How to Pay for College as a Middle Class Student

Hi!

I am a freshman in high school right now. Now, before you tell me that I still have time to think about these things, please, hear me out.

I have always had my life planned out in advance, I know what I want to do, when I want to do it, and all those things. Now, I am at the point where I am thinking about the cost of college.

I have always told my parents that I would cover the costs of college by myself without any of their help, and that I didn’t want them to stress out over it. But, when I put my family information into the financial aid calculator of the school I really want to go to, UCLA, I find that my parents earn an amount that is too much to earn any grants or aid yet too less to pay for college. In addition to this, I want to do medical school after my undergraduate, which will only increase my student debt. I am pretty strong in my academics, so at this point, I am just hoping for a scholarship, but at the same time, I cannot be sure that I will be receiving that.

So, it shows that I have a big fat sum to pay per year, and I really don’t want my parents to contribute because I don’t want to rip off all that money from them. I know I can work-study, but of course, that still won’t be enough.

Does anyone have any advice? I would really really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Learning is part of growing up, so now you have learned that before you told your parents that you would cover the costs of college by yourself without their help, you should have had a clear idea what the costs would be.

If your parents help pay for your college education, how is that ripping them off?

Are you a resident of California?

One option is to do really well in HS and look at some colleges that offer merit aid. I’m glad you’re thinking about this ahead of time. Some students find out at the last minute and are not prepared.

Presumably your parents want you to get a college degree. It is very, very difficult to do that these days without parental help. Not impossible-- especially if you have good grades and can commute to a college near your parents home and they are willing to have you live with them. Or if you have an interest in the military? Or are prepared to start at community college and transfer.

But better to know now what your options are. And on the work-study thing-- you need to be eligible and if your parents income is too high for need based aid, it’s likely too high for work-study (it’s a federal program administered by each college). You can always get a job of course- but it’s not realistic to think that you’ll be able to swing more than 10-12 hours a week of paid employment while you’re at school. Summers- that’s different- especially if you’ve got highly marketable skills.

I guess it isn’t ripping them off but more the fact that I didn’t want to add the pressure of them dealing with paying for my education. I have a sibling thats only two years younger than me so it would be a struggle right?

And yes, I am a resident of California

@bewilderedteen Given that you do not qualify for need-based aid, maybe your parents can afford comfortably to send you to an in-state public university. Have you asked them? It’s possible that they knew your offer to cover your own college costs was kindly meant but unrealistic. If they can’t there are many other paths - you can apply to Cal states which may be a bit cheaper. You could do community college for the first two years and then transfer. You might be able to save money by commuting from home. As a California resident, you can apply to schools in the Western Undergraduate Exchange as an out of state student at discounted rates. Although TBH, most of the eligible schools are not superior to the many options you have in CA.

https://wuesavingsfinder.wiche.edu/search-results.php

If your grades and test scores (assuming a return to SAT/ACT post-COVID) are strong, you may be eligible for generous merit scholarships at places like U of AZ, ASU, U of NM, U of Alabama, U of Mississippi and others. If you do well enough on the PSAT to qualify for National Merit, there are a few good state schools that offer full tuition (or more) scholarships to National Merit finalists like the public universities in Florida.

Good for you for thinking realistically about costs so early! Better now than halfway into your junior year.

Study hard. Get top grades and top SAT or ACT scores (you will need both to be a competitive applicant to UCLA). Make a list of the characteristics that make UCLA such a top choice for a 14 year old. Then think about those and start looking for other colleges that have similar characteristics.

As an instate resident of CA, you are fortunate to have an abundance of public universities in your state. The instate costs are way more modest than many other options you might consider.

Once you have a Junior year GPA, and your standardized test scores, it will be a LOT easier for folks to give you suggestions.

In the meantime, (and I know you don’t want to hear this but please listen) put the dream school notion of UCLA on the back burner. Yes, that can still be your top choice if it comes to that, but take time to find the many other options that will prepare you for your future.

WRT medical school…you are a ninth grader. It is at least 7 years before you will be applying to medical school, if you actually do. A lot can change in 7 years. Please try to keep an open mind. Plus any medical school wannabe needs to have a plan B because a large %age of medical school applicants do not get accepted anywhere.

But right now…concentrate on high school. Get great grades. Take challenging courses. Do some ECs that you care a lot about. Volunteer. Get a job. Have a social life.

College will be there in three plus years when you apply.

Thank you for all the suggestions!

Yep, check into colleges in-state that are not prestigious or expensive. I’m not familiar with California, but it looks like the CSUs are in line with the regional publics around here as far as cost. And if your stats are good compared to other applicants, you might get some merit.

Your parents might be able to help some. Definitely talk some numbers with them! They can probably also get the $2500 tax credit and therefore get some of the cost back on their taxes each year. During your high school years, you can work and save up. It might make sense for you to start at a community college and transfer. You might have a college within commuting distance. Apply for all the local scholarships you can senior year- that will help with your freshman year. Sometimes then moving off campus is cheaper for future years (maybe not in CA though).

With DD’19 we have done all of the above, she’s at a regional public in the top automatic merit bracket so it’s fairly cheap. She had some saved up, works, and we contribute a little and it’s been very doable so far.

Note that living at home with your parents is still receiving parental help, although it is usually less expensive for them to continue to subsidize your living and commuting costs at home than to pay for room and board at an away college. Of course, doing that would limit your college choices to those within reasonable commuting range (which may or may not be the most affordable after scholarships).