<p>Hi parents. Sorry for the long post haha. I'm a 21 year old guy going to a community college right now in California. I'm in the process of getting my GPA and credits up enough and should be in a university by Fall 2014. I live with my parents currently. I just have some questions and would love feedback and opinions from outside sources other than family. Where I'm currently living there's a university literally 2 min away I could get into. I'm working on an Associates Degree for transfer which will guarantee admission into the CSU system. The area I live in now, I'm not too fond of and is love to go somewhere else. My parents tell me to go to the university down the street and live at home and save around 20 thousand an only pay the 6 thousand dollar tuition. Basically cut to the chase, how important do you think it is to actually go off to a college away from home, live on campus, meet new people and gain the experiences you may miss while you're at home? Are the financial costs worth it?</p>
<p>It’s great to go away, but only if your family can afford to pay and you won’t have to take out big debt yourself. Otherwise it is not worth it. You will regret hobbling yourself with debt that will mean fewer choices and options, and more financial pain, when you finally graduate with your 4-year degree and those loans come due. I’m not from CA but I would think that one CSU is not going to be markedly better/different from another, academically, to the extent that big debt would be prudent.</p>
<p>Don’t overidealize going “away” to college. Many students would love to have access to a low-cost, high-quality option close to home.</p>
<p>The truth is it depends on the institutions, the major/ job connections and how you would pay for it. If you and your family can pay for it without substantial loans, it really is just a consumer decision like any other. If you are talking about a total of $40K in debt, that is a substantial amount. It could be worth it if you are debating a regional state university compared to a top national one, or if you would be majoring in something at the other school that has strong job connections (like a more marketable major that isn’t offered close to home)-- but if it’s only for the living away experience, it is not worth it.</p>
<p>Don’t go into debt for that “away” experience (although it IS fun and enriching in its own way.) If you stay at home, you could “reward” yourself with a summer/semester abroad paid for with some of the savings you’d have by not going away.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Availability and quality of academic offerings that you want to study should be the primary non-cost criterion for selecting a college or university. Various “college experience” type of factors may be secondary considerations; how much they are worth depends on the individual student.</p>
<p>Note that “going away” may not yield a very interesting “college experience” if you “go away” to a school with mostly local commuter students.</p>
<p>Alright that sounds basically what my parents are telling me. What do you guys think Is too much debt. I’m majoring in business administration - finance. Maybe international business. I know there are a few CSU’s that are more accredited for their business program. If I went to those I’d have to go away. Tuition housing and all would be around 24K$. I’m sure I could get a couple scholarships but still how much of a loan is too much and not worth it?</p>
<p>By “more accredited”, do you mean that they have AACSB accreditation but the one nearby does not?</p>
<p>[AACSB</a> Business and Accounting Accreditation](<a href=“http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accreditedmembers.asp]AACSB”>Search Accredited Schools | AACSB)</p>
<p>Most would consider loans more than Stafford loans to be too much.</p>
<p>Well two out of the three school I wanted to go to are on there but when I say more accredits I just meant the students and others praise the business program more highly. Like here in California, Fullerton over Pomona but idk</p>
<p>Well three out of the four schools I wanted to go to are on there but when I say more accredits I just meant the students and others praise the business program more highly. Like here in California, Fullerton over Pomona but idk</p>
<p>First of all, at this point, it would really be a stretch to get “a couple of scholarships” that would be significant enough to help with ALL FOUR years. At this point, you MIGHT get a couple of local small scholarships for FRESHMAN year only. What about the other years?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay?</p>
<p>YOU can only borrow the following amount by yourself:</p>
<p>$5500 frosh year
$6500 soph year
$7500 jr and sr year</p>
<p>To borrow more, you’d need willing and qualified co-signers. Doesn’t sound like your parents would do that. Besides, to borrow more isn’t a good idea. </p>
<p>How much do you think you’ll be earning upon graduation?</p>
<p>OP is transferring with an AS from CC so first two years aren’t an issue.</p>
<p>Don’t go into debt. If your parents are willing to let you live at home rent free and you can finish your education, do it.
You can still get involved in campus activities and make efforts to meet people. Truthfully, many students-maybe half- who are studying at the Cal States are commuters, so you’ll actually be in very good company.
I think anything over 10K in loans would be a burden for a young person starting out after graduation.</p>
<p>I’d save my money and stay close to home.</p>
<p>“Experiences and money really worth it?”</p>
<p>It depends on the experiences and the money.</p>
<p>WELP looks like the verdict is the same from all sides and angles. Thanks for your input. I just wanted outside views and what other parents were thinking. Yea walking out of college basically debt free sounds like a good option. Although I may not like the area, unless I can get scholarships to cover housing I guess I gotta suck it up! Haha</p>
<p>Because at most CSU’s the tuition alone is anywhere from 6-8000. Housing goes from 10-12000. My family could cover tuition that’s why I was worried about the housing cost but guess living at home will take care if that issue</p>
<p>You can live other places when you get a job. It will still be fun, and cost much less. Hang in there, and I admire you for wanting to do the smart, prudent thing.</p>
<p>*Because at most CSU’s the tuition alone is anywhere from 6-8000. Housing goes from 10-12000. *</p>
<p>To me, it doesn’t make much sense to borrow for living expenses for another CSU when you can commute to a local CSU.</p>
<p>Even if you live off-campus and share an apt, your annual costs (rent, utilites, cable, internet, food, transportation, etc) is going to cost you at least $1k per month, if not more.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids yea that is pretty true, not too much sense. I mean that’s why I was asking earlier if one CSU had a better business program over all others. Like Cal Poly Pomona is known having a great engineering program, I was wondering the same about business admin. If there was a CSU that had the advantage I feel like a couple thousand, if that’s what it came down to, would be worth it to walk out with a degree from a note able school with the outstanding business program.
I took a tour at CPP though and she told me 72% of the graduates get work in 3 months. So I guess it’s not too bad :)</p>
<p>Just as a word of warning, it is rare to find much in the way of scholarships when you transfer. Good luck in making your decision!</p>