<p>I'm currently a senior in high school and starting to apply to colleges. I get 2 years of college free (9/11 GI Bill) and I will have 17 credits already done when I finish high school. So I will have to pay for a year and a half of college.</p>
<p>I'm starting to change my mind about what I want to do for college however and I feel like I've wasted so much time. I originally was planning to apply to 8 colleges and to live in the dorms. I already started filling out the applications, getting my transcripts and recommendation letters sent, and the essays. I've even already applied to 2 of the colleges on my list. I also visited 4 of these colleges and researched them a lot online.</p>
<p>I'm now thinking about going to community college for a year and a half and then transferring to a 4 year university. The cost for a year and a half at the community college would be $6,279. This would be the total amount I would have to pay for college. I would hardly have any debt unlike going to one of the 8 colleges I was planning on applying to. I also feel like I'm not ready to go away to college yet. I feel like moving out at 18 is too young and I would feel better if I moved out when I'm 19 and a half. Also since I don't know what I want to major in yet I feel like it'd be better to be undecided at a community college.</p>
<p>I just feel like I've done so much work and research on these other 8 colleges that I can't change my mind now. Once if I get accepted to one of the 2 I already applied to? What should I do? Please give me advice. I'm so stressed out about this.</p>
<p>It is NEVER too late to change your mind. Unless you applied Early Decision, then you may have broken a contract… Do you mind if i ask what are the eight schools?</p>
<p>@Medapop
Those are fantastic schools! I know many people who go to these and love it to death! My recommendation to you is that you apply to all of these and end up going to one of these schools. The reason I say this is because I am a senior too and I think it is important you take on this opportunity and explore and venture out. The experiences and knowledge you will gain from this will be worth any price. Plus you get a lot of money off and I think it is a sign that you should just go for it. Sure, you will come out of school with owing some money, but all these schools are fantastic and the connections and resources you will gain from these prestigious colleges is much more than you will get from a community college. It’s a life changing experience and I think you should really reconsider not applying to these schools or going to community college. </p>
<p>@15aflynn That’s true that I won’t get the experience back. I’m just afraid that I’ll get really homesick if I go away to college. I keep changing my mind because of this. One day I’ll want to go far away to college and become independent and then the next day I’m thinking about going to community college and commuting because I’m afraid I’ll miss my family. I just can’t make up my mind!</p>
<p>@medapop I get that. We will all miss our family when we go off to college, but I think it is time to get out of where you live and explore on your own. My older brother goes to University of Delaware and it so distracted he doesn’t even get homesick, but trust me you can see your family much more than you think you will. </p>
<p>@medapop It really is OK to stay home an extra year or two if you want to. My own Happykid spent two years at our local community college because that was the best way to make her education affordable. Her dad and I felt guilty at the time because of the money thing, but guess what? When she was finishing up and getting ready to transfer, she told us that she was so glad to have had the extra time with us because she really hadn’t wanted to leave home right after high school. If your CC, like Happykid’s, has good articulation agreements with some of the places you would apply to for transfer, there is every chance that you could save time and money. Make an appointment with the Transfer Advisor at that CC, and find out about your options. </p>
<p>Nothing wrong with going to CC for two years and transferring. Think of researching those colleges as getting a head start on the transfer process. You can withdraw your applications you have already put in. </p>
<p>Or if you want to keep your options open, let those two play out and make a decision later in the spring. Or apply to all of your colleges, and then make a decision in the spring if you want to. Six months from now when you have to decide, you might feel differently. You can always decide then to attend CC. It shouldn’t hurt your transfer chances later on.</p>
<p>Nothing at all wrong with CC. But I agree with others, still apply to the schools on your list. A lot can happen in six months and it would be ideal to have several options open to you at that time…</p>
<p>I also think that you should continue with your applications. You don’t have to accept ant offers but you will have options come April and time to think it through further. When you get offers you can compare costs for 4 years. And maybe you will like to school with the closest travel time. Cc is always an option.</p>
<p>How do the two free years work? Would they pay for your first two at the less expensive CC, and then you will have to pay for the remaining time at the more expensive school that you transfer to? Or, do they give you a certain amount that you have figured out would cover two years at the more expensive school?</p>
<p>@parentofpeople
I get to decide when I want to use the 2 years. I could use it on CC or an expensive university. I also get dorms paid for if I decide to go away to college.</p>
<p>I’m not 100% sure, but I think the way partial GI Bills work is that they pay for a certain percentage per year for the eligibility, not that they will aggregate it all and pay for two years free. For example, for public schools the maximum GI Bill benefit is the full cost of in-state tuition and fees for up to 36 months (not including the summer, so it usually works out to 4 academic years of 9 months each). But if you are only eligible for 50% of the maximum (6-12 months on active duty), then you get 50% of in-state tuition and fees paid for up to 36 months. I don’t think you can ask them to just pay you 100% of the benefit for 2 academic years/18 months.</p>
<p>So OP, I wouldn’t assume that the 2 years of CC are all you would have to pay; if you’re getting the Post-9/11 GI Bill because one of your parents is transferring eligibility to you, and they have eligibility for 50% coverage, it is probably the case that the VA will only pay for 50% of the annual max (in-state tuition and fees at the publics; currently a bit over $20,000 at the privates, not including the monthly housing allowance). But your parent should probably call the VA and ask to be sure.</p>
<p>With that said, I think it’s fine to start at a CC - and it’s fine to feel unready to move out at 18. You can still explore and become independent at home - the vast majority of people can’t afford to go away and live at college, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t become an independent adult. I also disagree that the experience is “worth any price.” Living away at college is not worth crushing debt, although it doesn’t sound like you are in that situation.</p>
<p>I think that you should apply to the 8 schools you want, but also apply to your local community college. See what your financial aid awards say, and examine how you feel in April.</p>
<p>Are any of the schools you are applying to within close driving distance to your home? Our D is only 2 hours away, and she has been able to come home more frequently. If all of the 8 colleges you want to apply to are far away from your home, you might reconsider your list. Pick one or two schools that are closer to home to apply to. Again, you have til May 1 to make your final decision. But homesickness is a legitimate reason for choosing a CC, or choosing a college only a short drive away.</p>
<p>@powercropper
4 of the 8 schools I want to apply are an hour to an hour and a half away. I guess if I choose one of these colleges in the spring I won’t be as homesick since I can come home on the weekends.</p>
<p>It is not too late to change your mind. If admitted to the four year schools, you have until April to decide whether to attend (unless you applied Early Decision). Community colleges are open admission, so you can theoretically apply, be admitted, and enroll at any time (though if the community college is overcrowded, earlier may be better).</p>
<p>Keep in mind that not all of your community college credits will always transfer and then you may need longer at the 4 year university than you are planning for at this point. Carefully read the graduation requirements at the 4 year universities, you will need to complete a major and the university might not count any of your CC classes toward your major. Plus, you may have core requirments and classes, prerequisites that must also be completed at the university. Some schools will only count your CC credit as electives if they accept the CC credit at all. Your best bet if you choose this plan is to stick wit a university that has an articulation agreement with your CC. Visit the CC now and see what types of course would transfer and if they would count toward your major, prerequs etc. As you already have college level credit, you may have already “outgrown” CC in general. Best of luck to you. I am sure you will come up with a great plan.</p>
<p>You can apply to all your schools (run the net price calculators to make sure they’re affordable), accept a 4-year school, and ask to defer admission for a year if you decide waiting is what you want. You can’t take classes anywhere else during that gap year, but you can work and save some money. If you decide you’re ready to go away when you get your acceptances then don’t ask for a deferral. Some kids are ready to leave home right after high school, but some aren’t. Do what feels right for you.</p>