<p>I'm a senior in high school. My #1 college choice right now is UIUC. I'm not a resident of Illinois, so I would have to pay out-of-state tuition. The thing is, their out-of-state tuition is way too expensive for me. It would be around 43,000~49,000 including room&board and other expenses. Parents make >100,000 a year. I'm planning to work during senior year, but it's all not going to be enough. I want to go to dental school, which I know is going to be hard to pay, so I don't want to take out a hefty loan. What should I do? Should I give up on my hope for going to that college? My backup plan is my in-state university, but I am really not interested in going there. I am clueless about the whole financial aid thing, so info on that would be helpful too. Thanks.</p>
<p>Jayeslee, if you are a good student, you will have lots of options. If you want to go to dental school, you will want to minimize any loans you take at the undergraduate level. Get some information on this site. At the top of the financial aid page there are threads about colleges with guaranteed scholarship money. Good luck.</p>
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<p>It is good that you recognize that you can’t afford UIUC already so that you can set another plan into motion. Many many many students must attend in-state colleges and you would be no different. </p>
<p>Get excited about what you can afford…look for the silver lining, keep the big goal in mind. Also realize that a student can get a great education, make great friends, and have a fantastic time at most any public university–so go with gusto.</p>
<p>Have some passions besides schoolwork itself… do you want to backpack Europe in the summer? Bike across country? Learn to paint? Sing in a choir? Build homes for Habitat for Humanity? Organic farm in the summers? Whathaveyou? Then plan your life for these REAL adventures rather than expecting your university to supply all the oomph for your life excitement. Undergrad lasts a short 4 years… your life passions outside of college (and future career) are what will drive your zest for life and give your college schoolwork context. You can create your own excitement and drive for college that has nothing to do with how pretty a campus is or what color its mascot is.</p>
<p>@MD Mom Thank you for the reply. I was just actually checking out the thread about colleges with automatic/guaranteed scholarships:) Thanks for the luck.</p>
<p>@annikasorrensen Thank you for your reply and positivity 
You have a great point!</p>
<p>If you start a thread with your grades and scores and what kind of college you might like, you will get lots of guidance on places to look.</p>
<p>Go to the school that you/your family can afford AND where you can get the highest GPA so you can get into dental school. Then you can worry about borrowing for dental school. Try to avoid undergrad debt if possible–you’ll have plenty of debt later.</p>
<p>Also, if you are from a state that has a dental school, it might be strategic to go to the college where the dental school is located/or nearby–that might make it easier to get internships, meet faculty, show your interest in the school–and that could help your application.</p>
<p>UIUC is a great school with lots of advantages - for Illinois residents. BUT there is no way it makes sense financially for out of staters, unless you’re in the happy position of money being no object for your family. You surely have many more-affordable choices where you can accomplish your goals.</p>