Im currently in the process of applying to colleges and can’t get one thing out of my head…Where to go to college. I live in Massachusetts so the state schools are great, almost as great as the private ones. If i were to go in-State I would be going to a Uni 15 minutes away from my house. Meaning that I could still continue to live with my family (which Im really close with), continue my part time job and go to school. Also the tuition is REALLY cheap!!!, meaning that I wouldn’t have to worry one bit about getting into debt. But looking over everything I start wondering is it all worth it? At the same time where I want to stay home for college I also wonder if its not better to move out. Go somewhere far, meet new people, live on my own, become more independent, become my own person. I dont want to metaphorically trap myself within the borders of my small town home with the same people whom I went to high school with, even if it wouldn’t be completely like that. What do you guys think? In-State? Or out of State?
If money were no object, and the educational opportunities were better, then going to school OOS is a great way to discover a new part of the world. If money is a constraint, and the local U offers what you want educationally, then how about a compromise? You go to in-state nearby, but live with other freshman on campus for the first year? That way you meet new people, get connected to the campus community, and experience being away from home - but you have the option of going home when you want to (family events, the week before exams, if you get sick), you avoid debt, and next year, depending on how it works out, you either move back home or stay on campus.
There is no law requiring you to hang out with the same people you went to high school with. Feel free to smile, say hi and then keep going to whatever your new life on campus is about. (Most state Us are so big that you probably won’t see high school class-mates nearly as often as you think you will.) But going into a lot of debt for an education comparable to the one you could get next door is probably not worth it.
What are your parents saying about how much they’ll pay each year? That will likely decide.
UMass tuition is cheap, but the FEES are very high. Make sure you’re looking at the total cost…and not just tuition.
What are your stats?
I guess thats true i could live on campus for a year or so to get the “moving out on my own” feeling while still not going too far away from home.
@mom2collegekids Thanks and yes they have agreed that the state schools are very affordable, and yes we have looked at the full price which we all agreed was a great price. Im still kind of early in the application process as Im just browsing some schools right now, probably will be applying late February. I think its safer to just stay in-State where my parents could help me pay and what I have saved right now could pay off a complete year.
MOST people who go to college live at home and commute. Only a relative few can afford to live on campus in the residence halls.
Whether or not it’s worth it is an individual question - it depends on you and your values, as well as how much you would have to borrow. But I will say that it’s glorious to have no undergraduate debt. It frees you to consider paths that you might not be able to take if you have large debts to repay.
Firstly, you don’t have to move far away to meet new people, become more independent, or become your own person. You can do all that close to your family, regardless of whether you choose to live on campus or live at home. My undergrad was 20 minutes away from my home (I lived on campus because I had a scholarship). My younger sister commuted from home. My brother never went to college - he still lives about 15 minutes away from my parents. We’re all well-adjusted independent adults. Some of my closest friends went to their local public university and commuted or went home many weekends. What determines whether you build independence is your own actions - what you choose to do in college.
Secondly, you have your entire life to move far away. I moved far away after college and even farther after graduate school. Plenty of people move after they graduate from college - it’s a great time to, as you can look for jobs nationwide and sort of pick wherever feels good. You’ll only be 21 or 22 when you graduate; you have your entire life to move and discover.
You also don’t have to go out of state to be farther away - MA is a small state but there are public universities all across it.
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Im just browsing some schools right now, probably will be applying late February.
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what? That is too late for many schools. And it’s often too late to be considered for any merit scholarships. Your parents may be thinking how things were in “their day”.
NOW…students apply in the FALL…during the next couple of months.
What prices are you looking at? Are you sure that you’re looking at the costs for the YEAR and not for just a semester???
Here are the costs for UMass Amherst
Tuition and fees… $14,356
Room and board… $12,028
Books and supplies …$1,000
Estimated personal expenses… $1,000
Transportation expenses …$400
Estimated Total …$28,784
UMass Dartmouth
Tuition and fees… $12,588
Room and board…$11,622
Books and supplies …$1,200
Estimated personal expenses… $1,072
Transportation expenses …$500
Estimated Total… $26,982
I’m wondering if you looked at the ANNUAL cost or the SEMESTER cost because you indicated that you could pay the costs off for one year with your savings. Usually high school kids don’t have that much saved. But, maybe you do.
The concern is that some UMass schools show costs as “per semester”…not per year…
Tuition $857.00
Curriculum Fee $4985.00
Service Fee $709.50
Activities Fee $65.50
Shared Infrastructure Technology Fee $125.00
Basic Health Fee $343.50
Honors College Fee * $300.00
Engineering Fee ** $287.50
The ABOVE costs are PER SEMESTER…and if you notice…the FEES are super high…over $11k per year for just fees.
@andersondst Either way, you need to get your apps in very soon for the best chances of merit scholarships.
why were you thinking “late Feb”???
Well to save even more money, Im probably going to be commuting. Im currently picking out schools right now, as soon as I can apply for FAFSA I’ll also be submitting my applications. Anything below 20K per year sounds reasonable. @mom2collegekids
Most schools have an application deadline for admission that is BEFORE the deadline for the FAFSA. For example, UMASS Amherst’s application deadline for Early Action is November 1, and for regular admission is January 15. The priority deadline for applying for Financial Aid is before February 15.
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as soon as I can apply for FAFSA I’ll also be submitting my applications
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What? you’re supposed to be applying to colleges NOW…not when you submit FAFSA.
Who has been advising you with such bad info???
Yes, get your apps in soon. You don’t wait for the FAFSA date.
Are you thinking about UMass Amherst, or one of the smaller local ones like Bridgewater/ Framingham/ Westfield/ Salem State? It would be easier to “lose” yourself in newness at a big school, I would think, but UMass Amherst is also the most expensive and most difficult to get into. Do you have the option of commuting to more than one of the state schools?
If you’re applying to UMASS, get your app in ASAP. I don’t know your stats, but even if they are very high, you could be waitlisted because UMASS fills up and they will have no space for you no matter how awesome your app is.
Also, if your parents are thinking 20k is a bargain, I’d say there’s a good chance you won’t qualify for any financial aid from Massachusetts or the federal government. Either way, don’t worry about the FAFSA now, get your apps in.