<p>During my freshman year of college at DePaul University, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I chose to drop out and return home to be with her. After one semester at a local community college, I enrolled at a nearby four-year school, Mills College. I've spent two years here and last summer my mom past away. I really am not enjoying myself at Mills and I'm strongly considering transferring. But a major issue is cost.</p>
<p>My dad promised to pay for 4 years of college, and if I stay at Mills, I will graduate on time and not have to late out any personal loans. But all of the schools I've applied to as a transfer require two years for me to graduate, so I would have to take out personal loans for one year.</p>
<p>I was accepted to several colleges, but am seriously considering University of Denver, Case Western Reserve University, and University of Hawaii at Manoa. Because I'm a California resident, I receive a serious discount at University of Hawaii. Tuition would be only $13,000 for a whole year. Also, I have a friend in Hawaii who will let me stay at their house for free. So Hawaii would be really affordable.</p>
<p>University of Denver offered me a $12,000 scholarship, but I estimated that I would still have to take out $35,000-$40,000 in loans for my final year, for both tuition and housing.</p>
<p>Case Western Reserve University is by far the most expensive of the options. They did not offer me any financial aid, so I would have to take out $55,000 in loans to go there.</p>
<p>I haven't gotten the chance to visit any of these school, so I'm not really sure about the vibe of the campuses of what kind of people would be there. Also, I'm majoring in Anthropology and I think that Hawaii and Denver seem to have the better anthropology programs. But I know Case is a more prestigious school.</p>
<p>I’m very sorry about your mom. This must have been a very difficult couple of years for you. </p>
<p>From my perspective, you should not consider either Case Western or University of Denver. You can’t afford them. You won’t be able to take loans out in the amounts you need, and even if you could, it would not be a prudent financial decision. </p>
<p>I think the decision is murkier with respect to Hawaii since you can get discounted tuition and free housing. If Hawaii does have a stronger Anthropology program, then perhaps the $13,000 is worth it. </p>
<p>Thanks for your input and thank you for your condolences. College certainly hasn’t turned out how I planned. Sometimes I wish I could just start over.</p>
<p>I agree with you. I’ve narrowed it down to transferring to Hawaii or staying at Mills. I also realized today that if I stay at Mills and drop my math minor, I could graduate in only one semester. This is definitely something to consider because one semester is easy enough to complete, but my math classes have been the only enjoyable classes I’ve taken at Mills. Is it worth staying an extra semester in order to complete a minor?</p>
<p>How much will your father be paying for you to attend Mills for one more year? If it is more than the $13,000 per year in Hawaii, would you be able to negotiate with him to pay what he would have paid for one year at Mills?</p>
<p>It sounds like when you entered college, he was willing to pay for 4 years at DePaul - how much was that? When your mother became ill, you made a sacrifice to come home, and have attended a college where you have not been particularly happy. Unless he has already told you otherwise, your father may be willing to take that into consideration, either by paying the amount he had originally expected to pay, or by paying for that extra year. You staying home for those 2 years at Mills may have made a significant difference in the qualify of your mother’s life (and your father’s) during that time. </p>
<p>I would talk with him before making any decision. While I wouldn’t ask for CMU, or probably even Denver, the cost for 2 years at Hawaii is very reasonable. Worst case, he says no. Does he know how unhappy you are at Mills?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for everyone’s input. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>We were planning on paying $32,000 a year a DePaul. This next year at Mills would cost $26,000. So in comparison to the $13,000 at Hawaii seems like a great bargain! I hadn’t compared he costs until now, so thanks for bringing it to my attention! Maybe I can get my dad to pay for a fifth year, since it’s half the cost of Mills.</p>
<p>Since you are unhappy at Mills, but so close to getting out, do so. You can then look at grad schools and job options. At this point get that degree.</p>
<p>I am sorry about your mother. These must have been very rough years for you, and you are to be congratulated for staying as on course as you have.</p>
<p>Just heard back from the registrar at Mills! If I take 6 classes this summer and 4 classes next semester (or 5 this summer and 5 next semester). Then I’d be done in just one semester! I’m definitely considering it. But I really wasn’t expecting to be done so fast, so I’m not sure what I would do.</p>
<p>How many credits are six classes?
I wouldn’t recommend going over full time, because summer session is generally shorter ( more intense) anyway.</p>