<p>First of, I've been accepted into one of my top choices of a college and had going to orientation with the full intention of going there this fall. I plan on majoring in music (education&performance) and I'd like to think I'm pretty good at what it is I do. I had been given the impression that I had enough funds to go to the first year at least and then figure out the next 3 years after it with the help of a program/group on the campus that helps and guides with these kind of things.</p>
<p>However, I have just recently been informed by my mother that she will not be paying for any room and board fee and only will pay tuition and that I would have to come up with the money for room and board. I don't have enough to cover the rest for the first year even though my pool of college funds could very easily pay for the first year. However, knowing my mother she would most likely not be willing to listen to my plan that I had thought out for covering the next 3 years after without her help as she doesn't even approve of my major or skills in that matter in the first place.</p>
<p>All of this information about my position in going to college was only given to me in the past 6 months and I regret not having known more about it thinking I would be okay. My mother and much of my family only went to one college that was close enough that they didn't have to pay for room and board so my mother doesn't quite understand that my situation is different. Nevertheless, I am beyond confused and stressed because I don't know as much as I need about the whole experience of going to college. </p>
<p>I'm not quite sure how to go about all this as I don't have enough to go to this college and I do not have the option of going to community college because I had already over the summer been studying and working with the music professor there in working on my performance skills and if I put it off for one year of community college, I'll be set back even further than I already am and will nearly kill any of my chance of professional performance. </p>
<p>I don't really know what to do at this point and even though I am 18 I feel that feeling of being dropped into adult hood and I am currently drowning in it without much of any help. Please, if anyone could help me, I would be very grateful.</p>
<p>The line for paying for college starts with your parents.</p>
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<p>You knew when the acceptances began rolling in that your mom would not pay beyond tuition. However, you still chose to commit to a school that was not in commuting distance, knowing that there was no money for you to live on campus.</p>
<p>The net-net is, that you must attend an affordable option and it sounds like the school that you have chosen is not affordable. What is your plan B? You may have to take a gap year an reapply to schools that fit the financial parameters that your mother has set for you.</p>
<p>You didn’t mention financial aid. Did you apply for financial aid? Are you going to take the loans offered to you? If so, does that bring the cost of attending down to the range that your mother is willing to pay? </p>
<p>If you parent is not willing to pay the remaining bill - after all financial aid (scholarships and loans) is subtracted - then you need to figure out how to pay the remainder yourself or you cannot attend. Do you have a job or savings that can be used? If you don’t have the funds, you may have to take a gap year, get a job and save like crazy and then attend college. </p>
<p>Quite frankly, for a music major, a gap year used wisely for lessons and practice, is not a bad thing. Your performing will only improve.</p>
<p>^^
I suspect that the student’s family wouldnt qualify for FA, since the student (at least at some point) thought the parent(s) would pay.</p>
<p>You need to take a gap year and apply where you would get large scholarships for your stats (to cover the R&B part), so that your mom’s contribution will cover tuition.</p>
<p>Do not take any classes at a CC or anywhere (of college level) as that will hurt your incoming frosh status.</p>
<p>If you were to get a tuition scholarship, then would your mom put her tuition money towards R&B? </p>
<p>I think your mom is hesitant to spend $200k on a music major, likely because she doesnt think a future job will pay well. Ok…those may be her thoughts. However, if you were to get a large merit scholarship, and her contribution would be much smaller, then she may feel better about your chosen major. </p>
<p>What are your stats? </p>
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<p>True…and work and save some money. (sounds like you are going to need it at some point).</p>
<p>Are you talking a B.A. in Music or a B.F.A? If you are talking a B.A., getting your general eds at a community college will not set you back. Several community colleges have good music programs to keep your chops up. The money you save could pay for some high quality private lessons too. A BFA is trickier as many don’t have much of an academic portion and many schools don’t allow that sort of transfer. That said, you don’t need a BFA to be a professional performer. It’s nice you’ve established a relationship with a professor at the university but if you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it. Explain your situation and then, when you are able to transfer, rekindle the work relationship.</p>
<p>In truth, it doesn’t sound like this school was ever going to be affordable. Having enough for a year isn’t practical. There are far fewer scholarships past freshmen. Gosh, the stress of trying to come up with the money every year would be overwhelming. I do feel for you though. I know it’s heartbreaking to be set in one direction and then told “no.”</p>
<p>I say take a gap year and work. Apply for commuter schools and attend Fall of 2015. Or, go to community college and transfer to your first pick (and work to save money for housing.) Those seem like the best options.</p>
<p>Oh, and life isn’t a race. Whether you graduate at 22 or at 23, makes little difference. Like others said, not hard to keep your talents up with dedication.</p>
And when you do finally enroll in college, make sure you have the finances all four years covered, not just one. Help and guidance is very nice, but no school has a magic money fairy that will provide funds for three years of costs, and your plan was a recipe for disaster. I think you should consider yourself lucky that you didn’t end up attending this school for freshman year and then having to drop out for lack of funds.</p>
<p>I have the same concern that the OP did not think it through the financial plan for all 4 years. Don’t assume you will find some money for the next 3 years. What if you don’t? Will you drop out and waste the money for the first year? It seems you need to take a gap year in any case, to make some money and think it through your financial plan, and perhaps apply to other schools that are affordable to you.</p>