<p>@4kidsdad Yes, I realize that now but you have to remember this was two years ago–not recently. I believed that from a combination of misinformation and not-so-great advice from friends and family. The good news is that I know that now.</p>
<p>
One of problems in college planning</p>
<p>@cameraphone:</p>
<p>Aww, that’s terrible. I don’t understand your family, though. They’re willing to pay for cable for a relative but won’t help you with the college application process? Curious: did none of them go to college?</p>
<p>In any case, you did save money by going to a CC, and most Federal loans for engineers aren’t that frightening. Did you take a look at the links I posted? Which engineering major, BTW? What are the exact fin aid packages from UT-Austin and TTech?</p>
<p>Some colleges mandate a work program that lets you cut your fees by a lot, sometimes all of your tuition. I’m not sure about their transfer policy, but check these out.</p>
<p><a href=“Work college - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_college</a></p>
<p>Others have similar programs, but don’t mandate it. Perhaps you could find a college with a generous work program.</p>
<p>Are you religious? There are quite a few religious schools that will cut tuition for others of the same religion, although you would need to have extra religious classes to take up your time.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>
Their money.</p>
<p>@PurpleTitan </p>
<p>UT Austin: $0.00 in scholarships/grants. $27,000/yr in loans.
Texas Tech: $6,500/yr for two years in scholarship money, and around $20,000 in loans</p>
<p>@cameraphone:</p>
<p>OK, but what are the specific loan programs?</p>
<p>@PurpleTitan </p>
<p>Both the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and the PLUS parent loan. At both institutions.</p>
<p>@4kidsdad:</p>
<p>“Their money.”</p>
<p>I suppose. You could say the same thing about a parent who blows money on crack instead of food for his/her kids. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t call them a responsible parent, though.</p>
<p>@PurpleTitan I also keep accidentally avoiding the subject: I was looking into chemical engineering, and if that’s not possible, then I was thinking mechanical engineering. I should definitely know by now, I know, but higher-level engineering courses are usually not available at community colleges. Thus, I really haven’t had a chance to sample whether or not each field is for me.</p>
<p>@cameraphone:</p>
<p>You didn’t mention the amounts, but the Stafford loans are the best as they’re eligible for income-based repayment as well as deferment (the government will even pay interest on your subsidized Stafford loan during deferment). The Plus loans are hard to get out of (though if push comes to shove, your parents can move the relative in with them, no matter how much they dislike it, in order to pay off the Plus loans). Taking fewer classes spread out over 3 years may even be smarter as the Stafford has annual limits and it’s better than the Plus loans.</p>
<p>Of course, ideally, everyone would prefer graduating without loans to graduating with loans, but I don’t think they’re that onerous for an engineer. Also, you have some money saved up and you could potentially work (for instance, work in the computer lab or some other university place full-time during the summer . . . or any other time . . . while taking some classes part-time). UT-Austin does offer a tuition discount for employees, right? Not sure about whether you need a certain amount of service time to qualify, however.</p>
<p>
See <a href=“https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/understand/plans”>https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/understand/plans</a></p>
<p>So knowing what you do now about UT Austin’s lack of merit aid, would you take the Texas Tech offer after all? Ignore your family and friends, their past advice was not helpful. What do YOU think? If you do think you would, then call them on Monday and see if you can still attend.</p>
<p>My 2 cents on that is that the difference in money vs. loans is so small ($6.5K/year = 13K total), it really should come down to fit for the OP. I do believe that the extra opportunities and lifetime advantages at UT-Austin compared to TTech are worth a total of 13K more, so it ultimately comes down to where the OP fits better. If she/he is happier being a Longhorn at UT-Austin than a Red Raider at TTech, then the $6500 isn’t worth it. On the other hand, if she/he actually likes TTech more, then give TTech a call.</p>
<p>Will the OP’s parents even sign for/take out the Parent Plus Loans?</p>
<p>They’ve already told me that they want nothing to do with loans: they want to avoid them like the plague.</p>
<p>I say suck it up and take out 50K loans to go to Tx-Austin. It may not even need to be that much if you could get a good summer internship junior year (10-15K for the summer). Coming out of Austin Engineering school, you should be able to pay off 50K loans very quickly if you are frugal. I would not advise you to take a gap year in order to save more money for school. You would be able to make more money after you graduate. Why get paid minimum wage now when you could make 60K++ a year after graduation.</p>
<p>
I thought the difference is $17,000 per year and it may take OP three year to finish. Also, OP may still could go to Texas State (I don’t know about the availability of scholarships.) See <a href=“http://www.admissions.txstate.edu/future/deadlines[quote]”>http://www.admissions.txstate.edu/future/deadlines
</p>
<p>Anyway, OP may have problems to pay for either schools.
Without parents loans, OP could only borrow up to $7,500 in student loans (Direct Loans). Do you interest in any other schools?</p>
<p>Agreed, if your parents won’t get involved in loans, you can’t attend either of these schools (UT Austin or Texas Tech). When you said $20K in loans for Texas Tech, is that per year?</p>