please..need some advice about my future; I can't afford to go to college

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi! I was just wondering if you parents could shed some light on my current situation. I didn't do so hot in high school and on my standardized tests..so I had very limited options for colleges. I think I got lucky, and got into Seton Hall University in NJ---which is the best school I've gotten into. I even visited SHU this past weekend and liked it, (ddnt love it) but unfortunately they didn't offer me a good financial aid package. I come from a low income family with a single mom; my EFC=0. Here's what my financial aid package looks like:</p>

<p>SHU need-based grant ------> $9,370
Federal Pell Grant--------->$5550
Fed. Stafford Sub. Loan---------->$3500
Fed. Stafford UnSub Loan------->$2000
Private Loan/Tuition Pay------------->$29,324</p>

<p>cost of attendannce for the 2011-12 year: $49,744</p>

<p>My older sister keeps on pushing me to go there..even if I'm going to pay the price for it. She says that maybe she could contribute 5k, my mom 5k and possibly my dad 5k (i doubt he'd even contribute $1 but whatever). I just don't want to end up in a big hole of debt when I graduate. IMO it would be ridiculous considering it's undergrad and it would potentially ruin my life after college.</p>

<p>My other options for colleges would be St.Cloud State and South Dakota State University----I do not want to go to those schools for several reasons :(</p>

<p>I would like to go to a Community College, get a high gpa, redeem myself and transfer to my state flagship the UofMN-Twin Cities or other better colleges on the east coast. However, my mom does not want me living at home and I don't even have my license yet; I working on getting it before summer ends hopefully. Even if, I won't have a car..so that means I would have to take the bus to commute to a CC..which I have no idea would be possible to coordinate w/ the classes i'd be taking at a CC. The closest bus stop from my house is a hassle to walk to.</p>

<p>What do I do???! should i transfer from SCSU? i still haven't visited but I've heard awful, awful things about that school.....the anxiety is consuming me everyday. I don't know what to do.</p>

<p>I would like to major in Economics or Finance. My dream schools are Emory, UPENN , WUSTL and Columbia. I will work hard to get a good gpa wherever I end up, get involved, omm. service, internships, good recs etc etc.</p>

<p>I'm also worried about if I transfer from SCSU it's a low tier state school which would look bad when transferring..i think. But they have dorms so that's good.the Admissions officer @ Emory U told me it doesn't really matter where you transfer from as long as you have a good gpa and the college is accredited.</p>

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<p>Are you saying that Seton Hall expects you to take out almost $35,000 in loans a year for 4 years to attend their third tier university? Unconscionable!</p>

<p>I would say not just no but H%$L no! $140,000 in total loans equals 10 years of monthly payments at $1611.12/month.</p>

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<p>First off, listen to the Admissions person from Emory, and you’ll do fine at SCSU or any other affordable option. The important thing would be to keep your focus and do well at SCSU. You may see people around you “goofing off”, but that doesn’t have to be you.</p>

<p>Second off, Seton Hall suggests you borrow a total of $35k per year. That is way too much, even if you find a bank to loan $29,324. That is very doubtful when your EFC is 0. It’s also doubtful that your family members can all contribute $5k per year when the EFC is 0, but even if they did it would not be enough. Monthly payments would be well over $1000 per month after you graduate.</p>

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<p>If your mother does not want you to stay and go to the local community college and you do not wnat to go to south dakota, then I would say St. Cloud is your best option. If you genuinely work hard there, then you can transfer, probably to the same school you wanted to transfer to out of community college.</p>

<p>What are your objections to St. Cloud. (You really probably CANT borrow the amount of money you would need for SH, since you would need a cosignor qualified, and it doesn’t sound like your mom has that kind of credit. So, you’ll just have to forget that option.)</p>

<p>Good luck. It’s a shame you got yourself into this situation, but you can obviously get yourself out and get to U-MN by this route or the community college route.</p>

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<p>Do not go to SHU…go where you can afford to, get a great GPA; maybe you’ll transfer, maybe you won’t…</p>

<p>SHU is not worth debt…seriously</p>

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<p>Oh, and why do you not want to go to South Dakota?</p>

<p>Why do you not want to go to St. Cloud?</p>

<p>What are the pros and minuses of each of these options.</p>

<p>South Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, fwiw.</p>

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<p>Agree with RobD (and she knows NJ schools). In the college business, this is called an admit/deny. They accepted you, but have made it impossible for you to attend. It’s an obscenely bad FA package. Not worth the $$$. Go to the CC, get your grades in shape and transfer to a college that will embrace you and that is affordable.</p>

<p>This FA package doesn’t even count airfare or what you’ll need for a dorm room, clothes, etc. Being more worried about your financial survival than your academic success is no way to go through college. (BTDT)</p>

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<p>Here are some thoughts (I know you have some other threads with discussions of some of your options, including St. Cloud):</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Where do your dad and older sister live? Could you move in with either of them and attend CC?</p></li>
<li><p>Buying a used car would still be a lot cheaper than taking out all those loans…</p></li>
</ul>

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<p>eastafrobeauty: you may not remember from your previous thread, but I did attend SH for 2 years back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I am stunned that their COA is $49,700. I’m so ticked off on behalf of you and everyone else who gets a stuningly cra**y FA offer like that. </p>

<p>If your mom doesn’t want you to live at home and attend CC, then check with the admissions offices there and see if they have any insight into local housing. </p>

<p>Have you gotten FA packages from St. Cloud or SDSU?</p>

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<p>You have a very good head on your shoulders to see this as clearly as you are seeing it.</p>

<p>You are absolutely right that Seton Hall makes no sense, regardless of what your sister is urging.</p>

<p>You should take one of your affordable options (cc or the local 4 years you mention), read the Transfer Admissions 101 thread and position yourself to transfer if you want or need (ie, cc) to.</p>

<p>Agree with others that it would be good to consider alternate housing options while attending cc, if your mom does not want you at home. Other relatives? Mom contributing to your off-campus or on-campus housing costs so that you can afford it? </p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

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<p>Obviously, you can’t count on your 3 relatives each contribution $5k per year. It doesn’t sound like your sister has “done the math.” That would mean that each of those relatives would have to contribute about $400 per month for the next 4 years. That’s like an extra big car payment for each. I doubt that your EFC 0 mom has that kind of money, and it sounds like your dad doesn’t either. And, I doubt your sister would actually follow thru with that sort of contribution unless she has lots of extra money left over each month and nothing to do with it.</p>

<p>Your mom may be saying that she doesn’t want you to live at home and commute, but if she sees that that is your only affordable option for the next 2 years, I don’t see why she would object.</p>

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<p>Seton Hall really isn’t an issue - no lender is going to loan you $140k (on top of your other loans). You may think you have that choice, but you don’t. Think of it as a rejection and move on. </p>

<p>So figure out the next best alternative, and go for it!</p>

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<p>first of all, I would like to thank everyone that has replied on this thread.</p>

<p>Yes, I am very much aware of how it’s not worth to go into that much debt…I wouldn’t even have any money leftover for my personal expenses! plus, it’s from SHU which makes it more not worth it. I don’t understand why their tuition is so expensive! and honestly I wasn’t even feeling the school. It seemed like they had good support for their students but…no…plus it was catholic. Their campus was too small for my taste The only thing I really liked about it was their close proximity to NYC. But I can live w/o it. Even if, I would be broke and wouldn’t even have any $$$ to enjoy NYC when I think about it.</p>

<p>@RobD: Of course I remember you from the other thread. You mentioned how you transferred out of SHU and how it was an awful fit…lol.</p>

<p>@poetgrl: I don’t want to go to St.Cloud b/c it has a racist and bad reputation + a rep for being a party school. i dnt have anything against SD state but It’s in South Dakota and I can barely find any info if that school is any good.</p>

<p>@jmmom & mini: that’s fine! I’m trying to be realistic here :slight_smile: it’s not worth to shell out over $140k for an undergrad degree from SHU.</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids: totally agree that’s a crazy amoount for my relatives to contribute not to mention a burden for them.</p>

<p>I would be crazy making my mom sign a loan…which i have no idea she’d even qualify for. I don’t want to jeopardize her future, ruin her credit or retirement funds etc.</p>

<p>I can’t stay at home b/c my mom is fed up with me …and i think she borderline hates me as well…she deals with a lot of stress b/c of her job and my troublesome little brother who’s always getting trouble in school and has major behavioral/disciplinary issues. She says she cannot handle another 2 yrs of me. The only problem she has with me is not keeping up with my chores :confused: She wants me out asap. </p>

<p>I live in Eagan btw…my 2 CC options are Normandale and Mpls CCC (MCTC). I have an aunt that lives in Edina. I know it’s closer to downtown…and definitely more accessible to public transportation. She has an extra spare bedroom. My mom used to live with her when she moved to MN.</p>

<p>I was also considering finding off campus housing but, I feel like that’s too much for me to handle…living by myself or another roommate that’s a stranger. I’d also feel so lonely! sounds kind of depressing.</p>

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<p>^^What about taking a room in someone’s house? Sometimes people have an extra room that they will rent to students. If you could go over to your local CCs or universities and take a look at the bulletin boards outside the administrative offices, you might find a place to rent that will cost less than standard dormitory housing.</p>

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<p>Just piling on - it is not worth taking on that much debt to go to Seton Hall. </p>

<p>Consider your other options. To me, the best choice is one of your in-state public 4-yr colleges, and try to transfer later to a school with better FA.</p>

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<p>If it were me…</p>

<p>I’d go for the aunt! Minneapolis is a great city! What you will get out of living there should more than make up for what you “lose” by not going to South Dakota or St. Cloud. You likely can even come up with a part-time job while you are in school, and sock some dough away for when you transfer. There are many fine students who go to community colleges each year for similar financial reasons, and turn out great!</p>

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<p>If your aunt will have you, that sounds like the best solution to me. You can always transfer out to a better school in two years. Good luck.</p>

<p>Oh, and your mother doesn’t borderline hate you. She seems overwhelmed and maybe the two of you need a break from each other for a while. I say go to Auntie and CC. I know I would take my niece (or nephews) in a second if they were having problems at home. That’s what Aunties are for.</p>

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<p>Brookings is a nice town. Have you been there? It also seems they have a reciprocity agreement with MN so your total costs would be very, very low compared to some other of the other options you’ve outlined. I’d like to encourage you to look a bit closer at SDSU. A close family member obtained his Master’s degree there and went on to do great things with his life. Your education will be what you make of it; demonstrating academic success at SDSU would be a step in the right direction for a transfer.</p>

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<p>@mini: yes! mpls is very nice…and where my aunts lives in edina is very nice too. Lots of places to eat and the mall is a few blocks away. I just have no idea if she would be willing to let me stay with her. She’s really nice though …one of my favorite aunts. I dont know if my mom would get angry if I asked her. I’ll try to talk to her. I know one of my CCs Normandale has housing bulletins. I’ll try to look into that. Also, that way if I go to a CC I can can confidence if my credits transferring and having a guaranteed transfer agreement with the U of Minn. -Twin Cities. That way I will have less anxiety and I can give other dreamy reach schools a shot.</p>

<p>@Queen’s Mom: I would agree…she has a lot to carry over her shoulders. Her job drains the life out of her and is very tiring. She barely gets enough sleep and has to jungle so munch on her own. There’s just way too much tension in my house. There isnt even one day where there isn’t screaming and fighting in my house. It’s definitely not the best place to study peacefully. I hate living at home.</p>

<p>@sabaray: really? SDSU seems better than SCSU but I’m not so sure :confused: and yes, I have tuition reciprocity w/ South Dakota so it’s affordable. If I do choose SDSU i’ll transfer after 2 years. But I still need more info on SDSU… :/</p>

<p>SCSU hasn’t mailed out FA packages yet but I am not worried about paying for it since it’s so cheap. They said they will be mailing them around June b/c they have to wait for the state/govt to issue something idk. I’m also on priority for Work Study up to $3000</p>

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<p>I have nothing to add other than to say that you are a smart girl and on the right track. That much money for Seton Hall is indeed an obscenity. Your sister probably likes to think of you going away to college, and wants to support you, but she simply isn’t being realistic.</p>