How can I pay for college?

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm a rising junior, so I've started looking at schools I want to at least visit this year before I make my final decisions on where to apply this summer. </p>

<p>Most of the colleges I've looked at are very expensive, like Washington Univ. in St. Louis, Univ. of Penn., Carnegie Mellon, etc (so like upper $50k-$60k). My family won't qualify for much (if any) financial aid, but my parents aren't willing to pay for me to go to any of these schools, because they think I'll want to get my graduate degree, which I already definitely know I don't want (or need, for the field I want to go in). Basically, their argument is that I won't want to be swimming in debt after college with a low-paying entry level job. I completely understand that, but I also don't think I'll be happy at a state school, which is where they want me to go. I've already visited it at their insistence, and just really don't like it at all. </p>

<p>TL;DR: How do I pay for college with little to no financial aid and graduate without a lot of debt at the schools I want to go to?</p>

2

<p>Bump 10 char</p>

3

<p>What state are you in? Does your state offer reciprocity with any other states that might have more desirable public colleges? What about lower cost privates or schools where you might get good merit aid? They would be lower ranked than the ones you have mentioned, but there are many fine schools in that group if you take the time to look. If you tell us where you live and what your stats are, people might be able to make some suggestions. There are compromises between state schools and top privates. You and your parents may have to give some on each side. There isn’t really a way to pay for it if you parents won’t help out.</p>

4

<p>Your parents are being smart about the money. Trust their judgment on this.</p>

<p>However, since you don’t particularly care for the public U that you have visited, take the time to visit a few more in your state. It also would be useful to sit down with your parents and define an amount that they are ready, willing, and able to contribute each year for your education. Then you can look around for places that are likely to award you merit-based aid that will bring your costs down to what your family will pay, and places that cost no more than that amount even without aid.</p>

5

<p>

Are your GPA & test scores high enough to get merit scholarships or even a full ride? See <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>You need to identify how much your family is willing to afford to pay from loans, sacings and current income.</p>

<p>Why don’t you think you would be happy at an affordable school?</p>

<p>Your education will be mostly about what you put into it, not whether it was expensive or not.
UPenn is not Xanadu.
;)</p>

7

<p>The truth may also include that your parents can’t afford to pay what these pricey colleges expect them to pay.</p>

<p>You need to deal with reality otherwise you’ll be very unhappy next spring with no affordable schools.</p>

<p>1) How much WILL your parents pay each year? If you don’t know, ask them.</p>

<p>2) What are your GPA and test scores (include SAT breakdown).</p>

<p>3) What will your major and career interest be?</p>

<p>4) If your family won’t pay what these pricey colleges expect them to pay, you won’t be able to afford to go there. There isn’t a money fairy out there that is going to drop $100k+ into your lap so that you can go to WashU or UPenn.</p>

<p>5) If your stats are high enough, then there are some schools that will give you large merit scholarships for your stats. Some will give huge merit scholarships. </p>

<p>6) The best scholarships are from the schools that offer them. Those are for all four years (usually)</p>

<p>7) Private scholarships are usually for small amounts and only for freshman year. They won’t help you pay for four years of college. Plus, many require that the student have significant financial need, which you don’t have.</p>

<p>Once you know how much your parents will pay each year, then you can determine how much merit scholarship money you’ll need.</p>

<p>For instance, if your parents will pay $15k-20k per year, then you’ll need a full tuition scholarship, so that your parents’ money can pay for room, board, books, fees, transportation, and personal expenses.</p>

8

<p>*Basically, I want to go into the pharmaceutical industry. Long term, I’d love to be able to start a program to help people pay less for medicine, specifically medial supplies for diabetics. *</p>

<p>What will your major be? The above “career goal” certainly doesn’t require a pricey degree.</p>

<p>*but I also don’t think I’ll be happy at a state school, which is where they want me to go. I’ve already visited it at their insistence, and just really don’t like it at all. *</p>

<p>Sounds like that is what their budget can afford. What state are you in? What did you not like about the school?</p>

<p>There are many other public univs. They’re not all the same. You shouldn’t just assume that you won’t “be happy at a state school.” To be honest, this just sounds like you equate “pricey private” means “better”. That isn’t true.</p>

<p>Or maybe you don’t like your state school because you feel that you’re being railroaded to attend it?</p>

<p>How much does it cost to attend your state school? Then ask your parents if they’ll pay THAT MUCH for you to attend ANOTHER school that will give you scholarship money for the rest. You need to find out how much your parents will pay.</p>

<p>If your parents won’t pay for a pricey private than you’re going to have to adjust your thinking. There are likely schools out there that will be affordable.</p>

9

<p>If your parents are willing to pay the equivalent of full-time, in-state, total cost of attendance at your public/state college, then you can see with them whether they’d be willing to pay that no matter where you go <em>as long as you manage to make it affordable for yourself</em>.
At other schools, that means you’d have to win major merit scholarships therefore that you should be in the top 10% of applicants for the stats and of course that you wouldn’t be going to any of the top 20 national universities or liberal arts colleges.
but between your state college and a top 20, there are likely 50 universities and 50 colleges that could work for you.
Of course, without your stats, we don’t really know whether that option is possible (i.e., your stats need to be excellent for you to qualify for a lot of merit aid)</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the responses guys. I live in Pennsylvania.</p>

<p>My parents are willing to pay about 30-40k every year for college. For what it’s worth, we could afford more but they don’t want to since my sister will be going to college the same time as me. </p>

<p>I guess my stats are alright, not great, because I don’t have that many ECs, and I haven’t taken any SATs yet, but I do take the hardest courses possible even though its like a higher level math class, two sciences, and regular other classes since my school doesn’t have honors classes and only three AP classes that I’ll take senior year (we’re not allowed to take them earlier, or else I would’ve). I go to a small town school where there aren’t many opportunities for pretty much anything, much less anything related to science. So I definitely don’t have a chance at a merit scholarship at any of my dream schools.</p>

11

<p>@mom2collegekids: ideally I’d like to double major in biology or some division of it and business, or minor in business and major in biology.</p>

12

<p>Your options as I see them

  • Deal with the budget you have. I would challenge your statement that you can only be happy at an expensive school.
  • Get the extra money from your parents. Will they consider loaning it to you ?
  • Find the money in private scholarships. Military comes to mind. Hey, if you want it, you will do anything right ?
  • You can take out about 5K in loans and maybe get another 5K working.
  • Since your parents are rich how about your other family members?
  • Get married (then you are independent and qualify for aid).</p>
13

<p>$30k to $40k per year is a nice chunk! Look at the SUNY schools. The COA for these would fit that budget. You can also look for schools where you would get merit aid…adding in guaranteed merit aid the schools award. In addition, you can take a loan of $5500 your freshman year. And get a job.</p>

<p>I would NOT suggest you join the military unless you really want to join the military. Getting married is also a bit extreme.</p>

<p>What state are you living in? Surely there is at least ONE public university that you can consider there.</p>

<p>Your parents are offering you an incredible gift…graduating from undergrad school debt free.</p>

14

<p>“My parents are willing to pay about 30-40k every year for college. For what it’s worth, we could afford more but they don’t want to since my sister will be going to college the same time as me.”</p>

<p>Actually, your parents may NOT be able to pay more because your sister will be in college at the same time. Very few families can cough up $60k - $80k at one time!</p>

<p>There are many colleges and universities out there that fall in your price range. Use the college-matching search engines to run searches for institutions where the OOS tuition and fees are in the range of $20k which leaves $10k or so for housing and food costs.</p>

<p>Penn State main campus is not the only public option in your state. Visit some of the Penn State branch campuses, and a few other public Us as well. I know people who got wonderful educations at Mansfield, Temple, and Shippensburg. All of those would definitely fit within your budget.</p>

15

<p>This will be hard to hear, but right now, the way your describe your profile, you have virtually no chance of being admitted to the schools listed in #1.
To even stand a chance, you need to show that you tried to challenge yourself above and beyond what was readily offered. You’re a rising junior so that means you’ve got enough time still.
Plan to do something special during your summer before senior year - see if you can attend an intensive academic or language camp, for example, that would allow you to “skip” a level (for example, Concordia Language camps allow you to “skip” one level of foreign language upon completion, so your transcript would show you were able to handle jumping from Spanish 3 to AP Spanish, for example). Some high schools actually offer AP classes online, so that you may be able to bypass the “only 3 AP classes” rule at your high school. If not, try and see if you can take a class at a community college - in fact, check that out <em>right now</em>, and register for whatever looks the most doable for you during the second summer session - college credits as a rising junior would show your ability and your sense of initiative. Colleges will thus be reassured that you <em>can</em> handle the work.
See if you can get noticed in sports, arts, or something else that is your passion. Don’t just learn something, teach or coach it to younger kids. Create a club or activity on something you totally love (it can be Game of Thrones, playing the ukulele, 1930s HOllywood, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re passionate and can enroll people in it), find people who will help you expand it, keep track of its accolades (if you need publicity for volunteers and freely given accolades, the Center Daily Times/Huntington Daily News/ etc will likely be happy to run something about your group, which you’ll be able to send colleges if need be).
In order to get good merit scholarships, you’ll need to start prepping for the tests. In particular, try to work as hard as you can on SAT books before the PSAT this October - this could be your ticket to a big scholarship in many states. </p>

<p>Are you first gen or are you a legacy somewhere?</p>

<p>30,000 is a lot of money. If your parents are OK paying this no matter where you go if you earn merit or need-based aid, you should focus on getting the highest possible test scores and the most challenging and distinctive transcript that you possibly can.</p>

<p>For in-state:
West Chester is the best public state school, and if you get into their Honors Program you’re sure to have a decent education at bargain price.
However, PA is literally FILLED with great colleges - 173 of them, I think. Go to their website and ask for info (also, if you do well on the PSAT, you’ll get lots of brochures sent to you :stuck_out_tongue: but some colleges do track if/when you initiated contact so doing it this summer is another way for you to stand out a little).
Lehigh, Allegheny, Juniata, Washington&Jefferson, Haverford, Dickinson, Bucknell, Susquehanna, Carnegie Mellon, Franklin&Marshall, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Drexel… seriously just in under 1mn I can find more than 10 :slight_smile:
Then you can expand into neighborhing states: SUNY Geneseo is the Honors college for the public universities in NY State, but Binghamton or Stony Brook are pretty good too, Elmira if you want a small college (and if you’re valedictorian/Salutatorian you get free tuition!) and everything in between in the state of NY (which also has lots of colleges), MD is small but look into St MAry’s of Maryland and Goucher if you don’t want a big state school like University of MD-College Park, and OH has tons of colleges also.
If you’re willing to travel, you’d probably find good bargains in the Midwest and in the South.</p>

16

<p>So I definitely don’t have a chance at a merit scholarship at any of my dream schools.</p>

<p>Oh I didn’t mean merit at your dream schools. Some of them don’t give any merit ever, and some only give some merit to some super tippy top students with fabulous stats and ECs.</p>

<p>I meant that there are OTHER schools that will give you large merit for your stats.</p>

<p>*My parents are willing to pay about 30-40k every year for college. For what it’s worth, we could afford more but they don’t want to since my sister will be going to college the same time as me. *</p>

<p>Are you certain about the above? Your parents are willing to spend $80k per year for 2 children to go to college at the same time? Be sure to check with them about this. They may have meant that they’re willing to spend $40k total since they are pushing your state school.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids: ideally I’d like to double major in biology or some division of it and business, or minor in business and major in biology.</p>

<p>Ok, with those majors and your career intent, going to a pricey private isn’t necessary at all. I also wonder why you think you wouldn’t need any grad school with a pharmaceutical interest.</p>

17

<p>“Are you certain about the above? Your parents are willing to spend $80k per year for 2 children to go to college at the same time?” </p>

<p>Yes, I’m absolutely positive, we have a good amount of money in our college accounts, and I forgot to mention earlier that my sister stands a good chance at getting full tuition at her top schools from looking at their criteria and her GPA and scores.</p>

<p>@MYOS1634: I’m legacy at Carnegie Mellon, and I’m probably going to apply there no matter what, even if I don’t have a chance at getting in.</p>

<p>Thanks for the heads-up on West Chester - I’ll look into it.</p>

18

<p>See [Last-Minute</a> College Savings Tips for Parents | Fox Business](<a href=“http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/06/28/last-minute-college-savings-tips-for-parents/]Last-Minute”>http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/06/28/last-minute-college-savings-tips-for-parents/)

</p>

19

<p>*Basically, I want to go into the pharmaceutical industry. Long term, I’d love to be able to start a program to help people pay less for medicine, specifically medial supplies for diabetics. *</p>

<p>What do you want to be doing when you enter the pharm industry? It sounds like you want to be working in an area that would require a grad degree.</p>

<p>I think your parents are correct in thinking that you’re going to need some kind of grad/professional degree.</p>

20

<p>“What do you want to be doing when you enter the pharm industry?”</p>

<p>I’d like to be involved in the more management side of R&D, like in clinical trials and such.</p>