heya! I recently got accepted into howard (like legit last week) and i was so stoked. then came the financial aid…
i recieved 5k in grants… and thats it
the rest is a direct parent loan of 25k a year
which leaves me with 100k+ in debt at the end of my undergraduate degree
i really want to go to howard but it looks like i’ll have to go with a cheaper in-state school.
is howard really worth being 100k in debt??
pls help i have to submit my deposit soon
thanks
I know this is not what you want to hear, but no school is worth being 100k in debt. That amount of money is impossible to pay off in a timely fashion and will make it hard for you to buy a house, a car, and/or go to grad school.
actually thats exactly wanted to hear haha everyone is just like “go to the school you want to go to” but i dont want to be 100k is debt so im depositing to my in-state school as we speak
thanks for your input!
sucks i can’t be hu20 tho…
:)) Sorry for assuming, many people on this forum argue and argue about how 100k (or more) is a reasonable debt to take on - glad you see the benefits to having little (or no) debt!
I’m sure you’ll do great at your state school 
Good luck!
@Snowybuny
We’re in the same boat, but I chose to attend regardless. There’s money once you get accepted, I heard. What’s your major?
@sugardaddy ^ I feel you, but I already paid my enrollment Fee and signed my loan. No turning back now lol. I’ll be fine
I understand what you’re going through
Congrats on your acceptance! What did you end up doing?
@PreDent101 I’m hoping to major in Accounting and Political Science with a minor in Administration of Justice. What about you?
@sugardaddy, Your state school is a wise choice. Have a great time there.
Did the college financial aid office tell you that? College costs usually go up, not down. It’s not too late to decline their offer. You’ll probably lose your deposit, but $100k is too much to borrow. You can only borrow ~$5500/year anyway. Anything else is too much.
Are you interested in medicine? @mom2collegekids can advise you on the route to med school that doesn’t require $100k of loans for undergrad.
@Snowybuny Is that a double major? I’m Nutrition Science with a pre dent emphasis.
@austinmshauri I was told by my department chair that grades are the deciding factor in scholarships after freshmen year. I’m not interested in medical school. That’s why my username is preDENT lol. I know I don’t have to take out this large loan, but HU has everything that I want to pursue. Dentists have high earning potential and I’ll pay my debt off eventually. I am also speaking with the financial aid office director for a meeting. Idk if that’ll help at all though.
@PreDent101, I assumed you were interested in dental. How many years will you have to go to college to be a dentist? I suspect that it’s a costly degree. What specific scholarships could you qualify for after freshmen year? How much are they? Are they guaranteed or competitive?
The problem with taking on huge debt for a specific major is that some programs weed out students, so not everyone who starts in premed, engineering, dental, etc. is able to finish. Sometimes parents only qualify for a year or two, so the student has to transfer. Sugardaddy has a more affordable option. Do you?
My child loves HU, but even she would say not to borrow $100k to attend.
@austinmshauri hm, I sense a tiny bit of sarcasm. I have asked myself these questions and in the process of answering them. Sugar daddy can do whatever he wants. Predent101 will make up her mind too.
Do you have a full ride? Are you grown? You sound a bit condescending. I have 15 transferable credits from taking AP courses and 9 from a local CC. That pretty much wipes out my first year. I can take the challenge. I went to a magnet school, runner up to the best in the district. I can take the heat. Thank you, though. Those are beneficial questions everyone should ask themselves in my shoes.
I don’t think it is sarcasm at all. It is trying to get a 17 old to logically think through the consequences of a decision that will cost you a lot down the road. Many dentists make an okay living, but I also know a lot of them who struggle. No one is challenging your academic credentials – it is your financial acumen that is in question. Assuming you are going to get enough department scholarships to dent your loans is unlikely and unwise – even if you get them, they are likely to be only a few thousand dollars. And dental school is expensive (over $100,000 in some cases).
@Predent101, Why would I be sarcastic to a high school student? I know you don’t have much time before final decisions are due. The questions I gave you are questions the financial aid people at the school should answer for you before you commit. Taking ~$100k in loans for undergrad is a dangerous proposition because the repayment depends on lots of things going right. It’s really too much to borrow. If your family has to take that much in loans, it’s not too late to decline and accept another offer.
@austinmshauri okay, I understand what you’re saying and I know it’s real out here. I’m going to make the best decision for me. Thanks.
@PreDent101 you may already be doing this but if not, consider looking for outside scholarships. As @partyof5 mentioned on another thread, Howard is rapidly cutting scholarships and upping the criteria to receive for those being given out. This applies to, I believe, incoming freshmen and current student requirements. Having all of you AP and transfer credits, if they will in fact take care of one year, is excellent!
@predent101 how are you going to take out loans for that amount? Do you have a parent taking out the difference since you can only take out 5500 as a freshman. My child loves HU but will quickly tell you not to go into serious debt. I know so many kids there that have stellar grades and they didn’t qualify for freshman merit scholarships. There is not a ton of other money there after your freshman year. Sure they have some small scholarships but not enough to cover the cost of attendance. In addition Howard’s books are really expensive because they order special editions specific to Howard.