<p>I'm a high school senior in a bit of a dilemma. I, like many other students, am trying to find ways to pay for college. My father can't afford to help out with my tuition (EFC = 0). I don't talk to my mother (abusive relationship) and I've been having trouble getting Non custodial parent waivers completed; thus, I'm a nervous reck. I'm still waiting to here from some top schools where I would receive great aid, but I don't think I'll get in because of my SAT scores (2050) [my GPA however is a 4.0]. </p>
<p>I received a full tuition scholarship at a school I take dual enrollment classes for free currently. I would only have to pay the cost of board minus my Pell grant. This seems great, right? Well I'm miserable in that school right now. I've had some really good professors last semester, but this semester I found out that they were really the best professors the university has. They also don't offer many language classes, which bothers me because I want to work in foreign service or a related field and I would like to have proficiency in multiple languages. I am very interested in learning chinese, but they only offer 2 classes that I would place out of anyways. The department for my major (Economics and International Affairs) is very very small. Furthermore, I really don't like the students there. In class my classmates make fun of me for answering so many questions and always staying after class to talk to the professor. Luckily, the professor did address this, but it still makes me feel very unwelcomed. None of the students care about their classes, they just look through facebook, which I know happens everywhere, but it's particularly bad at this school. Plus, as it turns out, some kids who used to bully me in grade school are going there next year, so though it wouldn't stop me from going to a place, it certainly doesn't make me want to go. I know if I went to that school I wouldn't fit in socially. Trust me, I'm a very social person, but this is a party college and I'm not that type. </p>
<p>Everyone tells me I should just go to the college because it is giving me such a large scholarship, but should I really go to a school I won't be happy at? I know that the parents here are experienced and wise. Is it every okay to put happiness before money?</p>
<p>I find it hard to imagine that only one school in all the U.S would offer you such a wonderful fa package. I recommend you branch out and see what others offer. Even if it may not be as ideal, you may find it satisfactory.
Of course, now as a hs senior, with the yr 1/2 over, you have limited some of your choices by waiting so long. get cracking!
You also need to remember about transfers, and weighing short-term vs. long term goals.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Don’t panic.</p></li>
<li><p>Look at the link ucbalum provided.</p></li>
<li><p>HATE is a strong word. You listed both social and academic reasons to not attend. If it were just social, I would think that a full time student would be able to join activities and find like minded peers to break out of the cycle and discover there are more than bullying party people. Your academic reasons concern me more. Limited language classes and course offerings would be a deal breaker for me.</p></li>
<li><p>Many students take a Gap Year and reapply to a new set of schools. Just be carefully to not take “part time” courses during a gap year as it could prevent you from applying as a freshmen and negatively impact scholarship offers.</p></li>
<li><p>Have you spoken to your guidance counselor regarding NCP waivers?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think I may know the school that offered you a free ride. If I am correct in my guess, look into the “Center for Education Abroad” program. It is study abroad arranged by another University. It used to be arranged so that the scholarship would follow you for 2 semesters.</p>
<p>Take a breath, wait until you get your other results, and, in the meantime, investigate the other options mentioned in this thread.</p>
<p>I think you’ve articulated some really sound reasons for not continuing at this college, and you should really look into what other options you might have.</p>
<p>I won’t say go to that college but please be careful that you if you chose somewhere else you keep your debt as low as possible. While you don’t give all the facts of your life (don’t want to know), I’m concern that you have no financial help from home yet you might find yourself taking care of your family members later in life. Consider a semester or two at the college then transfer. Good luck in whatever you do.</p>
<p>It sounds like it will be time to move on. I went to a college that I hated, and regret it. But in my case, I could have gone elsewhere for cheaper.</p>
<p>I’ve felt ridiculously pressured from relatives and friend’s parents who say “if you have a full ride take it,” so I just needed some reinsurance. My main reason for not wanting to attend the school is academics, social reasons are purely secondary. </p>
<p>And yes I’m certainly keeping the loans in mind. I’ll have a job soon so I’m hoping my savings from that can help keep costs down. No matter what I’m going to avoid private loans though. I’m going to investigate the posts about those merit schools, thank you very much for sharing the links! </p>
<p>Now I’m thinking that if financial aid doesn’t work out I’ll probably go to the full ride school and apply as a transfer student else where after I’ve done the core and intro classes. Need be though I’m considering a gap year and working full time. </p>
<p>I feel a lot better now, calmer for sure Thank you all, I think I just needed to let out how I was feeling.</p>
<p>If you need aid, take the gap year so that you can still apply as a freshman student. Financial aid for transfers often is lousy. You might end up stuck at the college that isn’t a good match academically just because the transfer admissions were unaffordable.</p>
<p>@longhaul I received your pm, but I can’t respond because I don’t have 15 post yet. Thank you very much for your message. You were correct about the college. I will look into what you told me about. Thank you so much! It means a lot. </p>
<p>@happymomof1 thanks! I will keep that in mind and definitely consider a gap year!</p>
<p>Can you share what school this is? What other options do you have and what are the costs? I wouldn’t want to go to a school I hated, but I wouldn’t want 6 figure debt either.</p>
<p>I’m currently in the same dilemma. Everyone, including my parents and friends, want me to take the full ride. I would feel guilty NOT taking it, because then my parents will have to pay a lot more. </p>
<p>The deal breaker in your case is the limited academic program for your major. Maybe you could find another college that will gives you a full ride? I don’t know if it is too late, but University of Alabama gives great scholarships (I’m thinking about going there instead of the full ride close to home)</p>
<p>Please reconsider taking any classes and then transferring. Very few schools give financial packages that are as good to transfer students as they are to entering freshmen, and you’re likely to find out that some of your units don’t transfer anyway. Meanwhile, you’ve spent money (even if not very much) and used up some of you Pell eligibility. </p>
<p>If you’re not happy with your options after you hear from the other schools, I’d seriously consider a gap year, and real effort put into finding other colleges at which you could get a close-to-full ride scholarship to start Fall 2014. That will maximize your options.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information. If things don’t work out I’ll definitely look into the gap year. Personally, I’d rather not give the school’s name, sorry. </p>
<p>I was just a bit freaked out at the time I posted this because I was waitlisted at a school that I really should have gotten into (my guidance councilor told me I would definitely get it, it was like a low match/safety. I also would have qualified for good scholarships there… so i was really upset. I think I was probably waitlisted because I didn’t show enough “interest” by visiting the school (not enough $) and interviewing or having a relationship with my regional councilor (I just found out what these things were 2 weeks ago…). I was really panicked because I thought I did the right thing, I applied to many schools (safeties, reaches, matches…) and I was just worried, also because another school gave me a horrid financial aid packet when they were supposed to be a good aid school. </p>
<p>Yesterday I found out I got into Boston University with very generous scholarship and grant money. I’m still waiting to hear from some other schools, many the reach schools (I’m not expecting anything, but it be really nice because I would qualify for a lot of aid). If things don’t work out, I’ll probably go with the gap year idea.</p>
Thank you all, I think I just needed to let out how I was feeling.</p>