<p>Hi, I am a senior in Upper St. Clair High School and I got accepted into university of Pittsburgh Honors College for Neuro-sciences major (I am in-state). I have been a relatively hard-working student with only honors and A.P classes in my schedule. I have a 3.7 unweighted GPA (4.2 weighted) and i will be graduating with about 31 college credits. Also I have applied for multiple external scholarships as well as for financial aid (my EFC came up to be 000000 because both my parents are unemployed). I am planning to go to med. I could not get merit scholarship however because my ACT score is very low (29). Everything is fine and dandy up till this point. I really wish to stay on campus as well so i can make friends/ have a social life because I have never really had friends ever because I have moved frequently in the past. I was hoping for this to not be an issue with my parents because they said I could live on-campus in the beginning of my application process when they had jobs. Since they don't really have jobs now, they are refusing me to go mainly because even with full financial aid, they might have to pay 3-4k per semester. Upon me bringing up loans, they strictly restricted me against it because they did not want debt on my head (which i completely understand). But they also said that I am not mature or sincere enough for college and think that I would just waste their money if they had any (i.e party, have sex, drink etc.). I have always been thinking of my education which is why I took A.P courses for senior year even though I was eligible to graduate early. I have always loved my parents even more than myself but I want to experience life outside of the 4 walls of my bedroom. My parents have always had high blood pressure and so whenever I bring up anything about me and on campus, they automatically blame me for causing their blood pressure and stress to rise. My dilemma is what should I do? Should I listen to my parents or should I take a chance at exploring college life? And If i pick on campus option, how would I be able to pay for the dorms? (P.S: please do not suggest community college or my parents would kill me because they do not want me to waste any years). </p>
<p>tl;dr</p>
<p>the details of your financial package are not clear enough.</p>
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<p>It seems that your financial aid (pell and PA state aid) covers tuition and fees, but you need ~ 8k in additional funding to cover the room and board. If you take a $5500 direct loan ($3500 will be subsidized,interest paid by the federal govt), and get a summer job, or perhaps 2, you will be able to seeing the balance for room and board.</p>
<p>Living on campus and having the “dorm experience” is a luxury that most families cannot afford as most students do commute from home. While it is great that you don’t want to take out loans, most public universities do not meet need without loans. Most students who attend public schools and live on campus have either their parents paying the bill or are taking loans or are doing a combination of parents footing the bill and taking loans.</p>
<p>From your statement, if neither of your parents are working, where do you expect them to get the 8k from to pay your room and board. Even if you borrowed the 5k, it sounds like they cannot afford that balance. Your parents can apply for a PLUS loan and if they are denied, you can borrow an additional 4k as an unsubsidized loan.</p>
<p>If you want to live on campus, your options are either to borrow money (which you or your parents do not want) or live at home (which you do not want)</p>
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Full financial aid from Pittsburgh likely includes federal loans</p>
<p>You are right 4kidsdad; the cost of attendance for the college of arts and sciences is ~27k. OP’s package most likely already includes Pell, State aid and $5500 in direct loans (~19-20K). If this is the case, your parents would have to take a PLUS loan (not a good idea since they are in financial straits). You as the student cannot take a loan without a co-signer (most likely them). At this time, forming may not be a financially feasible option for your family.</p>
<p>You will likely have to take out a loan and get a job. You will likely get Perkins loans and Stafford Loans, and you don’t need a credit check or a co signer for either one. But don’t fret…maybe those will be enough and maybe you can minimize the amount you have to borrow. </p>
<p>Check all available housing options for incoming freshmen. Some schools have furnished apartments on campus that are open to first time freshmen. These apartment have no meal plan attached to them because they have full kitchens. They are much cheaper than a traditional dorm/meal housing plan. Then all you’ll have to worry about is getting to a grocery store to buy your own food, which is still much cheaper.</p>
<p>You could also ask the school if they would allow you to stay in the dorms without the mean plan because you have special financial circumstances. My college did this, and I’m sure some do today as well. Food will be up to you, but it’s doable with a good mini fridge, a can opener, and a microwave. Most dorms have full kitchens in them. </p>
<p>Living off campus with roommates is another less expensive option. There are usually several private rental properties close to most campuses. I know you said you wanted to live in the dorms, but given your circumstances, I think you’ll have to at least consider this option. You will also have a place to say during breaks if going home for them would still be stressful. Inquire if the school allows it for freshmen, which most do if there are special circumstances involved. </p>
<p>As for your parents blood pressure and stress. It’s not having a job that’s stressing them. Keep this in mind and stop mentioning the on campus issue with them. If you are an adult, they can’t stop you from going. Take control of the situation and find your own solution. Good luck :)</p>
<p>Dracarys…where are you getting your information? There is NO guarantee that this student will receive a Perkins Loan…none. The apartment housing at Pitt is amongst the MOST expensive housing options…even without a meal plan. The school REQUIRES students living in dorms to have meal plans. Period. </p>
<p>This student’s financial aid package from Pitt will include the Direct Loans…which will be used for tuition/fees. There will be nothing left towards room/board.</p>
<p>The student has clearly said they want to live in a dorm, not an off campus apartment.</p>
<p>We do not know the details of the OP’s financial aid package. If it does not include the Direct Student Loans (up to $3500 subsidized, $2k unsub), then the OP could take those out on his own. The chances are good that they are. Also did the student apply as a commuter or as boarding student? That could make a difference in how the aid package is configured.</p>
<p>From what I know about Pitt, students living within an hours commute are often designated commuters and given fin aid on that basis even if they indicate they want to live on campus. Pitt (as well as Temple and PennState) are some of the most expensive state schools in the country for in staters. SHAME ON PENNSYLVANIA!<br>
But that is the reality of the situation. Actually, even here in NY where the costs are low, most aid packages for the SUNYs do not include room, board and discretionary costs. Full need is often met for tuition and fees between federal, state and school money, but beyond that … there is no guarantee. </p>
<p>My advice to the OP is to commute that first year. There are commuter resources, a commuter lounge. Look for a job in Oakland, get an idea of how thing flow there. Many, many students in sophomore and junior years go off campus because it is possible to find cheap housing, especially with room shares in Oakland, and if you have a job, can budget your expenses, you can live there year round. Pitt apartment housing is expensive and the meal plan is no bargain either, but Pittsburgh is not like Boston or SanFrancisco, or NYC in terms of finding cheap student digs. Those kids who get housing often do not do well in the room lottery in upper class years or want to cut expenses, so going off campus is the thing to do so you would be in good company. YOu have to learn the culture there and find the rooming opportunities which are best done on site. Finding a job there is not so difficult either. My SIL’s niece works several jobs and basically has supported herself at college at PItt. So you have a good opportunity to find something. Just wait a year and keep your eyes and ears open. Do well at school, find a job, look at the bulletin boards for housing, seek some room shares,get to know the prices and the area. It can be done.</p>
<p>@thumper
- I said in my post that I know she said that she wanted to live in the dorms, but given the dire straights of her parent’s financial situation, asking if she wouldl be allowed to live off campus it something worth inquiring about. A lot of schools do allow it for incoming freshmen in situations like the OP’s, they just don’t advertise it. It will not hurt to ask, and I stand by that.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I said she is likely to receive a Perkin’s loan. I didn’t say she was guaranteed one. </p></li>
<li><p>Most on campus apartments have quadruple occupancy for incoming freshmen. The schools down here do, and they are a third of the cost of living in the dorms w/ a meal plan. It wasn’t unreasonable to think maybe other schools have that too.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>IF OP is eligible for a perkins loan, it is most likely already in the FA package since there is very limited Perkins loan funding.</p>
<p>Pitt will allow her to live off campus with no problem. They will NOT pay for it, however. Going in the blind as a freshman into the student ghetto is not usually advisable for 18 year olds just hitting the college years. A year there, and she will get the “lay of the land” and be better able to consider this. </p>
<p>She is NOT likely to get a Perkins loan. If she doesn’t have one in her package now, she ain’t gonna get it. They go fast. So she either has one now or isn’t going to get one. And if they are in her package, they are not “additional” loans she can get. </p>
<p>We really don’t know what she has or is going to get, but unless you know PItt better than I do, I can tell you that her package is likely going to have loans in it and still not meet full need including room/board. And she can’t then turn around and ask for a Perkins loan if it’s not included in that package, because as I said, they are one of the first of the fin aid goodies to go. Highly unlikely any left. Also unlikely that she won’t already have the full $5500 of Direct student loans in her package.</p>
<p>I did read your post, Dracarys, very carefully, and it bothers me that you gave advice so off the wall. </p>
<p>Believe me, I know Pitt very well for more than 20 years. </p>