<p>I will be attending the University of Washington this fall, and since last week I recieved my response back from my final scholarship I applied for, and now I have officially gathered enough scholarships that will cover all my tuition fees and such for the next four years! Now the only remainder of fees left that I still have to find to pay would be for dorming on campus. My bill for dorming would be $1,850 per quarter, rounding up to $5550 in one year (three quarters). Of course, I definitely want to dorm on campus, but my parents have mentioned about possibly commuting to campus. I live in a suburban area south of Seattle (32 miles south) ~35-45 minute drive (adding traffic, can get up to even two hours!). Busing can work too, but would require three transfers, which would take 1 hour and 40 minutes.</p>
<p>I am already working on research on campus and am going into Engineering, and was wondering, what do you guys think about my current financial situation? I love my parents, but cannot see them put a single penny to my education (I have a younger brother) and I want to be responsible and let him have opportunities when his time comes to apply for colleges. That being said, I told my parents commuting would suck the life out of me with those horrendous rush hour times, and having all 8:30 AM classes, requiring me to wake up every day at 4:30 and getting home as late as 9 or even 10 PM would tire me out completely. I know the answer is very obvious, but I just am worried for some reason. I currently work part time at at a retail store in a local Radio Shack and just sell cell phones, I am going to continue working there part time as I can (possibly ask to transfer to a location near campus).</p>
<p>Anyways, just curious on what you guys think about my situation? I know there are tons of kids who are going to end up paying $40,000 a year versus my little $5,550. Do you guys think this is a right choice on my part to dorm on campus, with my intended field of study and work?</p>
<p>I think you should borrow the $5500 of Stafford loans to go towards that.</p>
<p>how much will your meal plan be? </p>
<p>How much will your books be?</p>
<p>How much have you saved from your job?</p>
<p>Yes, you should ask to transfer to a Radio Shack in your area, unless you plan on working weekends in your home town (I don’t advise that.)</p>
<p>What is your FAFSA EFC?</p>
<p>I know that you don’t want your parents to pay for anything, but if they can, please accept whatever they offer…even if it’s just to pay for your books and/or meal plan.</p>
<p>Well, my dormmate was super generous and he is going to bring his car to campus. He said we can share the car and drive to our families (he also is 30 miles away) and my idea was to visit my family every few weeks and get a homemade meal, and stock up at a local Costco, and possibly ask my mom to cook some extra leftovers that I can keep in a fridge for a few days. My parents are financially weak, and they have offered to make food and such, which I think is generous enough for their situation. They have kept up with me for 18 years, it is my turn to support them in their situations. </p>
<p>The meal plan price is $803 for the quarter (10 weeks) which can be a nice way to isolate money separately for eating and such.</p>
<p>For books, I would of course pay from the money I have already saved up, as I will be working part time throughout the weekend. One of my scholarships was directly from an alumni which said it would cover all registration and related fees with the UW (I also got free tickets to the football games! :D). </p>
<p>As I look at it, I definitely have some cash upfront, but the idea was to essentially save it up, and of course use that money for buying books and related items.</p>
<p>Does your school know that you’re going to be on campus? Did you apply for aid based on living on campus? If not, you need to let them know. You might get more aid that way.</p>
<p>I have let my school know I will be living on campus, and yes I received all my grants. The way how my University works is, per every scholarship the student receives, they cut down the need based money, where for me, it is pretty much gone. Which is what I am frustrated with how I can pay for dorming and such. </p>
<p>I honestly want to avoid loans, as I have seen cousins take out loans and end up stressed out… but they then again took out $10,000.00 per year. I was hoping that I would be covered by the end of September from all my scholarships, but that is not the case.</p>
<p>I will have to look into other things I guess</p>
<p>I think my best bet would be to continue applying for scholarships, and not to give up? I think what I might do now is to take out that Stafford Loan, and use the scholarships to directly pay back those loans. And of course, to continue working as much as I can in order to have pocket money for little things, like food and small enjoyments and such. </p>
<p>Do you guys think this is a solid idea? I am kind of fretting over this for a while and dunno what else I can possibly think of as of right now…</p>
<p>I will make sure to ask Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM! I have looked into few schools and noticed that this could be an error (unless, UW is a public institution, it might have different policies in terms of handling money?)</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the help and support though It really cheers my night… less than 10 days left for actual move in day!</p>
<p>Yes, please do ask for a review of your pkg. </p>
<p>If you can, have a parent with you. Sometimes when a parent is there, a school will take a request for review more seriously. Since you’re a polite young person, I don’t have to remind you to be very polite when asking for a review. </p>
<p>But, don’t be afraid to take your case a bit higher if the first-line person gives a negative answer. UWash is usually pretty good about meeting need to 0 EFC students because of state, fed, and institutional aid. Taking away grants because you got scholarships that left you with a significant gap doesn’t seem right. </p>
<p>I can understand that the school may expect to use loans to meet need, but once you got outside merit scholarships, those should have replaced loans first…not your grants. However, each school can have their own policies, but usually state schools replace loans first…not grants.</p>
<p>(the point to make is that your outside scholarships should have replaced gaps, loans, or work study FIRST)</p>
<p>Good luck and let us know.</p>
<p>P.S. To save money on books, see if you can buy used online or rent them. Going to school on the quarter system can get pricey with book costs.</p>
<p>I just want to say that I think you are making the right choice to live on campus. You need to keep in mind that you have to have time to keep up with your studies and your part time job without total exhaustion. The housing fees are veryreasonable and I don’t think that you should stress about having to take them if that is what the end result need be. You can have expectations of a decent paying job.</p>
<p>It might be harder the first year, but going forward you might be able to pick up a well paying engineering internship that will cover the costs of your housing. Be sure to look for and apply early.</p>
<p>You are in college so now is not the time you can help your family. I see if they have 0 EFC they are unlikely to be able to help you much now. You can help your brother by showing him how to position himself to be viable for acceptance too and just being the role model that you are.</p>
<p>Good luck with appeal. And enjoy moving in and your new life. Sounds like you are getting a really kind roommate.</p>
It really cheers my night… less than 10 days left for actual move in day!</p>