<p>I'm going to a cc right now, and that's fine. I'll be done in summer 2014. My cc you can pay for with the change in your couch cushions.
But once I transfer, I have no way to pay.</p>
<p>My parents are capable of paying, but they won't. That's their choice, I'll respect it.</p>
<p>I've never dealt with student loans or financial aid (I doubt I'd qualify, unfortunately) and I'm pretty clueless as to how scholarships work, where I can earn them etc.</p>
<p>Any help would be so greatly appreciated <3 Thanks</p>
<p>Go talk to an advisor at your community college. See if they have any advice about four year schools that accept their students and offer scholarships to transfer students.</p>
<p>Beyond that, you will be able to take a $6500 direct loan (maybe its $7500) per year in your own name. Any loans beyond that would need a cosigner.</p>
<p>Many kids in your shoes finish their CC courses, and either work part time and go to school part time, OR work full time to save money for college and then attend when they have the money.</p>
<p>Majora, you might want to post your query on the music major forum here. As the parent of a musician, I have to say, scholarships for music majors are performance based awards and are based on the strength of your audition. You need to research schools that accept transfer students into their music performance programs. That could be your biggest challenge. Many of these schools reserve their performance awards for incoming freshmen. And MOST of
These performance awards do not cover the full cost of attendance.</p>
<p>Not directly related, but check your credit score and if you have no credit history get started on one now (secured card, store card or something that you pay off every month) to build it up. That way if you do have to get non-federal loans later you won’t be totally screwed on the interest rates.</p>
<p>Yes, I would try to concentrate on in-state public colleges as much as possible in your situation. You can certainly also apply to some privates and out of states, but many out of state publics offer little aid to out of state students, and many private colleges offer little aid to transfer students. </p>
<p>You don’t want to get overwhelmed with debt. Try to limit your college budget to the amount that is possible with subsidized federal loans, as opposed to higher expenses that would require unsubsidized federal or private loans, which are much more expensive over the long-run. </p>
<p>The amount of unsubsidized federal stafford loans that can be taken out each year is limited - I believe it is $5500 for the 3rd year, and $5500 for the 4th year of college. You can also take out $2000 of unsubsidized federal stafford loans, which accrue interest while you are in college and have a higher interest rate. </p>
<p>A particular college may offer you some subsidized federal perkins loans, which have a 5% rate - each college gets to distribute some of those limited loan funds.</p>
<p>Also, find out what grant funds are available directly from your state to individual students. That process may be linked to the fafsa (in my state, on the computer screen, they ask you to fill out the state grant form immediately after you file the fafsa). New Jersey may not allow their grants to be used out of state, which may also impact your out of state vs. in-state decision. Most states allow their grants to be used for either public or private colleges.</p>
<p>You had said that your parents could afford to contribute towards your college, but choose not to. Maybe they would be more open to a request for a loan to you for college, as opposed to an outright gift. </p>
<p>After all, CDs right now are paying less than 1%. Your parents may be very happy to offer you a loan at 5%. If they would charge you interest while in college, then then you would want to max out the subsidized federal loans first. Then, if you schmooze your parents enough, and show you are doing well in school, maybe they will later consider forgiving some of those loans.</p>
<p>As a music major you may find that most schools will require you to spend 3 - 4 years to complete your music degree regardless of CC credits entering. Most vocal performance programs have specific voice levels that need to be passed, and many also require that musicianship courses be taken at their institution.</p>
<p>A MM degree (or post graduate conservatory program) is also generally standard in vocal performance, so you will want to minimize undergraduate debt as much as possible.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Keep in mind that the Curtis Institute is THE most difficult college in the US for admissions, in terms of percentage of applicants that are admitted.</p></li>
<li><p>check out the part of this website under College Majors - Music Majors.</p></li>
<li><p>Maybe you could do a deal with your parents that you will do certain work around the house in return for a contribution to your college fund - such as agreeing to paint a room in the house, during a college break, in return for X dollars.</p></li>
</ol>