<p>I am a recent acquisition to American University (Thank You, no applause, please). Now here's the problem. The total cost for the tuition will be $93,885, subtracting the FAFSA we have currently, which leaves us with $83,885, and if my mother still remains jobless then the FAFSA will amount to $57,885. Now, the amount of my first semester of $18,777 is paid up to $10,000 leaving us with $8,777. This is all minus room and board. Now, here lies the rub. I have been trying to speak to my family about the cost of college and how we will most likely have to take out student loans, which I am deeply opposed to the idea of, but they seem to shrug off like it was nothing. Now, we are a relatively poor (more like low middle class) family. I have no idea what my mothers credit score is, but I know they are not lending her money. I have done research that the bank will allow $120,000 of cumulative loan money to pay for the college. They seem to be under the impression that they will not take out that much and that it is okay to pay small amounts every month of money for 20 years to pay off the loan. But last time I checked $57,885 is not chump change. They made to conjectures that were insane to me, but I would like to try to get a feel for your opinion. They said that 1. A family friend will gladly pay for the exorbitant cost of $8,777, no strings attached, should she not come up with the amount needed in time which is one of the most absurd things I have heard in my life. 2. That she will sell her jewelry and whatnot to pay for just that semester, which won't cover that whole amount and she will be left with nothing. 3. That my father's child support of $500 a month will pay for it which still amounts to $15,000 over the course of 2 and a half years. And 4. That they will all get jobs, that are not promised considering the fields in which both of them plan to go in are not secure and require education they do not have. And American University works on a student loan program. Now, we do not have to sufficient funds to pay for any of this and I am going somewhat insane trying to explain this. They are having none of it, but it continues!</p>
<p>Now I was under the impression that the college will take no crap from me in terms on my payment deadline and neither will the banks. But they seem to be under another impression that I can miss payments to both the bank and the school and still be fine. I thought that if you miss a payment on your student loan you default and your credit is ruined. This, according to them, is not true. Now, my sister and mother desperately wants to move and if I told you the feeling in the house is like "A Raisin in the Sun" that would be an understatement. My mother is making herself sick and they are both kicking up a storm because they can find nothing to do (We originally hail from New York)! They plan to move to Washington with me, but the problem is not only do we have no money to pay for college, but we have to pay moving expenses, furniture (since she plans to leave most of our stuff behind), housing and rent, and cost of living, and this is all without an idea where we are going and how we are paying for it on top of no one has secure jobs to go. Now, my mother proposed I will stay at said family friends apartment, but she has a boyfriend now, and this is all contingent on if she says yes, which is most likely not going to happen, and if we take the room and board option we will run off the cliff into the red. Now, I have proposed that maybe and in-state college isn't such a bad idea, but they are having none of it. My father says he could get me into NC State or UNC-CH for basically free. I have no idea what to do and I am in desperate need of help. I couldn't make this stuff up. It's really an In State Vs. Out of State question, but this is also contingent that we don't have the money to pay for this. I am trying to think of my financial future and in times like these that's a big question on my mind.</p>
<p>So please, What do you people make of this situation? I really want to go to UNC-CH, but I would probably have to go to NC State for a semester and jump over to UNC-CH. And I would have an easier time rather than going from an Out of State to an instate student.</p>
<p>Thanks in Advance for the advice.</p>