My Little Predicament

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi. I need some help. I am a high school senior and I am looking forward to college next year but I'm not 100% sure how I am going to pay for it. Lemme tell you my stats and my story.</p>

<p>Both of my parents started out at community college, then went on to Cleveland State University for their bachelor degrees. My mom recently went back to school and is pursuing her PhD from Case Western. My parents are supportive of my college choices, but they have basically told me that they want me to go to a good school, but they don't want to have to pay for it. If I go to a very cheap school (<5000 or so) they will put away some money for me for medical school (which I'm 99% positive I will be attending).</p>

<p>Ohio State looks like the most likely school that I will be attending. I applied to 10 others, but I don't think any will be able to give me enough money that I will be able to afford it. I am a national merit semi-finalist (I'm assuming I will be a finalist) and I listed OSU as my #1 school, so I should get their distinguished scholarship award (full in state tuition). I was expecting it to be full instate + 4500, like it was last year, so there lies the first big problem: I am going to get 4500 dollars less than I expected to get. That brings my total cost of an OSU education to about 10-12k per year. =(</p>

<p>I am a good student and I am competitive for almost every award. 4.0 UW GPA, 36 ACT, four 5's on AP tests (so far), 3 more AP Classes this year, hardest course load at a good public HS. My ECs are decent. Nothing in them screams, "give me money" though. I've helped out on research projects and I've done a lot of volunteering (mostly in hospitals). </p>

<p>My parents, however, make way too much money for me to get need-based financial aid (I'm talking 100-150k+). </p>

<p>I'm trying for the OSU presidential scholarship (covers 100% of cost), but it almost completely based on essay responses and I'm not the best impromptu essay writer. I'm much more of a science/math type girl.</p>

<p>Which makes me think that I should probably mention my intended major. I am attempting to get enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences major (medicine.osu.edu/bms) and if I get into that I plan on double majoring BMS and Chemical Engineering. I know, it sound really hard and it is, but with adequate preparation, I'm confident that I will be able to do it. Yeah, I'll probably have to take community college classes over the summer to cover some of my GECs, but that is quite alright by me. I've done well so far in High school with absolutely no effort and I'm ready to put forth the effort in college.</p>

<p>So, what would be the best way to go about getting my cost of OSU reduced? Are there any other scholarships that I can apply to? What do you think?</p>

<p>Thanks =)</p>

2

<p>You sound like a bright student and a great kid. If you receive full in-state tuition at OSU, will your parents not foot the bill form room and board? Talk to them - explain that their food bill at home will go down, so that covers some of it. Maybe you can work during the summers to help pay, and take out an unsubsidized Stafford loan ($3500 max for the first year). Honestly - as a parent, I'm thinking that once they see it on paper, they will come forth with the money.</p>

<p>Also, check to see if there are any OSU alumni groups that give out scholarships to in-state students.</p>

3

<p>apply for the small local scholarships - they really add up.</p>

4

<p>Where can I find out about these local scholarships?</p>

5

<p>Talk to your guidance counselor. Look on Google. Ask older kids who went to school with you.</p>

6

<p>Is it that your parents will pay part of med school if they don't pay a lot for college? So maybe they will pay for OSU, just not for med school? I would worry about college first; ask them to pay more. 10-12K is extremely low! Once you know you are definitely going to med school, you can take out loans.</p>

7

<p>Get a job!</p>

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<p>First of all, I have a job but it doesn't pay nearly enough to make my way through college.</p>

<p>Also, I almost feel like.. if only I can get another 5,000 dollars off my college costs, then I won't have to pay much for med school and I'd save much more.</p>

9

<p>Have you considered any of the ROTC programs at OSU. Most if not all of the Military branches are seeking qualified candidates with your intended interests. You may have already missed the 2007-2008 deadline for national scholarships however the local ROTC Battalions have been known to hold back some scholarship monies for Non-Contracted cadets. </p>

<p>If you do take ROTC classes (Military Sciences) for first and second year and are not a contracted cadet, you do not have any military service obligations.
The ROTC programs will offer you leadership skills and allow you time to evaluate if this is a path you want to go. </p>

<p>Lets say you decide to try ROTC and like it, you may be able to go directly into Med School at no cost to you. The commitment in years of service once you graduate will vary. The bright side is you will still graduate with little to no debt, serve your country, be highly respected by most if not all American's and move on to the next chapter in your life. </p>

<p>PM me if you have questions. Search "ROTC" from the Main OSU web sight. Each of the military ROTC branches should have a web page to review. I also suggest you Google the National ROTC Scholarship programs. There are 4 year, three year and two year undergraduate scholarships available. My son oldest son is currently in his second year as a non contracted cadet. He too wanted to major in pre-med but has since changed his major to political science.</p>

10

<p>Is there a reason your parents can't or won't pay $10000 a year for you to attend college? That is not a lot of money. They will not be paying for food and other living expenses for you at home so that should save them some money too.</p>

11

<p>National Guard has great aid for students too.</p>

12

<p>It blows my mind that people think that 10k is not a lot of money. Or that they just look at income. Or that they assume that if the parents have debt, they were irresponsible. </p>

<p>People here forget that in these days of higher education, with people pursuing graduate and doctorate degrees, that many parents still have significant student loan debts of their own that they are paying when they leave school. I know that I do. </p>

<p>My parents had parents believed that college was for the "elite" few and that if I wanted to go, I had to pay for it myself. While I believe that it is my responsibility to pay for my daughter's education, but I am still paying the price for my own parent's refusal to pay for mine.</p>

<p>Even a person who finishes grad/doctorate school at 24-30 and then has children while starting a career or right after will have significant student loan debts that FAFSA does not consider. </p>

<p>This is how it broke down in our lives:</p>

<p>In our lives, we feel that it is important to own a home in a decent neighborhood (and I mean homes that are $60000 a year, not $600000) so that our children can be safe and have a good quality of life. We felt a minivan was important, and while we drove a clunker for a long time, when it came time to replace it, we bought a newer (note still used) model and have to make payments. And the gas prices to get to work, omg. I don't see FAFSA considering that. While we were never able to take fancy vacations, we camped every summer, thanks for the nice transport of this minivan. We think that it is important to spend more money on quality, healthy food (natural, free of preservatives, organic, etc.) and vitamins to preserve our health. Nothing on FAFSA about that. We fork over a lot for health insurance, yet still pay quite a bit out of pocket. Can't see getting rid of that. We feel that it is important to enrich our children's lives through activities outside of school. For one child, that is $110/mo. for gymnastics and dance. It's too bad that I can't afford the violin lessons right now, wish that I could. The other child had her share of enrichment over the years, including the purchase of an instrument in Freshman year. Don't see any of this on there. We pay for a family health membership at an inexpensive town run facility. $50/mo. is a bargain for all of us to workout and swim. We can't afford not to because us parents have health issues.</p>

<p>Wow, and I haven't even gotten into the utilities, student loan debts, clothes. We don't carry life insurance. We do not contribute to our retirement.</p>

13

<p>You pay $60,000 per year on your home and expect to have your child's education subsidized? That's a $5000/month mortgage payment?</p>

14

<p>Whatapainthisis - you NEED term life insurance! It is relatively inexpensive if you are in decent health, and is important to have. If one spouse dies, how will you pay off the house?</p>

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<p>^^ditto -- term life is critical. But, gotta say whatapain's post is all about PERSONAL choices; fafsa should not account for them.</p>

<p>btw: our "new" car is an '89.</p>

<p>OP: med school acceptances are all about gpa +(+mcat). Since ChemE is an extremely difficult major, and the intro classes are curved, you might consider a major that is a little more grade-inflated, which would also enable you to work a few more hours.</p>

16

<p>My parents WOULD pay the 10,000 if necessary. But, if they don't have to pay very much for my undergraduate, they will pay a greater chunk of my medical school. My parents weren't always making as much money as they are now. Until recently they were paying off huge debts because neither of their parents paid for college and they didn't make nearly enough to buy even the necessities. They have the money now, I just want them to have more in four years.</p>

<p>@bluebayou: I'm not too worried. I don't expect my GPA to be as "perfect" as it was in high school, but I'm a pretty good student. As far as the MCAT, I test exceptionally well. And, I'm pretty sure that none of that will matter anyway. If I get into this Early</a> Admissions Pathway all I need to do is maintain a 3.5 and I don't have to take the MCAT, or I have to maintain a 3.0 and get a 29+ on the MCAT. I have a feeling I will be able to just maintain a 3.5</p>

17

<p>Thank you for the clarification. I guess my point is that in most places $10,000 would cover the costs of room and board. If a student is receiving financial aid in excess of $10,000 (at many places) they are receiving financial aid that covers the full tuition amount. </p>

<p>And yes, I DO realize that $10,000 is a lot of money for many families. But it is not a lot of money these days when one is looking at the total yearly cost of attendance, particulary at OOS publics and private schools where that number would represent less than 25% of the total cost of attendance.</p>

<p>I think it is very good that the OP is looking for options to help fund educational costs. EVERY student should be doing the same. It's a nice responsible thing to do. </p>

<p>I would suggest that this OP contact their guidance department to find out about local scholarships. They are not usually huge, but several can add up and at least take the financial "edge" off of the first year.</p>

18

<p>Mom0four, what are you smoking? Who, other than Donald Trump, has a monthly mortgage of $60000? I wasn't referring to a monthly mortgage payment of $60,0000. I meant a house with a purchase price of $60000 rather than $600000. That means a mortgage payment of about $850/mo, which is extremely modest.</p>

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<p>anxiousmom, I wish that we could get insurance. But husband and I both had life threatening illnesses in our early 30's that precludes it. :(</p>

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<p>Just in case Mom0four doesn't return to defend herself, you did say "I mean homes that are $60000 a year" - no surprise that she read this as a yearly payment of $60k.</p>