<p>I got into all three campuses at Rutgers and into the Honors program at the Newark campus. The problem is, I'm a NY resident and Rutgers' tuition is really expensive for me. I would have to pay back around $20,000/yr in loans and such. No scholarships because I didn't apply by the Dec.1 deadline (stupid, I know). Today is my last day to enroll, otherwise I have to reapply for next year. </p>
<p>I'm also considering SUNY New Paltz, but again, the loans will be around $10,000/yr. Obviously, money is definitely an issue, and I wouldn't want to graduate with any debt at all (probably impossible, I know, but having to pay $80k back? well...).</p>
<p>Should I just go with Hunter? I can always transfer, right? Should I take a year off and apply to different schools later? I suck at making decisions...I need ALL the help I can get here.</p>
<p>Would you have any debt if you attended Hunter? What are you planning on majoring in?</p>
<p>THANK YOU for responding! Seriously, lol.</p>
<p>I would not be in debt if I attended Hunter. I would actually have roughly $700 left over from financial aid and NYS Tap, something I don’t get if I go out of state. That doesn’t include a bonus $1000 from FWS if I actually choose to work.</p>
<p>And I’m not sure what I would major in yet, but I am interested in International Relations and Journalism.</p>
<p>I think either Hunter or New Paltz would be your best bet. Are you planning to commute to Hunter? Is that the reason it would be $10 grand cheaper a year?</p>
<p>Rutgers is a fine school, but if you can’t afford the OOS tuition, it is not a wise choice.</p>
<p>Yes, I am planning to commute, which is probably why it’s cheaper. New Paltz would be a good experience, just to get out of the city, but ehhh, it may not be worth the risk of debt. </p>
<p>What about taking a year off? Any opinions?</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with taking a year off.</p>
<p>Or you could spend the first year at Hunter, then consider a transfer.</p>
<p>My issue with transferring is…I’m scared I won’t be able to do so. How does one ask for recommendations in a class of 200+ students? Also, I’m scared I won’t do well, and then my GPA will be screwed up, and then I can’t ever transfer…hasn’t happened yet, and it may not happen at all, but the idea of it haunts me already, lol.</p>
<p>My younger D graduated from HS in 2009 and went to CUNY Brooklyn. She intended to stay all four years, but decided after one semester that she wanted to transfer. She was able to get recommendations - not all of your classes will be 200+ students.</p>
<p>Are your HS grades good? If so, I am sure they will continue to be good in college.</p>
<p>My grades were good: 3.7 unweighted gpa and valedictorian. But, my school didn’t really offer AP courses; the only one I took was AP English, and that was in a different school. I did take honors English and Math courses though, but not for long because they were just added to my school this year. I also founded some clubs and did 3 internships which were a year long each and held one other job.</p>
<p>How much are your parents willing to contribute? If finances are tight and debt is a major concern (as it should be), you might find out how difficult it would be to transfer in to NP’s journalism/IR majors if you were to do your first two years at Hunter. The SUNY gened requirements are the same statewide and should be easily transferrable. The only other consideration might be that it could be more difficult to make new friends as a junior since many are, at that point, moving off campus (idk if this is true for NP, but it is for nearly every other school). But it could be a financially conservative plan.</p>
<p>My parents aren’t willing to contribute much. They think it’s ridiculous to spend that much on school at this particular point in time because I have no concrete goals for my future, and I kind of agree, so I just turned down Rutgers, explaining that the OOS tuition was too much of a burden.</p>
<p>SUNY New Paltz wasn’t one of my top choices. I thought Rutgers was a reach because compared to other kids, I didn’t have all these honorary classes, but they responded within a week, so, I guess it wasn’t too much of a reach. Then I gave up applying everywhere else (most stupid thing I’ve done EVER) because Rutgers was really where I wanted to go …until the fin aid package came in</p>
<p>Maybe Hunter for two years (if I like it enough, one if I don’t) isn’t a bad idea. It’ll save me some money until I am absolutely solid about what I want to do with my life. </p>
<p>But…I was thinking of taking the year off, finding a job, volunteering all over the place, retaking the SATs, and trying to get some college credit without enrolling anywhere ( I don’t even know if this is possible, but I have all summer to figure it out). Then, after all that, maybe I can apply to some schools that I didn’t apply to before. I don’t know if that’ll improve my chances anywhere though.</p>
<p>If you do take a year off, you might be better off not getting any college credit. I think FA packages are better for incoming freshman than for transfer students. SUNY New Paltz might be a good choice as they are strong in International Relations and Journalism. However, Hunter is another good option even if a temporary one. I spent some time helping a girl on CC who was a student at Hunter looking to transfer to New Paltz. She really didn’t like her college experience at Hunter. That is not to say it is not for you…just look into all your options. Visiting is really important.</p>
<p>It’s possible you might find merit money that way, but be careful about taking any college classes for credit. Schools sometimes specify that a new, first time, freshman cannot have taken any courses for credit after HS graduation in order to receive merit aid. What were your SAT scores and did you take the ACT too? You could look into taking a gap year with Americorps. They provide you with a stipend that should work if you’re living at home and then you receive money for college at the end of your year of service…I think it’s around $4K.</p>
<p>What was your EFC and what is it about Rutgers that attracted you? Maybe you can get some ideas here if you post more details on what you’re looking for. For example, if low cost, large school, wide variety of majors, D1 athletics, and not being a commuter school are important factors, you might look at UB. If you’re looking for a higher ranked school, Binghamton might work if your scores are within range. Some of the SUNY’s give decent merit aid, some do not…and then there are all the good private schools in NY, many of whom are quite generous with merit or need-based aid.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help guys. </p>
<p>@ sk8rmom, what attracted me to Rutgers was that it was a well known school with a lot of opportunities, that it wasn’t too far from home, (so I could come home whenever I felt like it), and I had the chance to dorm. At first, I didn’t care that it was such a large school, but now that I think about it, I’d rather not attend a school that big.
When I got stuff sent home from Reed, though, I thought “This is SUCH a cool place!”. But, I didn’t apply because I knew I wouldn’t get in. Besides, it’s a bit too far from home.</p>
<p>Edit: my EFC was 1300 I believe. I wish I would qualify for HEOP or something of the sort, but no 
</p>
<p>Now, my SAT scores. Ehhh…they make me feel like an idiot compared to everyone here lol. I got a 610 CR, 600 W, and I will never ever post the math here, because that would be completely embarrassing.
Btw, thanks for the Americorps advice! I think that would definitely suit me :)</p>
<p>@ LilyMoon, thanks for the advice. I didn’t know much about NP when I applied. My teacher just suggested it because she said the town was cool and I would totally love it, but I never expected to actually go there. I don’t know if I can still enroll, but I’ll call them today and find out, (fingers crossed).</p>
<p>Would any of you suggest community college?</p>
<p>abat007, if you would like more info about New Paltz, feel free to ask…my son is a student there.</p>
<p>Absolutely LilyMoon, thank you.</p>
<p>What year is he in? How does he like the school?</p>
<p>He is a senior (actually a super senior this coming year - he had to make up some classes as a transfer) and he loves it.</p>
<p>That’s great. I hear it’s a lovely town and that the students are socially aware and very bright. I didn’t get a chance to visit unfortunately, but maybe later I will. </p>
<p>I wish your son all the luck. What is he studying?</p>
<p>Thank you…he is studying graphic design. Yes, the town is a funky and fun college town with great outdoor adventure activities all around. We love to visit. The students tend to be creative, down to earth and friendly.</p>