<p>So I'm in a dilemma, albeit a good one to have. So I was accepted into Arizona and will be getting my whole tuition paid off (and I would be given extra money to use on school related items) with a mix of merit scholarships, financial aid and federal aid. Is there any UC worth turning that down for? I probably won't be getting any merit scholarships from the UC's and the amount of financial aid that I'll be getting will probably only amount to half of the tuition at a UC. So as of right now I'm prepared to turn down the lower end UC's (UCSC, UCR and UCM), but are any of the others worth it?
I am a California (LA county) resident, I am majoring in CS and I would like to find a job in LA after I graduate. </p>
<p>Judging by the incredibly high admissions rate, U of Arizona is not really comparable to UCLA (20%) or UCB (21$) or even UCSD (37%).</p>
<p>Well Arizona is ranked in the top 50 in CS (above UCR, UCM, and UCSC). I forgot to mention that I would need loans to pay for any school because my parents make <$25000 and won’t be able to help me. </p>
<p>So are you saying that the top 3 UC’s are worth going into debt for? What about the mid tier UC’s? </p>
<p>Arizona was my safety but now Idk if I can turn down all that money when the school is pretty good, at least for my major. A part of me wants to go to the most prestigious school possible but I also don’t want to be in a lot of debt right after I graduate. </p>
<p>Would it be correct to assume that the UCs would have a net price of about $8,500 to $10,000 per year (expected direct loan and student work contribution)?</p>
<p>One thing to be careful of is whether the UA scholarship requires a high GPA to maintain. 3.0 is a common keeper GPA, which is usually not difficult for someone who gets a top-end scholarship to keep, but 3.5 is a different story, requiring GPA management like a pre-med.</p>
<p>If you are not comfortable with direct loan debt or needing to work during college, and UA is free and does not have an unreasonably high keeper GPA for the scholarship, then UA is a perfectly good choice. But do note that employer recruiting tends to be better within driving or public transit distance (employers in the LA area can conveniently get to UCLA, UCI, maybe UCSB, UCR, UCSD; employers in Silicon Valley can conveniently get to UCB and UCSC, maybe UCD), so you may have to be more aggressive at looking for and applying to LA area companies.</p>
<p>UCM seems to have a relatively small CS department with somewhat more limited CS course offerings.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus
I wouldn’t mind getting a loan and I wouldn’t mind working, I’ve been prepared to do so since I started the college admissions process. I’m just wondering if going to a more prestigious school and getting into debt is worth it when I can go to a decent school for free. </p>
<p>“I probably won’t be getting any merit scholarships from the UC’s and the amount of financial aid that I’ll be getting will probably only amount to half of the tuition at a UC.”</p>
<p>??? Why do you think THAT? You’d get AT LEAST a Cal Grant and a Pell Grant.</p>
<p>‘because my parents make <$25000’</p>
<p>If so, and you’re a Calif resident…why do you think you’d be getting so little aid from a UC. You should be getting at LEAST a Pell Grant (about 5500), and a Cal Grant (full tuition), plus any UC aid. You seem to think you’d get little aid from a UC, but you’d get a LOT of aid from a UC if you’re instate.</p>
<p>"So I was accepted into Arizona and will be getting my whole tuition paid off "</p>
<p>How did you get a full tuition scholarship? And how much would you still have to pay for room, board, books, travel, personal expenses, fees, etc?</p>
<p>Our S was also offered free tuition for UAz, but when I inquired, I found that quite a few of their students LOST their merit awards because of grades and the minimum GPA requirements. I think this is an important thing to inquire about. What IS the minimum GPA to keep the merit award? How is it calculated? Do you need to meet it each term or is it cumulative? Is there a grace period if you miss it one term? What % of students keep their CS merit awards all 4 years and graduate in those 4 years with a BS in CS?</p>
<p>If you lose the merit award, would you have to return to CA because you can’t afford AZ?</p>
<p>By contrast, what if you attend CC & then transfer to a UC or a CSU for your final 2 years and degree? If you commute from home, what would your costs look like? Do you live near any of the UCs or CSUs that you could commute from to save on expenses?</p>
<p>Congrats on your great grades and stats that are giving you some good options to consider. It’s important for you to carefully consider these issues. Perhaps you can talk them over with a trusted adult or counselor.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p><a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/blue-and-gold/”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/blue-and-gold/</a></p>
<p>Assuming your family income is what you say it is, you’ll be getting a ‘full-tuiton’ scholarship at UC schools as well.</p>
<p>To the OP: can you clarify what the net price would be at each school after subtracting financial aid grants and scholarships (not loans or work study) from the list price? For any scholarships, can you list the college GPA required to keep them? If a school has not given a complete financial aid offer yet, use the school’s net price calculator for an estimate.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids
The amount of combined of scholarships and financial aid would cover everything for UA. </p>
<p>@Hlmom
The Gpa requirement is fairly low so I’m pretty sure I’d be able to keep my scholarship. As for going to a cc, I honestly just don’t want to for many reasons and my local Csu (csun) isn’t that good. Like I said earlier, I don’t mind getting loans I just don’t know if prestige is worth it enough to turn down free. </p>
<p>@beyphy
Oh I never knew that! I guess UC’s it is then nvm. </p>
<p>@Kikijon: Run, do not walk, the UofA!! I attended the UofA and I can honestly tell you that you can get a World class education there. The UofA gave me the most amazing opportunities anyone could ask for. They sent me around the World for foreign studies including several years in Japan. I was able to represent the school when I was on the UofA Karate team (Yes! we had one in the 1980’s). I have also recently been on the campus twice when I was visiting family in Tucson in November and December 2013. The school has expanded and offers more than I could ever imagine. The school is beautiful, and if you love the desert and the mountains, there are amazing hiking trails all over the area.</p>
<p>I currently live in So Cal and my degree from the UofA allowed me to attend a top ranked international MBA program and gave me access and entry to some of the most exclusive companies around. If you are getting a full ride grab the opportunity for a free education. You will never regret graduating debt free. Since I live in CA and I’ve also taught at USC, UCLA and Cal State Fullerton, I am very familiar with the UC and Cal State systems. In my opinion, none of the UC’s have anything over the UofA from a quality standpoint. </p>
<p>Have you been accepted to UCB, UCLA, etc? When will you know? </p>
<p>Most of Arizona scholarships have 3.0 renewal criteria, which is standard, but a couple require 3.25. Kids do run afoul of even the 3.0, have to be serious and study. Will you be in the honors program at Arizona?</p>
<p>Do you live near the ocean now, and if so, is it important to you to be near water? </p>
<p>If you get into UCLA, could you live at home to save money if FA doesn’t cover all of rm/bd?</p>
<p>So it sounds like Arizona is free but it isn’t clear how much the UC’s will cost. Have you run the UCB or other financial aid estimator? It seems from what bephy linked that at least tuition will be covered (if you get in), and perhaps some or all of other costs. Once you nail down the cost of UCs, it will be easier to decide.</p>
<p>I’ll assume that you are a strong student and that you will do well in your computer science courses at University. There is then the pragmatic side of the college and the CS program at the college. How well will you do in your search for intern opportunities while at college, and how intensely will you be recruited in your senior year? From this perspective several of the UCs would provide you with a jump start in your career. They are in rough order UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Davis. The top CS companies recruit actively at several of the UCs. University of Arizona is likely to be more of a “local” play.</p>
<p>Further, the top UCs would provide you with school year intern/job opportunities.</p>
<p>My daughter has similar quandary.
I would say for sure ucb or ucla is worth it. Probably ucsd also.
UCDavis irvine and Santa Barbara, only if you have any worry about maintaining the 3.0 gpa.
Go to the ucberkeley net price calculator, you will see that you will get much better aid from uc than you think.
<a href=“http://calculator.berkeley.edu”>http://calculator.berkeley.edu</a>
Other ucs would be similar.
Arizona has some specific majors in which it is strong, like business for example, which is my daughters.</p>
<p>Being an ex-international student and working in different places in the world, I never believed in tying yourself in the proximity argument.</p>
<p>For fun I ran Berkeley calculator married couple with one child. The couple earning 25k.
No other income.</p>
<p>Here are the results.
Expected Family Contribution</p>
<p>Parent Contribution:$0.00
Student Contribution:+$0.00
Expected Family Contribution: $0.00
Estimated Award</p>
<p>Grant Award: $24,186.00
Student Loan and Work: $8,500.00
Parent Loan: $20.00
Estimated Total Cost of Attendance</p>
<p>Tuition and Fees+$14,460.00
Room and Board+$15,018.00
Books and Supplies+$1,214.00
Other Expenses+$2,014.00
Total Cost of Attendance:$32,706.00
Grant Award:-$24,186.00
Estimated Net Cost:$8,520.00</p>
<p>As of 2014, for Computer Science, U of AZ is ranked #40, along with UC, Boulder and Virginia Tech. </p>
<p>UCR and UCSC are #56
UCD and UCSB are #34,
UCSD #15
UCB #1
UCLA #13
UCM isn’t even on the list</p>
<p><a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings</a></p>
<p>We have a similar situation and have chosen U of AZ. Campus is nice, weather is nice, new buildings, school’s administration is competent, cheerful, and cares about their students. We only have a partial merit scholarship. Congrats on your full ride! </p>
<p>Companies visit all over the nation for CS interviews. Some are phone interviews. CS is hot now so you will definitely find a job somewhere.</p>
<p>Get an internship in Los Angeles during the summer months for networking.</p>