You are encouraging this student to take out loans for undergrad to the max- when in the last week, OP has asked about med school, dental school, exploring astronomy and physics, hasn’t yet gotten an AA or come up with a concrete plan for a Bachelor’s degree AND has family responsibilities which won’t allow him/her to shadow/volunteer/to explore these various fields?
OP- do not even THINK of unsubsidized loans until you have a plan, know exactly which of your credits will transfer and which won’t (I am worried that you think a credit is a credit is a credit, which they will not be at a four year university- anything that is remedial HS work is NOT going to transfer). It’s great that you have lots of interests! But there are tens of thousands of people in the US- today- who have a boatload of loans, no clear career path which will allow them to pay them off and do things like a buy a car, buy a house, etc. And the way in which you refer to friends’ situation as if they are somehow relevant to yours worries me.
Do not even think about unsub loans in your situation…
There is a six month grace period after graduation. After that, loan payments become due unless the student is enrolled in another degree seeking program…like a masters or professional school.
@napnemeanix i have heard that UIC is a better university choice than Northeastern Illinois. I have no personal familiarity with either school…but hoping others from Illinois will chime in.
OP, please meet with you CC advisor this week about credit transfer. It’s likely that UIC (or any of the IIlinois publics) will accept far more of your CC credits than a private school like Northeastern (in Chicago). I don’t recommend Northeastern because it is relatively expensive and has poorer outcomes than many other schools in Chicagoland.
A student may only receive federal financial aid if enrolled as a regular degree seeking student. OP will not be eligible for either Pell or federal loans for random classes. I agree with others who have suggested meeting with an advisor … at the four year school you plan to attend.
@Mwfan1921 I’m assuming he’s referring to Northeastern Illinois University (public; tuition fees around $11500). As for the reputation of the Illinois publics, I’ll leave those recommendations to others. https://www.neiu.edu/about
Thanks for correcting on Northeastern Illinois U. UIC is a much better option academically speaking, has more resources than NEIU (clubs, career center, academic supports) and a much better graduation rate (whether you look at 4, 6, or 8 year rates).
One other benefit of choosing UIC (again pending the credit transfer issue) is that even though all Illinois publics offer MAP grants, there have been years that the State of Illinois didn’t fully fund those, which left students in the lurch. BUT the UI system schools (UIUC, UIC, and UIS) have historically funded any MAP grant shortfall for their students.
OP should qualify for a MAP grant, but the time to get one for next academic year (fall 2021) may have passed. Another thing that OP should talk with their CC adviser about. Monetary Award Program | MAP Grants
I think you should limit loans as much as possible, and if you have any loan questions ask @kelsmom. If you work in the summer instead of taking classes and save as much as you can you might be able to reduce the amount you need to borrow.
As a former Pell student I’m going to strongly advise you to find a major that will allow you to support yourself after your bachelor’s degree without additional education. That would give you time to think about what you really want to do. It isn’t wise to choose a career just because you think it will allow you to earn $300k/year (especially when the median is listed at ~$150k).
If you can’t complete the requirements (shadowing, volunteering, leadership activities) that would make you competitive for dental school then it might not be a suitable career choice for you right now anyway. You need a bachelor’s in something that will make you immediately employable, and you need to get it before your aid runs out.
I think you’re approaching this from the wrong direction. Think about the kinds of things you like to do and the subjects you enjoy taking and work from there. Students who don’t like math probably wouldn’t enjoy engineering or computer science. Those who don’t like writing probably wouldn’t like English, etc. Find things you like, see what kinds of degrees use those skills, then pick one that will allow you to support yourself without requiring massive debt.
Why are you so afraid to see a transfer advisor???
They are employed by the community college and universities to help students at the school.
They know how to help you. They have resources, links, scholarship information, job information and career resources.
Asking a bunch of strangers, on the internet, to plot and confirm your future-that you’ve done the right thing- is not going to help you.
Making excuses to stay forever at the CC is not going to work.
You WILL run out of PELL money because the government will not support your need to keep taking random courses with no end goal.
[b]A CC and a university are NOT interchangeable![/b]
For a majority of professional careers, you will need a university degree.
A university has to be willing to accept you. Anyone can go to a CC. If you take too many courses at the CC, the university can REJECT you.
Also:
Your friend isn’t you.
Your friend doesn’t work at your CC.
Your friend doesn’t work at the universities in Illinois.
Stop making new threads when you aren’t answering questions.
Go to the universities web sites: READ, READ, READ.
Go see your transfer advisor.
Make a virtual appointment with the UIC transfer advisors.
Make a virtual appointment with the Northern Illinois transfer advisors.
If you don’t, do this, ^ you will run out of time will and end up with random courses that won’t lead to any goal, career, or money.
I have not taken any student loans and will not consider taking out loans.
It’s the same theory for a car. I wanted to get a car but the question is where would I get gas and insurance money plus the stuff to maintenance for the car such as oils etc.
I wouldn’t take out loans until I’m employable and making a decent amount of money to afford a car and maybe manage a small amount of debt.
How will you pay for UIC then (or any other 4 year school)? UIC is roughly $16K in tuition and fees. Your Pell would be $6.3K and I don’t know if you can get still get MAP money or not for the Fall. Even if you could, that won’t fully close the gap. UIC transfer apps for Fall 2021 for many programs are due April 1.
I’m trying to figure out if I can work and pursue a BS degree.
I just need some time for my other family members to cheap in like take my shift in taking care of the others while I am finally free to work on my own and pursue a BS. I’m in no rush to be honest have all the time in the world
Since I can’t post images yet I have to be on a higher level user.
But it does say
‘Institutions in Illinois grant two primary transferable Associates degrees because the Illinois Articulation Initiative general education package is part of both (The Associate in Arts/AA and the Associate in Science/AS degree). The AA, has a full general education package (GECC) fully incorporated. When you complete an AA degree and transfer, your general education requirements should be waived at the next 4-year IAI participating institution you choose to attend. The AS degree is specifically designed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, areas of study. This degree has a modified general education package which allows students in these demanding fields the opportunity to remain on track with their cohorts at the 4-year institutions and complete their general education courses after they transfer to their institution of choice. Under the AS model, students will take one additional math and science course each. The GECC package remains intact; however, a student will complete the package upon transfer to a university.
Students seeking the Associates in Engineering Science (AES) and Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) options should consult with with their College Advisor).’
True, but by the time you figure out what you want to do, a university may not accept you and you will have to pay CASH-out of pocket because PELL won’t pay you for a lifetime of courses at the CC.
What you don’t seem to understand is the difference: a university can reject you. You have to present yourself to university admissions offices as a viable candidate. If you come in with, say, 120 units, from a CC, they are going to wonder why you have so many units and why it’s taken you so long to get out of the CC. Additionally, if you need financial aid, they are going to fund the student who is efficient. You may not be worth it to them to admit you. It’s their choice.
Read all of the posts on this site about students being rejected from their state universities.
I’ve had some former students do the exact same thing you are doing: Taking classes at a CC every semester with no plan to leave the CC.
They build up their unit count, and then they are SHOCKED that their money has run out.
The federal government, state public CC’s and universities have a finite amount of dollars for each student.
The CC’s expect their university-caliber students to transition out to a UNIVERSITY after two years. If you are not a university-caliber student and can’t decide on an area of study, why would ANY university admit you?
I never said I want to pursue a 120 CH at a CC that is too much and a waste.
A few extra courses yes but the rest I can finish at a Uni.
I meant some Uni have 120 CH such as if a student enrolls at a Uni and does not go directly to CC due to maybe CC doesn’t exist in their location and only Uni exists.
It’s split into two parts they have to finish their gens and eds which total 60 CH and the remaining 60 CH will be finally university level and finish the remaining courses.
I think it’s called get your bachelor’s degree in less then 4 years if I remember correctly.
I’ve been reading people’s post on FB and most students who are very skilled got rejected from Tuft Uni or other Uni’s due to some reason. I’ve seen the rejection letters. they have all the stuff you mentioned, experience knowledge, volunteer work and still got rejected.
If my plan A won’t work I might as well move into Plan B get a job in nursing or dental hygiene and then maybe think about Grad school.
If my plan A won’t work I might as well move into Plan B get a job in nursing or dental hygiene and then maybe think about Grad school.
You said this on another thread:
I can speak to my advisor and ask them if it’s possible to squeeze in those courses, they might give me a chance, since I wasted my electives all thanks to that English and math dilemma.
This is the problem that concerns me. Your courses have to count toward a degree. Taking random courses that don’t necessarily count toward your degree is a waste. You need to sit with an advisor and create a solid plan for finishing a degree. Can you finish a degree in nursing or dental hygiene in the time you have left? Which courses do you need? Can you get them at UIC?
You cannot go to Grad school unless you have a university degree.
Dental Hygiene is not a university-level career. It’s a vocational career. A “trade”. Nursing to grad school would require a BSN.
Grad school requires admission and it’s even more selective than a university; it means having received a
*Bachelor of arts/BA or a Bachelor of science/BS
*Taken a GRE Test with high results,
*University-level experience/internships in a major specific to the Graduate school.
Do you yourself a big favor and get off of this website and start looking at the university requirements for transfer in your state. The requirements will be listed on their webpages.
