<p>I'm planning on going to a 4 year university in my state as a community college transfer. I had a rough year during my senior year because of disagreements with my parents. They refused to help me out with college (application fees, FASFA, giving parental info, EVERYTHING) because I didn't want to be a doctor and do a pre-med route. I picked engineering instead, which is sometimes more difficult than a pre-med route, but that wasn't good enough. I don't think they're educated enough about college and majors and stuff to trust me fully. Sigh...anyway...</p>
<p>This past year (during my second year of Community College) my parents cooperated and finally compromised on my college education...so I got their info to file the FAFSA and everything. We've filed for next year also, and I'm eligible for federal aid. This past year I had a pell of $1000, plus grants to cover the other portion of tuition and fees. I haven't been able to save much because all of my working money goes toward paying my share of rent & a small portion of bills & my own expenses for school plus groceries and gas and such. I've applied to four schools, and I do have a top school, but if it comes down to it, I'll go with the cheapest option.</p>
<p>I'm afraid that with my EFC and no savings I won't be able to transfer to a 4 year university. My parents have a decent income, but they have a lot of debt, can't save anything, have terrible spending habits, and just won't contribute to my education. I know I can borrow up to $7500 each semester, which I probably will have to do...but I fear it won't be enough in addition to whatever aid I get.</p>
<p>What is the cost of your in-state school, and how much aid will you be getting? Have you received an award notice yet?</p>
<p>If there is a state school in driving distance, go there. Living at home rather than in a dorm/apartment will be a significant savings.</p>
<p>Do NOT borrow $7,500 per semester. You will leave with $60,000 in debt. It’s best not to borrow more than $7,500 per year.</p>
<p>The Stafford Loan limit is $7,500 per YEAR for a Jr and Sr, not per semester.</p>
<p>Are you paying for rent and food while living at home?</p>
<p>The above info is right…you can only borrow 7500 per YEAR.</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>What state university can you commute to?</p>
<p>mom2collegekids’ questions are most relevant. The problem is that all you are guaranteed to get is the $7500 Stafford on your own. Everything else is up to the the colleges and most schools are not generous to transfers. Unless your parents are willing to subsidize you, or your colleges give you sufficient financial aid, paying for a boarding college is going to be difficult or involve huge loans which are likely to have to be co signed. For those who do not get a lot of financial aid or merit awards, or whose parents are not willing or able to pay, commuting to college is the only feasible way to get that degree.</p>
<p>You also should consider studying part-time. If you move to the city where the college/university that you want to attend is located, you can get a job that will pay for your living expenses and take one or two classes each term. Yes it will take longer to get your degree, but you will finish your degree! Better yet, if the college/university offers its employees free tuition for a certain number of courses each year, then you can get any kind full time staff job there and finish your degree for free.</p>
<p>Ooops, big mistake! I knew it was $7500 a year. I haven’t taken any loans yet so I was planning on getting what I am eligible for now…$15k for both years. Seems managable to me.</p>
<p>I am applying to schools in Virginia. I am applying to VaTech, UVa, and JMU. They are the three closest schools to me, but not commutable…at least I dont think. The closest is about 90 minutes or so. I havent gotten any acceptances yet, & the waiting is terrible. Apparently I’ll find out in April and my package will arrive by May based on what other transfers have told me.</p>
<p>For all schools, the COA is between $22,000 and $24,000. UVa meets full need, but I am unsure if I can get in…and even then, my need isn’t that much, is it? VaTech is my top choice, though, for its engineering program and the major I want to go into.</p>
<p>I pay a small portion of rent ($200/month) and am responsible for food, gas, etc. My parents don’t give me any money, and haven’t since I graduate HS.</p>
<p>Are there any negatives to studying part-time besides the fact it takes longer? I doubt I could work the same 25-30 hrs/week I do now plus handle the upper level engineering classes, anyway. I was only planning on taking on maybe 12-15 credits per semester instead of the recommended 15-18 credits.</p>
<p>*I was only planning on taking on maybe 12-15 credits per semester instead of the recommended 15-18 credits. *</p>
<p>Try to do the 15-17 hours per semester… Taking less will extend your years of college, which means more debt. however, if you have to take less credits because you have to work more, then I guess you’ll have no choice.</p>
<p>Others can say whether you can borrow 7500 for the 5th year as well. </p>
<p>Do the VA schools have any rules about transfers and how long they will get aid? </p>
<p>At least you’ll have the 200 per month for yourself now.</p>
<p>With a PELL of $1000 and loans of $7500, there is still a gap between what you may get and and what you need. I don’t think your schools, other than UVA meet 100% of need which could be a problem. </p>
<p>In your case, having taken no loans at all, it might not be so terrible to borrow what you can, some with your parent’s cosigning, and get that degree. You only have two more years to go. You might be able to bring down the costs by living frugally, finding work once you get to the schools.</p>
<p>I had a friend who did a co-op program in engineering to pay for his school. He worked a semester, went to school a semester. I think it might have taken him a little longer but in the end he had a degree and valuable work experience in engineering.</p>
<p>"Are there any negatives to studying part-time besides the fact it takes longer? I doubt I could work the same 25-30 hrs/week I do now plus handle the upper level engineering classes, "</p>
<p>Back in the last century, I went back to college in a new field of study, and worked while I completed those courses. Since I was working my way through that program, I got to know a lot of other students who were either full-time university employees who were studying part-time or part-time students who worked 30 to 40 hours each week at student jobs on campus or in off campus jobs. I know for a fact, that this can be done.</p>
<p>However, if you are enrolled in less than full-time status, you may not qualify for certain kinds of aid. You need to check the payment system at each university. Can you enroll as a part-time student and only pay for the credits you are taking? Probably you can since these are public universities. Figure out if it is likely that you can earn enough to live on and pay the cost of one or two courses each term. Remember, since you would be living and working there, you would almost certainly be able to take classes during the summer term(s) as well.</p>
<p>It’s tough to say what a student can handle. An upper level engineering course load is a tough one, and I would hat e to impose it on my kids along with a work requirement. But people do it. It’s not going to be easy. Whatever you end up doing, it might be wise to take a bit of a hit on the costs that first year where ever you end up going and look at what you can do to cut next year’s or even semester’s expenses. Until you get to a school and see how things work, it can be difficult to plan things.</p>
<p>If I were you, I’d try to do at least some work. As an engineering student, you may have a lot of chances to tutor math. I was able to do a lot of tutoring in symbolic logic, which people who couldn’t do calculus had to do. So we had a lot of students. But so did the math and engineering types, who could tutor calculus. I think you will have some chances to work at least 60 hours per month if you position yourself well to do so. Such work is much less emotionally taxing, in my opinion. Also you can go to the math and engineering departments and offer to work as a grader, depending on your university.</p>
<p>I had a grand total of $900/year contribution from my mother and I did it. Tuition was lower then, but still around $4,500 and I didn’t qualify for the Pell.</p>
<p>I can’t say I had the best grades, though. :(</p>