<p>I just typed this post, but my computer did a crazy think and lost it. It was rather long the first time around, so I'm going to try and shorten it.</p>
<p>Basically, I can't make up my mind. I have:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>A school that offered me a full ride, but that I absolutely hated during my visit. It's reputation is pretty bad.</p></li>
<li><p>A school that has an okay reputation, and that I liked a lot, and would wind up costing me about $8000 a year.</p></li>
<li><p>A school that has a good reputation, that I liked a lot, and would wind up costing me $27000 a year unless when I talk to them something changes. ($27000 seems insane to me considering that neither my mom or I are employed.)</p></li>
<li><p>An awesome liberal arts college that's funky and unique and I love it (in case you couldn't tell). It's no Ivy, but it's still great. I don't know my aid there yet, but I have a feeling it will be similar to #3. So I'd be really happy there, but really in debt when I got out.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If it helps, I'm not sure whether or not I'll be going to grad/law school afterwards, nor do I know exactly what field I want to go into. I definitely want to help people and do something that would feel significant...but "what should I major in" is a whole other topic.</p>
<p>If your family can contribute $0, then only #1 and #2 are realistically affordable. #1 because it is free, #2 because $8,000 is barely within range of self-funding with Stafford loan + what colleges assume that a student can save from work earnings during the school year.</p>
<p>It would be a bad idea to borrow more than the Stafford loan amounts, and you would need a cosigner anyway.</p>
<p>Your options are #1 or #2, or- take a gap year and apply to some more schools that will offer generous merit scholarships and/or more financial aid.</p>
<p>The other two schools you are considering are simply out of reach. There is no way that you can or should borrow $27,000 a year. Even #2 school may be difficult or impossible.</p>
<p>The “insane” $27,000 the schools expect you to pay is probably because the school is not one that guarantees to meet financial need. Schools establish a price, and do not owe any student financial aid - the aid is a gift. Much like I cannot enter a Lexus dealership and expect them to lower the price of a sedan because of my low income.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for your disappointing choices. Perhaps a gap year to consider different schools would be your best option.</p>
<p>If you need to be thinking about getting into the workforce as quickly as possible, and you are concerned about what a delay in doing so after college graduation might mean, then take another look around and see what your options are. Is there a commuting distance community college that would come in under $8000 for the first two years? What about a commuting distance 4-year institution? Yes, you still have time to find more options for the fall if you want to. Affordability might be an issue, but yes there are other places that would admit you.</p>
<p>It sounds like the only reason you aren’t going for option two is that you don’t think it has as good of a reputation. It’s unlikely that the reputation is worth the difference in cost. Also, if neither you nor your mom is employed, who will cosign the loans for anything beyond the Stafford loans?</p>
<p>You should go with #1. I doubt that the reputation is “bad”. Once you enroll in college, you will realize that reputation isn’t that important, and that you can get an excellent education at most any college. It is what you make of it, so put forth your best effort and make a name for yourself at this school. They want you. That’s why they offered you a full ride. You will be able to focus all your energy on taking advantage of the numerous opportunities instead of worrying about money.</p>
<p>Congratulations on all your acceptances. Let us know what you decide.</p>
<p>KKmama, I wish someone had explained financial aid to me that way BEFORE this whole process started. It makes a lot of sense, and it’s a lot more realistic than “you’re smart, your family’s poor, you’ll get plenty of aid!” (which is what everyone told me).</p>
<p>I don’t think taking a gap year is that much of an option for me. I wouldn’t feel like I was <em>doing</em> anything, and if I feel like I’m just floating, I know I’ll lose motivation and get distracted.</p>
<p>You’re all very right, barring a gap year, #s 1 and 2 are the best bets. I’m just a little bummed out–I got really attached to these other schools, and to the images they sold. More than likely I will pick 1 or 2 and be very happy there, but if there’s one thing I would change about this whole process, it would be how little I knew about financial aid and money! Thanks to everyone who’s replied :)</p>
<p>Does “everyone” include your GC? I’m sorry you were given such poor advice, and that you became emotionally attached to schools that are not viable options. Others can learn from your experience.</p>
<p>If #2 is do-able financially, that sounds like your best bet since you actually liked the school. You can always try to appeal your aid at #3 and see what happens at #4 but you are right not to count on those schools coming through with what you need. It sounds like you didn’t get great advice, but unfortunately you are not the first and won’t be the last person who can’t attend his/her dream school due to finances. </p>
<p>Your challenge now will be to put everything else aside and get excited about the school you choose. Given the aid figures, the #1 and #2 two schools clearly want you as a student so your hard work and achievements to this point are appreciated to the point where you now have an opportunity for a 4 year college education. That is something to be proud of. Work hard to have a positive attitude and get a great experience at whatever college you attend. Get involved, do well academically, find friends who share your passions and you will be successful.</p>
<p>FlyMeToTheMoon sadly, yes, “everyone” includes my guidance councilor. There are only 2 GCs for 600+ kids (I go to a small, rural school). One is always MIA, and no one knows she physically is 90+% of the time. The only other GC is supposed to just be the GC for underclassmen, but ends up doing all the work. She’s a very nice woman and great to talk to, but didn’t give me the dose of reality I needed.</p>
<p>redpoint, even though they’ve had some scandal recently, the school was actually Oberlin. It’s small & expensive, but it has a beautiful campus, and the students & faculty seemed wonderful when I visited. They have a long history of being a liberal liberal-arts school, and the attracted me a lot too, as the area where I live now is basically a caricature of a small Midwestern town. Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<h1>2 sounds like the only way - you don’t want to go to a school you hate just because the money’s there. It sounds like you really liked #2 and have sufficient aid to attend, so that seems your best option.</h1>
<p>juillet, that’s where I’m leaning right now. If I live at home, the cost goes down a lot further, too. Tuition is a little over $10k without room & board, and with the $9k in merit scholarships & grants they offered, I won’t even need to take out many loans (and the ones they offered are subsidized). Plus it’s only about 25 miles from home.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about doing another visit to school #1 too. Free is hard to pass up, and it is possible that day was just a bad day.</p>