Have I really cost myself tens of thousands of dollars?

Paying for College
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<p>Hi everybody! Thanks for reading. I'll post an outline at the end in case you just want to skim.</p>

<p>To make a long story short, I was valedictorian of my rural Illinois HS class of ~170 (4.0 UW GPA), got a 32 on my ACT (highest in my school, not that that counts for anything), was captain of the varsity football team, participated in some clubs and played some more sports, and got a few small honors and scholarships for my freshman year of college (this year). Nothing too mind-blowing, but I did what I could with where I lived. My senior year, my guidance adviser basically said that if you didn't know exactly what you wanted to do with your life, you should go to the local community college for a year or two and transfer out for financial reasons. I knew I wanted to go into Engineering, but I didn't know exactly what kind, so I took what she said for gospel and attended the local community college, planning to transfer after this year. Boy, did I make a mistake...</p>

<p>I've been looking at deadlines for transferring for the past couple of weeks, and I stumbled upon a thread on this site with a list of automatic full tuition scholarships. To put it lightly, my jaw dropped when I found out that I was eligible for guaranteed full tuition scholarships to several schools and for competitive full rides to others. I couldn't believe I hadn't done more research myself and had just assumed my adviser was giving me solid advice.</p>

<p>Now, I have a problem. I have maintained a 4.0 throughout this year and should be able to continue doing so. At the conclusion of this semester, I will have roughly 70 hours of credit accumulated. I am in multiple clubs at the local CC and am an officer in one of them.</p>

<p>Basically, I'm wondering: did my blind acceptance of my adviser's advice really cost me tens of thousands of dollars? Are there any schools at which I could potentially still receive full tuition scholarships, or has that ship already sailed?</p>

<p>The value of some of these scholarships was in excess of $90,000 dollars, and it will cause me both physical pain and emotional grief if I've missed out on these opportunities. I've received a full tuition scholarship for 2 years to this local school, but there are so many classes that I can take here that are going to apply to my Engineering major. The value of this $5600 scholarship, of course, pales in comparison to $80-100,000 ones.</p>

<p>I would appreciate any advice that you could give me.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

<p>Outline:
-32 ACT, 4.0 UW GPA, rural IL HS
-Went to local CC due to advice from guidance counselor
-Now realize that I could have gotten massive scholarships from several schools
-Wondering if there are any I could still earn</p>

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<p>Take a look through this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/983014-merit-scholarships-transfer-students.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/983014-merit-scholarships-transfer-students.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you for your reply, OHMomof2!</p>

<p>I looked through that thread earlier, and I can’t really find anything that compares to the enormous amounts of money, especially at large public schools, I was guaranteed to earn literally last year :confused: am I really that out of luck?</p>

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<p>I don’t know exactly which schools offer extensive aid for transfers, but I’m sure that some do. And there are always scholarships for upperclassmen, both sponsored by schools and privately owned ones, if you apply for them. </p>

<p>Unless you have hated CC, I don’t think that you made a terrible terrible decision. You saved money. You may have saved some more if you had gone to a full-ride school, yes. But like you said, you weren’t sure exactly what you wanted to do. And if you have had a decent time at cc, and if you have earned your lower division credits, then in the long run I don’t think you have lost much. There’s no point in questioning the past. Your life and stats right now leave you at a good place for admission at good colleges and for chances at further scholarships. </p>

<p>The main thing for you right now is to do a lot of research, and decide for yourself what you are going to do. I’m sure you’ve learned by now not to take anyone’s opinion “as gospel”, even mine. :stuck_out_tongue: And more than anything, don’t fret. You’re gonna be okay. </p>

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<p>Thanks for your reply!</p>

<p>I agree that I should try to stay positive. It’s just really hard to do so, knowing that I’ve exponentially increased the financial burden placed on me and/or parents over the next several years just because I was gullible.</p>

<p>I know I’ll be okay, but I’m probably gonna be less okay for the next couple of years than I otherwise would :stuck_out_tongue: we are talking about literally a $70,000 difference in amounts of scholarships received… That is a decent-to-good year’s salary.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say I’ve hated my CC experience, though I wouldn’t say I’ve loved it, either.</p>

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<p>You are in luck. You just have to be strategic in your planning. Did you lose out on some scholarships? Yes, most of the big scholarships are for freshman only. However you did save money attending community college. Now what you need to do is focus on schools that provide decent aid for transfers (they exist but it requires research and an open mind). Your grades are great so that will work to your benefit. </p>

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<p>Does your CC have PTK? <a href=“College Scholarship Opportunities | Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society”>http://www.ptk.org/become-a-member/scholarships/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Could have. It’s possible. But you did very well at CC, saved money towards the next two years. Now, look to see what’s available. Ask the office at your CC that helps with transfers what 's available, but this time look yourself too. Always have to check things out yourself. Take a look at the Jack Kent Cook transfer award: <a href=“Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship-2014 - Other Major Scholarships and Competitions - College Confidential Forums”>Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship-2014 - Other Major Scholarships and Competitions - College Confidential Forums;

<p>There are many who did go off to 4 year schools and it did not work out. That you 've done so well these two years is quite the accomplishment. </p>

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<p>Thanks for both of your replies!</p>

<p>I know I’ve saved some money, but what I’ve saved is really a drop in the bucket compared to what I would have otherwise. I refuse to take out big loans or to stick my parents with them, so my college choices are severely limited compared to what they were before. I guess I’m more venting at this point than asking for help, as it’s obvious I’m not going tobe able to reap the benefits of my decent test scores and GPA (kids with much lower test scores and GPA got the same CC scholarship I did lol). It’s just really, really sad :(</p>

<p>Yes my school has PTK, and I’m joining it, but it still comes up way short :/</p>

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<p>"Did you lose out on some scholarships? Yes, most of the big scholarships are for freshman only. "</p>

<p>brendank…that’s not true. The big ones are from COLLEGES and those are for all FOUR years.</p>

<p>Yes, sadly the decision to go to a CC first has cost this student a LOT of money IF he had wanted to attend a school that gives large merit for his stats. (I’d probably contact that person and complain a LOT). As you probably noticed, you could have gotten over $100k from Alabama for your stats and as an eng’g major.<br>
I would tell that GC that high stats students need to go to 4 year colleges from the get go to get big merit, if that’s desired.</p>

<p>This student is in a pickle because IL publics are expensive. </p>

<p>Maybe someone can tell this student about the rare school that gives LARGE merit to transfers. And I mean enough merit that the cost will be much lower than his instate public. </p>

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<p>This is really sad. I have come to the conclusion that some guidance counselors are not very informed and it is their job!!! I just helped my two daughters and three of their friends apply to and find schools. One friend was going to take the cc route because of finances…good thing I emailed her mother and pointed her in the direction to the schools that will offer her merit. Where was the guidance counselor??? 80 kids in the graduating class and only half that plan on going on. I so hope everything works out for you. You seem like an intelligent young man and I am sure you will do well in life. </p>

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<p>mom2collegekids,</p>

<p>Exactly. Alabama is one of the schools that I was referring to in the OP. I could have literally gotten a guaranteed $96k tuition scholarship, plus $2500/yr for expenses. There’s no getting around the fact that this apprently is going to cost me a ton of money and stress.</p>

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<p>Whoa, I’d call your high school or send in a complaint letter, because I would be extremely upset it I were you. Sadly, alot of the guidance consulars at high schools do exactly what yours does. I have a couple of friends who were/are going the CC route with a 26+ on the ACT (I live in Alabama btw), and were shocked and/or changed their mind when I showed them how they could get full tuition (26+ on the ACT for out of state) to Mississippi State, over 50% toward tuition to the University of Alabama at Huntsville, and money to many other local colleges with their scores. It bothers me whenever I hear stories like this, especially since I (not a guidance consular) have had to inform friends of what they are able to get with their test scores/GPA. </p>

<p>On the bright side, there are some scholarships for transfer students, and maybe other won’t be pushed into the same choice you made by your school’s GC, if you call or send a letter explaining how bad the advice the GC gave to you was. </p>

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<p>I’ve thought about it, but I’d hate to rile people up in the small community I live in. ~650 kids go to my HS, and it’s an “everybody knows everybody” sort of situation. At this point, there’s not much I can do, especially since the GC is tenured fully and in a position of influence.</p>

<p>I know it’s a long shot, and I might be hopelessly optimistic, but I think this is an extraordinary situation: do schools ever make exceptions? Obviously not the people that are low in the ranks; I mean the higher-up “I make decisions” kind of people.</p>

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<p>My graduating class is 162, and at my old school the graduating class was in the mid 60s. I know the small community/everyone knows everyone atmosphere. Even if you just email the GC and tell her something along the lines of “I lost out of nearly $100,000 I don’t want anyone else to lose out on that much scholarship money. Here’s a list of schools and how much scholarship money they give based on so and so (replace that with actual scores) ACT scores.” Or something like that anyway. Who knows, the GC may actually look in to it, which would in turn make her more informed and able to give better advice. </p>

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<p>Beauing, I like your screen name.
I tell most every kid I meet about the Alabama scholarships and people usually think I am crazy, but this is exactly why.
You need to make it known so the next kid doesn’t miss out, too. What if this happened to someone else first and you could’ve been alerted?
I wish you the best of luck moving forward!</p>

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<p>At least you need to inform this GC about those options…and how they’re not available to transfers. </p>

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<p>State schools may offer need-based aid to transfers on the same basis that they offer need-based aid to frosh. However, Illinois is one of the worse states for need-based aid at state schools for in-state students.</p>

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<p>Look at the New Mexico school…UNM and NM Tech.</p>

<p>Also look at Texas Tech…not sure about TT, but look.</p>

<p>Also, look at the Dakota schools. One of them doesn’t charge more for OOS students…so their cost is lower than IL schools. </p>

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<p>Haha thanks Vicarious.</p>

<p>Now that I’ve thought about it, I realize I have a responsibility to inform the school and especially the GC abound the options. Thanks everybody who’s pointed that out, because I’d hate for someone else to go through this struggle.</p>

<p>I’ll look into those schools, mom2college kids; thanks.</p>

<p>Not to be selfish, but my question still stands:</p>

<p>I know it’s a long shot, and I might be hopelessly optimistic, but I think this is an extraordinary situation: do schools ever make exceptions? Obviously not the people that are low in the ranks; I mean the higher-up “I make decisions” kind of people.</p>