I have told my parents about the costs they’re aware of the sum they will have to pay. Of course I don’t want them to pay this much, but we will make a decision when we hear back from colleges. If we don’t think I can go here, I will take Russian state exams in June at the embassy here and my results will probably not be high enough for free tuonuon and I will have to pay full price there but the maximum I will have to pay is $5k a year. I have other options. Russian exams don’t start until June. I will hear back from colleges before June.
But if I do go to Russia, I will lose my residency status and it will be hard to come back here to visit mom.
Yes, and you’ve done well, considering. It probably speaks to some very nice strengths. But don’t go into foolish debt from half thinking, so wanting a big city that it clouds your view.
You keep saying it’s ok, eg, you’d survive if BU doesn’t work out. But still seem to miss our message about large debt. Kids in a tight position don’t always get to pick and choose “perfect.” All of us here have seen that. Eg, that some SUNYs aren’t quite meeting your wants, right now.
Get a summer internship in a big city. Visit. But don’t set yourself up for massive debt that means you can’t afford some nice city after grad.
Think smart. Not just “I want.” Think ahead.
You already got accepted to Pace and it’s affordable, right? If you can’t afford BU, go there.
I only want my parents to pay if I actually enjoy the school. I won’t be happy at SUNYs and I wouldn’t want my parents to pay. I will have to choose from Pace or Russian universities and see which ones I like more if I get rejected or don’t get financial aid anywhere else.
You seem to have an “all or nothing” view on attending college. In other words…you seem to want what you want…without any ability to look beyond that.
In your situation, you may need to make some compromises. There are plenty of SUNY and CUNY schools that are in urban areas.
You know…there is a saying “grow where you are planted”. You need to start being a lot more flexible in your thinking about college. You applied to twelve colleges…and you, yourself, say that your grades and standardized test scores are not very good for these schools.
There is a lot to be said for understanding ones financial limitations, and understanding that college is what YOU make of it.
Your post demonstrates that you have a very myopic view of college and financial aid. There is no way I would choose Pace over Albany, Binghamton, Stony Brook , Buffalo, and a few other SUNY schools.
Most of the 4 - year CUNY schools are better than Pace. You seem to be stuck on private is better, where in this case it is definitely not true. Are your parents willing to pay the difference between what pace has given you and the cost of attendance, which is over 50k?
Is this really your list? The only school on this list that meets full need is Northeastern. All of the others do NOT.
Can your family pay $70,000 for NYU or BU? Oh…and last I checked…NYU required the Profile AND the NCP Profile for consideration of need based aid.
Pace is $55,000 a year and that doesn’t include any personal,expenses like books.you got a $22.5k award leaving your family with $33k to pay…at least. Can they pay that? Be alerted that the costs will increase every year…and sonde Pace doesn’t meet full need…it’s likely that your aid won’t increase at all.
Personally, I think Pace is an excessively over priced school…that preys on students who seem to think NYC is THE only place where they can attend college.
33k for Pace a year is a huge amount of money, but manageable. I’m not against public schools but there aren’t many schools located in cities where a lot of students live on campus. Pace is not as good academically as SUNYs and I’m aware of that. If I liked the suburban or rural lifestyle I would apply only to SUNYs. I have completed CSS Profile and Noncustodial Parent Profile waiver a long time ago, the only college that needs more info is BU. They said they will call me back, if they don’t respond or respond and say I need to do the noncustodial profile for my father I will do it, but it will be hard to find all the documents to complete it on time.
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33k for Pace a year is a huge amount of money, but manageable.
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That is a crazy amount. Pace isn’t worth it. And is that just the tuition? What about books and fees?
Seriously, a good SUNY or CUNY would be MUCH better.
SUNYs are good but bad location. In most CUNYs people commute and very few live in dorms. They’re both cheaper and better academically, thats for sure.
Are there any large diverse public city colleges where many students live on campus?
By cities I mean those that are similar to NYC, Albany is nowhere near that.
Oh please. The CUNY schools are located in NYC. They have dorms. SUNY Purchase is pretty darn close.
But are there any affordable NYU or BU-like public schools?
What is the matter with the schools I suggested? They are good schools with good programs.
You know…I’ll put it out there. NYU is $72,000 a year and highly overrated. BU is similarly expensive. I would NOT suggest either of those colleges for a family who wants or needs financial aid to attend.
You have a single vision of college…private university in NY or Boston…or bust. Sorry, but I think you need to be a LOT more open minded…a lot.
All large diverse colleges located in the middle of interesting cities like New York or Boston just happen to be private… I’m trying to see if there are any alternatives. Colleges with similar vibe but much less expensive. I don’t know any. If anyone can give me suggestions, I will apply to those colleges next year, or at least will have suggestions for people in similar situation.
Obviously there are a lot of very good small schools in cities or large schools outside of cities. There is nothing wrong with them. A lot of people are very happy attending those colleges.
Have you ever heard the term “admit/deny”? This is what some schools do…they admit a student but do not provide any sort of financial aid to,that student. If the student can pay the full costs…the schools would be happy to have them. Both NYU and BU do not meet full need. For that matter, neither do most of the schools on your list. Northeastern does, but it is pretty competitive for admissions these days.
So…you might get accepted to BU or NYU…with no financial aid except a $5500 Direct Loan. That is a reality you may need to face.
You are a HS senior now, right? If you attend elsewhere THIS year, you will be applying as a transfer student. In many cases, your prospects for aid are even lower as a transfer.
You need a sure thing, slam dunk on your list. This is a school that is affordable, where you will be happy to attend, and where you have a strong probability of getting accepted.
It sounds like Pace meets some of those criteria…but really…it is a VERY expensive school. VERY. The costs will go UP and your aid will not. Plan ahead.
Personally, I think your list was made based only on the location of the colleges…not on the strength of programs, costs, or the potential for financial aid which it sounds like you need to attend.
Most of the schools I’m applying to are good for business. American University actually has my dream major. The colleges I’m applying to did meet criterias other than location. There’s only one bad thing about all of them is that they don’t give financial aid and have very high admission standards. Everything else about them to me is very good.