<p>just out of quick curiosity, what about Canadian universities? Might there be some reasonable and viable options in that direction?</p>
<p>Great! Hope everything works out for you.</p>
<p>so as I’m reading more threads related to the woes of college debt, and reflecting on this a bit, I’m a little upset with the “follow your dreams” concept that is propogandized everywhere. Perhaps it should be formulated differently because, the thing about being my age, is the tendency to take that phrase literally. And then this happens, and that’s called a “wake up call”. </p>
<p>In hindsight, I wish I would have done this: Venn Diagram</p>
<p>First Circle: " Colleges ( that I’ve researched) that I would like to attend "
Second Circle: “Colleges (that I’ve researched) that I can afford to attend”
Portion in which circles overlap: "Colleges that I may (reasonably) apply to "</p>
<p>It seems like a useful, albeit simple way to organize one’s options.</p>
<p>^That sort of list-sorting, and culling, is what most people do, I think. It’s too bad you were not advised to follow your true dream (becoming a biologist)…as others have mentioned, you likely have the stats to have garnered some serious merit aid and perhaps a full ride at other schools. Are you still at the point where you won’t even consider taking a gap to save some money and reapply to schools that will bring your dreams within reach? </p>
<p>If you are interested in teaching, find out if you can apply for a federal TEACH grant at UNC. It will give you an additional $4K/year, although if you don’t fulfill the teaching requirement within 8 years of graduation it turns into an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Also, as cpt mentioned, your parents will likely be turned down for a Plus loan if they have delinquent accounts over 90 days or if their bankruptcy is on record now. If they will at least apply and be denied, that will give you an additional $4K in Stafford unsub loans for next year.</p>
<p>Are your parent’s likely to make significantly less money once your dad retires in 2011? If so, can you project what that will do to your financial aid package? It may not be $15K x 4 that you need, but something less as UNC meets full need and your need is likely to increase if your parent’s income decreases.</p>
<p>Are you interested in NROTC at any school, or just as a means to an end at UNC? </p>
<p>Some schools require 3-year scholarship applicants to be enrolled in their ROTC program in order to apply, which is contrary to what the counselor seems to have told you. I know UT is one of these. They also have a 2-year scholarship (they don’t cover tuition, etc though), but I am not sure if it will continue or not.</p>
<p>Three-year Scholarship</p>
<p>This scholarship program is designed for those students participating in the NROTC program at the University of Texas without a scholarship. Applications will be submitted by the NROTC Unit based on the academic and military performance of the students after one semester of participation in the NROTC Program. The three-year scholarship program covers all tuition, fees, textbooks and uniforms plus a monthly. For application information and deadline, contact the NROTC Unit at the University of Texas.</p>
<p>Two-Year College Program</p>
<p>This program is similar to the Two Year Scholarship and is designed for students not awarded a scholarship, but still want to complete the NROTC program and become a commissioned officer in the Navy. The two-year college program is a nonsubsidized program which covers uniforms and a monthly subsistence ($350 for junior year, and $400 for senior year) for twenty academic months for the junior and senior years of college only. Applications for this program are completed early in the Spring semester of each year. For application information and deadline, contact the NROTC Unit at the University of Texas.
Additional Information</p>
<pre><code>* Applicants selected from students already attending or accepted by colleges with NROTC programs
</code></pre>
<p>OP, you would be a Tier 2 applicant for a 4-year scholarship competing for a small number of spots. As a Bio major you are at a huge disadvantage - the Navy wants engineers. The review board will look at your application under even more of a microscope because you did not apply as a Senior. They want people who want to be Navy officers first above anything. They will wonder why you never applied before. They will see you did not join the NROTC unit. Your odds are very poor. If you really want this you need to join the NROTC unit to have a chance. You also have to pass the DODMERB physical. Google it for the list of disqualification conditions. They are extensive and include some common conditions. Students get the 4-year scholarship and are DQ’d and lose it all the time. The physical is only scheduled after you receive the scholarship and the review is a separate process.</p>
<p>The recruiter was correct about the College Program funding. Many units got no 2 or 3 year College Program scholarships to give out of any type this past year.</p>
<p>If you want to try College Program then go for it, just know the odds. I just want to reiterate that if you are becoming a Navy officer to pay for school then most likely you won’t make it through the program.</p>
<p>Ask yourself what happens if you don’t get a scholarship. Would you apply for OCS to become a Navy officer after you get your degree? *If the answer is not an immediate “yes” then don’t go the NROTC route.</p>
<p>You seem like a very determined and articulate person. I applaud that and wish you the best. But I would really hate for you to count on NROTC for years 2 - 4 and then not get it and be stuck. If your dream is not to be a Navy officer then look in another direction. Best of luck!</p>
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<p>Boy, are those wise words. I work with high school students who are navigating the leap from high school to college, and they are told at every turn in one way or another that somehow if they just get into the college they want a way can be found to make it happen. Honestly, they often feel like it’s a personal failing when they get into a desirable school and then can’t figure out a way to pay for it. They are often embarrased and don’t even tell anyone about it… then you happen to see them at the community college or the regional state u, and you know what happened.</p>
<p>Great things do happen sometimes where a student will get the financial aid they need or extended family can help, and those dreams come true, but more often I see kids having to make trade-offs or families and students going way too far into debt based on this idea of the college “dream.”</p>
<p>I would like to say thank you to those who replied to my original post.</p>
<p>I apologize for what I initially said about not looking to be convinced out of my decision.
Particularly after having read the post titled " $ Emergency ", I see that private loans are a very serious matter.</p>
<p>I had a talk with my mother and we decided we will speak with my uncle and with my cousin ( a nurse ) and ask if either would consider co-signing for one 15k (possibly less, if the amount of Direct Federal Loans I recieve increases by 4k) private loan. </p>
<p>If neither co-signs, I will withdraw my enrollment.</p>
<p>If either one does co-sign, I will attend UNC during freshman year, and apply for multiple small scholarships all throughout the year, as to use it in place of the private loan - and return as much of the private loan funds as I can. </p>
<p>I emailed the admissions office the following letter:</p>
<p>" Dear Admissions,</p>
<p>I am enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill as an incoming freshman from out-of-state (resident of California) and am scheduled to attend the school this Fall 2010. However, I am writing to notify the university of the possibility that I will not attend as anticipated. </p>
<p>[ at this point I presented to them the figures relevant to my financial aid package - what I wrote in the original post, only in more detail - as well as my parent’s bankruptcy situation ]</p>
<p>I have requested Direct Federal Loans and I believe that is in the process of being sorted out. Unfortunately, even if I take out the maximum dollar amount in Direct Loans that I am eligible for (which I believe increases from $5,500 to $9,500 for those students whose parents do not qualify for PLUS loans) I am still left with an amount to pay that I cannot afford.</p>
<p>I intended to take out a private student loan to cover the remaining amount I will have to pay, but the institutions ( Sallie Mae, Wells Fargo) that I’ve contacted so far require a co-signer, making it very difficult for me to obtain that type of loan.</p>
<p>I have already contacted the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid with regards to my financial problem.</p>
<p>I really do wish to attend UNC, and will continue to explore whatever options remain.</p>
<p>But I write this letter to admissions to ask if my enrollment can be deferred - if by the end of this month I determine with certainty that I cannot attend the university.</p>
<p>If it cannot be deferred, I would like to nonetheless know in advance what process I need to complete to withdraw my enrollment. "</p>
<p>[ end of letter]</p>
<p>I would opt to defer my enrollment (if allowed) instead of resigning my enrollment because that would provide me with enough time to find out whether I was selected for the NROTC scholarship. If not selected, I would not attend UNC in 2011.</p>
<p>I could instead apply to other universities (as a 2011 incoming freshman) that offer merit scholarships and that also have an NROTC unit. However, this hypothetical assumes that I not attend a CC during the year that I “wait out”.</p>
<p>But therein lies the decision I have to make: Should I take a gap year ( no school) and work, OR should I enter a CC (and I can still work) and then transfer to a university
(graduating with the class of 2014) ?</p>
<p>I would be very grateful for any recommendations about gap year vs community college.</p>
<p>How does getting a rejection from PLUS “give you about $5L more?”</p>
<p>Students are eligible for an additional $4000 in Stafford loans when their parents are denied a PLUS loan.</p>
<p>There’s a problem with the outside scholarship accumulation plan. Because you’re required to report any outside scholarships you receive to the college (often the check is actually payable to the college, or at least to you and the school jointly) UNC will very likely reduce the student’s contribution from work/loans and any institutional need-based aid that they are giving you before it ever reduces your parent’s EFC.</p>
<p>I would seriously consider using the gap year to work and reapply to schools that are less expensive and/or would give you a significant amount of merit aid.</p>
<p>OP, I would defer enrollment. Chances are you will get a better financial aid package with your family’s changing financial circumstances. UNC does a very good job of meeting 100% of need. Gap years are common. Do you have AP credits that transfer? Many students can complete course work necessary at UNC in 3 years if the wanted. If you could get CC credits this year and during the summer, they would go toward completing your degree earlier as well.</p>
<p>Again proof that academic ability does not equate to financial common sense. You will be ruined if you borrow that much $.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure why you bumped up a year old thread to say this when this type of issue comes up all the time…</p>