I need some help on a last minute decision, please?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I thought I knew where I wanted to go in the fall for sure, and even put in a housing deposit. But now I'm doubting my choice and thinking about other choices that I hadn't considered before. </p>

<p>The school that I was planning on going to wasn't exactly a college I was totally in love with. The good things about it/ the reason I chose it were:
-It's in-state. So obviously the in-state tuition is a plus, and since it's a little less than 3 hours from home I figured it'd be a change but not so far away that it'd be hard to visit home.
-It has a good choice of majors and, you know, just all around seemed like a pretty good college and a decent choice for me.
-Honestly I had gotten in over my head and applied to mostly out of state colleges, which ideally I would prefer but I came to reality last minute and realized I definitely couldn't afford them, so this place was probably my best choice.
-Once I finally visited it about a month ago I liked it a lot more than I had realized before, both because I liked the campus pretty well and because I learned more things about it that I hadn't realized, like the fact that it's a lot "greener" than I thought, which is pretty important to me.</p>

<p>But the bad things about it, which are becoming a lot more real to me now that fall is getting closer, are:
-Even with it being in-state, I'm going to be taking out a lot of loans. My EFC is 0, and my parents really are poor enough that they definitely won't be paying any, but even after financial aid I'll be taking out $5,500 a year in federal loans plus around $9,000 in other loans. Obviously I'll try for more scholarships other years, and if it all worked out well paying all that back would be worth it to me, but I worry that it's just too unreasonable. Especially because I'm not 100% in love with this place, so if I decided to transfer in a year or 2 I know I'd think, "The reason I was willing to pay so much was because I thought I'd be happier than at a CC, then I wasted all that money just to transfer when I could've gone to a CC for 2 years in the first place."
-I really hate how isolated it is. I love the campus and there's lots to do on it, but I feel like I'd kind of prefer to go somewhere where there was at least a decent town nearby if I ever wanted to get off campus.</p>

<p>Like I said before I always felt like I really wanted to go out of state or at least away from home, which is why I've never really even given much thought to other options like doing CC. But now that the costs and everything are becoming more real, I'm feeling like maybe I should consider that. The one way I would be willing to do CC is if I at least got to move out of my house. My best friend and I have always talked about getting an apartment together, and she's told me that she would definitely do it if I decided to stay here and do CC. There's a decent CC near my town and, just because I obviously love making lists haha, the pros and cons I've thought of for taking that route are:
Pros:
-Even though I'm 18 and a senior, I still haven't had a "real" job, I don't have my license yet (but plan on getting it soon), I'm pretty shy and have never really been involved in sports, volunteering, or anything like that. Pretty much, I feel like I'm a lot less independent than I should be/would like to be. So I feel like maybe going to CC first would be like a smaller step to help me become more independent, outgoing, ect before I go off to college further away. (But at the same time, I feel like maybe going away to college might just be the huge push I need.)
-Obviously, the cost. I think FAFSA would cover my tuition and I do plan on getting a job. So even if I took out, let's say, $5,000 or $6,000 in loans to make ends meet, have emergency money, and possibly buy a cheap car at first (I think student loans can be used to cover living costs and things like this even if you're at a CC? Correct me if I'm wrong.) I'd still be saving around $10,000 a year.
-Since I kind of feel like I'm not totally sure if I'd want to be tied down in this state at the other college for 4 years, if I did CC for 2 years and then decided I wanted to transfer out of state I could. It'd be easier because of the money I'd saved and because with the smaller steps towards independence that would come with going to CC, maybe by then I'd feel like I was capable of doing that on my own and being so far away from my parents.</p>

<p>Cons:
-Even though from what I've said it may seem like I don't even like the in-state school I'm planning on going to, believe me I do. I feel like I've really grown to like the place and despite my doubts about it I've got my heart set on it so much. I feel like, knowing myself, come fall I'd probably be so upset and feel like, "Wow, I should really be at [college name] right now like I'd planned to," and regret it.
-Like I said before, I desperately need a change. If I got an apartment and was going to CC, even that would be a big change but I don't know if it would be enough. I'm just really tired of the area I live in and don't know if I'd want to be stuck here or even in the area near here for 2 more years. And the CC I'd be going to has a lot of people from my high school and the same types of people I've been going to school with, and I really want to be somewhere with more diversity.
-I feel like changing to the whole CC route now is just too risky/unstable. Especially with it being so late now, I don't know if I could really get everything settled and all the arrangements made that I'd need to by fall. I'm not even 100% sure that the CC is still accepting applications for fall, so I'd need to find that out. And I do not want to be living at home so getting an apartment would be a must, and since I need to decide what I'm doing ASAP I don't think I'd be able to be 100% sure the whole apartment thing was going to happen before I decide. </p>

<p>Sorry that was so ridiculously long.
TL;DR I'm stuck between going away to a 4 year college that I'm having doubts about or going to CC for 2 years then transferring somewhere even though I have doubts about that too. Any advice on my situation or the whole CC for 2 years then transferring vs. just going away to college immediately would really help. TIA.</p>

2

<p>Go for the 4 year route. You obviously enjoy the place and would probably enjoy it there. You are taking out loans which I think are reasonable. The four year experience is also good for the push on independence which would help you in life. Also, a major part of college is the experience which i believe would be lacking in a CC. Your pros clearly outweigh your cons, so it think it’s the best option.</p>

3

<p>So you haven’t even applied for the private loans that you need to attend your in-state option? You may end up at CC, though you may not be in an apartment yet. You are an 18-year old with no job. Unless your parents are willing to sign for PLUS loans, or cosign with you for loans, I don’t see how you will be able to afford the instate option either.
Starting at CC would be a cost-effective way, but maybe you should ease into the apartment. Start school, get your license, get a job, then see how much money you have in order to determine if you can afford an apartment, car, insurance, gas, etc. I don’t want to discourage you, but you need to see if you can afford this. </p>

<p>The good part about community college is that you can generally enroll right up until fall. Get a real handle on the money situation, then make your choice.</p>

4

<p>Congratulations on getting serious about money before it’s too late.</p>

<p>I think you should (like MizzBee said) live at home, get your license (or learn to love the city bus system), get a job, and start at the CC. And then once you’re established with that, you and your friend can look for an apartment. I know you want out of your parents’ house, but there’s no requirement that that happen right away. One of your stressors is worrying that you can’t get housing set up by fall - so don’t! Get it set up some time in November, or January.</p>

<p>I think that $5500 plus $9000 loans every year is way too much. That’s about $60,000 to $70,000 when you graduate. That’s doable, but not wise. It will limit you for a long time.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you can go to CC and transfer, you can save a lot of the money. You won’t be hurting future chances by starting at CC and transferring to a four-year school. Does your CC have articulation agreements with four-year colleges in the area? That will give a bit of a gauge as to its quality. So will the existence of a Phi Theta Kappa chapter (honor society). You don’t have to hang out with the same kids as in high school. </p>

<p>You can get your grades up and maybe earn a scholarship or two.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

5

<p>* My EFC is 0, and my parents really are poor enough that they definitely won’t be paying any, but even after financial aid I’ll be taking out $5,500 a year in federal loans plus around $9,000 in other loans.*</p>

<p>Not only would that be too much debt, do you have any idea how you’d borrow that extra $9000? Your parents are low income, and you would need qualified co-signers to borrow that extra amount. Many parents won’t co-sign, and some won’t qualify. I don’t think it’s a good idea for low-income parents to co-sign because if you can’t pay those loans, they won’t be able to help you…and their credit would get ruined.</p>

<p>Have you asked your parents to co-sign those loans?</p>

<p>You need to start at a CC…but I’m not even sure that you can do that this next year. You need a car, you need car insurance, you need gas money…all of that will cost a lot more than a Pell Grant (from filling out FAFSA). You’d get 5550 per year from Pell if your EFC is 0. Once you pay your CC costs, text books, etc, you’re not going to have enough to pay for a car, insurance, gas, etc. </p>

<p>I’m not sure how COA is figured for a CC, but some here have reported that the estimated COA is never enough…so I’m not sure if after getting Pell that you would be able to get the full Stafford student loan of 5500. </p>

<p>I think you need to do a gap year. During that time work as much as you can and buy yourself a car. Save as much as you can. </p>

<p>You’re trying to do too much without the funds to do so.</p>

6

<p>Unless you don’t need to take out more than 5k I’m loans go cc. Nothing wrong with that. They will have smaller classes too! Get your license, maybe a part time job and live at home to save money. If you want to transfer after 2 years do that.</p>

7

<p>Thank you all so much for you help. :)</p>

<p>I haven’t applied for loans yet, no. I thought it was too much debt in the beginning too. When I visited the college, I talked to a financial aid advisor who claimed that what I was trying to do was reasonable and that many students in similar situations had borrowed even more than I would. Now whether she was just trying to convince me to go because she works for the college or what, I don’t know. What she told us is that my mom should try applying for a PLUS loan and if she got rejected, which is likely because she has pretty bad credit, the school’s financial aid office could get the limit on one of my federal loans raised by about $4,000, so I could borrow the same amount as if I was independent. But my mom still hasn’t done that yet despite the fact that I’ve tried reminding her. As far as a cosigner, my grandpa has good credit and would possibly be willing to cosign if neither of my parents have good enough credit. </p>

<p>I don’t know. Neither of my parents, or any other adults in my life, have gone to college, my school gives literally zero help to students with college info and such other than sending transcripts if we request them and I’ve got a counselor who acts like it’s an inconvenience when students even ask him to do that, much less ask him for help, so I’m pretty much on my own and clueless about a lot of this stuff. I kind of hadn’t realized until recently that I should have applied for loans by now.</p>

<p>As far as living at home, whether I’m taking a gap year or going to CC, I really don’t want to do that unless I absolutely have to. I know that it might be a little immature to be in a huge hurry to move out of my parents’ house and refuse to sacrifice having my own place, but it’s not like I’m just in a hurry to get my own place to throw parties or something. The reason my parents are so low income is because my dad lost the job he used to have 5 years ago and hasn’t had a stable income since. Between my parents being so miserable/occupied with money problems/fighting all the time, and the anxiety it’s all caused me, that’s a lot of what’s thrown me off track and why I’m stuck in a situation like this. I’m not trying to blame my problems on my parents, but before that all happened I was doing great in school and things just went way downhill in all ways after that. In other words I’m sick of letting that negativity affect me, and I really need/want to get away from it. For a long time I’ve been looking forward to this fall as my opportunity to finally get away from it, not to mention make a better life for myself especially after seeing what’s happened with them, and now that it feels like I’m losing that it just sucks and feels like I’m kind of trapped. I’m really not exaggerating when I say that I’m pretty sure that if I had to stay here in the fall, I just wouldn’t even have the motivation to have a job. Sorry, I didn’t mean to ramble about my life story here haha. I’m just trying to explain why I need an option that includes getting away from home.</p>

8

<p>Just because other students take out that kind of loans, certainly does not make it a good idea to do so. The limits on the federal loans are there for a reason: that is just about all a recent college graduate could hope to pay off without ruining his or her life. You can’t afford that four year school right now. You need a less expensive option. Spend some time reading through the information about loans and loan repayment at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) so that you know why you need to avoid taking on too much debt.</p>

<p>There are some decent Gap Year options that would allow you to put money away for college including City Year. Visit the Parents Forum, and scroll down through the threads until you hit on some that discuss Gap Years.</p>

<p>You also do have the option of enlisting in the military. It isn’t for everyone, but you would collect a salary, have a place to live that isn’t with your parents, and when your term is over you would have money for your college education. Do a little research about that as well.</p>

<p>Your best option for starting college this fall would be to attend your local CC. Start looking for a job NOW, and as soon as you get one, start saving for that apartment you want to share with your friend, for a car to get you to and from the CC if there is no public transportation, or at least for the cash you need to help a friend pay for the gas the two of you will use if you commute there together.</p>

9

<p>Thanks. :slight_smile: I think I’ll take your advice and look at some gap year options, and if that doesn’t work maybe consider doing CC. I’m also going to call the school’s financial aid office tomorrow just to make 100% sure there isn’t any other way I could get more aid. Thanks again everyone.</p>

10

<p>Ok, just another question…
Let’s say A- I had plans on doing PeaceCorps or a similar program after college, and I feel pretty strongly about the fact that I’ll stick to that plan and definitely try to do it. (And they help pay a small part towards loans, obviously not the only reason I want to do it but they do.) B- I try my absolute hardest to keep my grades up and apply like crazy for scholarships all 4 years. C- My school hasn’t added work-study onto my financial aid, but told me they’re going to try.</p>

<p>Would it still be absolutely crazy for me to stick to this school? I know I’m being stubborn but the more I think about it the more I can’t picture myself doing anything else this fall than being there and I want to go if at all possible. :frowning: I mean, I know I made this thread because I was having doubts, but I’m really realizing just how badly I want to go there.</p>

<p>Edit: I’m also reading more about loan forgiveness. I’m not 100% set on my major but the careers I’m considering are all public service, and I’ve read that with certain conditions people with those careers can have their loans forgiven after 10 years. I know I’d still be paying them for 10 years, but is this actually really hard to get done, or is it really as easy as they make it sound?</p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions, and I really do appreciate the help. :)</p>

11

<p>It isn’t smart to borrow a lot of money based on a plan that you will take up a career that will provide loan forgiveness because a lot of things can get in the way of that career. Not everyone will qualify to join the Peace Corps or another program that offers loan forgiveness. Even if you do qualify to join, something else may intervene, and you may not be able to stick with the position long enough to have enough of your loans forgiven. Not to mention of course that the federal government can cancel or change those programs at any time.</p>

<p>Yes, I understand when you write “I’m really realizing just how badly I want to go there.” but the simple fact is that you have been offered an unaffordable financial aid package. You cannot afford to attend this college/university right now. Period. You need to come up with a better plan for yourself.</p>

12

<p>Perhaps that other plan would be deferring your admission to the school you like but can’t afford - lots of schools will allow it - and do a CityYear or the like this year. Be aware, lots of schools LIKE kids with gap years - they tend to be more serious and focused. </p>

<p>Don’t give up! It’s hard and scary, but you want better than your parents have and you CAN get there. Please don’t give up. As much as I lean towards the less-debt-is-good side, I think you’d be better off going to the expensive school than giving up (though I don’t think the expensive school is the best choice).</p>

13

<p>Let’s say that you do somehow get those loans. When you graduate in 4 years, you will start paying them back. The more you owe, the more your life is on hold. You may end up taking a job that you hate so that you can afford to have a bit of a life while you pay off those loans. You may need to delay buying a house, getting a nicer car, having children, etc. Also, you mentioned that you plan to get a job in public service. If you default on those loans, you will end up with bad credit, which disqualifies you for some positions. </p>

<p>OTOH, I am glad that the school is trying to give you work-study. If you had $) EFC, I am surprised that it wasn’t put on your package already. It will certainly help. If you could land a job now for the summer, you could make up a big chunk of your necessary money.</p>