@LordWill - you can run the NPC and get an idea right now, or you can wait for your official financial aid statement. If your EFC is $22,000 and USC meets full need, then your cost each year would be $22,000.00. That’s what meeting full needs means. However, the package might include loans - which are capped by law. The only thing is a private university isn’t bound to evaluate your need the same way you do, or the FAFSA does. They could give you less, or they could even give you more. Which is why I keep saying you should wait to see what they offer.
@LordWill Be careful to be flippant about debt. Here is what debt is: It robs from you future. It robs your future dollars, happiness, security and flexibility.
You may be all YOLO for 4 years. BUT you will have to pay it back…over 10 or maybe 20 years! So no more YOLO at 24, 26, 28,30 and maybe even 35 and beyond. You’ll be working off those 4 years for a looooong time. All the money you could be using to enhance your career (when you are finally getting some traction) will be servicing debt.
I know that’s throwing shade. But … it’s better to hear it now then be stuck in the poor house at 26…when the situation could have been avoided.
Good luck … and good for you for asking. Just be careful about cheating your 26 year old self.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Austin is called Music City and Live Music Capital of the World. Anyone who knows Austin thinks music before they think anything else. LA I don’t think of music – I think of Hollywood and film and movies. Austin is a city of two million people with a thriving economy. There are plenty of jobs there, plus you can still get summer jobs anywhere you like, even in LA. Go where you are most wanted – UT – because they will be more likely to treat you like royalty and give you lots of opportunities to shine. It will be more affordable, and they will consider you more special. You will have a chance to stand out more there and be a star music student. Unless money is no issue, and you just live and breathe everything LA and can’t wait to spend four years there, then go with UT.
@bridgenail Hm, you are very right, debt is something that is not to be taken lightly. I will have to take those words to heart…
It’s just that, over the 17 years I’ve been on this earth, I’ve just seen people complain about debt yet they seem to be just fine…not just for music majors, but even doctors, businessmen etc. They have a home, a family, a job, and aren’t being robbed of too much happiness, at least from what I can tell. Granted, it will be harder as a music major compared to someone like a businessman considering the limited amount of options a music major has.
And yes, debt is something one will have to pay off over the course of several years, but isn’t that a good thing? You have so much time to pay that debt off it seems like.
Also, not to come off has pretentious but I would say I am fairly good when it comes to money; It is worth mentioning that I am NOT the spending type. My friends family members constantly buy things like fancy clothes and expensive foods, but I have always kept things to a “necessity”. (Except for that one time I went to New York with my orchestra friends, that wasn’t quite necessary 
) I’m also not planning to have kids any time soon either. Ultimately, I know that I will want to have some freedom at some point, but just not any time soon.
Perhaps it’s due to the lack of freedom, such as difficult coursework and hours of practicing piano I had to endure throughout middle/high school which makes me turn a blind eye to wanting freedom in the future, such as travelling.
I have yet to understand many things…
…You are so right @mommyrocks
@bridgenail
You know what…disregard that last comment.
I think I’ve made my decision
LordWill I still don’t understand why you’re making any decision before you receive your financial aid offer from USC. It doesn’t make sense.
No no! Of course I’m going to wait for my financial aid! All I’m saying is that, at the moment, I am really starting to lean towards UT. We’ll just wait and see what happens @SpiritManager