after the first year. This may involve even more radical measures like one parent moving into Cal or buying a condo somewhere in Cal.</p>
<p>Adult students (>18) cannot derive residence from spouse or parents. OP would be likely over 18 at least in a year if not now. Also, one cannot claim residence after 1 year if the intent of stay in CA is solely for education purpose. In other words, @Fredjan’s idea would not work.
<a href=“http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registrar/establish.html”>http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registrar/establish.html</a></p>
<p>@billcsho
Hence the “even more radical” measures, though thanks for clarifying that. Somehow the family will have to acquire Cal residency for their son, and that’s going to be virtually impossible.</p>
<p>The OP has left the room!</p>
<p>Folks, calm down.</p>
<p>I haven’t logged onto CC for a long time, and when I finally did today I saw 21 notifications lol. You guys really blew up this thread! :)</p>
<p>First of all, I’ve been applying for scholarships ever since junior year of high school! So it’s not like I just started applying for scholarships. The reason I started this thread was because I’m still interested in applying for scholarships, and just had a simple question. Didn’t really expect that to become this.</p>
<p>Next, I declined UAH’s offer. It was tempting and great, but there were a few personal reasons for this. Btw, comparing UAH and UC Berkeley is like comparing a Mercedes Benz/Rolls Royce/[insert name of luxurious car] and a Tata Nano/1995 Toyota Corolla/[insert name of cheap car]. They’re clearly not on the same scale - both are public schools, just one is #1 and the other doesn’t really rank. Not downplaying UAH, but if you gave these 2 choices to any student, they’d be going for UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>My story is actually quite funny. May 1 is the deadline for making college decisions, but even today I’m not sure 100% where I’m going.</p>
<p>I’ll let you guys know when I’m 100% sure where I’m going. And I hope once this college experience is over, I can post a story on CC about it. I’m sure I can inspire some of the guys who are going to apply for college later in the year. Thanks!</p>
<p>Good luck on finding any scholarship for 2014 Fall.</p>
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<p>How so?</p>
<p>ETA…I drove a Toyota Corolla for years. It got me around just as well as a BMW would…with far less related expenses, and better fuel economy. </p>
<p>I do not agree with your assessment at all. If you gave the choice of Cal and UAH to a student who could afford to PAY for either school without excessive loans, yes, perhaps Cal would be the choice. But to go into significant debt? Sorry, I don’t agree that Cal would be everyone’s choice.</p>
<p>OP, you do realize that a school that may have accepted you may not allow you to attend if you didn’t send the down payment, right? I hope you figure yourself out soon.</p>
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<p>Yes… please tell us that prior to the deadline, you sent in an enrollment deposit to one (and only one) of the schools that accepted you.</p>
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I hope that your story has happy endings</p>
<p>I hope that story does not violate any rule.</p>
<p>Haha, I’m having a good laugh from some of these replies. Yes, I sent in my enrollment deposit before the May 1 deadline and no, I did not violate any rules. And hopefully, my story will have happy endings.</p>
<p>When choosing a college, you have to look at the bigger picture. There’s a bit of philosophical significance attached to my decisions as well. Anyways, there’s really no point in ranting and ruminating, so let’s just wait till this whole process is over. Trust me, I’ll let all details be known when the time is right.</p>
<p>Congratulations if you can come up with the $23k gap (or a major part of it) by renewable merit aid.</p>
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<p>Yeah, whatever. You’re asking for help, but you’re not willing to give specifics on what appears to be your very unusual situation. You say that you submitted an enrollment deposit, yet in early June you’re still not sure where you’re going.</p>
<p>Explain your situation, or go back under your bridge.</p>
<p>I’d like to know exactly how a family with an income between $50,000 and $70,000 can ‘suddenly’ afford an OOS public like UC-Berkeley.</p>
<p>OK, guys 100% sure now. It’s UC Berkeley. Go Bears!</p>
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<p>@middkid86 - Well someone’s grumpy! Asking for help? On what? I wanted to know what I’d list myself as when I apply for scholarships over the summer, and somehow that deviated because some nosy CCers wanted to know my whole situation and life.</p>
<p>I was waitlisted at a prestigious university in Georgia, and in early June they informed me I was accepted. That’s why I wasn’t sure where I was going, because it was a tough choice.</p>
<p>Surely you have something better to do than to be on CC all day, be nosy in other people’s lives and rant?</p>
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<p>@Fredjan Haha, yeah it’s interesting. But miracles do happen!</p>
<p>@elitepwnage
I’m going to assume you either received some hefty scholarship or your parents are willing to give up something of value.
Whatever it is, I am glad things are working out for you, even though I don’t necessarily agree with them (as a 0 EFC student, I envy the full-ride to UAH, but I’d stay away as far as possible from sticker price UC).</p>
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<p>Right. That’s asking for help. And in order to provide targeted and accurate information, people who were willing to help you were looking for a few details.</p>
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<p>That’s a perfectly sensible explanation. Why couldn’t you have said that all along, instead of playing “I’ve got a secret”?</p>
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<p>You have some serious growing up to do. Hopefully going away to college will provide an education outside as well as inside the classroom for you.</p>