<p>All the paralegals I know have 4 year college degrees. Have you checked that CC grads are actually getting these jobs at that pay? When there are so many unemployed top 4 year school grads after these jobs, I’m wondering if an AA will leave you competitive and if you won’t have to continue for 2 more years of education, borrowing further.</p>
<p>I am just so sad right now because I’m completely baffled as to what to do now…</p>
<p>Another question… If I want to borrow 50,000 and that’s exactly what I need, I don’t need to re-apply for anything, do I?</p>
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<p>What are you asking? I would suggest that you ONLY borrow what you need. Of course, I think you should find a less expensive option…period. BUT suppose you do decide to forge ahead…only borrow the FIRST year’s money…not the whole thing. You could end up hating the program, hating Queens, hating paralegal schooling, hating the school. If you borrow $50K, you will be paying $50K back. And you’ll be tempted to spend it.</p>
<p>Seriously, look at instate options for your undergrad degree. SOME PLACE in PA there has to be a school you might like. Look at Pitt, it’s far from Philly. Or one of the other state U’s in the western part of the state. Or a CC in PA where you will REALLY save money.</p>
<p>Please, consider your future and not just your current situation and dreams.I know that is hard to do…</p>
<p>What are your parents saying about this? Are they encouraging you to amass significant debt? I sure hope not.</p>
<p>I’m sorry you’re sad, but as a mom I think better a little sad now than seriously sad as an in debt adult. </p>
<p>Unless you have well off relatives, no bank is going to hand you a $50,000 loan to go to a CC. Have you checked that someone with this kind of borrowing power in this economy will cosign for you? It means they will have trouble borrowing if they want to buy a car or home unless the have very high income and assets.</p>
<p>Things are tough out there now. The majority of 4 year college grads can’t find good jobs. People with good incomes can’t get loans. College grads are defaulting on student loans in record numbers. </p>
<p>Why is there no school in PA that would work for you? It’s understandable if you don’t want to live at home. But leaving the state and paying OOS tuition at a CC makes little sense.</p>
<p>We are not lightly suggesting this is not a good idea, we’re telling you the newspapers are filled with stories of young people in trouble who borrowed far less than you’re talking about.</p>
<p>Well I could find an in-state CC, but I’d still have to pay for off campus housing.</p>
<p>Well, if it would be more reasonable, I wouldn’t mind moving to Pittsburgh or something for a few years, but once again, the off campus housing issue is still there. How can I do this? Thankyou!</p>
<p>But wouldn’t the instate rates and the lower cost of living in Pitt mean far less debt for you? Doesn’t PA offer student aid to residents as well? What’s the issue…you’re willing to borrow a huge amount to go to CC in Queens, but nothing to go in your home state? Are your parents helping at all or will you be eligible for Pell? It seems that with your disability money and some student aid, an instate CC should be affordable with little debt which would make your dream of living in NYC as an adult more attainable.</p>
<p>Instate tuition in Pittsburgh will be a fraction of the cost of out of state tuition in NYC. HOUSING and living expenses in Pittsburgh will also be a fraction of the cost. We know college students there who spent less than $500 a month on their housing/utilities and they lived in very nice areas.</p>
<p>Read the new post by dchoate!!</p>
<p>Have you looked into Pennsylvania Technical College? It is an affiliate of Penn State, offers paralegal studies (although it appears to be a BS, not an AA) and has a very good reputation. I know some graduates of their computer program that work for the FBI.<br>
It is located in Williamsport, not as exciting as NYC (or Philadelphia) but the students seem to get involved in Penn State sporting events/football games. </p>
<p>You would qualify for instate tuition (approx $13,100) plus room and board. The students I know that went there loved their on campus housing, which was apt style.<br>
The website is pct.edu.</p>
<p>Wow; thankyou buddy! I really appreciate that! Yeah, I’m willing to move in state temporarily. It would be amazing if I could find a plan where I could major in Paralegal studies in state with room and board included. That would really be amazing; is that the case at that school you recommended? Is it difficult to get in? Are there others like it in PA? Thankyou so much.</p>
<p>I just did some research on Collegeboard just to see if there are other schools like it in PA, and I found something intriguing… there are colleges out of state like that where the in-state and out of state tuition are identical. Is this true? Also, when they say it’s going to cost 15 grand, do they mean altogether or per semester? (I’m assuming per semester)</p>
<p>Thankyou guys.</p>
<p>The reason why I’m considering some out of state ones where the tuition isn’t variable between the In and Out of state students is because I’m a traveller and it would be cool. What do you guys think? Thanks.</p>
<p>Private colleges charge the same price for all, it’s only state schools that have different rates if you’re OOS. But they are typically expensive and you would be back to the same money issue most probably.</p>
<p>How are your grades and rank? Have you taken the PSAT or SAT? Would you consider 4 year colleges?</p>
<p>*If I want to borrow 50,000 and that’s exactly what I need, I don’t need to re-apply for anything, do I? *</p>
<p>Yes…you do. You can’t borrow 2 years worth of “need” at one time. Your co-signer is going to have to apply and QUALIFY twice…2 years in a row.</p>
<p>*Well I could find an in-state CC, but I’d still have to pay for off campus housing. *</p>
<p>YES…but it still would be a LOT cheaper than paying OOS fees for 2 years. And housing would likely be cheaper in PA than in NYC!!!</p>
<p>You’re talking about spending an additional $15k-20k just on OOS costs along…all on CREDIT! That’s crazy.</p>
<p>You have to pay for housing either way, so do it instate and save on OOS costs.</p>
<p>I would consider 4 year, but the thing is… if I go for 2 years, I’m getting the same job that people going for 4 years are getting(Paralegal), and it costs 2 times more.</p>
<p>I have not taken the SAT yet, and also my grades range from the high C’s to low A’s. Overall I’d say I have a C average throughout High School.</p>
<p>One example I was talking about is Minnesota State which costs $6,000. That’s an example.</p>
<p>Once again, I’m just curiously looking at the ones out of state… I’m not necessarily going to do that. I’ll go anywhere if I can major in Paralegal studies and the price is reasonable.</p>
<p>You’re a senior and haven’t taken the SAT exam even once?! What are you waiting for? I’m afraid that with a C average and no test scores, you’re going to find admissions tough outside of a community college.</p>
<p>First, do some research. It’s highly unlikely students with an AA are getting the same paralegal jobs kids from 4 year colleges are getting. Call some NY law firms and talk to the people in HR, ask a lot of questions about what it takes to get a paralegal job. Here are some names:</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_100_largest_law_firms[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_100_largest_law_firms</a></p>
<p>Second, I’m fairly certain Minnesota does not cost just $6,000.</p>
<p>You will have to borrow at least as much as the community college was going to cost to go anywhere out of state. State schools are there because most don’t have the money to pay for OOS and private colleges unfortunately. The kids who get to go out of state when their parents can’t pay have very high grades and scores to get into schools offering merit aid or that meet full need. </p>
<p>Also keep in mind that private loans are not easy to get, whoever cosigns needs to have excellent credit and a high enough income to show they are able to pay the loan back. That’s a tall order for most families that can’t afford to pay for college.</p>
<p>Well, honestly, I just have no idea what to do right now. By the way, it is 6k. I checked on collegeboard.</p>