Hi,
So I’m super stuck because Rutgers gave me a full scholarship to attend, and I submitted my deposit and took it. However, I’ve wanted to go to University of Texas, Austin for so long and kind of freaked out a little bit after May 1st, and reappealed to get my admission back that I had rejected from UT Austin, and they agreed to give me five days from today to decide what to do.
I want to go to UT. I love UT. However, my finances are a HUGE problem. If I were to go to UT I know I’d be able to secure an In-State scholarship and then some through other scholarships (can’t disclose how or why for the sake of identity purposes) after a year or so, but the initial year is the problem.
My father also wants me to transfer to a better university no matter where I go because he isn’t satisfied with where I got into, so he thinks being debt-free at Rutgers would certainly work better if I were to transfer.
The odd thing is though, my sister went to Rutgers and I saw her go through it and I absolutely abhorred the campus and her experience on it made me extremely uneasy. My father also kept a tight reign upon her life there-- checking up and controlling every aspect.
So here’s my dilemma. I can attend UT and end up with basically a year’s worth of debt in my lap and potentially transfer elsewhere anyway and be mentally very very happy, but have a load of financial burden on my shoulders. Or, I can attend Rutgers debt free, potentially transfer, but be mentally very unstable with everything there. I NEED HELP!
Where will the money come from to pay for the first year?
Don’t go to a college you can’t afford.
I myself from jobs and scholarships can fund half of the tuition first year, and my dad will help pay partial of the other half, including a couple loans. @twoinanddone
you have more freedom when graduate debt free.
Run the numbers carefully.
Where, exactly, would the money for UT come from?
Do you have solid documentation that the money for UT will be there for future years?
How is it that you know that UT is for you? Have you visited?
Why does your dad think that you will be able to transfer to a “better” place than UT or Rutgers after a year or two?
You don’t like Rutgers. You can’t afford your first year at UT. Why don’t you just take a gap year and re-think everything? If your plan to make UT affordable depends on becoming a Texas resident, you could move there during your gap year and start working on that issue. And yes I know that that isn’t an easy thing to do in most states, but Texas has in the past been a state where it was relatively easier to do it.
Too much diss on Rutgers.
If you can pay 1/2 the tuition at UT and Dad can help with the other half, but still needs loans…what about room/board costs, books, transportation, personal?
How much in loans? If scholarships haven’t come through yet, don’t assume they will.
Oops- if you think being there one year for college will get you some scholarships, please check carefully. You would need a firm offer of this, in hand. Many kids misunderstand residency requirements.
But, c’mon. Free ride at Rutgers is a no brainer. Save your resources, avoid loans, and think about someday living in Austin or going to grad school at UT.
A year of debt? It’s completely worth it. Plus, you get more independence. Go for it!
@lookingforward I have a firm offer. I was given scholarships and I do have a couple but not enough. I have a firm offer (again, cannot say specifics because of identity reasons) that I will receive an in-state scholarship sophomore year onwards.
Still, full ride at Rutgers is a lot less financially stressful than what you describe as the costs at Texas.
The costs of Texas include continuing financial dependency on your father which presumably will be absent if you have a full ride at Rutgers. Since you resent his being too controlling, taking the choice that reduces his power over you (through finances) may help you in this respect.
Perhaps I misread here but it seems you think you’ll be considered in-state at UT after a year in school. That won’t happen
https://admissions.utexas.edu/residency
If your parent(s) claim you as a dependent on their federal income tax return, they must establish domicile in the state for you to claim residency.
UT Austin does give instate tuition for some OOS students but they only have a limited amount of those waivers, given what happened at UT Tyler this year I’d be leery of making financial plans that include ‘promises’ of scholarships for future years.
@“Erin’s Dad” I’m getting it through a recruitment of a team at UT. The team itself is offered four OOS scholarships to hand out, and one will be graduating next year, which has been promised to me in case of attendance.
And what will happen if you have an injury or a falling out with the coach and leave the team? Would the scholarship still be honored?
I believe it’s not a sports team.
But the point still holds-- you don’t hang your decison on a “promise” that comes with caveats.
So you’re like a walk on athlete who’s been promised a spot?
I think you’d regret it for a long time if you didn’t attend but…
Let’s look at the hypothesis: you attend UT. Your scholarship doesn’t manifest. What do you do at the end of the first year?
Also, are your parents willing to let you attend UT and pay for (part of) it?
What sort of loans are you talking about?
Could you defer your enrollment for a year and start next year with the scholarship in hand? You can get a job in the interim to help with the costs.
@melodyofnight couldn’t you have gotten your acceptance to Rutgers rescinded for writing an appeal to Texas, I am asking because I was thinking of doing this as well but I thought my acceptance might be revoked
Hey guys,
thanks so much. I chose Rutgers because of the full ride in the end, but I may just yet transfer- we’ll see. I’m not the happiest amount my decision, but I know I will learn to be <3