Should I stay or should I go?

<p>After long consideration, I've decided I would like to leave my home state of massachusetts and go to school in California to study Computer Science. Now I'm sure I'll get into some of the schools as my grades are much higher than the admissions averages, but I'm not sure about cost. My family makes about 150k a year, but it all goes to my parent's medical school loans that seem to accumulate in interest as fast as they are paid. I'm pretty sure when I apply for financial aid they're just going to throw the application away after they see how much my parents make. So that pretty much leaves me to take on the college loans myself. On the other hand my state school, UMASS Amherst, has offered to send me for free on a scholarship. Should I go to my state school? I was really looking forward to moving to somewhere warmer (I'm from the midwest, its a lot colder in New England) and closer to the Computer industry as I wanted to do an internship somewhere in the summer. I figure I shouldn't let my irrational side get the best of me and just go for free here, but I was wondering what you guys think. Any advice is appreciated!</p>

<p>There’s no way that lenders would let you take on the enormous loans you’d probably need to go to go to college in Calif.</p>

<p>If you want a warmer climate, you could try southern LACs that offer merit aid and where your stats would put you at the top of the application pool. If, however, your stats aren’t excellent, you’re unlikely to get the aid you’d require.</p>

<p>I’m assuming you’re male. If so, you have more of a chance to get merit aid to LACs than would females as it’s harder for LACs to attract males.</p>

<p>Being thousands of dollars in debt is not worth it</p>

<p>Check out merit aid in southern schools: UNC, Univ Arizona and Univ Texas come to mind for computer science. If you apply to schools where your stats are impressive, you are merit material. I’d advise you to move down the school ranking list and buy yourself some financial freedom.</p>

<p>I think the schools NSM meant by southern were Alabama, LSU, Tulane, Mississippi. UTA takes very few OOS students.</p>

<p>Lenders aren’t going to loan a student more than several thousand a year. That’s not enough to go to school in the West.</p>

<p>Your parents are also heavily in debt, so they probably won’t/can’t co-sign for you.</p>

<p>(note to others - his parents are doctors and even THEY are having problems paying for their debts. There are kids on this board that think it’s no big deal for a pre-med student to rack up big debt and also take on big debt for med school.)</p>

<p>*On the other hand my state school, UMASS Amherst, has offered to send me for free on a scholarship. Should I go to my state school? *</p>

<p>Yes, yes, yes!! At a minimum, go to UMass for 2 years and then transfer to another school. At least that way it would cost less overall. Perhaps in two years your parents will be more financially able to pay for the last 2 years at the school of your choice.</p>

<p>And, yes, apply to some merit schools in the south. Some still haven’t passed their deadlines.</p>

<p>Four years is not that much longer. Think ahead and grad school and/or job out of state. Being at college in itself like being in another culture. Your professors and some of the students will not be from Mass - you can find all kinds of people to link up with.</p>

<p>Another consideration…</p>

<p>CS grads typically make about $50k (plus or minus) upon graduation with modest increases during subsequent years. Unless you plan on living with the folks for several years while working, you won’t be able to afford to pay back any big loans while also supporting yourself. </p>

<p>Even if you only borrow 12,500 each year ($50k total), your monthly payments will be about $600 for 10 years. That’s like 2 extra car payments - in addition to your own real car payment.</p>

<p>BTW…can your parents pay for your room, board, books at UMass?</p>