<p>Hope this is the best place to post this. I sort of need advice on how to pay for college.
I’m a freshman in college right now, and next year I will not be able to afford it. I’ve spent some time thinking of my options and here’s what they are…</p>
<li><p>Join the ROTC at the school, if I do I can get a full scholarship but military service is required afterwards.</p></li>
<li><p>Take a year off to save up money (If I do this I already have a 40k plus job lined up).</p></li>
<li><p>Transfer to a crappy state school and live at home (something that will make me miserable).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m freaking out, I don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>What’s really killing me is I’m afraid I won’t even be able to afford next semester! My scholarships require a 3.2 GPA, I think this semester I’ll have like a 2.5. Most schools would just put me on probation though right? And I would have until the end of next semester to bring it up right?</p>
<p>You need to check the exact stipulations of your scholarship. Most schools don't matter a whit if your situation is different. Only you situation is relevant to you.</p>
<p>You have some good options. You may want to start your year off as soon as school lets out in May/June, work your great job, live at home and take a class or two to knock off some requirements. IF you live at home,you may save more $$ and get away with just taking a semester off with a few courses to keep you on track. My son's best friend did this his sophomore year, and was able to be a full time student his junior year. He was a semester short in credits even though he took some local state school courses while working. He will be doing this again this year. It'll take him an extra year to get through college this way, maybe year and a half, but he and his parents cannot come up with the gap$$$ that grandpop took care of freshman year but won't do again. They hoped something would come up, but it did not, so this is his solution. He is very comfortable with it.</p>
<p>I wouldn't suggest ROTC unless you are ready to make a multi-year commitment to what can be a challenging job. If you are ready to do that, it can be great, just don't take it lightly. Do some research.</p>
<p>I think I'd opt for the state school. Even if you work for a year,you're unlikely to save enough money to make a significant dent. Don't put off your education if you can help it. Life can suddenly get in the way...</p>
<p>god, I'm beginning to get irritated at the attitude CC implies.</p>
<p>again, when you get out in the workforce, unless you're looking for favors, a professorship, or something waaayy up there, what matters is WHAT you know, not WHERE you learned it from.</p>
<p>Believe me, undergrad doesn't matter much for professors. It's where you get your PhD. Getting into the strong programs requires excellent grades, recommendations and GREs.</p>
<p>Check out the rules on your particular scholarships. We have 2 sets of friends whose kids were panicking because their 1st semester freshman year GPAs were lower than required to keep their scholarships and it turns out it is the GPA at the end of the freshman year they need to worry about. But we know another boy who did lose his scholarship at the end of his 1st semester. So check out your scholarship and find out the facts before you panic. </p>
<p>And I agree with the previous posters - going to a state school is not the end of the world. My daughter is going to do her undergraduate at a state school as that way we can afford to help her with her doctorate and she will not be in as deep debt when she starts her career. I also agree with the poster who said not to put off your education. Once you stop school and start working you a) get used to the income and b) start making financial commitments which make it harder and harder to go back to school.</p>
<p>Let's not forget that there are 50 states and many state schools in each. Trust me when I say, the ones that near my home suck. I know there are some great state schools out there.<br>
In fact, I WANT to go to a state school. I don't like the private university I'm in at all right now. It's 30 grand a year and not worth it at all.</p>
<p>The reason I wanted to take a year off to work, is because I want to go to the University of Florida (top ranked state school) and I need to establish residency in Florida in order to be able to afford it. If I can get residency tuition is only $3,300 a year. I've gone to the area and checked things out, there are apartments in walking distance of the school (not having a car will save me a lot of money) that start at $550 a month.<br>
I happen to know someone who could line me up with a job for 40k a year while I'm out. I think I could easily make tuition, and if I continue to work part time, be able to afford the next 2 years of school following.</p>
<p>How old are you? I may be wrong but I think your residency status may be based on your parents state of residence if you are not old enough to be considered independant (24) .</p>
<p>According to college board self supporting college students wishing to change their state of residency must:
1. Live in the state for at least one year.
2. Show proof of financial independence.
3. Show commitment to a continued residency in the state</p>
<p>Now, I'm not exactly sure how I show the third one, and the fact of the matter is, I'm majoring in physics, and don't plan to stay living in Florida after college. i want to pursue a Ph.d at MIT, after that I'll live where ever I need to work.</p>
<p>"There are no crapy schools.....only crapy students."</p>
<p>I disagree whole-heartedly with that statement.<br>
To say there is no such thing as a bad school is ignorant when taking into account the myriad of universities.</p>