<p>If cost is a big issue, the most economical way to go is to attend a 2-year UW Extension (Waukesha Co., Fox Valley, Marathon County, Barron County, Marshfield, Marinette, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Washington County, Rock County, Baraboo, and Richland) and then transfer to Madison or another UW School. Transfer spots are reserved at Madison from these 2 year extension schools so transferring won’t be a problem with good grades.</p>
<p>I live in Denmark, so I cannot commute to Madison. It is a 2.5 hour drive. Eau Claire is even longer.</p>
<p>I am currently part-time employed and will be working full time next summer so I expect the sum total of my earnings to bring in at least several thousand dollars.</p>
<p>I am applying for scholarships and may earn one or two thousand dollars at the most.</p>
<p>Does anybody know the mean salary of UW Madison CS graduates? I imagine it would be quite decent.</p>
<p>You have lots of options! UW-Green Bay has a bachelor’s of science in computer science, or you could attend UW-Manitowoc or UW-Fox Valley (all 3 are manageable commutes) and transfer to Madison after the second year. Then you can have the big college experience and not be so far in debt. I think you’ll be accepted to Madison for next fall, if you can manage the costs.</p>
<p>I would also like to go to any in-state college that will give me opportunities for good graduate schools if I do well as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>You can only borrow $5500 per year. To borrow more (risky) YOUR PARENTS would have to qualify and co-sign those loans. Will they do that?</p>
<p>Why oh why do you need to go straight to grad school for CS? Go to the most reasonably priced undergrad, get great grades, learn the most you can on you own, and then find the best job. Your job might even pay for grad school but CS is a field in which you never stop learning or studying on your own.</p>
<p>I do not know if my parents are willing to borrow more than $5500 per year. I will stage a meeting with them immediately.</p>
<p>I don’t plan on going straight to grad school for CS. I may wait a while. I have’t planned that far ahead.</p>
<p>You can borrow 5500. Your parents can borrow much more, perhaps, but we’re encouraging you not to ask them to do that. It’s really bad money sense. READ #18. Stop being so emotional.</p>
<p>Wheelspawn, YOU will take out the loan not your parents. If you take the Stafford, you can take out over four years $5500, $6500, $7500, $7500. You will owe 27K…</p>
<p>@gearmom </p>
<p>I think the OP didn’t word his post right. I think he means that he doesn’t know if his parents will borrow for the rest of his needs. He can only borrow $5500, but many of the mentioned schools will cost a LOT more, but his parents aren’t paying anything.</p>
<p>the OP needs to understand:</p>
<p>HE can borrow $5500 without his parents help.</p>
<p>However, $5500 will not cover any college that he is going to be dorming at. If he is LOW income and he goes to a school that meets need, then it might be affordable. However, with his stats, and as a CS major, I don’t think he’d get into any OOS schools that meet need. </p>
<p>To borrow MORE THAN $5500, his PARENTS will have to either take out Plus Loans (that would be THEIR obligation and they would have to qualify for those loans), or they would have to qualify and co-sign PRIVATE loans and they would be obligated to pay if the OP couldn’t pay them back. It sounds like either the parents won’t take out loans or maybe won’t qualify. Most parents will not take out loans because they can’t afford to pay them back. </p>
<p>As a back up, he needs to apply to a couple of UW schools that he can commute to FROM HOME. Even if they don’t have a super good CS program, he could go for a couple of years and then transfer. </p>
<p>The money isn’t going to fall from the sky.</p>