<p>My dad has told me that I can live with him when I go back to colorado in 2009, for free. However, his house is 20 miles away from my school and he and his wife are smokers (of all kinds...). I haven't been allowed to see my dad since I was 6 and in a way, I am almost worried that if I am around him too much, I do not know what I would do if we actually got into a serious argument. Also, my car only gets 10 mpg (conversion van) (even though i'm considering getting a $500 escort/second car just to save the cash) and I would have to go 40 miles a day just to get to school and back. In his house (he lives out in the middle of nowhere) I will not even be able to get my own internet connection (he can only get one connection and that is dialup) unless I pay $1000 up front for the dish and installation and $100 a month for satellite internet. I'm not sure if I would be better off living in a dorm than I would be free riding at home. </p>
<p>The tuition is $4000/semester and I should get a 50+% scholarship. The rest I could cover with a part time job .</p>
<p>However, a double occupancy dorm (i would never want a single, let alone be able to afford it) would cost just as much as tuition since I would also have to get a meal plan. I do not know if I could get a scholarship to cover that since most of the school's scholarships are state-residency and minority status based. </p>
<p>Which do you think would be better in the end?</p>
<p>There should be jobs on campus that you can get, or at least in the nearby town. If your dad lives so out in the middle of nowhere then it might cost you more in gas to get to and from your work than would be worth it. Also remember that student loans are an option. 2009 is a ways away, too, would it be possible to start saving up for housing now?</p>
<p>DORM!!!!! I personally wouldn't want to live with a smoker of anything. And besides, it's good to get away from your parents especially if they're obsessive control-freaky asian parents.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and sell that van and buy a prius or something. 10mpg is just...horrible :)</p>
<p>Why not check how expensive apartments and shared houses are around campus? It may be cheaper than living in the dorms, though this varies from school to school.</p>
<p>That is really sweet of your dad. But you said you haven't seen him in 10+ years. Living with them will be very different from just e-mailing and talking on the phone- a lot less privacy than you'd expect. For example, when you're e-mailing him, he wouldn't know that you like to do it while wearing your underwear (jk) but that's just an example. For starters, I'd live in the dorm for your first year, as pricey it is to you, only for the experience and getting to know your classmates. Also, the dorm fee isn't really all that much more expensive than any other school. You got a tuition break, that's all. You'll also save a bit more gas since your van isn't all that great.</p>
<p>Then after a semester/year, you can re-evaulate your situation and how well you get along with your dad, both of you under the same roof. Also for your dad to figure out how to be a dad to a 18 year old who isn't a child anymore :) It's not the same as caring for a 6 year old!</p>
<p>equine: my dad's town is the nearest town outside of alamosa! And I would definately plan on doing work-study as is, but I would have other expenses outside of housing alone. I am only 15 and in my state, I can start working full-time when I am 16 but even though I can legally start working at 15, no one will hire kids at my age except for my favorite store nearby (thrift store) that has no current openings. I have no other source of income except for $100 in giftcards from both sides of the family at christmas. </p>
<p>Riptide: I know that the average CCer probably has a choice of living in an apartment, living in a dorm, or whatever because they can afford more than $200 but I can't and thus, I have to consider money in the jist of all of this too. </p>
<p>Futurenystudent: As it is, I live with 5 smokers right now, as well as 2 other people, in a 3 bedroom 900 sq ft house, and I sleep in the living room which is the smoking room in the house. I'm used to the smoking. But at night I have to go sit outside while the people inside smoke because I cannot take it. I most definately would not like to have this continue as an adult. A prius right now would easily cost me $10,000 used. Yeah, not gonna happen. My car is worth $500 max.</p>
<p>JennyWren: I have to live on campus unless I am living with my parents that live no more than 20 miles away (my dad lives exactly 23 so I'm not even positive yet if they would let me live with him) for the first 2 years. After that I'd be more than happy to rent a room in a shared house-and were talking like $125 a month with utilities!</p>
<p>if I were you I'd wait to make a decision. you still have several years and a lot can change. can you visit your dad and the school one of these summers to get to know the family and the drive? that would help you make a decision.
but you really have time.</p>
<p>But given your situation (or at least the way you described it), you'd probably be better off on a dorm, but it appears that the kneejerk reaction on these boards whenever the whole live at home/dorm issue is brought up is to automatically recommend a dorm, even if you live close to home, have good relations with your parents/family, value your freedom, etc etc.</p>
<p>i live 16 miles away from my house (an hour's drive in LA) and refuse to live at home, despite my parents' protests. therefore, i am completely paying for myself this year, so i could no way afford a dorm. especially as a transfer, i feel like i missed out by living in an apt. if you're only 15, i wouldn't stress about it yet. i didn't have much savings when i started and i'm getting by by working a lot.</p>
<p>Definately get a dorm. At first thought, living with parents seems logical because its the cheap way out. Thats what I thought and it has been the biggest mistake of my life. Living with parents in college makes it not that much different than high school. If you want to have fun in college, you MUST live in the dorm or at least an off-campus apartment near the school. Ive known a few people who have successfully done the parents route AND had a good college experience, but it doesn't usually happen.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider: gas and maintenance costs alone will probably run you 2000+ (10mpg 46mi/day = 4.6gal/day = $10/day * a ton of trips back and forth = 2000+/yr
and thats not including the lost time or lost lung capacity
Also, in CO, you'll experience alot of snow and snow = accidents and/or missed classes which = retaking classes/buying a new vehicle + increased insurance</p>
<p>LIVE ON CAMPUS... by best friend lived at home and hated it, your best friends in college will be those people that live on your hall freshman year, youll regret it if you live off campus</p>
<p>keep applying for outside scholarships and aim for the dorm. Spend the first year there and if you spend more time with your father and his wife and you think you might all be okay with living together then go for it. But Freshman year I would try the dorm and reasses later.</p>