Going to college without parental financial contribution. What to do?

Paying for College
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<p>I'm in kind of a tricky predicament. I'm interested in a major in computer science, but I was unable to get accepted into any of the local universities. I live in Minnesota, which has higher ACT scores on average than other states. I was denied at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Augsburg because of my ACT score, and at Bethel University for failing to meet their religious requirements. I was accepted into University of Minnesota Duluth and Gustavus, but my parents are refusing to provide financial aid if I choose to go to either of these schools. My parents are concerned that I'm not "ready" to leave home and that "no one would want to room" with me. They are refusing to provide any of their financial resources for these reasons if I go to these colleges, which would require me to live within a dorm. I have researched the possibility of declaring myself independent, but apparently I need to be 24 or older to be considered for that. Essentially my lack of aid from my parents rules out Gustavus and University of Minnesota Duluth and Gustavus. What should I do?</p>

<p>My options appear to be:
* Go to a community college (2 year degree only, which isn't hardly worth anything in computer science). My parents would be unlikely to change their mind later, and my chances for being accepted into a local college would not be any higher. The most I could get would be a 2 year degree, and I would still be out a lot of money and time which could have otherwise be used to start a computer/software business.
* Try to start a business without a degree (I live in Minnesota. I have talked to a number of people in the industry and they said that I would have a very difficult time finding venture capital for a computer start-up in Minnesota. I am a great coder, have given numerous speeches on programming before, and even lectured a class before in computer science. However, I still need to be able to MARKET my product. I have no prior experience in marketing, and am NOT a great artist. Making icons is proving the most difficult task in the marketing experience).
* Go to an online college --- I could attend an online college. The main problem with this approach is that the online college experience is relatively new, and online colleges lack reputability with employers.</p>

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<p>If you got the financial aid offers, what is COA of each school with or without Stafford loan?</p>

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<p>Gustavus – $46,936
UMD – $20,868
Costs are yearly, I have a $10,000 a year scholarship to Gustavus, but it can only be used over the course of 4 years, and I can’t use all the aid money in one year.
I am not eligible for any scholarships to UMD.</p>

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<p>Is $20k at UMD include Stafford loan?</p>

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<p>Why do you say your local chances aren’t any higher? In general, community college transfer admissions are encouraged by most state university systems. If you complete a transfer curriculum at your CC, you can reapply to UMN-TC as a junior transfer under different rules, and SAT/ACT scores are likely to be less important - if they’re even required at all. At the very least, you’ll have the opportunity to retake the tests and improve your scores.</p>

<p>It sure beats not going to college at all, or an online college.</p>

<p>Edit: UMN-TC has a guaranteed admission program, MnCAP, linked with community colleges.</p>

<p><a href=“http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/mncap_intro.html[/url]”>http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/mncap_intro.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I imagine that UMN’s computer science program is in that college, hence eligible for guaranteed admission.</p>

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<p>No, but loans are different than scholarships. I don’t want to be one of those students who ends up in court (possibly jail) for being unable to repay college debt.</p>

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<p>“My parents are concerned that I’m not “ready” to leave home and that “no one would want to room” with me. They are refusing to provide any of their financial resources for these reasons if I go to these colleges, which would require me to live within a dorm.”</p>

<p>Where is that coming from. Do you think their concerns are warranted? There are plenty of extremely messy kids in college dorms. Is there something serious you are not mentioning, or are your parents just being controlling or cheap? </p>

<p>If they won’t give you money for school unless you live at home, though, this doesn’t even matter.</p>

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<p>You can’t be jailed for non-payment of college debt - but you’re right to be concerned with the amount of loans you take out. A modest amount of borrowing - the $5,500-$7,500 Stafford Loans each year - is considered reasonable.</p>

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<p>My IQ is only 90, the highest possible ACT score I can get is a 23 given average ACT/IQ statistics. I took the test twice, and received the same score (21) both times. Assuming my GPA continues its regular sine pattern throughout my 2 year education, I will end up with a GPA of 3.3427.1288. Given the statistics on this page ([Transfer</a> Academic Profile](<a href=“http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/academics/trans_profile.html]Transfer”>Transfer Admission Information by College | Office of Admissions)), I have only a 36% chance of being admitted as a transfer student.</p>

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<p>I think that is your best route. Community college for 2 years and transfer. You might have to carry some loans the last 2 years but should be a lot more manageable. You are unlikely to get a job programming without a degree.</p>

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<p>They aren’t really stating what they want, they said they will simply refuse to pay for any college unless I can live at home and commute, because I’m not “ready” to leave home. It is non-debatable.</p>

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<p>That’s not the right page to be looking at - that chart is for general transfer students, not MnCAP.</p>

<p>For Minnesota Cooperative Admissions Program students, here’s the requirements:</p>

<p>[MnCAP</a> Requirements](<a href=“http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/mncap_requirements.html]MnCAP”>http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/mncap_requirements.html)</p>

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<p>You are <em>guaranteed</em> admission if you meet the above requirements.</p>

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<p>A number of people in the industry that I’ve talked to have said that a 2-year degree isn’t even considered. Most employers in my field have a MINIMUM requirement of 4 years, no matter how good you are at your job.</p>

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<p>Right, so go get a two-year degree and then transfer to complete your four-year degree. :)</p>

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<p>"Given the statistics on this page (Transfer Academic Profile), I have only a 36% chance of being admitted as a transfer student. "</p>

<p>You interpret that wrong, it is not 36% chance of getting in, it is 36% of the people that were accepted are in that range. They may have accepted everyone for all you know.</p>

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<p>The way it works, as you have discovered, is that though you are an adult for most things at age 18, when it comes to colleges, your parents have the control, just as they did for your high school. If they do not want to pay, they do not have to do so. </p>

<p>What I tell all kids and parents who are looking at colleges, regardless of their goals, is to look for a college that is sure to take you, affordable, doable and has courses you can take, that you can like. You may have to work at the “like” part. Look at your local options and see what is there that you can use for the first year or so, and do your absolute best there. I’ve seen people use community and local colleges in ways that were great stepping stones. Get some of the core requirements out of the way, and get into the college mode, exhaust those resources at that school. Make the most of it. </p>

<p>You might also want to look at MomfromTexas’s thread on full ride scholarships and see what’s out there that might pay your way. These are not schools that are well known, but if you find a match and you can swing it yourself, it could be another alternative for you to consider.</p>

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<p>My parents would be unlikely to change their mind later, and my chances for being accepted into a local college would not be any higher.</p>

<p>Neither of these makes sense. First of all, you said that your parents’ concern is that you are not “ready” to move into a residence hall (which may or may not be valid). Two years at a local community college means two years of additional growth and maturity, at which point they may decide that you are ready to transition to a residential community.</p>

<p>I also think it’s false that your chances of being accepted locally would not be any higher. Many community colleges have articulation agreements with state universities that would allow you to transfer easily, and even if they don’t, two years of college and a proven track-record in college level classes will indeed make you more likely to get accepted. Your ACT scores won’t matter anymore, for one.</p>

<p>Don’t go to an online college. Most of them are for-profit diploma mills.</p>

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<p>IQ is not destiny! Don’t sell yourself short. And don’t believe the IQ tests anyway. They penalize kids with learning disorders that are smart in some areas but have troubles in others. They are not necessarily accurate. You are not a number and your future cannot be predicted that way. My best to you!</p>

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<p>Honey…</p>

<p>Start at your CC. </p>

<p>Seriously, you write better than many with much higher IQs. I suspect that for some odd reason, the IQ test isn’t properly measuring your intelligence. </p>

<p>{{{ hugs }}}</p>

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<p>I agree with Redpoint, IQ is not destiny, nor are IQ tests infallible.
For what it’s worth, your writing here on this forum seems to be coming from someone who is intelligent. Don’t give up!</p>