My whole life people have expected me to be the best and pitifully I grew to believe that as well. Coming from Hawaii, I’ve spent my whole life with a firm intent that I would attend college on the mainland. However, because of recent financial harships in my family (which I am making appeals for professional judgement reviews) I do not have enough money to go away.
It seems more and more likely that I’ll have to commute to a college that is 10 minutes away and live at home with my parents. But on the bright side I have a good chance at getting a job within student housing and possibly even living at the dorms themselves. I also could enroll in a national student exchange that would allow me to go to shcools on the mainland during my sophomore and junior year. However, I just feel so deeply ashamed that I have to stay home because it feels as though all the hard work I’ve done in high school (ie. taking multiple AP classes, being a valdeictorian and student body president) was for nothing. That I could have coasted by in high school and did nothing at all just to get that 2.0 GPA that would have automatically gotten me into the school here at home.
If I were to go away I’d have to take out either a $11000 or $17000 loan to go to one of the colleges of my dreams. That’s not including airfare from Hawaii as well because a round trip back home for the holidays could cost about $1000.
One thing I do know for sure is that I want to attend Law School after college (preferably not in Hawaii), which is a whole new ordeal for me to think about later. But it is something I could save up for by not taking out a loan.
Should I save money now but feel miserable for the next few years or take on a load of debt and be miserable for almost a decade later on in life?
Is that $11,000 per year or total?
What schools are you talking about?
What are your test scores?
If the schools you applied to ‘meet need’, they may be able to take your new circumstances into account.
If they don’t, you have two choicee: gap year (work/volunteer while you apply to affordable schools on the mainland) or attend the University near your home (did you get into the honors program? That + nse allowing you to go to the mainland and Canada would be a great opportunity even if it’s not where you pictured yourself.)
If you have high stats (act 30+, or, especially, 32+), gap year is the best solution. These stats are worth a lot if money at many schools and a gap year + help from the college confidential community will help you target them. During a gap year you cannot take even one community college class (but you can take classes in ASL or First aid or whatever, from community education, as those don’t count for college credit.)
The effort you put into high school wasn’t a waste and I wouldn’t be embarrassed about where it takes you. My son commutes to our state school and loves it. He’ll graduate without loans, and the money we saved gives him flexibility. He can afford to do some traveling with his friends, doesn’t have to work all the time to help cover tuition costs, and he has time to pursue internships. It sounds like your state school has lots to offer too. If you can get a job in housing, I think that would be a great thing to have on your resume. Which states could you go to your sophomore and junior year?
@MYOS1634 My three choices at this point are (with total cost of attendance for one year): Seattle University - $59,607, Sacramento State - $27,640, and University of Hawaii at Hilo - $8,602. I need $17000 more of SU and $11000 more Sac State but I have enough scholarships to pay off my first two years at UH Hilo.
My test scores are okay but not necessarily the best 28 on ACT and 1220 on SAT. However, taking a gap year does sound tempting.
@austinmshauri With the national exchange, I could attend schools in nearly every state with a selection of almost 200 colleges about the same price in tuition if I stay at home.
Neither Seattle U nor Sacramento state ‘meet need’.
Can you retake the sat or the act in May? (using late registration?)
Study hard using good prep books (head to the 'test ’ forum for advice and try to improve your scores. Some universities don’t accept test scores taken after graduation ( some do but better safe than sorry).
What would you do at UH Hilo after two years, once your scholarships are gone? Can this scholarships be put on hold till fall 2018 or must they be used immediately?
Can your family pay $8,000? What’s your EFC?
@MYOS1634 I can’t retake my tests sadly. To correct my previous statement, I’m very much sure that I’ll be able to pay off all four years at UH Hilo.
My EFC is 25,651, BUT that was when my father had a very high paying job as a construction worker in 2015 (a year in which my parents made the most income in their lives). He’s since been laid off multiple times from the few jobs that he’s had in the last two years and is unemployed for the majority of the time leaving my mom to be the main source of income in our house. Hence my appeal for professional review.
Why can’t you retake? If it’s financial because your family’s income has fallen below roughly 45k you can get free testing but you must ask your gc first thing next week.
The issue It professional judgement is that they review your financial circumstances if they meet need… Which your two mainland universities don’t.
If your family’s income fell in the past year then it’d make even more sense to take a gap year and have meet need colleges look at your finances as they are now.
I have a BS and an MBA from Sac State and I wouldn’t pay that much to attend my alma mater in your situation. I got a very good education and have had a good career but, you have other options that make more sense.
Whatever you do, don’t start down the path of 11k+ a year in loans - especially since you want to go to law school (which is even more expensive). It is simply to deep of a hole to start your career from.
A gap year would allow you earn some money and give you the chance to apply to other, lower cost WUE schools - like UNR (about $18k tuition/rm/board) and privates like USD and LMU which may offer generous aid packages, . Honestly though, I think your best course of action is to go to school where you can commute from your family home. Since you have so many AP credits, you can probably graduate in 3 years if you are really aggressive. Get a great GPA and come to the mainland for Law school. It just isn’t that long to wait.