<p>Please help me! I'm so desperate for advice and am extremely stressed. I got accepted into USC and after gift aid (money I don't have to pay back) I have to pay $33,767 out of pocket. This is for one year tuition. I have 2 years of school left as I have done 2 years of credits at community college so I would hopefully only have to pay tuition for 2 years. In total 2 years tuition for me would cost $67,534 if I received the same aid as this year. My parents are willing to let me "borrow" $40,000 for these 2 years to invest in my education which I would have to pay them back interest free (i'm sure they would even perhaps make me pay them back $30,000 instead of the $40,000) then I would have to take out loans up to $26,000 for the next two years. So in total 66,000 debt for my undergraduate degree.My question is am I digging myself into a hole of debt? I am the first to go to college in my family so my parents wouldn't know if I am making a good decision or not on this. I didn't bother to apply to any other schools let alone public schools(because i'm a dumbass) but im thinking I should this fall because public college tuition at UCLA for example is $12,862 so maybe if I don't receive grants at all in total I would pay $25,724 for 2 years?That way I wouldn't have to take out loans and only have to pay my parents back without interest. Does anybody think this is a good/bad plan?( I wouldn't be able to apply for those loan forgiveness programs but I can pay them as much as I want monthly, interest free etc.) Then if I do decide to apply this fall and see my acceptances in the spring I am wasting a year (I would spend it working full time and saving $$) but is it worth it to save $?Should I just get started on my education? I want to double major in Art History and Psychology and depending on my post graduation plans, which vary greatly from applying for a special agent position in the FBI (specifically the art theft prevention team) to attending grad school for either a masters or psy.d. if necessary.</p>
Go into debt and drag my parents too or waste year waiting for public school acceptances to save $$?
<p>Having over $60k of debt for 2 years is a lot. It is unfortunate that you limited yourself in your applications but frankly, given the earning potential of the majors you are pursuing, the amount of debt that you are facing is quite high. It may not be worth it. </p>
<p>Your idea of waiting a year and applying to a public university is a good one but I would also suggest that you look at other schools as well just to be sure that you are making the best financial and campus choice. The majors you want are likely available at California State Universities as well and those schools have very successful graduates as well. </p>