Life Determining Decision

Transfer Students
1

<p>Okay, maybe I exaggerated a bit on the title, but I really want your guys' take on my current situation.</p>

<p>I am currently a 2nd year (junior standing in terms of credit) chemical engineering student at UC Irvine. Being out-of-state, I get pretty much zero financial aid because of the poor UC funding. Having been here for two years, my whole college savings from my dad is pretty much gone and for the next 2 years, I'm either gonna need to find a ****LOAD of scholarships or take out loans to afford the approximately $40K total college life style: $30k/year tuition + $8000/year housing + other expenses. </p>

<p>This whole year, I was really concerned about the future of my education so I decided to apply to UCSD, UCLA, and USC, just to see if different schools would offer me different/reasonable financial aid packages. First, I got into UCSD, with an $8000 grant. When I first received this offer, I was ecstatic to see any type of aid/award for the first time and I was a bit convinced to attend UCSD. However, I'm so attached to UCI that I feel like leaving this school that I love for $8k and whatever I may receive the following year is not worth the money. Next, I applied to UCLA and got rejected because I didn't meet pre-reqs, which is total bull **** because I am taking those classes right now. BUT WHATEVER. Finally, I recently got my acceptance into USC, with a generous award of $27K grant, and $8K loans, so I basically only have to pay ~$20K to attend USC (including housing). Now I was a bit inclined to take this offer because it sounded amazing ($40K/year VS $20K/year) but the only problem is that, I may have to attend 3 more years of school at USC because the classes do not quite match up from the transfer process UC -> USC (also quarter system -> sem system). I'm still trying to figure things out with the USC counselors to ensure that I can begin next year as a junior chemical engineering student but I have a feeling that I may have to be a sophomore again, or have one more extra semester of classes to catch up to be a "regular" junior-standing USC chemical engineering student. </p>

<p>So that means that if I do attend USC for the next 3 years by paying $20K a year, I'll be paying $60K for my education, whereas if I stay at UCI, I'll graduate in 2 years (with a minor in Material Science Engineering hopefully), paying a total of approximately $80K. There is a $20K difference; however, if I do get employed straight out of college, hopefully I'll be making at least $55K to easily make up for that $20K difference so in the end staying at UCI might be a better idea in this case?!</p>

<p>I'm so confused and I hate having to worry about all this crap every day. </p>

<p>I'm apologize that this was a lot of material to read, but I really appreciate your time and concern for sticking it out this far. Please give me your opinions. </p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>KenG</p>

2

<p>USC is a top 10 (graduate)engineering school not to mention a top 25 university. You’d also be saving $20,000. One more year is NOTHING. Go to USC.</p>

3

<p>If you can, try to reduce that one extra year to only an extra semester or so. Either way, I can’t really tell you what course of action would be best for you, but I personally would take the USC offer.</p>

4

<p>“I’m either gonna need to find a ****LOAD of scholarships or take out loans to afford the approximately $40K total college life style: $30k/year tuition + $8000/year housing + other expenses.”</p>

<p>Who, exactly, is going to loan you $80k so you can stay where you are?</p>

<p>Even if you can find someone to do that for you, just exactly how long do you think it is going to take you to get that paid off? An annual salary of 55k is going to be something more like 40k after taxes. Run some of the loan repayment calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) to get an idea of how long and painful the loan repayment process is likely to be.</p>

<p>If you were my kid, I’d tell you to follow the money even if it means an extra semester of school.</p>

5

<p>I can relate to you on multiple fronts here. I was accepted to UCI as a freshman. I received my financial aid award AFTER I submitted my SIR. As an OOS student, I only got a $9k grant. I ended up not being able to go due to finances. I am going to be starting a USC in the fall. I will have to spend an extra semester there for the same reason as you. It is 100% worth it to me. Besides, if you’re saving $20k I would do it in a heartbeat. It’s a great school with a wonderful reputation. Plus, the Trojan Network will probably really help you get a well paying job once you graduate.</p>

6

<p>@TheGoldenFinch</p>

<p>Damn that sucks to know that someone else is going through a similar situation as me. Are you currently at UCI? And are you going to be enrolling for fall 2010 as a sophomore?</p>

7

<p>No, I ended up not being able to attend UCI at all since they only gave me a $9k grant. My parents weren’t going to help me out with college so there is no way I would be able to handle all those loans alone. I’m enrolling as a second semester sophomore at USC. I have 60 credits but USC requires 64 to be considered a junior.</p>