<p>Really? There’s not many available for transfers coming from a CC? Damn lol I mean I kind of already had the mindset that I was going to have to hustle and grind like everyday for the next year and a half if I wanted to any decent total amount of scholarships. I don’t know how hard it really is to qualify and actually receive a scholarship, as I’ve never had a reason to look for or apply.</p>
<p>If money is an issue, stay at home. That kind of debt can buy you a pretty decent car.</p>
<p>Most CSUs have lots of commuter students anyway.</p>
<p>True true. Why are most CSUs commuter school and not UC’s? I would love to go to UCSB because OMG the area is beautiful haha but I don’t think my GPA would be high enough. Isn’t their average like 3.3? Going to UC’s are what I want but again, the money issue comes into play :(</p>
<p>One of the reasons is there are only 9 UCs but something like 23 CSUs so it is a lot less likely that you live close enough to a UC to commute.</p>
<p>UCSB is very beautiful. Do you think you can qualify for any financial aid?</p>
<p>You can apply to CSUs and UCs. Lots of students do. It never hurts to try. It might not work out but you will never know if you don’t try.</p>
<p>Yea I think I qualify for a few thousand in financial aid. I’ve never gotten it before so I’m not sure exactly how it works. Do you have to pay back any of the money they give you or is it more like straight free money?
Ill definitely be applying to a few UC’s just to see what the outcome will be. You’re right, never hurts to try. My top choices to go to are UCSB, UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly SLO and SDSU. if I could get into any of those besides pomona I’d have to hope and pray for financial help haha I heard SLO and SDSU have pretty good business admin programs. Along with Pomona</p>
<p>Scholarships and financial aid are two different things even though they might overlap sometimes. There might be free money if there is financial need. Merit money is definitely not easy to come by even with superlative grades. Have you done FAFSA or the equivalent if CA requires a different one? Bottom line: don’t get into debt if you can help it.</p>
<p>If you have always wanted to go away to school and live on campus, I think it might – might – make sense to borrow no more than $20k over two years to go to SDSU, either Cal Poly, or maybe Sonoma or Humboldt. These are places where there is a real undergraduate experience, everyone is not a commuter, etc., and that’s a sane amount of debt. But it’s at least an equally good, if not better, choice to save the money and commute to a CSU. Even at CPSLO, we’re not talking about, say, the Princeton undergrad bonding experience, especially for someone who comes in junior year. To the extent that they get that experience at CSUs, it’s disproportionately for freshmen.</p>
<p>I agree that you should at least apply to some UCs and see what happens. If they don’t give you enough aid, you don’t go.</p>
<p>Another thing to think about in the “college experience” category is that by Fall 2014 you’ll be at least 22 which, will be older than the vast majority of undergrads at most schools.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Merit based scholarship is very difficult to get so don’t have your hope on that.</p>
<p>Need based financial aid works roughly something like this. There is something called EFC (expected family contricution). When you fill out the FAFSA, it will tell you your EFC. Roughly (very rough) about 25-35% of your parents’ income and 5% of your parents’ assets (not including primary home and any reitrement accounts) should be used for your education. If you have any income or asset, a large percentage (can’t remember) should be used for your education. Those all add up to be your EFC.</p>
<p>Each college has a COA (cost of attendance). You can google UCSB cost of attendance. Your need is COA-EFC. But just because you have need, that doesn’t mean you will get all of need. You might get some or very little.</p>
<p>When you get your financial aid package (if you get any), sometimes you will get some grant (free money no need to pay back), some loan (you must pay back) and some work study (work on campus some hours a week during school year).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you turn 24 during any school year, you will be an independent student for FAFSA purposes and you will likely be eligible for a Pell grant, $5k+.</p>
<p>The pell grant I’ve been looking at but haven’t really understood it. My dad makes a sufficient amount that FAFSA won’t cover very much which sucks because just because he makes a certain amount doesn’t mean we’re actually able to shell out that kind of money you know? Yea even 20K in loans is kinda iffy for me haha.
I would love to go live on campus but I was also wondering, is there a big percentage of juniors who actually live in the dorms? I feel like it would be mostly freshman and sophomores. Idk though. I’d love to get out but true, if the school won’t help me out with any aid it probably won’t be an option. Do you guys think the social scene at these school depend on living situations or just how you put yourself out there??</p>
<p>The pell grant I’ve been looking at but haven’t really understood it. My dad makes a sufficient amount that FAFSA won’t cover very much which sucks because just because he makes a certain amount doesn’t mean we’re actually able to shell out that kind of money you know? Yea even 20K in loans is kinda iffy for me haha.
I would love to go live on campus but I was also wondering, is there a big percentage of juniors who actually live in the dorms? I feel like it would be mostly freshman and sophomores. Idk though. I’d love to get out but true, if the school won’t help me out with any aid it probably won’t be an option. Do you guys think the social scene at these schools depend on living situations or just how you put yourself out there?? I feel like it would differ as you go to different regions of SoCal</p>
<p>“I would love to go live on campus but I was also wondering, is there a big percentage of juniors who actually live in the dorms?”</p>
<p>Depends on the school, but at most CSUs, no. It’s mostly freshmen and to a lesser extent sophomores. Living in a fraternity, sorority, or undergrad co-op is at least as good or even better for community experience purposes, and can sometimes be cheaper than dorm life. At UCLA, at least, it is common for junior transfers to rush and join houses, and most UCs and CSUs have more open Greek life than UCLA. If that’s something that would interest you, it’s worth investigating at each campus, because it is unique to each school.</p>
<p>At every school, how you put yourself out there is more important than where you live. But at some schools, where you live could make things much easier for you.</p>
<p>Not sure how into Greek life I am. I mean I’ve never really looked into it but I’ve always wanted to at least experience it. Who knows, could be my cup of tea. But true. Idk how I would feel living with other students younger than me. I dont think it’d be a problem because a lot of my friends were younger than me by a year or two. If I could get scholarships and grants and merits and stuff to pay for a majority i think I’d jump at the chance even if it was to live on campus</p>
<p>What is your FAFSA EFC? </p>
<p>You’re not likely going to get any scholarships. </p>
<p>From the sounds of it, your GPA isn’t that high (your UCSB comment), so even if there were any transfer scholarships, there would be other students with better GPAs that would get those dollars. </p>
<p>Any grants will depend on your EFC and family income. </p>
<p>I think that you’re romanticizing your last two years of college. You’re going to be immersed in your major with little time for frats and such. Besides, those things cost a LOT of money.</p>
<p>But if he turns 24 by December 31 of an academic year, he will be an independent student for FAFSA purposes. Probably not for fall 2014 but likely for fall 2015.</p>
<p>^^^^Oh, great. Then he’ll have the privilege of taking out loans in his own name.</p>
<p>Hahaha I know right. I’m trying to stay as far away from loans as I possibly can. Last resort and all. But I mean if I can’t make my last two years exactly how I want it where I want it it’s fine. CPP is always a good school. Ill most likely be moving back to Chicago after I graduate anyways haha</p>
<p>Hahaha yeaaaa. My goal is to stay as far away from loans as possible. They’re like a last resort. I mean if I can’t make my last two years EXACTLY how I want it and where I want It that’s ok. It’s not like CPP isn’t a good school. Ill most likely be moving back to Chicago after I graduate anyways haha</p>
<p>Going away to an out of town college/university has a value far beyond financial means. Being on your own and developing personal growth is extremely beneficial to your own life and to your education…and eventually career. Staying near home has benefits, definitely. But the growth you will get from being somewhere else is unmatched.</p>