I'm freaking out. Help me.

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm an Arizona resident who absolutely hates every college my state has to offer. I want to go to California extremely badly for undergrad (I'm applying to about 7 schools in the state) but like most students, I find myself not having the money to attend any of these schools. I've tried multiple calculators to try and pinpoint how much aid i'll need and they all come around to ~$20,000 that I have to pay annually on my own. Some of the schools in which I desperately want to attend include: UCSD, UCLA, USC, or USD. And yes, I know that I am capable of receiving admission.</p>

<p>Circumstances:
- I was raised by a single mother and live with 4 others all under a combined annual income of around $20,000.
- I'm a hispanic, first generation student.
- Father hasn't paid a penny of child support in the last 13 years or so.
- I come from a background of struggle and domestic violence. My common app essay/UC prompt tells about my background, where I also suffered a home invasion and watched my mother and 13-year-old sister get held at gunpoint when I was around 7.</p>

<p>Please please please, any sort of useful information would be helpful. It's only September and the stress of applications is already taking a large emotional toll on me. I'm suffering anxiety attacks daily. I feel like my only option at this point is to slave away looking for $100,000 worth of scholarships which can either be a hit or miss. I'm also not fond of the idea of being in enormous debt after college nor do I want to be confined to the University of Arizona for 4 years.</p>

<p>Thank you for the replies in advance.</p>

<p>Also, If you want to know anything about my stats/EC's feel free to just take a look at this thread: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1548569-ucsd-ucla-usc-usd-i-chance-back.html#post16341050%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1548569-ucsd-ucla-usc-usd-i-chance-back.html#post16341050&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>Your mistake is looking at the UC’s. They won’t cover your OOS portion, so none will work for you.</p>

<p>What are your stats? If they’re high enough, then apply to the PRIVATES in Calif that give great aid…like Stanford, USC, Santa Clara, the Claremonts, Occidental, etc. </p>

<p>Don’t bother with the publics in Calif.</p>

<p>Also, consider some OTHER states…especially ones that want more Hispanic students. </p>

<p>Do NOT waste your limited number of app waivers on schools that won’t work.</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

3

<p>After you finish freaking out, you must come to the realization that attending the University of California system is not a financially feasible option for you and your family.</p>

<p>the only monies that you will be able to count on are Pell grants , depending on your EFC ($5645 for a 0 EFC) and a $5500 stafford loan.</p>

<p>If you do not want to attend school in arizona (but still you need a financial safety so you must apply), you need to focus on schools where you stand a good chance of getting merit $$ along with 100% demonstrated need.</p>

<p>Have you considered questbridge?</p>

4

<p>Unless you get GMS or Questbridge which is for ALL FOUR years, applying to bunch of scholarships won’t work. </p>

<p>Nearly all of those other private scholarships are for freshman year only. You’d still be gapped for the other 3 years.</p>

<p>MAJOR: Behavioral Neuroscience (+Pre Med)</p>

<p>ACADEMICS

  • GPA: ~4.0 (W)
  • ACT: Retaking and confident on getting 30.
  • SAT: Will not submit
  • SATII: Planning on achieving a very nice score on both Biology and Spanish tests.</p>

<p>For the best schools that give full aid, you’re going to have to request a non-custodial parent waiver so that your dad’s info can be excluded.</p>

5

<p>Would this student be eligible for the Amigo scholarship at U of New Mexico?</p>

<p>I would strongly suggest that you read the threads here that talk about guaranteed merit aid. You will need to get that ACT score above 32 to be eligible for most of these awards.</p>

<p>If your goal is medical school, you need to keep your undergrad debt to a bare minimum. I realize you don’t like the schools in Arizona, but you might want to reconsider this stance…especially if Arizona offers any kind of aid to low income students.</p>

6

<p>Just seconding Questbridge. There are a lot of good options, but you probably won’t be able to attend a California Public School. They are very expensive for out of state students, and many of the places in CA with the impressive schools are very expensive places to live. If you are willing to go as far east as the Midwest you will find there are many private colleges that are happy to take out of state students, and many will be able to offer you reasonable aid packages. The trick is finding folks to work with who know about these schools and that is where Questbridge comes in.</p>

7

<p>absolutely hates every college my state has to offer.</p>

<p>I realize that Arizona has remarkably few universities, and maybe you don’t like UAz or ASU because of their very large sizes and settings. Is that it?</p>

<p>What about NAU? It’s very different from UAz and ASU. It is large, but not as large, and its setting is very different…more green, grass, trees, snow.</p>

<p>Sybbie is right…you do need an instate financial safety…just in case.</p>

<p>*I’m suffering anxiety attacks daily. *</p>

<p>I hope that you’re just in teenage drama mode and this isn’t real. Otherwise, you’re not going to be able to handle medicine at all.</p>

<p>*I’m also not fond of the idea of being in enormous debt after college *</p>

<p>Don’t worry, you won’t be. You’d need qualified co-signers and according to you, your mom doesn’t earn enough.</p>

<p>MAJOR: Behavioral Neuroscience (+Pre Med)</p>

<p>If your goal is medicine, then don’t focus too much on a major that isn’t at many/most schools. Right now, you need to find affordable schools. You can major in anything as a premed student…psychology, bio, chem, history, English, whatever. So, don’t get hung up on a major that may not be offered at your affordable choices.</p>

8

<p>Another who is recommending NAU (nothern arizona university in flagstaff). The campus is lovely (think brick) and small and has four seasons and is about 2 hours (straight uphill) from Phoenix. It’s not the most prestigious but everyone I know who has attended there loved it. It’s possible you could could get merit money there.</p>

9

<p>Go to the Arizona department of education scholarships page to learn about the various programs/merit money for various residents.</p>

10

<p>Have you looked at states surrounding Arizona? New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, etc. </p>

<p>Schools in those states might offer you a good deal. You just have to research. A lot of the public schools in Utah offer merit scholarships and they recently had some programs that waived the OOS tuition. I am not sure about the other states though. </p>

<p>There have been many threads on here recently concerning California. Read them and you will find they are very expensive. </p>

<p>Best advice is to just move on and seek alternatives.</p>

11

<p>Thank you for the responses.</p>

<p>Yes, I have considered other colleges such as NAU but the problem originates from the location of these colleges in that they are all in Arizona. I have always dreamed of packing my bags and leaving for California for school and I am determined to do just about whatever it takes to do so.</p>

<p>So what I’ve gathered from this thread is that my only real hope is USC (assuming if I were given admission)?</p>

<p>Let’s go back to USD. Does a small, private up-and-coming college such as the University of San Diego offer any sort of exceptions based on a student’s financial need/background? Furthermore, I have heard of a minority scholarship offered by this school that seems to cover most of tuition costs (full ride?) called the “Circle of Excellence Award.”</p>

<p>Does anybody else know anything about this award?</p>

12

<p>USD does have a few good minority scholarships. BUT, consider where it’s located. It likely has hundreds of Hispanic students all vying for those few big awards. And, many will have higher stats than yours.</p>

<p>And, it’s not a full ride.</p>

<p>*Diversity Scholarships (Circle of Excellence)</p>

<p>Awards are automatically determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.<em>Your admission application is the application for the scholarships.
Awarded to incoming first-time freshmen based on superior academic achievement, test scores, leadership, service, talent, and other personal qualities.</em> Generally reserved for underrepresented undergraduates who have financial need.
The scholarship amounts are up to full tuition
*</p>

<p>Your dream of leaving Az is just that. a dream. It may come true, but it may not be. Your REAL dream should be your career, not 4 years of college.</p>

<p>Besides, if you want to be premed, the LAST place to be is in Calif. Seriously. </p>

<p>USD is a rich kids school. I don’t think you’d like it much, anyway. Did you try the NPC to see what your aid would be like if you didn’t get a full merit scholarship?</p>

<p>Besides, since you don’t qualify for a Cal Grant, it’s less likely you’d get great aid from USD.</p>

<p>Try:
Redlands
Whittier College
Azusa Pacific
U San Francisco</p>

<p>*Yes, I have considered other colleges such as NAU but the problem originates from the location of these colleges in that they are all in Arizona. *</p>

<p>That is silly thinking. What if Calif was absorbed into Az? Would it suddenly become undesirable??? </p>

<p>NAU is in a totally different environment that is so unlike the rest of the state. Going there would be like going OOS.</p>

13

<p>What attracts you to California? </p>

<p>Once you answer this question you can determine what you are looking for in a school. Just applying to every school and thinking one will work or assuming they are the same is a bad idea.</p>

14

<p>Atmosphere, weather, politics, etc. Pretty much the opposite of Arizona. I’m interested in SoCal specifically.</p>

<p>And I already pretty much go to a “rich kids” school. I attend a small prep school where I know teachers on a personal level and classes are generally anywhere from 5-15 kids so I already think USD would be a perfect fit for me. Paying for the school is the only factor that poses a problem.</p>

15

<p>If you “need” to apply to california schools because you have your heart set on them then do so. But make sure you apply locally too because that may be your best/only viable option financially—are you willing to NOT go to college and end up in a local CC? You need something that is a true financial safety. </p>

<p>You might investigate the WUE (western univeristiy exchange) for reduced price admission at some OOS schools…although mostly not in CA and not the name brands you are interested in. </p>

<p>/Flagstaff is the liberal 4 season capitol of Arizona (it’s 70 degrees right now) but you clearly aren’t interested.</p>

16

<p>Atmosphere, weather, politics, etc. Pretty much the opposite of Arizona. I’m interested in SoCal specifically.</p>

<p>Politics are the opposite? how? SoCal is more conservative than NorthernCal. Are you aware of that? </p>

<p>The weather in NAU is much different than what you’re used to.</p>

17

<p>It would not hurt to visit schools in the other states I mentioned. You may find something you like. </p>

<p>Research some schools like Utah State, Dixie State, Weber State (good scholarships for OOS students). Are you interested in politics? Maybe they have a club you could join.</p>

18

<p>carotid, even IF you got some aid from the CA publics, you would NOT receive aid to cover the OOS cost differential which is over $23,000 this year. So…that is the MINIMUM you would be paying to attend a California public university. More likely, you would be paying the full cost of attending as an OOS student…with only a $5500 Direct Loan in terms if “financial aid”,</p>

<p>There is NO money fairy out there. You need to be realistic in how you approach college applications and know that the bills have to be paid, or you cannot attend classes.</p>

<p>Apply to a CA public or two if you’d like. But be prepared to,walk away If the money isn’t there. It is NOT worth in excess of $150,000 in debt to attend one of these schools…Nevermind that you’d have to GET those loans…which might not happen.</p>

<p>People here have given you some good ideas to consider.</p>

19

<p>USD is a Catholic school in San Diego, so Hispanics are not likely to be considered “underrepresented” there. The scholarship you are looking at is quite a long shot to pin your hopes on.</p>

<p>

</p>

20

<p>I am a San Diego native. I often read on these threads about students who think its such an easy dream to come to California, get easy financial aid and go to school. Unless you have $200K to spend for your 4 years here, you need to modify that dream. Our state is out of money so that means that the UC’s, Cal States and CCC’s are out of money. </p>

<p>These facilities would admit you as an ADMIT/DENY because you would be admitted, BUT at full cost of $50-60K per year with OOS tuition. AND . . . .You cannot establish state residency with any certainty unless you are 24 years of age.</p>

<p>I’m sorry you hate your state, but you need to consider applying within your state for undergrad and other states while you consider your options:</p>

<p>USD is extremely expensive and the school is more competitive because the world’s seniors are discovering USD in San Diego CALIFORNIA. But your stats aren’t high enough for that competitive merit aid. You won’t get any state resources because you are OOS.</p>

<p>I went to USD about 35 years ago; back then, kids from other states could come and actually work to help pay their tuitions. Now, that’s not doable.</p>

<p>The hispanic thing won’t help; I’m hispanic as is most of our state, 51% Hispanic, and most of that population is in So Cal (San Diego, Orange and LA counties) so, being an URM in this community will not help your financial aid. </p>

<p>USD is in the community of Linda Vista; given that you’re short on funds, I’m assuming that you wont have reliable transportation? USD does not have easy access to transportation and you NEED a car if you go to USD. Yes, you do, because to get anywhere to and from USD, you will be on the freeways. The beach, on maps, looks close but it’s a good 15 to 20 minutes BY car. </p>

<p>The rents here are outrageous and it doesn’t sound like you will be able to live here. You can’t work part time and make rent and utilities. Average 1 bedroom rents do not run less than $1000 for some questionable neighborhoods but probably are more likely to cost you $1500 per month just for rent. </p>

<p>You really need to ask yourself if it’s worth it to you to get caught up in this dream because you’re already at a disadvantage:<br>
FYI: every kid in this county seems to be majoring in pre med and engineering. Our seniors in HS are doing premed internships with their BIOTECH classes at hospital facilities and clinics sponsored by our local universities. </p>

<p>For USC (my hispanic sister went there), your stats are not high enough for merit aid.</p>