17, Rising senior.
New Jersey Resident.
Italian, Irish, and about 15% Spanish. (I don’t think I would qualify for Hispanic scholarships).
3.4 GPA, standard classes. (May be higher, I wasn’t challenged in my old school)
1410 SAT (380 math, 490 reading, 560 writing). I’m retaking them in fall after tutoring, aiming for a 1500-1600+.
Aiming for a master’s in social work. (MSW)
Extracurricular:
Clubs: Yearbook, community service, self-defense, cooking, knitting. (These are from my old high school, and I transferred in Dec. of junior year. So, I’m not sure these will count).
Volunteering: Volunteered with two animal organizations, and one English-teaching website online. I still need to get the hours confirmed.
I’m a dancer, September will begin my 2nd consecutive year. (I danced from ages 3-11, & took a break until 2014).
Starting my job at Subway July 13th.
College choices:
Reaches: San Diego State, Cal State LB.
Match: Long Beach City College.
Safety: Cal State LA.
NJ Schools: Rutgers, NJCU. (These are the only affordable NJ schools with social work that I could find).
I’ve been getting estimates of about $10k-$20k less than actual tuition, even as OOS. I will need financial aid. I’m in a single family household, & a first generation college student.
I want to be in an urban area on either coast, no mid-western or “rural” schools. California is my preferred state, as I’m hoping to live there post-college. NYC is my second choice city. I’d rather not stay in-state, my parent may be moving to relocate to CA with me.
Long Beach City college is not a 4 year college but a California community college. You have been told in your many other posts, you will be charged OOS tuition rates at all the California schools regardless if your Mom moves here with you. Your financial circumstances seem to indicate you are in need of FA which you will not get at any California publics. You will be eligible for Federal aid but still will not cover most of these costs. How much can you and your Mom afford? and how much Federal aid are you eligible? The CSU’s price tag as an OOS applicant with tuition only would be $6452 regular tuition and OOS fees would be $9672 (for 26 semester units/year). You still need somewhere to live in CA, which is not cheap, money for books and general living expenses. Your Stats do not qualify you for any merit scholarships, so I think CA is just unreachable dream.
@Gumbymom No dream is an “unreachable dream”, and especially not because of someone’s financial status. I know I won’t get much financial aid at publics. I’m also starting a job in two weeks, so I’ll have money saved, as other family members do for my tuitions.
That’s only a total of $16,124, which is less than I’d be paying for any NJ state school, except one that’s around 10K. I’m eligible for a total of $12,190. But, $5500 of that is a loan, and $1465 is work-study. So, with just the Pell Grant, my total would be $10,899. The same as my state school!
I would rent an apartment with other college students, as many students do, which is much cheaper then living on-campus. There’s a website specifically for this, and I’ve seen rates as low as $400 a month.
Also, I’m looking into Long Beach City College for my first two years, and I’ve gotten a NPC of $6,702. I’d receive $2,823 from this college. The Pell Grant is $5,225. A total of $1,477. Less than my community college, and no loans needed!
If going to California is such an unreachable dream, why don’t you recommend some cheaper schools than these? There’s certainly none in NJ.
I looked up some schools that have BSW programs - probably a good idea to get that degree before your MSW. Degrees in Psych or Social Work would work too though.
In California:
San Francisco State
Cal State Sacramento: open admission
NYC:
New York University - probably a reach
Metropolitan College of NY and LIU Brooklyn - most likely safeties
CUNY York - target?
Others:
Wheelock University, Boston - If you’re looking for a big city, Boston is super amazing. Safety school.
Seattle U & U of Washington - Both target/reach range I think, but Seattle is a lovely West coast city. Although if you want to go to California you probably don’t like rain…
Best of luck! 
@dragonfly26 I used to dream of NYU in middle school, haha. It’s very selective and expensive, though, and I’ve heard many students are “snooty”. I’m also considering BMCC and CUNY Hunter, although Hunter is selective. Boston would be nice, but I don’t like snow, haha. I don’t mind rain sometimes, but I prefer the sunshine. Thank you!
@newjerseygirl98 One thing to take into account is that the estimates are not always accurate and do not always match up with what each school decides to give you for your financial aid package. Unfortunately, your SAT is quite low which will keep you out of the running for merit aid from most of these schools.
Unfortunately, your SAT score and average GPA will keep likely keep you out of your reach schools since you are OOS. Furthermore, Rutgers (new brunswick) is the most selective school on your list and will be a big reach for you even though you are instate. If possible, you should attend a CC in New Jersey to save money and improve your profile. If your family does move to CA then attend a the cheapest CC there and transfer after two years.
Lastly, you do not need a bachelors in social work to get into a MSW. I have actually never heard of anyone with a Bachelors in social work. Most people major in psychology, sociology, family studies, etc. So don’t limit your schools selection.
@invader71 I know the estimates aren’t always accurate, but I doubt it will be much of a difference, as we are a low-income family. What would the minimum score be for this aid? Although I wasn’t expecting to get aid based on my SATs.
I know Rutgers is selective, but luckily for me this isn’t my dream school. My community college (Bergen) is terrible, and many students have issues transferring. My mom has even said it would be extremely easy for me, so we’re not considering it. The other state schools are pretty expensive, and they’re definitely more than Long Beach City College, which is my most realistic choice as of now.
I don’t think there’s a BSW either, haha. I think a bachelor in human services would be most accurate.
@newjerseygirl98 If anything expect the estimates to be lower than the actual amount that you will end up paying. The problem with public universities is that the tend not to give much or any aid to OOS applicants. Although you are low-income, don’t expect to get much aid other than federal aid.
I would consider looking at other community colleges in New Jersey. As long as you do well the first two years (regardless of how easy it is for you) you will be able to save a ton of money and transfer to your dream school. If you went to Rutgers were you planning on commuting? Because if not you it will cost you around 25k a year. Have you looked at Montclair University or William Paterson University?
@invader71 I know they are often lower, unfortunately. I’m not expecting much more, I was only given an estimate of around $2K from the colleges. I received a $12K federal aid estimate, which is pretty good.
My estimate for Rutgers with board was around 20K, which isn’t terrible. I guess I could commute, but I would prefer not to, and New Jersey traffic is TERRIBLE. Unfortunately, Montclair doesn’t have social work. I’ve visited the campus, although not on a tour, and it’s pretty nice! For WP, I have a $19K estimate. and they do have social work. I could definitely commute to this school, but I know SO many people who go there. I can’t wait to start over in a new state!
Do you think my LBCC estimate would be accurate? At 1.4K, this tuition is fantastic. Even without financial aid, it would be 6K, which is still less than any good college in NJ.
@Invader71 is correct, you will get federal aid, but State aid will not be forthcoming and OOS rates will follow you when and if you transfer. Each university will rate your OOS status according to how their university interprets rationale for state entry. The Governor just signed legislation to permit more resident HS entries.
@Gumbymom and NCalRent have provided great advice. Sorry to be harsh, but the thing is that we live in California, you don’t; we have children attending the State, UC and private schools, and we pay their fees, so we know the costs of living here associated within our own state. It is an expensive ordeal to go to school here and live here if you are a non-resident with limited funds. Worse if you plan on going into a low paying occupation of social work in exchange for a minimum of 7 years of education. It’s not all beaches and sun and you are very naive if you think everything is rosy here.
Yes, you may find some rentals for $400 per month but they could be in Watts, Cerritos, East LA, etc. We have barrios, 'hoods, and some not so nice places, just like some areas of Jersey. Public transportation is difficult and SoCal relies on cars; this takes a big chunk of the budget since California and Hawaii have the most expensive gas rates. The California community colleges typically don’t provide housing. It is rare and if, by chance, some is provided, it’s usually subsidies for international students.
Be aware that you have to be realistic and assume that the cost estimates are a lot lower than what you will actually pay. A dream is fine, as long as you can pay for it.
Oh, and don’t even assume that you will qualify for any “Hispanic” scholarships; we’ve got that covered with 51% of the population in our state being of the Hispanic variety-mostly Mexican-American kids with ancestors from Old California and across the border.
@newjerseygirl98 you seem pretty stuck on Long Beach. Why not take a gap year, move out here to LB and see if it is everything you hope it to be. Work and try to save some money. Maybe see if you can get residency. THEN go to college out here if you really think it is for you. I get the feeling that location is more important than education at this point.
Simmons College in Boston has a social work program; I don’t know about merit or need-based aid, however.
The aid typically already packages the loans and pell. The costs are “out d pocket”, in addition to pell etc.
What about Whittier, LaverneU…?
@auntbea Thank you for being honest without being rude. I do know about high costs of living, although I don’t know about all of the fees, which seem to keep piling on. I’ve also heard often that you will pay more than estimated. I meant I would split a $1200 with two other students, for $400. That’s much cheaper than living on-campus. and helpful b/c at least one of my choices doesn’t have dorms. I will have more money than expected saved now that I have a job, though. I have heard that I’ll need a car, too, but I plan to buy one before college. Do you think it would help if I took a gap year?
@Lknomad Education is important! I’ve read that LBCC is a great community college, unlike my own. I’m beginning work now, so I will have some saved up. But, I am thinking of taking a gap year, too. Although people here have criticized that, too, saying it won’t get me residency.
@gandalf78 Simmons is good, but 36K a year. I saw them at a college fair.
@MYOS1634 Whittier is 41K, even though I’d probably be paying around half of that, based off my recent estimates, so maybe. LaverneU is only 18K a year, and boarding is only around 5k. I like the location, too. I’ll look into this one, thanks!
Look, your scores are pretty low for merit-based aid. I know you want to be on a coast and in a city, but you might consider the middle of the country. You’d be able to get Hispanic scholarships more easily. I don’t think that even with an increased SAT score you’ll get much merit-based aid. Personally, I would say NYU is completely out of reach. Maybe take a gap year or two and go to a community college where you live to be able to save money and take classes that will transfer. I’m fairly certain that you won’t appreciate that suggestion based on your response to another of the commenters, but I really think that it would give you time to bring your application up to the place it needs to be to get aid to live in the cities you’re stuck on.
But if you decide to look elsewhere, the Midwest and South (Tennessee, Kentucky, etc) are cheap to live in. That’s where I would look. You can always move to your dream location after you’re educated and employed.
Make sure you know what happens if your mom moves somewhere with you to try to get residency and it doesn’t work out. Will you have lost residency in NJ & be OOS everywhere?
@newjerseygirl98 I am from NJ myself. Do you live near a train station, you should be able to get to Rutgers New Brunswick easily via public transportation. If you liked Montclair then you should apply. As i said earlier you don’t need to major in social work to get an MSW. To save money, you complete your undergrad instate then go to CA for your MSW.
With regards to WP, college is a big enough place where you can simply avoid the people you know from hs and start over. If the price is good do not discount it.
I am not sure how tuition and financial aid work at CCs, especially as an OOS. I think that it would be kinda silly to go to a community college OOS.
@biochemgirl67 I don’t think I would be able to get that aid, either. I know NYU is out of reach, but I wasn’t really considering NYU. It’s super expensive, and very selective. I’m not considering the college because so many students have issues transferring, because their classes don’t match up to those in many universities. I would consider a gap year, though. I would be MISERABLE in the south, I can’t stand rural areas. My aunt lives in the “rural” part of NJ, which would be considered suburban in the south, and I don’t like that area. It would probably be better for me to stay in-state, at least for a year or two. Although the in-state isn’t that cheap, I’m still getting higher estimates. But, if I went to Montclair in NJ, it would be very cheap.
@invader71 I live right next to a train station! I’d probably have to transfer, though. That’s a much better idea than sitting in traffic, thank you. I think Montclair would be my best choice in NJ. You were right about the MSW part, they do have a B. in Family/Child Studies. My net cost is actually only $5,501, and it says I’m eligible for 2 federal loans, so my direct expenses would only be $1! I know it sounds silly, but it seems to be my cheapest route if I’m going OOS immediately.
@newjerseygirl98 I think you should definitely keep Montclair University in mind when applying to schools. If your parents do move to CA, you can always complete one or two years at Montclair(at a relatively inexpensive cost) and transfer to a four year university in CA.
CC is definitely your cheapest route or option if you want to immediately go OOS but it might not be your BEST option.