<p>Not sure of the financial situation, but is there some equity in your parent’s home? Could they take out a line of credit on home for room and board or is that out of the question?</p>
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<p>Would it be correct to assume that you have run the net price calculators on UCs and CSUs within commuting range and come up with net costs that are too expensive even for a commuter student? Living at home would cost the same as high school for baseline room and board, but (before financial aid and scholarships) with added tuition and books expenses (~$2,000 per year for community college, ~$9,000 for CSU, and ~$15,000 for UC) and commuting costs if the distance is large.</p>
<p>As was mentioned on another thread, room and board averages $10K for a school (yes, it varies) and you can make that up with a summer job, a job during school and an unsub Stafford loan.</p>
<p>Not sure of the financial situation, but is there some equity in your parent’s home? Could they take out a line of credit on home for room and board or is that out of the question?</p>
<p>I’m guessing that since the family has an EFC of $50k but can’t contribute anything, then they have debt issues. That EFC means an income of about $150k or very large assets that they’re not willing to sell, etc. </p>
<p>Since the family won’t contribute ANYTHING, it wouldn’t make sense that they could afford payments on a home-equity line of credit. If they could afford a few hundred a month for that, then they could afford to give him a couple thousand per year without the loan.</p>
<p>It is sad and shocking for people with that high of an EFC to say that they can’t contribute ANYTHING. I can understand not being able to afford $50k per year, but to not afford a few thousand seems very odd. Either they are in massive debt and/or they refuse to adjust their lifestyle in the slightest.</p>
<p>If there is a CSU or small private close enough to commute to …maybe USF or CSU San Francisco? Then perhaps a full tuition scholarship at USF or a nice scholarship to CSUSF might work. </p>
<p>Also…look at St. Mary’s. Not commutable, but would award large merit.</p>
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<p>Yes, very odd, given that a high school student does consume food, water, etc. plus possibly some high school or extracurricular related expenses that would either be the same if the student lived at home and went to a commutable college (though tuition, books, and probably commuting expenses would be higher), or would not have to be paid if the student went away to a college (of course, the student would then have the higher living expenses of living away, as well as tuition and books).</p>
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<p>“Near Bay Area” covers a lot of territory. The four year schools that could possibly be in commuting range (though not all of them for any given location) include:</p>
<p>UCs: Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Davis
CSUs: San Jose, San Francisco, East Bay, Sonoma, Sacramento, Monterey Bay
Private: Stanford University, Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, Mills College, St. Mary’s College</p>
<p>Of course, there are community colleges all over the place, many with extensive articulation agreements with UCs and CSUs.</p>
<p>“Since the family won’t contribute ANYTHING, it wouldn’t make sense that they could afford payments on a home-equity line of credit.”</p>
<p>Interest on a $10,000 home equity loan would be $30 - $40 per month. I don’t know the nature of the financial issue. Do not know if it’s temporary, etc. Just making a suggestion.</p>
<p>Wow, a lot to reply to! I’ll try my best in answering the questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>Yes, it is very odd that my parent could not pay ANY part of my EFC, but it is entirely true. My father is in a massive amount of debt and has expenses to be paid in the several hundred thousands of dollars, so he helping me pay for college is out of the question! I also have no college fund. </li>
</ol>
<p>So, in short, I have 0$ to pay for college unless I get a job (applying!)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>OhioMom3000, my home was foreclosed and my father’s credit is shot, so “taking out a line of credit” is not possible. </p></li>
<li><p>ucbalumnus, to be more specific about my location, my family will be moving to Albany, Ca., in two months. I’m willing to commute to any school nearby, it’s just the tuition of the surrounding schools that I will have a hard time coming up with.</p></li>
<li><p>Erin’s Dad, I’m looking for jobs right now. The only problem I have with your suggestion would be that I would have no guarantee of having a secure job every summer while I’m in college.</p></li>
<li><p>mom2collegekids, a question for you! If I am able to get a 1490 on my Math and Critical Reading sections of the SAT the next time I test, and I apply to UAH, will I be assured a free ride? Also, I am COMPLETELY fine with going down in the rankings. Are there any other colleges like Miss State that offer merit for high stats that come to mind? And I didn’t even know there are full tuition scholarships at USF!</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you all for your help so far!</p>
<p>Have you taken the ACT? 2260 SAT is comparable to 34 ACT.</p>
<p>See Post #2 re: UA Hunstsville.</p>
<p>UA Huntsville scholarships: <a href=“http://uah.edu/images/admissions/Financial%20Aid/Documents/scholarship.pdf[/url]”>http://uah.edu/images/admissions/Financial%20Aid/Documents/scholarship.pdf</a></p>
<p>From Albany, your most local general colleges are UC Berkeley (probably around $15,000 per year for in-state tuition and books) and Berkeley City College (probably around $2,000 per year for in-state tuition and books, but then you need to transfer to a more expensive four year school after two years).</p>
<p>^ Or get 10 points higher on the SAT CR or Math (1490 required for blue level).</p>
<p>5. mom2collegekids, a question for you! If I am able to get a 1490 on my Math and Critical Reading sections of the SAT the next time I test, and I apply to UAH, will I be assured a free ride? Also, I am COMPLETELY fine with going down in the rankings. Are there any other colleges like Miss State that offer merit for high stats that come to mind? And I didn’t even know there are full tuition scholarships at USF!</p>
<p>Math + CR SAT 1490-1600
ACT 34-36
GPA 3.0+</p>
<p>Yes…these are assured for stats. Apply on time, send stats and transcripts and you’ll get the money. but also apply to UAB and Bama. If you get your UAH award quickly (which you would) then maybe those other schools will increase their offer. Bama has a good number of Calif kids, but always wants more. Contact me when that happens and I’ll tell you what to do.</p>
<p>UAH…</p>
<p>Tuition up to 32 hours (16 per semester),
housing,
$500 in course fees,
book stipend
meal plan</p>
<p>Since I live very close to this university, I know a good deal about it and the area. Area is very nice…a lot like Orange County Calif…but less crowded…more trees…very pretty. </p>
<p>Typically the days are filled with sunny blue skies with white fluffy clouds.</p>
<p>Most people are transplants from all over the country. The school is located in Cummings Research Park which is the second largest research park in the nation. Many Fortune 500 and small techie companies are here. jobs, internships, and co-op opporunities.</p>
<p>Huntsville was name one of America’s Geekiest cities because of the number of PhDs here.</p>
<p>Wow UAH is so generous! I get my SAT scores back May 24th. I’m pretty sure I reached a combined math and critical reading score of 1490. </p>
<p>Any other schools like UAH come to mind? My father is apprehensive about me going to school so far away.</p>
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<p>What would he rather want you to do? If UAH with a full ride is the only affordable school, then would he rather you not go to college at all?</p>
<p>ucbalumnus-</p>
<p>Basically, yes. There is not enough time in all of the world to explain the complexities of my father’s logic regarding colleges. @_@</p>
<p>Every year Rutgers gives out almost full ride scholarships, but you need a 2250 or 35 ACT. You wouldn’t need to contribute much…here is the link.
[Rutgers</a> | Rutgers Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.rutgers.edu/Costs/Scholarships/FirstYearScholarships.aspx]Rutgers”>http://admissions.rutgers.edu/Costs/Scholarships/FirstYearScholarships.aspx) </p>
<p>Iowa State has tons of scholarships you could look through as well.
[Financial</a> Aid - Scholarship Search | Iowa State University](<a href=“http://www.financialaid.iastate.edu/scholarships/search.php?cat=1]Financial”>http://www.financialaid.iastate.edu/scholarships/search.php?cat=1)</p>
<p>Also, check out the Park Scholarship at NC State.
<a href=“http://www.ncsu.edu/park_scholarships/documents/2011parkoverview.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ncsu.edu/park_scholarships/documents/2011parkoverview.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you are able to get the required score and get a free ride, tell your dad you have done your part. Many kids go to schools long distances away from home. You have to look at your options at this point. Good luck!</p>
<p>I would work and save over the summer, so that if necessary, you can take the free ride with or without parent approval.</p>
<p>Pasta some great links for full ride scholarships, but they hand out very few of them.</p>
<p>m2k - Any additional information about varying differences between UAH and UA/UAB? Besides the news. I’ve seen some random comments about bad parking, bad adminstration etc regarding UAH. But I take everything with a grain of salt.</p>