<p>On a serious note, there is clearly more here than is meeting our eyes. It’s unusual for a student to say that they “don’t really care [where they go] as long as [their] education is adequate,” and that they want to go somewhere where they don’t want to be distracted by friends. I may be reading too closely between the lines of your post, but I worry that you are, as the expression goes, cutting off your nose to spite your face.</p>
<p>Hahahah, if only you knew my friends, SlitheyTove…
I meant that I don’t want to be distracted by friends that are similar to my high school ones–and by high school friends I mean the specific section of friends that had me tied to them like convicts to Alcatraz. They were in most of my classes, and they’re nice and all, but they had this thing: messing with me entertained them. An example: one of my friends sat behind me in history. Every time he got bored, he would start poking me in the back or swat at my hair, and I would eventually flip out. He’d play dumb, and I’d get blamed. I’m the kind of person who gets her work done in class and sleeps/does activities at home; my friend is the type of person who does his work at home and plays all day at school/copies things really fast. that was bad for me. Avoiding this person was, and still is, impossible, and he’s a nice, funny guy outside of class; he just plays way too much (as did I). But that’s just one side of my friends.
Basically, I want friends who don’t live to distract me from my work. I won’t be alone because I will be joining clubs. I’m really looking forward to that, actually.</p>
<p>I’m still waiting for my dad to come back, so I can’t rule out my college yet. I need to talk with my dad first, but thanks for the list, happymomof1. I’ll look into them as well as the airforce if he stays stubborn.</p>
<p>FYI - I know a guy that did Air Force and is now a trauma doctor. He graduated undergrad and med school with 0 in loans. Everything was paid for. His wife who is also a doctor is still paying off those loans.</p>
<p>Also note that if the military pays for your schooling you will owe a commitment of AT LEAST the length of your schooling to pay it back (usually it is longer). On the plus side you do get a pay bonus being a doctor which is pretty nice, and once you finish your commitment you’re pretty close to retirement eligible.</p>
<p>if your parents aren’t helping to pay, they have no standing in how you conduct your affairs, and have no leverage over you. you may do whatever you wish.</p>
<p>This won’t help for your freshman year, but if you can become an RA for the following three years, you will be able to live in on-campus housing and your living costs will be seriously reduced. Also, you might want to check and see if UCR has any co-op housing where the students are involved in maintaining the house and in shopping for and cooking their food. This might reduce your costs as well.</p>