Or else I can’t go one of my top choices. Please help, how can I bring the cost down. I’m so desperate and I don’t know what to do
You need $45,000 for the upcoming academic year of college?
If that is the case, you need to find a more affordable college option in your acceptance list. You need to make a matriculation decision by tomorrow…and it’s a little late to be searching for money to pay now.
How much can your parents pay annually? Whatever that amount is…what colleges did you get accepted to that meet this price point?
I think that you should list what schools you have been accepted to, what each would cost, and how much you can afford to spend for university without taking on any debt. This will allow people to give informed opinions and suggestions. It would help if you also describe what you currently are thinking of majoring in.
Most students are constrained by costs in terms of which universities they are able to attend. If you go to any good in-state public university, you are going to find some very strong students for the simple reason that an in-state public university is what they could afford.
You wrote this…asking about Drexel and American.
Did you not get selected for NROTC?
And this…
Did you apply to a public in Delaware? If so, is that affordable. Your stats don’t put you in line for merit aid. And American and Drexel don’t meet full need and are costly.
Can you list
- parent budget
- net cost* for each university you got into + university name
- why you’re in this predicament now
*(Tuition fees room board) - (scholarships, grants) = …
Do NOT deduct loans, work study, etc.
If none of your colleges are affordable…consider a gap year…and apply to colleges that will be affordable.
OR start at a community college and transfer to a four year to complete your degree…in your state.
$45k in scholarships or aid isn’t going to happen at this stage. You need to discuss with your parents what they are willing and able to pay. If none of your options are affordable , you need to redo the process again for next year, making sure you apply to schools that you can afford.
@Nomak54 you applied to some very costly schools. Did you get accepted to any school that is affordable? Is Salisbury affordable at the $32,000 plus per year cost?
Does your “dream school” guarantee to meet full need?
With only one day left, you need to deal with the facts as they are. 45k is a huge gap to try to close. Rarely does that just materialize.
You filled out finaid paperwork, saw the projected Family Contribution? You ran NPCs? Now, the cards are on the table. It would be mature to face this rationally.
What colleges are affordable?
Save your top choice for grad school. Go to the school you can afford.
UD, all in, is 29K for on-campus. If you commute it’s 15K.
What’s your safety school, now that your reach school has failed to provide the financial assistance you need in order for it to be viable? Your reach school is unreachable financially.
Long story short, I was kind of banking on the A/N/AF-ROTC scholarships, however, I got into West Point’s prep school and found out that I was medically disqualified and couldn’t get a waiver. Because of that, I was told it would unlikely I could get the scholarships for the next two years.
the cheapest school was UD or Salisbury around 12-15K or something but that’s still pushing the budget. I can pay back $45,000, I just can’t get someone to cosign it.
Also, unrelated, but is it possible to get the deposit fee waived?
I’m confused; can we focus on what is the current state and the go-forward options.
As requested above, what are the schools you’ve been accepted to, the net cost for each, and the amount actually available to spend and the form of those funds (savings, loans, etc).
Ok - my son could be posting this same thing right now. He chose a cheaper school. I hope you have other options.
You think you can pay back 45K? That would be extremely painful launching as a new grad.
I’m very sorry. It must be crushing, soclose to May1st.
What’s your EFC, parent budget, and net cost at each university (using the formula in #4)?
Anyone who co-signs a loan with you is responsible for it if for any reason you can’t pay. It sits on their credit report. If you die, screw up, get disabled, that person is stuck. Your parents are the ones responsible for payment of your college. If they refuse to contribute, and many do refuse or cannot contribute , you need to find a job for the next 6 years and work on getting your education yourself.
It appears as though your parents have not totally abandoned you. They gave access to their financial info for you to get a FAFSA EFC and aid. You are living with them now as you complete high school, right?
You need to be talking to THEM right now as to where you can be in the fall. If they do not want to sign for $45k in loans for you, then that’s the end of that option. It’s a responsible refusal if they do not want to do it for any reason.
If they will not come up with the money for any deposit money. Your choices are to find a job after graduation and look into part time college at a local school. Or if you can, enroll in your local community or local college full time. Again you need to work with your parents on this. Once you are 18, an adult, they have no legal obligation to support you. That roof over your head, the food and other living expenses are not things to take for granted. Hardly anyone going to take care of those for you… except your parents. If they’ve had enough of you , your priority is not college but basic subsistence. A lot of young people in that situation.
What have your parents said they would support for you? Not the $45k, clearly. Will they let you live at home? Will they pay for any college costs at all? You can borrow $5500 as a freshman on your own which can go towards instate local options, and with s summer job and part time work during the year ,you can start college. You don’t need deposit money or a waiver of deposit unless you have a way to pay for that college. Otherwise it’s just lost money.
Enlisting is a choice, if you can pass the med, and attending when you can afford - - avoid big debt
Better to find out about the medical issue now than later. You can focus on getting your health in order. College n wait if necessary.
What state are you a resident of? If MD, you could do a year or two at a CC then transfer to Salisbury easily if money is tight.
My EFC is $600, I don’t know how much my parents are actually contributing.
I’m from DE. I just need to go to a good school for two years, that’s when I’ll be considered “medically clear” to go to USNA or USMA
I don’t want to live at home, which is why UD includes room and board, HOWEVER, I do not know my true financial aid. Long story short, for those a little familiar with Delaware, I asked to be transferred out of the SEED program (two years of community college) and in to the main Newark campus. Because of that, I won’t know my true financial aid until some in mid-May .
I just need to take out a loan, I’ll be able to pay it back later
At this point, it is up to OP’s parents to decide how much they can pay towards his college costs. Also to provide the deposit if he does not have the money.
If Salisbury Or UDe are the two most affordable choices, and the parents agree to come up with the deposit to one of them, then the OP is on his way to a very good school. No idea if it’s for commuting or to stay in campus. UDe is a national flagship school and Salisbury is up and coming. I’m very familiar with Salisbury, and can attest that it has good programs and a very nice campus. $15k total for either school is a good price too.