<p>So there really is no hope?</p>
<p>Carotid: What do you mean there is no hope? You have plenty of options but you don’t seem to want any options unless they are only in So. CAL. You need to be open about where you apply; explore your options. If you still want to apply to CA schools, do so, but know that financial aid will be extremely limited.</p>
<p>Don’t look at things so black or white.</p>
<p>apply to some Calif schools (not UCs) and see what happens</p>
<p>apply to some schools in other states and see what happens. Also apply to UNM</p>
<p>Apply to a couple of safeties, such as NAU and another school.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the responses. I’ll still apply to the schools that I was originally planning on applying to (AZ safeties included) and see what happens. I also have a couple other backup plans in mind as far as paying for these schools that don’t involve aid but might just require a miracle or two.</p>
<p>Again, much thanks.</p>
<p>Okay, good luck!</p>
<p>There is no point to applying to UC’s and see what happens. What is NOT going to happen is avoiding the cost. There is no magic going to happen–UC’s admit OOS students to get the OOS tuition. Stop beating a dead horse and focus your energy on some options that will leave you with little debt. Stick with USC and USD. </p>
<p>Your energy should be spent on prepping to up your scores, which are preventing you from getting some additional opportunities.</p>
<p>If you go to a private, then you should have some decent advising to help you search. Although 8 years ago a mid-level student from my daughter’s private did get full tuition, maybe full ride to USD.</p>
<p>Apply to the Arizona school that admits the most OOS kids for diversity. Being in college is an entire other experience. It is important to get your education and leave yourself with little debt. Get some perspective here. Do well and you can live wherever you want.</p>
<p>Carotid…</p>
<p>I think you only get a limited number of application fee waivers, so don’t waste them on UC’s. </p>
<p>There’s no way those will be affordable because they will not cover that OOS portion and your stats aren’t anywhere high enough to get a merit award to cover them.</p>
<p>Include some midwest LACs that want more Hispanic students…maybe DePauw. </p>
<p>You should also apply to Loyola-Maryland because they promise to meet need and want URMs</p>
<p>Carotid, look at University of Alabama at Birmingham. They have great scholarships (but your stats need to be higher) and their neuroscience program is outstanding! It’s not California, but it’s not AZ either :-). </p>
<p>You sound like a great candidate for Questbridge (again though, try to bring up your scores). Check it out and you will see that there is nothing to give up on. Opportunities abound.</p>
<p>Yes, Loyola-Marymount gave money for my cousin to attend. If you really want to do California, try the privates and see what they can offer you.</p>
<p>AS everyone else has posted, Get those STATS up!</p>
<p>Things you should know:
- You can defer your loans until after you graduate
- Private schools will probably cost less than public schools once financial and merit aid is taken into consideration. The fact you have sibling and that your income is only $20k will get you significant financial aid.
- That being said… make sure you fill out the FAFSA on time! That is extremely important!!!
- I am assuming some of the schools you are applying to have rolling admissions. Apply to those ASAP so that the class does not fill up before you even put your application in.</p>
<p>Good Luck with finding more schools. But seriously, add more private schools. It will probably cost you a whole lot less.</p>
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<p>The overwhelming majority of colleges in the country do not meet 100% demonstrated need and do not have significant aid to give. Those that do are amongst the most competitive to gain admissions.</p>
<p>
You can go to a California community college for 2 years, get good grades, then transfer to a UC to complete a BS/BA there</p>
<p>The OP to this thread is NOT a California resident. He/she would have to move to CA, find housing, and pay OOS rates at LEAST for the first year of community college. Where is the money to pay for THAT going to come from? PLUS there is no guarantee that he/she will receive instate residency status as a transfer to the UCs as the parent will still be residing in Arizona.</p>
<p>And even if he/she were given instate status…it is highly unlikely that need based aid would be awarded, except the Direct Loan…which will NOT pay for a year of study at any UC…even at instate rates.</p>
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</p>
<p>Considering the fact that OP is an Arizona resident, this is not a financially feasible option, especially since he will be OOS for california</p>
<p>OP: I used to dream of leaving the east coast and spending my college days sunbathing in Cali. Then I realized it’s too expensive and just not going to happen.</p>
<p>California publics are just too expensive for 99% of OOS students- they’re also not worth the 50K price tag.</p>
<p>So what I get is you’re looking for is a big school, in a warm climate, in a liberal atmosphere.</p>
<p>1) Apply to a couple of in state schools- yeah, okay, they’re maybe slightly more conservative than (some) Cali schools. But, for example, NAU has more than 20 thousand undergrads- you’re find your niche.</p>
<p>2) You’re a 4.0, (maybe) 30 ACT student. Look around for second-tier privates, where’d you’d get good aid.</p>
<p>3) Off the top of my head, some schools you might like: Tulane (not the best with financial aid though), University of Miami, University of Tampa (only 6,000 undergrads, but you’ll have a good chance at aid). Cali privates: University of San Francisco, USC</p>
<p>Okay so it turns out I was a little wrong. I worked out the USD calculator again and it says that my estimated gift aid/scholarships would leave me having to pay ~10k/yr. I talked to my college counsellor about it for hours and she calmed me down a ton and made me realize that it really is possible. I’m back to worrying about whether or not i’ll get in rather than having to pay for it because I know if the calculator’s estimates are anywhere near accurate, I can surely find a way to cover the cost.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the USD admissions officer from my region is coming to my school in October and I expect there to be a very small turnout to this presentation (2-3 kids) so I’m going to have the chance to have a one on one conversation with her for about an hour covering anything from general questions, admissions and of course, financial aid all while she gets to know me on a personal level as I do my best to make a flawless impression.</p>
<p>I have my eyes set on USD and i’m doing whatever it takes. Thank you all for the feedback (and making me panic even more) but again, I think this is logically quite doable.</p>
<p>If your mother makes 20k/year, where are you getting 10k out of pocket a year? Your mother would have to take out a PLUS loan, where she would most likely be turned down.</p>
<p>I know this sounds harsh but even if you impress the admissions officer and get in, that’s not your real problem.
Your problem is what we originally stated: FINANCIAL. How can you afford $10K per year? IF you can find a job here, and that’s a REALLY BIG IF, which is REALLY tough, you won’t be able to work the amount of time to make $10K and get good grades to keep your scholarship. </p>
<p>Plus, I mentioned that you HAVE to HAVE reliable transportation. San Diego has LOUSY public transportation, especially in the area where the school is located. Everything is freeways/highways. </p>
<p>Sybbie is right, your mother probably won’t qualify for a loan.
You really are limiting yourself by only wanting to be in Southern California.</p>
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</p>
<p>No, it’s really NOT. The truth sucks, but take it in already! Cali isn’t the only happy, warm place in the country, you know.</p>
<p>The USD calculator includes full loans and $2800 work-study, and estimates that you’ll still have to come up with just under $11k per year. </p>
<p>I can understand that you might be able to save about $2k-3k over the summer, but you’d still be quite short. You’ll already be working during the school year (work study), so you probably won’t be able to earn more during that time.</p>
<p>Who is paying for your private high school?</p>
<p>Admissions officers aren’t in the FA dept. That is separate. </p>
<p>Go ahead and apply to USD and see what happens, but be sure to have a back up. AND, don’t choose ANY school until you know for sure that you have all costs covered…otherwise, next summer you’ll be posting that you chose School X, and the money is now due, and you can’t pay it.</p>