<p>Hi I am hoping to get some different opinions here.</p>
<p>Also, my family income is below poverty level if that helps. I am just so confused right now. It would great to receive some guidance from anyone who current attends Berkeley, UCLA, or Barnard. I live in California btw. As a dancer and musician, I definitely want to go to New York or LA but..</p>
<p>I plan to major in either business or economics and either dance or music. My goal is to build a performing arts studio for low-income children because I myself was in their position. Or maybe I would fall in love with math and take a completely different route. Who knows? haha</p>
<p>Here is my dilemma</p>
<p>Barnard : NY, wont be able to visit (worried about my non-English speaking parents), great ballet program, 8k per year</p>
<p>UCLA: L.A, I never considered this school because it wasn't "prestigious," not so great ballet/dance program (might have to pay for outside training), full ride in scholarships and grants</p>
<p>Berkeley: 1 hour away from home, "prestigious" school, not so great ballet/dance program (might have to pay for outside training), 9.5k per year (worst deal)</p>
<p>ALSO! I have applied to quite a bit of scholarships. I am thinking I will receive at least 5-8k or at least I hope I do. I am thinking that financials wont be a problem and that these scholarships might cover that remaining cost but I can never be sure.</p>
<p>Firstly, all these schools are prestigious, and are great schools! You have such wonderful choices. Personally, I would choose the types of courses available versus the distance, because after all, it’s what you’re going to do with it. You should consult your parents with what they think, and what they feel comfortable with</p>
<p>Are you saying you only have to pay 8K for Barnard? Normally I would say Berkeley all the way, but if Barnard is giving you this much financial aid (not loans, but grants) and with the Columbia access and NY being the prime arts center, I would say Barnard. Would they pay for you to visit admit day there?</p>
<p>I’m familiar with all 3 schools & my daughter is a Barnard grad - I think that if you can afford Barnard, that is definitely the best choice and may open up incredible opportunities for you that you won’t get elsewhere. </p>
<p>However, I think you need to consider these factors:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>distance from home. I assume you live in California? Generally round trip discount air fare from west/east coast runs $350-$450 - it can be more if you have to fly on short notice. Consider the impact of the travel distance and the impact on the frequency of your returning home. Barnard dorms stay open over holidays like Thanksgiving & spring break – which was nice for my daughter, but maybe not-so-nice if your parents would expect to see you more often. </p></li>
<li><p>other expenses & your willingness to work. Life in NYC can be expensive, especially if you want to take advantage of all the city has to offer. Barnard dance majors and others who are very serious about dance usually supplement by taking classes at outside studios as well as on campus. The city also offers an array of opportunities for earning extra money, in addition to work-study options - but of course you have to be willing to work. My d. almost always had 3 or more part-time jobs to bring in income – I’m including things like babysitting as well as work-study – but the point is paid work was an important part of the equation for her, and I am 100% sure that her actual out-of-pocket was well above COA estimates. (Whereas I think that Berkeley’s COA estimates may be quite generous,). It’s just that there are a lot more “incidental” expenses when you are living in NY. I lived very cheaply in my student days at Berkeley… admittedly a very long time ago – but it is still quite different than NY. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Hi everyone thank you so much for the replies! Yes, my principal is funding my weekend at Barnard’s open house. My parents aren’t too happy about me leaving (they want me to go to San Jose State) but if it comes down to it, the choice is mine.</p>
<p>Yes, I know right? 8k for Barnard? that’s a steal, literally.</p>
<p>Truthfully, I wont be able to fly home at all. I do not think I can afford it (just look at my financial aid package haha). I am currently working 3 jobs this year on top of dance and it is STRESSFUL. That is why UCLA is very tempting, I can focus on my studies. But I am hoping to get an MBA and become an accountant. Oppen a dance studio for low-income children will come much later in life. Which school would best prepare me for an extremely selective grad school?</p>
<p>Again, thanks for the replies. You guys are amazing.</p>
<p>LOL… I guarantee you that it’s a lot cheaper to live in Berkeley than NY! </p>
<p>But I would add that there are a lot of opportunities to earn money in NY. My daughter signed on with Barnard Bartending from the start – there was an initial investment of around $100 for the bartending course, but there were plenty of jobs, great pay-- and once the student is signed on with the agency, the student pays the agency back $10 for every referral, but keeps the rest. D. The babysitting agency works the same way, but doesn’t usually pay as well as the bartending. </p>
<p>
I’d say Barnard, thought it depends on your personality. But I think the Barnard leg up comes from the advising and close relationships of faculty and students. The reason I say that your personality counts is that at a large school like Berkeley it’s a lot harder to get to know profs – and you won’t have the benefit of being assigned a faculty advisor with impressive credentials from the day you arrive --but I would think that there are some undergrads who are very pro-active and outgoing who are able to make those sort of connections at a large UC campus. But it’s harder to do.</p>
<p>Academically - it probably depends somewhat on your choices. You will definitely get the preparation at Barnard - it’s possible that at Berkeley or UCLA it’s more dependent on major. </p>
<p>On the other hand – just to be fair – I think that if your goal is to be an accountant and get an MBA, – Berkeley would be fine. And the Barnard dance program doesn’t offer anything you can’t find at local studios – it’s a great college dance program, but there are plenty of studios where you can take classes – and it’s not as if you are hoping for a career as a professional dancer. Maybe you could get a part-time job teaching dance classes at one of the local studio – I know that when my d. was a little girl, one of the larger studios where she danced was often hiring college students to teach. </p>
<p>Of course LA has plenty of opportunities-- but I think if you are making a decision based on $$, then Berkeley would be more economical, especially with your parents in San Jose, because you can get all over the place without needing a car.</p>
<p>$8K is still a lot of money for someone whose parents are below poverty level – and it could be hard on everyone if you are far away and can’t afford to come home over winter break. </p>