^ USC is not a state school, but they do have more generous aid/claim to meet 100% of USC-determined need. They also accept a good deal of community college transfers. You could attend a local CC, and by the time you’re ready to transfer you’ll be 24/considered independent for aid purposes. Since your income will most likely be low, you’ll receive good aid.
well, think of this…you are making NO connections now…and you are putting off having a degree and getting a job by YEARS. Sorry, I think your plan is flawed.
Either get a gopher job at a place that does animation and try to work your way up…
Or go to college ASAP…get your degree, and move on.
@Lilliana330’s suggestion to attend community college for two years (in your home state) and then apply to USC (the University of Southern California, not the University of South Carolina!) is brilliant! As noted, it is a school that commits to meeting its students’ full financial need. And, in two years, you’ll be 24 years old and classified as an independent student, so your parents assets/income won’t even by considered - your financial aid award will be based on your income & assets only.
Another alternative is to look into public universities that offer animation and, if you find a good one, relocate ahead of time so that you can establish residency in that state and receive the benefit of in-state tuition rates. You’re planning on working (and supporting yourself) for the next few years anyway, so why not take advantage of that time to establish state residency?
Find the state with the best program, move now, work and attend community college, and then, in the event you are not able to gain admission to USC, you’ll have a back-up plan ready to go!
One additional alternative would be to apply to USC for admission as a freshman. Depending on when you apply, and when exactly you’ll turn 24, your parents’ income and assets could be taken into account in determining your eligibility for financial aid - and that may be a deal breaker. But if you wait until you’re 23 to apply, that would not be the case. (See below.) So if you don’t already have an undergrad degree, and want to apply to USC as a freshman, you can do that. Depending on your financial aid award, your cost for freshman and sophomore years at USC could actually be less than than two years at community college!
To be classified as an independent student, you need to have turned 23 by December 31 of the year prior to the school year for which you are applying. So, for example, if you want to apply for the 2016-17 school year, you’d need to be 23 years old by December 31 of this year in order to be classified as independent.
You could join the military for 4 years. The school you mention, California institute of the Arts, participates in the yellow ribbon program as well and gives 9k/year to 10 qualifying students using their GI Bill. That means that after the approx. 18k the GI Bill pays for, the school will pay 9k and the VA will match it with 9k as well. You would be looking at close to 40k covered right there alone, not to mention you will be fully independent by that time and probably receive the rest in grants/aid. Along with that, you will get around 3k/month of tax free money while you are enrolled in school for housing, etc. I was in for 4 years and hated it, but it is paying off now with all of the free tuition and money. 4 years is a lot less than 10 and would still leave you room for resume building if you wanted to for a few years. No debt, along with any money you saved. Just a thought. Good luck with everything.
Dodgersmom that is EXACTLY what son’s GF did, moved out of CA, got a job in the new state for a year and then applied to the new state’s public uni. With very low in-state tuition she was able to pay for it all herself and received her BFA with a concentration in animation/film. During that time she was able to develop a wonderful portfolio, graduate debt free and apply to USC, CalArts and a few other schools. Her financial aid package from USC was the best for their tippy-top 3 year masters program and it has really opened doors for her. She has great internships and many firms have already reached out to her, with a 1.5 years to go. They attend galley openings, film screenings, before and after Oscar parties, tour various studios to meet the animation staff…it is really done right, especially at a school that meets full-need AND offers merit awards. They have TA opportunities, summer internships…there are plenty of ways to earn income and she still has a part-time outside employment.
It can be done and this is from a kiddo whose EFC is $0. She has worked really hard to follow her dreams and believe in herself. It can be done.
Kat
note: she was under 24 when she did this but like the above poster she had done some military service so was considered independent for the FAFSA, and even so her families’ EFC (younger siblings) was also $0