I’m a HS senior who’s deciding between various colleges at the moment. I’ve been admitted to my dream school (UCLA) for computer science + linguistics (although I might change my major), but after four years, I would be left with $115k in debt.
Alternatively, I have a full ride scholarship to a much lesser known university near my home called Webster University. In between these two options, I have BU and Loyola Chicago (also very expensive), DePauw University, Davidson, Rhodes, and Lake Forest College, and KU (in-state tuition).
I’ve considered taking a gap year to apply and reapply to some schools and give myself more time to apply for scholarships. (I might need to take one for a surgery anyway).
Do you have any advice for my situation? I really would like to go to UCLA, but it would definitely pose a significant financial burden after graduation.
UCLA isn’t worth six figures of debt. It’s unfortunate that you applied at all, as there was zero chance it would be affordable for you, and now you just have a non-viable acceptance that’s souring you on the options you can afford.
Based on the OOS “sticker price” of UCLA and your projected shortfall, I’m going to estimate that you can afford about 35K/year without debt. So, KU in-state should be manageable, correct? I understand they have a good honors college - are you admitted to that? Which of your other schools offered enough merit to be affordable?
It is pretty rare that outside scholarships give large amounts. Most significant financial aid comes through the colleges themselves. While it’s true that your application strategy could have been better, you do have solid options; I’m not sure a gap year is warranted unless you need one for medical reasons anyway. Regardless, you should identify your top (affordable!) choice and deposit there; you can request a deferral if need be.
If you narrow down to the options you can afford, and describe more about the programs that interest you at those schools, people here will be better able to help with the decision.
I can’t see or read the whole OP. Any chance someone can cut and paste it here?
Here you are @thumper1: I’m a HS senior who’s deciding between various colleges at the moment. I’ve been admitted to my dream school (UCLA) for computer science + linguistics (although I might change my major), but after four years, I would be left with $115k in debt.
Alternatively, I have a full ride scholarship to a much lesser known university near my home called Webster University. In between these two options, I have BU and Loyola Chicago (also very expensive), DePauw University, Davidson, Rhodes, and Lake Forest College, and KU (in-state tuition).
I’ve considered taking a gap year to apply and reapply to some schools and give myself more time to apply for scholarships. (I might need to take one for a surgery anyway).
Do you have any advice for my situation? I really would like to go to UCLA, but it would definitely pose a significant financial burden after graduation.
So are you saying you got no aid from Davidson which guarantees to meet full need for all accepted students? Or BU?
Applying to UCLA again and again is NOT going to get you a dime of additional financial aid.
Can you list all colleges, the amount of debt, and your major at each?
Sounds like a no-brainer. Take the full ride. Tech is one of those ridiculously employable fields where prestige is meaningless. After about 3 years, employers don’t even ask where you went to school. I promise, you’ll find a job out of college. Graduating debt free is worth its weight in gold.
Reverse engineering the money, four years of UCLA costs $272k, so needing $115k of debt would mean that the parent contribution is $157k.
Webster University CS appears to be limited, with no theory or AI/ML courses listed, with some courses emphasizing less technical IT stuff: COSC - Computer Science | Webster University
However, KU in-state is about $27k per year, or about $108k for four years, so it should be easily under $157k. KU CS has a reasonably full set of CS offerings (but mixed in with EE): EECS Courses | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Davidson is a top-notch university. Is it affordable without parental debt? If so, your best value.
DePauw is also an excellent university.
Didn’t BU offer any financial aid?
(Webster would be so-so for your career goals. Sometimes, free isn’t the best if it doesn’t get you what you need. Better pay a little and get what you want/need.)
To clear things up, please calculate, for each university on your list:
(tuition, fees, room, board) - (scholarships, grants) =
and list it below so we can estimate value for you.
Thank you for posting. Odd that you have enormous and tiny ? Why is UCLA the dream?
If you got in there you can get huge merit elsewhere. For example, you can still apply to Arizona and with a 3.9 UW go for $20-22k. Same athletic conference. If you got a 4.0 even cheaper. Or KU sounds like your best hope.
UCLA and Davidson is like a heavyweight boxer battling a flyweight. Makes zero sense.
Of your list KU makes the most sense but again if you got into UCLA then you had to pull merit at, for example, Loyola. I know Depauw gives a lot.
So I’m a bit confused in that regard.
Webster has a campus but is known reputationally as an on-line school like Southern New Hampshire (also has a campus).
Re UCLA: Where do you plan to borrow that kind of money?
It sounds like you didn’t do enough research when you decided on your schools.
UCLA: is one of 9 public universities in the University of California system. This system is supported, in part, by funding from California’s taxpayers. It was developed for in-state residents who didn’t have sufficient instate options for undergraduate education.
It’s a public university paid for, by the parents of local students.
They cannot afford to pay for your education since your parents do not reside, work, nor pay California State income tax. If you apply again, you will not be given any resident funding. You will pay full fees.
In CS, it does NOT matter where you get your degree. You will be employable. Do not look back! Go instate for free and then look for employment in California after you graduate.
The reason my application strategy doesn’t seem great and my college options are all over the place is because when I initially started applying, I had NO idea what I wanted in a school and couldn’t figure it out at that time.
The thing is, I’m not entirely sure what I want to major in, and the schools I’ve been accepted to offer very different programs. I’m admitted to some schools for film, KU for architecture, some for computer science, etc.
That said, I’ll post an update regarding which colleges are in my range of affordability, thank you.
Thanks for the response. UCLA is my dream school because I want to build a network in Los Angeles, I love the campus, I love the variety of programs, and in all honesty, prestige plays a small factor in it as well. The reason my college options seem all over the place is because when I initially began applying to schools, I had no idea what I wanted. Even after a lot of thought, I’m still unsure. A lot of the schools I listed are affordable, but the ones that are definitely hard stretches are UCLA, BU, and Loyola. I like Loyola, but they’re $40k/year and my EFC is ~$18,500. For KU, I have in-state tuition only because I got into their architecture program, but that’s for five years, locks me into studying architecture, and I don’t really like KU’s environment and other major options as much as some of the other schools.
As for Webster, I’m not sure I like it because I don’t think I would fit in well with the social scene, I would like to not be within 45 minutes of my house, and I kind of wanted to try out theater in college but their theater program is closed off. What is the general opinion of Webster other than the “online school” reputation? Is it negative overall?
Davidson gave me aid and is within range of affordability. I like the environment overall, however it doesn’t have some programs I might look for in a college. As for UCLA, if I tried again, I would be deferring for a year on the basis of my chest surgery and in that year, I would apply for the Alumni and Regents scholarships. If those didn’t work out, I would just attend elsewhere.
Here’s a chart I made for it. Thank you! The cost column is tuition after financial aid and scholarships.
Unfortunately, KU in-state only applies if I am in their architecture program. Not entirely sure what career I’d like to pursue yet. My state school is Mizzou, but I don’t want to go there.
BU and Loyola are both also very expensive. My EFC is $18,500. I’ve compiled a list here, thank you.
Thanks - forget UCLA - you shouldn’t have applied in the sense you can’t afford it. You don’t take a gap year in hopes of the impossible. It’s just a reality.
Are the three at the bottom rejections? Oxy meets need and I would assume based on your other schools that you got in.
So yes your majors are all over the place - but that’s ok. If you may want CS, then best to start there…easy to move out of it, much harder than moving into it.
Davidson is one of the top schools in the country. Depauw is very good.
You need to focus on what’s attainable - I’m assuming mid-20s is attainable even if you need to borrow a little. Also, you might find it easier to find your interest there, better than at a larger school.
So I think you look at only those schools in the 20s.
Forgetting that Webster is close to home (doesn’t mean you have to go home), is the free - including room and board. I mean, that helps your family and you - so that is a huge boon. Admittedly I know little about it - but Niche gives it a B for academics which isn’t bad and the ACT range of 20-27 isn’t bad. So it’s likely fine.
But get theses schools out of your mind - UCLA, BU, Loyola…they simply don’t work - nor will they work next year.
Love those that have loved you back.
Here’s another thing for you to know - many go to their dream schools and hate it - transfer out. Many go to the place that was affordable but not desired - and have life changing and awesome experiences.
You think UCLA is your dream school - but you don’t really know. And wanting to be in LA long term is not a reason to not go somewhere else. People graduate college all over the country and end up in CA and every other state.
Good luck.
If I tried again at UCLA, I would be deferring for a year on the basis of my impending chest surgery. If I did this, I would have time to apply to the regents and alumni scholarships, which if I didn’t get, I could attend another school and give up on UCLA. As for CS, unfortunately, I’m not certain that’s what I want to pursue. I’m not dead-set on any field yet.
You cannot apply for Regents or the Alumni scholarships at UCLA unless you are invited. Regents is only $2000/year and maximum Alumni scholarships around $10,000/year. That still leaves around $55K/year to pay.
Have you checked with UCLA about a deferral?