<p>I'm a high school senior from California, accepted to the University of Washington-Seattle for Civil Engineering. Due to high OOS tuition, my dad is reluctant to let me go to UW, and would rather me go to a community college for 2 years and then transfer to UCLA. I, however, love everything about UW and it's my dream to go there.</p>
<p>In an effort to persuade him, I've brought up their excellent CEE program (ranked as high as schools like UCLA, Duke, and Johns Hopkins; how civil engineers will be experiencing an increased rate of jobs through 2018; UW's national rankings (48th); how civil engineers get about $50,000 out of college; and lastly, how a company has offered me a paid summer internship if I am enrolled in a 4-year university.</p>
<p>I know my dad wants me to get the most bang for my buck, but I couldn't see myself waking up every morning knowing I have to go to community college. My dad is on the fence, but I think with a little more persuasion, I can get him to let me go. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Is there a possibility to go to another 4-yr university, still be able to do the paid internship, and transfer to UW after two years? I mean, if you can’t afford it and he doesn’t think you should do loans, then I think you have to listen to him.</p>
<p>I don’t think the answer is to pay high OOS costs for an eng’g degree. You’d get paid that SAME amount if you went to a CSU and got an engineering degree. A degree from UWash isn’t worth the extra money because you wouldn’t get more money.</p>
<p>Did you get accepted to any Calif schools? If so, which ones?</p>
<p>My alternative would be to go to community college or SDSU or CSU-Long Beach for a couple years and then transfer to either UCLA or UW, granted I do well enough with my grades for them to accept me. I’m opposed to going to Cal States, seeing how they’re rapidly sliding downhill due to the California budget crisis. Also, I feel like going to a CC would strip me of any social life and the so-called “college experience” once I transfer to UW/UCLA.</p>
<p>Oh my…</p>
<p>You’ve gotten into CSULB and SDSU. Those are FINE for engineering. NO NEED to transfer to UCLA, but if you do then that’s ok.</p>
<p>If you go to a CSU, then you still get the internships.</p>
<p>YOU WILL NOT make more money as an eng’r graduating from UWash…a total waste of money and a silly reason to borrow.</p>
<p>The CSUs are not sliding downhill…that is just "smoke and mirrors’ to justify a ridiculous choice.</p>
<p>Alright, obviously the adults are in agreement with my dad…I just LOVE UW so much, but I understand the consequences of taking out loans and going into debt. The long-term effects would hurt more than the pleasure of the short-term benefits. </p>
<p>That’s some great digging you did @mom2collegekids: yes, I did get into SDSU and LB, but I was accepted for Pre-Business. So my follow-up question is, how hard would it be to change my major to Civil Engineering if I were to attend one of those schools? Aren’t programs there impacted?</p>
<p>To me when I was researching schools, that sent up a big red flag that you may not be able to get done in 4 years at UW. So it may cost even more than you think.</p>
<p>So, it actually might be better to transfer there later paying attention to what their core requirements are so you don’t get stuck in the crowds of those lower division classes.</p>
<p>I’m not dissing UW…it’s a fine school. But, why do you LOVE it so much? </p>
<p>you’ll need to look into how hard it would be to get into eng’g at LB and SD. But even if it took you an extra semester or two at either school, it would still be soooooooooooo much cheaper than UW OOS. UW OOS is about $160k. 4-5 years at an instate CSU would be about $80k-100k.</p>
<p>Well, you and your father should have had the money talk before you made your application list. Then you would have realized that UW would have been too expensive, and perhaps adjusted your application list accordingly (perhaps more UCs, CSUs, and less expensive schools like Minnesota, Virginia Tech, NCSU, New Mexico Tech, etc.).</p>
<p>What’s wrong with going to SDSU or CSULB? Or community college followed by transfer to some other school? If these were your safeties, you obviously did not think through your application list if you do not really want to attend them.</p>
<p>If you want to transfer to UCLA or other California public school after two years, note that they tend to prefer transfer applicants from community colleges over those from four year schools.</p>
<p>Have you asked you dad - in a calm, mature, straightforward way - what it would take to convince him to let you to to UW? </p>
<p>If the answer is that he can’t afford it, or really just won’t agree, then you have the answer. But if he’s “close” maybe he needs to hear that you are willing to listen to HIS concerns and work with him. It may involve more jobs for you this summer, or certain grades, or chores, or demonstrating responsibility, etc etc. But a calm mature manner will go a long way if there is room to change his mind.</p>
<p>I have to say…We turned down UW because of the finances. We are OOS and it was way too much to pay. Yes it is a good school but so is SDSU and LB.</p>
<p>^That was the prudent choice… UW is a fine school, but not worth paying out the nose for. At the end of the day, it’s still just a decent public school for undergrad.</p>