<p>Cali, I understand your concern, the cost of private university is just insane these days. I have argued on these boards that you can make a pretty good living as an architect. Five years from now when you graduate I would expect starting salaries to be in the $60k range. However I would not want to start my career with $100k+ in student debt, it will take a lot of years to get out from under that rock. Do a budget for what it would take to pay taxes, living expenses, and student loans on a $60k salary and figure out how much debt you can afford to take on. USC is a fine school, but so are some of the other public universities in the California system.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your insight. I couldn't agree more that taking on debt upon graduation is quite a burden while trying to begin my first architecture job.</p>
<p>My most recent endeavor is trying to figure out how much federal aid would be able to help me, and the kind of scholarships I could get. </p>
<p>I do realize I have other options, but the most efficient, finishing BA in anything at SDSU, and then applying for a Masters, would still put me at 5, 5.5 yrs out (just no where near as much debt) I am just frustrated that I would be doing 2 more years (maybe 2.5 for not finishing on time) of a BA study when I could be starting arch studies.</p>
<p>My other option would be to drop out completely and go to a community college for 2 yrs and hope that Berk or CalPoly etc accepts me 2nd yr so I could finish in 3 at their school. But the idea of going back to a cc kinda seems like a backwards step, though everyone obliges it would save me tonnnns of dollars.</p>
<p>I really wasnt expecting to get into USC, at all, so this is just an outlet of my train of thoughts. ohy vey</p>
<p>Cali,
Look into Cuesta a CC in SLO. I believe they still have a 2 year program set up that transfers directly into CalPoly BArch as a 3rd yr student. A Prof at CP told my son that the kids that go through Cuesta are completely up to speed once they transfer, he should know as he teaches at both schools. (Sorry but I can't remember his name.) That will get you a BArch in 5yrs, and way cheap. Maybe less if some of your course work transfers to Cuesta.
Last I heard UCBerk does not have a BArch program, if so, you'll have to add a MArch to the CC+Berk degree.</p>