Are private schools worth it???

<p>I'm wondering, what would be more beneficial to someone like myself that wants to graduate with little debt less than 15K preferably. Is going to a private school such as Santa Clara that is about 50K a year but gives good financial aid BETTER than going to a UC-like school in the realm of UCSB that is about 30K with all expenses but will give little aid because the state is suffering. </p>

<p>Or maybe a less prestigious private school would give me better aid? Ahh i don't know but until now i've completely phased private schools because of the cost factor..</p>

<p>i have a 3.72 unweighted, 4.04 uc gpa, 29 act taking again in Dec., Terrible ECs </p>

<p>if u could help me out with this dilemma i would appreciate it, thanks</p>

<p>Santa Clara doesn’t give great aid. Why did you think that? Santa Clara gaps!</p>

<p>Number who applied for need-based aid: 714
Number who were offered aid: 489
Number who had full need met: 206
Average indebtedness at graduation: $23,909</p>

<p>So, 714 people applied for aid…only 489 were offered any aid (which could be loans)…and only 206 had their need met (which may have been met with loans).</p>

<p>And… do you know if you’ll qualify for much aid anyway? </p>

<p>What do you think your FAFSA EFC will be? </p>

<p>Quick EFC - this is a rough estimate
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | QuickEFC](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Quick EFC - Finaid) </p>

<p>How much will your parents pay each year?</p>

<p>As a student, you are limited to following federal Direct student loan amounts…</p>

<p>$5500 frosh
$6500 soph
$7500 junior and senior years.</p>

<p>*maybe a less prestigious private school would give me better aid? Ahh i don’t know but until now i’ve completely phased private schools because of the cost factor…</p>

<p>i have a 3.72 unweighted, 4.04 uc gpa, 29 act taking again in Dec., Terrible ECs *</p>

<p>Less prestigious schools usually aren’t good with aid. You might find a less prestigious school that would give you a good merit scholarship for your ACT 29.</p>

<p>Are you taking the Nov SAT?</p>

<p>What is your likely major?</p>

<p>It’s funny, I see the glass half full. I read the same stats and say 206 had their full need met. Those 206 are real people and one of them might as well be you. </p>

<p>If you think that you may want to go to Santa Clara:

  1. don’t fall in love
  2. apply for admissions and financial aid and see what they offer
  3. apply to UCSB also so that you have someplace to go</p>

<p>If you are going to study something that will earn you money, keep in mind that for every semester that you delay your graduation past 4 years, you are giving up about 1/2 year’s starting salary plus all future raises that compound on that salary minus the taxes you would have to pay. Under the current budget circumstances where people are unable to get into the classes they need because of budget cuts, it may actually be LESS costly to attend a private school with sufficient resources to allow you to graduate in 4 years because you will make up the difference rather quickly. </p>

<p>I suggest doing the actual math.</p>

<p>Although SCU does not meet full need and may not be as generous as other schools with need-based aid, it does offer significant merit aid. Therefore, depending upon the OP’s financial situation, the net cost to him may end up being cheaper at SCU than at other places.</p>

<p>I suggest the OP cast a wide net and apply to both SCU and UCSB as well as several other schools and then compare financial offers before making a final decision.</p>

<p>my parents make about 70K a year,
i was planning to major in either business admin.-information systems, or computer science, or maybe geography im not sure yet,</p>

<p>I just suggested santa clara as starting point-im not sure if i want to apply there,</p>

<p>My only problem is that im already going to apply to 5UCS and cal poly slo, and my mom doesnt really want to pay for all these applications and score reports - she’s been going to a trade school to get a different job because her job is too hard on her physically, so she’s only allotted me about 400$ for all these aps and reports…therein lies my problem, i could take out a UC option but i need to find a viable private option that will help me out financially, blah.</p>

<p>@Teekaaboo</p>

<p>Thanks for answering my question dude!</p>

<p>And can someone please answer my question on post #6. thanks</p>

<p>With a 29 ACT, the OP is NOT going to get generous merit aid from SCU. </p>

<p>I have family members who’ve applied to that school. An ACT 29 gets you minimal merit. An ACT 33 gets you a half tuition scholarship. </p>

<p>The mid range SAT at SCU is 1120-1340 (M+CR only), so an ACT 29 is equivalent to an SAT 1300…so not within the top 25% where good merit is typically awarded.</p>

<p>*It’s funny, I see the glass half full. I read the same stats and say 206 had their full need met. Those 206 are real people and one of them might as well be you. *</p>

<p>When I see that only 206 got their full need met, that suggests to me that these students either had very little need…so it was easy to fill with a loan and/or small grant…or they had super stats and so merit and some grant money met need. </p>

<p>No one with “big need” and “good, but not top, stats” should look at that statistic and think that they’re going to be one of those “meet need” students.</p>

<p>My only problem is that im already going to apply to 5UCS and cal poly slo, and my mom doesnt really want to pay for all these applications and score reports - she’s been going to a trade school to get a different job because her job is too hard on her physically, so she’s only allotted me about 400$ for all these aps and reports…therein lies my problem, i could take out a UC option but i need to find a viable private option that will help me out financially, blah.</p>

<p>Then you need to apply to a private (maybe with a free app!) that will give you big merit…like maybe St. Mary’s in California or maybe Azusa Pacific. </p>

<p>There are schools with free online apps…</p>

<p>I don’t know a school in Calif that will “meet need” that your stats are strong for.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids</p>

<p>yeah i agree with you on your post, so do you have any suggestions of some privates that might meet some of my aid for my stats/gpa? </p>

<p>i will consider any kind of school/region/religious etc. thanks</p>

<p>my parents make about 70K a year,</p>

<p>Hopefully, your parents will make just enough to still qualify you for Blue and Gold…which is income up to $70k. </p>

<p>If your parents’ income might exceed that $70k mark, then perhaps your mom could reduce her hours so that their income comes in right under the max income amount.</p>

<p>It would be a shame to lose out on Blue and Gold (worth UC tuition) by earning just over $70k. And, I don’t think it’s $70k AGI…I think it’s $70k income. Anyone know?</p>

<p>Privates in Calif that will meet need for your stats? Hmmmm…Let me think about that…</p>

<p>In the meantime, you need to apply to at least ONE UC safety school…like UC Merced or UC Riverside…Either school will very likely meet need if your income comes in under $70k for 2010. (Talk to your parents about that income threshold!!!)</p>

<p>major in either business admin.-information systems, or computer science, or maybe geography im not sure yet,</p>

<p>So…whichever UC has good programs in the above majors, apply to one of them. I’m thinking that UC-R might have better programs, but I could be wrong since UC-Merced is newish (so I don’t know much about what they have).</p>

<p>ohh i didn’t know that 70K rule! so if you make less than 70K you get full tuition for free??
i have to ask my mom if it might be lower or if we can maybe try to get it lower,</p>

<p>Yeah, if i decided on ucsb i would try geography because i heard they have a very good program for that,if i got into any “higher” UC i would most likely attempt computer science, And if i decide on Cal poly SLO, their website for Orfalea business school shows a good information systems management major i might be interested in…</p>

<p>Blue and Gold…here it is…</p>

<p>[University</a> of California - Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/paying-for-uc/financial-aid/grants/blue-gold/index.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/paying-for-uc/financial-aid/grants/blue-gold/index.html)</p>

<p>Blue and Gold is only for UCs…it’s not for Cal Polys.</p>

<p>Do you have guaranteed admittance for UCSB? If not, you need a safety UC.</p>

<p>thanks for the link!
dangg so Cal states don’t have a similar program ?</p>

<p>I mean admission is never guaranteed until you get the actual acceptance letter, but i think i have a good shot a ucsb , also ucsb is just one of my best fits so far, i was going to apply to ucla,berkeley,ucsb,ucsd,uc davis, and either irvine or riverside, already applied to cal poly slo, and i might add a private if i find a good fit.</p>

<p>If I were you, I would leave off Berkeley or UCLA. Your chances are low and money is an issue for applications. Pick one, but get rid of the other. Keep Riverside (as a safety). </p>

<p>What is your rank? If it’s not high, then you might consider not applying to either UCLA and Berkeley. At UCLA, 97% are in the top 10%. I would imagine that those 3% are athletes or other special admits. So, if you’re not in the top 10% of your class, your chances at UCLA and Berkeley are slim to none.</p>

<p>Since application costs are an issue, then look for some privates that offer free online apps.</p>

<p>Yeah so do you know any privates that have free applications AND that would give me a substantial amount of aid based upon my stats? thanks</p>

<p>Chapman U doesn’t have a free online app, but they do meet need.</p>

<p>Maybe someone here knows of some with free online apps. I think there used to be a thread that listed schools with free online apps.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids
Thank you so much for your input i appreciate it greatly,</p>

<p>So does anyone know any of these free-to-apply-to private colleges that will give me good aid based upon my stats?thanks</p>