<p>Im a current college sophomore graduating from a 2-yr. community college and finished last semester with a 3.91 GPA. my first year I attended a private university that cost me $22,000 for my freshman year. so i went back home and did a year of free community college to help save $$$. so now after that, im now trying to decide on where to continue my education for the last 2 years to get my bachelors degree. </p>
<p>my major is communications and more specifically i want to do sort of a broadcasting/ sports communication/ multimedia journalism specification. my goal is to become a sports anchor/reporter. </p>
<p>my family unfortunately isn't in the best financial circumstances and paying for college is very hard (less than $32,000 a year / dad's retired & mom owns a small business), especially after that 1st year. we took that $22,000 out of our savings and my family has sent me on a guilt trip every time they bring it up. I have about $13,000 of my own in savings, but am scared about loans, and emptying it all, but then again everyone tells me that "everybody has loans," and my proposed debt would be average (see below). the two schools im choosing between are schools i would commute to, and would live at home</p>
<p>here are the two schools im trying to choose between:</p>
<p>CUNY Lehman:
- 54 min. commute / bronx, NY
- major is called: multimedia journalism
- i will have a free ride to this college and wont have to pay to attend here
- have worked here since high school (internship) on a public access tv station run on campus
- in the city, where my major is based (but thats not a guaranteed plus for me, just a fact)</p>
<p>Marist College:
- 44 minute commute / Poughkipsee, NY
- major is called: sports communication (more specified for what i want to do)
- would cost $12,192/ a year (or about 24,300 after 2 yrs.) (this includes federal aid + work study)
- more accredited than lehman (by U.S. News top colleges in northeast at #10, lehman is #121)
- have wanted to go here since high school
- could look into possible continuing student scholarships to knock down cost (but not guaranteed)</p>
<p>so the real question is, do i take the free ride, avoid student loans, get a degree and listen to my parents..........or go to a school i wouldn't mind going to, with a major that appears to be more specified, but pay money and have loans.</p>