I'm seriously about to cry...

<p>SmallColleges, I spent some time looking at the schools and I can see why you're disappointed. Beloit, Knox, Cornell and Luther all do seem to offer something special: strong focus on undegrads, special freshman programs, special calendars. </p>

<p>You said you could come up with $5,000 aside from loans. Is that per year? (Do you know of a summer job where you could earn that or do you have savings?) Are those merit scholarships renewable and under what conditions? And how many AP credits do you think you can get? You might also be able to take community college courses this year (if the cc is on the quarter system) or this summer. </p>

<p>Here's what I'm thinking... <em>If</em> you can shave off a full year of college and the merit remains in place, you may be able to swing this. I would ask mom and dad if they'll cover books and keep you on their health insurance (apart from the $10,000 yearly contribution). The cheapest of the colleges offering you merit aid is Cornell which is $35,000 without books/ health ins/ transportation. - $14,000 merit = $21,000 - $10,000 parents = $11,000/ year. If you can work in the summers (and school year) and graduate in 3 years, you should be able to keep the loans under the $30,000. I would even ask your parents if they would be willing to pay off $10,000 of your loans (what they would have contributed for a 4th year) if you finish a year early. That would keep your loans below $20,000. (They may not be willing to do that if they're planning on taking out loans to come up with the $10,000 but if they say no, ask them if they would give you $5,000 if you graduate a year early.) While in school, you can apply to be an RA. That would lower your costs further. </p>

<p>By the way, you do need to apply to outside scholarships. Also, it can't hurt to go back to the colleges (especially Cornell and Luther because they're the least expensive) and ask for an extra $1,000-$2,000. And you should probably look for a parttime job now although I still think your focus should be on amassing credits that would allow you to graduate in 3 years. Oh, and if you go with this plan, be very sure you can renew those merit scholarships and talk to each of the schools about the credit you would get for APs and community college courses.</p>

<p>Is contributing to the problem. Consider reality..You cannot afford it. Read a paper, watch the news..These schools will continue to be outside of your financial reach and will position you for future problems. This problem will not go away, so what can you change about your expectations? You don't like the "type" of people at state school??..so sign up there and find yourself on the Deans list. Maybe get some Grad school scholarships. Better yet..Start at local CC and transfer after 2 years. It's the paper you finish with that matters not the one you start with. Your education needs to start now. What can you do to accomplish your goals? Not what can someone do for you.</p>

<p>Amen, penzly. I think those encouraging here are kids who have no idea yet about how hard it is to get outside scholarships, what a financial aid package looks like, the fact that college costs keep going up or how hard it is to pay back loans.</p>

<p>The fact is the loans will already be substantial that are part of the aid package and there will most probably be a work study job, so adding more loans and more work would be crippling.</p>

<p>FinAid</a> | Calculators | Loan Calculator
For some with 60-80 k of loans they will pay back 800-1000 per month upon graduation! For most this will be the equivilent of 1100-1400 per month gross income! It will probably cost as much as your first apartment and last for 10 years. I don't want to kill anyones "dream", but I also dont want the dream to become your nightmare</p>

<p>My only suggestion was to talk to dad to convince mom to let OP go a little further away for a good, affordable school.</p>

<p>The weblink to the loan calculator really puts it (debt) into perspective- should be required for all students looking at loans. How many of us can afford to drive a car/buy a house that is our "dream"? Time to learn the difference between needs and wants.</p>

<p>Thanks the link to the loan calculator--it does put things into perspective. However, I plugged in 60K and 80K in debt, respectively, and got monthly payments of 690.48 and 920.64 over ten years.</p>

<p>It is a great tool. My Ds HS economic class had them use it, and then prepare a brief report comparing monthly loan payments with average income numbers for a variety of professions. It was a simple project, but I thought it was a great idea.</p>

<p>I used several differing rates in my example....today the Stafford rate is 6.8...but the plus loan is 8.5% for the sake of argument, one should try the calculator with slightly inflated numbers...don't you think?</p>

<p>I would like to let people know that I would never under any circumstances take out more than 30k loans. Worst case scenario (this would be if the there is absolutely no other way) I would defer a year, and work as much as i can (I mean AS MUCH as I can) and try and earn tuition for at least a year. That on top of my parents contribution and merit aid might make it possible to graduate with less than 20k loans. (if I can make 30k working a full time job and maybe a part time job), that is 10k over three years + 10k from parents + ~10-15k merit + 2k work study + some need aid (if possible, after earning money for working that would probably greatly increase my EFC).</p>

<p>I live in a university town relatively unaffected by the economy, everything is centered around the U of Illinois, so jobs are pretty easy to come by.</p>

<p>Otherwise, I will see what packages I get. I will call all the schools and see if I can get more aid and see what happens.</p>

<p>I know that a lot of you think I am a could with a sense of entitlement, that I deserve only these schools because of my grades/test scores/everything else, but I do not think that is a fair analysis. I have a great life, get everything I need, but it stops there. I don't really get anything else, it may be that I never ask for anything else. I pay for my cell phone (basic package, nothing fancy), no car, parents do pay for insurance, but I chip in for gas in car we all share. I never get anything fancy like iPods or gamesystems as presents. I don't have my own TV (we have one in house), don't have any DVDs or cable. I am very happy with what I do get, don't get me wrong. I do not feel slighted or "ripped off" because of any of the things I said. But a lot of the posters mention that I am am more of an elitist and feel entitled to a great school. I am not under that illusion at all. I feel very lucky to even be in the position that these schools may be possible. It is my one major dream in life to go to a small LAC, not to get a super high paying job or for the prestige, but for the education. I love to learn and love to discuss and share ideas and meet both professors and students that love to learn and teach.</p>

<p>Please do not think of me a brat or typical kid that thinks that he should be at these places and if he is not, its not fair. Because I have already learned life isn't fair. I feel I want to go to these schools for the right reasons. I have read over ten different books on undergraduate education philosophy and these are the types of educations that I would love to have. I am asking for advise to see if its possible.</p>

<p>sorry for the long post, just my thoughts.</p>

<p>I never thought you were anything but responsible. Is there any chance you can get your dad to talk to your mom re distance?</p>

<p>"It is my one major dream in life to go to a small LAC"</p>

<p>I think we all already figured this out, lol.</p>

<p>...by your username and everything.....</p>

<p>But yeah, just take a gap year and work as much as possible. Why cry?</p>

<p>Children in Africa are starving and dying of aids and you have to take an in between year so you can go to an elite LAC?</p>

<p>lol</p>

<p>youre fine.</p>

<p>Ilkl - I think you are very callous. I dont think you are one of the children starving in Africa.</p>

<p>at all. I am a bit older, and even a little jealous as you have unlimited opportunity. My own child is tired of the value and affordability speech! Adult realities sometimes stink! You are smart enough to ask opinions and I'm sure wise enough to take what you can from them. Go for what you can accomplish, but don't limit your future by taking on too much now. College is only the means to an end...not the end. Remember the "big goals and plans" for high school, they probably seem relatively small in hindsight. College will be the same way. It will pass quickly and you will then move on to another "dream"</p>

<p>Ilkl - I think you are very callous. I dont think you are one of the children starving in Africa.</p>

<hr>

<p>What does 'callous' mean?</p>

<p>I can tell it has a negative meaning though, so I'm going to ask why. Why is there something wrong with recognizing there are children starving in Africa? And no, I'm not one of the children starving in Africa, but, really, what does that matter? My perspective on life is partly shaped by the fact that I recognize there are children starving in Africa.</p>

<p>And?</p>

<p>I have a quick question if anyone can help me..my efc says 00070.
what does this mean?
both my parents are foreign and have never done fafsa before...</p>

<p>Illkill, if you want to use your funds to help children in Africa, that is up to you. Are you going to an expensive college? Are your children? Why dont you go to CC and send the $$ to Africa. You "recognize" the problem and castigate others. Good for you.</p>

<p>Illkill, if you want to use your funds to help children in Africa, that is up to you. Are you going to an expensive college? Are your children? Why dont you go to CC and send the $$ to Africa. You "recognize" the problem and castigate others. Good for you.</p>

<hr>

<p>I'm 17...</p>

<p>But, again, I'm really confused why you think it was wrong to point out that there are children in Africa starving. The OP should be grateful he even has the opportunity to go to a really good college, much less a college at all.</p>

<p>My only point was the that the OP should not feel sorry for himself because he might have a slightly worse life due to financial problems, when his life is already better than over 95% of the world (at least in terms of material life).</p>

<p>And will I send my own money to Africa as an adult? Maybe? I'm not sure. I'm a socialist of sorts politically. Whether my money would go to Africa specifically, I'm unsure. Let's put it this way. If I became a professional athlete and made, I don't know, three million a year, I would give away all but .075 million of it to charity.</p>

<p>I don't see entitlement here, but I am afraid you might be being unrealistic.</p>

<p>If you take a year off and work, as you point out, it will just serve to raise your EFC.</p>

<p>You really need to determine if the stress of trying to pull all of this money together is worth it. If you have to work your way through college and not participate in the extras because of money, will you really be having the experience you dream of?</p>

<p>Lots of kids have an idealistic vision of college that often gets shot down by reality once the honeymoon phase of the first few months is over. Then what they have is two work study jobs while others are enjoying ECs and parties and summers working 15 hour days instead of unpaid internships to get ahead in their field.</p>

<p>So think this through carefully. Maybe grad school can be your opportunity for a dream school.</p>

<p>@ lllklll</p>

<p>When did I ever say I felt sorry? I EXPLICITLY said numerous times that</p>

<p>"I am very happy with what I do get, don't get me wrong. I do not feel slighted or "ripped off" because of any of the things I said."</p>

<p>and</p>

<p>"I feel very lucky to even be in the position that these schools may be possible."</p>

<p>those are both direct quotes.</p>

<p>and you have a nice list of colleges yourself</p>

<p>"Case Western Reserve University
Depauw University
Hendrix College
Illinois Wesleyan University
Lafayette College
Rhodes College
St. Olaf College"</p>

<p>Not to shabby ehh and you have a nice list of colleges yourself</p>

<p>"Case Western Reserve University
Depauw University
Hendrix College
Illinois Wesleyan University
Lafayette College
Rhodes College
St. Olaf College"
(source:<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/615027-my-final-chance-thread-i-have-extremely-low-gpa-average-test-scores.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/615027-my-final-chance-thread-i-have-extremely-low-gpa-average-test-scores.html&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>Not to shabby ehh lllklll?</p>

<p>Pretty expensive places....</p>