Drop out looking for advice from parents..

Parents Forum
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<p>First and foremost, I would like to introduce myself. I'm a high school drop out with a GED. I dropped out of high school because of family problems back at home. My family is bankrupt and is in no financial position to support me and my dreams of going to UCLA because I have a EFC of 0.</p>

<p>Up to this point, I've managed to enroll myself at my local community college. I haven't done research with depth up until this past week. I thought about getting my associates degree here at my local CC and then transferring to UCLA to complete a bachelors. However, if I do follow this route, my family would never be able to support me financially because UCLA would be far too costly. It would also be far more difficult to get into UCLA because I am not from a CCC.</p>

<p>I've thought about moving to California in order to gain residency and instate tuition but I've learned today that it would pretty much be near impossible until I turn 24, physically have lived in the state for a year and can prove myself to be independent financially. What should I do?</p>

<p>Would it be possible that the pell grant cover my educational fees? Over here in Massachusetts, my costs to attend college are fully covered by the pell grant. I want to be able to go to SMC and then transfer over to UCLA. I want to be able to find a full time job in order to pay for a apartment while slowly working towards my associates degree at SMC. I understand that California is in a economic crisis and that at this point in time, it'd probably be difficult for me to even find a job there considering that I'm only 18. </p>

<p>If I do manage to complete a associates degree at SMC, would it be possible to take a break from my education and continue to work until I've fully earned residency at California and then apply to UCLA?</p>

<p>Any sort of input will be highly appreciated! Are my dreams unrealistic?</p>

<p>Sorry if I've posted in the wrong section by the way.</p>

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<p>You are on the right track!
SMC has a transfer center that can give you great advice. I just realized after re-reading your post that you are enrolled at CC in your home state, not here. You will want to talk to the transfer/counseling center at both (SMC by phone and your local CC in person).</p>

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<p>Thank you! I’m definitely going to call SMC Monday morning and will definitely go to meet my transfer counselor. Sorry if my post wasn’t very clear. I’m currently enrolled at Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts. I’ve completed one class (differential calculus) so far and I am enrolled in 5 courses this fall semester.</p>

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<p>Why California, why UCLA? Wouldn’t it be easier/cheaper to finish your degree in your home state?</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, a Pell Grant will not cover the fees even if you do gain residency. A full Pell Grant is only $5,550 for 2010-2011.</p>

<p>UCLA fees for 2010-2011 (residents):
University fees: $10,781
Health Insurance*: $1,087</p>

<p>UCLA fees for 2010-2011 (non-residents):
University fees: $11,639
Non-resident Tuition: $22,021
Health Insurance*: $1,087</p>

<p>*This often can be waived if you have comparable insurance.</p>

<p>[Fees</a>, Tuition, and Estimated Student Budget - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/budget.htm]Fees”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/budget.htm)</p>

<p>The bulk of the money that helps low-income California residents attend the UCs comes from two programs: Cal Grants and Blue and Gold. The former is very specific that you must have been a California resident upon graduation from high school. The latter requires you to have applied for Cal Grants. The money from these programs is very significant as it covers the entirety of system-wide fees.</p>

<p>Although these are not available to you, my point is that California spends a large chunk of money on residents who have been here at least since high school. You indicate you know the state is in a financial crunch. This has heavily impacted our state schools (not just our job prospects). There is just not much money available to those who were not residents upon high school graduation. Your need will not be met.</p>

<p>There is the possibility of institutional grant money, but it is highly unlikely and not something you can rely on. However, if you were lucky enough to receive enough to cover the fees, you would still be faced with room and board plus other expenses.</p>

<p>If you wish to establish residency for tuition purposes before you turn 24, there are ways to do so.</p>

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<p>[Emphasis mine.]</p>

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<p>[UCLA</a> Registrar’s Office: Residence for Tuition Purposes–Establishing Residence](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/establish.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/establish.htm)
[UCLA</a> Registrar’s Office: Residence for Tuition Purposes–Financial Independence](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/finindep.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/finindep.htm)</p>

<p>Establishing residency is purposely made very difficult and you may find that UCLA is financially unattainable for you even if you are able to establish residency for tuition purposes. I would highly recommend you do not put your heart into it quite so heavily and keep other options open.</p>

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<p>UMass is a great school, and has several locations. I think it makes sense to finish school there, or at one of the state colleges (now called state universities, such as Salem, Westfield, Plymouth, Fitchburg). It is only a matter of two more years in the state, then you could move to California if you like.</p>

<p>Have you visited UMass Amherst, Lowell, Dartmouth or Boston?</p>

<p>From personal experience, I would not overestimate the difficulties of working full-time, living on your own and doing a lot of courses at school. If your tuition is covered, perhaps you could avoid working full-time somehow. Can you live in a dorm, where expenses might be covered for housing and food?</p>

<p>There are also private colleges that would grant you full financial aid with an EFC of 0.</p>

<p>Maybe you could meet with a college adviser at your CC.</p>

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<p>I think we’re putting the cart before the horse here. I think we need to figure out what your overall goal is before we figure out how to achieve that goal. </p>

<p>Do disrespect intended, but from your post, it seems like your only dream is to attend UCLA. That’s a pretty specific dream, one that seems exceptionally difficult, and for what? For two years? Then what? Why is that your dream and can you think about a broader goal for how you will conduct your life and earn your living? Is your dream LA, beaches, sun, glamour. What exactly is the draw for you? </p>

<p>Would you be just as happy getting an education in Massachusetts that will prepare you for a profession so that if you still want to, you could just move to California and find gainful employment at a professional or skilled salary? I think that would be much more attainable for you, but still requires a lot of hard work on your part? </p>

<p>Furthermore, UCLA is a pretty brainy school. It’s pretty hard to get in and pretty hard to do well. How are your study skills? What kind of student are you? Do you need to take classes at community college that others took in high school? Don’t be embarrassed if that’s the case, but if it is, recognize that you need to work on your academic game and get serious about it. </p>

<p>I recommend getting the education you want in Massachusetts and then moving out to LA. Otherwise, you have to move out there, find a low paying job and live for a year just to qualify for in state tuition. </p>

<p>One great resource that you should know about it, especially if you live in the Boston area, is Harvard Extension. Harvard University offers degree programs for nontraditional students in the evenings. </p>

<p>On the upside, it is very inexpensive - cheaper than UMASS, and classes are offered in the evenings because they cater to working students going to school part-time at night. Also they only have a limited, though very high quality liberal arts curriculum, so if you wanted to study something more specialized that they didn’t offer, then it won’t work. They also are very generous with accepting transfer credit and CLEP credit. One caveat for you is that it’s very rigorous. It would be a mistake to underestimate how hard the students work and how rigorous the expectations are. I think that if you need remedial work, you would want to upgrade your study skills and background at a CC before attempting to gain admissions to Harvard Extension. To get in, you have to take 3 classes and do well in them, plus you must achieve a certain grade in an academic writing class which could be one of the 3 classes. No SATs, no HS GPA, none of that stuff matters. </p>

<p>Anyway, why don’t you think about your goals and report back here, maybe others have good ideas.</p>

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<p>ClassicRockerDad ahs a god point about clarifying longer-term goals. And Harvard Extension is a great suggestion.</p>

<p>Just want to add that as an older adult, anyway, I chose UMass over Harvard Extension because of the opportunity to study a major in depth, and also because UMass offers a huge variety of majors. Harvard Extension offers a BLA rather than a BA, which is a little different. Many students go on to great jobs and graduate studies from both schools.</p>

<p>I have attended some selective schools and found the small class size and discussions at UMass as good as or better than many other places. My husband attended grad school at Harvard and then got an MBA at UMass Boston and loved it.</p>

<p>UMass Boston, and perhaps UMasselsewhere, can be extraordinarily supportive of non-traditional students. There are introductory or remedial classes to get you started, as needed. UMass allows students who have matriculated to withdraw and reenter at any time, for $25, which is helpful for lives with financial complications. You can take one class or five, online or on campus, weekday or weekend. The cost is about the same as for Harvard Extension, $950-$1,000/class, with financial aid available.</p>

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<p>You guys are right, it’s far too tasking to try to start out in California at this point in my life.</p>

<p>What I had envisioned for myself was to move to California and carry along with me most of my family eventually because my dad is getting old and he can’t handle the cold weather. Also because I wanted to go to UCLA, it’s been a long time dream of mine ever since I was a child. Without in-state tuition, I’d never be able to afford it but I should just drop that dream and look at other great options. I wanted to get away from home and go to college else where in order to focus solely by myself. I’m getting my education because I want to learn and not because my parents are forcing me to. As of now, my parents are constantly nagging me to do well in school and I am. It’s just so annoying because my parents are old fashioned Vietnamese parents and think that I’m such a failure because I dropped out of high school. My environment at home has really started to get to me.</p>

<p>I’m not taking any remedial courses. It’s been a long road but I’ve placed well enough to start off at calculus 1 and english 101. I’m currently taking 5 classes here and have so far aced every single exam and quiz. I actively participate in class and have also embodied myself into the student community by joining the robotics team, pride alliance club, the chess team, basic engineering club and will be starting up a asian american student organization. I’ll hopefully be joining phi theta kappa once I complete 24 credits with at least a 3.5 gpa. I am truly committed to my education and for me, community college is my second shot at going to a good four year university.</p>

<p>I don’t know how rigorous the classes are yet, but for me, understanding of all concepts has always been easy. I usually understand things the first time around. This has helped me tremendously but has also hurt me tremendously. I’m a student who likes a challenge and will only put my self forth of these challenges. My high school wasn’t very rigorous and so I didn’t try my best. I’m trying to put myself pass that phase now because if I continue on that path, I shall never be who I want to be.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice. I’ll just continue my education here in Massachusetts and try to transfer out to WPI. My local community college has a transfer agreement program with WPI and there have been many successful transfers who receive great financial aid. I’ll push myself to get there. I was thinking that moving out to California and achieving residency would benefit me and my family in the long run as rough as it would be to start life down there. My parents would have a home to go to when they become too old to handle the cold any further and I would be able to live out my childhood dream of getting my education at UCLA.</p>

<p>If this comes off as an arrogant message, I apologize. I’m just trying to clarify my circumstance and long term goals. I am also trying to show you guys what I was thinking and looking back at it now, I do think I came off as a foolish and immature 18 year old. Once again, I apologize and I thank you guys for the time and effort of everyone who has tried to help me on this board.</p>

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<p>No need to apologize. You didn’t come off as foolish and immature. I was trying to understand the draw for you to LA.</p>

<p>I think that you have a decent plan now. I’ll bet that if you were able to complete WPI in something like electrical engineering or computer science, then you could probably land a job in LA. You could probably get a masters at UCLA at your employer’s expense. </p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>