<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>It would be great if I had some opinion on this, and it would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>Okay, so here's the story.</p>
<p>I'm currently in my second semester of community college and doing fairly well, getting mostly As and maybe a high B. I'm quite ahead because of all of the credits I recieved from taking AP tests in high school (what do ya know, all that work DID pay off!), and from the classes I took last semester. My plan is to transfer into a university for Fall of 2011. Right now have a 3.3 (Dang Calc killed me >.<) but seeing how I'm doing in class right now, I'm projecting my GPA to be at least a 3.6 by Fall 2010 and only higher from there (I know it's a bit of a while to guess that far, but I have goals for myself, I managed about a 4.4-4.6 all through high school so I think /I can do it (:). </p>
<p>Anyway, my absolute goal is to get accepted and go to UCI as a Psychology and Social Behavior major. I am planning on doing the TAG, and I've already met with counselors a few times to discuss my education plan. I am one of the lucky few who has been able to get into the classes I need, both for IGETC/possible schools. In the beginning, my education plan fit for CSUSM, SDSU, UCLA, and UCI. Now it has been shifting, considering SDSU refuses to admit people from where I live, and UCLA seems like a bit of a reach (plus it's ridiculousy hard and seems more into research for psychology, rather than what I would like to do (counseling, helping people, etc.). Crossing those two off, I have UCI and CSUSM. UCI is where I REALLY want to go, and in a sense, it's my "dream school". It's a great, safe campus, woth wonderful people, faculty, classes, and they have a major that seems to be perfect for me! There more I read and look int it, the more I fall in love with it. Then it's CSUSM...:( which can be considered my safety, since I can commute, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a UC. But really...I have no desire for it. I wanted to have that college lifestyle, the dorms, living in campus, roommates, classes, clubs, invovement, being away from home, all of that, even if it would be for only two years. Do get me wrong, I'm sure CSUSM is a great school but I don't want it to be like CC, where I go to class, make a friend or two each semester, join a club, and go home and start the process over the next day.</p>
<p>And I bet many of you can guess the dilemma....MONEY! -___-</p>
<p>With the economy in the crapper and living on one parent's salary (about $ 73,000 +/- 2k)with a younger brother, money is tight. It's fine right now with me going to a CC, but what about a year/year and a half from now? I highly doubt the salary is going to go any higher, if anything, it's lower. Also, no college savings plan whatsoever. AND we're in that weird area where we're making to much for a certain Cal Grant (forgot which one, involves high GPA and salary) and wayyy too much for the other one (almost strictly low income qualify). I'm not an athlete, so no chance in money there. I'm not a top student but I'm no idiot either, so I'm doubting about any merit aid.</p>
<p>Basically 2 questions: How can I pay? What should I do?</p>
<p>Paying for CSUSM is a lot less problematic than UCI, but if I get into UCI...? (though I guess that would depend on FAFSA/possible school aid...)</p>
<p>If I get into both, should I just suck it up and go to CSUSM, relieving burden from my dad's wallet and needing mimimum loans? Or should I fight and do anything possible, high debt/loans included to go to where I feel I would belong and will help me more in the long run?</p>
<p>Any opinions, even not relating to money, is welcome! Anything about either schools, their programs, and everything under the sun is open for answers. If anyone is interested for more info (though I'm pretty sure I covered quite a bit here), feel free to PM me :]</p>
<p>I'll be trying to check up on this thread as often as possible, and thanks again!</p>