<p>I am about to be a senior in high school and I want to try to get this stuff figured out. I don't want to fall into a large amount of debt in college and I do not trust any of my immediate family members to give me any kind of help.</p>
<p>I have a 3.6 weighted GPA, 30 ACT score. I also qualify for many scholarships because I am considered low income and I have a physical disability.</p>
<p>I was wondering if any of you thought community college was a good option to get your freshman classes done. If I did that it would be much cheaper option. Then I could transfer to a state university later.</p>
<p>What do you think? Does anyone have experience with this?</p>
<p>There are many who have done just that, and done well. You certainly should check out all of your local college options, including the pricing,what the colleges offer, if they are good on keeping the offerings available, the transfer options, etc, etc. And you should apply to those schools early in the process so that you get first pick of what they have in terms of financial aid and merit money. My son got a very nice scholarship from a local private school that ended up making it a less expensive commuting option than community college. It’s a good idea to check these options out first, and make them the base of your college list. Too many students don’t bother and end up scurrying when the other options don’t pan out, admissions and/or money wise, and are forced into decisions without information. By having all of this info right out there for yourself, you are prepared to go this route and get the best from doing so.</p>
<p>The problems with community colleges are that they often are not able to offer a lot of the courses they say they have, the quality of the courses may not meet 4 year school requirements, and that they do not have any pipeline for transferring into a 4 year school. Also as a transfer student, after saving money the first two years going to a CC, you will likely be at a disadvantage for fin aid and merit money when the time comes to move on. Transfers tend to be the last to get the money. </p>
<p>So in addition to applying to the CCs now, add some 4 year schools on your list and see what pans out with them. If you get nothing, then you have nothing to lose going to a CC first. If you can get a generous award at a 4 years school, it might be wiser to give it a go. In between, you have to calculate it out. </p>
<p>So cover your bases, and then pick a few lottery tickets and see what pans out. Then YOU have the choice to make when all the cards are face up on the table.</p>
<p>The task seems incredibly daunting to me… I don’t have much in the way of parental guidance when it comes to college. The cost of attendance for most people though is egregious and I just want to make smart choices when it comes to something I will probably be paying off for the rest of my life. Thanks for your opinion.</p>
<p>The best scholarships are given to INCOMING freshman, so if you went to a CC first, you’d miss out on those when you transferred. Transfers rarely get good aid or good merit scholarships.</p>
<p>So, going to a CC first may end up costing you MORE money in lost scholarships.</p>
<p>You have the stats to get good merit to a university as a freshman.</p>
<p>What is your major? What is your EFC? What state are you in?</p>
<p>Are you going to test again?</p>
<p>How much in scholarships do you get for your disability? Are those awards for just frosh year or all four years?</p>
<p>*Hello I was wondering if anyone would give their opinion on my college chances. I am a soon to be college senior. My ACT score is 30 and my GPA is 3.6. As far as extracurricular activities I am a long time 4H and ffa member and I have received awards on the state level.</p>
<p>Part of why I believe my GPA is so low is that I have had to overcome a lot of adversity. I am the daughter of a currently incarcerated, mentally ill addict and I have a physical disability. Part of my dream is to be able to go to college and be successful person. I am in a situation where I will end up paying for most of my schooling so, out of state schools are currently not an option for me.</p>
<p>I want to apply to…</p>
<p>U of M
Wayne State
Western MI
GVSU
CMU
Ideally I want to be able to major in a science so I can go pre vet or pre med.
What are my chances? Are there any other schools you think I should consider?*</p>
<p>Do you have a custodial parent who will fill out FAFSA?</p>
<p>I think you should either go to a Miich public or to a small private.</p>
<p>Is your problem with going OOS a transportation issue? </p>
<p>I think that a school like DePauw in Indiana would give you a good pkg.</p>
<p>Also consider Oakland University and Eastern. Doubt you’d get enough aid at UMich. Do you live close enough to any of those to commute? Because that would save you a ton of money. Your stats would probably get you merit aid at som</p>
<p>I think that by the time I have to fill out FASFA she will be out. I think I will end up doing most of it myself though because in her current state she is too unreliable to fill anything out. I think I will end up paying for most of this myself so public universities are a better option.</p>
<p>I have no idea what my EFC would be but I know she really does not have any assets at this point and makes less than 25K a year.
I don’t think it will be a transportation issue. I have a drivers license and everything I would just like a dorm closer to my classes.</p>
<p>Have you talked to vocational rehabilitation? They’re a government program that might be able to chip in some for tuition, they help people with disabilities become more employable.</p>
<p>Do you have siblings? Who do you live with now? Does your mother have custody of you? Is your father in the picture? Do you work now? Do you have any money saved? </p>
<p>Are you still in school or are you out for the summer? Talk to your guidance counselor about fee waivers for college applications and for retaking the ACT again. Line up teachers to write you letters of recommendation for college and scholarships now or as soon as school starts. </p>
<p>To be able to live on campus you will need at least full tuition. Together with Stafford loans and a Pell grant you could make it work. If you get outside scholarships, save some of it. Those are usually for freshman year only.</p>
<p>I don’t really need that, I am a high functioning person living with Cerebral palsy. I don’t really think that would apply to me. But having a “disability” does make me eligible for scholarships and extended test taking time.
I would like to think I am as employable as the average person. I try not to let it dictate my life. I just have a limp and walk slower than your average person.</p>
<p>Yankee Belle,
Yes , I have one older sister who is 25. She does not live in the area. Yes my mom does have custody of me. I am out of school for the summer. I already have letters of recommendation lined up. I am planning on retaking my ACT in September. Currently I do not work, with the price of gas 4.30 a gallon I would not be breaking even at minimum wage jobs. I live in a rural area where it is impossible to walk to a job.</p>
<p>Excellent. You are ahead of many other rising seniors. Do you want to stay in state or do you think you have to because of money? Are you interested in medicine because you like it or for the money? If it’s for the money, there are other careers where you can live comfortably.</p>
<p>I understand the rural work situation, as I live in a rural area also, although gas is a dollar less. Poor kids in rural areas have a more difficult situation in some ways than suburban and city kids.</p>
<p>I think I have to stay in state because of my financial situation. Out of state tuition is ridiculously expensive. I am considering a career in medicine because I like the money but I also think it would be a rewarding career choice and you would always have stable employment. I also love anything that has to do with science, biology and viruses especially. I am also interested in genetics and parasites.
I have job shadowed both doctors and veterinarians and I find it fascinating.</p>
<p>I’m glad it’s something you like. Hating your major can lead to bad grades. If you find a full tuition scholarship, you might be able to afford out of state. If you raise your ACT score, you could have more options.</p>
<p>UMich promises to meet need for instate students – like the OP.</p>
<p>Don’t rule out OOS schools that give great aid - either merit/need or both. </p>
<p>Is your dad alive? If so, then some of the best schools may require his info as well. </p>
<p>Not to be nosy, but are you sure that you don’t have independent status? IF your custodial parent is incarcerated, then are you in foster care or something. Who are you living with? You’re a minor, right? </p>
<p>Even if you’re living with a grandparent or similar during this time, you might qualify for independent status, not sure. Hopefully Kelsmom will chime in here.</p>
<p>It might be preferable to be a dependent since mom may have no income for 2013 which could mean an auto EFC of zero. If accepted to UMich, the OP could get full need met, if there is not a non custodial dad in the picture with income/assets that could be an issue. </p>
<p>So I guess the first question is whether you do have a non custodial father. As for your mother, what would her income be for 2013? If it is under $22K, you may have an auto zero EFC which would make you eligible for about $5600 in PELL as well as at least $5500 in Direct Loans, with $3500 of them subsidized. I don’t know what Michigan has in terms of state aid for students. Anyone know if UMich uses PROFILE and whether non custodial parent financial info is needed ?</p>
<p>Nothing. We sometimes get the “Promise Scholarship” (ha!) but it’s not worth counting on and it covers, oh, a credit? </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes and yes. </p>
<p>In Michigan, your best option as a low income student is to go to a 4 year RIGHT AWAY. Transfer scholarships are virtually non-existent. </p>
<p>UMich will meet need.
MSU also meets need for those with a poverty income or below income with very minimal loans, through the Spartan Advantage program, and they only use FAFSA (plus, you get the added benefit of the Vet hospital there and Lyman Briggs).
You probably also qualify for auto-scholarships at EMU, OU, Western, etc but I don’t think any of them would be full rides.</p>
<p>As soon as you have 15 posts and can send a PM, do get in touch with romanigypsyeyes and kelsmom. They are both in MI and really know the financial aid system there.</p>