<p>are you guys planning on taking out loans for housing? Im planning on saving as much money as possible, but looking at most housing options(except for UCR) they all seem to be out of my budget..Im thinking the only way to afford a place on campus or by campus is to take out a loan. But the though of taking out a loan for housing and schools pretty much freaks me out… if you guys don't mine me asking what are you guys planning on doing about housing? if its not covered by financial aid that is. </p>
<p>Is it even possible for housing to be covered by financial aid? If so, sign me up. I am worried about the same thing. I hate the thought of loans, but think I might end up taking out some. If i do I have set a cap of $5,000.</p>
<p>@TheUnderdog1 im not too sure actually but i figured it might be possible. My goal is around $6000 but with my EFC im not sure ill get much aid </p>
<p>Well it all depends on your financial aid package when you get it. </p>
<p>I may or may not take out loans depending on how much aid I’m awarded.</p>
<p>For example: My EFC is 000 and I’m considered independent and very disadvanted so My estimated award is 24k from the aid calculator.</p>
<p>So 1/3 is disbursed each quarter that’s $8,000, and about $4,000 of that goes to tuition, so I have $4,000 left to use for rent, food, phone, gas, and books for about 3 months if you’re sharing a room it’s about $850 a month for rent and utilities so $850 x 3 is $2550 so I still have $1450 give or take to use for food, phone, gas and living expenses now I don’t really want to cut it that close so I’ll try to get a part time job on or close to campus to have a little extra on the side.</p>
<p>But that’s just me and my guestamites. :)</p>
<p>I’m hoping work-study and the max amount of subsidized loans will be enough to cover my living expenses. At worse, I figure I’ll graduate with 10k in debt.</p>
<p>A loan is a bet that you (and the bank) make on yourself. Is it a good bet?</p>
<p>@sega18 - Yes, because interest isn’t building up and therefore it’ll be easier to repay and if you believe in yourself and don’t go too crazy taking out student loans you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>(P.S) taking out student loans actually really helps your credit score while you’re in college!</p>
<p>Some loans do accrue interest during college. Private loans probably do (I think), and Stafford loans do. On some Stafford loans, the USG pays your interest while in school. I don’t know about other loan programs.</p>
<p>Source: <a href=“What is a Subsidized Student Loan? | Edvisors”>What is a Subsidized Student Loan? | Edvisors;
<p>If you’re in Northern California and Jewish, then you can get a 6000 dollar Hebrew free loan. I feel pretty Jewish right about now.</p>
<p>Federal Subsidized use any UC website</p>
<p>And look for Federal direct Loan</p>
<p>@Matt4200 , how accurate are those calculations you’re estimating (the financial aid package and distribution between tuition and living expense). I have very little knowledge on UC’s financial aid package, and know my tuition and fees will be covered but unsure about the housing. I’ve just recently found UCSB’s aid calculator and discovered that my estimated award is also about 24k. So the financial aid package is meant to help cover for housing also? </p>
<p>I’ve been expecting to look towards 10k-15k a year in loans just to pay for the housing, believing that there will be no money left over to partially help cover for housing, its been stressing me out all week lol.</p>
<p>I think not going over 30,000 would be fine!!!(depending on your major)…I’m a CS major, I already took 7,000 from my CCC for the past three years(cuz I needed it so much) and I think I get around 10,000 after transfer…15,000 is nothing considering my median salary right after graduation would be something around 60,000. And I can pay them in 10 years. I know people who owe +60,000…now that is awful. As someone mentioned, you have to believe in yourself. If your EFC is 0 like me, then you could really use some.</p>
<p>@mental2 - The distribution calculations are fine, but the actual award amount I’m unsure of until I at least get an unofficial award letter.</p>
<p>Next week I’ll be able to give you a more accurate answer.</p>
<p>@matt, Are you trying to go K-JD? Or are you going to work and work off the debt before going off to law school? If no one is helping you pay for school you should take into account the fact the COA at any LS worth going to is 70k per year X 3 and that’s not even taking into account the interest. I don’t mean to come off harsh but with a 3.2/3 you’re going to need a 170+ LSAT score for likely (at or near) sticker at a school that actually has good employment statistics and is a feeder into California and Minnesota. You want to be a PD I believe? They don’t make a lot of money and it’s incredibly tough to land PI these days. I only tell you this because you’re looking at a quarter million dollar gamble. Be careful running up UG debt. </p>
<p>@Zalrons - from UCLA LS tuition and fees for 13-14. “California Resident: $45,225.75.”</p>
<p>Not quite 70k but I imagine with housing and things it’ll be close.</p>
<p>I have a 3.255 now but when I transfer to a UC (most likely UCSB) I really plan to try as much as I can to get closer and closer to around a 3.8-3.9. And if I go to a UC law school they will weight the UC GPA much much more than the CC GPA.</p>
<p>Life isn’t easy but if you let things like the COA intimidate you then you’ll never get where you wanna be in life.</p>
<p>I’d like to get an internship working for a judge in my senior UG year while going to school.</p>
<p>And continue directly into LS from there. I think with a 165 I’d be good and I’ll work to be the best I can be.</p>
<p>Hopefully my hard work will pay off and be recognized and I will receive some form of scholarship that will assist me in financing my education I am considered very disadvantaged maybe or hopefully that coupled with my dedication will help me, not so that I can get ahead in life but so that I may be placed in a position to help many people in their rehabilitation through my help as a PD.</p>
<p>And @zalrons - one of the best attorneys I know went to Whittier Law School (not one many would consider as the best) and he’s very successful and has a practice in Beverly Hills now.</p>
<p>So perseverance is key</p>
<p>You need to keep in mind that UCLA heavily emphasizes GPA. They really aren’t going to care about anything other than your cumulative UG GPA at the time you apply. Their median GPA and LSAT are a 3.78 and a 168. I’m sorry, but you aren’t getting anything substantial from a LS under both medians $wise. It just doesn’t happen. And it’s tough to get into a LS under both medians unless you’re a URM. That’s great you aren’t intimidated but you need to be realistic. Not saying you can’t get into UCLA but if you do you’re looking at sticker if you do get in. You’ll be in debt for at least 10 years and the odds of landing a PI job aren’t in your favor. </p>
<p>Nothing’s in my favor, I am to be the exception, not the rule.</p>
<p>“Many law schools offer loan forgiveness programs, especially to students planning to go into some form of public law.”</p>
<p>Even if I didn’t get loan forgiveness, I’d rather be in debt for 10+ years and live my life in a way that makes me happy helping people through what I love (the law) than to not. I can’t imagine a world in which I did not do every single thing within my power to achieve my dreams, I’d be a fraud, it would not be me. </p>
<p>Reality is that if it’s possible I’m doing it :)</p>
<p>Now back to housing…what’s the best housing by UCSb that’s reasonably priced?</p>
<p>Lol, for every successful grad of a TTT there are 5 more that didn’t even land a job that enables them to practice law. How old is this person? If it’s a boomer or close to that age range that explains a lot. The legal field is brutal right now and much has changed since 2008. </p>
<p>Again, PI isn’t easy to get even for the top T14 students. I think it’s noble that you think no matter what you’ll persevere and be able to excel at a UC, do well on the LSAT, get into a good LS, do well in LS, then land an incredibly tough to get PI job which will then enable you pay off that kind of debt in 10+ years but this is not a gamble I would ever recommend to anyone. Good luck to you and I wish you well. </p>
<p>Thanks, money isn’t everything, there’s things you can’t buy, that you must work for in life.</p>
<p>I actually have a few family friends who have Law Degrees who don’t even practice law but just having the degree got them a 100k + a year job.</p>
<p>And the lawyer I know yeah he started practicing about 25 years ago but he started off dirt poor and worked his way up. </p>
<p>I’m going to work for everything I have in this life, I grew up in and out of group homes, no real place to call home and dirt poor, not to mention being the only one supporting myself while being a first generation college student. I’ll get where I want to be, it’s just a matter of time, this is America and I love the fact that you can be anything you want to be. :)</p>
<p>Wait, you’re a sociology major and you still believe that everyone can get to where they want to be with hard work and perseverance in the USA?! What? </p>